i cant believe i have gone so many years without reading essex hemphill’s work. every piece in this collection of prose and poetry landed with such force, honesty and beauty that this book has quickly become one of my favorites. hemphill’s vulnerability is so strong where it is sometimes jarring but it is this directness of his writing that highlights so many nuanced social issues that can still be seen today. we truly need more writers like him and i hope to read more of his works, though they are few. highly, highly recommend.