Black Punk Now

May 1, 2023

Celebrated Afro-Punk documentarian Spooner and novelist Terry (Black Card, Zero Fade), who played in various Virginia punk bands in his youth, compile contemporary nonfiction, fiction, illustrations, and comics that help explain Black Punk Now. Prepub Alert.

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Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2023
A multifaceted look, in several genres, at the places where Black people and punk rock meet. The present subversive and creative collection, write Spooner and Terry, is "a holistic definition of Black punk where every piece stands on level ground." That level ground comes about in part because of the democratizing ethos of punk rock and its intersections--and punk is nothing but intersectional--in Afro-punk, queer punk, and many other musical and artistic streams. As an interlocutor named Shawna puts it, "I have friends across diasporas," and those diasporas come together in meaningful, liberated ways to create art, music, zines, poetry, and more. Bobby Hackney Jr., a contributor and a son of a player in the Detroit Black proto-punk band Death, notes, "if you're doing something that other people don't understand and you still decide to do it, that's punk to me." The scene seems somewhat more segregated today, with fewer white-Black interactions, and then there are the usual musical divisions: Are you a punk if you love P-Funk? Hanif Abdurraqib answers, rightly, "The debate of what does or doesn't make one 'punk' is the least interesting debate that can be had." With graphics, short stories, poems, lyrics, conversations, commentary, and notes on how capitalism naturally tries to co-opt cultural scenes and how Black punks naturally resist it, the anthology is a cornucopia of righteous resistance, both fun to read and energetically provocative. One has to love any book that calls Creedence Clearwater Revival "this band that cosplayed as a Louisiana band" and includes a playlist daring enough to slot Stanley Clarke's "Vulcan Princess" alongside songs from such bands as Death, Bad Brains, and Dag Nasty. Great reading for punks of every persuasion, who, one hopes, will take it and change the world.

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September 1, 2023
Combining fiction, essays, comics, and interviews, this dynamic new anthology, edited by novelist Terry and documentary filmmaker Spooner, holistically explores punk music and the punk scene from the perspective of Black writers and creators across generations. Inspired by their shared experience of searching for Black community within the punk scene, the editors have gathered an engaging and original assortment of viewpoints and personal narratives, centered on the genre famously known for its outsider appeal. Contributors--who include literary luminaries such as Hanif Abdurraqib and Brontez Purnell alongside academics, illustrators, and political activists, with a standout interview with the members of feminist punk collective Sista Grrrls--touch on topics including grief, punk's relationship to the mainstream, inclusion, sexism, feminism, and self-discovery. This is a fresh new collection of captivating writing and interviews about a vital, vibrant music and political scene.

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September 22, 2023

The experiences of Black people in the punk rock scene are at the center of this eye-opening but uneven anthology of short stories, comics, and essays. Edited by Afropunk Festival cocreator, director, and graphic novelist Spooner (The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere) and novelist Terry (Black Card), this anthology gives readers a view into the chaotic but trenchant genre of punk rock, through the eyes of Black people with connections to it. The strongest portions of the anthology are the comics, illustrations, and essays that offer more personalized views. Highlights include "Punk Family Business" by Bobby Hackney, which tells the story of the creation of the all-Black hard-rock/proto-punk band Death, and "No Whites on the Mic," a panel discussion of why the presence of Black and Brown people is important in the punk rock community. Other essays discuss the intersections of race and queerness. Nonfiction pieces are mixed with short fictional ones, some of which tend to slow down the flow of the book. VERDICT Fans of punk rock will enjoy this anthology. There's much to like despite the shortcomings of some of the fiction pieces.--Leah K. Huey

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