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randisworld's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.5
I learned so much about Fannie that I didn’t know. She contributed so much to this country in such a limited amount of time. We cannot thank her enough!
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Sexual violence
abellebooks's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Dr. Keisha Blain is an amazing writer. She provides a clear and concise story of the great Fannie Lou Hamer's life. Throughout Until I am Free, the reader sees how much of what we are experiencing today are similar to the injustices Mrs. Hamer had to face. However, it does not leave the reader feeling hopeless. Dr. Blain gives countless examples of how Mrs. Hamer was dedicated to the mission of raising the quality of life for all people negatively impacted by the system.
My introduction to Fannie Lou Hamer was a portion of her famous quote, "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired." But after reading Until I am Free, I have a greater understanding of the lasting impact she had on our fight for freedom. Until her last day she gave so much of herself. I only hope we continue to cary on her legacy of community and action. I highly recommend this book!
My introduction to Fannie Lou Hamer was a portion of her famous quote, "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired." But after reading Until I am Free, I have a greater understanding of the lasting impact she had on our fight for freedom. Until her last day she gave so much of herself. I only hope we continue to cary on her legacy of community and action. I highly recommend this book!
semorigan's review
4.0
This was my introduction to Fannie Lou Hamer, and Blain does a great job of finding the parallels between her work in the 60s and 70s and the work of activists today. Not that Hamer's influence needs framing, as reading about her story makes it clear the impact that she had on the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, but it sends a powerful message that over half a century later, the same types of battles are being fought for human rights.
davidbythebay's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I read this back in September/October and wasn't sure how I felt about it. (I won a giveaway of the book and received it a month or so before it was officially released and published.) I reread it November to December to try and figure out how I feel. I really did enjoy it's message and the information about Fannie Lou Hamer. I was anticipating more about Hamer and direct discussions of how she viewed voting and race relations than what was present. Each chapter, excluding the first, has an opening with a particular instance of an African American woman experiencing state sanctioned violence and discrimination and racism, sometimes death. It allowed for parallels between Hamer's time and the present, which were appreciated and kept Hamer's words fresh as if said today and not 50/60 years ago.
I first came across Fannie Lou Hamer in a manner similar to the author. The author states she first learned of Hamer in a college course during the Spring 2008 term as a Senior at Binghamton. I first learned of Hamer in the Fall 2008 term as a Senior at Cornell. (Both are in upstate New York just a few hours from each other.) Like Blain, I have had a fascination with Hamer since first learning about her in a class on the history of the American worker 1960 to today.
My hesitations in rating this book include a bit of over repetition of the conclusions of Hamer's beliefs with no mew evidence shared between stating her beliefs. Also, and I don't hold this against the book at all, I wish that some of Hamer's speeches would have been included in full for some easy reference and to strengthen the arguments of the book.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book's examination of who Fannie Lou Hamer was, what she did and stood for, and what lessons we should learn and carry on to honor and further her work. It is important to remember and know of the main figures of the Civil Rights Movement beyond Dr. King and Malcolm X and the other heterosexual men who were front and center in the movement and our textbooks. There were women and LGBTQ+ people who were there seeking racial justice as well as gender and sexual orientation justice before Women's Liberation in the 1970s and Stonewall in 1969.
Blain brings life and immediacy to Hamer and her philosophies, her beliefs and ideology. By examining the private biography and the public works, Blain fills in the picture of Fannie Lou Hamer that once sparked my interest. Blain has done a fine job illuminating a voice that has been more-or-less silenced but which still echoes in today's social movements and political discourse.
I first came across Fannie Lou Hamer in a manner similar to the author. The author states she first learned of Hamer in a college course during the Spring 2008 term as a Senior at Binghamton. I first learned of Hamer in the Fall 2008 term as a Senior at Cornell. (Both are in upstate New York just a few hours from each other.) Like Blain, I have had a fascination with Hamer since first learning about her in a class on the history of the American worker 1960 to today.
My hesitations in rating this book include a bit of over repetition of the conclusions of Hamer's beliefs with no mew evidence shared between stating her beliefs. Also, and I don't hold this against the book at all, I wish that some of Hamer's speeches would have been included in full for some easy reference and to strengthen the arguments of the book.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book's examination of who Fannie Lou Hamer was, what she did and stood for, and what lessons we should learn and carry on to honor and further her work. It is important to remember and know of the main figures of the Civil Rights Movement beyond Dr. King and Malcolm X and the other heterosexual men who were front and center in the movement and our textbooks. There were women and LGBTQ+ people who were there seeking racial justice as well as gender and sexual orientation justice before Women's Liberation in the 1970s and Stonewall in 1969.
Blain brings life and immediacy to Hamer and her philosophies, her beliefs and ideology. By examining the private biography and the public works, Blain fills in the picture of Fannie Lou Hamer that once sparked my interest. Blain has done a fine job illuminating a voice that has been more-or-less silenced but which still echoes in today's social movements and political discourse.