Tayari Jones, an award-winning novelist and author known for her powerful narratives on African-American life, shares her journey from childhood activism in Atlanta to becoming a celebrated writer. She discusses the profound influence of Judy Blume on her work and the impact of personal trauma, including the Atlanta child killings, on her creativity. Additionally, Jones delves into the complexities of love intertwined with incarceration, challenges societal perceptions, and reflects on motherhood's evolving narrative while celebrating the vibrancy of Black identity in her hometown.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Childhood Activism
As a child, Tayari Jones boycotted a gas station supporting apartheid, even though it meant abandoning a zoo trip.
Her principled stand, even at a young age, highlighted her strong sense of social justice.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Atlanta Child Murders
Tayari Jones's first novel, Leaving Atlanta, was inspired by the Atlanta child murders, a personal trauma she experienced.
Two boys from her school disappeared, shaping her understanding of the city and her coming-of-age story.
insights INSIGHT
Early Writing
Tayari Jones always loved writing but lacked awareness of authorship as a career for girls.
She highlights the societal tendency to perceive girls' love for reading and writing as mere niceness, not intellectual pursuit.
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The book follows Margaret Simon, who moves from New York City to Farbrook, New Jersey, and struggles to fit in with her new friends. Margaret is part of a secret club where the girls discuss boys, bras, and getting their periods. Born to a Jewish father and a Christian mother, Margaret is trying to figure out her own religious identity and has a personal relationship with God, whom she talks to about her thoughts, fears, and desires. The story addresses themes of puberty, peer pressure, social acceptance, and religious identity in a relatable and humorous way.
Leaving Atlanta
Tayari Jones
Leaving Atlanta is Tayari Jones's debut novel, which delves into the lives of three Black children—Tasha, Rodney, and Octavia—living in Atlanta during the 1979-1981 serial killings of African-American children. The novel explores themes of childhood, identity, and community through the perspectives of these children as they navigate the dangers and uncertainties of their world. Jones's vivid storytelling captures the fear and resilience of a community under siege.
Silver Sparrow
Tayari Jones
Silver Sparrow is a poignant exploration of family secrets, deception, and sisterhood. The story revolves around James Witherspoon, a bigamist with two families: one public and one secret. His daughters, Dana and Chaurisse, form a friendship unaware of their true relationship, leading to a dramatic revelation of secrets and shattered illusions. The novel delves into themes of identity, class, and the complexities of human relationships.
Old Fourth Ward
Tayari Jones
Old Fourth Ward by Tayari Jones follows Jaybird Alexander as she navigates her relationships with her biological mother in the Old Fourth Ward and her stepmother in Cascade Heights, Atlanta. The novel explores themes of family, identity, and the complexities of returning to one's hometown. It is set against the backdrop of Black Atlanta's vibrant neighborhoods.
An American Marriage
Tayari Jones
Sean Crisden
Eisa Davis
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones tells the story of Roy and Celestial, a young African-American couple living in Atlanta. Their lives are torn apart when Roy is wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit. The novel explores the complexities of marriage, racial injustice, and personal identity through their experiences. It is a powerful exploration of love, loyalty, and the human impact of systemic injustices.
Samira Ahmed speaks to the novelist and author of An American Marriage, Tayari Jones. They speak about her life and career from growing up in Atlanta and taking a stand on ethical issues as a child to developing her voice as a writer, the role that children's author Judy Blume played in her life, and being selected for President Barack Obama's summer reading list and Oprah's Book Club.
This discussion first aired on our award-winning podcast, How I Found My Voice, in 2021.
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