Picture a Philadelphia-born storyteller with South African and Trinidadian roots, weaving tales of identity and loss that linger like a heartfelt song—meet Zinzi Clemmons! Her debut novel, What We Lose, introduced a bold voice in contemporary fiction, blending raw emotion with experimental flair. With a multicultural lens and a knack for capturing the human experience, Clemmons has carved a unique space in the literary world, all while shaping the next generation as an educator and editor.
The Making of Zinzi Clemmons
Born in 1985 in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, Zinzi Clemmons grew up straddling worlds. Her South African mother, hailing from an upper-middle-class Johannesburg family, and her African-American father, raised in Jamaica, Queens, gave her a rich cultural tapestry. Summers spent in South Africa deepened her connection to her heritage, while her cousin, rapper Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest, added a creative spark. Clemmons studied critical theory at Brown University before earning an MFA in fiction at Columbia, where she honed her craft under Paul Beatty. Her early career took a poignant turn in 2012 when she paused her writing to care for her mother, who was battling cancer—a period that profoundly shaped her work.
Zinzi Clemmons’s Unforgettable Stories
Clemmons’s debut, What We Lose (2017), is a gut-punch of a novel, blending autofiction, vignettes, and visual elements like photos and charts. It follows Thandi, a young woman navigating grief and her mixed-race identity, mirroring Clemmons’s own experiences. Praised by Vogue as the “Debut Novel of the Year,” it earned accolades for its fragmented, stream-of-consciousness style, drawing comparisons to Claudia Rankine and Jenny Offill. The novel’s themes of loss, race, and belonging resonate deeply, offering an intimate yet universal exploration of identity.
Beyond her novel, Clemmons penned the foreword to a 2019 Penguin Classics edition of Jean Toomer’s Cane, showcasing her literary influence. Her forthcoming essay collection, Freedom, promises to dive deeper into her incisive social commentary. As a cofounder of Apogee Journal and a contributing editor to Literary Hub, she’s also championed diverse voices, amplifying art that grapples with identity. Her writing, marked by visual experimentation and emotional potency, invites readers into a world where personal and political collide.
Why Zinzi Clemmons Matters
Zinzi Clemmons’s impact lies in her fearless exploration of identity and grief, offering a lens on the complexities of being mixed-race in a polarized world. Her work challenges literary norms, blending prose with visual elements to create a visceral reading experience. As a professor at Occidental College and the Colburn Conservatory, she inspires students to find their voices, while her editorial work fosters inclusivity in publishing. Clemmons’s ability to weave personal pain into universal truths has made her a vital voice in contemporary fiction, resonating with readers seeking authenticity.
- Born: 1985, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
- Key Work: What We Lose (2017)
- Awards: National Book Award 5 Under 35 Honoree (2017), finalist for Aspen Words Literary Prize
- Notable Fact: Cofounder of Apogee Journal, amplifying diverse voices
Snag What We Lose and dive into Zinzi Clemmons’s poignant, boundary-pushing world of contemporary fiction!