If I could choose a theme for this month, and maybe for a few months preceding it too, I would choose the theme of perspective. What I have begun to realize with great clarity is that perspective can play a huge role in our lives, but only if we let it. And it is in literature that we can see the perspectives of others, and, perhaps for the rest of our lives, acknowledge what struggles they are going through, even if we don't necessarily experience those struggles firsthand.
When we let ourselves see through the eyes of others, we begin to develop a greater sense of empathy for them, and we become less focused on our own problems. Instead, we begin to see there is not a singular story for everyone, but rather that everyone has their own unique story to tell, simply because of their unique identity. And regardless of who they are, their voices should be considered valid.
In the wake of the George Floyd incident, I find it only necessary to now talk about the power of perspective, which is why I wanted to share the three following books with you---the perspectives of these authors (and their characters, too) are perspectives that matter, and perspectives that should be acknowledged and understood.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
"Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl's struggle for justice." - Goodreads
This book is extraordinary. It tells the story of a young girl named Starr Carter who witnesses the death of her friend Khalil as the result of police brutality, in which the policemen thought he was reaching for a gun when he was really only reaching for a hairbrush. She then watches as the world begins to rally for justice, and of course, the only person who knows what really happened is Starr herself.
What makes this book so powerful is the fact that Starr witnesses Khalil's death right before her eyes, and so it does not become something that she hears on the news, but rather something that she can recall from personal experience. Angie Thomas ensnares the reader by making sure not to sugarcoat the situation, but instead choosing to be brutal and true. And being in Starr's head allows readers to understand just how severe and terrible racism still is, even after civil rights and #BlackLivesMatter movements. It is a powerful, powerful book. A definite must-read for anyone. And there is also a movie that you should definitely check out afterwards.
Angie Thomas really inspires me with her willingness to speak the truth, and for giving voice to the young black girl in America. I have nothing but respect for her.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
“This is your country, this is your world, this is your body, and you must find some way to live within the all of it.”
This book is a non-fiction memoir, meaning that it is the true story of Ta-Nehisi Coates. He talks about his experiences living as a black person in America, and provides his own observations regarding racism and how it came to be. This book is also really unique because it is done in the form of a letter to his son, which is a style in writing that I find myself not reading very often. And on top of the really truthful points that Coates makes, the writing is also very beautiful.
Between the World and Me is definitely one of those pieces of writing that you think back to a lot while navigating through life. I read it because of an English course I was taking over the summer, and it was quickly a favourite among my classmates. Definitely worth a try!
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
"From the National Book Award–winning author of Between the World and Me, a boldly conjured debut novel about a magical gift, a devastating loss, and an underground war for freedom." - Penguin Random House
It just so happens that I really like Ta-Nehisi Coates's work. The Water Dancer is much different than Between the World and Me, because it is a historical fiction novel instead of a memoir. But what makes it so great, in my opinion, is the fact that it combines magical realism with very real history.
The Water Dancer is told from the perspective of a young slave named Hiram Walker living in Southern America during the time of Harriet Tubman, who embarks on a journey that exposes him to the stories of many different slaves, whether they are free or not. And it is this aspect of story-collecting, in my opinion, that makes the book so powerful---Coates proves to us how listening to the stories of others, and therefore viewing their perspectives, is what allows us to understand the world on a much broader scale, as well as develop a greater sense of empathy. Hiram's tendency to collect stories also connects to the strange power that he possesses, which is the magical realism aspect of the book.
The Water Dancer is a very lyrical and metaphor-heavy book that is perfect for writing an essay on (which was what I did for my English AP class). It's just so beautiful!
So while you're spending time in quarantine, I would really recommend checking out these amazing authors. And remember how important perspective is---take time to listen to people's stories (especially the stories of people who continue to get silenced in society), because that is what ultimately will allow you to see the world much more vividly.
Thank you.