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komet2020's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO is derived from an unfinished work James Baldwin had intended, at the time of his death in 1987, to be a book in which he reflected upon the friendships he had with 3 pivotal U.S. public leaders/activists of his time: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - all of whom had been assassinated during the 1960s.
What is more: I Am Not Your Negro is also rich with Baldwin's own musings and reflections of America, its treatment of its African American citizens, the plight of African Americans, White America's reluctance to be honest about its long held fears and animus towards its African American brothers and sisters, and the ongoing and maddening conundrum that is racism in America. The following remarks from Baldwin illustrate fully the truths that he makes bare in this book:
"I sometimes feel it to be an absolute miracle
that the entire black population of the United States
of America has not long ago
succumbed to raging paranoia.
People finally say to you,
in an attempt to dismiss the social reality,
'But you're so bitter!'
Well, I may or may not be bitter,
but if I were, I would have good reasons for it:
chief among them that American blindness,
or cowardice, which allows us to pretend
that life presents no reasons for being bitter."
Read I Am Not Your Negro and be enlightened and perhaps inspired to help make a better world where people will truly be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
What is more: I Am Not Your Negro is also rich with Baldwin's own musings and reflections of America, its treatment of its African American citizens, the plight of African Americans, White America's reluctance to be honest about its long held fears and animus towards its African American brothers and sisters, and the ongoing and maddening conundrum that is racism in America. The following remarks from Baldwin illustrate fully the truths that he makes bare in this book:
"I sometimes feel it to be an absolute miracle
that the entire black population of the United States
of America has not long ago
succumbed to raging paranoia.
People finally say to you,
in an attempt to dismiss the social reality,
'But you're so bitter!'
Well, I may or may not be bitter,
but if I were, I would have good reasons for it:
chief among them that American blindness,
or cowardice, which allows us to pretend
that life presents no reasons for being bitter."
Read I Am Not Your Negro and be enlightened and perhaps inspired to help make a better world where people will truly be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
lolapasteque's review against another edition
5.0
Je salue le travail de Raoul Peck. C'est un travail très honnête. Les textes de Baldwin sont si sincères et si beaux... Je reste admirative devant lui. Ses mots sont bouleversants, son écriture est unique. C'était un grand homme. Peck lui rend un profond hommage. Comme il l'explique en intro, la France a oublié Baldwin, son geste est beau car il replace Baldwin dans l'histoire. On ne l'oublie pas.
(Je n'ai pas vu le film. Je compléterai sûrement la revue après l'avoir vu.)
(Je n'ai pas vu le film. Je compléterai sûrement la revue après l'avoir vu.)
thechanelmuse's review against another edition
5.0
A must-watch documentary of the same name. This book is the screenplay.
rvbina's review against another edition
5.0
I watched the documentary and then read the book, in accordance with most people’s recommendations. Very good read. Baldwin articulates into words what so many people of all ethnicities would struggle to express when discussing their own experiences with prejudice. He silences opponents of his views through his veracity, his thorough, undeniable explanations and his succinct arguments. I would have loved to have read his completed work.
bobbo49's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I read the book, then watched the documentary; both should be required in our educational system. Baldwin's reflections on the continuing issues of racism throughout American society (as presented through his own words, and those of Malcolm, Martin and Medgar), and their impact on persons of every race and social standing, are as relevant and insightful today as when Baldwin began this work forty years ago. Highly recommended film as well.