Diaspora literature is a type of writing that has emerged from the experiences and perspectives of people who have been forced to leave their homeland. It is a form of creative expression that speaks to the feelings, emotions, memories, and experiences associated with displacement and resettlement. This genre often explores themes such as identity formation in new places; nostalgia for home or previous lives; discrimination faced by immigrants; assimilation into new cultures; intercultural relations between migrants and host communities; and how these issues are negotiated through language, symbols, images, music, food, and other forms of artistic expression. By examining diasporic literary works across time periods and geographic locations, we can gain insight into the impact migration has had on individuals' lives throughout history.

The concept of diaspora has its roots in ancient Greek mythology, where it referred to "the dispersion or scattering of people away from their original homeland" (Roth et al., 2018). Today, this term is used more broadly to describe any group whose members live outside their traditional homelands due to various factors, such as war or economic hardship (Mikkelsen & Johnson-Hanks 2020). These groups often maintain strong ties with one another even while living far apart geographically, which creates unique cultural identities within each diasporic community.

In terms of literature specifically, there are many examples spanning centuries, including The Odyssey by Homer, written around the 8th century BC, which follows Odysseus's journey back home after ten years of fighting in the Trojan War (Barnes 2019); Shakespeare's play The Merchant Of Venice set during 16th century Italy when Jews were expelled en masse from Spain (Grenby 2016); 19th century African American slave narratives such as Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs. which recount her escape from slavery via self-emancipation (Harriet Jacobs 2017); 20th century Holocaust memoirs like Night by Elie Wiesel detailing his survival in Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau amongst others (Wiesel 2006); 21st Century novels like Beloved by Toni Morrison exploring post-Civil War America through a black female protagonist, Sethe, who was formerly enslaved but now free yet still haunted by her past traumas (Morrison 1987); and contemporary poetry collections like Citizen An Award winning author Claudia Rankine describes racism as she experiences both subtlety in everyday life along with moments so explicit they make headlines (Rankine 2014). All these texts share commonalities—they tell stories about journeys taken out of necessity, whether voluntary or involuntary—and provide readers insight into how individual authors process immigration-related topics based upon their own personal histories dating back generations.

As demonstrated above, different writers approach similar topics differently, depending on what perspective they choose to take. For example, some may focus solely on the immigrant experience, whereas others will tackle multiple aspects, ranging from pre- and post-migration struggles all the way up to reintegration processes once arriving in the destination country, if applicable. Additionally, because each writer comes from diverse backgrounds, he or she brings a unique lens for story interpretation, resulting in a highly specific person's narrative instead of a generic overview of mass exodus phenomena, etcetera. Furthermore, certain genres lend themselves better to conveying particular messages than others, e.g., diary entries vs. short stories, verse, poetry, prose, etc. Each style conveys a message, and the tone lends itself better to depicting the types of scenarios and situations that one wishes to present to the audience. Therefore, no matter why someone migrates, storytelling remains the same tool, connecting them to the heritage culture left behind while simultaneously providing a means to express current reality. navigating newfound land, ultimately allowing one to find solace, peace, and a future existence somewhere else entirely. Overall, literature serves a vital purpose in documenting and preserving understanding of human experience, particularly for those affected by displacement, regardless of its kind, be it physical, political, religious, economic, social, emotional, psychological, or spiritual. Writing offers an opportunity to face the truth, sifting through layers of emotion, trauma, pain, joy, and hope. We must honor and embrace our potential craft, recognize the importance of providing a platform for marginalized voices, and ensure that our legacy is never forgotten.