It's Not Regular: How to Recognize Injustice Hidden in Plain Sight?

by Jahmal Cole

How many times must you order food through bulletproof glass windows before yelling your order becomes a routine habit? How many times must a student find no soap, paper towels, or toilet paper in the school bathroom before learning in filth becomes normal? The social injustices that pollute our communities are hidden in plain sight—and their enduring effects are pervasive and intractable. How did it get this way?

Author and activist Jahmal Cole believes the current social climate of injustice was created intentionally, and has led to disengaged minds. Instead of giving in, he calls for Chicagoans to wake up, confront oppression, and reject it as the new normal.

Genres: Nonfiction

105 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2019

Reviews

[JennyS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Jahmal for letting me listen, for sharing his thoughts, his observations and experiences. This is a memoir, a journal, a long form poem. You can read in one sitting, or come back and re-read, meditate, and journey yourself. I noticed a few reviews mention structure and editing, but isn't that the point? When you try to force someone's experience into a structure for your comfort, or edit someone's words for your understanding and liking, you are making it "regular," and erasing what makes these words most powerful and beautiful. Get this book: support MyBlockMyHoodMyCity.

[Samantha Levin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important and glad I read it, but is a 3 purely on what appears to be the lack of editing. Content is a 5. Also a note on delivery if you're considering ordering: not even Amazon gets things to me so quickly. Just need to take the annual Amazon Prime fee and get it to My Block, My Hood, My City. Sustainable delivery, better results.

[Candace Hill]

Jahmal Cole is my hero. I follow My Block My Hood My City on social media and happily contribute to initiatives as they are promoted. Whenever I listen to Jahmal or read something he has written, I learn more about the African-American experience in Chicago.

[Jacquelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Editing aside (in referenceto other reviews), this is truth telling at its most real.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book to support Jahmal Cole and My Block, My Hood, My City. I live and work on the south side and I believe strongly in the mission of the organization. The overall message of this book is important. However, I wish more care had been taken in the writing and editing of this book. Maybe as a series of blog posts it would be more manageable to read and follow, but as a book it is repetitive and lacks a central cohesive argument. I really want to rate it higher, but I just can’t. I’m hopeful that they will do another run and improve the editing and structure.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important messages about what’s become “normal” in south side Chicago that shouldn’t be. Ordering chips through bulletproof glass, more technology on street lights than in classrooms, “Safe Passage” escorts for kids waking to school to ensure protection from gang violence. Heartbreaking and eye opening.

[Kyleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really not the right format for the way this is written and presented. A lot of this I’ve seen already in his Instagram posts, where the photos and words are most meaningful. This is excellent material, but not for this book, in this way.

[Diane Fulton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amazon customer

Purchased to make a contribution. Nothing else to add. Really, eleven more words, most every paragraph was repeated twice.....bye bye.

[Lisa Daleiden-Brugman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy, read and share this book. itsnotregular.org