Judy Juanita

I received a print copy of this book through a giveaway she had on Amazon.com and the following is my honest opinion.

The history of the US to which the neglection of the vast majority black poets, writers, intellectuals, performing and visual artists has unfortunately been quite extensive. And if hadn’t been things like the BAM [Black Arts Movement], scores of these individuals might have never gotten their moment in the sun.

This book is a testament for Amiri Baraka, the father of the BAM, through whose efforts during the 1960’s/1970’s, wound up propelling the individuals mentioned above by giving them a new voice and prominence, the likes of which they never had experienced before.

The author of this book, Judy Juanita, having been a member of this movement since its inception, uses her first-hand knowledge to share her experiences of that time with her readers; and it’s her description for the book that gives them a concise idea of what they’ll encounter as they read each chapter.

This book is a real eye-opener about this basically forgotten period of time for its readers, and why this reviewer has given Ms. Juanita 5 STARS for her efforts in bringing this subject matter to them.… (mais)

The rhythm of Virgin Soul by Judy Juanita’s narrative is reminiscent of scat singing, but with a street-based undertone, jumping from moment to moment creating an atmosphere that resembles the turbulent nature of the 1960s. In this way, she captures the atmosphere, especially among African-Americans in California at that time, really well. The protagonist Geniece Hightower has always felt like an outsider since her mother died and her father skipped out, but when she heads off to college, she thinks that she’s finally found a place to fit in. She meets some people engaged in the civil rights movement, and falls in love with Allwood, who becomes her lover and teacher. She falls in and out of relationships, but at her heart Allwood is her first love.

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/06/virgin-soul-by-judy-juanita.html… (mais)