An important poetry collection that encapsulates an important perspective that all should pay close attention to. Johnson's poems pack a punch and leaves the reader breathless.

Javon Johnson is a stunning writer, poet, thinker and educator. This is my introduction to his work, and I was utterly spellbound. The imagery, the visuals, the depth of character, the ferocity of the language: I felt swept up, confronted, compelled. The package here is excellent, too, with a stunning jacket design that adds layers to the words within. The first first poem hit the hardest, and I won't forget it.

A beautiful collection that resonated with me very deeply. Some of these poems spoke directly to my Black experience, and others gave me insight into others' Black experiences, particularly what it's like to be a Black man. I'm looking back through the book and see so many I want to make note of, but then I realize it's most of them. Starting with "Untitled, or a Fear of Giving This a Name," I was hooked. "The Last Conversation Between Malcolm X and His Daughter," "The Cult of Obama," "A Lesson in Proper Sentence Construction," and of course, "On Healthy Masculinity" are poems from this collection that will stick with me. There are many other strong poems, but those stand out as ones that resonated with me or made me reflect for a while afterwards. There were a few that I think would be so powerful spoken aloud, but have slightly less impact on the page, in my opinion.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review!

There is nothing I can say about this book that hasn't already been said by other reviewers but I will try. Ain't Never Not Been Black is a powerful, beautifully written poetry collection about Black pain, Black joy, and the magic and endurance of Black people. The collection is short but has a lot of heart in it. I can't say that I got through it quickly (compared to other books of the same size), because I really had to stop and process on multiple occasions. Some pieces gave me chills and a deep heartache that I needed to sit with for a while. And I do recommend that you really read these pieces and think and feel afterwards. Each poem in this collection is gripping, and even the shortest of them made an impact -which leaves me in awe of Johnson's writing ability and command over words. It takes a lot to pack that much emotion in a 3 lines long poem.

This collection speaks of grief and sorrow spanning generations, but it also manages to overflow with joy, with Javon Johnson's love for his family, and most of all with so much hope and resilience. I will be thinking about this collection for a while, and I will definitely be reading it again soon.

Hi, I want to give this book 3.5 stars because I immensely enjoyed it and understood things much better about Black Lives. Although, I do not enjoy the prose kind of poetry, at all.

One day I was with a friend waiting outside of our kids music class in a neighborhood that was being threatened by developers and their grand ideas on how it could be "better". There was some aggressive writing on the brick exterior of the building that suggested that white people should get out and take their ideas with them. My friend asked, "What is wrong with gentrification? Isn't it good for everyone when property values go up?" I pointed at the 40 year old run-down tienda on the corner and asked, "Do you think it's good for that shop owner and his family when the boutique shops come in? Do you think white people will shop there?" My "that's why" hardly scratched the surface of the emotional toll of gentrification. What I needed was Javon's comparison of gentrification to cancer because talk about real and raw and heartfelt., Wow! Something everyone should read and maybe it would stop at least one more person from complaining on the "Next Door" page about how the old neighbors in their new neighborhood are shooting off fireworks, letting their dogs run around, playing loud music, etc....

I didn't love every poem. Some tried too hard which distracted from the rawness and authenticity of the ones that just seemed to flow without effort. But for any poem that lacked luster it was backed up by another that shined. On Healthy Masculinity took my breath away as it describes how the experience of being Black creates an additional layer of complexity around allowing oneself to be vulnerable; vulnerability being a privilege afforded to those that are not perceived to be a threat based solely upon the color of their skin.

I look forward to more by this author and thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this book that I was highly anticipating in exchange for an honest review.

Ain't Never Not Been Black is a new favorite of mine, maybe even my favorite poetry collection of the year. I only wish it were longer! The poems within are necessary and hard-hitting, addressing issues including racism, masculinity, police brutality, gentrification, and more. Johnson's words are resonant, passionate, and raw, drawing upon his lived experiences to give insight into what it is like to be Black in America. As a non-Black POC, I can never fully comprehend what it's like (particularly for Black boys and men), but the honesty and power of Johnson's writing helped me gain a better understanding.

Though the collection is fairly short, the words within will stay on my mind for a long time afterward. The collection covers many emotions, from joy and love to devastation and pain. It discusses many heavy issues and moved me nearly to tears multiple times in the one sitting in which I finished it. Johnson's writing is accessible (I would easily recommend it even to friends who don't read as much poetry), while also being intricate and eloquent. A few (of many) standouts from this collection include America, Cuz He's Black, and Black and Happy,

I would absolutely recommend this poetry collection to others and look forward to reading more of Javon Johnson's work in the future. Many thanks to Button Poetry and NetGalley for providing this ARC!

trigger/content warnings: racial violence, racism, death, racial slurs, shooting, murder, police brutality, cancer

In minimal words, Javon Johnson manages to convey the complexities and emotions of existing as a person of colour. More than once, I was moved to tears, or left to linger over the words on the page as the over all weight of his poems left me thinking and digesting. Mr. Johnson allows a glimpse into the struggles faced in everyday life as a black person in today's world, of the bias and disadvantages levelled against them.
My partner is a person of colour, and through her eyes I've been able to learn a lot about the privilege that I have had in life, through years of conversations, of comparisons. Mr. Johnson's words convey those same themes but in succinct phrasing, colourful imagery and heart wrenching honesty. Wishing Well took my breath away, and left me feeling cold, goosebumps down my arms as he managed in 5 short lines to portray the very real fears I have every time my partner's phone goes to voice mail when I know she's been out.
Cuz He's Black draws to mind the comparisons of my conversations with my 4 year old nephew regarding the police, of the very different conversation we had compared to that of the narrator. What kind of world have we created where children have to be taught to fear those who are supposed to help? Again Mr. Johnson delves to the heart of the matter, wasting no time or words to spell out the differences with fluidity and ease, leading the reader down a well of emotion.
In this time of Black Lives Matter, Javon Johnson is able to hone in on the issues of this movement and present them in a way that is unavoidable and filled with humanity. There is no beating around the bush. The truth is laid bare, in digestible chunks that let the reader easily draw parallels to their own lives, to see their own privilege exposed for what it is. I can not recommend this book enough, for readers of all generations, of all races. This book needs to be read.

thank you to @buttonpoetry & @netgalley for this e-arc!

Ain’t Never Not Been Black is a poetry collection surrounding Black pain, Black pleasure and Black love, by describing experiences from the author’s personal life as well as social issues that hit the African-American community more generally.

this. was. phenomenal. reading this poetry collection was such a visceral experience. the author uses language so beautifully, yet in a way that makes the themes (especially those poems surrounding Black pain) hit so hard. as a non-Black POC I will never be able to fully understand Black pain, but this poetry collection brought me a little bit closer to that. it is not an easy read at all, it was even quite upsetting at times, but it is so worth it. I read this entire collection in a single sitting and was left wanting more, so my only complaint would have to be that it’s not long enough.

what I also really liked is how accessible the poetry is. the language is not unnecessarily overcomplicated and there is even some slang used throughout. add to that the discussion of contemporary socio-political issues, and you’ve got a poetry collection that is accessible even to those people who don’t normally read a lot of poetry but are interested in venturing out. so whether you’re an avid poetry reader, or are just starting to explore this genre, I’d highly recommend this beautiful collection!

trigger warnings for racism, racial violence, police brutality & the death penalty.

Extremely intelligent, heartbreaking and so beautiful. I was not familiar with the author's work beforehand, and I'm speechless with how delicate and intricate his writing is. There's a magic here, being able to transcend rage, grief, sorrow and to deliver something poignant, terribly witty and so gorgeous. The author's gentleness writing about loved ones, his way with tales of brutality, systemic racism and white supremacy and how brilliantly some of these pieces were constructed... everything in this book makes it a masterpiece. I cannot recommend this book enough. Yesika Salgado wrote "I wanted to thank Javon for never being anything but Black." and that's exactly how I feel having finished this book.

Poetry is more often a hit or miss with me, and while a lot of the poetry here was a miss for me because of the style, I can acknowledge the importance of these poems about Black experiences and Black lives, and what they entail from fear and prejudice and hardships. It's about racism and crushed dreams and hopes for a better future and the disasters of the American society. It's an important read, just to further the dialogue about Black experiences.

I thank Negalley for the digital ARC.

In the poem, “On Healthy Masculinity,” Javon Johnson writes, “The world has never allowed me/ to unclench my fists.” It’s a line that represents this collection, a tense and emotionally dense layering of questions and answers. Johnson’s words teeter at the precise of life and death, always looking over a shoulder, anticipating the worst. He tells us the ways this is normal, that when the world has worn down the ones who demonstrate the most love, to want to burn it down is rational. Johnson interrogates pain and tenderness as it intersects with Black masculinity. A series of poems embedded in the collection, the Black famous poems, explore the trajectory from joy to martyrdom. There are also beautiful variations of form, including the poem,
“Black 201,” a poem as syllabus, which you know struck my teacher-heart.

Javon Johnson’s spoken word energy is injected into each of these poems, lifting them off the page.

An incredibly moving meditation on what it means to be a Black man in America. Also, and what I haven't read elsewhere yet, a poignant look at what it means to be a Black boy in America. Javon's poems really show how the experience of a boy is different from a man and yet for Black boys it is the same because of the inability of America to treat Black boys as boys. Each poem is beautifully written and it is equally sublime in its existence as a poetry collection and a social justice treatise. Easily one of my favourite poetry collections.

I'm not normally a poetry reader, but this collection of poems was absolutely wonderful. The poems within are deeply moving and impactful, as Johnson talks about his experiences of racism, being Black in America, and themes such as gentrification. This is the first poetry collection I've read that talks about racism and injustice, while simultaneously acting as a sort of memoir and reflection. It was a great read, and I wish there was more of it!

A theme of survival resonates throughout the poems published in this book. Ain't Never Not Been Black chronicles the life of the black man in America. It has been difficult to put my thoughts on this book into words: intense, serious, honest; Still at times, Johnson communicates his story so beautifully, that the gravity of these poems almost eludes me. From Malcom X to Jean-Michel Basquiat, these poems show how America's (mal)treatment of the black man has transcended generations. Eloquently written, creative and original, I think that this book is definitely one to read.

Beautiful, heart-wrenching work by poet Javon Johnson, who allows us through his poetry the perspective of a black man, full of the want, the need for a fulfilled, joyous, FREE life but also the hurt, the anger and the fear of a black man living in today's world. It tells the story of communal and individualistic suffering, of the ugly face of racism, of the growing up of a boy, a black boy and the developement of a man, a black man. This little book comes exactly at the right time where non-blacks seek more and more to understand black history and black story. Johnson's poems are deeply personal, aggressive and very relatable for every human being who has a heart. This work is sure to leave a deep impact on its' readers.

I thank Netgalley and Button Poetry for an ARC to read and review.

Arc provided by button poetry through netgalley.


Most people are afraid of reading poetry, as if it is something hard to understand. This poetry collection made me reflect on myself, see the poet, try to understand him and support him.
Our identities are our pride. This is a pride, even though it's not mine.
It's been a pleasure, thank you for allowing me to read this and happy release day.

I first fell in love with poetry thanks to my 4th grade teacher. I think poetry has to speak to you on a level that can't be conveyed simply by having someone else telling you it's good. Luckily for me, this book spoke to me and I really enjoyed it. It was honest and relatable... I just got it. I absolutely LOVE the title of this book as well. Ain’t Never Not Been Black is a collection of poems about the black experience and provides a raw telling of what racism looks like for a black man. This collection also shows the beauty of what it means to be black. This book will definitely cause me to read more poetry from here on out.

Ain’t Never Not Been Black is a short book of poems about the black experience engaging with themes of masculinity, racism, love, pain, joy and family. His spoken word transfers effortlessly onto the page, with honest and relevant poems that moved me emotionally. It is about blackness and survival, and how in America these are inseparable.

Now this is the first-time poetry is being featured on this page and I’m glad it is this one. The only reason its down a star is because I wanted it to be longer (literally shocked that I’m saying this about poetry). This certainly gave me a new perspective that other nonfiction books have not. Each poem gives a powerful and heart-breaking insight into black life in America. I read this in one sitting, as its very short but enjoyed it a lot.

I have no idea how to review poetry but Johnson talks about his own experiences and provides a lot of insight into growing up as a black boy in America. Spoken word comes across as a lot more personal which is not only more engaging and impactful but also resonates with you the way a non-fiction book that addresses the same issues may not. It was engaging and moving as well as educational for me, and in my opinion there’s never too much you can read about topics like those addressed in these meaningful poems.
My favourite poems in this book were America (where the words ‘black people’ are replaced with the word America, Cuz He’s Black, The Last Conversation Between Malcolm X and His Daughter (this was hearthbreaking) and On Healthy Masculinity.

I received this book for free from NetGalley In exchange for an honest review.

“Ain’t Never Not Been Black” is a collection of poems written by Javon Johnson.

It’s a poetry collection about being black in America and all the heartbreaks, joy, anger, and love encapsulated in the experience.

Often times with poetry it can be difficult to keep my eyes focused on the page, I frequently find myself drifting off or skipping around, but that wasn’t the case here.

This little collection kept me engaged - Javon Johnson is an excellent writer and strings together poems with just the right mix of metaphor and reality.

I will eagerly be awaiting more from this author.