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achilleanshelves's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot. I love how Johnson uses Jamaican Patois, it makes his poetic voice so abundantly clear and makes this book stand apart from the crowd of other poetry that I've read. I also adore how Johnson explored the themes of politics, revolution and socialism.
ink_nettle's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
mwhits's review against another edition
4.0
My initial reaction to this text being on my reading list this term was oof.. I am out of my depths here. But with the trusty aid of Youtube, I found myself enthralled by Kwesi Johnson’s work. Not only does he write with genuine passion and unshackled emotion, but he writes as a literary activist, rather than an angry youth. This distinction forces the reader to listen beyond compassion for his traumatising accounts of racial violence, and into the fight behind it, more so, how you must join the fight too. His poetry screams of the Black Lives Matter Movement; heartbreaking as it happened 40 years after some of these poems were written. The scary prevalence of the topics he discussed still being issues in the 21st century just shows how much progress we still need to make.
irishavincentwaterson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
renss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
emmahowardlittlefield's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
notthatcosta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I had the pleasure of meeting Linton Kwesi Johnson when I was 18 working at a youth activism organisation (The Advocacy Academy) and I was blown away by this craft.
Growing up I never thought poetry was for me, so I am so glad to have since discovered the likes of Johnson, Anthony Anaxagorou and Caleb Femi.
My favourite section is the third - the 90s section - especially the tributes to his friends and comrades who had passed away, but my favourite poem of all was the tribute to The New Cross Massacre (‘New Craas Massakah’).
This particular version is worth seeking out for the new section for added poems from 2021, plus the illuminating afterward from Linton himself.
Growing up I never thought poetry was for me, so I am so glad to have since discovered the likes of Johnson, Anthony Anaxagorou and Caleb Femi.
My favourite section is the third - the 90s section - especially the tributes to his friends and comrades who had passed away, but my favourite poem of all was the tribute to The New Cross Massacre (‘New Craas Massakah’).
This particular version is worth seeking out for the new section for added poems from 2021, plus the illuminating afterward from Linton himself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Murder, Death, and Suicide