African Books

Second chances...

Following in her four older brothers' footpaths, Teresa July became a renowned bank robber and for many years she was able to stay one step ahead of the law, that was until one day her luck ran out and she was captured and finally sent to prison. After spending three hard years incarcerated, Teresa was released early on good behavior; however, her discharge came with a parole condition - Teresa had to live under the supervision of Molly Nance for an entire year learning how to become a respectable, proper lady and if she resorted back to her old unlawful ways, she would be thrown back into prison. Teresa was willing to do whatever it took to remain free from the hardship of prison life; but she didn't count on Molly's well-to-do, handsome son to throw a monkey wrench into the mix.

After the previous episode, the last thing Madison Nance expected his mother to do was to take in yet another female prisoner. The prior thief robbed his mother blind. This time Madison determined to protect his mother at all cost and the only way to do that was to keep the new houseguest, Teresa July, in check. But, Madison's task proved to be more than he bargained for, because not only was Teresa a bold, sassy woman, she was also very defiant and headstrong. Nevertheless, instead of her wild and unruly actions making him even more outraged, she turned him on like none other. And, it didn't help matters much that his own mother was trying to play matchmaker over them.

Wild Sweet Love by Beverly Jenkins was an amazing tale filled with spectacular African American, late 19th century, history and a superb love story between a man and a woman. It was a joy to get to know Teresa and Madison. Both were robust, smart and very outspoken characters with a passion that could not be denied. Wild Sweet Love brought forth a multitude of emotions from me. One moment I was bowing over with laughter because of Teresa's bold behavior or at Molly's matchmaking abilities and then in the very next, I became teary-eyed because of certain events and finally, the chemistry that sparked between Teresa and Madison left me breathless with great desire. Wild Sweet Love was one of the most unforgettable stories that I have read in a long time and I am positive that after you dive in the love story between Teresa and Madison, you will agree that it deserves to be a Joyfully Reviewed Recommended Read!

Nikita
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Madison and Teresa July journey was fun to read and as always I learned some AA history. I think these two characters are my favorite. I really like Terasa.

She also mentioned Sisteretta Jones. I have had her on my list to read about for months. Maybe I will get to her soon.

I highly recommend y'all read anything Ms. Jenkins writes.

BJ is awesome writer. I fell in love with her when I was in high school. My first book was Indigo. She has an art of writing history and while including romance. She has a gift to want you to read more, and more, and educate you on the different topics that I did not learn in class.
Yes this is romance; however, you have you black history lesson included.

This book is great. Teresa July is a great character, I think all women can have sass but with passion. All women want to feel special like Madison made Teresa July feel.

This book was so good that I read all 367 pages of it in just a day and a half. Teresa and Madison surely knew how to do that "passion thing." I liked their constant bickering that only added to their passion. There is not a dull moment in this book. BJ gave very vivid descriptions and history lessons that do not take away from the book. I am starting to like historical romance better than contemporary romance. A must read.

The book was little slow at first but then the more I read the more I liked it. I found the characters very interesting especially Teresa July. Part of her personality reminded me of myself. So I could sort of related to her independence. The author gave good intimate details of the interactions between Teresa and Madison. This book had a good story. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

The title of Chase Von's book caught my attention immediately as would anything that mentions Panthers speaking. I'm from the school of poets who believe in Che Guevara's statement "speak the truth". The truths in Your Chance to Hear the Last Panther Speaks, however, travel the gamut from the personal to the political and back again without getting tired along the journey. The sheer wealth of material makes it highly difficult to pick a few pieces as the best of the bunch.

From the desire to retain a child's innocence in Rainbows:

I hope to always retain
That kind of a heart
I want to always be
The one adult standing
With the children
Looking at the fishes in the aquarium
With wonder

To the challenge to "woman up" in Partway:

Boundaries have been drawn
Limits have been set
And where as I want to reach for the sky
You are afraid to have your feet
Leave the ground


Your chance to hear the last panther speak is a solid delight.

This is a collection of thought-provoking poetry, lyrics, quotes and short stories that tell about life in all its many moments. Most are hope-filled and positive. Others deal with the hurt and loss that occur in our modern day world.

Chase Von has such a deep and meaningful poetic voice. Each poem has a flavor all its own. He uses emotions and images to capture the reader and draw him in to the very heart of the action.

Among my favorite poems were Pink, Blue and Green, A Poem, I Am The Future, and A Letter Home. Each of these touched me very much.

Pink, Blue and Green is a poem that talks about racial intolerance. It is very clever. Not even an albino is free of this bias.

In A Poem, Chase shares the moment when a couple breaks up. He works through the loss by creating a poem. What a fitting tribute to what they once had!

I Am The Future shares the joy and importance a child brings to a family. How they become the focus of the parents. They are their present AND their future.

A Letter Home discusses the heartache of never knowing your ancestors because of slavery tearing cultures apart. I am part American Indian, and it made me think of how my ancestors were devastated, too. This poem touched me the most.

The lyrics are about friendship and love. They stand well on the written page. But, when I've heard some of these performed, they are great!

My favorite is I'm Your Friend. It is a very heart-felt song. Read it when you are sad or lonely.

Chase Von's quotes are quite profound. They make you realize how special his talent is. He can encapsulate a deep thought in such a way that it becomes immortal. His one about the universe being big enough to hold your dreams should be tacked on the wall of every child.

The short stories are very diverse and interesting. My favorite is The Tree and the Butterfly. It talks how helping each other in this fleeting world is important.

In closing, this showcase of selections is only the tip of the iceberg of Chase Von's talent. Take your time and enjoy them. I'll eagerly await the next book!

Dawn Huffaker
Author of Flights of Fancy, Volume 1 (Second Edition)

This varied and earnest volume reveals the devotion Chase has for the power of words. "The Face Of," "Falling Stars" and "Will Be" are highlights, but there is something witty, wise or wisecracking to be found in virtually every poem.

Discovering Chase Von feels as accidental and rewarding as finding a gleaming nugget of gold in a murky stream. In this collection of poems, song lyrics, and short stories Chase Von steps out of the training field of life experiences, and without the academic preparation that is important to becoming a writer yet can paralyze a mind needing to share magic in favor of concentrating on form, communicates some beauty, some terror, some visceral realities most would rather keep secret, and some insights to survival in a world teetering on chaotic collapse.

Von has survived combat in the Middle East, has suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome he so capably describes in his closing 'Story in Four Parts', has witnessed the plague of AIDS ('Wrap That'), has observed still existing disparities of class in this country of 'equality' ('The Bum'), the beauty and the pain and the durability and fragility of relationships ('Safe', for example), our priorities ('Yard Sale'), and other miracles and tragedies that have formed his life. The difference that makes Chase Von so much more poignant than most is his simple, honest, street talk manner of speaking to the reader. He manages to keep our attention throughout the long series of entires in this hefty volume and makes us eager to hear more.

For this reader the short stories are the finest of the three sections of the book (Part I Poems, Part II Song Lyrics, Part III Short Stories). In others' hands placing the short stories on the page in a manner resembling poems (no side justification, spacing irregular between lines, no paragraphs, etc.) might appear contrived, but in Chase Von's control the thought and spoken lines flutter like overheard conversations in another room and add a sense of mystery and artistic distance for the reader to absorb the impact.

The full title of this solid book is YOUR CHANCE TO HEAR THE LAST PANTHER SPEAK and we can only hope this is the first of many volumes of stories and shared from a man raw with emotion and tempered with making reality fit a poet's view. Welcome to the theater of the world, Chase Von! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, October 08

It's obvious that Chase Von, author of this thought-provoking book, is a man of many sensibilities and diverse talent. Whether writing prose or poetry he brings his words to life with vivid clarity, almost as though the reader were experiencing the world through his eyes.

I love short stories so much, I practically devour them, so I bought this book because I had heard that Von's short stories stir the emotions. They were all entertaining and well-written, many resounding with heart-wrenching images of everyday life. And the power of his quotes, lyrics and poetry was an unexpected literary bonus.

A busy man, he also interviews rising stars in various artistic fields--from actors to authors to artists--for the popular Student Operated Press.

Author Chase Von speaks with a positive, inspiring new literary voice. And what a voice! I recommend you experience the pleasure for yourself.

I love it. I highly recommend any thing that Ms. Beverly writes. Grace and Jackson blake made for an interesting and fascinating and educatiional story.

This book is hot! Beverly jenkins dosent miss and you will need a fan and hopefully a man when you get to her sex scenes. She is one of the best romance writers ever! Her historicals are fact based because she does her research and puts the books she referenced in the the back! She's the best!

This is the first book I read by Beverly Jenkins and I must say I became an INSTANT fan! Ms. Jenkins knows her history and she writes about it in a way that makes the reader yearn to know more. Not only are her books historically sound, the characters leap off the page...I felt like I knew them personally. You can always tell a story is well written when you miss the characters after you have finished reading the book. I have read nearly all of her books (2 more to go), but THIS one is still the front runner...Beverly what would we do without YOU?

Oh, My Gosh...Better and Better...the woman has a gift and I have yet to be disappointed by her historical/romance novels. Once I start reading I can't put it down. Reading this novel I found myself LOL, crying and becoming outraged at the injustice our people had to endure.~~~~~~~Grace had all the characteristic I hope for in a heroine. She was smart, brave, independent and very out-spoken. Her character only improved as the story moved forward. Jackson was also everything a hero should be, handsome, smart, brave, proud and strong, yet very loving. The secondary characters only added more intrigue and interest to this amazing tale and I hope to read more about some of them in future novels.~~~~~~~The instant chemistry between Grace and Jackson was definitely very sensual. Their heated passion only grew HOTTER and more intense as the story progressed, which made for a great read.~~~~~~~Once again, Ms. Jenkins has painted an AMAZINGLY vivid and historically accurate picture of the time period. She has eloquently spun a very romantic love story as well as a much needed and very valuable history lesson. I will Always and Forever be a BIG fan!

Jackson Blake, the man in black, was sexy, strong, revenge seeking and putty in Grace Atwood's hands. Grace was sassy, strong, independent and the only woman for Jackson. However, it took a while for them to stop fighting their feelings and realize the effect that they had on each other.

"Always and Forever" is classic Beverly Jenkins, historically wonderful and told with passion and breathtaking love scenes. I can't say enough about her books. She is the queen of historical romances. Buy them, enjoy them!!

BOUND FOR CANAAN should be required reading for every American! Every American! This is one of the most important books about our history and who we are and where we came from.

Bound for Canaan is a fascinating, engaging, book on the "Underground RR" written from primary sources. It describes in vivid, first hand detail the flight of slaves from the south and the changing attitudes of the northern and southern states on the slave issue from the 1820's to the eve of the civil war. Wonderful book.

I listened to the abridged audio version on CD and thoroughly enjoyed it. Read by the author, it is in interesting study that contains a number of riveting stories.

I have two minor complaints about this audio version. One is that the author's voice sometimes drops into a range that can be inaudible if you are listening in a vehicle with traffic noise around you. The other is that maps are not included in the CD set. Fortunately my public library had a copy of the book so that I was able to examine the maps and various illustrations. The maps were of interest to me since a couple of my great-great-grandfathers supposedly sheltered escaped slaves, one near the Ohio River and another in Philadelphia.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and inspiring book that raises questions about civil disobedience that we must ponder in order to understand the complexity of our history. I wholeheartedly recommend the audio version to those who like audiobooks. It is as exciting as an adventure novel, and you can supplement it with a hardcopy if you want.

Harriet Tubman was a great lady, and she did not simply help the slaves to freedom -- she helped move America to a better place. Growing up, whenever I heard or read of the Underground Railroad, Ms. Tubman's name came up again and again. This book expands the vision of the Undergound Railroad and shows it as a part of something much bigger in our history.

First, the book does discuss the railroad and how it works. The reader gets an idea of the perils involved and the logistics behind helping a slave to freedom. This was no easy task, and this books shows the reader not just how brave the conductors were, but how brave the "passengers" were.

Second, the book discusses the fortitude and determination of the different people who tried to make America better by fighting the injustices of slavery. We learn of the battles of the press as well as the battle of the gun. This was a dark time in our history, and the author does a good job in illuminating us to the various people that tried to illuminate their time.

Lastly, the book explains what else happened. In school, we learned that the Underground Railroad helped slaves to freedom. That was about it. There is more to the story, and the author explains this to us. We also see that just getting to the North didn't make things better. There were still things that needed to happen to help the slaves create their new life.

In all, I would highly recommend reading this book. It brings a much more enlightened perspective to this part of American history.

I really enjoyed this book, which fleshes out for the first time, based on significant new research, the numerous heroes and participants who risked their lives for freedom from slavery. A few insights in the book were new to me:

1. I had no idea how crippling and discriminatory the laws were against blacks who lived in "free states." Most of the time they could not vote, own property, needed affidavits in order to move or get a job, were subject to kidnapping by freelance slave catchers -- it was pretty horrible.

2. I did not realize the critical role that radical, truth-to-power religion, in particular but not exclusively the Quakers, played in ending the evil practice of slavery. These folks risked financial ruin, stonings, beatings, and criminal charges to put in practice their moral view -- based on their faith -- that slavery in all forms must end. They deserve our thanks and praise, and we should remember them as we are faced with current moral conflicts that call out for action based on our beliefs.

3. I found especially interesting the debates in Congress in the 1850s in support of the federal Fugitive Slave Act, and the justifications used by supporters of slavery to denigrate the abolitionists. Indeed, Mr. Bordewich makes the point that even in "free" states, a measure of your worth as a politician was how "tough" you were on abolitionists, in the same sense that today politicians are expected to be "tough" on communism.

But what was interesting to me was that slave supporters like Daniel Webster justified the practice based on the Bible (cherry picking quotes that supposedly support the practice); science (blacks were intellectually inferior and like animals who require our feeding and care); inalienable property rights (the slaves were chattel and were necessary in order for owners to make productive use of their land); and also anti-Europe prejudice (the abolitionists are getting all of their crazy ideas from Europe). These concepts are still being used today to justify social policies that may in the distant future seem equally morally bankrupt.

I did think, however, the book could have used a little editing. I found it a bit difficult to keep up with so many historical figures, and perhaps some of their activities could have been trimmed in the interests of narrative flow.

But in all, a highly readable book and a substantial step forward in terms of historical scholarship.

A staggering book on the heroism of people who stood up for the rights of basic human dignity. This book should be required reading in every school in America.

This takes you through the civil rights movement. It is very interesting and proves to be an inspiring historical journey. This is a great audio book. The reader was exceptional.

The Children is David Halberstam's look at the college students who helped make the Civil Rights movement a success. The book is fascinating; Halberstam sweeps you along as events unfold. It is difficult to believe that things were so different just a few years ago. Even at 700+ pages, The Children is difficult to put down.

To me, the best part of The Children is its characters. Halberstam has a gift for making his characters come alive; you feel that you know these young people, warts and all. One of the most fascinating aspects of these biographies is what happened to the characters as the Civil Rights movement ended; some of them were quite successful, others could never find anything as fulfilling. (It is interesting to read Halberstam's take on James Bevel, given that Bevel has been convicted of incest since The Children's publication).

The dust jacket of The Children notes that it is Halberstam's "most personal" book. I think that this works for and against the book. Certainly, Halberstam has a great grasp on "what happened when" and he took the time to get to know each of the Civil Rights workers on a deep level. In other ways, Halberstam's passions work against him. Too often, Halberstam falls for the easy out of caricaturing people he does not like; he cavalierly characterizes Ralph David Abernathy, rival journalists, politicians, college professors, religious leaders, and numerous others as nothing more than one-dimensional simpletons.

Halberstam's opinionated prose reminded me of a review I once read; it stated that Halberstam's gift for narrative can obscure the fact that his approach isn't always 100% solid as history. Given that Halberstam states his opinions as established facts, I think that's a fair synopsis of The Children as well.

On the whole, however, The Children is quite an accomplishment. It tells the story of how a few seemingly-ordinary people helped create a more just society - and Halberstam tells that story in a way that entertains and fascinates the reader.

David Halberstam has written so many great works, but THE CHILDREN may be his greatest achievement. From the outset, this book takes readers on a journey through the civil rights movement through the eyes of both the courageous young people who had decided that our society had to change and the adults who helped them to bring this needed change to America. The book captures readers from the beginning as Halberstam gives a very intimate look at the fear Diane Nash experienced as one of the leaders of Nashville's sit-in movement. The first chapter gives readers a window through which to see the conflicting forces that collided in the heart and mind of Ms. Nash as she contemplated the enormity of what she was doing: changing the south against the wishes of many who, if they had their way, would just as soon hang her as look at her.

The chapters of this work flow so well, and the reader is introduced to so many who made the civil rights movement what it was: Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette, Jim Lawson, James Bevel, C.T. Vivian, etc. etc. etc. The book, a work of historical non-fiction reads almost like a novel. Readers are drawn in by the stories of these heroes, and their triumphs and tragedies take readers on a roller-coaster ride of emotion as they are thrust into this amazing struggle.

Halberstam tells a great story, but the story he tells in this book tops them all. I have read many, many books on the movement, and this is my favorite. I had the tremendous honor to meet John Lewis last summer, and as we talked about much of what he experienced during this period, he asked me "Have you read THE CHILDREN?" When I told them that I had, he commented about what a great book he thought it was and how Halberstam had perfectly captured, as much as possible, what that time was like for those of us who weren't there. John Lewis is a personal hero of mine, and I can think of no better praise for this book. On that note, I would also highly recommend Mr. Lewis' book WALKING WITH THE WIND for those who haven't read it and want another good civil rights title.

David Halberstam's publication "The Children" is an exciting overview of the Civil Rights Movement from an enamored journalist through the eyes of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. (SNCC) The author focuses on the major players such as Diane Nash, James Bevel, Jim Lewis, Curtis Murphy, Bernard Lafayette and James Lawson, with heavy emphasis on the Nashville Sit-In Movement and Freedom Rides. The strength of his work is that it reads much more like a fast paced novel than an academic analysis. He does however at the same time provide plenty of background material and socio-economic, political and cultural variables within his work. Halberstam also revisits these former SNCC workers after the "high" of the movement and even much later in life. It's quite obvious the work of a journalist within the pages.

This is a good overview of Civil Rights through the eyes of SNCC rather than a broader based examination of the movement. Halberstam's book is quite impressive, and what I admire is the length of information he was able to attain from the vast interviews he received, largely because he had already covered and had known many of the players as a journalist covering the Civil Rights Movement. If you are just starting out or have little knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement this book would be a good starting point. Journalists make great writers because they simply know how to tell a story. Well done!

"Good fences make good neighbors." That's what Cass's dad said when he found out a black family was moving in next door. Cass even helped him build the fence. But as the new neighbors moved in, Cass couldn't help but be curious. Watching through a peephole in the fence, Cass's blue eye found a brown eye staring back at her.

Cass asked Jemmie, "Do you like to run?"

Jemmie responded, "Run? Girl, I don't run, I fly. Can't nobody beat me."

The race was on. They both sneaked out of their homes the next morning to find out who was fastest, and instead found "Chocolate Milk."

This is the story of their friendship. It's also a story of crossing boundaries, change, and eventual acceptance. Theirs is a natural friendship, a friendship that's tried by the bigotry of Cass's dad, and the stubbornness of Jemmie's mother. It takes the misfortunes of a tiny baby for the parents to begin tearing down their mental fences.

Adrian Fogelin does a beautiful job of portraying tenuous relationships that exist among people trying to understand cultures different from their own, The girls are sweet and fun; their dialogue is well-written, immersing the reader in the long, hot, dog days of summer in Tallahassee, Florida.

CROSSING JORDAN leaves the reader with hope for future generations, that they will be inspired to appreciate each other, just as Cass and Jemmie were inspired to call themselves Chocolate Milk. This is the first book of Adrian Fogelin's that I've read, and I'm sure I'll be looking for more of her titles.

Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger

Crossing Jordan is one of the best Young Adult books ever written. A great lesson in race relations, an admission of being wrong, making amends and building an enduring friendship. It also teaches that friendship is more important than winning. The two girls are compared to chocolate milk, one black, one white that blend together to make a special flavor of friendship.
Adrian writes from the experiences of her neighborhood and the children that populate it. Every adult should read it too. In fact, I recommend it to adults,you will understand your child better. It's a five star rating with five more as bonuses. Once you read Crossing Jordan, you'll be hooked. Adrian Fogelin has a special talent that everyone should experience.
Ronald G. Miller, Amelia Island, Fl.

I enjoyed this book because it was adventurous. This book was about two girls who are of different races and are neighbors. The girls, Cass and Jemmie, eventually become friends in secret. Both of their parents find out about their friendship and disapprove.

Near the end of the book the girls run a race together for Sicle Cell Anemia. They are " Chocolate Milk" ,a team. At the end of the race Jemmie falls. Cass tries to help her but Jemmie says go on. But Cass doesn't. She says we are a team Chocolate Milk and they finish the race together. Everyone cheered them on as they crossed the finish line.

At the end of the book the girls had accomplished running a race, reading a long book called Jane Erye, and brought their familes together for a delicious dinner.

I enjoyed Crossing Jordan immensely. This book is about how two neighbor girls, who are of different races become friends. Both girls, Cass and Jemmie, have disapproving parents, who interfere with their friendship, but they communicate in secret. By the end of the book, the girls have run a race, read Jane Eyre and have brought their families so close that they have a potluck supper.

My favorite part of this book was when Jemmie falls in the race right before the finish line. Instead of coming in first place, Cass helps Jemmie limp across the line and they tie it in last, because they are a team, called "Chocolate Milk". I like to think of them equal in race, and finishing the race equally. They didn't win, but they each won by the other's standards. They also end up on the front page of the newspaper.

I would recommend this book to people all ages, because it has a message that that is never too late to be learned. In addition it has many historical references and generally makes a good read for anyone, especially girls.

Crossing Jordan is a book that will make it cry. It shows you that it doesn't matter how you look, anyone can be your friend. To all the people who dislike people who aren't your skin color, read Crossing Jordan and I know you'll change your mind. -Kayla Parker (11) Tallahassee, FL

First, Jonathan Eig is a tremendous writer! He does have a tendency to detour along tangential lines, but that adds to the richness and backdrop of the drama that was experienced by Jackie Robinson. Eig transforms history into humanity with cameo appearances by icons such as Babe Ruth, Malcolm X, and Sidney Poitier. I felt the sense of pride that African Americans of mid 20th century America must have felt. It bolstered the idea of "Only in America". This was a civil rights story before Till, Brown v. Board.., Parks, and King. I hurt with Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, and a litany of other Negro Leagues stars born "out of season". I smelled the hot dogs of Ebbets Field. I met and loved Branch Rickey. I watched Pee Wee Reese, Eddie Stanky, and Dixie Walker and many others mature. I adored Jackie Robinson for his talent and demeanor. All courtesy of Jonathan Eig, who BROUGHT IT!

Jonathan Eig is developing an expertise at rehabilitating hackneyed young-adult biography heroes. First with Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and now with "Opening Day", Eig takes a baseball player whose legend has become tarnished by excessive praise, and retells the story from its original context, restoring a sense of wonder.

The story of Jackie Robinson has with time become a story about the heroism of Jackie's white teammates. History now tells us that they bravely accepted and embraced him, over society's disapproval at the ending of baseball's color line. At least, that's how Eig first approaches and then rewrites the tale. In "Opening Day", the spotlight rightly shifts back to onto Jackie himself, as well as to his wife Rachel, the rock at the center of his life. We hear from Jackie himself via contemporary interviews and from his assigned beat-writer from the black press.

The discussion of Jackie's acceptance among his teammates is limited to how they did not in fact accept Jackie as one of them: Eig fails to uncover any evidence that the rest of the Dodgers tried to socialize with or befriend Jackie in any meaningful way once they stepped off the field.

Branch Rickey, who gets rightful credit as the man who integrated baseball, is also shown as the shrewd businessman he is, in both the good and bad sense. Rickey was the executive who refused to trade one of Jackie's most vocal teammate critics, realizing that his pennant hopes resided in that man's bat. He further refused to give Jackie a significant raise for 1948 even though Jackie's presence generated value in publicity and gate that far exceeded his meager rookie paycheck.

Most compellingly, Eig retells the story of the 1947 season month by month, primarily through contemporaneous newspaper accounts. We see the variable way Jackie was treated by the press, and whose agenda affected which stories. A national publication tried to anoint Spider Jorgensen, a strictly league-average third baseman, as the league's top rookie, in a veiled slap at Jackie's aggressive Negro League style of play. We also learn things not commonly told: we know, for example, that Larry Doby was the second black baseball player in 1947, but Eig goes further and tells us who came third and fourth (a cynical move by the St. Louis Browns), and which white owners opposed integration in the disingenuous name of preserving the Negro Leagues.

"Opening Day" could stand to go farther and tell a bigger story. Jackie's post-1947 career and personal life is shunted into a brief epilogue that hints at a possible second book of equal depth. Of course, the space within "Opening Day" is well used: the three chapters devoted to the 1947 World Series are well researched and lively told. Even in a book about Jackie Robinson, the other unlikely heroes and goats of that series (Bill Bevens, Cookie Lavagetto, Al Gionfriddo) still deserve their space.

A complex, nuanced portrait of Jackie Robinson, told with stunning detail and insight into the first black man to play major league baseball in the 20th century. As an historical account, this book goes beyond myth and revisionist morality to create what feels like a genuine account of a complicated man in a complicated place. As a baseball book, it is wonderfully expansive on an important era with lots of legendary players. As a literary work, it is a top-notch narrative told in an elegant, rhythmic cadence. It also gets high marks for journalistic technique and style. If all writers of sport possessed Jon's rare combination of gifts, the genre would be a lot richer.

This is the second book that I have read from author Jonathan Eig. The first, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, was such a great retelling of the life of the Iron Horse, that my expectations when picking up Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season were quite high.

Opening Day is the story of Jackie Robinson's first year in the majors, and the challenges he faced when he became the first black American to play Major League Baseball. Any true fan of baseball knows the story of Jackie Robinson, his importance to the game and the lasting impact he has had on the United States. But, Eig manages to provide a fresh look at this historical year, focusing not only on the challenges and bigotry that haunted Robinson, but also on the lives that he touched in 1947 and for years to come.

One of the more intriguing stories from the book was that of Jackie's teammate Dixie Walker. When Robinson's Dodger teammates were informed that he was coming up from the Montreal Royals to play with the team, Walker wrote the team's general manager, Branch Rickey, asking for a trade. There were also rumors that he led an effort by the Dodger players to get Jackie off the team. Dixie always denied the accusation, but nonetheless, he was basically a self-proclaimed bigot - worried about what his family and friends in Alabama would do if he played alongside a black man.

Like authors before him, Eig could have easily cast Dixie as the villain of the story. But instead, he details how playing with Jackie helped Walker evolve into a better man. Within time, Walker started to respect Jackie for his toughness and determination. He started giving Jackie pointers on how to improve his game, and later in 1947, he stood up for him (along with all of Jackie's other teammates) when opposing teams would hurl racial epithets at Jackie. Robinson made Walker start to question his views on minorities and Walker came to realize what he learned about blacks while he was growing up was wrong. After that, Walker played with, coached and managed black players throughout the rest of his career, and later said Jackie was "as outstanding an athlete as I ever saw."

This is just one example of the impact that Jackie had on the lives of others. Stories are sprinkled throughout the book about the significant impression he left on his teammates, other players in the league, broadcasters, league executives - and most importantly, the next generation of black Americans who would continue the struggle for equality in America.

Opening Day, definitely lived up to my expectations and surpassed them, and I highly recommend it for any fan of baseball and/or American history - and to anyone who is interested in understanding the important role Jackie Robinson played in the evolution of the United States.

Eig's extensive research and thoughtful treatment of Jackie Robinson does not vary or question the general truth of his legend: Robinson played the game well under tremendous pressure with little or no support and demonstrated in the process the skill and courage that entitled blacks to equal opportunity. But Eig does add some new perspectives that make the legend far more interesting.

First is the general unpleasantness of Robinson. He's like Pete Rose in his burning desire to win at all costs and would rub some people the wrong way regardless of his color.

Second and perhaps most important is Eig's ability to introduce more subtlety into the story. Eig destroys the legend of Pee Wee Reese publicly encouraging Robinson on the field in the face of racial abuse. That did not happen, at least not in 1947. Robinson is utterly alone in 1947 and has to prove himself to his teammates. Branca is the only guy to make a point of shaking his hand when he first appears, which adds to Branca's own legend as a man of character, but even Branca essentially ignores him for much of the season. Some of this is racial, of course. But some of it is the culture of baseball: a rookie must prove himself.

Robinson's ability to peform in these circumstances, under the most tremendous pressure possible, adds to his legend and makes his 1947 season perhaps the most admirable of all seasons. Eig is also good at introducing subtlety into the legends surrounding Robinson's oppressors. There is some rumbling on the team, but that quickly dissipates. Most interesting is the role of star player Dixie Walker. Walker felt compelled by his southern roots, and by his desire not to have his business punished in the south, to make a point of objecting and asking for a trade. But thereafter, he drops the protest. The problem for Robinson was not simply the obvious bigotry, but his freeze-out by the rest of his team until he could prove himself under the most trying of circumstances. Walker may have given Robinson a few batting tips and may have dropped his trade demands, but neither he nor anyone else took Robinson under his wing. Even in baseball's demanding culture of ritualized abuse of rookies, a rookie will eventually be taken under someone's wing. Robinson did not have that benefit.

The protests of other teams has also been exaggerated. It appears that there were some murmuring on the Cardinals to try to boycott Dodger games, but that fizzled before it started. The Phillies were grossly racist in their bench jockeying, but backed off early in the season. The Yankees in the 1947 World Series had a few nasty bench jockeys.

What emerges from all this is the pain of the gross racism aggravated by the agonizing loneliness of Robinson as he has to endure everything and prove himself. Eig convincingly shows that by the end of 1947, Robinson succeeded in proving himself and was the MVP of this team. Only then was he accepted by Pee Wee Reese, the team's captain.

All of which demonstrates Branch Rickey's wisdom in choosing Robinson as the man to break the color barrier. Robinson had mental toughness and competitive fire. The rap on black athletes was that they were not mentally tough, and Robinson was exactly the right guy to disprove that myth. Choosing a more passive personality would not have made the point, and choosing a less disciplined soul who would have got into physical fights in 1947 would not have worked either. But it is interesting to learn how Robinson sometimes crossed the line (such as spiking Rizzuto in the 1947 Series) and how close Robinson came to losing it.

Robinson emerges as a complex and truly great man in this narrative. This is an excellent book that I highly recommend.

Patty Pinner, author of the recent Sweety Sweety Pies: An Uncommon Collection of Womanish Observations, with Pie, revisits the sweet desserts of her childhood in her first book Sweets, along with memories of growing up in Saginaw and of her family from Mississippi. The book is graced with vintage black-and-white snapshots of the author and her family (she has the most captivating, confident smile as a little girl) that illustrate the many down-home, Southern soul food staples: puddings, cobblers, pies, rich cakes, homemade candy, cookies, and ice cream. But the stories nearly upstage the desserts: tales of fanatically clean relatives, childhood birthday parties, the mysterious lives of grownups, and the lives of various family members intertwine with the comforting desserts of a Southern legacy (pecans, molasses, coconut and brown sugar all have starring roles).

Some of the more unusual offerings include a Dr. Pepper cake (there's Dr. Pepper in both the cake and the frosting; it adds moistness, similar to a Coca-Cola cake), a sweet potato cheesecake, a lemon rum cake, and recipes born from thrift, such as butter bean pie, mashed potato and bean fudges, and little of nothing pie (milk, sugar, flour, vanilla, butter and cinnamon).

The ingredients are items that are probably sitting in your pantry or cabinets right now, so there's no reason not to give some of these wonderful heirloom recipes a try; why not sample some old-fashioned walnut-raisin pie, black walnut brittle, old-fashioned sweet potato pone, or a slice of walnut wonder cake? If you like homemade candy, there are many recipes for nut brittles (black walnut, cashew, peanut), peanut butter candy, and pralines. Ditto on homemade ice cream: you'll find soothing favorites such as banana, an intense lemon, peach, strawberry, and vanilla ice creams, along with some tantalizing sauces (rum sauce, caramel wine syrup).

Honestly, even if you never try a single recipe, this is a beautiful tribute to family, soul food, and a snapshot of Saginaw in the 1950s-60s. Pinner's writing style is engaging and friendly, and you'll find yourself happily crowded around her family's dinner table swapping gossip with her various female relatives as you try to decide which dessert to sample first.

This book is filled with nostalgic black and white vintage photos of her family which will remind you of your own family back in the good 'ol days...don't miss out on the Pineapple Upside Down Cake baked in an iron black skillet, oh my!!!

Foolproof recipes with entertaining family stories. Every recipe I've tried has turned out perfectly (with the exception of the slow-cooked caramel icing) so this is my new Dessert Bible!

This book has alot going for it! Not only does it contain the author's charming vignettes of her family history, it also has the best recipes in the country! It's a great book on different levels -- fun to look at, fun to read, and fun to create delectable memories with our own families! A+++++

Patty Pinner's childhood comes to life through her stories & recipes, and her "womanly" advice adds charm to her cakes and pies. I have to admit, this is the only cookbook that has found it's place on my bedside table because of the great stories and old family photographs.

This is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Next to the Bible it has had a positive effect on me and I share its positive message with everyone.

I speak to groups and this is on my suggested reading list.

A must read.

I am not one who writes or talks much but I have to share with those who I meet.

Think and Grow Rich continues to be a book I would suggest that everyone keep in their library and read at least once a year.

An excellent read for anyone who desired to have it all and wants to truly know how to go about accomplishing that very goal step by step.

Preparation is definitely the key!

It becomes important that we know about the rules that will ultimately determine our success. Not just to know their meanings and what they do, but to make these principles a part of us - a habit that will lead us to do the right thing automatically, regardless of the circumstances. As Kimbro said, "it is our job as Black Americans to disentangle the myths, misconceptions, and half - truths that clouds the judgments of our society".
All, regardless of race or class or economic status, are entitled to a fair chance and to the tools for developing their individual powers of mind and spirit to the utmost. This promise means that all children by virtue of their own efforts, competently guided, can hope to attain the mature and informed judgment needed to secure gainful employment, and to manage their own lives, thereby serving not only their own interests but also the progress of society itself. Also noted by Kimbro, "Blacks as a whole have moved from a position of utter destitution - in terms of wealth, education, and human rights - to a place alongside their ethnic counterparts".

Black males, particularly, have edged precariously close to becoming an endangered species. There are more Black males in prison and correctional facilities than on college campuses. Functional illiteracy among minority youth may run as high as 40 percent.

The search for solutions to our educational problems must also include a commitment to life-long learning. Learning is the indispensable investment required for success but without life-long learning, one's skills will become rapidly dated.

This would also reverse the current declining trend--a trend that stems more from weakness of purpose, confusion of vision, under use of talent, and lack of leadership, than from conditions beyond our control. We as Black Americans need to realize that we do not simply exist, we need to always realize what our life will be, and what we will become in the next moment.



I took liberty to expand upon the following:

THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION (During Reagan era, still suitable today):

The report called for greater federal support of education and included the claim that the nation was threatened by "a rising tide of mediocrity". A Nation at Risk is a reform based on the development of standards-based curricula. The focus is on outcomes of education in relation to standards of achievement, the idea being that student achievement and instructional programs were likely to improve.

One of the most quoted portions of this report came from the introduction just after the "Rising Tide" remark. It said: "If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war. As it stands, we have allowed this to happen to ourselves. We have even squandered the gains in student achievement made in the wake of the Sputnik challenge. Moreover, we have dismantled essential support systems, which helped make those gains possible. We have, in effect, been committing an act of unthinking, unilateral educational disarmament".

The following five recommendations were made by the report:

Content
Recommended that the graduation requirements for all students be raised to include 4 years of English, 3 years of mathematics, 3 years of science, 3 years of social studies, 1 semester of computer science, and for college bound students 2 years of foreign language.

Standards and Expectations
Schools should expect better academic performance and behavior from students and universities should strengthen admissions requirements.

Time
More time should be spent on the new required courses by being more efficient and by lengthening the school day and year.

Teaching
A series of recommendations that focused around teachers being better prepared.

Leadership and Fiscal Support
A call to citizens to hold educational leaders responsible be willing to provide the fiscal resources needed to implement the outlined reforms.




Using available statistics, Black America continue to take for granted the enormous and victorious battles won by the Civil Rights movement. "If there is one thing that we have won and accomplished, it is our moral right to exist".


Racism and discrimination should never be an excuse for your lack of development, but real creative ability-ability to live largely in a world based on ones own inner resources, finding one's true self, overcoming ignorance, and always remaining receptive and teachable should be never ending endeavors.

Slavery in America has left a scar on the Black family structure where as slave master would separate parents from children, husband and wife from each other is still visible today with children being born into single parent households or children being separated from parents. This cycle has not ceased but instead has taken new forms.

Kimbro's writing style is multi- dimensional and stimulating to the imagination. It spirals you into the seams of the book. In the section dealing with the " Law of Compensation" there are many lessons to be learned by all ethnicities.

Black people have to take the opportunity and the responsibility by portraying themselves differently. As Kimbro mentioned, your thoughts are the steering mechanism of your life. "Faith only enters the mind that has been properly prepared for it. Although I must add, your heart and your guts usually have a say so with what you think or decide too.

Quoting Thurgood Marshall, " Blacks must earn their way to higher achievement". In other words, through perseverance, hardwork and desire.

As John H. Johnson stated, "Black people have the power to make it in this society".

As George Washington Carver stated, "We must rid ourselves of the idea that there's a short - cut to achievement".

Black America has to realize that whatever God has allowed to be taken away from it temporarily he has suredly replaced it with something far greater. A glance at history will confirm that. Although many individual Black Americans in this society continue to adorn themselves with the albatross of ignorance around their neck. Black people need to reconstruct the perspective lens of White America.

Although I thought, Kimbro did not use fair judgment by not choosing Reginald Lewis (TLC Beatrice) as a role model in his book due to Lewis's butting heads with John Johnson of Johnson Publications. In my judgment, if Kimbro knew about this spat he should have left Johnson out of the book.

Although this book is directed at the African-American community, the principles found within are color blind. Dr. Kimbro creates a step-by-step approach for achieving success. There is enough in the book that merit's a periodical re-read.

Great book. I would recommend this book to anyone who want to be successful in their respective field.

Whispered Promises is absolutely wonderful. We must keep the faith. Broken relationships can be mended when we listed to our heart.

It does not matter if you are male or female as long as you are a Madaris, there will great adventures and a powerful love that lasts through the test of time.Brenda Jackson rocks again with the Madaris series.

WHEN I READ THAT DEX WAS DIVORCED I KNEW THAT MS. JACKSON WOULD HAVE THEM TOGETHER AGAIN. HER FATHER JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE BY HIMSELF OR SOMETHING. HE KNEW THAT THEY STILL LOVED EACH OTHER BUT HE JUST COULDN'T SEE HER LEAVING HIM. THIS IS A GOOD STORY TO READ ON A QUIET AFTERNOON, WHILE SPENDING SOME QUIET TIME FOR YOURSELF

this wasnt the best BJ (Brenda Jackson) book but it was still good! And adds to the series of family love! She is my favorite author!!

I fell in love with the Madaris Family after reading the first novel that was about Clayton and Syneda, that is still my favorite story but I started buying all of the Madaris family stories. I loved the Justin and Lorren story a lot as well. However as fascinating as the Dex and Caitlin story starts off it doesn't really keep my interest the same way towards the end. I was a little disappointed by the ending because I was expecting more drama or anything but it is still a book worth reading. So far it is my least favorite of the Madaris collection.