Jesmyn Ward

Oprah interviews Jesmyn Ward, a two-time National Book Award winning author, about her new novel set in the 19th century during slavery. They discuss their upbringings in Mississippi, Jesmyn's writing hiatus after the loss of her partner, and the importance of portraying enslaved people as complex individuals. They also explore the power of writing to process grief and choose hope, and Jesmyn's joy at being recognized as a writer in Mississippi.

Jesmyn Ward, National Book Award winner, discusses her novel 'Let Us Descend' which explores the spirituality of an enslaved Black woman named Annis. Ward explains why she incorporated spirituality into Annis' harrowing journey and highlights the act of memory and resistance in reading about slavery.