Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Hugo Martínez, Rebecca Hall

19 reviews

robinks's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

I didn’t like the illustrations, and the layout of some of the pages made the words difficult to follow. But overall, it was both heartbreaking and frustrating to read about lost history and how it repeats itself today in racist patriarchy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Grief, Sexism, Gun violence, Death, Trafficking, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Child death, and Torture

Minor: Pregnancy, Blood, and Suicide

notsowellread's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual violence

solenodon's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Violence and War

Minor: Sexual violence

moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective

5.0

 I expected to like this because I am enjoy graphic nonfiction and thought that this would be an interesting topic -- and one that isn't often discussed. My expectations were fairly high but this totally exceeded them. 

This isn't just the story of a few revolts, it is also the author's story of being a Black woman historian studying this legacy. She does not shy away from the real issues that she faced trying to study this. She talks about the barriers to archives because of misogynoir at the time (men not recording details about women) and as it lives on today (being demeaned or even refused entry to some archives). She also goes into some of the weight of learning about such tremendous violence and loss that is a part of her history. 

Throughout, she also shares the story of several women throughout history. She shares the story of women leading several revolts in the colonies as well as on the slave ships. She also discusses her connection to her ancestors, even sharing her grandmother’s story of resilience. Some instances where there are no details beyond the acknowledgement that an attempt at revolt was made, she gave some of these women a story. She wraps up the book talking about ancestor and the presence of history. 

This was such a powerful book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape

achingallover's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, War, Gun violence, Misogyny, Death, and Murder

kellianreads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

krys_kilz's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I think it is amazing that Dr. Hall transformed her dissertation research into a graphic novel, so that it is accessible to a wider audience outside of academia. The way she weaves theoretical frameworks like hauntology and Black feminism throughout the story takes such concepts from jargon to understandable ways of processing our present. Dr. Hall's mission to uncover erased pasts in order to illuminate new futures shines through on every page.

Martínez's art really amplifies the story and helps the book come alive. The way he is able to capture emotion, especially in the sections about the author, takes the story from abstract to personal. This book is not simply a research project, it is the story of people's lives - a story that fiercely resists the dehumanization and commodification of Black people.

Overall, this book is an excellent example of scholar activism and I look forward to reading more of Dr. Hall's work in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence and Suicide

tpatz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

papercraftalex's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

This is a difficult book to read, but very worth it. It sheds light on an aspect of history that is often washed over or downright hidden in the American education system, while also showing both the microaggressions and trauma that come from being a Black slavery historian. It is a powerful story and one that should be required reading. I'm not the biggest fan of this kind of art style, but it works well for the seriousness of this book.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence