Customer Reviews

Born Palestinian, Born Black

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Suheir's poetry is passionate and intelligent. She captures in words the essence of what it means to be in the Palestinian diaspora. In "exotic" she puts forward , exactly, what it is to be a minority female in the U.S. This is an incredibly wonderful book - very highly recommended.

Suheir's poetry expresses so many thoughts we've all felt but could not articulate as eloquently and masterfully as she has! I couldn't bear to stop reading it.

She is able to clearly and eloquently express the thoughts, feelings and emotions that we've all had as women, Arabs and oppressed people! I bought this book for all my friends!

What makes Suheir amazing is the same thing that made Frida Kahlo amazing, she is never afraid to be who she is wholly and completely. Her poetry is the unity of roses, 0live trees, Coltraine and blades.

In 1948, the nation of Palestine, its 6,000 year history notwithstanding, was handed over to a small group of Jews from Europe. This mind-boggling event, without precedent in human history, was supported and funded by the U.S. Ms. Hammad captures the rage, frustration, and deep sadness of the palestinian people as they struggle to cope. The palestinians are the aborigines of Palestine. The jews,native to Ur in Iraq, claimed their land once before...in biblical times. But as Ms. Hammad succinctly points out "god ain't no real estate agent." A fantastic book for understanding arab emotions on the subject of palestine.

Suheir Hammad's poetry in this book and in Listen Up is exquisite, filled with contemporary performance pieces that are both passionate and reflective.

Pay no attention to Outraged for a number of reasons...
Among them, it has been decided by both Palestinian and Israeli historians that the reasons the Palesinians left wasnt because they were asked to, but because they feared being caught up in a war. This has been brought to light by Israeli and Palestinian documents that have recently come to light. So basically, you and wrong, nice try.

But THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT.
What is important is that Suheir Hammad is an amazing new talent and a leader of the modern poetry movement. Her writing is obscure while being exact and strong while being sensitive. Buy this book and you will understand its beauty, politics mean nothing in the face of art.

When first released, Born Palestinian Born Black quickly became known as one of the most important books of the last 20 years. With this reissue, collected with the Gaza Suite poems, this book is even more essential.

Ghettofab. That's right. Those who love this country criticize it. Angry Arab? With every right...with every shred, with every bit and piece that makes this Arab an Arab. It's because we want to make it better. It was a lovely book. And showed truth, and honesty. Ghetto poetry is one of the only and best poetry out there. It brings the struggle and conflict to those who don't know, and to some of those who do know, and can't speak aloud for themselves. It's a conflict not being Arab enough for the Arabs, and not American enough for the Americans. A day in the life....a day in the life