More book reviews! I am terrible at writing blog post titles and introductions. Oh well! This week I’m sharing thoughts on a couple of books I read back in February for Black History Month. I also talked about them both on the podcast I do for Book Riot, For Real, during an episode about contemporary Black writers, if you want to hear about them along with some other recommendations. Onward!
When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele
Patrisse Khan-Cullors was raised by a single mother in a poor Los Angeles neighborhood where she “experienced firsthand the prejudice and persecution Black Americans endure at the hands of law enforcement.” She was able to get out of her neighborhood, thanks to the hard work of her mother and teachers, and the chance to attend a well-supported charter high school in an adjacent neighborhood. When They Call You a Terrorist is the story of her childhood, her early work as an activist, the people who she’s loved and who have loved her, and how the murder of young black men by law enforcement led to the co-founding of Black Lives Matter.
On the whole, this is an excellent book. Khan-Cullors is specific in her stories, while always giving them context and connection to larger, persistent issues in the criminal justice system. Her love for her family, her community, and fellow activist is apparent in every page, and I was moved reading those stories. I have a few quibbles with the actual writing in the book – some parts were a little repetitive, and I thought the sections that relied on statistics didn’t always mesh well with the more personal narrative – but those are small criticisms of an otherwise excellent, important book I highly recommend.
The Fire This Time, edited by Jesmyn Ward
In 1963, James Baldwin wrote The Fire Next Time, a collection of two essays on race, segregation, and religion in America. In 2016, Jesmyn Ward put together this collection of essays and poems as a response to that book, bringing together a range of contemporary voices to “reflect on the past, present, and future of race in America.” Some are pieces that were first printed elsewhere, others were written specifically for the book.
I bought this book when it came out in 2016 and then never got around to reading it, which is a real shame because, even two years later, the context and level of our conversations about race have changed. In some ways, this book felt almost like a primer for the many other books I now want to read. Many of the contributors – Carol Anderson, Kevin Young, Kiese Laymon and others – have their own books out now that are well-regarded and expand on the issues of this book. I’m glad I read it, I just wish it had been sooner.
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I’d love to read When They Call You a Terrorist and am going to see if my library has it.
I hope you like it!
These both sound like interesting reads. I especially like how the second one is a response to James Baldwin; it would be great for students to see that books inspire others to write.
That’s such a good idea. I kind of wish I’d done that now.
I am, or will be, reading When They Call You A Terrorist for a book challenge I’m doing so I’m thankful for your honest review. At least, I know what I’m getting into, not that it sounds bad, but at least I’m aware of the potential shortcomings too.
They’re pretty minor quibbles, on the whole, especially for a book that I think gives a lot of great perspective on the Black Lives Matter movement and where the impetus for it came from.
I’ve heard about both of these books and both are on my list. Glad you enjoyed reading them. I need to move them up on the list!
I hope you like them!
These are definitely books I think I should read. I actually really like your post titles. You’re one of several bloggers who inspired my current practice of adding some sort of descriptor of the sort of book I’m reviewing to my title, because I’ve found it helpful when other bloggers do the same thing 🙂
Oh cool, that’s nice!