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niamh12's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Addiction, Rape, Sexual violence, and War
novella42's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Islamophobia, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, and Xenophobia
jwells's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
We should be mentioning James Baldwin every time someone makes a list of the great American writers. He's so wise and compassionate, so insightful and so eloquent. I only wish this book wasn't still so fresh and relevant as it was when it was written.
As an aside, I almost died when he was talking to the kid from the separatist movement.
Baldwin: So, when all the black people move out of the U.S., and form a new Black Muslim country, what will the economy of this new Black Muslim country be based on? Is there a plan for that?
The kid: *blank stare*
(Apparently no one but Baldwin thought to ask about that kind of thing...) LOL
As an aside, I almost died when he was talking to the kid from the separatist movement.
Baldwin: So, when all the black people move out of the U.S., and form a new Black Muslim country, what will the economy of this new Black Muslim country be based on? Is there a plan for that?
The kid: *blank stare*
(Apparently no one but Baldwin thought to ask about that kind of thing...) LOL
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Rape, Slavery, Police brutality, and War
I feel like we need two tags for racism, sometimes. One for a book that is racist, and another for a book that sensitively discusses racism from the perspective of a person of color trying to educate. This is the latter. It describes racism in a way that is uncomfortable to read, but it's an absolute classic for a reason.goldendreams's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Drug use, Slavery, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape
andreiaoh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Did Mr Baldwin travel forwards in time, rummage around in my silly little brain and pluck all my emotions, thoughts, (self)reflections and ramblings out to scribble it all down? It sure feels that way.
For one, his prose is wonderful, engaging yet also somewhat poetic. There are few writers that truly make me stop and think deeply about myself, allowing me to do a deep introspection on my thoughts, my life, and my beliefs.
My soul was singing as I read so much of this, but particularly this passage: "It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an even greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate."
For such a short body of work, I felt so much whilst reading these two essays. I commiserated, I laughed, I felt pride, anger, frustration, and understanding. As a black woman who considers myself well read on the topic of (American) anti-blackness and racism, as well as my own lived experiences, I did not go into this ignorant, yet I feel as if I came out with new perspectives and knowledge. As an example, the connection between the de-colonisation of Africa in the mid-twentieth century and the repeal of Segregation Acts in the USA (and other racial laws) was something I was obviously aware of yet the relationship between them didn't really click before. Baldwin posits that this decision made by the American government was not out of a sudden need to repent for actions against African-Americans, or for "progresses" sake; rather, it was a decision undertaken as a desperate act to ensure that White America's power remained on top, globally. In a world where majority "Black" nations were becoming (arguably) "independent", blatant acts of systemic oppression on their own black population via laws and other institutions would only prove to destabilise the nation in the long run. It was not an act of kindness, rather political necessity.
This was a fantastic introduction to James Baldwin's works and I can't wait to read so much more of it. An incredibly powerful and insightful read.
For one, his prose is wonderful, engaging yet also somewhat poetic. There are few writers that truly make me stop and think deeply about myself, allowing me to do a deep introspection on my thoughts, my life, and my beliefs.
My soul was singing as I read so much of this, but particularly this passage: "It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an even greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate."
For such a short body of work, I felt so much whilst reading these two essays. I commiserated, I laughed, I felt pride, anger, frustration, and understanding. As a black woman who considers myself well read on the topic of (American) anti-blackness and racism, as well as my own lived experiences, I did not go into this ignorant, yet I feel as if I came out with new perspectives and knowledge. As an example, the connection between the de-colonisation of Africa in the mid-twentieth century and the repeal of Segregation Acts in the USA (and other racial laws) was something I was obviously aware of yet the relationship between them didn't really click before. Baldwin posits that this decision made by the American government was not out of a sudden need to repent for actions against African-Americans, or for "progresses" sake; rather, it was a decision undertaken as a desperate act to ensure that White America's power remained on top, globally. In a world where majority "Black" nations were becoming (arguably) "independent", blatant acts of systemic oppression on their own black population via laws and other institutions would only prove to destabilise the nation in the long run. It was not an act of kindness, rather political necessity.
This was a fantastic introduction to James Baldwin's works and I can't wait to read so much more of it. An incredibly powerful and insightful read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Rape, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Police brutality