The GUMBO POT Poems

A Savory Recipe for Life, Community & GUMBO Through Poetry

Poetry - General
602 Pages
Reviewed on 03/02/2016
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Ryan Jordan for Readers' Favorite

The GUMBO POT Poems: A Savory Recipe for Life, Community & GUMBO Through Poetry by Judy Sundayo, Alyce Smith Cooper, and Jaime V. Jones is a touching and emotional collection of poems written by an eclectic group of people about topics ranging from family life and overcoming to social injustice and anger at maltreatment. There are poems like 'The African American Woman's Diary' that delve into an overarching story about the lives of women throughout the course of American history, and it is full of poignant and carefully chosen phrases. Intermixed through the poems are the pictures and backgrounds of black people who are friends with the authors, and the trials and tribulations they have personally overcome as well as the triumphs they've achieved. The pictures are excellent and the people inspiring.

I found these to be valuable additions to the story, imbuing it with a rich sense of history and community, and giving a strong and proud face to the poetry. But the poetry itself is the true star of the work, with poems that are powerful and uplifting and full of emotion. The authors don't shy away from any topic as they lay bare the depravity of our culture and the foundation upon which it was built. I loved the imagery and the stories, although it was painful to get through at times with the brutal honesty of it. This book will inspire conversations and thoughtfulness in people, as well as serve as a wake-up call for many. The GUMBO POT Poems: A Savory Recipe for Life, Community & GUMBO Through Poetry by Judy Sundayo, Alyce Smith Cooper, and Jaime V. Jones is brilliantly written and dedicated to Maya Angelou, and it will serve as an inspirational work for many years to come.