Kiese Laymon (born 1974) is an American writer and essayist whose work explores race, class, family, violence, addiction, and identity with remarkable honesty and emotional power. Drawing on his experiences growing up in Mississippi, he has emerged as one of the most important voices in contemporary American literature. His acclaimed memoir Heavy: An American Memoir examines his complex relationship with his mother and the realities of being Black in the American South. The book won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and is widely praised for its literary brilliance and unflinching self-examination.
