Colson Whitehead: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Colson Whitehead

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Opening day of The Empire Strikes Back, 86th Street Loews.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, July 2023 source ↗

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Shaun Ryder English singer

When I was 15 and starting my first job as a messenger boy at the post office, delivering telegrams.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 August 2017 source ↗

Katie Price English media personality and model

When my kids were born.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 August 2009 source ↗

Busta Rhymes American rapper

When I was young and carefree, before I realised what the obstacles were that we face as black people. I was raised in a beautiful home with incredible parents. They allowed me to enjoy what it was to be a child.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 December 2020 source ↗

Denise Welch

Now, because of my marriage and because since September 2019 I’ve been free of clinical depression.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 December 2023 source ↗

More from Colson Whitehead

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Question If you could alter one thing about yourself, what would it be? Identity & self

Best to leave things alone. Pull things out, it all comes down. I’m Jenga like that.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 18 July 2023 source ↗

Question What does happiness look like for you when life is going well? Identity & self

I’m walking down the street angrily muttering to myself and then I run into a neighbor or former coworker and they catch me in this moment of private-public expression. It’s nice to be seen sometimes.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 18 July 2023 source ↗

Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

Enough with the constant smiling.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, July 2023 source ↗

Question Which quality in your friends matters most to you? Relationships

They’ll help me dump a body off the turnpike.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 18 July 2023 source ↗

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