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karnaconverse's review against another edition
3.0
A lesson about self-discovery and the amount of work it requires for some
I don't listen to hip-hop music so was unfamiliar with Jason "Timbuktu" and his music; I chose this book because I was curious about his desire to learn about his biracial ancestral roots as he navigated his own search for self. His interest in family history begins in Sweden, the country where he was born and raised, but crosses the Atlantic Ocean to New York and South Carolina, the ancestral homes of his parents. Most interesting are the trips he makes to the American South and considers racism in both the United States and Sweden—and both in terms of the past and the present.
Diakité's memoir emphasizes that a family's history is so much more than just names and dates on a gravestone. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.
I don't listen to hip-hop music so was unfamiliar with Jason "Timbuktu" and his music; I chose this book because I was curious about his desire to learn about his biracial ancestral roots as he navigated his own search for self. His interest in family history begins in Sweden, the country where he was born and raised, but crosses the Atlantic Ocean to New York and South Carolina, the ancestral homes of his parents. Most interesting are the trips he makes to the American South and considers racism in both the United States and Sweden—and both in terms of the past and the present.
Diakité's memoir emphasizes that a family's history is so much more than just names and dates on a gravestone. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.
graceless's review against another edition
4.0
I don't even know what prompted me to add this book to my "to read list" - probably a celebrity or a list of books about a topic, but I'm sure glad I did and even more grateful to find it available on Kindle Unlimited.
This memoir looks at Timbuktu's journey of self discovery and establishing a deeper understanding for how a like him ended up in Sweden making rap music.
The best part for me is how he talked about the line you walk when you're mixed race. You're too dark to ever be considered white by the white guys, and you're too light to be blak in the eyes of the the others. A pretty personal journey of someone I knew nothing about but enjoyed it nonetheless.
This memoir looks at Timbuktu's journey of self discovery and establishing a deeper understanding for how a like him ended up in Sweden making rap music.
The best part for me is how he talked about the line you walk when you're mixed race. You're too dark to ever be considered white by the white guys, and you're too light to be blak in the eyes of the the others. A pretty personal journey of someone I knew nothing about but enjoyed it nonetheless.
ebba_rosvall's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
2.5
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
4.0
The author struggles with his self image - where does he belong? His parents are from the US - black father, white mother. They moved to Sweden shortly after their marriage - his father wanted to distance his future children from the US' treatment of people of color; to give them a chance at a life without racism, without judgmental misconceptions based on nothing more than the color of skin.
He didn't escape racism - his stories regarding school are an amazing first hand account of not just bullyism not addressed by teachers or administration but also you can't escape racism. Being one of the few people of color throughout his school year, Jason naturally built relationships with these students, strength, courage and positive experiences.
Jason encourages his father to share his experiences in the US as a black man in the 1950's and 1960's. He also listens to his mother recount stories of NYC, a young impressionable social worker from Scranton, PA - no concept of the dangers of her job.
Jason visits the southern states of the US with his friend, a director known for his stark imagery and truth telling. Jason hears stories about poor quality food, lack of social progress, racism still rampant behind closed doors and in the communities. Senseless acts of violence; police misuse of their guns, killing innocent black children.
This book was published in 2016. The tragedy of this book - only increased, only heightened, only higher unrest. Brutal truth.
He didn't escape racism - his stories regarding school are an amazing first hand account of not just bullyism not addressed by teachers or administration but also you can't escape racism. Being one of the few people of color throughout his school year, Jason naturally built relationships with these students, strength, courage and positive experiences.
Jason encourages his father to share his experiences in the US as a black man in the 1950's and 1960's. He also listens to his mother recount stories of NYC, a young impressionable social worker from Scranton, PA - no concept of the dangers of her job.
Jason visits the southern states of the US with his friend, a director known for his stark imagery and truth telling. Jason hears stories about poor quality food, lack of social progress, racism still rampant behind closed doors and in the communities. Senseless acts of violence; police misuse of their guns, killing innocent black children.
This book was published in 2016. The tragedy of this book - only increased, only heightened, only higher unrest. Brutal truth.
badbitch's review against another edition
4.0
Jätteviktig läsning. Lyssnade på ljudboken som Jason själv läser in, älskade det. Också jättekul att läsa om Lund/Malmö och spyken
alicia_joy's review against another edition
3.0
Another Amazon First Reads pick for me. I appreciate memoirs as a genre, as I find they help to expand my worldview and offer a look into realties that are different from my own. Which is exactly why, as a white American, I chose this book to read.
My biggest complaint, and reason for the 3 instead of 4 stars, is the lack of any concept of time throughout the chapters of this memoir. Mr. Diakite jumps around from story to story, which would be absolutely fine if there was some kind of time delineation - some kind of indicator that we were going back or forward in the timeline. But since there are very few areas where he indicates the year the events transpired, I found his general narrative a bit confusing, rambling, and generally hard to follow along with.
My biggest complaint, and reason for the 3 instead of 4 stars, is the lack of any concept of time throughout the chapters of this memoir. Mr. Diakite jumps around from story to story, which would be absolutely fine if there was some kind of time delineation - some kind of indicator that we were going back or forward in the timeline. But since there are very few areas where he indicates the year the events transpired, I found his general narrative a bit confusing, rambling, and generally hard to follow along with.