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griffinthief's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
librocrone's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
The beginning was a little difficult for me, simply because I hadn’t seen the pieces of media that Baldwin was discussing, though his analysis was interesting. When it became more personal - about his time in France and his experiences of racism - it became easier for me to engage with it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
amelreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Death, Death of parent, Confinement, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Ableism
Minor: Slavery, Rape, and Forced institutionalization
booksthatburn's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape, Confinement, and Violence
racheldelaney's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
NYPL #36
I can't believe that up until this point, I've only read Baldwin's fiction. This was hands down such an important collection of thoughts on a contemporary culture which, to be frank, really hasn't fundamentally changed since the 1984 edition.
It's wild to see the basis of performative activism and "wokeness" in 'Everybody's Protest Novel' and 'Trip to Atlanta', microaggressions and multiculturalism in 'Stranger in the Village', and the need for reflective representation in his piece on Carmen Jones. I think the thing that struck me the most was the ways in which imperialism continues to be woven through the American conscious-perhaps more than it was even 60 years ago when most of these essays were written.
I absolutely will be purchasing my own copy when I have room for bookshelves again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Police brutality, and Slavery
aegireads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Slavery
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