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gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
This being my third poetry collection by this poet, I think I can truthfully say that I believe Danez Smith to be one of the greatest poets of all time. His works are sharp, emotionally impactful, and heavily intersectional. Mastering both long form and short form poetry, the poems in this book are both a painful reminder of the realities of being Black in White America and also a celebration of all the joyous shades of Blackness. Smith is has easily become an auto buy author for me and I'm greatly looking forward to his newest poetry book coming out this year (2024).
nichecase's review against another edition
4.0
a chapbook which ransacks culture, the cultural products of both white and black america, equally critical of both. more than anything though, smith directs their attention towards police brutality, producing some of the most heartbreaking and agonising verse known to man. the tone is angry, of course, but also proud of african-american history, culture and perseverance and - at times - perhaps even hopeful. short, but immensely long-lived effects.
aroseindetroit's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
there's this episode of ms. pat's podcast the patdown called 'black game of thrones' and while hers is literal it always brings me back to this book. it's kind of like a boondocks episode. 'lion king in the hood' and the end of the 'dinosaurs in the hood' will always be my favorite parts.
"Besides, the only reason
I want to make this is for that first scene anyway: the little black boy
on the bus with a toy dinosaur, his eyes wide & endless
his dreams possible, pulsing, & right there."
"Besides, the only reason
I want to make this is for that first scene anyway: the little black boy
on the bus with a toy dinosaur, his eyes wide & endless
his dreams possible, pulsing, & right there."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Death, and Child death
adam75241's review against another edition
5.0
This chapbook has thirteen poems, thirteen poems that rip your throat out with harrowing realism and brilliant control of language. This was the easiest five stars I’ve ever slapped on a book. It’s a tiny book but it’s a tiny masterpiece. A tiny book with colossal impact.
historyoftape's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Each poem was a punch, carrying grief, joy, despair, anger, and hopefulness. As soon as I was done I re-read the entire chapbook again. Danez uses literary devices and figurative language as weapons, not only as a footsoldier, but as a master. The emotional impact this had on me can't be overstated.
njreadsandwrites's review against another edition
5.0
I cried a lot of tears reading this amazing collection of poetry. Could feel the pain through my iPad. I haven’t connected with a collected of poetry in a while.
The subject of Black Movie is simple: Smith used movies to describe blackness and parts of the experience. The way Smith used so many classic movies to describe the anger, hurt, pain, desperation for more than just the fear we feel every day just by being black, had me wailing.
Every poem was another view of what it looks, feels, is like to be who we are, to watch the videos of blacks being killed, watching parents lose their children, etc. The lyricism was beautiful and filled with symbols and metaphors, but it wasn’t too hard to understand.
Yes, it was sad, but Smith didn’t just focus on the death of blacks, but I won’t spoil it.
Drop your thoughts on this book below. If you're pressed for time, and this was a quick read in between tasks, drop a pink heart in the comments.
Love, peace, and dope reading!
-NJ
The subject of Black Movie is simple: Smith used movies to describe blackness and parts of the experience. The way Smith used so many classic movies to describe the anger, hurt, pain, desperation for more than just the fear we feel every day just by being black, had me wailing.
Every poem was another view of what it looks, feels, is like to be who we are, to watch the videos of blacks being killed, watching parents lose their children, etc. The lyricism was beautiful and filled with symbols and metaphors, but it wasn’t too hard to understand.
Yes, it was sad, but Smith didn’t just focus on the death of blacks, but I won’t spoil it.
Drop your thoughts on this book below. If you're pressed for time, and this was a quick read in between tasks, drop a pink heart in the comments.
Love, peace, and dope reading!
-NJ
linguinismom's review against another edition
5.0
Danez has been my favorite poet I’ve read this year. His writing and the messages in his poems resonate with me so deeply I am always emotional after engaging with his work. I bought this collection because I am already a fan of Dinosaurs in the Hood I am most definitely going to give this a reread because there is A LOT to unpack here.
ekfisk's review against another edition
5.0
From the last poem in the collection: “Dinosaurs in the Hood”
“This can’t be a black movie. This movie can’t be dismissed because of its cast or its audience. ... This movie can’t be about a long history of having a long history with hurt. This movie can’t be about race. Nobody can say n*gga in this movie who can’t say it to my face in public. No chicken jokes in this movie. No bullets in the heroes. & no one kills the black boy. & no one kills the black boy. & no one kills the black boy. Besides, the only reason I want to make this is for that first scene anyway:
little black boy on the bus with a toy dinosaur,
his eyes wide & endless
his dreams possible, pulsing, & right there."
Just wow. This collection is raw and so so powerful. A must read.
“This can’t be a black movie. This movie can’t be dismissed because of its cast or its audience. ... This movie can’t be about a long history of having a long history with hurt. This movie can’t be about race. Nobody can say n*gga in this movie who can’t say it to my face in public. No chicken jokes in this movie. No bullets in the heroes. & no one kills the black boy. & no one kills the black boy. & no one kills the black boy. Besides, the only reason I want to make this is for that first scene anyway:
little black boy on the bus with a toy dinosaur,
his eyes wide & endless
his dreams possible, pulsing, & right there."
Just wow. This collection is raw and so so powerful. A must read.