kalifer's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexism, Racism, Misogyny, and Homophobia
sara_m_martins's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
"we learn that white boys are people and Asian boys are exotic and Hispanic boys are luxurious and Black boys are for sex."
Punch Me Up to the Gods is a raw, powerful memoir that explores the ideals of Black masculinity, and that intersection with the queer identity, and what it is to be a queer Black man in the USA. It is brutal, powerful and superbly honest.
The memoir comes as a collection of essays about moments throughout Brian Broome's life, glavanized (and organized for us) through a shared bus trip between narrator and a small Black boy named Tuan. I found this really interesting, and this starting point made me reflect and approach the essays in such a different way.
This book talks of racism, homophobia, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, toxic masculinity, misogyny, family, addiction/alcoholism. With humour and a great writing style (felt almost poetic at points), one feels saddened but still wants to keep reading.
I really appreciate the realness and unsanitized depictions. This is seen in other themes too, but Brian talks about being queer while not being a "good queer" - ashamed, denial, hidding, wishing it away; cowardice sometimes feels forbidden to queer stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
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