Quote by Jesmyn Ward: “Our lives were like the Mississippi: always moving, always changing, always carrying debris.”

This metaphor beautifully compares lives to a river, suggesting constant movement, inevitable change, and the accumulation of burdens and past experiences. It captures the dynamic and often heavy nature of existence, particularly for those facing generational struggles.

The late 2010s saw renewed national conversations about systemic racism, poverty, and the intergenerational impact of historical injustices in the American South. Ward's work contributed significantly to this ongoing dialogue through powerful narratives.

American novelist and editor who became the first woman to win the National Book Award for Fiction twice, for Salvage the Bones and Sing, Unburied, Sing. Her work centres the lives of Black Americans in the rural Mississippi Gulf Coast.