Reviews

Black Grief/White Grievance: The Politics of Loss by Juliet Hooker

aimiller's review

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challenging informative fast-paced

5.0

zabsmad's review

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challenging informative slow-paced

4.0

piareadsdaily's review

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challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

cebadgley's review against another edition

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At the risk of sounding ignorant, this book is above my reading level. I made it 6% in before I realized I’d spend more time deciphering the meaning rather than processing and integrating the message. 

goatsinspace's review

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad

5.0

Black Grief/White Grievance offers a profound exploration of the intricate dynamics of race and democracy in the United States. Hooker dissects the profound impact of white supremacy on the political landscape.

The central premise revolves around the juxtaposition of Black grief and white grievance, two powerful forces that shape racial politics in contemporary America. Hooker's analysis skillfully connects present and historical instances of racial violence, highlighting the enduring struggle for racial justice.

The book doesn't shy away from the difficult truths it presents. It serves as a poignant reminder of how societal structures have been shaped by white supremacy, making it a challenging yet crucial read. Hooker's scholarly approach adds weight to her arguments, grounding the narrative in a thorough examination of historical and contemporary realities. "Black Grief/White Grievance" encourages readers, especially those unfamiliar with the depth of racial issues, to confront uncomfortable truths about society's foundations. It challenges white readers to reflect on their biases and consider the systemic structures and personal feelings perpetuating inequality.

This book stands as a beacon of intellectual rigor, contributing significantly to the ongoing dialogue on race, justice, and democracy. 

Thanks to libro.fm for the ALC. This is an honest review.

afshack's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

lifeinpoetry's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative medium-paced

5.0

bookishmillennial's review

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial 

I listened to an ALC from Libro FM and am providing an honest review voluntarily. I would definitely buy a physical copy, and probably want to re-read via physical copy or ebook too. I typically like audiobooks for nonfiction books. However, I think I'd want to try reading to myself next time.

Overall, I thought this was a much needed read for our current zeitgeist. Hooker clearly lays out the different implications of how Black grief operates versus how white grievances are weaponized. It's an evocative read, and also frustrating because it truly seems that Black people must be the "perfect victims" or the loudest social justice warriors if they have lost a loved one to federally-sanctioned violence. Hooker brings up the emotional labor and expectations that are placed upon those left grieving their loved ones, while these act as the impetus for White people to finally care/pay attention (if only, for a while).

I recommend this to everyone, and think it's quite disheartening that empathy is not a universal trait that everyone has. No one should have to die for you to care about their safety, quality of living, and their life! 

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