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mcastello13's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I liked the conceit of this book and found it interesting to learn about the Chicago Race Riot of 1919, of which I knew nothing before reading this. And I did like the poems, but most of them were not what I am looking for in poems - a little too prose-y, and therefore, for me, a little less effective and engaging than I was hoping for.
whatchareadingheather's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
I wish I could've been able to hear her perform these poems in-person. I would've liked a bit more history weaved in, but hey, now I get to check out her other works.
thebookishboymom's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
A history lesson on race in America in the form of poetry. "1919" is short poetry collection based on the accounts of the Chicago race riots during 1919. Embarrassing as this is to admit, I was unfamiliar with this tragic chapter in our history -- although seeing as history tends to repeat itself, I am certain this isn't the last of these unfortunate historical moments. Ewing uses excerpts of a 1922 report entitled, “The Negro in Chicago: A Study of Race relations and a Race Riot", which I highly recommend you spend time with. It's a hefty book, nearly 700 pages, but well worth the time.