Scan barcode
evermoreliterary's review against another edition
4.0
To start off my review, I'm white. So I knew going into this that this was not necessarily written *FOR* me but I still got a lot out of it and enjoyed all my time reading and absorbing the poetry within this book. I wish I had a physical copy just so that I could highlight all the moments that made me go YES! SAY IT LOUDER! (And there were many) An excellent and absolutely relevant book for these times, and all times, really.
lwalla01's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
A really thoughtful piece of Black poetry inspired by California and Black America. Easily digestible with a lot to unpack.
veecaswell's review against another edition
4.0
Ain't Never Not Been Black foregrounds Black pleasure Black pain and Black love in unflinchingly Black ways.
Engaging with themes of masculinity, racism, love, and joy, Johnson is at once critical and creative. His spoken word performance transfers effortlessly to the page, with poems that will encompass you.
This is a book about blackness and survival, and how in America these are inseparable. In a world of individualism, who can you hold close? In a world of danger, what makes you feel safe?
From a poem written in the form of a syllabus, to another about the time his grandmother literally saved his life, Johnson's creative expression is constantly enacting the feminist mantra, “the personal is political."
I am never disappointed by the books that Button Poetry publishes, and Javon Johnson’s collection is an impressive collection of poems that can be funny, heartbreaking, brilliant and honest. Touching on his experiences and his life, these poems make for touching moments and bitter truths that is life for people of colour in the USA.
As this collection is interspersed with little moments such as ‘Black Famous’ these lighten the mood inbetween poems such as ‘The Last Conversation Between Malcolm X and His Daughter’ which is heartbreaking and honest and when you connect it to ‘On Healthy Masculinity’ or ‘Cuz He’s Black’ where he talks to his niece and nephew you see the reality and how much there is a need to be taught to simply survive - made ever more clearer with ‘On The Murder of Black Children’ - this collection has been put together so incredibly well.
A collection you should read more than once, the nuance and stories the poet tells throughout this collection of joy, anger and sadness are powerful throughout, poems such as ‘Black And Happy’, ‘Los Angeles’ and ‘Enough For Everybody Or My Grand Mother Was My First Philosophy Teacher’ are moment of that jump out with such light in a collection that delivers hard truths and frustration at the world the writers lives in.
A brilliantly put together collection of poems, Javon Johnson spills out his life and personality in these poems and it makes for an intense and incredible read from beginning to end.
maralyons's review against another edition
5.0
‘Ain’t Never Not Been Black’ is a profound and passionate collection of poetry. Javon Johnson’s poetry is personal and goes through his life experiences and observations as a black man in America, raised in South Central in Los Angeles where life and violence are precarious. His poems are captivating and, at times, gut-wrenching. I can feel his anxiety and fear of police and threat of other people. Despite the heaviness of daily life, he finds joy in small moments. Johnson deftly illustrates the sheer excitement of young love and tender moments bonding with family. Other poems describe tragedies faced by communities and the dark shadow incarceration leaves on so many families. I highly recommend this beautiful and compelling poetry collection.
Thank you Button Poetry and NetGalley for providing this ARC.
Thank you Button Poetry and NetGalley for providing this ARC.
sophieroseobooks's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This collection of poetry was so incredible and through provoking. I was sat thinking about it for hours after i’ve finished it. “Ain’t Never Not Been Black” is a collection of poetry following the themes of race. The fear a mother’s has when their child leaves the house for the day afraid of what will happpen to them. A comparison of gentrification, Malcom X and a conversion with his daughter, an uncle and a nephew in a car and a mother reflecting on two boys paths and how they could have been very different.
Cuz he’s black was the poem I enjoyed the most it really hit me the innocents we have as children a young boy unaware of the struggles he will come to race when he is older.
this was thought provoking and a fantastic set of poems to get a conversation going especially with everything going on at the moment. 5/5 recommend everyone to read.
This collection of poetry was so incredible and through provoking. I was sat thinking about it for hours after i’ve finished it. “Ain’t Never Not Been Black” is a collection of poetry following the themes of race. The fear a mother’s has when their child leaves the house for the day afraid of what will happpen to them. A comparison of gentrification, Malcom X and a conversion with his daughter, an uncle and a nephew in a car and a mother reflecting on two boys paths and how they could have been very different.
Cuz he’s black was the poem I enjoyed the most it really hit me the innocents we have as children a young boy unaware of the struggles he will come to race when he is older.
this was thought provoking and a fantastic set of poems to get a conversation going especially with everything going on at the moment. 5/5 recommend everyone to read.
coffee_mait's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
3.5
every poem cuts down to the marrow. especially when read aloud as spoken word. especially "cuz he's black".
sodrewrites's review against another edition
Johnson writes about black love + black pain with "Ain't Never Not Been Black" in such a beautifully heart-wrenching way. Gave me all the moody, nostalgic feels.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐
georgilvsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Ain't Never Not Been Black talks about masculinity, racism, love, and joy.
This is a must read!
Very powerful and emotional.
This is a must read!
Very powerful and emotional.
elodiethefangirl's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
nuhafariha's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Button Poetry and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available October 13th
I've been a long time fan of Javon Johnson after hearing his poetry on Button Poetry's Youtube channel, so I was really looking forward to reading "Ain't Never Not Been Black". And whew, what a wonderful collection. Johnson does not shy away from addressing Black pain, especially in the conversation he has with his nephew in the car. What grounds this collection, though, is Black love - the deep love Johnson has experienced from the women in his family, the deep love he shows for his community day in and day out, the deep love that has the ability to protect and repair the tattered holes in American society.
Available October 13th
I've been a long time fan of Javon Johnson after hearing his poetry on Button Poetry's Youtube channel, so I was really looking forward to reading "Ain't Never Not Been Black". And whew, what a wonderful collection. Johnson does not shy away from addressing Black pain, especially in the conversation he has with his nephew in the car. What grounds this collection, though, is Black love - the deep love Johnson has experienced from the women in his family, the deep love he shows for his community day in and day out, the deep love that has the ability to protect and repair the tattered holes in American society.