Think from KERA The unbreakable bond of found family
Mar 23, 2026
Tayari Jones, novelist and Emory creative writing professor, discusses her novel Kin and its portraits of Black life. She explores motherless upbringing, surrogate caregivers, Jim Crow small-town realities, class and HBCU dynamics, humor amid hardship, queer relationships, reproductive risk, and the power of letters to hold long-distance bonds.
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Different Types Of Mother Loss Shape Lives
- Different absences of mothers create distinct psychic patterns: certain loss yields acceptance, while ambiguous abandonment yields chronic hope and stagnation.
- Jones likens Niecy's reserved seat for her dead mother to Annie's nightly cycle of hope and disappointment.
Tiny Privileges Create Big Divergences
- Small edges of privilege can determine life trajectories, opening college access and altering relationships.
- Niecy's slight advantage lets her attend Spelman while Annie, with less privilege, recognizes they 'never knit with the same needles.'
Use Annual Journal Reviews To Track Your Life
- Keep journals and review them annually to gain a clear-eyed assessment of your life and ward off distorted self-criticism.
- Jones keeps multiple journals and uses year-end reviews to see accomplishments and care she provided to family.
