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A review by benphillios1978
The Tradition by Jericho Brown
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Bravo! Jericho Brown earned a Pulitzer for this 2020 collection and captures a contemporary black gay male experience in a way that translates potently for me as a white gay male reader. What an emotional, revealing journey it is! I encourage us all to explore this essential and vibrant voice.
Brown explores the weight of his experience as a gay black man in the age of police violence and renewed evidence of racism. He expresses righteous rage toward police and fury toward aggressors he encounters in his personal life. Brown reflects on his childhood, most particularly his parents’ corporal discipline and the opportunities they missed to
nurture him when the mom-shaped spot in the bed next to him stayed cold.
I appreciate the specificity and vividness of the language, but some moments are repeated with dramatic impact while others fall flat. Perhaps the book could be trimmed a bit. Please read this Important book and decide for yourself.
Certainly, none of these critiques kept me from greatly appreciating this visceral and thought-provoking work, which seers many distinct memories in my mind exactly as it is! So many moments resonate with me because despite apparent differences Brown and I share key characteristics and common concerns. 4.5/5
Brown explores the weight of his experience as a gay black man in the age of police violence and renewed evidence of racism. He expresses righteous rage toward police and fury toward aggressors he encounters in his personal life. Brown reflects on his childhood, most particularly his parents’ corporal discipline and the opportunities they missed to
nurture him when the mom-shaped spot in the bed next to him stayed cold.
I appreciate the specificity and vividness of the language, but some moments are repeated with dramatic impact while others fall flat. Perhaps the book could be trimmed a bit. Please read this Important book and decide for yourself.
Certainly, none of these critiques kept me from greatly appreciating this visceral and thought-provoking work, which seers many distinct memories in my mind exactly as it is! So many moments resonate with me because despite apparent differences Brown and I share key characteristics and common concerns. 4.5/5