I absolutely loved this. I am not a huge fan of poetry in the way that I do not actively seek out poetry collections to read. However, this is one that as soon as I finished I had to go buy to have my own physical copy. It was raw, real, and beautiful. I identify as BIPOC, but I am hispanic. I have a Black husband and a Black son, who is interracial, but will always be seen as Black. I loved reading this poetry as I felt I got a glimpse into the bigger picture, the real picture. This was definitely an eye opening poetry collection and Jasmine Mans delivers in such a way that you feel captivated and you understand what is being said, even if you are not able to relate to the life that Jasmine has or wrote about. Beautiful poetry, beautiful details, and so worth the read.

April is National Poetry Month and I couldn’t let another spring day go by without celebrating my favorite collection of poems released this year—thus far, anway—Jasmine Mans’ ☛BLACK GIRL, CALL HOME [pub: Berkley]. No doubt, the eye-catching gorgeous cover is an ode to “Mama Has a Hair Salon in the Kitchen.” Listen. There are no forgettable poems in this collection, however, “Momma Said Dyke at the Kitchen Table” lingers with me so much longer than it took me to read it. The searing poem’s preface reads: “Before my mother knew I was a lesbian, she prepared me to be some man’s wife” and the poem continues with…



“don’t you know

you too pretty to be a dyke?



Why you gonna embarrass us like this,

you scared no man gonna love you,

you scared of men,

some mannnnnn hurt you,

who hurt you?



Momma said,

so you gonna be a dyke now?”



Umph. Umph. Umph. No one can tell me the sequencing of the pieces isn’t intentional, as the proceeding poem is entitled, “The First Time the Black Girl Call Her Mother a Bitch.” Whew!

This collection is a keeper. I completely understand and agree with the comparisons to the great laureates Sonia Sanchez and Gwendolyn Brooks, but while reading and reciting “And Jay-Z Says “We’ve Moved Past Kneeling,”” “Kanye’s Black Aunties,” “Through the Wire,” and “Footnotes for Kanye,” I concluded that Nikki Giovanni must be added as well. And this is not to say, Jasmine Mans isn’t her own poet with her own voice and style, ’cause she most certainly is.

A powerful and raw collection of poems by Jasmine Mans, a spoken word artist. Mans viscerally conveys her experience as a Black queer woman while covering a wide spectrum of topics including black culture, racism, sexism, rape culture, mental health, pop culture and mother/daughter relationships. The poetry was artfully crafted, thought provoking and moving. An important read.

Oh my word ... this book🥺. Deeply powerful, moving, heartbreaking and inspirational all in the same breath. A must read during today's tumultuous times ... so many nuggets of gold. Absolutely adored this one and I dont normally love poetry.

Poetry at its finest!!!
 
I read the ebook, listened to the audiobook, and then purchased the book.  This is one book that needed to be placed on my bookshelf.
 
Real life experience written in poetry form and I loved each and every one of them. 
 
I resonate with some.
 
I remember people identified in some.
 
I know people that experienced some.
 
Some where emotional and had me in my feelings! Some made me think! Some had me laughing!
 
Just to top it off, the number in the back of the book is real.  Jasmine recites a poem listed in the book.
 
If you have not read this book, I suggest that you pick it up now. I knew it was one that I had to read.  I’m not one for poetry, but it has peeked by interest.

Black Girl call home is a powerful set of poems that speak of love, loss and struggle from a deeply personal place. I was both moved, angered and smiled at the images and feelings evoked by this book.

TYSM to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my copy of this book.

Wow, what an incredible work of poetry. I'll be honest, poetry isn't usually something I gravitate towards, but I was completely moved by Jasmine Mans work. Many of the pieces in this collection are heavy to take in, but that just makes them all the more impactful. This collection of work will make you think about real-world, everyday issues in a way you maybe previously have not -- and that's a good thing.

This book is phenomenal and revolutionary. Mans takes the everyday and makes it sacred. Takes the tragedy and makes it shine so you are forced to look it in the eye. All things that make up the shared experiences of Black women and girls in America. <i>Black Girl, Call Home</i> is perfection in a book. The writing is lyrical, made so each line sings and stands at attention with a distinct message.

There were so many poems that I screenshotted and sent to my friends so they could have a snippet of the vivid, palpable magic in this collection. So many that I will happily reread one day. Poems that made me smile with the second-hand nostalgia (I'm white so a lot of the subjects aren't personally resonant) and many more that brought me to tears.

This collection would resonate with fans of Danez Smith's work like <i>Don't Call Us Dead</i>, Ocean Vuong's <i>Night Sky with Exit Wounds</i>, and Fatimah Asghar's <i>If They Come for Us</i> and really any literature that covers BIPOC and LGBTQ+ identities as they intersect. But really, I recommend that everyone picks up this beautiful collection. Even those who haven't historically enjoyed poetry. This reads like a manifesto of Black love and Black pain. Queer joy and violence. I'm going to treat myself to a copy of it soon because it belongs flagged and highlighted up on my favourites shelf.


<b>Content warnings for</b>: racism, police brutality, murder, mentions of specific historical and contemporary acts of domestic terrorism and racial violence, gun violence, rape, death, human trafficking mentioned, transphobia and anti-trans violence, mention of separation of families at the Mexico/USA border, forced medical sterilization and eugenic medical practices, discussions of mental health/illness, moderate sexual content

Though I believe the author has much to say, Mans did not give much with this title. The author's use of language was strong, thought I felt the Black girl cultural experience was reduced to a point where the nuance could not be captured. We are more than barrettes and quippy turns of phrase. I am looking forward to reading more of this author and hope our experiences are reflected in their fullness.

I don't gravitate towards poetry, but when I saw the cover I knew it was a must read for me. There are so many poems that I related to. I found myself going through a bunch of emotions. I was angry, sad, happy. I was flooded with memories of my mother doing my hair, the conversations I had with my mother about my period and womanhood. I enjoyed the poems dedicated to Kanye West & Whitney Houston. There are some I'm still processing because I feel that although they are simplistic in nature there's a deeper meaning.

It's rare that I feel seen and understood in a literary work and I felt seen and understood in this work. Chef's kiss!

I’m not one to read poems, unless they were assigned at school 🤣 so when I read this book, I was pleasantly surprised that I not only enjoyed it but the poems resonated with me! They were such an eye opener and truly impactful. The book stirred all sorts of emotions within me — the ones about motherhood and rebelling teens particularly struck a chord. Some poems were light such as about a Black girl’s hair, but mostly, the poems were about relevant issues like race, sexuality, pop culture, rape, abuse, feminism, and even mental health! Although the book is about what it means to be a Black woman, anybody can read this and be blown away by the beautiful words. You’ll see what I mean when you read the poems. Another winner book IMHO! It’s definitely 🔖🔖🔖🔖🔖/5 for me!

This was a fantastic collection. The topics flow seamlessly from childhood, to mothers and fathers, to Black people in America, to her thoughts on how her queer identity interacts with her Blackness, and back again to her mother and childhood. Only 2 poems hit a little flat, there were two poems about trans people that just didn't land quite right.

Some of the highlights include "Footnotes for Kanye" (I highly recommend watching her perform it; it's on Youtube), "Momma Has a Hair Salon in the Kitchen," and "Serena". Plus lots of 2-4 line short poems that hit hard. It's a really great collection!

This is a rollercoaster of a ride. I love how it speaks the truth in a raw and honest way. The truth about being a queer person of color was shown and the author was really able to show how hard and painful it is to be a QPOC, especially in the US.

I'm not sure if poetry has ever made me cry before - but this collection did. Exploring race, childhood, adolescence, friendship, motherhood, sexism, prejudice and systemic discrimination, "Black Girl, Call Home" demonstrates the power the poems; how they can pack a punch within the limited words, and how they can perfectly articulate pain, joy and wonder. I flew through this anthology, returning more than once, revisiting the works that had struck me the most. A woman leaving an emotionally abusive relationship. The sudden loss of innocence. The fragility of childhood naiveté.

The language is accessible to all readers - thought admittedly certain cultural references may strike different chords depending on the reader- and the multitude of feeling and form enjoyable to read and dwell on. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Jasmine Mans, Penguin RandomHouse International and Net Galley for this #gifted eARC.

Jasmine Mans' collection "Black Girl, Call Home" is phenomenal in its breadth and beauty. Both heartbreaking and breathtaking, Mans' poems address a stunning expanse of Black women's experiences, while still embracing the intimacy and particularity of individual experience. A poignant, impactful expression and exploration of Black, queer womanhood.

Jasmine Mans spoken word book of poetry is truly a gift.
She so beautifully captures the joy, the pain, and the emotion of the journey toward womanhood. So many of her words spoke to me as a women, as a black woman, as a mother and daughter. She leaves no topic untouched. Still sticking with me are her words on racism, sexuality, black hair,family and rape. I loved it so much on audio and will also have to purchase a hard copy. All I can say is don’t miss this one.

Happy National Poetry Month!

As I’ve shared before, poetry is not my go-to genre but it’s important that we occasionally step outside of our comfort zones. So, when I saw this short collection of poetry from spoken word poet Jasmine Mans, I jumped at the chance to review it.

This is an electric and unforgettable poetry collection addressing race, feminism, and queer identity, sometimes all three at once. The poems are emotional and raw and pack a serious punch. I loved her poems about Whitney Houston, Michelle Obama, and Serena Williams.

I’ve heard the term “contemporary poetry” bandied about—I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I think it means that people like me who don’t have poetic hearts can understand it. This collection falls into that category.

I bet the audiobook is fantastic! If you enjoy poetry, or even if you think you don’t, I’d recommend checking out this collection and expanding your horizons.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the Reader's Copy!

Now available.

Emotional yet sharp, "Black Girl, Call Home" is an incredible collection that focuses on the Black American woman's experience. Running the gambit on everything from class and economic divisions to forced sterilizations to police brutality, Jasmine Mans explores these topics with a tender heart. What haunts me the most from this collection are the more sparse works like the list of names where Mans allows the simple horror and magnitude of pain ring true. Throughout the work, Mans mixes the personal and political until they are seamlessly intertwined, making the personal the political.

The collection of poems are transparent and powerful. Mans' voice yells the narrative of a black girl's tug-of-war between living and surviving while developing. In a special way, Mans poem hits home by addressing the complexities of transforming from adolescents to adulthood while embracing her own identity. Each poem connects to the other, building a bond between the reader and the author. The poem, "Black Son," is one of the many powerful compositions in the book. Her book is a definite recommend to read. Thanks NetGallery for an advance copy..

I feel so humbled to have read this poetry collection. It's beautiful and raw. I cannot wait to recommend it to everyone.