The best-selling author of Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi, visited GA from February 11th to 13th, giving a series of talks to the GA community. In these interview-style Q&A sessions, Gyasi read excerpts of her novel and answered thoughtful questions posed by facilitators Mr. Schellhas and Cianni Williams ‘20.
Homegoing is Gyasi’s debut novel, the idea of which originated from when she was a sophomore at Stanford University, during a research-grant trip to Ghana. There, she said, she was struck by sudden inspiration while standing in Cape Coast Castle, the same place she would eventually set the story of Effia, the first of the many characters featured in Homegoing. Hearing stories of African women living both in the floors above and the dungeons below the castle, Gyasi described being struck by the stark contrasts in the fates of people with seemingly similar histories. Indeed, much of her novel explores the ways in which the lineage of two twin sisters, Effia and Esi, diverge and intertwine throughout history. It was the power of these stories— poignant snapshots on the effects of colonization and segregation— that touched the GA community.
In fact, the inspiration for inviting Yaa Gyasi came from the Head of School Rich Schellhas himself. In the Upper School’s assembly, he spoke of the time from when he first picked up the novel over the summer to feeling immediately attached to Effia’s character. As his fascination grew, Mr. Schellhas contacted Homegoing’s publisher to invite Yaa Gyasi to speak at GA. In preparation for Gyasi’s visit, some students read Homegoing as a summer reading discussion book and many teachers incorporated her pieces into their English or History curriculums. Furthermore, excerpts selected by Mr. Schellhas were read at Morning Meeting, with the intent of allowing the entire community to gain a sense of Gyasi’s work prior to her visit. To plan this process, a group of students and faculty worked with Mr. Schellhas during several lunches, and the Black Student Alliance also met to prepare for the evening reception.
During Gyasi’s visit, she spoke at the Black History Dinner program as well as the Middle and Upper School assemblies, each time with much acclaim. Her first speaking event was the Black History celebration and Head of School Distinguished Speaker event on February 11th, where she concluded a night of events with a discussion of her book. That evening, the Honickman was completely packed with students, families, and faculty alike, all eager to hear Gyasi speak. During the Upper School assembly on February 13th, Gyasi also received a standing ovation. For many in the community, her words truly resounded close to home.
Gyasi’s rather unconventional preference of speaking in a conversational format was considered a breath of fresh air. With Gyasi, Schellhas, and Williams sitting on couches in a “living room” style layout, the atmosphere was less that of a formal speech and more one of a lively discussion. The facilitators’ mix of casual and insightful questions helped keep the interview alive and fluid, and Gyasi’s calm and gentle demeanor was also widely praised. Gyasi began the Q&A by speaking of the joys and difficulties in her intensive research and writing, which spanned a total of seven years. In continuation, Gyasi offered insight to prospective young writers, speaking at length about what writing meant to her. She touched on the intricacies of the revision process and of how she dealt with a slew of media attention after publication. Gyasi followed by speaking about her own roots and how they were reflected in the novel’s plot and characters. In a thought-provoking question, Mr. Schellhas inquired on Gyasi’s opinions of the “Come Home” movement taking place in Ghana and other African nations, with Gyasi responding with her support. Concluding the assembly, Gyasi detailed what the word “home” meant to her.
Some students mentioned the assembly would have been even more impactful if they had been able to read the book in its entirety beforehand, and others wished there was more time for Gyasi to answer questions. Even so, there was no doubt that Gyasi’s visit was an extraordinary experience for the GA community and that we were tremendously blessed to hear from such an esteemed individual.