Product Description
In a collection of interviews, fifteen African-American girls between the ages of eleven and eighteen share their thoughts on their lives, self-esteem, personal identity, values, race, and their dreams for the future.15,000 first printing.Amazon.com Review
Conducting interviews for Sugar in the Raw, RebeccaCarroll traveled to 12 cities across the country, and talked to morethan 50 girls. From that number, she selected 15 who tell theirstories in their own words in this stereotype-breaking book.Nicole,a 17-year-old biracial girl living in Vermont, tells us she checks theboxes for every race category on census forms. "You can call mewhatever you please," she says, "but I'll still be Nicole." Elsewhere,Laninka, also 17, from Birmingham, Alabama, tells of her love forballet and African dance, while Sophie, 20, who lives in Freehold, NewJersey, tells of growing up in her adoptive white family and hersearch for her black identity. Throughout, the girls show theirstrength and their determination to make a way for themselves in aworld that does not always appreciate them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Feminine Pride Shines in "Sugar in the Raw"
This small, paperback captures the emotional tales of young, African American girls from across the United States.Discussions of self-esteem, identity, racism, prejudice, and relationships permeate throughout Rebecca Carroll's book.Readers of all ages amd races come away with a profound understanding of what it means to be Black and female, but most importantly, the pride and strength that these young women carry within themselves in order to survive in America's society.Young girls of this culture will undoubtedly regard this book as a treasured resource since these humorous, personal and frank stories connect them to a sense of comaraderie, support and confidence.Carroll only reveals fifteen of fifty stories, which leaves you wanting and wondering about the rest.

Coming of Age Stories
SUGAR IN THE RAW is an inspiring collection of essays written by 15 African American young women who, as the backcover asserts, "refuse to be ignored."

These girls may share a racial ancestry but their stories are as unique as they are. This thin volume contains essays from young women of all walks of life: from a bisexual homegirl in Portland trying to keep it together to a biracial girl in lily white Vermont coming to terms with who she is, the reader of SUGAR will share in all the girl's excitement, fears and triumphs.

The only drawback is the the book is so short. The editor interviewed over 90 girls from around the country but only 15 are included here. SUGAR can be easily read in one sitting and will leave you wanting more. Hopefully, a SUGAR II is in the works.

All in all, this book would make a great gift for a young woman of any race.

Excellent book for african-american girls
Just a short note to say that I purchased this book for two young women (12 & 14).They received the books as christmas gifts. Yes, they would have preferred clothing or cash, but once they started reading theycouldn't put it down.

This is the type of book that initiatesconversations, questions and thoughts on some of life's harder issues.

Sugar in the Raw is a really great book.
Sugar in the Raw is such a great book. I am a 13 year old girl. Before reading this book I had the idea that all teen girls, no matter what skin color, are going through the same thing. Now that I have finished reading the book, I've learned that black girls are going through the same thing plus more. They have to deal with a lot of prejudice.They must try to prove everyones image of a black girl in America wrong. This image is all wrong and comes from Americas history. Slavery started something that hasn't competely gone away yet. This wrong idea is that white people somehow should rule over black people. That we are somehow better. I don't know how the color of your skin can determine who is better than who. The truth is everyone is unique. Everyone has at least one quality about them that is better than someone else.You can be whatever you want.The only person that determines what you are like is you. ... Read more

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Songs of love and urban tragedy from one of the preeminent African-American writers of our time. Shange's poems express the need to be felt and heard, to be necessary. In this love space, we all wear our desires, t-cells, and hearts on our sleeves and experience all that comes with wanting to get hold of life, or someone to love. ... Read more

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"Do you really think she rides with us, Lucie? I mean, when we want to win so bad we can taste it in the back of our mouths and our throats go dry? Is Mama watchin' over us when it's our turn at the gate?"

Annie Sharon and Lucie-Marie, daughters of two African-American rodeo stars, have been raised by their loving but remote father, Tie-Down, since their mother, Twanda, was killed by an out-of-control horse. The girls feel their mother's absence terribly, especially now that they are beginning to get older, but Tie-Down misses her too much to talk about her. Now Tie-Down has started dating Cassie, and the girls resent her intrusion into their lives. But after a close call at the rodeo, it is Cassie who finally brings this family together. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Vivid, different storytelling for young readers
Annie and Lucie-Marie are daughters of two black rodeo stars who have been raised by a remote father after their mother is killed in the rodeo. Now that they are getting older, they miss their mother more than ever � and resent their father's dating Cassie. Can Cassie take the place of a loving mother in a very different kind of family? Ntozake Shange's Daddy Says is vivid, different storytelling for young readers. ... Read more

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essays on black theater, dance, music ... Read more

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In novella form. Later published by mainstream press in 1982. ... Read more

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Muhammad Ali, considered by many to be the finest athlete of the twentieth century, is also one of the most famous Americans of his time. Here is a compelling testimony to his courage, resilience in the face ofcontroversy, and boxing prowess by Obie Award-winning author Ntozake Shange. In her own words, Shange shows us Ali and his life, from his childhood in the segregated South to his meteoric rise in boxing to become the Heavyweight Champion of the World. Edel Rodriguez's stunning artwork combines pastels, monoprint woodblock ink linework and spray paint on colored papers to capture Ali's power, spontaneity, and energy. A time line and list of additional resources and Web sites help make this a standout picture book biography of the man known around the world as 'The Greatest.' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"The Greatest"
Born Cassius Clay in segregated Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali grew up to become one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions ever to step into the ring.Author, Ntozake Shange, details some of the highlights of Ali's life in this very spare, bare-bones biographical sketch.Each two page spread touches on an event in Muhammad Ali's life:his upbringing during the Jim Crow era in a solid, nurturing family; the bike theft that turned him towards boxing..."Somebody stole my bike, and I'm gonna whup 'em good."; his Olympic gold medal; the conversion to Islam, and his fights against Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier.Ms Shange is obviously an avid Ali fan, and the book comes off more as a tribute or hero worship than real biography.There's no meat here, no depth or understanding, just a short timeline of a few unconnected, important events in his life.The strongest part of Float Like A Butterfly are Edel Rodriguez's action-packed, comic-book-like artwork.His big, bold, and appealing illustrations are evocative and dramatic, and often tell more about Ali's life than the text.Written for youngsters 4-8, Float Like A Butterfly is a weak addition to the picture book biography genre.Kids interested in Muhammad Ali and/or boxing would do better to read James Haskin's Champion: The Story of Muhammad Ali. ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, Patsy Moore, Elizabeth Alexander, Ntozake Shange, Anna J. Cooper, Askia M. Touré, Debra Dickerson, Blues People, Mwatabu S. Okantah, Nathan Mccall. Excerpt:Amiri Baraka Amiri Baraka , formerly known as LeRoi Jones , (born October 7, 1934) is an American writer of poetry, drama , essays, and music criticism . An often controversial figure, he is the author of numerous books of poetry and has taught at a number of universities, including the State University of New York at Buffalo. Biography Early life Baraka was born Everett LeRoy Jones in Newark, New Jersey , where he attended Barringer High School . His father, Gearld Roi Jones, worked as a postal supervisor and lift operator. His mother, Anna Lois (née Russ), was a social worker. In 1967 he adopted the African name Imamu Amear Baraka, which he later changed to Amiri Baraka. The Universities where he studied were Rutgers , Columbia , and Howard Universities, leaving without a degree, and the New School for Social Research. He won a scholarship to Rutgers University in 1951, but a continuing sense of cultural dislocation prompted him to transfer in 1952 to Howard University. His major fields of study were philosophy and religion . Baraka also served three years in the U.S. Air Force as a gunner. Baraka continued his studies of comparative literature at Columbia University. 1934 1965 Baraka studied philosophy and religion at Rutgers University, Columbia University and Howard University without obtaining a degree. In 1954 he joined the US Air Force , reaching the rank of sergeant. After an anonymous letter to his commanding officer accusing him of being a communist led to the discovery of Soviet writings, Baraka was put on gardening duty and given a dishonorable discharge for violation... ... Read more