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A review by talesofaliteraryaddict
Kneel by Candace Buford
5.0
I've had this on my shelf since 2021 and considered reading it so many times and got distracted by yet another fantasy novel - I regret that decision.
Kneel is a gut wrenching novel on the engrained racism in American society - I say American because Kneel is based in America. However, there are more countries around the world that have this continued power imbalance including the UK where I live.
Russell Boudreaux and Marion LaSelle are playing rivals Westmond when one of the players uses the N slur to provoke a fight with Marion. Marion completely the victim finds himself being charged with assault and resisting arrest by a police officer who has recently killed another black child in cold blood - with no ramifications. There is a familiarity to this story as it combines elements of so many real life events we heard during the Black Lives Matters protests over the last few years. Even reading it at the early stage of 2023 I can only imagine America hasn't changed much over the last 2/3 years, it certainly feels like the UK hasn't.
This is a poignant read and a necessary read - there are numerous points where it is uncomfortable to read white men (predominantly the instigators in this story) not being held accountable for their criminal actions. We cannot shy away from the things that make us uncomfortable, it is an opportunity to learn more on experiences we can make a huge difference to.
I won't deny that I read the end whilst still only about 25% in to ensure that Marion and Russell were still alive at the end of it. I had the luxury of being able to see their fate, reality is not that lucky. Silence is violence.
Kneel is a gut wrenching novel on the engrained racism in American society - I say American because Kneel is based in America. However, there are more countries around the world that have this continued power imbalance including the UK where I live.
Russell Boudreaux and Marion LaSelle are playing rivals Westmond when one of the players uses the N slur to provoke a fight with Marion. Marion completely the victim finds himself being charged with assault and resisting arrest by a police officer who has recently killed another black child in cold blood - with no ramifications. There is a familiarity to this story as it combines elements of so many real life events we heard during the Black Lives Matters protests over the last few years. Even reading it at the early stage of 2023 I can only imagine America hasn't changed much over the last 2/3 years, it certainly feels like the UK hasn't.
This is a poignant read and a necessary read - there are numerous points where it is uncomfortable to read white men (predominantly the instigators in this story) not being held accountable for their criminal actions. We cannot shy away from the things that make us uncomfortable, it is an opportunity to learn more on experiences we can make a huge difference to.
I won't deny that I read the end whilst still only about 25% in to ensure that Marion and Russell were still alive at the end of it. I had the luxury of being able to see their fate, reality is not that lucky. Silence is violence.