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daniellersalaz's review
4.0
I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
We Are Meant to Rise is an inspiring collection of essays contributed by people of color with ties to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The essays cover many of the challenges faced by the US in 2020, including police brutality and protests that occurred following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, as well as the disparities and heartbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The essays give us a glimpse of where we’re at as a nation, where we’re letting one another down, and where there are opportunities for growth, community, and solidarity. Until we learn about one another’s experiences and attempt to fully recognize our common struggles as well as differential treatment and opportunity, we will be unable to chart a course away from white supremacy and toward a fair and just society.
I recommend this book as one source of perspectives and experiences that can be used for personal growth and applied to community building and social justice work.
We Are Meant to Rise is an inspiring collection of essays contributed by people of color with ties to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The essays cover many of the challenges faced by the US in 2020, including police brutality and protests that occurred following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, as well as the disparities and heartbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The essays give us a glimpse of where we’re at as a nation, where we’re letting one another down, and where there are opportunities for growth, community, and solidarity. Until we learn about one another’s experiences and attempt to fully recognize our common struggles as well as differential treatment and opportunity, we will be unable to chart a course away from white supremacy and toward a fair and just society.
I recommend this book as one source of perspectives and experiences that can be used for personal growth and applied to community building and social justice work.
blankpagealex's review
5.0
Never has a book felt simultaneously so familiar and yet so remote for me. This collection of authors, poets, playwrights, and essayists of color who have some sort of connection to Minneapolis delves into the various events and movements that surrounded the early months of the COVID pandemic and the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a police officer. These authors from my own community write about places I've been to, streets I've driven on, and events I've participated in. Yet their experiences as people of color in a city that continues to grapple with racist policies and prejudice from multiple directions describe an experience that is wholly different from my own and it was eye-opening and fascinating to hear their perspective.
In reading this book I often found my own biases challenged and my mind racing to recollect where I was during the moments described by the writers. Some of the authors include fascinating history lessons from our state like Louise Erdich's section about the fight against tribal termination policies in the 60s and 70s. Others include deeply personal stories about growing up as an immigrant in St. Paul or as a person of color in a mostly white suburb. I jotted down several authors names to see if I can track down some of their other writings.
Not all of the essays are winners - a few came across sounding like those long Facebook posts everyone was sharing in June 2020. However, the book as a whole is a worthwhile read, especially for people in Minnesota who noticed that something changed in our state in 2020 and want to understand more.
In reading this book I often found my own biases challenged and my mind racing to recollect where I was during the moments described by the writers. Some of the authors include fascinating history lessons from our state like Louise Erdich's section about the fight against tribal termination policies in the 60s and 70s. Others include deeply personal stories about growing up as an immigrant in St. Paul or as a person of color in a mostly white suburb. I jotted down several authors names to see if I can track down some of their other writings.
Not all of the essays are winners - a few came across sounding like those long Facebook posts everyone was sharing in June 2020. However, the book as a whole is a worthwhile read, especially for people in Minnesota who noticed that something changed in our state in 2020 and want to understand more.
yliana's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
all of these stories are so incredibly personal and important. I love the different styles of writing and how each author spoke about different topics. Most of the stories had sad elements, which is a given since the authors talked about their experiences with racism and covid and other health issues but they also had an air of hope. I am excited to look into each author's individual work!!
jwelchreads's review
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.5
This book was very insightful giving various perspectives on 2020 and life. There were some parts that were triggering revolving around BLM and the murder or George Floyd but it is a must read!
knkoch's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
This is an incredible collection of essays by writers of color in or tied to Minnesota on race and justice. It’s quite a collection of both new and established writers, organizers, activists, and leaders. I’ve enjoyed diving into the wealth of talent this state has to offer these past few years, and these reflections on the state of the country and our community are so apt after the murder of George Floyd. I’m glad I found this More Than a Single Story project through the Hennepin County Library system.
stelepami's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Classism, Colonisation, Dementia, Death, Terminal illness, Slavery, Bullying, and Addiction
Just read it. I need a copy of my own.
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