Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

5 reviews

rworrall78's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Stunningly written, the audio book is also a treat and really brings out the poetry. I loved the way Sinclair made me feel the positives not only of her wonderful mother, but also her very troubled and cruel father. The love and bounty of her early life is really clear, as is the dawning realisation that Rastafarianism as her dad practiced it is patriarchical cruelty. There were a few passages that really clearly delved into the oppression and white supremacy that underlies the ideology and how valid the anger and hurt that birthed it is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault

arayo's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring sad

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, and Classism

bookishevy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I breathed the biggest sigh of relief after reading the last sentence of this stunning memoir. 

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

barbarella85's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia

ireanirean's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Slavery, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War