logo

68 pages 2 hours read

Makes Me Wanna Holler

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1994

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Nathan McCall

Makes Me Wanna Holler

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1994
Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Portsmouth, Virginia • 1960s-1980s

Publication Year

1994

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Makes Me Wanna Holler by Nathan McCall details his life growing up in a working-class Black neighborhood in Portsmouth, Virginia during the 1960s and 1970s, his descent into crime due to systemic racism and lack of opportunity, his incarceration, and eventual self-improvement through education and resolve, leading to a career in journalism despite enduring persistent racial challenges. The book discusses topics such as crime, incarceration, and racial discrimination.

Gritty

Challenging

Emotional

Dark

Informative

Reviews & Readership

4.4

6,619 ratings

81%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Nathan McCall's Makes Me Wanna Holler receives praise for its raw and powerful storytelling, reflecting on the systemic challenges and personal growth of an African American man. Critics commend its authentic voice and social relevance but note the graphic content and harsh realities depicted may be unsettling for some readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Makes Me Wanna Holler?

Readers who would enjoy Nathan McCall’s Makes Me Wanna Holler are likely drawn to deeply personal and socially reflective memoirs. Fans of Richard Wright’s Black Boy or Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me would appreciate McCall’s raw narrative on race, redemption, and resilience in America.

4.4

6,619 ratings

81%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Character List

Nathan McCall

Raised in a working-class black neighborhood, he turned to crime in his youth but later reformed while incarcerated, becoming an educated journalist.

McCall’s grandmother, who served as the family's foundation and worked tirelessly as a domestic worker for white families.

McCall’s mother who, alongside his stepfather, raised him and his siblings with love and guidance despite difficulties in openly discussing life’s realities.

McCall’s stepfather and Navy retiree who instilled a strong work ethic in McCall, despite frequent disputes during McCall's youth.

McCall’s high school love and mother of his son, Monroe; she was a teenage model with whom McCall shared a turbulent relationship.

McCall's son with Elizabeth Miller, who moved to California with his mother but maintained a relationship with McCall in his youth.

McCall’s second wife, whom he married after they had two children; their relationship was fraught, culminating in a bitter divorce.

A feared figure in McCall’s neighborhood known for his toughness and early use of guns.

An older local who committed serious acts against people close to McCall, ultimately resulting in his imprisonment.

McCall’s childhood friend and partner in crime, who later found legitimate work after leaving the drug trade.

A fellow inmate who taught McCall chess and imparted life lessons during McCall’s time in jail.

A life-sentenced leader within the penitentiary who influenced McCall’s personal growth and self-perception.

A white, Jewish journalist and McCall’s friend from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, noted for his open-mindedness and cultural exchange with McCall.

Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Portsmouth, Virginia • 1960s-1980s

Publication Year

1994

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.