In his excellent new memoir How We Fight for Our Lives, poet and author Saeed Jones summarizes his life thus: “Being black can get you killed. Being gay can get you killed. Being a black gay boy is a death wish.” Jones’ memoir, published in October of this year and which recently won the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, delves into his life in vivid detail. But the book is not just a story of injustice, it is an exploration of personal growth and a raw, intense memoir of finding oneself.
Jones’ turns of phrase will take your breath away, and there is a preciseness to his writing which echoes his start in the careful art of poetry. The book is relatively short, but it packs a punch. It is emotional and jarring, and lays bare the author’s heart and history. It takes a lot of courage to open one’s heart and soul to the world, both moments of pride and shame. This memoir is an elegy to the childhood and freedom that was lost when a gay, black boy could not be himself and love who he wanted to love. Jones’ memoir deserves every bit of the glowing praise that it receives, and I believe that everyone should read it. It will open your eyes.
Review by Shannon Wood
Adult Services Librarian
Nordonia Hills Branch Library
