About the book
With a New Preface by the author
“Breathe is a parent’s unflinching demand, born of inherited trauma and love, for her children’s right simply to be possible.”—The New York Times
2020 NAACP Image Award Nominee - Outstanding Literary Work (Nonfiction) · 2020 Chautauqua Prize Finalist · Best Nonfiction Books of 2019 (Kirkus Reviews) · 25 Can't-Miss Books of 2019 (The Undefeated)
Explores the terror, grace, and beauty of coming of age as a Black person in contemporary America and what it means to parent our children in a persistently unjust world.
Emotionally raw and deeply reflective, Imani Perry issues an unflinching challenge to society to see Black children as deserving of humanity. She admits fear and frustration for her African American sons in a society that is increasingly racist and at times seems irredeemable. However, as a mother, feminist, writer, and intellectual, Perry offers an unfettered expression of love--finding beauty and possibility in life--and she exhorts her children and their peers to find the courage to chart their own paths and find steady footing and inspiration in Black tradition.
Perry draws upon the ideas of figures such as James Baldwin, W. E. B. DuBois, Emily Dickinson, Toni Morrison, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Ida B. Wells. She shares vulnerabilities and insight from her own life and from encounters in places as varied as the West Side of Chicago; Birmingham, Alabama; and New England prep schools.
With original art for the cover by Ekua Holmes, Breathe
offers a broader meditation on race, gender, and the meaning of a life well lived and is also an unforgettable lesson in Black resistance and resilience.
Editions of Breathe
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807076552
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807016268
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807076569
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780807081204
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780807081556
Read an Excerpt
With a New Preface by the author
“Breathe is a parent’s unflinching demand, born of inherited trauma and love, for her children’s right simply to be possible.”—The New York Times
2020 NAACP Image Award Nominee - Outstanding Literary Work (Nonfiction) · 2020 Chautauqua Prize Finalist · Best Nonfiction Books of 2019 (Kirkus Reviews) · 25 Can't-Miss Books of 2019 (The Undefeated)
Explores the terror, grace, and beauty of coming of age as a Black person in contemporary America and what it means to parent our children in a persistently unjust world.
Emotionally raw and deeply reflective, Imani Perry issues an unflinching challenge to society to see Black children as deserving of humanity. She admits fear and frustration for her African American sons in a society that is increasingly racist and at times seems irredeemable. However, as a mother, feminist, writer, and intellectual, Perry offers an unfettered expression of love--finding beauty and possibility in life--and she exhorts her children and their peers to find the courage to chart their own paths and find steady footing and inspiration in Black tradition.
Perry draws upon the ideas of figures such as James Baldwin, W. E. B. DuBois, Emily Dickinson, Toni Morrison, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Ida B. Wells. She shares vulnerabilities and insight from her own life and from encounters in places as varied as the West Side of Chicago; Birmingham, Alabama; and New England prep schools.
With original art for the cover by Ekua Holmes, Breathe
offers a broader meditation on race, gender, and the meaning of a life well lived and is also an unforgettable lesson in Black resistance and resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Breathe about?
With a New Preface by the author
“Breathe is a parent’s unflinching demand, born of inherited trauma and love, for her children’s right simply to be possible.”—The New York Times
2020 NAACP Image Award Nominee - Outstanding Literary Work (Nonfiction) · 2020 Chautauqua Prize Finalist · Best Nonfiction Books of 2019 (Kirkus Reviews) · 25 Can't-Miss Books of 2019 (The Undefeated)
Explores the terror, grace, and beauty of coming of age as a Black person in contemporary America and what it means to parent our children in a persistently unjust world.
Emotionally raw and deeply reflective, Imani Perry issues an unflinching challenge to society to see Black children as deserving of humanity. She admits fear and frustration for her African American sons in a society that is increasingly racist and at times seems irredeemable. However, as a mother, feminist, writer, and intellectual, Perry offers an unfettered expression of love--finding beauty and possibility in life--and she exhorts her children and their peers to find the courage to chart their own paths and find steady footing and inspiration in Black tradition.
Perry draws upon the ideas of figures such as James Baldwin, W. E. B. DuBois, Emily Dickinson, Toni Morrison, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Ida B. Wells. She shares vulnerabilities and insight from her own life and from encounters in places as varied as the West Side of Chicago; Birmingham, Alabama; and New England prep schools.
With original art for the cover by Ekua Holmes, Breathe
offers a broader meditation on race, gender, and the meaning of a life well lived and is also an unforgettable lesson in Black resistance and resilience.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Breathe?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general
Where can I read a sample of Breathe?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807076552
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Breathe?
Imani Perry
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Breathe is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807076552) and paperback(ISBN 9780807016268) and ebook(ISBN 9780807076569) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780807081204) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780807081556)
Where can I buy Breathe online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Breathe from below