May Day speech

by Jean Genet

English, French (translation)

25 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1970

About the author

Jean Genet was a French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. In his early life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but he later became a writer and playwright. His work, much of it considered scandalous when it first appeared, is now placed among the classics of modern literature and has been translated and performed throughout the world.

Reviews

[Tom Willard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genet gives a speech in defense of Bobby Seale in New Haven Ct, 1970. For added intrigue, I was born in New Haven in 1970. Now that the review is taut with tension, a former professor of mine was there that day and saw Genet sitting in the gutter. His tone was quite celebratory.

Genet points out how blacks have experientially lived in a fascist country for their entire existence. Yet, in 2025, white people are getting a taste of this and we are collectively losing our minds.