Review by ifyougiveagirlabook -- DeFacto Feminism: Essay...
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- Latest Review: DeFacto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta Oakland by Judy Juanita
Review by ifyougiveagirlabook -- DeFacto Feminism: Essay...
[Following is a volunteer review of "DeFacto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta Oakland" by Judy Juanita.]
4 out of 4 stars
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De Facto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta Oakland by Judy Juanita is the book society needs when talking about the black female experience. The hybrid memoir details Juanita’s life in East Oakland by weaving together poetry, essays, and even emails. The tone, which is different for every piece, ranges from honest to snarky. From the very beginning, the author draws the reader in with what feels like a Utopian rendering of childhood – sleepovers with every kid on the block, schools that foster creativity, doors that are always open to neighbors, and families that care for one another. It’s a beautiful painting of a city that many don’t ever have the opportunity of witnessing.
Juanita seamlessly transitions from childhood innocence to joining the Black Panther Party during 1967 as a young college student from San Francisco State University. Here, her hankering for journalism shines through and she becomes an integral member of the Black Panther newspaper. Juanita’s development as an activist and feminist burgeons. Her life leads her through many experiences, all of which are on display in this book, but most importantly, Juanita shows readers that she is indeed a writer. No matter what stage of her life she is in, she always finds her way back to writing whether it be plays, essays, or novels.
In addition to excellent craft, one of the best aspects of this book is its ability to discuss topics such as feminism, prejudice, racism, and humanity without feeling dogmatic or pretentious. Experiences, and not didactic lectures, flesh out these topics thoughtfully and personally. Juanita builds her world and paints her story; she shows readers what it’s like to live as a feminist black woman in America. And the best part of the book is that her experiences become your experiences even if you have nothing in common with her.
The only caveat to this book would be that it doesn’t speak to everybody. This isn’t so much something disliked; rather, this is it’s one pitfall in a sea of gorgeous waves. Juanita’s book reaches women, and most importantly, black women. Women are depicted as strong characters in a world that doesn’t give them respect outright, unlike other groups in society, but Juanita doesn’t whine about it; instead, she writes women as people who rise despite the obstacles placed in front of them. Although, all woman can relate to her story, the book may not reach those need to read it most. The reason for that is because the book is so tightly connected to a specific and exclusive experience that it fails to provide resonance for those deemed external to the author’s world.
Given the exceptional craft and story development, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. Judy Juanita delivers a masterful memoir through a variety of genres, which makes every page worth turning. I recommend this book for any reader interested in feminism, the Civil Rights Movement, and American history. The flawless writing makes the story even easier to invest in and most readers will struggle to set the book down.
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DeFacto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta Oakland
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4 out of 4 stars
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De Facto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta Oakland by Judy Juanita is the book society needs when talking about the black female experience. The hybrid memoir details Juanita’s life in East Oakland by weaving together poetry, essays, and even emails. The tone, which is different for every piece, ranges from honest to snarky. From the very beginning, the author draws the reader in with what feels like a Utopian rendering of childhood – sleepovers with every kid on the block, schools that foster creativity, doors that are always open to neighbors, and families that care for one another. It’s a beautiful painting of a city that many don’t ever have the opportunity of witnessing.
Juanita seamlessly transitions from childhood innocence to joining the Black Panther Party during 1967 as a young college student from San Francisco State University. Here, her hankering for journalism shines through and she becomes an integral member of the Black Panther newspaper. Juanita’s development as an activist and feminist burgeons. Her life leads her through many experiences, all of which are on display in this book, but most importantly, Juanita shows readers that she is indeed a writer. No matter what stage of her life she is in, she always finds her way back to writing whether it be plays, essays, or novels.
In addition to excellent craft, one of the best aspects of this book is its ability to discuss topics such as feminism, prejudice, racism, and humanity without feeling dogmatic or pretentious. Experiences, and not didactic lectures, flesh out these topics thoughtfully and personally. Juanita builds her world and paints her story; she shows readers what it’s like to live as a feminist black woman in America. And the best part of the book is that her experiences become your experiences even if you have nothing in common with her.
The only caveat to this book would be that it doesn’t speak to everybody. This isn’t so much something disliked; rather, this is it’s one pitfall in a sea of gorgeous waves. Juanita’s book reaches women, and most importantly, black women. Women are depicted as strong characters in a world that doesn’t give them respect outright, unlike other groups in society, but Juanita doesn’t whine about it; instead, she writes women as people who rise despite the obstacles placed in front of them. Although, all woman can relate to her story, the book may not reach those need to read it most. The reason for that is because the book is so tightly connected to a specific and exclusive experience that it fails to provide resonance for those deemed external to the author’s world.
Given the exceptional craft and story development, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. Judy Juanita delivers a masterful memoir through a variety of genres, which makes every page worth turning. I recommend this book for any reader interested in feminism, the Civil Rights Movement, and American history. The flawless writing makes the story even easier to invest in and most readers will struggle to set the book down.
******
DeFacto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta Oakland
View: on Bookshelves
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