Review by Hnlloyd293 -- DeFacto Feminism: Essays Straigh...

[Hnlloyd293]

[Following is a volunteer review of "DeFacto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta Oakland" by Judy Juanita.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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De Facto Feminism: Essays Straight out of Oakland by Judy Juanita is a collection of personal essays that provide the reader with a unique look into her life. Juanita covers a vast array of topics. She writes on her time in the Black Panther Party and lessons she learned while working as a maid. Juanita includes a prose poem about race relations and a personal story of her time as a stand-up comic. The anecdotal essays are mixed with creative writing pieces. Juanita includes a prose poem that was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and an epistolary essay about her experience with a ghost.
I loved reading these essays. The one that really stuck with me is “Five Comrades in the Black Panther Party, 1967-1970”. Juanita discusses her experience as one of the first students of San Francisco State to become members of the Black Panther Party. The public education system tends to portray the Black Panthers as essentially domestic terrorists, so it was awesome reading the perspective of someone personally involved.
I was not a fan of the closing essay. “Acknowledge Me” is a story told in the form of letters from Faith to the wife of the late Peter Thorpe. Faith communicates to Mrs. Thorpe (Alexis) that Peter’s ghost is communicating with her. She explains to Alexis how Peter is helping her with her writing and giving her relationship advice. The essay is the longest one in the book and I found it odd that the narrator is telling a widow intimate details of her relationship with the widow’s late husband’s ghost. The essay also seemed to drag on.
I didn’t notice any critical typos in the book. There is a missing digit in the Table of Contents, the essay “Acknowledge Me” starts on page 175 and the Table of Contents lists it as starting on page 17. There is also a missing period on page 61.
Overall, I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. While I did not love every essay, I did enjoy reading them and the prose is very creative. The book has been professionally edited. The only thing I would have added was a final note to wrap up the collection, instead of just ending it after the last essay. I recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a perspective on feminist theory, particularly intersectional feminism. The essays would also be a great read for anyone who enjoys creative writing styles.

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DeFacto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta Oakland
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