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Medusa’s Children
From performing in the alleys of LA, Keith Antar Mason recounts his experience of getting on stage at the ICA in London with The Hittite Empire Performance Art Collective, an all-Black Intergenerational Men’s Cultural Elite.
The narrative of the London trip and snippets of the author’s experiences back in LA is effortlessly interwoven with visceral and evocative images from Black History, as memorised in his genes:
We are the nightsticked
Billyclubbed
Strangeways
Strangefruits
Survivors
Every summer is a Red Summer
Medusa’s Children is a one voice rant, a prose memoir, a wish poem.
This is a memory written in
Ashes and Fog
Our Life on Mars
Stone cold word killers
Spitting Knowledge and Truth
Mother Medusa
Make us
Subliminal Seducers
The narrative of the London trip and snippets of the author’s experiences back in LA is effortlessly interwoven with visceral and evocative images from Black History, as memorised in his genes:
We are the nightsticked
Billyclubbed
Strangeways
Strangefruits
Survivors
Every summer is a Red Summer
Medusa’s Children is a one voice rant, a prose memoir, a wish poem.
This is a memory written in
Ashes and Fog
Our Life on Mars
Stone cold word killers
Spitting Knowledge and Truth
Mother Medusa
Make us
Subliminal Seducers
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Published October 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 21, 2020
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I have not read much poetry, but “Medusa’s Children” is a beautiful and poignant read that makes you think.
Firstly, the author prominently highlights vital issues like slavery and racism, which I feel is essential to spread awareness, especially in today’s environment. Although we have come a long way, we need to sit down like Mason and ponder on what we can do to change and eliminate these issues. Also, the author does not shy from setting a lifelike tone to the plot. Besides, the story is difficult to digest at times. Similarly, even the writing is very raw, and some terms and situations are were very explicit. However, this makes the tale feel realistic and one that connects with the reader.
Moreover, I enjoyed how the author suddenly shifts between the settings of London and LA. Similarly, the author transfixed me in the way he talks about Black History. Although the story is relatively short, the imagery of the characters and the locations are vivid and detailed. The contrast between the two environments reveals how we vary in cultures and how humanity is flawed in many ways due to his upbringing and mindset. Similarly, the author talks about life in various venues like Hollywood, touring, and stories of slavery.
From reading the memoir, you can see how much emotion the author put into the poem. Each chapter feels like you learn a new aspect of the author and how his experiences changed him. Overall, I felt “Medusa’s Children” is an eye-opener and a poem that everyone should read to experience its impact.
November 11, 2020
The narrative follows Mason as he recounts his experience of performing in the alleys of LA to the stage at the ICA in London with The Hittite Empire Performance Art Collective, an all-Black Intergenerational Men’s Cultural Elite. This is powerful poetry dear reader, a prose memoir that is not afraid to speak openly.
The poems in this collection are numbered instead of titled. I enjoyed this different approach as I felt it represented the number of days the reader had been traveling with Mason. I felt involved and educated on Black history as I listened to urban legends and stories that need to be remembered and retold for generations to come.
From eating Chinese and learning the value of pounds and pence, Mason’s poetry absorbs you from the moment you begin reading. As a tourist we visit Covent Garden, eat fish and chips alongside trips on the tube. The reader is treated to a full on typical British welcome to England with a please and thank-you, how do you take your tea? It’s humble and accepting.
What I admire and enjoy about Mason’s poetry is how he effortlessly weaves between his trip to London and his experiences back in LA. One minute the reader is enjoying a cup of english tea while the next we are listening to the vivid recounts of Black history. It is mesmerising and Mason captures a realness that speaks openly and honestly with a beautiful poetic justice.
I found in Poem 2 the use of single words blunt and to the point. The impact it made within its content amplified Mason’s voice, spoken with a purpose and the desire to inspire others to join the fight. He makes a statement within the use of a single word, it awakens the soul and a desire to start a revolution.
As I was reading Poem 3 I was surrounded by the rhythm of djembes and aroma of spiced tea. I enjoyed being caught up in these moments and could still taste the sweetness long after I had finished reading. I yearned for more. Mason has a natural talent for creating an atmosphere that surrounds and consumes you. The senses come alive and become desperate for more.
Freedom and power of speech run bravely in these poems. Mason tells the reader about an urban legend of a runaway slave and how the master stripped him in front of folks for simply running for freedom. It’s such a heartbreaking tale to read and difficult to understand why the world, no, make that people were so cruel all those years ago. But when you think about it and see what is happening on the tv on the news you start to realise it is still happening. Mason writes how slavery hasn’t ended in America, it’s just got better dressed. He also compares how in London he feels free but in a different kind of way. It broke me as we should all be entitled to freedom and not defined by race, the pure beauty of the different colours of our skin. We are all human and should all respect one another yet unfortunately this is not the way. It makes you wonder if humanity will ever learn from its past mistakes and stop denying human rights and start celebrating how unique we all are, regardless of race. One can only hope that more voices, stories, poetry such as Mason’s start to be heard and more importantly listened to with an action for change to happen.
There are strong themes of race and black history throughout Mason’s poetry that need to be heard. His poetry speaks of how in America he was born a suspect, because of the colour of his skin. It makes you seriously question how can we appear to have come so far yet little has changed. It has to change, it can’t and should not continue this way.
I give Medusa’s Children By Keith Antar Mason a Five out of Five paw rating.
Powerful and spoken from the heart, Mason’s poetry carries truth and rawness as he stands naked in front of the world. I loved this collection and couldn’t get enough. More is needed!
The poems in this collection are numbered instead of titled. I enjoyed this different approach as I felt it represented the number of days the reader had been traveling with Mason. I felt involved and educated on Black history as I listened to urban legends and stories that need to be remembered and retold for generations to come.
From eating Chinese and learning the value of pounds and pence, Mason’s poetry absorbs you from the moment you begin reading. As a tourist we visit Covent Garden, eat fish and chips alongside trips on the tube. The reader is treated to a full on typical British welcome to England with a please and thank-you, how do you take your tea? It’s humble and accepting.
What I admire and enjoy about Mason’s poetry is how he effortlessly weaves between his trip to London and his experiences back in LA. One minute the reader is enjoying a cup of english tea while the next we are listening to the vivid recounts of Black history. It is mesmerising and Mason captures a realness that speaks openly and honestly with a beautiful poetic justice.
I found in Poem 2 the use of single words blunt and to the point. The impact it made within its content amplified Mason’s voice, spoken with a purpose and the desire to inspire others to join the fight. He makes a statement within the use of a single word, it awakens the soul and a desire to start a revolution.
As I was reading Poem 3 I was surrounded by the rhythm of djembes and aroma of spiced tea. I enjoyed being caught up in these moments and could still taste the sweetness long after I had finished reading. I yearned for more. Mason has a natural talent for creating an atmosphere that surrounds and consumes you. The senses come alive and become desperate for more.
Freedom and power of speech run bravely in these poems. Mason tells the reader about an urban legend of a runaway slave and how the master stripped him in front of folks for simply running for freedom. It’s such a heartbreaking tale to read and difficult to understand why the world, no, make that people were so cruel all those years ago. But when you think about it and see what is happening on the tv on the news you start to realise it is still happening. Mason writes how slavery hasn’t ended in America, it’s just got better dressed. He also compares how in London he feels free but in a different kind of way. It broke me as we should all be entitled to freedom and not defined by race, the pure beauty of the different colours of our skin. We are all human and should all respect one another yet unfortunately this is not the way. It makes you wonder if humanity will ever learn from its past mistakes and stop denying human rights and start celebrating how unique we all are, regardless of race. One can only hope that more voices, stories, poetry such as Mason’s start to be heard and more importantly listened to with an action for change to happen.
There are strong themes of race and black history throughout Mason’s poetry that need to be heard. His poetry speaks of how in America he was born a suspect, because of the colour of his skin. It makes you seriously question how can we appear to have come so far yet little has changed. It has to change, it can’t and should not continue this way.
I give Medusa’s Children By Keith Antar Mason a Five out of Five paw rating.
Powerful and spoken from the heart, Mason’s poetry carries truth and rawness as he stands naked in front of the world. I loved this collection and couldn’t get enough. More is needed!
November 14, 2020
***BOOK TOUR REVIEW***
The Medusa’s children is a collection of poems telling the story of black man and his struggles trying to live in a white world (this is my interpretation). The black community is still slaved by white men, just in a different way. The message is powerful and important.
I also really like the visual changes within the book, the different ways the text has been placed and how certain words have been written out. They give the poems a certain feel and it makes the experience of reading this book so much more than just reading a book.
The reason I only gave three stars is the style of the poems. It might be that these poems are too modern for me. Sometimes it was hard to follow the poem and truly understand it. I think the first poem was the hardest for me and the later poems were easier for me, or maybe I just grew more used to the style and the rhythm of the poems.
*this review is part of Love Books Tour for this book and I received a free copy of this book
The Medusa’s children is a collection of poems telling the story of black man and his struggles trying to live in a white world (this is my interpretation). The black community is still slaved by white men, just in a different way. The message is powerful and important.
I also really like the visual changes within the book, the different ways the text has been placed and how certain words have been written out. They give the poems a certain feel and it makes the experience of reading this book so much more than just reading a book.
The reason I only gave three stars is the style of the poems. It might be that these poems are too modern for me. Sometimes it was hard to follow the poem and truly understand it. I think the first poem was the hardest for me and the later poems were easier for me, or maybe I just grew more used to the style and the rhythm of the poems.
*this review is part of Love Books Tour for this book and I received a free copy of this book
November 9, 2020
I don’t think I have read poetry since high school English class so to spend some time inside this poem was fascinating. This poem also hits home with the topic of race that is front and center in our society today.
I spent additional time researching the Hittite Empire Performance Art Collective which was founded by the poet to get additional insight as I unpacked this poem.
This poem is told in 6 parts and is the author telling about his time in London with his touring group while at the same time going back in time in the history of the treatment of blacks and also adding personal tidbits of living in Los Angeles.
Most thought provoking part of this poem for me: “See slavery ain’t ended in America It’s just gets better dressed”
I spent additional time researching the Hittite Empire Performance Art Collective which was founded by the poet to get additional insight as I unpacked this poem.
This poem is told in 6 parts and is the author telling about his time in London with his touring group while at the same time going back in time in the history of the treatment of blacks and also adding personal tidbits of living in Los Angeles.
Most thought provoking part of this poem for me: “See slavery ain’t ended in America It’s just gets better dressed”
November 24, 2020
It was a complicated but interesting story, poem, memoir. This book had a bit of everything. The way it is express might confuse some but as you keep reading it you’ll be able to understand it and get comfortable with his writing style. It is something different then I am use too but it was a great quick read. I think everyone should give this book a tried and see how they understand it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews