How to Say Babylon: A Memoir
National Book Critics Circle Award Winner
A New York Times Notable Book
A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!
A Best Book of 2023 by the New York Times, Time, The Washington Post, Vulture, Shelf Awareness, Goodreads, Esquire, The Atlantic, NPR, and Barack Obama With echoes of Educated and Born a Crime, How to Say Babylon is the stunning story of the author's struggle to break free of her rigid Rastafarian upbringing, ruled by her father's strict patriarchal views and repressive control of her childhood, to find her own voice as a woman and poet. Throughout her childhood, Safiya Sinclair's father, a volatile reggae musician and militant adherent to a strict sect of Rastafari, became obsessed with her purity, in particular, with the threat of what Rastas call Babylon, the immoral and corrupting influences of the Western world outside their home. He worried that womanhood would make Safiya and her sisters morally weak and impure, and believed a woman's highest virtue was her obedience. In an effort to keep Babylon outside the gate, he forbade almost everything. In place of pants, the women in her family were made to wear long skirts and dresses to cover their arms and legs, head wraps to cover their hair, no make-up, no jewelry, no opinions, no friends. Safiya's mother, while loyal to her father, nonetheless gave Safiya and her siblings the gift of books, including poetry, to which Safiya latched on for dear life. And as Safiya watched her mother struggle voicelessly for years under housework and the rigidity of her father's beliefs, she increasingly used her education as a sharp tool with which to find her voice and break free. Inevitably, with her rebellion comes clashes with her father, whose rage and paranoia explodes in increasing violence. As Safiya's voice grows, lyrically and poetically, a collision course is set between them. How to Say Babylon is Sinclair's reckoning with the culture that initially nourished but ultimately sought to silence her; it is her reckoning with patriarchy and tradition, and the legacy of colonialism in Jamaica. Rich in lyricism and language only a poet could evoke, How to Say Babylon is both a universal story of a woman finding her own power and a unique glimpse into a rarefied world we may know how to name, Rastafari, but one we know little about.
A New York Times Notable Book
A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!
A Best Book of 2023 by the New York Times, Time, The Washington Post, Vulture, Shelf Awareness, Goodreads, Esquire, The Atlantic, NPR, and Barack Obama With echoes of Educated and Born a Crime, How to Say Babylon is the stunning story of the author's struggle to break free of her rigid Rastafarian upbringing, ruled by her father's strict patriarchal views and repressive control of her childhood, to find her own voice as a woman and poet. Throughout her childhood, Safiya Sinclair's father, a volatile reggae musician and militant adherent to a strict sect of Rastafari, became obsessed with her purity, in particular, with the threat of what Rastas call Babylon, the immoral and corrupting influences of the Western world outside their home. He worried that womanhood would make Safiya and her sisters morally weak and impure, and believed a woman's highest virtue was her obedience. In an effort to keep Babylon outside the gate, he forbade almost everything. In place of pants, the women in her family were made to wear long skirts and dresses to cover their arms and legs, head wraps to cover their hair, no make-up, no jewelry, no opinions, no friends. Safiya's mother, while loyal to her father, nonetheless gave Safiya and her siblings the gift of books, including poetry, to which Safiya latched on for dear life. And as Safiya watched her mother struggle voicelessly for years under housework and the rigidity of her father's beliefs, she increasingly used her education as a sharp tool with which to find her voice and break free. Inevitably, with her rebellion comes clashes with her father, whose rage and paranoia explodes in increasing violence. As Safiya's voice grows, lyrically and poetically, a collision course is set between them. How to Say Babylon is Sinclair's reckoning with the culture that initially nourished but ultimately sought to silence her; it is her reckoning with patriarchy and tradition, and the legacy of colonialism in Jamaica. Rich in lyricism and language only a poet could evoke, How to Say Babylon is both a universal story of a woman finding her own power and a unique glimpse into a rarefied world we may know how to name, Rastafari, but one we know little about.
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Community Reviews
Thie book vividly captures the essence of Jamaica through its lush descriptions and cultural references. Sinclair's lyrical prose paints a rich portrait of the island, from its vibrant landscapes to its complex socio-political fabric. The memoir delves into her personal experiences growing up in a strict Rastafarian household, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the unique traditions and struggles within her family and community. The book's powerful narrative is interwoven with reflections on Jamaica's history, music, and resistance, making it a deeply resonant read for anyone interested in the interplay between identity and place.
Loved this book! So well written with poetic language. Interesting look into the Rastafarian culture.
"How to Say Babylon" was our first book club read and it was absolutely incredible. I learned so much about the Rastafarian community and the vibrant landscape of Jamaica.
Safiya Sinclair’s story is one of immense strength and resilience. Her journey to reinvent herself and find happiness in what she loves is both inspiring and moving. Her talent shines through every page, making this book a captivating read from start to finish.
There’s so much to unpack here, and I’m thrilled we chose this as our inaugural book. It’s not just a read; it’s an experience that stays with you. Highly recommended!
"It was now six years since I had graduated high school, and I was still waiting for my life to begin. There had been so many maybes and could bes and what ifs, false starts and false hopes. And, even when I knew that every other young person my age was elsewhere, in school or working, I clung to the passing branches of hope."
This is a beautifully written account of a girl's quest, at first to gain her father's approval, then to understand the world outside her sheltered though abusive upbringing, and finally to assume control of her own destiny and take her place among the worthy and deserving. We are invited into Safiya's world -- from its beautiful, scenic Jamaican countryside vista to its intimate and sometimes painful reality -- as she paints pictures with her words. She must work through some trauma and come to the shocking realization that her father's approval holds less weight than she thought, and that her mother is in fact a flawed human being.
Her strength of character and her bravery shine through on every page.
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