Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

119 reviews

sellnow_hannah's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

6/5 star

A truly beautiful, moving, and poignant memoir. This is written as a letter to the author’s son about life in a black body in the world of the Dreamers. I read this at the same time as I was listening to The New Jim Crow and this was a great combination. Between the World and Me puts a personal face on some of the themes explored in the more academic New Jim Crow.
Coates’ writing is incredible - almost poetic at many points. I was in awe of his skill and the beauty of his words (and now I want to read his articles for The Atlantic).
As a white, educated woman this book - more than any other I’ve read - made me look closely at my own privilege. While I can never fully understand the experience of living in a black body, this gave a raw, personal, emotional insight into the lives of people Coates describes as living in another galaxy than myself. 
I agree with the quote on the jacket, this absolutely should be required reading. This is a book to come back to again and again. 

(I don’t rate memoirs below a 4 star because I think it takes a lot of courage to be this vulnerable and share your life story. So for me 4-4.25 is good, 4.5-4.75 is great, 5.0 is fantastic.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Slavery, Murder, and Police brutality

rmperezpadilla's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality and Racism

coralcrab77's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

absolutely beautiful. my only regret is that I didn't read it sooner. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Police brutality

chronicacademia's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Classism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Grief, Violence, Police brutality, Racism, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Death, and Physical abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, and Misogyny

ttmahome's review

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

Thought provoking writing of the reality of how ones body plays a role in the United States throughout history and today. Well written, and well narrated. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Violence, and Racism

sarahsbookstacks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Police brutality

Moderate: Slavery and Violence

alanagrace7's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective tense slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality and Racism

siobhanward's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

 

I didn't expect this to be written as a letter from a father to his son, but that, combined with hearing it in the author's voice as an audiobook made for a very powerful read. Coates' voice feels honest and real, while addressing incredibly challenging and personal topics. This is a great read, particularly as an audiobook.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Police brutality, Death, and Gun violence

alexisgarcia's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

such a raw and emotional book, such an important read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Grief, Gun violence, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

unomi57's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Physical abuse