Esil's Reviews > The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race

The Fire This Time blew me away. It’s an odd experience to read a collection of essays that’s hard to put down – reading past my bedtime, early in the morning, and at my desk at lunch. Why? The incredibly timely subject is only part of it – the writing and the personal quality of the essays is what had me glued to this collection. Inspired by James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, the editor has collected a series of personal essays and poems written by African Americans about race in the US today. The writers speak from personal experience, about the experience of parents and grandparents, about reactions to recent acts of police brutality and other ways in which racism remains pervasive, about the limited hope brought by Obama’s election, and about fear and hope for children and generations to come. So many of the essays were superbly written – many having a feel of spoken word poetry – expressing anger, frustration and fear, but somehow resonating with positive energy. These essays are ridiculously timely and should be read by anyone of any race in the US and elsewhere – but really, unfortunately, these essays have been timely for years... Not all essays were 5 stars, but most were. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.