Intense and a bit scattered, but an intriguing look at the lives of those often forgotten or stigmatized by society

This is going to be a tough review for me to get into words. I got this book through NetGalley, and ended up both giving it 3* and also DNFing it (Did Not Finish). The 3 stars was for the content, personally this is not the type of writing style that I enjoy, although the content was informative, and I would not run to pick it up again. It’s the DNF factor that is tough in this review.

I DNFd the book because, I felt like I shouldn’t be reading it? The strongest feelings I had throughout the 50% of the book that I did read were of injustice, hatred (justifiably so) and that this book was not meant for me. And it’s not. This book, in my opinion, is written by black Chicagoans, and is intended for black Americans. Now I know that we should read books that aren’t aimed at us and expand our bases, however, this felt in essence like I was intruding. Like I was listening to something that I shouldn’t get to listen to.

I will say, I learnt a lot about “Chiraq” from what I read, and I can see the struggles that happen every day. The police in this city have some serious explaining to do, but let’s be real. That’ll never happen. This is a tough book, about a tough subject, about lives that are lived every day in an area where the police are more like the army than anything else. Racism abound towards black people, despite the majority of people in the neighbourhood being black, and essentially the rest of America stays silent.

I encourage you to pick up this book, even if you DNF it like I did. It’s something that needs to be highlighted as an issue, and these voices need to be heard. Black Lives Matter. Full stop. Maybe this book can help more people realise that.

The style and set up were amazing, I really enjoyed reading it. Not only was it intriguing and well set up it was insightful and meaningful.

This was a flowing, well-written book, that got a person like myself, who is not very into poetry, to the streets and the heart. I truly enjoyed this book.

The End of Chiraq is a collection of poems but also interviews and essays etc about Chicago, its reputation, how it is for people living there…

I enjoyed it even though the writing style, sometimes, was hard for me to focus on.
Also, I was expecting this to be a collection of poems and only poems and I was a little disappointed at first, but it was really interesting. I learnt a lot.

Okay, so this book was a little hard to get into. It's nothing like I've ever read before. The story is both powerful and important, and everyone needs to read this! I would definitely recommend this!

3.5 stars

The message of this "Literary Mixtape" is very enlightening, and real, and brutal.
In poems, rap lyrics, essays, interviews it tells of a dangerous, but loved, city.
It's really eye opening, and really makes you aware of your privilege.
I wasn't a big fan of how it was written. The writing was really good, but it is really a MIXTAPE. There's a lot, and some of it I just didn't really connect with.
Overall though, a really important read.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't finish this book. I dnf'd it at about 36 pages in. The mixtape element was original and certainly interesting but i couldn't engage with it. I enjoyed the little poetry i read but i expected it to be a poetry heavy book - not an essay heavy book. It was very fact based and didn't seem bothered about engaging the reader.

The End of Chiraq: A Literary Mixtape is a mixed-genre anthology investigating the history and impact of the term Chiraq on Chicago youth, street violence, and perceptions of Chicago from both Chicagoans and outsiders. Coval and Johnson state explicitly that, in the pursuit of meaningful and authentic discourse, they have prioritized Chicago voices, and young people in particular. The book itself is broken into five parts: the first section considers the term Chiraq and its connection to perceptions of Chicago as inherently violence; the second section looks at the segregation of Chicago and the city's contribution to violence; the third section explores depictions of Chicago in popular culture; the fourth and fifth sections look toward the future of Chicago and the ways in which artists are reimagining Chicago, both artistically and through activism. Each section blends interviews, essays, poetry, and prose, making space for an array of voices in the larger conversation of race relations, systemic oppression, the police state, poverty, education, and misrepresentation. As both an educator and a consumer, I believe that The End of Chiraq is a poignant and brilliant example of the powerful work that young people are doing to improve our nation, and it would be a phenomenal addition to any classroom library, filling gaps in an otherwise whitewashed national curriculum and introducing students to some of the most important issues in American society today.

This book its so powerful. The way it is written is great for you to understand the pain and consterne.

A beautifully told and illustrated text about a fascinating topic.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"The End of Chiraq" is a literary mixtape with content that takes multiple forms, to various effect. Every piece in this collection has a clear and imperative own-voices message. However, there are some pieces in this collection that are more successful and impactful than others in both their form and content, and had a unique style, flow and rhythm, whereas others fell somewhat flat in their delivery or execution. Regardless, this book has the potential to speak to a wide variety of readers about a potent contemporary issue and raise awareness from the ground

As a non-Chicagoan some of the references are outside of my experience, but this very well put together. I think this is worth a read.

The End of Chiraq: A Literary Mixtape edited Javon Johnson and Kevin Coval is a collection of mixed literature describing the city of Chicago. Johnson is an Assistant Professor and Director of African American & African Diaspora studies and holds an appointment in Gender & Sexuality Studies in the Interdisciplinary, Gender, and Ethnic Studies Department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Coval was raised in the suburbs of Chicago and educated at Ohio University, the University of Wales, and DePaul University. His brave, socially engaged poems weave together personal experience and calls to action.

Chicago was, and to many still, a city of pride, industry, and innovation. Carl Sandberg coined it the "City of Big Shoulders". It was to the meat industry what Detroit was to the car industry. It reversed the flow of a river to wash pollution away. The city physically lifted its city blocks to improve drainage and prevent flooding. Chicago was the midwest New York City -- Education, Art, publishing, sports, museums. The city had it all. In 2016 Chicago again entered the news as Candidate Trump made the murder rate a political issue to the point of wanting to send federal troops into the city.

Chiraq is a contraction of Chicago and Iraq. It signifies the violence in the city.  Early on it is pointed out that in 2008, 314 soldiers died in Iraq and 508 people were murdered in Chicago. To further add to the statistics the City of Chicago spends 40% of its operating budget on police. Chicago also has the most militarized police forces in the country yet as violent crime has fallen all over the country it is rising in Chicago.

The contributors write in factual prose, narrative prose, poetry, and in rap. Hip Hop had a revival in Chicago in the 1990s and 2000s and that is brought up by several contributors. Kayne West, Chief Keef, and King Louis are all mentioned at various times. Spike Lee's movie Chi-Raq receives an unfavorable critique by many for what is called "Willie Horton marketing." Spike Lee should have stuck to writing about areas he knows about. One comment read to the effect that the use of the play Lysistrata might have been fine for Greek comedy but should not be repurposed on this side of 300BC.

Writers in this collection turn to treating the cause of the problems in the city. The city and its police force attack the symptoms and at times over aggressively when gunning down unarmed men. Schools are being shuttered and mostly in poorer areas. Race is an issue in a highly segregated city. It plays its part in education and opportunity. For the vast majority, being born poor means a lifetime of poverty or alternatively crime and gangs.

The editors assemble the book as a mixed tape from the 1980s. Various prose forms are mixed with poetry and lyrics.  The mixed tape format of the book is compared to the mixed tape.  It is a collection of freedom.  It is not one album played in order.  It is a kind of democratization where the user determines content and order and not a record company.  This, of course, was in the days before streaming and shufflable playlists and perhaps a nostalgic view of what Chicago used to be -- a diverse, progressive city of industry, art, education, and freedom.  A strong message from the people of a strong city.

Whilst the vast majority of this book hooks you in in there are some things that just don't sit well with me. It is a literary mix tape and there are always a couple of bum tracks that just don't suit. Overall though incredibly interesting, heartfelt and full of feeling.

The subtitle of this collection is 'A literary mixtape' and that's exactly what you get. You get a mixtape of different writing styles, voices and views and that means that as a whole, the book was a bit hit and miss for me. There were some voices that I instantly felt pulled into, powerful and moving. Whilst others weren't as appealing.
As a collection, I enjoyed more than I disliked. It was strong and honest which I love in a book.
Overall it was a good read.

This powerful collection of writing is an enthralling reckoning of their city by individuals who understand and love it unconditionally in spite of its complex challenges that does them harm!