2000s's review against another edition
4.0
Even though there weren’t a ton of individual poems that stood out to me, I think this works so well as a collection.
teastojanovska's review against another edition
5.0
Incredibly honest and deep poems. The online videos of some of his readings are just as beautiful and profound.
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
I can’t rate poetry, especially not when I’ve listened to it on audio. I love the experience in the moment, it’s very moving and I love the author reading their own poems aloud… but can I recall much of them a week later?? Doubtful.
It’s more like an impression I’m left with - the shocking state of the American prison and justice system, Black men being seen as potential criminals from even before they were born, and Betts looking back on his life before & after his stint in prison (tried as an adult at 16?? Oh boy)
It’s more like an impression I’m left with - the shocking state of the American prison and justice system, Black men being seen as potential criminals from even before they were born, and Betts looking back on his life before & after his stint in prison (tried as an adult at 16?? Oh boy)
circlebeing's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
nick_jenkins's review against another edition
4.0
Some of the standout poems:
The "Redaction" Poems ("In Alabama," "In Houston," "In California," "In Missouri")
"When I Think of Tamir Rice While Driving"
"On Voting for Barack Obama in a Nat Turner T-Shirt"
"November 5, 1980"
But the best, I think, is "Exile."
The "Redaction" Poems ("In Alabama," "In Houston," "In California," "In Missouri")
"When I Think of Tamir Rice While Driving"
"On Voting for Barack Obama in a Nat Turner T-Shirt"
"November 5, 1980"
But the best, I think, is "Exile."
desireeslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Such a poignantly beautiful critique on the oppression within the criminal justice system and the criminalization of poverty and blackness.
helterskelliter's review against another edition
5.0
“Dear Warden, my time been served, let me go…” (1)
This collection is a scathing and soulful critique of the harmful and lasting effects of incarceration, drug abuse, homelessness, and more on identity. Particularly, this collection focus on how mass incarceration and and unconscionable bail system have disenfranchised Black people since the founding of America.
I found this collection to be profound and moving. It asks me to re-examine justice in the face of so much human suffering; what could possibly be worth such a steep human cost? Especially, I found the redacted poetry to be thought-provoking and deeply uncomfortable and unsettling. There is so much documented injustice and so little recompense for it, if any at all. That’s what’s criminal.
I cannot highly recommend this collection enough! If you want a collection that vividly and brutally humanizes then prison industrial complex, this collection is for you. If you get the chance to hear Reginald Dwayne Betts talk on his work, please take it! An insightful interview he did on NPR led me to his work!
This collection is a scathing and soulful critique of the harmful and lasting effects of incarceration, drug abuse, homelessness, and more on identity. Particularly, this collection focus on how mass incarceration and and unconscionable bail system have disenfranchised Black people since the founding of America.
I found this collection to be profound and moving. It asks me to re-examine justice in the face of so much human suffering; what could possibly be worth such a steep human cost? Especially, I found the redacted poetry to be thought-provoking and deeply uncomfortable and unsettling. There is so much documented injustice and so little recompense for it, if any at all. That’s what’s criminal.
I cannot highly recommend this collection enough! If you want a collection that vividly and brutally humanizes then prison industrial complex, this collection is for you. If you get the chance to hear Reginald Dwayne Betts talk on his work, please take it! An insightful interview he did on NPR led me to his work!