A review by nettielou
Civil Wars by June Jordan

5.0

Civil Wars is a gem of a book, filled with essays, letters, and speeches by the brilliant and prolific, yet often overlooked, revolutionary poets and writer of our time, June Jordan. Although the book was published in 1981, her writings about U.S. society, education, public/private space, police violence, racism, sexuality, and Black feminism still feel urgent and relevant. I have always appreciated Jordan's attention to youth and the rights of children in her work, and some of the essays touch on these subjects too. I learned about this particular book of hers in particular from the great Mariame Kaba, digital organizer and abolitionist (and author of We Do This 'Til We Free Us), who referred to this book in a podcast interview, urging everyone to read it.