Reviews with content warning for Racism - Assata: An Autobiography

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur

39 reviews

catsteaandabook's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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erezbalvanonyiske's review

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challenging emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

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joezapps's review

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adventurous hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

My neighbor gave me their copy of the book when I said that I only found out about the Attica uprisings when watching Dog Day Afternoon. Attica itself comes up only once in the book to my knowledge, but Assata Shakur links it and the countless other racist, imperialist, & violent actions of America to her own tragic history, and then weaves that into to the lived experiences of black americans in the past, present and future, and to the taught narratives and history of the state that are remnants from our slave owning past.

Assata Shakur does this with pinpoint precision, does not mince her words once, but brings simultaneously such empathy and humor. It's a rare text that illuminates the love and care in revolutionary movements. Specifically shedding the preconceived notions from the state & media about the Black Panthers & Black Liberation Movement, but also notes criticism to how the movements fell apart (though the blame is mainly rested on COINTELPRO as it should be).

This is an essential text I believe, and one I will be returning to often. What may bring me back the most, is the incredible poetry scattered throughout, the opening poem in particular.

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jessmbark's review

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is by far one of the best memoirs I have ever read. It mixes poetry with history and has an instantly recognizable voice. A true must-read if you want to understand Black history.

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lgkpeck's review

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emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

This book captivated and enraged me. The author writes beautifully about her life, sharing rich detail. She exposes so frankly the acute injustice of the American justice system. She spares the reader none of her indignation and rage, but she also writes with as much passion about the love she has for her brothers and sisters, for her family.

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ramonaleanna's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I have the utmost admiration for this woman and what she represents. This was a wonderful, informative, well-written story, and one of the best autobiographies I've had the privilege of reading so far.

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peachblossomreads's review

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informative fast-paced

5.0

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hannahmartian's review against another edition

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challenging informative tense slow-paced

4.0

I knew nothing about Assata Shakur until I heard Angela Davis mention her several times to recommend this book. I am glad I read it. This book tells the story of how Assata grew up from a kid in Queens to an political refugee in exile in Cuba. It covers her involvement with student movements, the Black Panthers, and her years of imprisonment while on trial. It’s terrifying to read what the state will do when they perceive you as a threat and thr lengths they have gone to in order to demean Assata and break her spirit while framing her for violent crimes.

Sometimes I wished the writing style was tighter.my favorite parts are when she talks about her close relationships. She clearly has such love for the people close to her.

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rubbercitykitten's review

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challenging informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

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cadybooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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