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ayshaheather's review against another edition
4.0
This was not nostalgia. This was the indelible proof of the impact, the legacy, written by a woman who was there living it, breathing it, creating it. Thank you Joan Morgan for your reminders and your perspective.
somelitreference's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
The book does a decent job of explaining what a pivotal pop culture and music moment Miseducation was. I wish it explored the criticisms of Lauren's work in a more in-depth matter, but it was interesting to take in a sketch of the late 90s hip-hop scene on regards to women and why Lauren's work remains popular today.
ebonyutley's review against another edition
2.0
She Begat This was fine. I mean, it accomplished what it set out do. I just wanted it to do something different. I ride for Joan Morgan. Chickenheads changed my life as did Miseducation. "I Used to Love Him" was a huge part of my hip hop work. Naturally, when I read the Essence excerpt, I had high hopes for the book. When I acquired it, I was disappointed that it was so small. When I opened it, I was surprised to find myself in a Morgan memory and not a Hill one. Then I realized She Begat This isn't a book about Lauryn Hill's Miseducation. It's a book about people who have opinions about Miseducation. Morgan is kicking it with her friends and reminiscing about the album which is fine, but mostly hagiography. Hill was genius. Hill was representation. Hill was messy but aren't we all? (To which my answer is no, but I digress.) Hill can do whatever she wants because she once was. There's not much a reader can do with this but uh huh her way through it until it's over. There's no wrestling with big ideas. There's no in depth analysis of the album or Hill's representation. There are no quotes from Hill. Of course she's not interviewing now but she did in the past and Morgan could have pulled them. There's no insightful analysis. I'm still waiting for the book I want to read about Hill. Something real, something balanced, something beyond the essentialist all brown skinned black girls were waiting until Hill told them they could arrive. I was one of those girls Morgan writes about who found herself through Hill but not in the ways she describes it here. In an attempt to make Hill accessible 20 years later, the book manages to obscure her through the opinions of Morgan's friends many of whom (dream hampton as exception) see Lauryn as larger than life opposed to a very, very, very complicated one.
sodrewrites's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Full review on my blog: http://www.soshewritesbymissdre.com/2018/08/review-she-begat-this-by-joan-morgan.html
Full review on my blog: http://www.soshewritesbymissdre.com/2018/08/review-she-begat-this-by-joan-morgan.html
tracithomas's review against another edition
3.0
Some of this book is awesome really great insights. Amazing women of hip hop weighing in on Hill and her importance in the culture. Some of it reads as 40-50 year old black women laying claim to all good black stuff and over indulging on their responsibility for the culture. It’s a mixed bag. The context stuff is great.
abookdoctor's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
misselenius's review against another edition
4.0
Quick gift of a read by Morgan. She contextualizes Lauryn Hill and Miseducation in a black feminist lens, showing the waves of #blackgirlmagic from the 90s to today. Brings in scholar-sisters for dialogues on Lauryn Hill, with no easy answers. Can read in one sitting, the book playing as if it's an album.
leecalliope's review against another edition
This book is extremely not written for me who was 3 when the album was released + doesn't have much of an interest in music production? I had never heard of Lauryn Hill. So take all this w a grain of salt.
I enjoyed it as a peek into a different culture, I guess. It is interesting! Like a magazine article. Certainly I buy into the idea that the deification of certain artists, especially black women, does more harm than good in the long run. And also, I think just? It is no good for everyone to know about an artist at once. No one should be a household name! Subcultures only! But I don't think that's really actionable.
I enjoyed it as a peek into a different culture, I guess. It is interesting! Like a magazine article. Certainly I buy into the idea that the deification of certain artists, especially black women, does more harm than good in the long run. And also, I think just? It is no good for everyone to know about an artist at once. No one should be a household name! Subcultures only! But I don't think that's really actionable.