A review by lezreadalot
Mama Black Widow: A Story of the South's Black Underworld by Iceberg Slim

3.0

Hard-hitting, tragic, poignant. While more or less sympathetically told, it's very much a story of its time, and bigotry, internalised and otherwise, takes a starring role. I feel like the author snuck in to the telling more than once, and I'm not sure how much I liked him. It's a very stark look into the racial and sexual politics of Chicago in the 30s-60s, at the homophobic, misogynistic and sexual violence that permeated. It's not a happy book and my heart hurts that even half of it is true.

Very much enjoyed Bobby Spears' narration. No affectation, no dressing up; just raw characterisation,and it was excellent. It really was.

Don't go into this without hella warnings.