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jlebon's review
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I was given this book as a leaving present from my English teacher Ms. Hynes and, not just for its sentimentality, this is a text that I will treasure forever.
Baldwin's articulate nature is so profound throughout all of these essays. Whilst the subject matter could be seen as depressing, this text was an absolute joy to read from page-to-page and I now feel as if I am far more educated on a concept - crucially coming from the perspective of, at the core of Baldwin's identity like it or not, a black man - that white people can often allow themselves to be ignorant (intentionally or not) to.
'The Price of the Ticket' is marginally my favourite essay, although they all are worthy of five stars, giving the most personal view of the effect of racism upon the world Baldwin exists within - an existence so similar in certain respects to those of the same ethnicity.
Across the essays, Baldwin explores the concept of a white world and how things will never change due an institutionalised racism that maintains a lack of reflection from one ethnicity over their oppression of another. Simply, how can we expect change when there is such a lack of accountability?
The discourse throughout this collection is such a necessary read for everyone, be that out of education or resonance, and Baldwin's ability in constructing his argument is just exceptional.
Onto his novel 'Another Country' in the near future which I anticipate will be similarly fantastic and help to cement Baldwin as one of my favourite writers.
A truly exceptional read.
Baldwin's articulate nature is so profound throughout all of these essays. Whilst the subject matter could be seen as depressing, this text was an absolute joy to read from page-to-page and I now feel as if I am far more educated on a concept - crucially coming from the perspective of, at the core of Baldwin's identity like it or not, a black man - that white people can often allow themselves to be ignorant (intentionally or not) to.
'The Price of the Ticket' is marginally my favourite essay, although they all are worthy of five stars, giving the most personal view of the effect of racism upon the world Baldwin exists within - an existence so similar in certain respects to those of the same ethnicity.
Across the essays, Baldwin explores the concept of a white world and how things will never change due an institutionalised racism that maintains a lack of reflection from one ethnicity over their oppression of another. Simply, how can we expect change when there is such a lack of accountability?
The discourse throughout this collection is such a necessary read for everyone, be that out of education or resonance, and Baldwin's ability in constructing his argument is just exceptional.
Onto his novel 'Another Country' in the near future which I anticipate will be similarly fantastic and help to cement Baldwin as one of my favourite writers.
A truly exceptional read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Child abuse, Slavery, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Classism
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