Anonymous

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past”. William Faulkner

Reviewed: 06-01-22

"Your body is only a vessel. Your essence is inviolate. It is only when you give up your soul that you are lost." A Woman of Endurance.

A Woman of Endurance ~ A Novel ~ by Dahlma LLanos-Figueroa is a testament to the Enslaved African Puerto Rican Ancestors. Dahlma is an obinrin itan in her own right. This book is the second in a non-sequential series. A very intriguing and well-researched story depicting the lives of enslaved women during the 19th century on 1836-1850 Haciendas across Puerto Rico. Dahlma's first book, The Daughters of the Stone introduced us to one of the minor characters that now has a major role in A Woman of Endurance. This is a historical fictional story of an enslaved community that exuded resilience and survival. They became family and supported each other in many ways. Told from a predominantly female narrative, these women were ultimately the backbone of the Haciendas, holding on tightly to their native culture and history. I kept hearing, ‘they can take all that they can from you but, can’t take away what’s in your heart’. Significantly, paramount, giving life, eloquently transcending place and time blurring the distinction between fiction and non-fiction resonates throughout this story.
Pola, born Keera of the Yoruba tribe in West Africa was kidnapped and brought to Puerto Rico via the Transatlantic Enslavement Trade. Keera like so many others before and after her would be stripped of her true identity, forced to become something else; a breeding mare to produce other Beautiful Black Lives that would be nothing more than a commodity to the Plantation owners. "!Apunta tu` ahi`! La negra Pola, now the property of Don Sicayo Duchesne, master of Hacienda Paraiso. Next!’. Keera had a gift of knowing through the sense of touch. 'Her sense of touch made her much more vulnerable than her body.' This would be a blessing and a curse. Pola's horrific journey made her weary with pain and grief, but it would not be her demise. Loss gave birth to relinquishing grief to embrace love and acceptance.
The cover art is of a beautiful woman looking at a well-known piece of art of an enslaved man exhibiting the brutality he endured. The brutality is also a part of the design on the dress or can be an outline of the scars under the dress. These are scars, deep wounds caused by a cancer better known as slavery. Throughout the story, Keera (Pola) would encounter various types of cancers (human, mental, emotional & physical) that left scars and unassailable grief. “Only by releasing the pain will you keep it from killing you.” Thera are several profound statements throughout the book that grabbed me and had me reflecting on life.
A Woman of Endurance is nothing less than a masterpiece that will provoke the reader’s sensory stimuli, giving a broader representation of the reality of enslaved lives. This varied cast of complex characters will take you on their lives journey experiencing deep sorrow and joy. Truly a captivating story, filled with meaning that denotes what a classic would be. I definitely must commend the narrator, Tracy Lay for doing an outstanding job with the audio version of this book. If you have not read / listened to this book yet, consider it a must read and rush to get it.
There is a South African word "Sankofa" meaning "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today. Reading Woman of Endurance is reminiscent of Sankofa.

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past”. William Faulkner

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a treasure trove of essays and poems.

Reviewed: 04-04-22

"Write with your eyes like painters, with your ears like musicians, with your feet like dancers. You are the truthsayer with quill and torch. Write with your tongues of fire." - Gloria Anzaldua

Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a treasure trove of essays and poems. 15 voices from the Latinx diaspora collaborated and tied their distinct identities into each essay. Debut authors alongside literary canons share their personal stories, perspectives, historical facts and issues within a very diverse Latinx culture. Well-crafted overarching themes that will undoubtedly educate those who dare to question one's gender, race and ethnic inclusion, all the while dismantling stereotypes, capturing the beauty and diversity of the Latinx diaspora. Each essay proves the importance of storytelling in sharing familial and cultural history in an effort to educate the younger generation, dismantle stereotypes and build community. This book is even more exceptional in that it will be used in schools allowing Afro Latinx and Latinidads to claim space, be included and see themselves within these pages.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.

Reviewed: 03-15-22

At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! had I the ability, and could reach the nation's ear, I would today, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.
-Frederick Douglass (1852)

On January 12th, 2010, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale unleashed its wrath on Haiti. The devastation is insurmountable - a scene of indescribable life-altering trauma and disaster. Myriam J. A. Chancy author of What Storm What Thunder skillfully crafted a fictional novel with beautiful prose and rich themes depicting beauty within a disaster. Each theme honing on life-altering issues which included well-researched interjections of historical facts throughout the novel; all tied in effectively with current events. With clear and concise prose, the author navigates deftly through a complex narrative of Biblical, spiritual beliefs, scientific evidence, symbolism and so much more to shed light on something akin to Armageddon. The earthquake, often referred to as Douz, was told through the life experiences of ten main characters - all integral to the flow of the story. Ms. Chancy gave credence to the story as she allowed the characters to share their life experiences pre, intra, and post-earthquake, in Haiti and abroad.

"If you don't speak for the dead, who will?" - Concussion (2015) This novel was successful in eulogizing the estimated 300,000 individuals who succumbed to the devastation of the earthquake.

"And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great." Revelation 16: 21

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Malawian proverb - When you educate a girl, you educate a nation.

Reviewed: 02-26-22

Malawian proverb - When you educate a girl, you educate a nation.

"U-bun-tu (Ooo-Boon-too) is what connects us as human beings here in Goromonzi, but also everywhere in the world." Gogo

"Ubuntu is the essence of who we are as Africans, a lesson we learned from our ancestors, who understood that we are all part of one human family. We need each other, and we are responsible for each other." "Ubuntu means: I am because we are, and because we are, you are." Gogo

Elizabeth Nyamayaro penned a beautiful memoir that is exemplary of determination and resilience. Each chapter starts with very profound African proverbs. I admire how they appreciated love, life, the land, God, and each other. You can feel the passion in her writing. Lizzy shares with us her journey toward fulfilling her dream that she is deeply passionate about. Lizzy's journey began in a small village in Goromonzi, Africa, and crossed several continents. Prayer is central to everything Elizabeth does. Two of the driving themes throughout the book are kindness and always seeking new opportunities to better oneself and uplift others. In addition to unwavering family support and being continuously guided by her ancestors, Lizzy pulls strength from her ancestors in the spirit of Ubuntu and Shinga to fulfill her dreams. She was and continues to be successful in motivating others and building community interest to improve health conditions and women's role in the community. Lizzy dreamed of becoming like the girl in the blue dress that saved her life. After many setbacks, Lizzy ultimately exceeds her expectations beyond her wildest dreams. While serving as a senior advisor at the United Nations, she launched HeForShe, one of the world's largest global solidarity movements for gender equality. "As Africans, we must uplift each other." Elizabeth Nyamayaro. I Am A Girl From Africa made me think about how underlying social and cultural norms differ globally. The author educates us about how these differences affect women's roles in communities. Behavior influences health, but culture influences behavior, she so rightly stated.

"Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve." Trinidad and Tobago Motto

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

What’s your kryptonite?

Reviewed: 01-29-22

Vulnerability will unlock everything that has been denied you. If you can be emotionally open and transparent with yourself and others - you will have everything you have ever dreamed of."
Gabrielle Union's Shaman

Gabrielle Union introduced herself to us unapologetically when she penned her first book, We're Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True. Now she shows up veraciously, embracing her kryptonite with, "You Got Anything Stronger?" In between these pages, Gabrielle Union did more than be vulnerable. This book dropped nuggets from birth to aging. The importance of embracing your truth and being loved and accepted for it. She was transparent and in doing so was able to uplift others and opens difficult conversations that are necessary. Although a quick read, her book is packed with important and sensitive issues to Black Lives. Her journey into motherhood via surrogacy and step parenting filled with love and patience, stood strong against public ridicule. She openly discusses her traumatic experience with sexual assault and how that can continue to loom over your heart and mind throughout life. I absolutely loved the sisterhood within the entertainment industry that maintained their stance against knowing their worth in a misogynist society. Gabrielle takes racism by the horns and quotes Ida B. Wells, "The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them." There were racist experiences throughout her journey into motherhood, parenting, rape, traveling and in her acting career. I admire her boldness to be vulnerable and resilient through it all.
There is no healing in hiding. In both her books, I believe transparency helped her and most definitely can help others heal and feel a sense of freedom as they live authentically.

"We are superheroes because we bleed. We are great because we feel and we tell the truth, and in so doing we create community."
"We got this." Gabrielle Union.

What's your kryptonite?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Love, forgiveness and healing.

Reviewed: 08-22-21

“Although the wind blows terribly here, the moonlight also leaks between the roof planks of this ruined house."
Izumi Shikibu

Ashley penned a transparent story that encapsulated love, belonging, forgiveness, resentment, poverty, incarceration, mental health, generational trauma, and abuse. Through the lens of her earliest memories of her childhood, she recalls her very volatile relationship with her mother and other friends/family members. Although there were memories she did not want to keep Ashley bravely reckoned with puberty and stolen innocence. Her mother was abusive and emotionally unavailable. Her father was unavailable due to his incarceration. Given her fathers' circumstances, the only way her father showed her love was through his letters. Throughout the story, Ashley exhibited a spirit of resilience. She unapologetically owned her truth and ultimately was able to salvage a familial bond. We spend so much time harboring resentment and unforgiveness, which only perpetuates the issues. It's either a tragic situation or in death that regrets consume us. But, forgiveness is a struggle for most of us. Ashley belonged to somebody. She is Somebody's Daughter.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

This book is unputdownable!!

Reviewed: 07-29-21

"In life you get to choose your choices, but you don't get to choose your consequences."

This quote is thought provoking and makes for a great conversation.

This book is unputdownable!! An all too familiar story of a young Black man trying to Become.
The author narrated his book on Audible and need I tell you, I was besides myself listening to Marlon speak to me, personally telling me his story and me responding with my thoughts. Marlon told a profound and transparent story. He shared his deepest feelings, his journey into becoming a man and struggles throughout his formidable years with masculinity and gaining respect. He showed just how volatile it is for a young Black boy going to school and just trying to find agency within himself and his community. I walked the streets of Brooklyn and the school hallways with him. I laughed, cried and felt his pain. Marlon gave a first hand account of the school to prison pipeline system. Included in this must read text are historical and statistical data regarding the prison system. One of the many things I found really interesting was his explanation of how digitized incarceration has always been. He spat the truth in Un-American and Free. "Not every country was created by war and the written oppression of most of its citizens; not every country in the world gained its wealth through the brazen brutality of slavery, war, colonialism, and dogged capitalism." I admired Marlon's tenacious and positive attitude toward success during his incarceration. Determined to be successful, Marlon would do just what he knew to do, 'Move On' and accomplish many great achievements.
Marlon left me wondering about my own dash. What could someone experience in their own life that would allow them to purposely hurt another?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

In America, Motherhood = White.

Reviewed: 06-20-21

In America, Motherhood = White.

"I spent a long time looking for representation in parenting, and this book is in your hands because one woman seeking to be a mother was looking for answers. I thought information for mothers would be race-neutral but it wasn't. Coming up empty-handed in my search for information about Black mothers forced me to reconcile how other single, non-rich, Black women achieved motherhood."

Nefertiti shared with us her experiences filled with challenges growing up that no doubt impacted her decision on how she would choose to become a parent. She discussed a few key factors that contribute to the cloudy lens through which Black Motherhood is viewed.

Very insightful, taking the reader along on her journey, giving first hand accounts of the adoption process or should I say, the Black experience into becoming a mother, the myths and misperceptions that surrounds it. Nefertiti does a great job at deconstructing this bias in her memoir:hoping to erase the stereotypes of this very uneven playing field within Black Motherhood.

The author would also include historical and evidenced based facts related to the separation of the enslaved Black families that continue to plague the cohesiveness of Black families to this day.

Her memoir is her passionate journey to achieving a forever family via adoption, where she selflessly contributed to the very sparse genre of books that weren't readily available to Black mothers seeking to adopt.

I leave you with this question...
What are some of the ways you can continue to break down barriers, deconstruct biases and demystify false notions regarding Black Motherhood?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Litfantabulous

Reviewed: 05-15-21

Once, when I was a very little girl in a bubble bath, I asked my father why I had a belly button. He was sitting on the toilet lid reading while I splashed. He peered at me over the top of his book. “So you know where your center is,” he said. “Why do I need to know where my center is?” I asked. “So you don’t lose your balance,” he said. “Your center is where all the different parts of who you are come together. It used to connect you to your mother and to the beginning of human history in Africa.”
From Aftershocks.

A story filled with love, longing to belong, identity, loss, displacement, fear, violence, death, disease, abandonment, mental health issues, feminism, sexuality and gender identity. All of this, dislocated her mind and body.

Nadia eloquently shared with us her literary memoir that explores the complexities of family, the meaning of home and the multiplicity of her identity. It exposes how multiple generational and personal trauma, just like an earthquake can cause aftershocks throughout your life. Skillfully embedded in the story is the rich African / Armenian cultural history of her heritage, political unrest in those regions and a bit about the study of epigenetic inheritance.

Her life existing on fault lines created her personal shaking. Her measurement of personal disaster was gauged by her internal seismometer. Her seismometer was triggered by several traumatic experiences throughout her life. Nadia connected the scientific meaning of aftershocks to her personal traumas and incidents leading to it.

Nadia's journey into finding peace and home will start in a blue chair.
"Let me show you my home. It is a border. It is the outer edge of both sides. It is where they drew the line. They drew the line right through me. I would like to file a territorial dispute. Let me show you my home. It is a live fault. The fault is in my body. Let me show you my home. It is a blue chair. I sought asylum here. I marked my application temporary. For myself, I am writing reconstruction, not elegy. Look into my eyes. See my glowing skin. My pores are open. I am made of the earth, flesh, ocean, blood, and bone of all the places I tried to belong to and all the people I long for. I am pieces. I am whole. I am home."

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

Why can’t we have nice things?

Reviewed: 05-14-21

Beautifully written this timely piece. The Sum Of Us is a mandatory read for all, packed with pertinent information that outlines and unites America's history with current events impacting Black & Brown people. Full of information that details just as the title states, 'The Sum Of Us' - how we came to be and all the events leading up to now and how we can overcome this and prosper together.

In the introduction the author asks and explains, "Why can't we have nice things?" And by 'We', that means All Americans.

" 'We' are all of us who have watched generations of American leadership struggle to solve big problems and reliably improve the quality of life for most people. We know what we need - why can't we have it?”

The author addresses issues and contributing factors that have plagued and continue to plague People Of Color in this multicultural nation to this day. The author shared personal accounts of those interviewed and edified her readers with untainted evidence based African American historical research. Topics include, rise in household debt, student debt, predatory lending / redlining laws, segregation, climate change, unfair taxes, voting restriction and medical care. Creating something akin to a contagion, those who govern historically and currently continue to spew propaganda and mistrust, creates solidarity in those who chose to believe. All these tactics that are implemented, not only negatively impacts People Of Color, it also ultimately affects all Americans. In this powerhouse of a masterpiece, the author suggests a few resolutions to emerge from the crisis the founding fathers of this country created: one is for all to create a cohesive approach to deconstructing all that governs the negative beliefs of hierarchy of human value. Secondly, the idea that little will change until white people realize what racism has cost them also. We remain hopeful.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!