A review by karessa_proctor
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A heartbreaking tail of what racial injustice was like in the 1970’s for Black Americans. While the injustice happens to one specific character the story clearly explains how this act of injustice towards a person hurts their spouse, parents, friends, and community as a whole. The injustice of one is an injustice for all. 

While explanations and the experiences of the woman in the story are very clearly written by a man, I think this is an accurate portray of what real people suffered from. I also appreciated how complex and imperfect the characters were, it made them more real and human. 

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