My Sweet Black: An Unruly Hymn (PB) (2021)

As the title suggests, this collection is a sweet journey into the celebration of personhood, with bold undertones and hard truths. In this captivating dedication and long-awaited offering, Holmes sheds light on the Black experience as he has known it--sparing no details or realness. Mirroring life, it can be especially heavy on the joy...and the struggle.

As we traverse this highly political time when the resurgence of harmful messages about the Black community has persisted, Holmes steps to the forefront with a timely message, declaring good news about his people. Many of the pieces were written to invoke memories and reflect the current day, including harsh realities of systemic abuse and oppression expressed in deep and honest prose.

Poignant and beautifully written, the magical mystery of Black culture is affirmed and invited throughout the collection. These words can serve as a marker for many future revolutionaries. Perhaps in reading this book, more people will be inspired to share their stories. Perhaps we can continue to heal. Perhaps.

But one thing is certain: the reframing of Black truths and Black experiences are a worthy undertaking--valid and warranted. As that is so, My Sweet Black was prepared to reach into the Black culture and beyond. Loud, raspy. Sweet, undoing. My Sweet Black, an Unruly Hymn.