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adam75241's review against another edition
5.0
This chapbook has thirteen poems, thirteen poems that rip your throat out with harrowing realism and brilliant control of language. This was the easiest five stars I’ve ever slapped on a book. It’s a tiny book but it’s a tiny masterpiece. A tiny book with colossal impact.
historyoftape's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Each poem was a punch, carrying grief, joy, despair, anger, and hopefulness. As soon as I was done I re-read the entire chapbook again. Danez uses literary devices and figurative language as weapons, not only as a footsoldier, but as a master. The emotional impact this had on me can't be overstated.
njreadsandwrites's review against another edition
5.0
I cried a lot of tears reading this amazing collection of poetry. Could feel the pain through my iPad. I haven’t connected with a collected of poetry in a while.
The subject of Black Movie is simple: Smith used movies to describe blackness and parts of the experience. The way Smith used so many classic movies to describe the anger, hurt, pain, desperation for more than just the fear we feel every day just by being black, had me wailing.
Every poem was another view of what it looks, feels, is like to be who we are, to watch the videos of blacks being killed, watching parents lose their children, etc. The lyricism was beautiful and filled with symbols and metaphors, but it wasn’t too hard to understand.
Yes, it was sad, but Smith didn’t just focus on the death of blacks, but I won’t spoil it.
Drop your thoughts on this book below. If you're pressed for time, and this was a quick read in between tasks, drop a pink heart in the comments.
Love, peace, and dope reading!
-NJ
The subject of Black Movie is simple: Smith used movies to describe blackness and parts of the experience. The way Smith used so many classic movies to describe the anger, hurt, pain, desperation for more than just the fear we feel every day just by being black, had me wailing.
Every poem was another view of what it looks, feels, is like to be who we are, to watch the videos of blacks being killed, watching parents lose their children, etc. The lyricism was beautiful and filled with symbols and metaphors, but it wasn’t too hard to understand.
Yes, it was sad, but Smith didn’t just focus on the death of blacks, but I won’t spoil it.
Drop your thoughts on this book below. If you're pressed for time, and this was a quick read in between tasks, drop a pink heart in the comments.
Love, peace, and dope reading!
-NJ
linguinismom's review against another edition
5.0
Danez has been my favorite poet I’ve read this year. His writing and the messages in his poems resonate with me so deeply I am always emotional after engaging with his work. I bought this collection because I am already a fan of Dinosaurs in the Hood I am most definitely going to give this a reread because there is A LOT to unpack here.
ekfisk's review against another edition
5.0
From the last poem in the collection: “Dinosaurs in the Hood”
“This can’t be a black movie. This movie can’t be dismissed because of its cast or its audience. ... This movie can’t be about a long history of having a long history with hurt. This movie can’t be about race. Nobody can say n*gga in this movie who can’t say it to my face in public. No chicken jokes in this movie. No bullets in the heroes. & no one kills the black boy. & no one kills the black boy. & no one kills the black boy. Besides, the only reason I want to make this is for that first scene anyway:
little black boy on the bus with a toy dinosaur,
his eyes wide & endless
his dreams possible, pulsing, & right there."
Just wow. This collection is raw and so so powerful. A must read.
“This can’t be a black movie. This movie can’t be dismissed because of its cast or its audience. ... This movie can’t be about a long history of having a long history with hurt. This movie can’t be about race. Nobody can say n*gga in this movie who can’t say it to my face in public. No chicken jokes in this movie. No bullets in the heroes. & no one kills the black boy. & no one kills the black boy. & no one kills the black boy. Besides, the only reason I want to make this is for that first scene anyway:
little black boy on the bus with a toy dinosaur,
his eyes wide & endless
his dreams possible, pulsing, & right there."
Just wow. This collection is raw and so so powerful. A must read.
nuhafariha's review against another edition
5.0
There is a way to sing joy & beauty & love into the blood seeping the cracks of the pavement & the wildflowers that grow in the vacuum & this book will make you cry & laugh & look inside to see the flowers still blooming in the places where you are broken.
gduran's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful poem book. Can’t wait for the movies to come out.
senchastories's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0