This book tells the story of Assata Shakur formely known as Joann Byron. She is a revolutionay African'-American woman who fought with the Black Panther Party in the 1970's against systemic,enviormental,institutional,structual and indivisual racism. Shakur vulnerably takes her readers on a emotinal yet thought proviking ride about her life; starting with her childhood in New York and North Carolina leading into her becoming FBI's Most Wanted. Shakur's amazing story telling , sharp words, fearless nature and passion to fight for what's right makes this book a page turner.
Beloved: Beloved is a symbol for the 60 million + Africans who were lost in slavery who's stories and names we will never know.
Stillness Speaks is one of the most powerful books i've ever read. its a very fast read only about 87 pages and each page packs a punch. The pages are not even filled with words just thought provoking statements that brings readers calmness. If you are a person who happens to be interested in mindfullness this is a great start.
Claudia is so excited to see her best friend Monday after returning home from summer break. Her and Monday have been inseparable since they were kids. However, when Claudia returns home and she doesn't receive a call from Monday and Monday doesn't show up to school on the first day, Claudia begins to worry. To make things even more weird Claudia keeps finding these encrypted messages left by Monday. Where is Monday? and why hasn't anyone else noticed she's missing? This book tells the story of a beautiful friendship between two young girls and the profound story of loss and confusion .
This book feels like a stream of Maya Angelou's subconscious. She tells stories about people , events and traumatic experiences that ultimately formed her into who she is. Angelou's fiery personality and ability to be honest and vulnerable makes this book a very fast read. Through out this entire book I felt as though i was reading Maya Angelou's journal with how free and raw this book was written.
This is an allegorical novel that tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who travels toward the pyramids of Egypt. Santiago has this reoccurring dream that shows him treasure that is located at the pyramids. Along his journey he faces many temptations, difficulties and suffering. This book speaks on how powerful manifestation is.
The Sweetness of Water takes place after the civil war, during the reconstruction period of southern states. Prentiss and Landry are former slaves who were recently freed by the emancipation proclamation. When they find themselves in the Georgia woods trying to trap their next meal they run into George Walker a local who is emotionally numb and having marital issues. George decides to hire the two brothers to farm his lands in hopes of growing a peanut farm. However, the locals do not approve of George's decisions to hire two black men to farm his lands. Sweetness of water tells a story of humanity and humility .
Conjure women tells the story of Rue a young girl born into slavery to a conjure woman Miss May Belle. Since Rue's birth she has faced many challenges, heartbreak, despair and adversity. She is determined to make a life worth living not just based on survival. This type of change requires a lot of conjuring, sometimes a bit too much conjuring. I recommend this book to someone who enjoys a great historical fiction page turner.
Ford vulnerably takes readers on a emotional journey though her turbulent childhood. She explains the relationship dynamics she had with her abusive and confusing mother, incarcerated father and emotionally unavailable but wise grandmother. My favorite thing about this book is Ford's ability to transport readers back to their time of early adolescents, with her vivid memory and her constant attention on the development of child curiosity.
