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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.
incredibella's review against another edition
5.0
Ain't Never Not Been Black is a new favorite of mine, maybe even my favorite poetry collection of the year. I only wish it were longer! The poems within are necessary and hard-hitting, addressing issues including racism, masculinity, police brutality, gentrification, and more. Johnson's words are resonant, passionate, and raw, drawing upon his lived experiences to give insight into what it is like to be Black in America. As a non-Black POC, I can never fully comprehend what it's like (particularly for Black boys and men), but the honesty and power of Johnson's writing helped me gain a better understanding.
Though the collection is fairly short, the words within will stay on my mind for a long time afterward. The collection covers many emotions, from joy and love to devastation and pain. It discusses many heavy issues and moved me nearly to tears multiple times in the one sitting in which I finished it. Johnson's writing is accessible (I would easily recommend it even to friends who don't read as much poetry), while also being intricate and eloquent. A few (of many) standouts from this collection include America, Cuz He's Black, and Black and Happy,
I would absolutely recommend this poetry collection to others and look forward to reading more of Javon Johnson's work in the future. Many thanks to Button Poetry and NetGalley for providing this ARC!
trigger/content warnings: racial violence, racism, death, racial slurs, shooting, murder, police brutality, cancer
Though the collection is fairly short, the words within will stay on my mind for a long time afterward. The collection covers many emotions, from joy and love to devastation and pain. It discusses many heavy issues and moved me nearly to tears multiple times in the one sitting in which I finished it. Johnson's writing is accessible (I would easily recommend it even to friends who don't read as much poetry), while also being intricate and eloquent. A few (of many) standouts from this collection include America, Cuz He's Black, and Black and Happy,
I would absolutely recommend this poetry collection to others and look forward to reading more of Javon Johnson's work in the future. Many thanks to Button Poetry and NetGalley for providing this ARC!
trigger/content warnings: racial violence, racism, death, racial slurs, shooting, murder, police brutality, cancer
bookish_by_elle's review against another edition
4.0
A theme of survival resonates throughout the poems published in this book. Ain't Never Not Been Black chronicles the life of the black man in America. It has been difficult to put my thoughts on this book into words: intense, serious, honest; Still at times, Johnson communicates his story so beautifully, that the gravity of these poems almost eludes me. From Malcom X to Jean-Michel Basquiat, these poems show how America's (mal)treatment of the black man has transcended generations. Eloquently written, creative and original, I think that this book is definitely one to read.
bookswithonno's review against another edition
4.0
Even though this collection was rather short, it was such a moving and powerful poetry collection. The author speaks of personal experiences regarding racism and black-identity. It was an educational and insightful read for me and I certainly believe more people should read it too. It won't take up much of your time but what you take away from it is very valuable. Important topics like this can't be discussed enough in my opinion. Not until we can say that racism is not present in the world anymore. I only gave this collection 4 stars instead of 5 because I sometimes felt like I wasn't actually reading poetry but more like a text with a unique format.
Thank you to NetGalley and Button Poetry for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Button Poetry for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
woolfinbooks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Violence
eramhussain's review against another edition
4.0
"The best way to understand me is
to have my mother's cooking,
too much spice for most people
to stomach, but I like it that way."
"Not too famous though.
Don't want to be a hashtag.
No twitter coffins."
to have my mother's cooking,
too much spice for most people
to stomach, but I like it that way."
"Not too famous though.
Don't want to be a hashtag.
No twitter coffins."
spi_nks's review against another edition
4.0
"Instead
I shut down
everything and like
any good gospel conductor
demanded a better harmony."
I shut down
everything and like
any good gospel conductor
demanded a better harmony."
pinesandpages's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Excellent. I bought this for my brother and am so glad I read it before giving it to him.
allthingscozy's review against another edition
4.0
One day I was with a friend waiting outside of our kids music class in a neighborhood that was being threatened by developers and their grand ideas on how it could be "better". There was some aggressive writing on the brick exterior of the building that suggested that white people should get out and take their ideas with them. My friend asked, "What is wrong with gentrification? Isn't it good for everyone when property values go up?" I pointed at the 40 year old run-down tienda on the corner and asked, "Do you think it's good for that shop owner and his family when the boutique shops come in? Do you think white people will shop there?" My "that's why" hardly scratched the surface of the emotional toll of gentrification. What I needed was Javon's comparison of gentrification to cancer because talk about real and raw and heartfelt., Wow! Something everyone should read and maybe it would stop at least one more person from complaining on the "Next Door" page about how the old neighbors in their new neighborhood are shooting off fireworks, letting their dogs run around, playing loud music, etc....
I didn't love every poem. Some tried too hard which distracted from the rawness and authenticity of the ones that just seemed to flow without effort. But for any poem that lacked luster it was backed up by another that shined. On Healthy Masculinity took my breath away as it describes how the experience of being Black creates an additional layer of complexity around allowing oneself to be vulnerable; vulnerability being a privilege afforded to those that are not perceived to be a threat based solely upon the color of their skin.
I look forward to more by this author and thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this book that I was highly anticipating in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't love every poem. Some tried too hard which distracted from the rawness and authenticity of the ones that just seemed to flow without effort. But for any poem that lacked luster it was backed up by another that shined. On Healthy Masculinity took my breath away as it describes how the experience of being Black creates an additional layer of complexity around allowing oneself to be vulnerable; vulnerability being a privilege afforded to those that are not perceived to be a threat based solely upon the color of their skin.
I look forward to more by this author and thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this book that I was highly anticipating in exchange for an honest review.