In the Language of My Captor

McRae's final poem in this collection absolutely floored me when I read it, "Still When I Picture It the Face Of God Is a White Man's Face." This poem, ending the collection, sets the tone for my reading insomuch as McRae deals with an astute, honesty that considers the dehumanizing trauma of racism, slavery, sexual abuse, and the implications for identity and humanity's relationship to God. There is conviction, clarity, and a humbling ferocious grace that does not slide into contempt, but points a finger at all the ways white supremacy robs the living of their humanity.

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My reread of In the Language of My Captor, actually I reread this twice, I drew a lot more out of the Banjo poems and their commentary on both the White man's gaze show more and media portrayls of African Americans located in a specific historical period and as a persistent phenomena. show less

Another great poetry collection from the National Book Award short list. The author uses carefully chosen language to help the reader see through the eyes of African-Americans and relate their experiences with white America. In one, we see through the eyes of a boy held as an exhibit in a zoo, in another an actor, etc. These are both heartbreaking and illuminating.