Charmaine Wilkerson

Charmaine Wilkerson, a Caribbean American journalist and novelist, discusses her impactful works, 'Black Cake' and 'Good Dirt'. She emphasizes how both novels begin with grief but bloom into family revelations. Wilkerson delves into the intricate family dynamics in 'Black Cake', where siblings uncover secrets tied to their mother's legacy. In 'Good Dirt', she explores cultural inheritance through a stoneware jar and the journey of Ebi as she connects with her family's history in France. Themes of identity, estrangement, and the power of heirlooms weave throughout her narratives.