I have never been black. And that’s why this poetry book, for me, has been more than poetry, but a prayer book and a textbook.

RECOMMEND THIS TEXT for people like me who just don’t get it, but want to. I recommend this text so that I may be more open to God changing my own understanding and my own heart.

Poetically punchy, Ain’t Never Not Been Black reads as manifesto, as protest, memoir, and above all, an aggressive hope. It just drops me to my knees to pray.

Especially cutting is the tension found in the line:

…some days I am the flower,
and others I am the shear
(From “On Healthy Masculinity”)

There is nothing really ethereal about Javon Johnson’s poems. Everything is concrete, sparing, pointed, yet pensive. For instance, he writes about his mother:

her voice is the last coin she owns
and (nearly) everything is a wishing well

And

she never starts with my phd from northwestern,
my brother’s master’s in business from usc
she knows how easy our graduations could have been funerals
(Both quotes from “Wishing Well”)

As a missionary, Johnson leads me to prayer - prayer for my ignorance, prayer for change, and prayer for God to show up. But he may not see it that way. His is spirituality fitting for a moment’s read:

That night, I cut off all the lights
Cause Black was the only god
Worth praying to.
(From “Black AND Happy”)

Anglican liturgies carve out a space for the Prayers of the People. This text alone could supplement, and in the end, I can’t help but hear myself say “Lord have mercy” or “Lord here [Javon Johnson’s] prayer”. Prayer is supplication, but it is also instructive. Inadvertently Johnson teaches me that poetry made prayer looks like sociology. Nothing captures the moment of pain spurring protest and right and tears and extreme frustration with people like me who think they want to be allies, but just can’t seem to get it; nothing captures the sociology of the day like is words:

The hurt.
The hurt.
It hurts.
IT hurts.
IT HURTS.
IT HURTS.
IT HURTS.

(From “When the State Decides to Murder”)

Lord, have mercy.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
I’m not sure I could say anything useful or insightful to add to the conversation this poetry collection creates. All I will say that it horrifies and deeply saddens me that literature like this STILL needs to be written and most certainly read in this day in age.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is by far one of the most impactful poetry collections I’ve ever read. Though there were some that didn’t do much for me, these were few and far between. The rest of the collection was raw and powerful, discussing racism and black identity in a way that had me close to tears at points.

I find it difficult to discuss poetry as the poems explore varying forms and discussion topics, but I found that Johnson has a way with words that hit me several times.

Overall, I would highly recommend this collection. As I said, a few of the poems were a miss for me but on the whole Johnsons’ writing is evocative and powerful and I would urge you to pick this one up.

4 out of 5 stars!

If you do not like the ‘N word’ being used then I wouldn’t advise reading this. We need to realise that while for some in the black community it is incredibly offensive, for others, they use the word amongst their community almost as a big ‘f you’ to their past by using it I guess an empowering way. That does not mean that white people should use the word EVER. I believe that this is a really powerful and important collection of poetry that everyone should read.

This book captures the challenges and discrimination the world places on those in the black community and the anger that black people feel due to this.

Being scared of the police or mothers sending their kids out of the house and praying they make it home are sadly realities those in the black community face when this should not happen. Similarly, stigma suggesting that being black means being a drug dealer, in prison or participating gang fights regularly is not ok or true.

This poetry also ties in the stories of black people murdered and then painted as evil, for example Malcolm X. It’s so important those murdered are not forgotten. More importantly, it’s important that we educate ourselves and learn that black peoples lives are just as important as every other person in the world. The injustice black people are facing which is leading to them living their lives in fear needs to stop.

Poetry has always moved me but button poetry...
The words in Ain't Never Not Been Black were so powerful and I really took my time taking in each and every word. Reading these topics as a white woman was super insightful and something that everybody should read.

Beautiful collection of poetry. Johnson shows you his world through his own eyes and at the same time teaches us something about the history of America.

A very timely collection of poetry about racism in America. Could not stop reading and wanted to share with everyone I know. Listening to other perspectives is the best way we can learn from others. Beautifully written!

This poetry collection was timely, powerful and moving! I am not always a huge fan of reading written slam poetry (I often feel some of the power and intention is lost on paper), but Johnson has written some truly clever and incredible pieces in this collection. They are thought provoking, frustrating, and moving and left me thinking about his words long after I'd finished.

I am not that big on poetry, but this definitely kept my interest. It opened my eyes on how the world can be viewed differently depending on the person.

A brilliant collection of poems that showcases the power of Button Poetry and Javon Johnson. Johnson uses this collection to record his experiences with blackness and the ways that his experiences influence all aspects of his life. Wonderful!

A powerful collection about living and surviving as a black man in America. I would definitely recommend this book to all, especially in light of current events.