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Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Social Upheaval by Saidiya Hartman
savaging's review against another edition
5.0
Everything that history should be. The lives explored in this book were rejected not only by the patriarchal, capitalist, white supremacist establishment, but also by the Black leaders touting respectability politics and "racial uplift." These "wayward lives" had no manifesto or political representative or recognized social organization. They just pushed for freedom and more freedom, showing tremendous creativity with the tools at their disposal.
While the racial uplift movement promoted a strong work ethic, the figures in this book tried to not to have a job -- particularly trying to escape work as domestics in white households. Instead of displaying a model nuclear family, they explored sexual desire and difference.
Usually it cost them everything. As Black women and queer people they were already status crimes, and the establishment had no qualms with caging them and forcing them to work for white overlords.
But their "beautiful experiments" meant something, opened cracks in the wall, and must be celebrated and honored. I'm so glad Hartman did the hard work of reading between the lines of police reports and social worker complaints to excavate this everyday heroism. Reading this book has reminded me not to be distracted by the big names and grand-standers, and instead look around at the radical, anarchistic wildness in the lives of people who are still ignored or persecuted by systems of power.
While the racial uplift movement promoted a strong work ethic, the figures in this book tried to not to have a job -- particularly trying to escape work as domestics in white households. Instead of displaying a model nuclear family, they explored sexual desire and difference.
Usually it cost them everything. As Black women and queer people they were already status crimes, and the establishment had no qualms with caging them and forcing them to work for white overlords.
But their "beautiful experiments" meant something, opened cracks in the wall, and must be celebrated and honored. I'm so glad Hartman did the hard work of reading between the lines of police reports and social worker complaints to excavate this everyday heroism. Reading this book has reminded me not to be distracted by the big names and grand-standers, and instead look around at the radical, anarchistic wildness in the lives of people who are still ignored or persecuted by systems of power.
_isabelkm's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
shehtaz's review against another edition
2.0
I read the first two chapters. The storytelling did not hold my interest.
akaspiderlily's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
The most brilliant testimony and love letter to unsung black women and black queer folk I have ever read to date. I found myself in the chorus that crafts this story with the author, my history in its texts, my life in-the small corridors and poor dwellings- the loud, wayward habits of rebellious girls - the collective recounting of unmitigated assaults that have been distributed on our bodies and our identities. I loved it thoroughly, appreciated it even moreso.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Homophobia, Torture, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Sexual content, Incest, Hate crime, Abandonment, Addiction, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia