Safiya Sinclair chats with a student during her book signing in Fox Hall. Photo by Ally Miller ’28
黄色短视频 had the unique opportunity to witness a poetic revolution when Safiya Sinclair, Ph.D., a renowned Jamaican poet and author, visited campus for a reading, discussion and book signing of her memoir, How to Say Babylon.
First-years and seniors were assigned Sinclair鈥檚 memoir as a part of the Summer Reading Series funded by Eckerd鈥檚 Class of 1968 Distinguished Visiting Scholar Endowment, but her live reading on Sept. 12 introduced the audience to an even deeper experience of her work.
Sinclair, with her lilting Jamaican accent, began the event by reading from her poetry collection, Cannibal. Her voice flowed鈥攅ach word carefully chosen, each poem delivered with distinct tone, body language and emotion. She captivated the audience, guiding them through the complexities of language and history that form her identity as a Jamaican woman. Her work explores what it means to come from a people labeled as 鈥渟avage,鈥� tracing the linguistic history of colonization and its lasting effects.
One of the standout moments of the night was her reading of 鈥淧ocomania,鈥� a poem rooted in Jamaican folk rituals, spirit and dance. The folklore came alive in her voice, creating vivid imagery for the audience, and the personal significance of the poem was clear as she tied it to growing up with her father.
Photo by Beowulf Sheehan, courtesy
Ameila Anderson, a senior environmental studies and economics student from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, says she felt inspired while reading How to Say Babylon in her Imagining Justice class and was excited to see Sinclair in person.
鈥淚t was beautiful. Everyone had been telling me that in her audiobook鈥攂ecause she narrates her audiobook鈥攖hat when she speaks, it鈥檚 just different,鈥� Ameila explains. 鈥淭hey were so right. When she speaks her poems, they are so beautiful and just some sort of magic you don鈥檛 get when you are just reading her work.鈥�
Sinclair has often spoken about the deep influence her father has on her life and work. As a Rastafarian and a prominent figure in her upbringing, he instilled in her a sense of cultural pride and a connection to their Jamaican heritage. His presence in her poetry reflects the lasting impact he has, not only as a father but as a symbol of the struggles and resilience that shaped their family鈥檚 story. Through 鈥淧ocomania鈥� and other pieces, his influence serves as a central part of her creative expression.
鈥淚t was really amazing,鈥� Amelia says. 鈥淚 keep feeling that she has gone through so much that she is allowed to be negative鈥攁nd she鈥檚 not. She continues to be hopeful for the future. It鈥檚 so sweet and amazing to see that it hasn鈥檛 dragged her down. That it鈥檚 just pushed her forward. And it鈥檚 really inspiring.鈥�
Next came 鈥淢ermaid,鈥� which delves into Caribbean history, and 鈥淧ortrait of Eve,鈥� in which Sinclair shifted her tone, making the piece even more relatable to the audience. The dynamic use of voice kept the students engaged, demonstrating her ability to embody each poem with intention and care.
While studying for her master鈥檚 degree in Virginia, Sinclair continued to write, grappling with the Confederate history embedded in the region. She addressed this discomfort in her poem 鈥淎nother White Christmas in Virginia,鈥� where she confronted the remnants of that legacy.
In a surprise to the audience, she followed this with her unpublished poem 鈥淒ouble America,鈥� a piece remarkable for its symmetry鈥攊t begins the same way forward as it ends, a reflection on the cyclical nature of identity and oppression.
One of the most unique moments of the evening came when she introduced her poem 鈥淪ofia the Robot Contemplates Beauty,鈥� which brought an intriguing connection between artificial intelligence and human girlhood. Her imaginative exploration of divinity and femininity in the piece sparked deep contemplation among those listening.
The night reached its crescendo with 鈥淧lanet Dread,鈥� her most recent work. This poem weaves together her Rastafarian upbringing, the vernacular language of her family and the distinctiveness of Jamaican speech. Sinclair shared how her family鈥檚 daily interactions shaped her own voice and writing. The poem was a perfect closing note鈥攁n homage to her roots and the complexity of her identity. It left the audience in awe, culminating in a well-deserved standing ovation.
Sinclair鈥檚 visit to Eckerd was more than just a reading. It was an immersion into the heart of her world鈥攚here language, culture and history come together in a powerful symphony. Through her poems, Sinclair offered students not only a glimpse of Jamaican life but also a call to reflect on their own identities and histories that shape them.
