Not Without Our Laughter: Poems of Humor, Joy & Sexuality

by Celeste Doaks (Editor), Saida Agostini, Anya Creightney

The Black Ladies Brunch Collective’s Poetry Anthology, Not Without Our Laughter, (Mason Jar Press, 2017) is a collection of humorous and joyful poems, riffing on Langston Hughes’s novel Not Without Laughter. It explores topics of family, work, love and sexuality. The women of BLBC believe, like Hughes, that even in these currently tense racial times, laughter and the celebration of life is crucial. Historically, it is what African Americans have done and will continue to do, no matter what challenges face them.

Genres: Poetry, Anthologies, Nonfiction

90 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 15, 2017

Reviews

[Michael B Tager · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the publisher, I obviously think this book is beautiful and perfect. And it is.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A black woman's sexuality comes in many forms, same as her coping mechanisms. The poets speak together, valuing each other's creativity in their conversation. I'm lucky enough to hear each of these poets read, go hear them if you can.

"I am foolish and tired, and cannot help but blush at the strangest things--
like the dawn of your eyes
greeting mine."
(59), Saida Agostini

"If Harriet Tubman had been a lesbian
I would know the brown body had been
valued outside of chattle, to the point of risk."
(34) Teri Ellen Cross Davis

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this sassy, brash, yet reflective book of poetry. Each poet has her own strong voice, and I couldn't stop flipping the pages.

Many thanks to Goodreads and Goodreads giveaways for sending me a copy of this fine book!

[Donald Quist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this thoughtful collection of poems and how they encourage readers to persist through each new day with love and hope.

[Tonee Mae Moll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, sexy, intelligent, and approachable poetry from artists serving long-underwear realness.

[jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was deeply beautiful and healing to read. So much of the poetry here was so musical, imaginative, heart-stirring, emotive, and the pen and their use of voice was so sharp. I picked this book from a bookstore on vacation after reading the back and flipping casually through a page or two and knew I would like it. I literally started reading this in the middle traveling across states and it held me so much; and the language and technique of the poetry was just so good I ended up heavily annotating damn near every piece written; just for fun. It was good to read as a poetry and music lover, and as a poet/writer/artist myself, who aspires to write and bend words in a way that grips the heart the way this book gripped mine. I think Katy Richey was probably my favorite poet in this collection, but I connected deeply to every writer and their work; and I for sure want to continue checking out the writers' individual works, as well as any additional pieces the Black Ladies Brunch Collective has together. I felt so seen and held in this book as a black woman, a writer, a poet, an artist, and a lover and aspiring griot. This has been my favorite read of the year so far that has pulled me out of somewhat of a reading slump I'm in, or whatever you call taking more than a month to finish a book you started reading. I will get to those books, I swear...but Not Without Our Laughter was so inspiring and beautiful and poignant for me and I highly recommend it!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend asked me for some poetry books and as I pulled them off the shelf I realized that while I read the poems in this one often, I've never added the book to my reading lists.

I love these poems but can't come up with words that aren't trite and since that would do more harm that good, that's all I'll say.

I also enjoy that the poets use poems as an interaction between themselves within the book. It takes the pieces a little further than they may have stood on their own.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, full of sharp humor and raw power.

[Roseanna Recchia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, joy-infused collection.

[Natalie Mata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will make you think and laugh! Read it! It’s a beautiful book.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff. Bold language and brave assertions. Solid poetry. Loved it.

[Courtney LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I have a hard time with anthologies as I often find there will be poems I like, but a larger number of poems I don't care for. That held true with this anthology.

from Husbands by Tafisha Edwards: "that is what / wanting a married man is: one afterschoolsugarrushdash. What if I'm trouble? // I mean what if I am bad news? And the wanting of a married man is a vitamin deficiency / I have no interest in curing?"

from What it Takes to Breathe by Saida Agostini: "I have snored so loud I made friends weep for y next breath, swear / there is a whole carnival alive in my chest, aching beyond ribcage, to where my heart / lays smothered in veins, and fat--the swollen lungs seated, a fearful and / ready king above it all, gasping for a new swallow of breath to crown its life // imagine all this machinery just to breathe / the whole map of an exquisite monarchy drawn and refinished every time / my lungs expand."

The design, layout, and cover of the book is fantastic, I just didn't connect with many of the poems.

[A.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This joyful collection of poems is a must-read! Humor, sexuality and beautiful words intermingle into one of the finest collections I've read in a long while. If you're looking for necessary poems to get you through the strange years - this is one you'll need.