First published 2023
Safiya Sinclair grows up under the watchful eye of her father, a volatile reggae musician who follows a strict sect of Rastafari. He obsesses over protecting his daughters from Babylon, the corrupting influences of the Western world. In their Jamaican home, he bans pants, makeup, jewelry, opinions, and friendships. Safiya and her sisters must wear long skirts and head wraps while their mother struggles silently under the weight of housework and rigid beliefs. But Safiya's mother secretly gives her children books and poetry, which become Safiya's lifeline. As Safiya discovers her voice through education and writing, she watches her mother's voiceless suffering and grows determined to escape. Her father's paranoia and rage intensify with each act of rebellion, leading to explosive violence. The collision between father and daughter becomes inevitable as Safiya's poetic voice strengthens and her defiance grows. This memoir traces her journey from obedient daughter to independent woman and poet, confronting the patriarchal traditions and colonial legacy that shaped her world.
Genres: coming-of-age, autobiography, biography-memoir, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Jamaica
Period: 20th-century
352 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence, sexism