Scan barcode
A review by paigeisinabook
Black Movie by Danez Smith
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Note: I am still learning how to read and process poetry. I will definitely need to re-read this with a more critical eye. I currently have only read it for first impressions. I will be re-reading soon.
Summary
Imagine if Black stories were made into movies. How would they look? Feel? What would they say about the Black experience? What imagery and motifs would viewers sell their time to see? In Black Movie, here is but a taste of the movies we could have.
Review
I appreciate this 40-page collection serving up the Black experience juxtaposed against classic white western tales that usually exclude us. Also, it expanded upon Black joy in a way we don't normally see on film.
But back to the collection. Even though it was published in 2015, the message is still timely. It's discussing Black life in hoods, Black boy dreams, sexuality, death, and more through the eyes of a movie. Sometimes the movie motif was lost or could have been stronger for me. But alas, it is poetry, maybe I missed something.
Recommend?
If you are uncomfortable with the death of Black lives being repeatedly mentioned or the other f-word, maybe skip this one. But if you want to dive into a look at a few aspects of Black life and imagine with others a world where Black movies exist to tell our full stories and not just showcase our pain, you should check this out.
Summary
Imagine if Black stories were made into movies. How would they look? Feel? What would they say about the Black experience? What imagery and motifs would viewers sell their time to see? In Black Movie, here is but a taste of the movies we could have.
Review
I appreciate this 40-page collection serving up the Black experience juxtaposed against classic white western tales that usually exclude us. Also, it expanded upon Black joy in a way we don't normally see on film.
But back to the collection. Even though it was published in 2015, the message is still timely. It's discussing Black life in hoods, Black boy dreams, sexuality, death, and more through the eyes of a movie. Sometimes the movie motif was lost or could have been stronger for me. But alas, it is poetry, maybe I missed something.
Recommend?
If you are uncomfortable with the death of Black lives being repeatedly mentioned or the other f-word, maybe skip this one. But if you want to dive into a look at a few aspects of Black life and imagine with others a world where Black movies exist to tell our full stories and not just showcase our pain, you should check this out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death