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4.61 AVERAGE
4.61 AVERAGE
informative
fast-paced
emotional
reflective
tense
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This was a short read but incredibly powerful. There are parts of it that are hard for me to grasp and understand as a straight white male, but then as I continue to read the dots begin to connect and touch deep within my being. To be honest it was hard to read this book right now because I feel like this new presidency of Trump is trying to take so many steps backwards in our history and turning a blind eye to so many of the things that James Baldwin pointed out many years ago. This book will stay with me for quite a while.
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A very important little book to read in this day and time. More than sixty years have passed but the matter is as central as it was back then.
I often wonder when thinking of the relationship between victim and oppressor if the seemingly most natural reaction, hate and a wish for vengeance, is actually helpful for bringing about freedom. It is easy to hate those who hate us. It is justified.
But Baldwin's undercurrent is always of Love, and of Beauty. And with that love he writes of accepting reality as it is, even when violent, and only through that acceptance bringing about change. And the point is: he reads to me more peaceful and wise than those who talk of hate. Hate seems to always keeps you restless.
Now I know I'm reading this through feminist lens, applying it to the kind of oppression I know. Maybe I can or maybe I'm finding something else. Still I connect it to the pure hatred I feel sometimes, and whether that is actually helpful or not. Still haven't found an answer.
I often wonder when thinking of the relationship between victim and oppressor if the seemingly most natural reaction, hate and a wish for vengeance, is actually helpful for bringing about freedom. It is easy to hate those who hate us. It is justified.
But Baldwin's undercurrent is always of Love, and of Beauty. And with that love he writes of accepting reality as it is, even when violent, and only through that acceptance bringing about change. And the point is: he reads to me more peaceful and wise than those who talk of hate. Hate seems to always keeps you restless.
Now I know I'm reading this through feminist lens, applying it to the kind of oppression I know. Maybe I can or maybe I'm finding something else. Still I connect it to the pure hatred I feel sometimes, and whether that is actually helpful or not. Still haven't found an answer.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
james baldwin imy :( (also tn i found out my grandpa was on a boat w him once in istanbul :0 (they didn’t talk tho bc my gpa didn’t wanna bug him lmao))
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
Good to read in the wake of extreme consequences of white Christian nationalism
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced