Book Reviews for
“I AM YOU”
Peaked at #6 on Amazon’s New Sellers List for Black and African American Poetry Books
Reached Top 100 Best Sellers on amazon for Black and African American Poetry Books
BookViral Reviews
“Following on from his excellent poetry collection 'Situationship' which was recognised by the 2020 North Street Book Prize, Osamase Ekhator offers us 'I Am You', an anthology of works dissecting love, religion and social injustice.
A trailblazer for equality, equity and empowerment, Ekhator uses his poetic gift to create bridges between the chasms left by the discriminatory and unjust treatment meted out by humans upon one another. Drilling down into minds and motivations, Ekhator strips away cotton wool fluff and exposes the fragilities and strengths of human nature and society, not only in matters of race but of decency and genuineness.
Ekhator's poems starkly plunge the reader into the world of what it is to be black in American society. In the cleverly constructed 'Virgin', continuing, subtle racialism is highlighted within a lived experience of school, whilst 'Countdown' and 'The only coloured crayons in the class', highlight the shocking disparities in the treatment of young black youth in the education system.
Expanding towards macro society, Ekhator succinctly sums up the lethargy of historic change with his telling line "Martin is still seen on our screens, yet the country is still sleeping without your dream" and the hope for real change in the future "to deny their bullets from ever seeing the light of day, on the darkest of skin", and seeking justice from 'lunch lady liberty'. Evidently, each offering expresses mindful meditation of deep emotion and resulting thought patterns, which insightfully cut straight to the issues addressed, such as inter-racial tension and the hypocrisy of racial misappropriation.
Whilst 'I Am You' challenges understanding and promotes reflection surrounding intolerance and bias, it also bridges the racial divide in a shared bond of love, worship and resilience, and addresses modern issues which impact all who are trying to find their way in love. Insta-story is one such poem, with its powerful message that love is, in its purest form an intensely personal and private emotion, and his clever 'I get around '22', which warns of love's many twists, turns and pitfalls.
Culminating in the beautiful 'Mr. Brown in Boston', Ekhator reminds us it is the responsibility of all to contribute to the collective voice of unity. But perhaps the most haunting poem is 'Black Roses (walking down the street)' which starkly but tenderly presents the lived reality of racism in stark relief."
Independent Book Review
"I Am You is a treat waiting to be unwrapped. From the first pages of this collection, readers get to witness just what kind of creativity and discussion they're in for—even if just by looking at it, flipping through it.
Osamase Ekhator uses white blank space, increasing and decreasing fonts, page breaks, section breaks, enjambment, heartbeat, and rhythm to tell stories and impart wisdom. It's a physical experience—bouncing around these words like this, being able to flip so effortlessly from page to page and to hear something worthwhile in the process.
This collection is broken into four chapters: childHOOD ft. A.M. Erica, BLACK: Love It or Hate It, LIVE: BREAKING..., and Get Up. It splices short poems of social commentary with longer continuing narratives including specific characters (like A.M. Erica & Darren). The use of narrative here really balances out the singular poems, giving nods to those readers who are bouncing on the rhythms on their way to the complete discussion.
There is sound accompanying each line of each poem. Lines whip across the blank page like wind, increase and decrease in font to give us chants and whispers of vulnerability and Black love. It's always clear that Ekhator can hit the right beats at the right time.
There are a lot of poems in I Am You that I like. "When I Die..." keeps us moving smoothly on the way to a singular story before it wraps us close with purpose: "passion/misplaced in poetry." "Nala's Lesson" weaves us through history despite our lives in the present, while "Rent Free (Months After)" uses enjambment and placement on the page to leave us laughing.
There are poems that I didn't like too, though. Some can come off as a bit easy and expected, occasionally heavy-handed, and I wonder if it could have communicated a bit better with and about Black women. Chapter 3 (LIVE: BREAKING...) might spiral a bit out of control too. The collection might miss sometimes, yes, but it hits in others in really unique ways.
The poems are smooth and make such great use of blank space and sound; it whispers in large blank space, it screams in it too. I Am You is a collection worth checking out for sure. Ekhator's playfulness and creativity make it a really unique product, and his content sharply discusses love, life, and social injustice.”
Readers’ Favorite
“I Am You: A Book of Poetry is a beautifully penned poetry collection by Osamase Ekhator. Divided into four parts, Ekhator's poems delve into every aspect of what it means to be a black male in America. Cool Kids Table of Malcolm recounts the story of a young boy standing up for himself in front of his crush in middle school. Virgin is about innocence, and how young black kids navigate their way through racism and adversity. Know My Name is a powerful statement about being unique to oneself regardless of the consequences. Rent Free is a poetic rant about one's lost love. To The League is a nostalgic look back at growing up with their friends. Hash Tag in Heaven is a striking critique of how black victims of police brutality often find themselves relegated to becoming a caption on social media.
A poignant and thought-provoking piece of work, I Am You is a fascinating glimpse into the living experience of a young black man in America. Osamase Ekhator leaves nothing out and lays bare his soul, drawing from personal experiences to craft some mesmerizing verses that stay in your mind long after you've finished reading. Some poems are traditionally structured, while others feel more experimental and post-modern in their organization. Ekhator's poems speak of lost love, religion, and systemic racism prevalent in contemporary America, painting a vivid picture of the aspects that impact a young black man's journey through life. If you're a poetry lover who appreciates well-incorporated social commentary, you shouldn't miss out on this gem.”