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dinasamimi's review
4.0
I love a poetry collection that hits on one very specific focus. A lot of primary source information around the 1919 Chicago Race Riot builds the framework of the collection and Ewing sings her love of Black Chicago around it. Great range and style.
kdahlo's review
5.0
Strongly evocative, I really appreciated the interweaving of poems with shreds of historical context. The poems are all in dialogue with quotes from a report about 1919 'race riots' in Chicago. I was very moved by many of these poems, and there was a great variety of voice and structure. I had a few favorites but it seems silly to describe a poem since the poem itself is both more succinct and more beautiful. I recommend reading it yourself.
tessatea333's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
theseventhl's review
5.0
Absolutely stunning, emotionally devastating collection of poetry that also functions as a history lesson and a warning that we as a society have not gotten better since 1919 in terms of the systemic abuse and violence against Black people in the United States. I hope people also read Ewing's GHOSTS IN THE SCHOOLYARD which is a non-fiction book about the way the Chicago public school system has failed Black youth.
cortingbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Death
ginalyn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I enjoyed the addition of the excerpts from a historical document. I think it gave extra context for those of us (ahem, me) who may struggle to fully wrap their heads around poetry. I loved the cadence of these. The nursery rhyme one specifically made me think. It made me cry. It made me want to do more to be more educated. I need to be less of a bystander which is pointed out within this book. Truly amazing, to use a singular event to transcend time and lines creating a discussion of what is need now.