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nuhafariha's review
4.0
I first fell in love with Tina Chang's work when I heard her recite "Fury" for an event with the AAWW. The poignant message of the poem - "How can we hold space for love if we don't hold space for anger?" has stuck with me throughout the political upheaval of 2020 and 2021. Being angry & creating space for anger is not an antithesis of love but perhaps it means that we care enough to be angry, to care even.
Hybrida is, as the title suggests, a hybrid work. Chang plays with formal structure as she juxtaposes poetry & art & police reports. The poems address both her children as she rewrites fairytales into the modern era, and the public. Stepping into this hybrid world, Chang asks us to hold space, to hold space for Black children, Black art, biracial mothers, overpolicing and the grief & joy of it all. A stunning piece of work.
Hybrida is, as the title suggests, a hybrid work. Chang plays with formal structure as she juxtaposes poetry & art & police reports. The poems address both her children as she rewrites fairytales into the modern era, and the public. Stepping into this hybrid world, Chang asks us to hold space, to hold space for Black children, Black art, biracial mothers, overpolicing and the grief & joy of it all. A stunning piece of work.
niniane's review
3.0
The first poem was heartfelt about worrying for her biracial child and not being able to fully counsel him because she hasn't gone through those experiences with dangerous cops.
But then it is a lot of poems written from the imagined perspective of Trayvon Martin and the cop. Those weren't compelling because she is doing that very thing of going outside her lived experience.
There were poems about her parents but they were so flowery that I couldn't figure out what actually happened. Her mom gave up religion?
If the whole collection were along the lines of the first poem, it would be great.
But then it is a lot of poems written from the imagined perspective of Trayvon Martin and the cop. Those weren't compelling because she is doing that very thing of going outside her lived experience.
There were poems about her parents but they were so flowery that I couldn't figure out what actually happened. Her mom gave up religion?
If the whole collection were along the lines of the first poem, it would be great.
shellroch285's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I admired the risks taken in some of the poems’ structure as well as the rhythm in “Prophecy.” Powerful writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Racism
kari_rueckert's review
4.0
"What did God's hand hold without tension.
What can a mind uncover without slipping through
the smallest of holes? A hole is an imagined shape.
What it contains and its depth are often the same
unreachable dark."
- Tina Chang 'Diversity'
What can a mind uncover without slipping through
the smallest of holes? A hole is an imagined shape.
What it contains and its depth are often the same
unreachable dark."
- Tina Chang 'Diversity'
thumanybooks's review
5.0
Tina Chang writes so beautifully. Each of these poems is a surprise. There's art, there's astronomy and structural differences. And the way she writes about her son? Her love for him, her concern for him in this racist world? It's stunning.