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Natasha Trethewey

91quotes

Natasha Trethewey


Poet Laureate of the United States and Pulitzer Prize Winner


Full Name and Common Aliases


Natasha Trethewey's full name is Natasha Terrell Trethewey. She is also known by her married surname, Natasha Barnes.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on April 17, 1966, in Gulfport, Mississippi, Natasha Trethewey is still alive.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Natasha Trethewey is an American poet, essayist, and professor. She holds the position of Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2012-2014 and was appointed as the United States Poet Laureate in 2014.

Early Life and Background


Growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, Trethewey experienced a unique blend of Southern culture and racial tension. Her mother, Gwendolyn Ann Turner, was an African American from Los Angeles who married a white man from the South. This mixed heritage would later influence much of her work. After graduating from high school, Trethewey attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, before moving to New York City and then later to Atlanta.

Major Accomplishments


Throughout her career, Natasha Trethewey has received numerous awards for her poetry collections, essays, and contributions to the literary world. Some of her notable achievements include:

Being appointed as the United States Poet Laureate in 2014 by President Barack Obama.
 Receiving a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2007 for her collection "Native Guard."
* Publishing several critically acclaimed poetry collections, including "Domestic Work," "Beyond Katrina: Mississippi Women Rise," and "Thrall."

Notable Works or Actions


Natasha Trethewey's writing often explores themes of identity, family history, racial tension, and the complexities of Southern culture. Her collection "Native Guard" delves into her own experiences with racism and loss while working as a youth poet-in-residence in New Orleans. In addition to her poetry collections, she has written extensively on topics such as Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact on Louisiana, particularly for women, as seen in her essay collection "Beyond Katrina: Mississippi Women Rise."

Impact and Legacy


As Poet Laureate of the United States, Trethewey aimed to raise awareness about literature and its importance in society. Her efforts included organizing poetry readings, workshops, and discussions across the country. Furthermore, she used her platform to address pressing social issues such as racial inequality and climate change. Through her work, Trethewey has paved the way for future generations of writers from diverse backgrounds.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Natasha Trethewey's quotes and writings are widely remembered due to their thought-provoking exploration of complex themes. Her poetry is praised for its lyricism, emotional depth, and unflinching examination of the human condition. As a prominent voice in contemporary American literature, her work serves as a testament to the power of poetry to convey truth, evoke empathy, and inspire change.

Quotes by Natasha Trethewey

When I was born here in Gulfport in 1966, my parents' interracial marriage was still illegal, and it was very hard to drive around town with my parents, to be out in public with my parents.
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When I was born here in Gulfport in 1966, my parents' interracial marriage was still illegal, and it was very hard to drive around town with my parents, to be out in public with my parents.
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My own journey in becoming a poet began with memory - with the need to record and hold on to what was being lost. One of my earliest poems, 'Give and Take,' was about my Aunt Sugar, how I was losing her to her memory loss.
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My own journey in becoming a poet began with memory - with the need to record and hold on to what was being lost. One of my earliest poems, 'Give and Take,' was about my Aunt Sugar, how I was losing her to her memory loss.
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Poetry's a thing that belongs to everyone.
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Poetry's a thing that belongs to everyone.
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In the narrative of my life, which is the look backward rather than forward into the unknown and unstoried future, I emerged from the pool as from a baptismal font – changed, reborn – as if I had been shown what would be my calling even then. This is how the past fits into the narrative of our lives, gives meaning and purpose. Even my mother’s death is redeemed in the story of my calling, made meaningful rather than merely senseless. It is the story I tell myself to survive.
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In the narrative of my life, which is the look backward rather than forward into the unknown and unstoried future, I emerged from the pool as from a baptismal font – changed, reborn – as if I had been shown what would be my calling even then. This is how the past fits into the narrative of our lives, gives meaning and purpose. Even my mother’s death is redeemed in the story of my calling, made meaningful rather than merely senseless. It is the story I tell myself to survive.
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Memory knows before knowing remembers,” William Faulkner wrote.
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Memory knows before knowing remembers,” William Faulkner wrote.
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I have always loved the feel of books, the way they give a literal weight to words and make of them a sacred object.
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I have always loved the feel of books, the way they give a literal weight to words and make of them a sacred object.
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In every family, at some point, there must be someone who feels like an outsider: the one always standing or sitting a little farther from the group in pictures; the older sibling when a new baby comes along; the child from a previous marriage, sometimes with a different last name. Suddenly, I was all of those.
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In every family, at some point, there must be someone who feels like an outsider: the one always standing or sitting a little farther from the group in pictures; the older sibling when a new baby comes along; the child from a previous marriage, sometimes with a different last name. Suddenly, I was all of those.
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To survive trauma one must be able to tell a story about it.
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To survive trauma one must be able to tell a story about it.
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What matters is the transformative power of metaphor and the stories we tell ourselves about the arc and meaning of our lives.
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What matters is the transformative power of metaphor and the stories we tell ourselves about the arc and meaning of our lives.
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For as long as I can remember, my father had been telling me that one day I would have to become a writer, that because of the nature of my experience I would have something necessary to say.
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For as long as I can remember, my father had been telling me that one day I would have to become a writer, that because of the nature of my experience I would have something necessary to say.
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