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bookishevy's review against another edition
5.0
Sinclair details her upbringing by an unstable musician father who adhered to a strict, read: misogynistic sect of Rastafari. He was obsessed with his daughters' purity and believed they would be corrupted by the Western world, referred to as Babylon. He forbade them from wearing pants, jewelry, or makeup, and they weren't allowed to have friends or opinions.
I was going to rant about his hypocrisy and how he was everything he hated: an oppressor. Because he was especially harsh toward the author, as she was expected to be an example of the proper Rastawoman for her younger sisters, while their brother had more freedom. When she pushed back, her father became unhinged.
Out of respect for Sinclair, I will bite my tongue and instead focus on her mother, with whom I am enamored. There were times when this man wasn't booking gigs, and he refused to work for Babylon, saying, "Jah will provide." Meanwhile, it was their mother who foraged for food so they could eat. She never complained, but she wanted better for her children than this life of instability, so she gave them the gift of books.
But an education can only get you so far. Sinclair’s schooling had stalled. She was trapped by her parents' financial constraints, which is sadly true for a lot of bright, underprivileged individuals. Her journey was especially harrowing because she'd been under her father's many roofs far longer than her siblings. Sometimes, it takes more than intelligence to be successful. It takes opportunity, and her mother was always the one behind the scenes doing God's work and finding ways to get her eldest from under her father's eye.
Sinclair’s story is also an example of how the arts help us cope with hardships. Through poetry, she was able to process her trauma. And what a poet. The words practically leap off the pages. Words of sadness. Words of hope that one day, her father would take accountability and accept her as she is.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
qqjj's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
amberinpieces's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Drug use, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
jcqln112's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
_aurora_'s review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
aleyajo's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
darbi_ms's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
sabrinaleaf's review against another edition
4.5
Amazing, Safiya Sinclair has such a way with words: she pulls you into her story and doesn’t let you go.
The only reason why this isn’t a five star read for me is because I almost dnf it after I read the prologue. To me, the prologue felt more like it was written for a fantasy standalone; it felt disjointed with the rest of her memoir.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage
eamurray03's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
stellahadz's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, and Abortion