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hannreadswhat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
5.0
The day I realized the severity of racism was in the fall of 2016. Before this day, I thought I knew about racism and the darkness of it, but I realized how priviliged I am and how I will never fully understand the struggles of the black community. I went to a pretty white primary school. As an Asian girl, I stuck out but didn't think of the laughs and comments about my eyes as that serious. I knew racism existed, I just didn't completely understand what it was.
When I started gymnasiet (like UK college) I met friends from all ethnicities, religions etc. The diversity made me feel like I fit in. We hade widely different backgrounds, but we could all relate to feeling like outsiders and being judged for our ethnicity. One of them is J, who was my closest male friend. He is the type of person who always gives his seat to someone at the bus, and can't leave the room without making sure everyone in our group is there. As a young black man in Sweden, he tells us many stories of the challenges he faces purely by existing.
So in October 2016, we were on our way home from school. We walked across a park and J passed around a chocolate bar. We passed a drunk man who was mumbling to himself. J asked what he said and if he wanted some chocolate. The man slapped the bar out of his hand and said ''I don't want any chocolate from you, you n-word!''. My friend was just trying to be nice and even asked the man why he called him that, if he knew what it meant. The man started yelling, saying ''Because you are one! You're a dirty n-word, get out of here''. J tried to say that he was being hurtful and that that word was incredibly degrading. When he later saw that the rest my friend group consisted of only people of color, he yelled at us too. He said ''Go home, go home to your country, all of you!''
He got really close to J's face, spitting at him and pushing him. We thought this grown man was about to hurt our friend, so we pulled him away and left. He was silent All of us were shocked but J. ''It's okay guys, I'm used to it. Why do you look so shocked'' and forced a laugh. None of us had seen this happen before, this disgusting display of racism and utter disrespect. I will never forget that day. I don't remember the man's face, but I do remember a group of white friends sitting comfortably at a picnic a few meters away, watching a grown man yell and push at a 16-year-old kid. Then they looked away. As if it were none of their business.
I hear the pain in J's voice every week when he quotes the horrible things people have yelled at him. For 10 days he counted the times he was called the n-word. It was 14. Mostly by older people, but also young neo-nazis and even children. He always follows us girls to our door to make sure we get home safe. But when the night gets darker and darker, he is the last one outside and the most vulnerable because of his skin color. The truth is, we are all more worried about him. Because the shit people yell at him happens everywhere and all the time. They assume he's a criminal, a shoplifter, a harrasser. They spit at him, yell, call him every degrading word possible and threaten him.
You need to read this if you claim that slavery isn't an important part of history and one of the most cruel things humans have done. If you claim that it doesn't matter because it was 'so long ago. If you don't believe that black people are still oppressed.
You need to read this if you say you 'don't see color' and therefore ignore racism. That means you're not only lacking knowledge, but ignorant. You need to read this if you're white and will never ever experience racism, but need to realize the reality of it. As an ally, the best thing you can do is call attention to the voices of marginalized groups. Use your privilege, and know that sadly people are more likely to listen to you than to the minority.
You need to read this if you're a non-black person of color, because while you face racism, the hatred and discrimination that black people face is deeply rooted in societal structures. It is incredibly common and spans over hundreds of years. So many people of color are anti-black themselves and don't realize that they are just supporting their common oppressor.
You need to read this if you want to know more about the parts that they don't write about in history books.
You need to read this if you're a human being because I would recommend this to everyone. A true masterpiece, I can't even imagine the amount of research that went into this.
Homegoing explains the deep-rooted systematic racism and its many forms. From slavery to the cotton farms, to the racial profiling that takes many black men's lives today. The stories are told in short chapters and follow family members over generations. The fates of these characters are sometimes heartbreaking and other times hopeful, it is so bittersweet. Gyasi's writing is just descriptive enough and you get a look into a character from just a few pages. I didn't want the chapters to end, but then came the next one and blew me away again.
Before the day a man called my friend the n-word and yelled at his face, I thought I knew and understood racism. I didn't. Before reading this book, I was even more convinced that I was educated on the topic. I wasn't, and still have more to learn. It's a never-ending learning process for a seemingly never-ending misery.
Listen to black voices, uplift them. Remind everyone that black lives matter, because we still have to fucking say it in 2018.
When I started gymnasiet (like UK college) I met friends from all ethnicities, religions etc. The diversity made me feel like I fit in. We hade widely different backgrounds, but we could all relate to feeling like outsiders and being judged for our ethnicity. One of them is J, who was my closest male friend. He is the type of person who always gives his seat to someone at the bus, and can't leave the room without making sure everyone in our group is there. As a young black man in Sweden, he tells us many stories of the challenges he faces purely by existing.
So in October 2016, we were on our way home from school. We walked across a park and J passed around a chocolate bar. We passed a drunk man who was mumbling to himself. J asked what he said and if he wanted some chocolate. The man slapped the bar out of his hand and said ''I don't want any chocolate from you, you n-word!''. My friend was just trying to be nice and even asked the man why he called him that, if he knew what it meant. The man started yelling, saying ''Because you are one! You're a dirty n-word, get out of here''. J tried to say that he was being hurtful and that that word was incredibly degrading. When he later saw that the rest my friend group consisted of only people of color, he yelled at us too. He said ''Go home, go home to your country, all of you!''
He got really close to J's face, spitting at him and pushing him. We thought this grown man was about to hurt our friend, so we pulled him away and left. He was silent All of us were shocked but J. ''It's okay guys, I'm used to it. Why do you look so shocked'' and forced a laugh. None of us had seen this happen before, this disgusting display of racism and utter disrespect. I will never forget that day. I don't remember the man's face, but I do remember a group of white friends sitting comfortably at a picnic a few meters away, watching a grown man yell and push at a 16-year-old kid. Then they looked away. As if it were none of their business.
I hear the pain in J's voice every week when he quotes the horrible things people have yelled at him. For 10 days he counted the times he was called the n-word. It was 14. Mostly by older people, but also young neo-nazis and even children. He always follows us girls to our door to make sure we get home safe. But when the night gets darker and darker, he is the last one outside and the most vulnerable because of his skin color. The truth is, we are all more worried about him. Because the shit people yell at him happens everywhere and all the time. They assume he's a criminal, a shoplifter, a harrasser. They spit at him, yell, call him every degrading word possible and threaten him.
You need to read this if you claim that slavery isn't an important part of history and one of the most cruel things humans have done. If you claim that it doesn't matter because it was 'so long ago. If you don't believe that black people are still oppressed.
You need to read this if you say you 'don't see color' and therefore ignore racism. That means you're not only lacking knowledge, but ignorant. You need to read this if you're white and will never ever experience racism, but need to realize the reality of it. As an ally, the best thing you can do is call attention to the voices of marginalized groups. Use your privilege, and know that sadly people are more likely to listen to you than to the minority.
You need to read this if you're a non-black person of color, because while you face racism, the hatred and discrimination that black people face is deeply rooted in societal structures. It is incredibly common and spans over hundreds of years. So many people of color are anti-black themselves and don't realize that they are just supporting their common oppressor.
You need to read this if you want to know more about the parts that they don't write about in history books.
You need to read this if you're a human being because I would recommend this to everyone. A true masterpiece, I can't even imagine the amount of research that went into this.
Homegoing explains the deep-rooted systematic racism and its many forms. From slavery to the cotton farms, to the racial profiling that takes many black men's lives today. The stories are told in short chapters and follow family members over generations. The fates of these characters are sometimes heartbreaking and other times hopeful, it is so bittersweet. Gyasi's writing is just descriptive enough and you get a look into a character from just a few pages. I didn't want the chapters to end, but then came the next one and blew me away again.
Before the day a man called my friend the n-word and yelled at his face, I thought I knew and understood racism. I didn't. Before reading this book, I was even more convinced that I was educated on the topic. I wasn't, and still have more to learn. It's a never-ending learning process for a seemingly never-ending misery.
Listen to black voices, uplift them. Remind everyone that black lives matter, because we still have to fucking say it in 2018.
kdahlo's review against another edition
5.0
Really lovely book. I found I could not read it fast. Instead it was slow, contemplative process where I would read one chapter or section, then take a long break and put it down. Still, I never hesitated to go back and read more. While the sections are all connected, there are natural spots to pause as the book is structured by generations and moves forward in time with each break. I could see this book working well for someone who normally prefers short story collections. Very strong characters in each section that will stick with you for a while.
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
3.0
Generational and character driven novel. It is well written but we saw such short glimpses of each characters lives - each vignette left me wanting more. Though it would have been a Thorn Birds sized brick if more time was spent on each character, so to fulfill the concept it had to be short glimpses. I had hoped for more satisfaction in the ending and some choices felt forced to bring everyone to the closing scene.
zoehelena24's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lennymckenny's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This was so powerful. There is so much to process. It puts history in perspective and made me feel more connected to historical events and just ancestors in general.
ke_sh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
loisr5's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0