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Reader Reviews

Nikole Hannah-Jones, Author of The 1619 Project

"The Origin of Freedom" - The 1619 Project One-Act Festival

Especially moving. It closely mirrors the goal of the 1619 Project: to point out America’s paradoxical founding on principles of liberty while upholding institutions of subjugation. It had so much emotional resonance.

Audience Member

RAGE

RAGE is the For Colored Girls of this generation.

Emma S.

Echoes of the Struggle

In this well-researched, neatly-composed, and emotive book, Gray not only brings to life the history of the Civil Rights Movement, but also highlights the injustices and struggles still faced by African Americans today. She forces us to reassess our position in the world, to grapple with pain, anger, and despair, and then to pick ourselves up and become active participants in the forging of a future where everyone’s rights truly matter.

Audience member

RAGE

I've been three times now. And every time I leave, I feel like I can breathe again.

Toni G.

Emotional Maze: A Personal Journey Through Depression

One thing that I just love about Janelle’s writing in two books I’ve now had the pleasure of reading, is how raw and vulnerable her writing is- she puts herself truly into her work, and it shows. I love how real and authentic this little book is; it’s comforting and refreshing.

Unknown

Echoes of the Struggle

Whatever your expectations are of this book before reading, set them aside. No matter your background or your familiarity with America's history of race relations, you will gain something from immersion in the heartbreakingly truthful accounting and deep reflection offered by Ms. Gray in this book.

It is a difficult thing to feel the events of history as vividly as we do the present; harder still to recognize the present as part of that same history; hardest of all to put that feeling and knowledge into action. Gray successfully draws all three reactions from her readers, leading them through an intensely personal journey with her clear and accessible prose. It is an easy book to read in style, but not an easy one to read in
subject-- which makes it an important book for people to be reading.

Doug Sturdivant, critic

RAGE

RAGE is probably the single most important play I have seen since arriving in Dallas. 

Jill Sweeney, critic

RAGE

RAGE holds a singular object—Black women’s anger—up to the light, and turns it around and around, shining light through its many facets to reveal new truths.

Ebony P.

Emotional Maze: A Personal Journey Through Depression

I thoroughly appreciate the author's candor and could relate to much of what she shared. A highly recommended quick read!

Emily Short, critic

RAGE

This performance is one that can't be missed. It provides an opportunity to witness moments in history that are too often forgotten, and it forces the audience to celebrate the many different ways Black women have been rebelling for centuries.

Casey H.

Echoes of the Struggle

I am going to gift this book to anyone that is confused or against the Black Lives Matter movement. Echoes of the Struggle provides different perspectives of current racial topics through familiar characters. I know a Dani, a few Terris, and Clarissas. Learning new stories from the Civil Rights Movement was my favorite part of the book. I cried, got angry, felt hope and motivation. I am grateful I read this book.

Unknown

Echoes of the Struggle

Whatever your expectations are of this book before reading, set them aside. No matter your background or your familiarity with America's history of race relations, you will gain something from immersion in the heartbreakingly truthful accounting and deep reflection offered by Ms. Gray in this book.

It is a difficult thing to feel the events of history as vividly as we do the present; harder still to recognize the present as part of that same history; hardest of all to put that feeling and knowledge into action. Gray successfully draws all three reactions from her readers, leading them through an intensely personal journey with her clear and accessible prose. It is an easy book to read in style, but not an easy one to read in
subject-- which makes it an important book for people to be reading.

Joseph H.

Echoes of the Struggle

An extremely relevant work, this novel does a fine job of navigating the balance between the fictional protagonist's personal journey of growth and the very real horrors and triumphs of the Civil Rights movement. I would highly recommend this text for teachers (junior high/high school) as a companion piece to their existing curriculum concerning this time period. Echoes addresses and attempts to begin remedying the larger issue of our society's collective distillation of Civil Rights history. It picks up from the general knowledge most of us have (MLK Jr, Rosa Parks, Jim Crow) and delves deeper in to the stories of the countless other figures who made progress possible. I believe readers from all backgrounds will be able to learn from and appreciate this book, but younger readers, especially, will relate to the main character, Daniela. Gray avoids the trap of isolating these stories in the past by including the Black Lives Matter movement and several high-profile victims of police shootings from recent years, showing the importance of our history and the ways in which it continues to affect us today.

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