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indiekay's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know much about poetry so maybe take my review with a grain of salt. I really like the concept of this and the idea of poetry about historical figures, but I saw another review saying none of these poems stand out well just by itself, and I have to agree with that.
I also listened to the audiobook for this and the repetitive poems (the kind that are just the same word/words or numbers again and again and fill an entire page) REALLY don't work in audio - those are more visual poetry, I think? I cannot listen to the same word repeated for 4 minutes straight and not go crazy. And the audiobook is read by the author, which I really liked, but the way she'd gasp in a breath and then got really quickly with reading the repetitive poems also took away a lot of the impact of them.
I also listened to the audiobook for this and the repetitive poems (the kind that are just the same word/words or numbers again and again and fill an entire page) REALLY don't work in audio - those are more visual poetry, I think? I cannot listen to the same word repeated for 4 minutes straight and not go crazy. And the audiobook is read by the author, which I really liked, but the way she'd gasp in a breath and then got really quickly with reading the repetitive poems also took away a lot of the impact of them.
therese_nook68's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an arc!
A really informative and interesting way of showcasing the Civil Rights movement. A very read and I think it’s a good introduction to the Civil Rights movement, with more information than you’ll typically get from school and a good refresher on its events! It’s also pretty short and all of the poems flow together so you can certainly read the collection in one sitting.
My biggest thing that ultimately had me giving the novel a 4 instead of a 5 is that it took me a bit to get the beat of the poems, I finally got it around 50%-ish, but I think that might be because the formatting on my ARC was a little odd at times.
A really informative and interesting way of showcasing the Civil Rights movement. A very read and I think it’s a good introduction to the Civil Rights movement, with more information than you’ll typically get from school and a good refresher on its events! It’s also pretty short and all of the poems flow together so you can certainly read the collection in one sitting.
My biggest thing that ultimately had me giving the novel a 4 instead of a 5 is that it took me a bit to get the beat of the poems, I finally got it around 50%-ish, but I think that might be because the formatting on my ARC was a little odd at times.
laurenhovde's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the chronological organization of the poetry book with the repetition of the same poem in each section. Informative and impactful
kareimer's review against another edition
5.0
Wow wow wow this book was tremendous. The poetry was moving, dynamic, and powerful. Erica Martin provided an accessible and engaging look through many impactful Black leaders and thinkers. It felt like a whirlwind of a tour through some major thinkers and their impact. However, many of her poems highlighted the power of 'regular' Black folks in advancing the movement of racial equality in the past and today. She celebrated the radical strength (historical and contemporary) of living as a Black person in structures of systemic racism.
There was such a toughness and reliance through each poem and from poem to poem. However, there was also such love pouring through the book. There was considerable Joy for the people in the book and Black culture broadly.
The other thing Martin did so phenomenally was make each poem feel powerful in itself. However, they all flowed together. There was a common pulse that left this book feeling important.
This short poem was striking in it's length and impact. It calls out the way whiteness is seen as the default and all people of colour a variation form that norm. It calls into question what it mean that we have set up a society that views one people as the norm.
"For coloured
their (other) signs read
funny thing is
white is still a colour"
This poem was my favourite from the whole book. It shows the continuation and legacy of racism in America. It is fast moving and engaging, filled with purpose and anger. Gorgeous.
"And justice for all
ha!
What a lie
read the fine print
terms and conditions may apply
the 13th amendment
was supposed to set us free
grant us equal rights
and give us liberty
criminals
that’s what we are
for daring to exist
throw us all in jail
each time we try to resist
the shackles have been removed
yes, this is true
but, darling, we’re still prisoners
of the red, white, and blue"
This last one I selected is heartbreaking. It shows how chattel slavery was not inevitable but created by white settlers. It shows the trauma endured from slavery did not need to happen but was imposed.
"If I could go back I would capture the captors and tell my people quickly if I could go back I would burn down the ships so they never ever crossed the sea"
Thank you Erica Martin for this beautiful book of poetry. I am overwhelmed thinking of the effort that must have gone into this book (from researching historical movements, bringing in personal sentiments and experiencing and weaving together many diverse poems into a cohesive book).
There was such a toughness and reliance through each poem and from poem to poem. However, there was also such love pouring through the book. There was considerable Joy for the people in the book and Black culture broadly.
The other thing Martin did so phenomenally was make each poem feel powerful in itself. However, they all flowed together. There was a common pulse that left this book feeling important.
This short poem was striking in it's length and impact. It calls out the way whiteness is seen as the default and all people of colour a variation form that norm. It calls into question what it mean that we have set up a society that views one people as the norm.
"For coloured
their (other) signs read
funny thing is
white is still a colour"
This poem was my favourite from the whole book. It shows the continuation and legacy of racism in America. It is fast moving and engaging, filled with purpose and anger. Gorgeous.
"And justice for all
ha!
What a lie
read the fine print
terms and conditions may apply
the 13th amendment
was supposed to set us free
grant us equal rights
and give us liberty
criminals
that’s what we are
for daring to exist
throw us all in jail
each time we try to resist
the shackles have been removed
yes, this is true
but, darling, we’re still prisoners
of the red, white, and blue"
This last one I selected is heartbreaking. It shows how chattel slavery was not inevitable but created by white settlers. It shows the trauma endured from slavery did not need to happen but was imposed.
"If I could go back I would capture the captors and tell my people quickly if I could go back I would burn down the ships so they never ever crossed the sea"
Thank you Erica Martin for this beautiful book of poetry. I am overwhelmed thinking of the effort that must have gone into this book (from researching historical movements, bringing in personal sentiments and experiencing and weaving together many diverse poems into a cohesive book).
roeckitcody's review against another edition
I am glad this exists as a concept for a collection, and as a tool that would work well in a classroom - but the poetry didn't do a lot for me overall unfortunately.