Zinzi Clemmons facts for kids

Zinzi Clemmons (born in 1985) is an American writer. She is famous for her first novel, What We Lose, which came out in 2017.

About Zinzi Clemmons

Early Life and Education

Zinzi Clemmons was born in 1985. Her mother was from Johannesburg, South Africa, and her father was African-American, raised in Jamaica, Queens. Zinzi grew up in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. She spent her summers visiting South Africa.

A famous rapper named Phife Dawg was her cousin. He was part of the music group A Tribe Called Quest.

Zinzi went to Brown University for her first degree. There, she studied something called critical theory, which helps you think deeply about ideas. Later, she earned a special writing degree (an MFA) in fiction from Columbia University.

In 2012, Zinzi moved back home to care for her mother. Her mother was very sick with cancer. During this time, Zinzi started writing in a diary about her experiences. These diary entries later helped her write her first novel.

Zinzi Clemmons is married to André Naffis-Sahely. They live in Culver City, which is near Los Angeles.

Her Writing Career

While she was still studying at Columbia University, Zinzi Clemmons started an online magazine called Apogee. This magazine shared art and writing that explored ideas about identity.

Zinzi's first novel, What We Lose, was published in 2017. The book was inspired by her own life. It tells a story about a character who cares for her mother, who is dying of cancer.

The book is written in a very unique way. It includes different types of writing, like blog posts, photos, and even song lyrics. Many people praised What We Lose. Vogue magazine even called it the best first novel of that year.

In 2017, the National Book Foundation chose Zinzi Clemmons for their "5 under 35" list. This list highlights five talented writers under the age of 35.

Awards for What We Lose

Published Works

• What We Lose (2017)
• Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, edited by Glory Edim (2018)