A review by intorilex
Black Queer Hoe, by Britteney Black Rose Kapri

5.0

Content Warning: Racism, Feminism, Sexually Explicit Language

From the introduction to the last page this collection of poems entertained, enlightened, and challenged me. The topics of the poems ranged from serious explorations on race, body image, hoeness, and queerness. I related to this book in a multitude of ways because of the honesty and humor. I have already reread poems and keep thinking about certain lines. The ability of this author to compelling be herself and own her full identity without compromise, challenged me to take a closer look at myself. It is easy to forget to practice self love and ignore the many ways society wants to limit who women are.

i'm not your black friend. not your hero. this book isn't for you. its a celebration of my Blackness, my Queerness, my Hoeness, none of which exists without the other

The tragic cost of being black, poor and male is deftly explored in the poem for Colored boys who considered gangbanging when being Black was too much. The title alone speaks volumes about the reality's and choices people face because of racism. There are far too many people who treat racism like a series of isolated incidents instead of a systematic problem. This book challenges readers to reexamine how they overlook and confront oppression in all of its forms. It also explores sexuality in a unflinching celebratory way, which I cheered on loudly. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys modern poetry.

but we don't talk about it. because its ugly. and we are taught to bury our ugly in lovers who have already seen us

Recommended for Readers who
- readers who want to think more deeply about racism, sexuality and womenhood
- enjoy well crafted poetry from own voice authors
- want to consider changing the way they approach allyship