A TIME, Washington Post , Amazon, BuzzFeed, Poets & Writers, Lambda Literary, Publishers Weekly, them, The Week , Book Riot, Philadelphia Inquirer , Book and Film Globe, AllArts, and Debutiful Best Book of Fall Winner of the Hurston/Wright Crossover Award A Library Journal and Okayplayer Best Memoir of 2022 Prince Shakur's debut memoir brilliantly mines his radicalization and self-realization through examinations of place, childhood, queer identity, and a history of uprisings ...
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A TIME, Washington Post , Amazon, BuzzFeed, Poets & Writers, Lambda Literary, Publishers Weekly, them, The Week , Book Riot, Philadelphia Inquirer , Book and Film Globe, AllArts, and Debutiful Best Book of Fall Winner of the Hurston/Wright Crossover Award A Library Journal and Okayplayer Best Memoir of 2022 Prince Shakur's debut memoir brilliantly mines his radicalization and self-realization through examinations of place, childhood, queer identity, and a history of uprisings.
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" We must search and question to find meaning. What we are handed is not always what we must take"
After coming to the US from Jamaica, Prince Shakur confronts what happens to others in Jamaica: his father is killed. This one incident in 1995 colors his world and sets the stage for what is reflected as an intinerant life: a smart kid that gets bullied. A young black man seen as an oddity in other countries. A queer black man trying to find his way.
And I believe, he has found it despite his upbringing in the heterosexual world that is his family: of the homophobia of his mother who seems to rather have had an angry retalitory son over a gay one; of the circle she turns with who try to scold, pray and argue "the gay away" and even his compatriots as he travels who watch him get "singled out" because of his skin, his age and hiscompassion fueled by his heros- the ones he found in books- even if he did what they would: stand up against the -isms of this world.
I have to admilt, I'm a white elder. I too stood up in my time so this story resonated with me. I hope it speaks to others. Question is, will they listen? Highly Recommended 5/5
