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rainbows's review against another edition
3.0
George Jackson speaks a lot of truth in this collection of letters, but I cannot get behind his attitude towards women. 5 stars for his astute observations - 2 stars for his placement of women in society = 3 stars.
joshsimp's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Relatable in that I too would simp for Angela Davis
sumayyah_t's review against another edition
4.0
An insightful portrait of a young, Black man during the last half of the 1960s. George Jackson's letters contain truth, hope, anger, love, bitterness - all the conflicting emotions a man in his situation knows. Though somewhat tainted my his displays of misogyny and condescension toward his mother, George Jackson's words are still valid today and should be read, specifically, by those interested in reforming the prison system.
bolden_6's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
a must read book, from a must read author. no one will inspire you more
linds29's review against another edition
3.0
Rounded down from 3.5
His voice is as powerful, clear, and passionate as everyone says it is. There are many nuggets that either felt incredibly accurate or constituted good food for thought. His commitment to education and liberation is phenomenally impressive. However, at least half of the book is lost between his intense misogyny and apparent dislike of his family, especially his parents. He focuses more on the real stuff, his extensive critique of capitalism and nods toward prison abolition rhetoric, in the second half of the book as he starts writing his lawyer and other women that surprise him as being "intelligent," including Angela Davis. I'm sure there's a persuasive hot take out there about how focusing on the rampant sexism and intellectual elitism in his letters is reductionist, shallow feminism, etc., but I've unfortunately yet to come across it.
"...too many times, too many of us choose to live the crippled existence of the near-man, the half-man. Well, I don't care how long I live. Over this, I have no control, but I do care about what kind of life I live, and I can control this. I may not live but another five minutes, but it will be five minutes definitely on my terms."
His voice is as powerful, clear, and passionate as everyone says it is. There are many nuggets that either felt incredibly accurate or constituted good food for thought. His commitment to education and liberation is phenomenally impressive. However, at least half of the book is lost between his intense misogyny and apparent dislike of his family, especially his parents. He focuses more on the real stuff, his extensive critique of capitalism and nods toward prison abolition rhetoric, in the second half of the book as he starts writing his lawyer and other women that surprise him as being "intelligent," including Angela Davis. I'm sure there's a persuasive hot take out there about how focusing on the rampant sexism and intellectual elitism in his letters is reductionist, shallow feminism, etc., but I've unfortunately yet to come across it.
"...too many times, too many of us choose to live the crippled existence of the near-man, the half-man. Well, I don't care how long I live. Over this, I have no control, but I do care about what kind of life I live, and I can control this. I may not live but another five minutes, but it will be five minutes definitely on my terms."