woolgatherer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Smith unflinchingly shares the harsh, violent reality that Black communities face using movies to deliver their message, these poems dripping with heartbreak and frustration. I especially liked how they broke the fourth wall at times to make the reader self-aware of their own identity, especially those who identify as white. I especially think of the line: “reader, what does it / feel like to be safe? white?” which really packs a punch. “Dear White America” does something similar.
For such a short collection (and I so wish there were more poems), so much was evoked, so much was presented, and these poems are well worth reading again.
Some favorites: “Lion King in the Hood,” “Short Film,” “Dear White America,” and “Dinosaurs in the Hood”
Read for the Sealey Challenge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, and Violence
alexus_sb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Racism
niniwa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence
spiritedfaraway's review
emotional
reflective
5.0
There are not words to describe how amazing this is. Danez Smith has such a fantastic way of weaving things together and if you only read some poetry, definitely let it be theirs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Gun violence, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Murder
paigeisinabook's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Note: I am still learning how to read and process poetry. I will definitely need to re-read this with a more critical eye. I currently have only read it for first impressions. I will be re-reading soon.
Summary
Imagine if Black stories were made into movies. How would they look? Feel? What would they say about the Black experience? What imagery and motifs would viewers sell their time to see? In Black Movie, here is but a taste of the movies we could have.
Review
I appreciate this 40-page collection serving up the Black experience juxtaposed against classic white western tales that usually exclude us. Also, it expanded upon Black joy in a way we don't normally see on film.
But back to the collection. Even though it was published in 2015, the message is still timely. It's discussing Black life in hoods, Black boy dreams, sexuality, death, and more through the eyes of a movie. Sometimes the movie motif was lost or could have been stronger for me. But alas, it is poetry, maybe I missed something.
Recommend?
If you are uncomfortable with the death of Black lives being repeatedly mentioned or the other f-word, maybe skip this one. But if you want to dive into a look at a few aspects of Black life and imagine with others a world where Black movies exist to tell our full stories and not just showcase our pain, you should check this out.
Summary
Imagine if Black stories were made into movies. How would they look? Feel? What would they say about the Black experience? What imagery and motifs would viewers sell their time to see? In Black Movie, here is but a taste of the movies we could have.
Review
I appreciate this 40-page collection serving up the Black experience juxtaposed against classic white western tales that usually exclude us. Also, it expanded upon Black joy in a way we don't normally see on film.
But back to the collection. Even though it was published in 2015, the message is still timely. It's discussing Black life in hoods, Black boy dreams, sexuality, death, and more through the eyes of a movie. Sometimes the movie motif was lost or could have been stronger for me. But alas, it is poetry, maybe I missed something.
Recommend?
If you are uncomfortable with the death of Black lives being repeatedly mentioned or the other f-word, maybe skip this one. But if you want to dive into a look at a few aspects of Black life and imagine with others a world where Black movies exist to tell our full stories and not just showcase our pain, you should check this out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
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