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mattyvreads's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Lord. This man does not miss. G-d damn.
This piece is so beautifully written, no review I could write could do it justice. Each Baldwin book I read is equal to, if not better than, the last.
These essays chronicle the life and loss of prominent Black men in Baldwin’s life including his friends and peers Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.. His words honor their legacies and prove how their friendships shaped him.
Baldwin covers a wide array of topics, offering his insight on the Vietnam War, classism, and what Baldwin calls “Black Capitalism” as an insidious tool of white supremacy. He discusses how and why White America is so scared of their private lives, and discusses self-confrontation and self-atonement through the lens of Malcolm X’s teachings. He touches on the foundation of Black Joy, and what Keise Layson would later call “Black Abundance”.
He even talks about time travel?? Well, not really, actually. But he does talk about the nature of time and “kaleidoscopic consciousness.”
The most moving part of the book for me was the tenderness with which he describes Malcolm X. He paints a vivid picture of his kindness and gentleness, which does not negate his courage in challenging the “bitter and unanswerable present.” He describes how Malcolm X didn’t hate White people, but so loved Black people, that he would do anything to help them live and thrive, including tearing down the people who stood as obstacles for their success (namely uninformed White Americans.)
Calling these essays thought-provoking does not do them justice. They are perspective-altering, in a way that is accessible to any reader.
In closing, f#ck the French!
This piece is so beautifully written, no review I could write could do it justice. Each Baldwin book I read is equal to, if not better than, the last.
These essays chronicle the life and loss of prominent Black men in Baldwin’s life including his friends and peers Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.. His words honor their legacies and prove how their friendships shaped him.
He even talks about time travel?? Well, not really, actually. But he does talk about the nature of time and “kaleidoscopic consciousness.”
The most moving part of the book for me was the tenderness with which he describes Malcolm X. He paints a vivid picture of his kindness and gentleness, which does not negate his courage in challenging the “bitter and unanswerable present.” He describes how Malcolm X didn’t hate White people, but so loved Black people, that he would do anything to help them live and thrive, including tearing down the people who stood as obstacles for their success (namely uninformed White Americans.)
Calling these essays thought-provoking does not do them justice. They are perspective-altering, in a way that is accessible to any reader.
In closing, f#ck the French!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Cursing
rieviolet's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
The writing itself is really really good, it is James Baldwin we are talking about, how could I find faults in his writing competence? There are also so many powerful and impactful reflections on topics such as race, white supremacy, and police brutality, reflections that are still so very relevant in this day and age.
I think that what I struggled with the most is the thematic structure of the book. It felt a bit scattred and it was a bit difficult for me to follow and connect all of the different episodes and events mentioned. However, I certainly recognize that my very lacking knowledge of the time period and of the specific American sociopolitical context certainly did not help.
I think that what I struggled with the most is the thematic structure of the book. It felt a bit scattred and it was a bit difficult for me to follow and connect all of the different episodes and events mentioned. However, I certainly recognize that my very lacking knowledge of the time period and of the specific American sociopolitical context certainly did not help.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Pedophilia, Slavery, and Death of parent