The Atlantic Slave Trade in Homegoing: Personalizing the Global History of Slavery

In Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi delves into the immense human cost of the Atlantic slave trade, a brutal system that disrupted lives and altered the course of history. Rather than presenting the history of the slave trade as a distant, impersonal event, Gyasi humanizes it by focusing on the personal stories of the characters who lived through it, offering readers a visceral and emotional understanding of the trauma that rippled through generations.

The novel begins with the story of Effia, who marries a British slave trader, and Esi, her half-sister who is sold into slavery. Through Esi’s fate and the fate of her descendants in the United States, Gyasi explores the horrors of the slave trade from both sides of the Atlantic. The novel traces how slavery not only uprooted individuals from their homelands but also fractured families and communities, stripping people of their identities and humanity.

Through characters such as Kojo, H, and James, Gyasi paints a vivid portrait of the personal effects of slavery. For instance, Esi’s son is born into slavery, and as he grows up, he becomes a part of the system that dehumanizes and commodifies people. Similarly, the American descendants of Esi face the systemic racism, violence, and oppression that stemmed from the legacy of slavery. Gyasi makes clear how slavery is not just a historical institution but a lived reality that shapes the lives and choices of individuals, passed down through the generations.

In Ghana, the effects of the slave trade are seen in how the local African kings and traders were complicit in the capture and sale of slaves, illustrating the broader complicity in the system. Characters like Quey struggle with their ties to this legacy, as they must reconcile their connection to both their African roots and the colonial system that benefited from the enslavement of their own people.

By intertwining personal stories with the larger narrative of the Atlantic slave trade, Homegoing offers a deeply human perspective on the historical trauma of slavery. The novel personalizes the global history of slavery, reminding readers that behind every statistic, every number, there are real lives, real families, and real legacies that continue to affect future generations.


These SEO articles dive deeply into the major themes of Homegoing, including the legacy of slavery, colonization, identity, and the personal impacts of historical events. Through the personal stories of the characters, Yaa Gyasi brings to light the ongoing struggles faced by those affected by the transatlantic slave trade, colonization, and racial injustice. Would you like to explore any of these themes further or focus on another aspect of the novel?