I have always heard about Black Wallstreet and I knew the unfortunate ending, but I liked seeing this fictional take on it. We get to see how life may have been for those living in this sort of Black oasis. The people in the community felt real to me. The Booker T. Washington vs. W.E B. Du Bois conversations where their two ideologies are contrasted were good as well.

For those more interested in the historical aspects, they may be disappointed by how much the story focuses on Isaiah’s development, Angel’s need to help, and innocent romance (slightly insta-lovey but fitting). The actual events don’t take place until the last hundred pages, choosing instead to focus on our main characters’ lives instead.

I enjoyed (as much as you can with the subject matter) reading Angel of Greenwood, and I wish there was more attention given to it. This is a split pov with Angel and Isaiah. Angel is the girl with a heart of gold who is always caring for others and not herself, while Isaiah is a secretly decent guy led around by his nasty friend Muggy jr.

I did not know how early on would the book touch on the vile massacre, so there was an impending sense of dread for me. However, the lightheartedness of Isaiah getting his junk together and his beautiful, lovesick poems he wrote about Angel were a welcome distraction.

While I generally don’t read much historical fiction featuring African-Americans/Black Americans (I’m always left with a mixture of anger and sadness afterwards; it can be emotionally-draining at times), I don’t regret reading this. We, descendants from North American chattel enslavement, have truly had an enduring time in this country. Still, Angel of Greenwood shows that black life isn’t/wasn’t this all-consuming suffering. People had lives, aspirations, hopes and dreams and whatnot too.

Anyway, this is worth reading (and talking about!)

3.5 ( )

Isaiah is Greenwood’s troublemaker with his friend Muggy. Their lives are ordinary, going to school and church. They live in Greenwood, Oklahoma during the 1920s which is a wealthy town that is referred to as “Black Wall Street”. Their lives are idyllic. That is, until white Oklahomans attack Greenwood and burn it down, including bombing their church. Based on actual events, this story shows how quickly one’s life can change.

Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Wilson runs around with the town troublemaker, but he is hiding the fact he is an avid reader and a secret poet, his journal is practically glued to his hand. Isaiah is a passionate follower for W.E.B. Du Bois, and believes that black people should rise up and claim their place alongside others as equals.

Sixteen-year-old Angel Hill is disregarded by her peers as a goody two shoes. Her father is dying from an unknown illness and her family's financial situation is in turmoil. Also a vivid reader, Angel is a loyal follower of Booker T. Washington, and she believes, through education and tolerance, that black people should rise slowly and without conflict.

Though they've gone to the same school, Isaiah had never paid Angel much mind. That is until he sees her dance at church one day - after that he falls in love quickly. Their English teacher offers them a job on her mobile library. Angel can't turn down the money and Isaiah is eager to have a reason to be close to Angel.

But life changes on May 31, 1921 when a vicious white mob storms Greenwood and sets it ablaze.

This was a love story, but it wasn't any kind of Insta-love that happens a lot in YA novels. This one was slower. You could "see" the duo fall further and further in love. Especially the moment when Isaiah sees Angel dance... Randi Pink did an amazing job at capturing that into words.

This novel ends right after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Within twenty-four hours after the violence began on May 31, 1921, 35 city blocks of Greenwood lay in ruins of ash. More than 800 people were treated for injuries (though refused treatment at the white hospital nearby). Contemporary reports state that deaths began at 36. Historians now believe that as many as 300 people died .

I actually learned very briefly about this in High School - surprisingly. This is a good starting point to talk about what happened. Firebombs were dropped on Black Wall Street! An entire African-American neighborhood was burnt down! This is a time in history many people don't even know about!

I love the banter between Isaiah and Angel that Pink uses to discuss W.E.B. DuBois versus Booker T. Washington. Those topics weren't ones I was too familiar with and have since begun looking into them more because of this book.

Miss Ferris, the English teacher, is the type of teacher all kids need. She realized Isaiah's love for writing and gave him a journal to write in. There was even a time when she could tell him was going through a lot of emotions and simply asked him, "Do you need to write?" and then let him. She even talked it out with the duo about any guilt they were having about being black and having more advantages than others.

This novel is touching and tender - about finding who you are yourself and also falling in love for the first time. It's also very educational to its readers. It was a pretty quick read for me (even if I got sick right when I was starting it). I would highly recommend this to young and old alike. ( )