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Poemhood: Our Black Revival: History, Folklore & the Black Experience: A Young Adult Poetry Anthology
Starring thirty-seven poets, with contributions from acclaimed authors, including Kwame Alexander, Ibi Zoboi, and Nikki Giovanni, this breathtaking Black YA poetry anthology edited by National Book Award finalist Amber McBride, Taylor Byas, and Erica Martin celebrates Black poetry, folklore, and culture.
Come, claim your wings.
Lift your life above the earth,
return to the land of your father’s birth.
What exactly is it to be Black in America?
Well, for some, it’s learning how to morph the hatred placed by others into love for oneself; for others, it’s unearthing the strength it takes to continue to hold one’s swagger when multitudinous factors work to make Black lives crumble. For some, it’s gathering around the kitchen table as Grandma tells the story of Anansi the spider, while for others it's grinning from ear to ear while eating auntie’s spectacular 7Up cake.
Black experiences and traditions are complex, striking, and vast—they stretch longer than the Nile and are four times as deep—and carry more than just unimaginable pain—there is also joy.
Featuring an all-star group of thirty-seven powerful poetic voices, including such luminaries as Kwame Alexander, James Baldwin, Ibi Zoboi, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Gwendolyn Brooks, this riveting anthology depicts the diversity of the Black experience by fostering a conversation about race, faith, heritage, and resilience between fresh poets and the literary ancestors that came before them.
Edited by Taylor Byas, Erica Martin, and Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner Amber McBride, Poemhood will simultaneously highlight the duality and nuance at the crux of so many Black experiences with poetry being the psalm constantly playing.
Come, claim your wings.
Lift your life above the earth,
return to the land of your father’s birth.
What exactly is it to be Black in America?
Well, for some, it’s learning how to morph the hatred placed by others into love for oneself; for others, it’s unearthing the strength it takes to continue to hold one’s swagger when multitudinous factors work to make Black lives crumble. For some, it’s gathering around the kitchen table as Grandma tells the story of Anansi the spider, while for others it's grinning from ear to ear while eating auntie’s spectacular 7Up cake.
Black experiences and traditions are complex, striking, and vast—they stretch longer than the Nile and are four times as deep—and carry more than just unimaginable pain—there is also joy.
Featuring an all-star group of thirty-seven powerful poetic voices, including such luminaries as Kwame Alexander, James Baldwin, Ibi Zoboi, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Gwendolyn Brooks, this riveting anthology depicts the diversity of the Black experience by fostering a conversation about race, faith, heritage, and resilience between fresh poets and the literary ancestors that came before them.
Edited by Taylor Byas, Erica Martin, and Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner Amber McBride, Poemhood will simultaneously highlight the duality and nuance at the crux of so many Black experiences with poetry being the psalm constantly playing.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
November 16, 2023
2023 reads: 349/350
i won a giveaway for a digital review copy of this book from the publisher. this did not affect my rating.
this poetry anthology explores what it is to be black in america. this includes modern authors and poets as well as classic authors and poets. i really enjoyed how this collection was structured. each poem was accompanied by an outro which makes this more accessible for those who have trouble with poetry or may not know the history behind the poem.
i won a giveaway for a digital review copy of this book from the publisher. this did not affect my rating.
this poetry anthology explores what it is to be black in america. this includes modern authors and poets as well as classic authors and poets. i really enjoyed how this collection was structured. each poem was accompanied by an outro which makes this more accessible for those who have trouble with poetry or may not know the history behind the poem.
February 8, 2024
Many thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
This is one of those books that should be taught in schools. It's an amazing introductory resource into both historical and contemporary Black poetry. I'm not the hugest poetry reader, but this was a really interesting experience for me. I especially loved the context added to the poems, which made the poems more accessible and invited the reader to read the poems more attentively and critically. In this way it made some more complex poetry more accessible for young adult readers, not by "dumbing down" the reading material, but my creating a bridge of knowledge and understanding between the poem and the reader. I think teaching (part of) this collection in literature lessons would make for a really valuable learning experience and can lead to really important conversations.
This is one of those books that should be taught in schools. It's an amazing introductory resource into both historical and contemporary Black poetry. I'm not the hugest poetry reader, but this was a really interesting experience for me. I especially loved the context added to the poems, which made the poems more accessible and invited the reader to read the poems more attentively and critically. In this way it made some more complex poetry more accessible for young adult readers, not by "dumbing down" the reading material, but my creating a bridge of knowledge and understanding between the poem and the reader. I think teaching (part of) this collection in literature lessons would make for a really valuable learning experience and can lead to really important conversations.
March 25, 2024
Thank you to Harper360YA and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC for review!
What a powerful anthology! I'm not the biggest poetry fan but I found this collection to be really accessible, with a short outro following each poem to explain a bit more about it, and I thought that the way the poems were divided up into four "volumes" was a great call as it made me look for a common vein or theme while each poem remained so unique. This anthology did an amazing job of giving us readers a taste of just how vast and rich the history of the Black experience is. I found that not every poem in the collection particularly resonated with me, but I came away with so much to think about and would highly recommend this book to poetry and non-poetry readers alike! Happy Reading :)
What a powerful anthology! I'm not the biggest poetry fan but I found this collection to be really accessible, with a short outro following each poem to explain a bit more about it, and I thought that the way the poems were divided up into four "volumes" was a great call as it made me look for a common vein or theme while each poem remained so unique. This anthology did an amazing job of giving us readers a taste of just how vast and rich the history of the Black experience is. I found that not every poem in the collection particularly resonated with me, but I came away with so much to think about and would highly recommend this book to poetry and non-poetry readers alike! Happy Reading :)
September 10, 2023
There are two things I'm looking at here. One: the collection itself, which is easily a five-star assortment of poems arranged around four central themes. I have slightly mixed feelings about how much this anthology draws from past authors, but it worked for the interwoven themes of the anthology.
Then there's the other element, which frustrated me: each 'track' is accompanied by an outro that, allegedly, explains something about the poem. Nearly all of these are written in an oddly upbeat and tautological style that may be appropriate for middle schoolers, possibly. Often they'll include lines like, "The poet even goes so far as to say..." and then includes lines of the poem that are quite literally on the same page. There were only a few cases in which I felt like the outros added anything. They read as though they were written for a much younger audience than the poems themselves, specifically in terms of language and content. I really like the idea of presenting outside information that a younger reader may not know about historical facts, symbolism, etc., but the specific details often didn't work for me.
Outros aside, there were some truly lovely and heartbreaking poems in here, which address a variety of topics about Blackness in general, our about specific experiences of the poets. Some of the pieces exist in conversation with other poems and/or poets. Even though I didn't care for the outros themselves, I think this book was designed to engage with younger readers who may feel that most poetry isn't accessible to them or doesn't speak to their experiences. Overall, I believe it did a good job of that.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
Then there's the other element, which frustrated me: each 'track' is accompanied by an outro that, allegedly, explains something about the poem. Nearly all of these are written in an oddly upbeat and tautological style that may be appropriate for middle schoolers, possibly. Often they'll include lines like, "The poet even goes so far as to say..." and then includes lines of the poem that are quite literally on the same page. There were only a few cases in which I felt like the outros added anything. They read as though they were written for a much younger audience than the poems themselves, specifically in terms of language and content. I really like the idea of presenting outside information that a younger reader may not know about historical facts, symbolism, etc., but the specific details often didn't work for me.
Outros aside, there were some truly lovely and heartbreaking poems in here, which address a variety of topics about Blackness in general, our about specific experiences of the poets. Some of the pieces exist in conversation with other poems and/or poets. Even though I didn't care for the outros themselves, I think this book was designed to engage with younger readers who may feel that most poetry isn't accessible to them or doesn't speak to their experiences. Overall, I believe it did a good job of that.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
October 11, 2023
I LOVED this collection!!! I think reading poetry can often be daunting because it references specific ideas/times/notions, without giving much context. By far my favorite thing about this collection is that for every poem, there’s a blurb after that explains its significance, what it’s referencing, and the context within which it was written. This collection includes some poems I’d read previously, but I now understand them in a completely different way. It also includes a lot of poems/poets unfamiliar to me. I love the variety in topics, authors, and writing styles. Really an incredible collection that I think everyone could enjoy.
March 26, 2024
A must read! Such powerful, insightful poems, that are well performed and gave me chills multiple times! The background information added about what inspired the poem is so valuable!
July 14, 2024
Poemhood is a beautiful unique collection! Since there are so many different poets involved each entry is written with a different prose and voice. I loved how after each entry there is an outro giving a brief explanation about the meaning of the poem. This really helped me connect to pieces that I might have overlooked or not fully understood.
Poemhood is a collection that celebrates resilience, joy, folklore, and the complexities of being Black in America. I really like how Black culture is compared to water, that like water, Black culture seeps into many aspects of society. This is true is so many ways!
Poemhood is a collection that celebrates resilience, joy, folklore, and the complexities of being Black in America. I really like how Black culture is compared to water, that like water, Black culture seeps into many aspects of society. This is true is so many ways!
June 20, 2024
Mixed feelings about this collection. As a whole, the anthology felt a bit lopsided thematically to me. The most moving poems in this collection reflected on the universal of the Black Experience in ways that were still deeply personal to the writer. The poems I wasn't as excited about seemed more like an assemblage of general Black Experience tropes, which got repetitive the longer I read.
While I do love the concept of poem "outros" that offer insights into a poem to make understanding them more accessible, I felt not every explanation added that insight. I did appreciate extra reading on regional or ancestral traditions I might not know about, or hearing from the author about what people in their life empowered them to write the narrative they did. I don't need a blurb simply summarizing the vibes of a poem though.
Favorites were Power by Audre Lorde, Moon Wants in on the Groove by DeeSoul Carson, and the untitled James Baldwin piece in the chapter Track 7.
While I do love the concept of poem "outros" that offer insights into a poem to make understanding them more accessible, I felt not every explanation added that insight. I did appreciate extra reading on regional or ancestral traditions I might not know about, or hearing from the author about what people in their life empowered them to write the narrative they did. I don't need a blurb simply summarizing the vibes of a poem though.
Favorites were Power by Audre Lorde, Moon Wants in on the Groove by DeeSoul Carson, and the untitled James Baldwin piece in the chapter Track 7.
February 16, 2024
Beautiful poetry and I love that there are “outros” after each poem to explain its significance.
September 16, 2024
POEMHOOD: OUR BLACK REVIVAL is a fantastic YA poetry anthology that challenges the idea that Black culture is monolithic. Its poems showcase a range of experiences, emotions, and folktales. The introduction helps frame the anthology for teenagers, sharing that some of the motifs they will see throughout the book (water, African Americans growing wings) are part of a rich literary tradition that is often overlooked in high school curricula.
Poems by living poets are mixed in with poems by “OGs” (Lucille Clifton, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, etc.), allowing readers to see how these poets have been and continue to be in conversation with one another. I also appreciate how each poem is followed by an outro that helps to share additional context for the poem. Some of these outros were helpful to me as an adult reader—for example, I hadn’t known about the murder of 10-year-old Clifford Glover by a police officer in the ’70s—and some didn’t really add anything new, but I love that they will help make these poems more accessible to young people.
A great addition to any classroom library!
Poems by living poets are mixed in with poems by “OGs” (Lucille Clifton, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, etc.), allowing readers to see how these poets have been and continue to be in conversation with one another. I also appreciate how each poem is followed by an outro that helps to share additional context for the poem. Some of these outros were helpful to me as an adult reader—for example, I hadn’t known about the murder of 10-year-old Clifford Glover by a police officer in the ’70s—and some didn’t really add anything new, but I love that they will help make these poems more accessible to young people.
A great addition to any classroom library!
May 27, 2024
this was some of the best poetry I have ever read. such beautiful work and moving pieces that educated me in all the ways I was hoping. I loved how each poem had a outro. my advice: read each poem again after the outro. it will help you if you didn’t understand it the first time, and it will put everything into perspective.
“We often hear stories about Zeus, Hades, Rapunzel, or
Cinderella, and nothing about Anansi, Adze, or John Henry…”
I have loved mythology and folklore and learning about the rich history of Black mythology and folklore was fascinating.
My favorite pieces:
Power by Audre Lorde
the South by Erica Martin
(un)chained by Erica Martin
Textured by Kandace Fuller
I recommend this for all poetry lovers, folklore and mythology lovers, and all educators. this is a book worth reading and passing down.
“We often hear stories about Zeus, Hades, Rapunzel, or
Cinderella, and nothing about Anansi, Adze, or John Henry…”
I have loved mythology and folklore and learning about the rich history of Black mythology and folklore was fascinating.
My favorite pieces:
Power by Audre Lorde
the South by Erica Martin
(un)chained by Erica Martin
Textured by Kandace Fuller
I recommend this for all poetry lovers, folklore and mythology lovers, and all educators. this is a book worth reading and passing down.
April 24, 2024
Wow! It's been a while since I've read poetry I truly enjoyed. This collection is powerful, and complex, yet very accessible, as the structure of the book is great, and the "Outro" at the end of each poem gives you all the clarity you needed if there was any confusion. The copy I read was borrowed, but adding this to my list of books I NEED to purchase for my home library.
While I enjoyed the entire book these two poems really stuck out to me:
Vol. 1: Track 9: Like a Wildfire by Ashley Woodfolk
Vol. 4: Track 2: A Fable by Etheridge Knight
While I enjoyed the entire book these two poems really stuck out to me:
Vol. 1: Track 9: Like a Wildfire by Ashley Woodfolk
Vol. 4: Track 2: A Fable by Etheridge Knight
September 1, 2024
Such a powerful YA poetry collection that needs to be added to HS or college curriculum. @ambsmcbride @taylorbyaspoet @erica.martin.writes + 35 amazing authors contributed to this book. I loved the layout with the poem then the Outro to explain the history of meaning of the poem. Many students need that when reading poetry.
CW: racism, slavery, confinement, police brutality, colonization, grief, death, cancer, abandonment, violence
CW: racism, slavery, confinement, police brutality, colonization, grief, death, cancer, abandonment, violence
March 12, 2024
4.5 rounded to 5. I loved this, and I can't wait to put it in my teens' hands for poetry month.
June 8, 2024
The style and structure of this book fits its genre perfectly. Accessible length, diversity of voice, well-designed and concise outtros give teens and any reader a taste of the wide and individual concerns of people continuously fighting for equality and justice through far too many years and generations. It is strong and does not apologize or explain itself. 👏
September 22, 2024
I love reading poetry but I fear my mind is no longer as well equipped to read it as she used to be!
March 6, 2024
Thank you so much to Harper360YA for an e-arc in exchange of an honest review.
Poemhood: Our Black Revival was an absolutely beautiful collection of poetry from many talented poets. Focusing on History, Folklore and the Black Experience this is an anthology that you should definitely reach for.
One poem that personally stood out to me was “Track 8: Grandmother Goddess” by L. Renée. My Grandma is very very dear to me and always will be and I don’t think enough light is ever shone on how extraordinary grandparents are. I’ve always said that grandmothers have something special – magical in fact – running through their veins. I will always speak about how special my grandmother is and this poem truly made me very emotional and reflective on the love that I will always have for her even if she is no longer physically with me, she will always be there in spirit. My Grandma is a goddesses and I will forever feel extremely blessed for her.
“And I’ve got the rivers of my Grandmother Goddess flowing through me”.
I can’t even begin to explain just how much this line absolutely moved me, this whole poem in fact. I would highly recommend this anthology.
Poemhood: Our Black Revival was an absolutely beautiful collection of poetry from many talented poets. Focusing on History, Folklore and the Black Experience this is an anthology that you should definitely reach for.
One poem that personally stood out to me was “Track 8: Grandmother Goddess” by L. Renée. My Grandma is very very dear to me and always will be and I don’t think enough light is ever shone on how extraordinary grandparents are. I’ve always said that grandmothers have something special – magical in fact – running through their veins. I will always speak about how special my grandmother is and this poem truly made me very emotional and reflective on the love that I will always have for her even if she is no longer physically with me, she will always be there in spirit. My Grandma is a goddesses and I will forever feel extremely blessed for her.
“And I’ve got the rivers of my Grandmother Goddess flowing through me”.
I can’t even begin to explain just how much this line absolutely moved me, this whole poem in fact. I would highly recommend this anthology.
September 22, 2024
4 stars - 57 / 100 - eBook / Annotated
TWs Discussions and depictions of racism, racial profiling and racial discrimination, use of racial slurs, racial motivated violence and murder
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Twisted...Braided...Rows of healthy black corn...Natural styles inherited from our ancestors were degraded and demolished under the heavy weight of anger and jealousy. A line forcibly forged the illusionary dichotomy between good and bad. The straighter, the better.
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Poemhood is a poetry anthology, full of history and folklore and the black experience. Gathered and afterworded by Amder McBride. I've been really enjoying poetry recently and this came highly recommended and I'm really glad I picked this one up. This is full of devastating experiences, brilliantly worded justified rage and the stark reminder that racism is a live and well.
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Or when a hip-out geometry teacher pulled me aside, felt the need to explain that saying any version of 'n*****' was wrong because her own access was denied and thatI'd probably want to kill any white person showing their privilege...I'm not an angry black woman, only exasperated.
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I've said it before and I'll say it everytime, rating and reviweing poetry is hard, poetry is a form of art that is hard to describe. It teaches you things, it makes you feel and usually afterwards you feel changed in someway. I would highly reccomend this collection, it is aimed at a YA audience so would be a good introduction poetry for those unsure of where to start.
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Voices are important.They can yell, shout, scream, cry and talk. The voices and experiences of Black people are vast...Black culture, just like water, seeps into many asepcts of society.
TWs Discussions and depictions of racism, racial profiling and racial discrimination, use of racial slurs, racial motivated violence and murder
-
Twisted...Braided...Rows of healthy black corn...Natural styles inherited from our ancestors were degraded and demolished under the heavy weight of anger and jealousy. A line forcibly forged the illusionary dichotomy between good and bad. The straighter, the better.
-
Poemhood is a poetry anthology, full of history and folklore and the black experience. Gathered and afterworded by Amder McBride. I've been really enjoying poetry recently and this came highly recommended and I'm really glad I picked this one up. This is full of devastating experiences, brilliantly worded justified rage and the stark reminder that racism is a live and well.
-
Or when a hip-out geometry teacher pulled me aside, felt the need to explain that saying any version of 'n*****' was wrong because her own access was denied and thatI'd probably want to kill any white person showing their privilege...I'm not an angry black woman, only exasperated.
-
I've said it before and I'll say it everytime, rating and reviweing poetry is hard, poetry is a form of art that is hard to describe. It teaches you things, it makes you feel and usually afterwards you feel changed in someway. I would highly reccomend this collection, it is aimed at a YA audience so would be a good introduction poetry for those unsure of where to start.
-
Voices are important.They can yell, shout, scream, cry and talk. The voices and experiences of Black people are vast...Black culture, just like water, seeps into many asepcts of society.
April 13, 2024
Arriving in our Junior Library Guild box in time to celebrate National Poetry Month, I read this during lunch on Friday and it was powerful with the combination of Black poets from the past combined with contemporary poets and specifically voices in young adult literature.
The organization and style was a reminder of the power of poetry but also the importance of the Black experience. I was particularly keen on the "outro" at the end of each poem that is a helpful instructional tool to contextualize the poem for a learner or a reader wanting to dive further in.
Billie Holiday's quote in Vol. 3: Haunting Water "Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain."
"Track 6: Ink & Thunderstorms (Amber McBride) cracked it (the fable) / about Black bodies thrown out / or jumping ship to sea / their shadows knitting and mixing / with waves and thunderclaps / crafting salty wings / found it (inked it out) / recovered each voice-box / & stenciled each scream / each prayer / every hymn / in two columns / on my back / creating / wordy wings / I am diving down to un-drown you / trying to re-crown you on land again / Listen I'm telling you / I have cracked it (yoked the sky) / tugged on a leather jacket & John Henry'ed / the seam of it / cut each star in half / and at the light of it / I glow with it- / gorged vast / Jonah'ed the whale of it / in one gulp became it / a tall tale / cloudy as mystical seafoam / look at me / look at me / I've grown them / (wings)"
The organization and style was a reminder of the power of poetry but also the importance of the Black experience. I was particularly keen on the "outro" at the end of each poem that is a helpful instructional tool to contextualize the poem for a learner or a reader wanting to dive further in.
Billie Holiday's quote in Vol. 3: Haunting Water "Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain."
"Track 6: Ink & Thunderstorms (Amber McBride) cracked it (the fable) / about Black bodies thrown out / or jumping ship to sea / their shadows knitting and mixing / with waves and thunderclaps / crafting salty wings / found it (inked it out) / recovered each voice-box / & stenciled each scream / each prayer / every hymn / in two columns / on my back / creating / wordy wings / I am diving down to un-drown you / trying to re-crown you on land again / Listen I'm telling you / I have cracked it (yoked the sky) / tugged on a leather jacket & John Henry'ed / the seam of it / cut each star in half / and at the light of it / I glow with it- / gorged vast / Jonah'ed the whale of it / in one gulp became it / a tall tale / cloudy as mystical seafoam / look at me / look at me / I've grown them / (wings)"
September 26, 2024
Initial and All Thoughts:
Reading poetry can be a daunting task for some, as there is a lot that people just “don’t get”. From the references, lyrical vertices, to the symbolism that does not make sense due to the few words or vague languages most poetry writers use. In Poemhood, the authors work together to make this a poetry book that anyone can understand with explanations after each poem to get synopsis on what the theme was, about the author, truly allowing readers to grasp the meaning of each poem as soon as they finished reading it. Divided into four volumes, the authors center this novel around the Black Voice both of today and the past, as they feature poetry artists from mythological times, to those found in recent media. This collection of poetry is written for a younger audience as where the topics are quite deep and traumatic, the language used is not, with words to understand the suffering without being explicit. Where some poems dwell in the mourning of lost Black lives, this is not a depression collection, but a hopeful one; showing the pride and strength of the Black community, uplifting their voices to share about their hopes for the future, along with the sadness of the past. Overall, a fantastic collection of poetry and one worth the read!
Reading poetry can be a daunting task for some, as there is a lot that people just “don’t get”. From the references, lyrical vertices, to the symbolism that does not make sense due to the few words or vague languages most poetry writers use. In Poemhood, the authors work together to make this a poetry book that anyone can understand with explanations after each poem to get synopsis on what the theme was, about the author, truly allowing readers to grasp the meaning of each poem as soon as they finished reading it. Divided into four volumes, the authors center this novel around the Black Voice both of today and the past, as they feature poetry artists from mythological times, to those found in recent media. This collection of poetry is written for a younger audience as where the topics are quite deep and traumatic, the language used is not, with words to understand the suffering without being explicit. Where some poems dwell in the mourning of lost Black lives, this is not a depression collection, but a hopeful one; showing the pride and strength of the Black community, uplifting their voices to share about their hopes for the future, along with the sadness of the past. Overall, a fantastic collection of poetry and one worth the read!
December 18, 2023
Netgalley provided me a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
An amazing, powerful collection of poems celebrating the Black experience.
My students are asking more and more for poetry collections, and I've been working to build my library's collection. This one is a perfect addition, as it not only includes pieces from long-time favorites like Gwendolyn Brooks and Langston Hughes, but many current poets that my students will recognize: Kwame Alexander, Nikki Grimes, and Amber McBride (just to name a few).
I love how the poems each include an "Outro" at the end. A brief explanation of what the poem is saying and/or what the poet was thinking when he/she wrote it. I love this not only because it will help my students with interpretation, but also because it's interesting to see how my interpretation as a reader compares with the author's own.
An amazing, powerful collection of poems celebrating the Black experience.
My students are asking more and more for poetry collections, and I've been working to build my library's collection. This one is a perfect addition, as it not only includes pieces from long-time favorites like Gwendolyn Brooks and Langston Hughes, but many current poets that my students will recognize: Kwame Alexander, Nikki Grimes, and Amber McBride (just to name a few).
I love how the poems each include an "Outro" at the end. A brief explanation of what the poem is saying and/or what the poet was thinking when he/she wrote it. I love this not only because it will help my students with interpretation, but also because it's interesting to see how my interpretation as a reader compares with the author's own.
February 9, 2024
4.5⭐️
This was a truly wonderful collection to read, filled with heart, pain, history and truth. This collection will not be for everyone and that is ok! If the flow and structure of poetry is not your vibe this will probably be difficult to process. I think the authors did an amazing job with the range of topics to be enhanced. There were some where I connected instantly and others that took a little bit more brain power to really grasp what was being told!
For this to be a YA, I wasn’t expecting the outros for each poem j think those took us out of the moment a little bit. That’s the beauty of poetry ,for me, is to really get you to sit in the moment and process the story that is being told and appreciate it.
I would recommend this but just remember it’s an homage to our black history and there are difficult poems to hear and read but still very beautifully expressed.
This was a truly wonderful collection to read, filled with heart, pain, history and truth. This collection will not be for everyone and that is ok! If the flow and structure of poetry is not your vibe this will probably be difficult to process. I think the authors did an amazing job with the range of topics to be enhanced. There were some where I connected instantly and others that took a little bit more brain power to really grasp what was being told!
For this to be a YA, I wasn’t expecting the outros for each poem j think those took us out of the moment a little bit. That’s the beauty of poetry ,for me, is to really get you to sit in the moment and process the story that is being told and appreciate it.
I would recommend this but just remember it’s an homage to our black history and there are difficult poems to hear and read but still very beautifully expressed.
February 11, 2024
I won a copy of this book through Goodreads. This is my honest review.
I'm not going to lie and pretend like I immediately understood every poem in this collection. In fact, there were some that I'm still not sure I really get even with the super helpful outros that followed every poem. But in my experience, that's kind of the nature of poetry. Sometimes I just don't get it, and these poems deriving from the Black experience, which I clearly do not have, left me with even less inherent understanding overall. But every poem in this collection was followed by a short explanation, so even when I didn't know what event the poem was referencing or drawing inspiration from while reading the poem, I still got that insight in the end.
Read the rest of my review on my blog -- https://justanothergirlandherbooks.bl...
I'm not going to lie and pretend like I immediately understood every poem in this collection. In fact, there were some that I'm still not sure I really get even with the super helpful outros that followed every poem. But in my experience, that's kind of the nature of poetry. Sometimes I just don't get it, and these poems deriving from the Black experience, which I clearly do not have, left me with even less inherent understanding overall. But every poem in this collection was followed by a short explanation, so even when I didn't know what event the poem was referencing or drawing inspiration from while reading the poem, I still got that insight in the end.
Read the rest of my review on my blog -- https://justanothergirlandherbooks.bl...
April 25, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (Poetry)
Synopsis: This is a wide-ranging poetry anthology with subjects relating to what it means to be Black in America. There are sections on Living, God, Water, Magic. There are poems about generational trauma, grief and racism. They blend the African American experience with mythology, and biblical stories. There are thirty five poets included in this anthology including contemporary poets and historical voices.
My Thoughts: I very much enjoyed this book of poetry. There were many poems about racism and lynching, but also about black women’s hair and hot girl summer. The variety of poems show the wide spectrum of life for Black people in America. I really enjoyed the poems, and I highly recommend reading it!
If you loved Call us What We Carry or other poetry books, you’ll love this.
Synopsis: This is a wide-ranging poetry anthology with subjects relating to what it means to be Black in America. There are sections on Living, God, Water, Magic. There are poems about generational trauma, grief and racism. They blend the African American experience with mythology, and biblical stories. There are thirty five poets included in this anthology including contemporary poets and historical voices.
My Thoughts: I very much enjoyed this book of poetry. There were many poems about racism and lynching, but also about black women’s hair and hot girl summer. The variety of poems show the wide spectrum of life for Black people in America. I really enjoyed the poems, and I highly recommend reading it!
If you loved Call us What We Carry or other poetry books, you’ll love this.
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January 27, 2024Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.
I really like verse novels, and I love how this combines older (ancestral) poets with modern day. I also really liked how each poem had an outro with it that explained the content and how it tied into the overall theme and purpose of the collection of poems in the anthology. The outro is not only unique because I haven't seen one before, but I also think it definitely helps to understand the context and purpose of each of the poems. There are a lot of topics covered in the anthology, and I only wish it could've provided more context for each of the sections and more connections between the selections.
I really like verse novels, and I love how this combines older (ancestral) poets with modern day. I also really liked how each poem had an outro with it that explained the content and how it tied into the overall theme and purpose of the collection of poems in the anthology. The outro is not only unique because I haven't seen one before, but I also think it definitely helps to understand the context and purpose of each of the poems. There are a lot of topics covered in the anthology, and I only wish it could've provided more context for each of the sections and more connections between the selections.
February 23, 2024
Thank you to Epic Reads for providing me with a free copy of this one, which is out now!
Rating: 5/5 stars
A curated collection of poetry by both contemporary and legendary Black poets, aimed primarily at young adults.
I absolutely loved this collection, which made for a quick but extremely powerful read. In particular, I thought this was incredibly well-edited, and appreciated that it included “outros” situating each poem in its historical and literary context. I also thought this blended newer voices and historical giants so well, and loved to see that breadth of work side by side.
If you’re looking for a short collection, and particularly one that deals with race and the Black experience in a meaningful way, this is for you! Perfect for Black History Month or any of the other eleven months of the year.
CW: racism/slavery
Rating: 5/5 stars
A curated collection of poetry by both contemporary and legendary Black poets, aimed primarily at young adults.
I absolutely loved this collection, which made for a quick but extremely powerful read. In particular, I thought this was incredibly well-edited, and appreciated that it included “outros” situating each poem in its historical and literary context. I also thought this blended newer voices and historical giants so well, and loved to see that breadth of work side by side.
If you’re looking for a short collection, and particularly one that deals with race and the Black experience in a meaningful way, this is for you! Perfect for Black History Month or any of the other eleven months of the year.
CW: racism/slavery
March 23, 2024
This is a very good poetry anthology that advocates (rightfully) for including the Black experience in what we deem to be “the classics” and essentials for all learners to study.
There are classic Black poets as well as modern ones. There is a lot of history alongside folklore and still-current issues. Collectively, these talented writers cover a myriad of Black struggles and trials but also all sorts of different aspects of the Black identity and Black culture, from hair to God.
I found it very poignant and moving and would highly recommend this book to who is anyone interested in Black history, poetry, or even just empathy and a well-rounded education. Go check it out!
There are classic Black poets as well as modern ones. There is a lot of history alongside folklore and still-current issues. Collectively, these talented writers cover a myriad of Black struggles and trials but also all sorts of different aspects of the Black identity and Black culture, from hair to God.
I found it very poignant and moving and would highly recommend this book to who is anyone interested in Black history, poetry, or even just empathy and a well-rounded education. Go check it out!
April 16, 2024
Take your time while reading this. Relish the rich language and exquisite word use that the 35 poets have poured their hearts and souls into to make this collection. But prepare yourself for the depth and anguish - but also joy - that is a part of the lived Black experience and is also therefore part of these poems.
The collection is broken into 4 themes or volumes and each poem is followed by an outro to help clarify subject matter touched on in the poem for those who may struggle more with the poetry format or do not know as much about that particular topic.
CW: violence, racism, lynching, incarceration
Grades 8 and up
The collection is broken into 4 themes or volumes and each poem is followed by an outro to help clarify subject matter touched on in the poem for those who may struggle more with the poetry format or do not know as much about that particular topic.
CW: violence, racism, lynching, incarceration
Grades 8 and up
July 19, 2024
I'm not a huge poetry reader, but early reviews for this collection had me really intrigued. I think this would work so nicely in a high school setting to disrupt the standard (white) canon of poets. Poems from modern poets (Ibi Zoboi, Nikki Giovanni, Kwame Alexander) and classic poets (James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Audre Lorde) are sorted by themes into four sections -- "Livin'", "Gawd", "Haunting Water," and "Magikal" -- that explore Black narratives, Black life, African American folklore, and more. Each poem has an "outro" which provides context and prompts a re-reading of the poem with more information. Beautifully presented, this is an incredible book of poetry.
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