The Black Condition ft. Narcissus

by Jayy Dodd

The Black Condition ft. Narcissus is preemptive memoir, documenting the beginning of the author’s gender transition and paralleling the inauguration of our latest Administration. These poems speak to and from fears holed up inside while contextualizing the cosmic impacts of our political landscape. Ranging from autobiographic melancholy to rigorously meditative, here is a necessary voice to process the world, predicated on unknowable desire and blossoming tragedy.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Queer, Transgender, School, Read For School, African American

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

jayy dodd is a multi-talented blxk trans femme: all at once poet, journalist, designer, and editor. They are the writer of [sugar in the tank], Mannish Tongues, and their collection The Black Condition ft. Narcissus will be available next year. jayy writes not only about being queer and trans, but also about the black condition, language, and culture. In addition, they are also a co-editor of Bettering American Poetry, and a 2017 Lambda Literary Fellow.

Reviews

[Bek (MoonyReadsByStarlight) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a stunning collection of poetry. It hits on themes surrounding race, gender, self-love, desire, and more. There is a range of emotion, ranging from nostalgic to tragic, often landing on bittersweet.

[Taylor Napolsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many cool ideas and thoughts in this book; lines filled with imagery and mood expressions I found myself underlining the shit out of. I especially like the “Bonus Track” section, which comes after the thank you section, so you think it might be over (something I’ve never seen done before!), but then it brings it out to the last page with some really great forms involving text messages and social media. Actually the whole concept of this book being like a rap album, mixtape, whatever, is really inventive and fun.

There’s lots of heavy subject matter in here though, so I don’t want to give the impression that it’s lighthearted.

The work delves deep into the psyche, the relationship of mind to body, the perceptions people have of you based on your appearance, the expression of sexuality, the expression of oneself physically, the prejudice and/or hate that gets directed at certain bodies, how this prejudice/hate affects one’s mind state—inducing anxiety and stress and fear, etc.—and so on.

A great read.

[Aerik Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! One of my favorite reads of 2019. Much like a favorite music album, I loved every poem and wouldn't skip a track! I love the treatment of the figure of Narcissus, the reimagination of the myth in Black Trans poetics and refusal of the original myth's death politics. Plus, it was also super refreshing to finally see Gil Scott Heron held to account for that fucking poem, to see that moment addressed and addressed in playful yet scathing rigorous poetic form (iykyk). Listen, Jayy Dodd is THAT poet, give her all the awards and flowers and monies!

[Emme Lund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always keep a collection of poetry on my desk while I work, something to read between writing. I picked up this book to read a poem or two and ended up reading the entire collection cover to cover. highly recommend

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

j. Dodd is a brilliant poet. she owns her experience and uses it as a sword of resistance. turning stereotypes on their heads, and “admirers” into inquirers. she’s a midwestern author and it shows in the best way. a necessary read for absolutely everyone.

[jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

at times overdetermined and trite to its bones, the central conceit of narcissus and its relation to “”identity”” is pretty brilliant and keeps me coming back, if not for exactly my love of the language, but the imprecise evocations of the concept.

[Rachel Atakpa · Rating 5 out of 5]

every. single. poem.

“because of you I cannot fear this earth. / what is death when raised by an eternal?”

[Laura Corin · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times heartbreaking. At times stinging. The kind of poetry you cannot absorb all in one read or listen.

[Mills College Library]

811.6 D6395b 2019

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Language, form, voice, all compelling. Want to go through again with more knowledge of myth of Narcissus and focus on those stories.

[Clove]

I actually read Failed Tattoo by Jelal Huyler but that isn’t on here