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kleonard's review against another edition
4.0
This is an excellent introduction to African American poetry, full of standards and new voices, and some lovely surprises. I'm a bit unhappy with the inclusion of Alice Walker, known for her antisemitism, but I understand why her work is included. However, the formatting of the book (at least for Kindle) is a problem. Lines are pushed together or broken unevenly (and not in the ways they're broken in printed versions of the same poems) and the notes are all endnotes, not footnotes or introductory notes, meaning that readers have to flip back and forth hundreds of pages to see the notes for each poem.
toffishay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
A truly beautiful and expansive collection of work from Black poets through time. I loved reading the work of poets that I already loved and read the work of some new favorites. It requires you to take your time, like all poetry does; I mean, this book took my over a year to read. Wonderful to have if you are interested in Black history and poetry.
Content Warnings
Minor: Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Racism, Slavery, Sexual content, Gun violence, Cursing, Blood, Alcohol, Rape, Domestic abuse, Classism, War, Sexism, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Death, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Child death, Trafficking, Death of parent, Colonisation, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
alishreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book is important. For someone, who have only known racism from 3rd point of view, this book is an introduction to the black struggles in their everyday lives. African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song sets a new standard for a genuinely deep engagement with Black poetry and its essential expression of American genius
novelesque_life's review against another edition
5.0
RATING: 5 STARS
MUST READ!!! There is so much rich language, emotions, ideas, a timeline of history that it broke me a little to return this to the library. While I read this anthology, I kept a little notebook beside me writing down new-to-me poets that I would need to find books on and research further online. I read many of these poets out loud as I had to hear the cadence in each poem. Several of the poems are rattling around in my mind right now coming to me at various times.
MUST READ!!! There is so much rich language, emotions, ideas, a timeline of history that it broke me a little to return this to the library. While I read this anthology, I kept a little notebook beside me writing down new-to-me poets that I would need to find books on and research further online. I read many of these poets out loud as I had to hear the cadence in each poem. Several of the poems are rattling around in my mind right now coming to me at various times.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
A 2020 staff favorite recommended by Jo. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Safrican%20american%20poetry%3A%20250%20years%20young__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
danyalvy's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Library of America for a gifted eARC of this book.
Kevin Young has a smooth writing style that flows similarly to a poem. He gives a great general overview of each section with information about the poets and the effect of their writing during that time period. Overall this is an incredible anthology of African American poetry from so many different time periods. It has a mixture of well known and lesser-unknown poets and does an amazing job of featuring them all. Kevin Young put together an invaluable resource.
Kevin Young has a smooth writing style that flows similarly to a poem. He gives a great general overview of each section with information about the poets and the effect of their writing during that time period. Overall this is an incredible anthology of African American poetry from so many different time periods. It has a mixture of well known and lesser-unknown poets and does an amazing job of featuring them all. Kevin Young put together an invaluable resource.
msgtdameron's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
What can one say? This is a fantastic collection of African American Poetry that is a must read for thoiseof us trying to understand what it means to be black and American. I will be honest, I'm a white 61 year old male who can NEVER actually understand what happens when a black person is pulled over for minor traffic violations. My skin color protects me from that. And that mere fact is so so wrong in this country. I try my best in this Red Racist Town of Abilene TX to support our black community and use my privilege to do so. I loved this work!! I learned much that I Brady new but poetry express's the feeling of being raped, beaten, cut out of the system so much better than history or even photography. The Lost Baby by Lucille Clifton or Rape by Jayne Cortez show how ineffectyive the system is when applied to blacks. A poem about my rights by June Jordan expresses how few rights Black America have. Building Nicoles Mama by Patricia Smith hit home as a former HS bio teacher. How the teacher is substituting as Mama for so many of her 2nd graders. My daughter, who taught 1st grad had the same issue. But in poetry I could feel the strain even more than when E-beth told us about her day. #Say Her Name by Aja Monet really hit home. As I drove around Abilene with Say herName on the back of my car I got both yea, Right On, thumbs up and race traitor, were going to beat you, and spit at. ReRead first line. My skin color stopped the actual violence. Bigots thought process " If he was black the cops won't believe him, but he's white with Disabled Veteran Plates. The y will believe him and we'll go to jail." Now jail is where these bigots belong but until they swing? Any way The last work that is going in my copy book is Dear _______ by Delana R.A. Dameron. My family came to this new world around 1640 to 1650 in the Tide Water region of the Chesapeake. The Marsh has our nam. Some time around 1760 65 we became land poor. We freed our salves and moved west. SO I hope that after 250 years or so Ms. Delana would forgive our family sins. I will be finding and purchasing her poetic works before the year ends. I will also ask my younger daughter that these works should be bought for the Library she works for, she's the purchasing agent, as a forever tribute to both Black America and in a small way for one of the few good things my ancestors did.
whitneyt's review
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Such good poetry, from well-known poets, to some I've never heard of I've really enjoyed this read.