The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race edited by Jesmyn Ward

 genre: essay, non-ficiton

I acknowledge that this collection of essays both hurt my heart and opened my eyes.  As a white women I know - at least I truly try to know - that my privilege makes it so that I am completely unaware of a lot of the harm and pain in my country.  These writings - both poems and essays - took me to New Orleans and New York City, introduced me to a Southern Grandma and the husband of Phillis Wheatley.  While some touched me more than others, I couldn't read without a pen because each piece taught me something, made me look from a different angle or try and imagine a life in someone else's shoes.  Anyone who is trying to stretch outside of their white comfort zone would do well to spend time in these pages.  There is much to learn and to feel.