Summary Of Homegoing By Yaa Gyasi

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is a polarizing novel that follows the lineage of two half sisters and their roles in slavery dating back to the 1800’s. Through 8 generations we see oppression take its place in very different ways on either side of the family tree starting in the very beginning with Effia marrying a white man and living in the Cape Coast castle while the other sister, Esi is captured, enslaved, and sold at the very same castle. While neither sister knows the other exists, they come so close to connecting, as the descendants of each side eventually do. Through time, we see how each generation changes slowly and has their own internal struggles. By sharing each descendant's stories and feelings, Gyasi shows how different roles in colonialism and slavery affect generational identity and experiences within a family lineage, as well as how personal emblems can affect the outcome of a generation.

Thus far in the novel the only perspective of white people was them directly affecting the selling and capturing of slaves. Kojos home owner is a very nice white man who we can see truly cares for Kojo and his family's well being. When comparing him to the other white men in the story up until that point like James Collins and the other colonizers, we see a vast difference in ideals and mannerisms toward the people from Ghana in general. When the letter comes out that any runaway or freed slaves can be taken forcefully back to their plantations, no matter how far, the home owner is especially worried for Kojo and his family. Kojo doesn't seem to be worried about this new discovery as his family had the proper documentation that they were set free. However, when his wife Anna and youngest son H go missing, all of that changes. We see such vast change in Kojo as well. He goes from a loving father and hard worker to a dead beat who can barely make it to work on time