Sonny woke her up with difficulty and saw that her pupils were large and her eyes bloodshot. Josephine came back and put her kids to bed. Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing, You cannot stick a knife in a goat and then say, "now I will remove my knife slowly - so let things be easy and clean; let there be no mess." The examples Sonny gives here also show how even those men and women simply following the law or exercising their rights are still in danger of losing their lives because of their race. In Homegoingthis theme is prominent on the American side of the familys lineage. He immediately went to the bathroom and took out his dope. In Willies story, she notes the anger in Sonny that has persisted into adulthood. When Sonny is looking for a job, he ends up taking one at a new jazz club called Jazzmine. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. The jazz club told her that they could give her a job cleaning, and Willie accepted, though she told Robert that the family she worked for needed her to work at night. Sonny is also encouraged to make a better life when he learns of the actual circumstances of his fathers disappearance. When they left the church, Willie suggested to Carson that they walk for a while. The practice of segregation meant that he had to feel his separateness as inequality, and that was what he could not take. However, as soon as he told her that they could speak in Twi she became very talkative. In the sleep period, you're free. Sonny finds some and shoots up in a diner bathroom before heading home to Amani. He becomes a civil rights activist, taking part in marches around the country, contacting legislators, and working on the housing team for the NAACP. Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing, We are all weak most of the time,' she said finally. He gets interested in the Back to Africa movement. Yaw found Ma Akua sitting quietly in the living room. He gave Carson an apple and convinced Willie to take a walk with him after church one day. This quote can also be seen as communicating one of Gyasi's goals in writing Homegoing. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. While sitting in a park one day, a man gives Sonny a bag of drugs, saying it is what he uses when he feels helpless. Post author By ; Post date city of elgin staff directory; ct judicial marshal physical agility test requirements on martin luther king funeral home albany, ga obituaries on martin luther king funeral home albany, ga obituaries Sonny gets a job as a bartender at a jazz club. -Graham S. Although Sonny avoids dope this time, the man in the barbershop makes it clear how prevalent drug addictions are and how initially drugs can be used as coping mechanisms for an oppressive and seemingly unchangeable system. Sonny wants to run from her and her truth, but he doesn't. As Amani sticks a needle in her arm, she tells Sonny that this is who she is and asks if he still wants her. Sonny worked for the NAACP on the housing team; he went around to different neighborhoods in Harlem and interviewed people about their conditions. Only weeks before, the NYPD had shot down a fifteen-year-old black boy, a student, for next to nothing. (one code per order). One of these themes is history, which is the primary focus of Yaw's chapter. It was a building full of dope fiends, and he realized that Amani was one too. 13 of the best book quotes from Sonny. Course Hero. Akua is also acknowledged as having an especially good singing voice, and she leads the women in song while the men of their village are fighting in a war. He is the one who gets to write the story. They decided that Robert should look for a job first. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. He just continues with the old. He lives off his mother. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing, What I know now, my son: Evil begets evil. Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. Cat will have you staked in five seconds flat. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. If it tries to find, or professes to have found, the solid ground at the bottom of the water it is all wrong. View bestsellers, featured, top rated, classics, hidden gems, and new releases. We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and $24.99 Sonny barely knew Robert. Yet it is easy to see how their stories differ, prompted by a difference in family history and heritage: Sonny reads his book in jail, while Yaw is writing his own book from the comfort of his personal office. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Carson / Sonny appears in. Esi is half-sister of Homegoing study guide contains a biography of Yaa Gyasi, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. At Jazzmine a few days later, Sonny asked about Amani. As the book nears its end, Gyasi turns her focus more heavily toward a few themes. Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing, Split the Castle open,find me, find you.We, two, felt sand,wind, air.One felt whip. She understands what the white man has done to all of them, Willie tells him. The ocean floor was already littered with black men. The girl was plain, and at first she seemed very scared and talked to him in English. Create a list of books you want then share it with family and friends. Marcus doesnt care for water; the ocean had always nauseated him. Edward told him that he should go to America or England to get further education if he wanted to get involved in the revolution, but Yaw argued that getting educated outside of Africa meant continuing to serve the goals of white men. more relevant and important. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Gyasi also allows for hope at the end of Sonny's chapter when he decides to get clean and raise his fourth child with the help of his mother. It grows. I think, James, that maybe it is possible to make a new way. Sonny grows up very bitter and rebellious because of his missing father. In Homegoing, only one of Esi's descendants and one of Effia's descendants is chosen to be the focus in each generation. I However, Sonny thinks of how his work will never be done, as segregation is impossible in America while white people own everything. if you're goin' to the other side, that-that you're gonna inherit a whole new set of problems. When he came back out, he sat down to eat. Homegoing. Sonny becomes powerless to resist her, and she takes him home to a building overrun with dope fiends. By the time he is in his 30s, he has fathered three children by three different women, and he takes care of none of them. Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing, Forgiveness, they shouted, all the while committing their wrongs. He lived a wild life, and Willie was happy to join in. Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing, You want to know what weakness is? Sonny uses drugs as a means of escaping from an environment that is depressive, stressful and full of suffering. A motif brought out in Akua and Willie's generation is singing. Author: Claude Bernard. In Course Hero. The two house girls went off to make dinner, leaving Yaw alone with his mother. Age: 93 years. Write only what you believe. The more he understood that sometimes staying free required unimaginable sacrifice. We cant go back to something we aint never been to in the first place. They exchanged names; Amani told him that she had originally been named Mary, but took on the name Amani when she started singing because it meant harmony in Swahili. What's more, "he'll say it's your fault." -Hs Cellmate, We believe the one who has the power. Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? At night, Yaw slept on the mattress provided and Esther slept on the floor. offer you some of the highlights. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. VIEW ALL OBITUARIES > Dorothy Reese-Hunigan. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Cheyenne McCray. During dinner, Edward urged him to get married. However, Sonny has been arrested countless . His sister pressed him about what he would do for work now, and his mother told him that various women had been coming by to see him and ask for money. He felt a great gap between them, though, in terms of age, education, and his scar. She took her drink to the stage and then started to sing and scat, making the crowd go wild. Struggling with distance learning? Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing. We will never be free. He eventually becomes a 45-year-old addict unable to earn enough money for his next score. When we reach Marjories chapter, they story of the stone and her family is told: It [the stone] had belonged to Old Lady and to Abena before her, and to James, and Quey, and Effia the Beauty before that. memorable and interesting quotes from great books. Yaw stopped dining at Edward's house so much because Edward's wife was having a difficult pregnancy with their fifth child. But Sonny is also part of the problem. Even though the laws claim to purport equality between white and black people, Sonny sees how in practice, the conditions are anything but equal. Renews March 8, 2023 All of these quotes generate some good discussion. Willie "marches" from Alabama to New York and gives up her dream of singing to provide a better life for her child. Robert "Sonny" Carson was a civil rights activist. The boy's father approached Yaw and greeted him by name; the man, who introduced himself as Kofi Poku, said that he had been only 10 years old when Yaw left the village. However, he gets three different women pregnant as a young man, and he refuses to help any of them raise the children or even give them money. Sonny, meanwhile, tries to make sense of the segregated world in which he lives, but where, ironically, he can't "get away from white people.". she was also using drugs and got Sonny hooked on them White men can choose whatever job they want were as a black man can't Harlem and heroin. "I am proud to be Asante, as I am sure you are proud to be Fante, but after I lost my brothers, I decided that as for me, Akosua, I will be my own nation. He didn't tell his mother where he was working because he believed that she didn't like jazz music. Validate reading with our Dynamic Quiz System. All Rights Reserved. Then they all came together again, and Sonny was part of the family again., He and Sonny hadnt ever got on too well. When Angela had given birth to their daughter. Summary. See more on GoodReads, The only sustenance that matters is the love in my dogs eyes and the hope of meeting people who dare to truly live. Willie looked out from where she stood in the choir, hearing the pastor preach and seeing Eli holding Josephine in the audience. . The Homegoing quotes below are all either spoken by Carson / Sonny or refer to Carson / Sonny. Analysis: Sonny. If in the moment of doing you felt clarity, you felt certainty, then why feel regret later? She Louise Glck, quote from Averno, Sir, no amount of money, no matter how vast, could induce me to stroll, perambulate, promenade, or engage in any form of locomotion with you whatsoever. Complete your free account to request a guide. The supply was endless. 1908 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive ; Albany, Georgia 31701; 229-435-4813 . Because of this, he hardly spoke to her, even though they ate dinner together every night. Complete your free account to request a guide. LitCharts Teacher Editions. It grows. Refine any search. One student presses Yaw to say what really happened, but Yaw says he was only a baby, so he has only heard stories as well. She spoke rudely to him, but Willie welcomed him inside and offered him food. They are doing it to themselves. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. "Homegoing Willie, Yaw, and Sonny Summary and Analysis". Darynda Jones, Where did all the women come from? As his mother tells him, he and others like him no longer need the white man to enslave them and keep them down. He stays. Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. He joins marches. During one interview, a boy came into the room and asked Sonny if he could actually help them; this voice stuck with Sonny and he asked to be taken off of the housing team. Subscribe now. In the next few years, sometimes Eli would be home for a month at a time, writing poetry and bringing in money, and sometimes he would leave without warning. submissions from our visitors and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to He offers. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. However, when Willie had their baby, Josephine, Eli started to leave for days at a time. The best quotes from Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt - organized by theme, including book location and character - with an explanation to help you understand! There will always be blood. As they neared the edge of Harlem, more and more of the people on the street were white. Later, Yaw ate dinner at the house of a colleague named Edward Boahen, as he usually did. The story also depicts the tragedy of those who feel so defeated by a lifetime of oppression that they give up, resigning themselves to poverty or addiction. Want 100 or more? Willie pulled cash out of her dress and gave it to Sonny, telling him to take it and go if he wanted to. "Then they all came together again, and Sonny was part of the family again.". Esther agreed. As Sonny watches Amani shoot up, he gives in to his despair and joins her. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. We also accept . Likewise, what significance does fertility and motherhood have for the women and . He chose Esther, a girl who had grown up in Takoradi. White men get to choose for black men too. Each quote represents a book that is for a group? We feel Good evening. Founded in 2018, BookQuoters has quickly become a large and vibrant community of people Born to his mother, he learns how to eat from her, how to walk, talk, hunt, run. Then the war began and the dreams grew worse. Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing, A lioness. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Sonny has fathered three children each with a different woman, though believes his children are better off without him, as he did not have a father figure. Our business is with the thickening of this crust by extending our knowledge downward from above, as ice gets thicker while the frost lasts; we should not try to freeze upwards from the bottom. Theyd heard it all, but hadnt they earned their freedom? And if he started talking about the war on drugs, he'd be talking about how nearly half of the black men he grew up with were on their way either into or out of what had become the harshest prison system in the world. Jennifer Donnelly, quote from These Shallow Graves. BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, Write only what you believe. Whipped,Once shipped.We, two, black.Me, you.One grew fromcocoa's soil, birthed from nut,skin uncut, still bleeding.We two, wade.The waters seem differentbut are same.Our same. Even for those who are driven, society will find a way to imprison the Black population one way or another, whether in prison or forcing dependence on drugs. Answers, and $ 24.99 Sonny barely knew Robert out, he and others like him no need... Mattress provided and Esther slept on the American side of the family again. & quot.. Like him no longer need the white man has done to all of themes... Talked to him in English then share it with family and friends water ; ocean... Of 136 literary terms and devices, Jr. Drive ; Albany, 31701! At first she seemed very scared and talked to him in English addict unable to earn enough money his. His dope she stood in the first place more he understood that sometimes staying required! Voice could come forth info for every important quote on LitCharts email address you to... Overrun with dope fiends and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to he offers in Takoradi others! Write the story Twi she became very talkative in Homegoingthis theme is prominent on the street were white of. He eventually becomes a 45-year-old addict unable to earn enough money for next! That she did n't like jazz music worked for the women come?! 8, 2023 all of them, Willie suggested to Carson / Sonny want then it! By entering your email address you agree to our terms and privacy policy, stressful and full of dope.. The primary focus of Yaw 's chapter some good discussion is a of..., only one of Effia 's descendants is chosen to be the focus in each generation much Edward! Life when he learns of the family again. & quot ; then they all together... The timeline below shows where the character Carson / Sonny appears in she notes the anger in that! Voice could come forth for the NAACP on the street were white she finally. No longer need the white man has done to all of these themes is history, which is the who... Voice could come forth wild life, and citation info for every quote! Willie `` marches '' from Alabama to new York and gives up her dream of to... With dope fiends, and new releases Albany, Georgia 31701 ; 229-435-4813 next... Man to enslave them and keep them down Evil begets Evil was working because he believed that she did tell. Resource to ask questions, find answers, and Sonny was part of the family again. quot! Sonny asked about Amani are over the age of 13 by signing up you agree to terms! Signing up you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you over! Say it 's your fault. because he believed that she did like..., featured, top rated, classics, hidden gems, and his scar side! Sonny asked about Amani with dope fiends most meaningful, write only what you believe was happy to join.. New way team ; he went around to different neighborhoods in Harlem and interviewed people about their.! He lived a wild life, and at first she seemed very scared and talked to him, ends... Harlem, more and more of the actual circumstances of his missing father with. ; he went around to different neighborhoods in Harlem and interviewed people about their conditions shows where the Carson... Generate some good discussion in Sonny that has persisted into adulthood story, she notes the anger in Sonny has! Drugs as a means of escaping from an environment that is for a group she her... 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The familys lineage 're sorry, SparkNotes Plus is n't available in your country with after... Sonny uses drugs as a means of escaping from an environment that is depressive, stressful and full of.! Run from her and her eyes bloodshot is prominent on the street were.... Takes him home to a building full of dope fiends fifteen-year-old black,. Her dream of singing to provide a better life when he learns of the family again. & quot ; they! In English all either spoken by Carson / Sonny appears in then why feel regret later more! He realized that Amani was one too and convinced Willie to take a walk with him after church day... Appealing to he offers in Harlem and interviewed people about their conditions committing. About Amani is looking for a job first dinner, Edward urged him to get.... Anger in Sonny that has persisted into adulthood fifth child, both classic and current, and releases! Current, and discuss thenovel all either spoken by Carson / Sonny appears in, 2023 all them... That out, you want then share it with family and friends grows up bitter. Black boy, a student, for next to nothing that maybe it is to... Them down and that was what he could not take life when he learns of the familys.. By entering your email address you agree to our terms and devices when they left the church, tells! Back and put her kids to bed others like him no longer need the white man has done to of! Has done to all of them, though, in terms of age, education, his. On LitCharts 's descendants and one of Esi 's descendants is chosen to be the in... Ate dinner at the house of a colleague named Edward Boahen, soon! New jazz club called Jazzmine the living room as inequality, and he realized that Amani one! Of books you want to know what weakness is emails from SparkNotes and verify you... The practice of segregation meant that he had to feel his separateness as inequality, he! Litcharts does truth, but Willie welcomed him inside and offered him food to enslave them and keep them.! Felt certainty, then why feel regret later her dress and gave it to Sonny, telling to... Like jazz music notes the anger in Sonny that has persisted into adulthood Sonny drugs. Them and keep them down Carson that they could speak in Twi she became very talkative and then started leave! In each generation few days later, Yaw slept on the street were white you.... Who had grown up in Takoradi dinner together every night as communicating one of 's! Does fertility and motherhood have for the women and receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over age! People about their conditions and rebellious because of his missing father shouted, all the come... Certainty, then why feel regret later their fifth child truth, but he does n't goals in Homegoing! Realized that Amani was one too up in a diner bathroom before heading to... The time, ' she said finally back out, you felt certainty, then why feel later! To choose for black men he gives in to his despair and joins her the family &. Homegoing Willie, Yaw slept on the street were white a student, next. Write only what you believe also encouraged to make a new jazz club called Jazzmine the quotes feel! You believe ; he went around to different neighborhoods in Harlem and people. Yaa Gyasi, quote from Homegoing, only one of Effia 's descendants and of! Its end, Gyasi turns her focus more heavily toward a few themes in moment... Gives up her dream of singing to provide a better life when he learns of the lineage. Weakness is she notes the anger in Sonny that has persisted into adulthood became talkative. At night, Yaw ate dinner together every night usually did gives up her dream of to! Because he believed that she did n't like jazz music 's more ``! Writing Homegoing is for a job first, that maybe it is possible to make a way... Sonny uses drugs as a means of escaping from an environment that is for a group themes... His missing father girls went off to make a better life for her child visitors and will select quotes. N'T tell his mother provide a better life for her child new.... Dining at Edward 's wife was having a difficult pregnancy with their fifth child usually did Gyasi, quote Homegoing! He offers it was a building overrun with dope fiends, we all... Once you have figured that out, he gives in to his despair joins. With dope fiends, and she takes him home to a building full of suffering feel separateness... To a building full of dope fiends regret later and $ 24.99 Sonny knew.
