Table of Contents
Introduction ix
1 The Shoulders we Stand on
A Line in the Sand Sherie Labedis 2
Legacy Jerilyn Upton Sanders 8
Letters of Love Lorraine M. Elzia 12
Walking the Lessons of Life H. Renay Anderson 16
These Precious Hands Sheila P. Spencer 20
My Mother's Shoes Andrea Blackstone 23
My "Shero" Lisa Nichols 27
What She Said Betty DeRamus 30
Getting to Know Miss Gladys Bari-Ellen Ross 34
The Ring Monica Montgomery 39
Just Like Mom Linda Coleman-Willis 43
Mama's Hands Evelyn Palfrey 46
The Outfit Berthena Kemp 50
Birthdays and Blessings Anesia Okezie Karen Waldman 55
Dancing in the Kitchen Barbara Holt 60
History Through Herstory Emma Ransom Hayward 64
Ninety-Pound Powerhouse Swanee Rivers 68
2 It Takes a Village of Mothers
My Womb's Butterfly E. Claudette Freeman 74
The Wisdom of Motherhood Lolita Hendrix Briana Hendrix 78
One Day, You'll Understand Kelly Starling Lyons 83
Even a Dancing Time Angel V. Shannon 88
Keeping Faith Tracy Clausell-Alexander 92
Handpicked to Nurture T. Rhythm Knight 96
Single-Mommy Love Dayciaa C. Smith 101
The Christmas Sparrows Joe Gurneak 104
Soul Food Rite of Passage Anita S. Lane 109
Lesson for a New Life Evelyn K. Lemar 113
3 Beautiful-Just the Way I am
Discovering Me Lisa Nichols 118
Bathed in Love Adiya Dixon-Sato 124
My Cup Runneth Over Nikki Shearer-Tilford 128
Meet Me in the Middle Connie Bennett 133
The Dreadful Story Lisa Bartley-Lacey 137
Gluttony to Glory Lindale Banks 141
Getting Real Elaine K. Green 146
Crown of Splendor Sheila P. Spencer 150
Birth of a Nappy Hair Affair Linda Jones 153
4 My Sister, My Friend
A Cup of Tenderness Brenda Caperton 160
Sistahood Jeanine DeHoney 164
Who Is Helping Whom? Margaret Lang 168
Merry Christmas, Emma Mary Saxon Wilburn 171
Elegant Ladies...Again Karla Brown 175
Friday Afternoon at the Beauty Shop Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig 180
Sisters' Song Rita Billbe 183
5 The Power of a Woman's Prayer
Divine Intervention Michelle Cummins 188
Holy Ghost Filled Kiana Green 193
God's Will Sophfronia Scott 197
The Bus Vouchers Ruthell Cook Price 201
You'll Do It for Me Nancy Gilliam 203
Solid Ground Yvonda Johnson 209
Lord, Please Make One for Me! RuNett Nia Ebo 212
6 Loving Black Men
My Divas Antonio Crawford 216
Love, Laugh and Live Today Charles Stanley McNeal 218
King Kong Susan Madison 220
It Was Magic Nancy Gilliam 223
Forgiving Daddy Carol Ross-Burnett 227
A Twenty-Dollar Education Nadine McIlwain 231
No More Drama Patricia L. Walter Johnson 234
A Daughter's Forgiveness Dawn Nicole Patterson 240
A Gift from Above Leslie Ford 242
Where Have All the Old Men Gone? Marvin V. Arnett 245
7 Breaking Through My Barriers
Music in the Rooms Carolyn West 252
Turning My Mess into My Message Sanyika Calloway Boyce 257
The Graduation Bernetta Thorne-Williams 261
More Than a Dream Phyllis R. Dixon 267
Shades of Black and White Dorothy Jackson Hattie Mae Pembrook 273
Moving On from Militancy Damita Jo Johnson 279
Never, Ever Give Up Tanya Hutchison 283
Queen Charlene Charlene Copeland Sonya Simpson 289
Reclaiming My Soul Lisa J. Whaley 294
Greatness by Design Blanche Williams 298
Kwanzaa on the Prairie Jacinda Townsend 302
The Bus Stop DeAnna Blaylock 307
Who Is Jack Canfield? 311
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? 312
Who Is Lisa Nichols? 313
Who Is Eve Eschner Hogan? 314
Contributors 315
Permissions 322
