tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85665162011-12-14T21:48:25.209-05:00Welcome to the pre-eminent blog for suburban sistas interested in literature, politics, art, music and other cultural pursuits. My blog will feature book reviews by prominent and rising African-American authors, as well as excerpts of my own soon-to-be-published works. Occasionally, you may find anecdotes and advice on parenting African-American children in suburbia, especially when my own are providing me with excessive entertainment/challenges.Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.comBlogger401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-34408488715723768322011-05-27T22:11:00.001-05:002011-05-27T22:23:30.342-05:00

I'm ready for the push back when I say this - but is Tiki Barber getting treated too harshly for his thoughtless comment in comparing his situation to Anne Frank?  Maybe - maybe not. Let's dial the clock back to January 2008.  I wrote a piece on my blog about the first female anchor on the Golf Channel - Kelly Tilghman.  What was she famous for?  Saying that the only way young golfers could keep

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-63214942207872446212010-02-15T00:14:00.001-05:002010-02-15T00:16:17.241-05:00

As everyone knows, people in the deep South go crazy when it snows.  Although I spent some time living in Rhode Island, that experience is of little help when you live somewhere where they don't have trucks that drive around dispensing sand or salt to keep the snow from taking over the roadways. By the time I got home from work on Friday evening, my neighborhood was almost covered and the roads

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-28243408533312902992008-05-13T11:27:00.001-05:002008-05-13T11:28:33.927-05:00

If any of my home folks are reading this, and you know who you are - please take time out to sign the internet petition that I have created to stop our City Council and local law enforcement from enacting a curfew for teenagers in our city. This curfew is touted as a protective act for children; however, there are already state laws that protect children who are endangered at any hour of the day

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-33445235069203003852008-01-10T13:49:00.000-05:002008-01-10T13:59:57.534-05:00

More and more African-Americans tune in to golf tournaments each weekend to watch the No. 1 player in the world, Tiger Woods. Unfortunately, the media is slow to respond by providing more diversity and cultural sensitivity in golf broadcasters. Recently, the Golf Channel made an effort to break that trend when it made Kelly Tilghman golf’s first female anchor last year when it garnered a

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-17225757914443273132007-08-03T11:20:00.000-05:002007-08-03T12:07:52.343-05:00

Time moves on for many of us and new generations rise and take on the challenges of the future. And so it comes about that it is time for my oldest son to move forward into the world. Jared graduated with honors from high school in June and will begin his freshman year at Clemson University next month. His major is elementary education and his minor is athletic leadership. His dream is to become

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1174597697807007082007-03-22T16:42:00.001-05:002008-05-13T11:32:35.191-05:00

I don't get to talk about art here too much, but on February 15th I went to the opening of a show for rising artist Cassandra Gillens. She is an African-American woman who paints in silhouette which allows the viewer to imagine almost anyone as the subject of one of her pictures. That's how I felt when I saw the painting entitled Mama's Boy. It depicts a woman about to receive a kiss from her

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1152800657534819332006-07-13T09:04:00.000-05:002006-07-13T09:31:45.613-05:00

Are you a Christian or are you “Saved?” Should you turn the other cheek or fight back? It’s hard to say these days. I’ve been listening to a popular local talk radio host this morning, and there have been a number of calls about what the difference is between being Christian and being “Saved.” Some callers seem to think that you have to live a meek, humble existence and constantly forgive

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1142716317166222282006-03-18T16:08:00.000-05:002006-03-18T16:12:54.416-05:00

Black erotica is finding a larger audience every day and this collection of short stories will certainly enhance that trend. Unlike similar anthologies, A Chocolate Seduction is not just vignettes of couples hooking up for hot, smutty sex. Most of the stories are actually just that - a complete story with a plot, conflict, and resolution.TL Gardner reels you in with his signature, sexy

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1138838361336094912006-02-01T18:56:00.000-05:002006-02-01T18:59:21.336-05:00

My two youngest sons.

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1138836932244304502006-02-01T18:29:00.000-05:002006-02-01T18:35:32.263-05:00

A friendly reader reminded me that I haven't posted anything for a while. Well, there is a good reason for that. Gabriel Anderson Ray was born on January 17, 2006. 8 lb. 15 oz.I had a c-section, so it has taken me a while to get back on my feet. But, hopefully, I'll get back on track soon. I have no idea how I'm going to find the time to read a book now that I have four children at home and

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1124723939249539312005-08-22T09:50:00.000-05:002005-08-22T10:41:00.526-05:00

As a southern girl with an island background, it never occurred to me to go on vacation to a New England island, but after spending a year living in Newport, Rhode Island, I realized it is decidedly more pleasant to summer in the Northeast and avoid the intense heat of the South. My husband and I returned to Newport this year to attend the JVC jazz festival in August and groove to the likes of

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1124721317228595002005-08-22T09:32:00.000-05:002005-08-22T09:35:17.226-05:00

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the articles and watch the television shows about Tamika Huston. The family's worst fears have been confirmed now that Tamika's former boyfriend has led police to what he claims are her remains. God bless the Huston family and please continue to pray for them.

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1108413858730126072005-02-14T15:44:00.000-05:002005-02-14T15:44:18.730-05:00

My first official byline... PopMatters Books Feature | Not You Mother's Romance Novels

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1106676640729863662005-01-25T13:10:00.000-05:002005-01-25T13:10:40.730-05:00

Please keep this young woman and her family in your prayers. She is still missing, but receiving none of the publicity of white women who go missing under suspicious circumstances. BAW: Commentary: Tamika Huston Still Missing, and Her Family Still Awaiting Public Outcry

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1106197900797616792005-01-20T00:13:00.000-05:002005-01-20T00:13:02.893-05:00

Courage of Conviction Sudanese-American writer Kola Boof is a vibrant and, occasionally, strident voice in afro-centric literature. Long Train to the Redeeming Sin: Stories About African Women is an eclectic collection of poems and short stories that spans from the historical, to the mystical, to modern day Africa. The characters and plots are moving and relevant to the thoughts and issues of

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1105682106837867272005-01-14T00:55:00.000-05:002005-01-14T00:57:03.780-05:00

Slowly gaining in exposure and, hopefully soon, in popularity. DallasBlack.com: THE KALAHARI TYPING SCHOOL FOR MEN by Alexander McCall Smith

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1105681994023433042005-01-14T00:53:00.000-05:002005-01-14T00:53:14.023-05:00

Just showing off a little, but you have to read down to No. 6 to see my contribution. PopMatters Books Feature | The Year in Books 2004

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1104968496724739892005-01-05T19:00:00.000-05:002005-01-05T19:00:56.726-05:00

Kim Christmas 2004

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1103409981426899142004-12-18T17:52:00.000-05:002004-12-18T17:53:04.646-05:00

--License to kill by the government of the United Nations. Man, free to kill at will. To kill, you must know your enemy, and in this case my enemy is a varmint. And a varmint will never quit - ever. They're like the Viet Cong - Varmint Cong. So you have to fall back on superior intelligence and superior firepower. And that's all she wrote. -- deliberate misquote of Carl Spackler, Caddyshack, 1980

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1103087434884164812004-12-15T00:10:00.000-05:002004-12-15T00:10:34.883-05:00

Seems like it's been a million years since the elections. Although there was a lot of caterwauling and whining that ensued, I decided not to partake. I didn't see much good coming from it so I decided to concentrate on my writing for a while. I've been working on revising the manuscript for my debut novel and have a couple of agents and a publisher looking at it. Additionally, I have extended my

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1098995901809700702004-10-28T15:40:00.000-05:002005-01-20T00:25:59.150-05:00

Personal Justice is the story of retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, William “Dutch” VandeDorff whose beloved daughter, Kate, is killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Dutch is overwhelmed with grief at the loss of his only child. That grief is further fueled by his guilt in choosing his duty as a Marine over his wife and daughter’s desire to live a “simple

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1098586848318698922004-10-23T22:00:00.000-05:002004-10-23T22:00:48.316-05:00

Tamika Huston - Missing

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1098585754343248142004-10-23T21:45:00.000-05:002004-10-23T21:44:34.263-05:00

Where is Tamika Huston? She’s been missing from her home in Spartanburg, SC for months, but Oct. 23 was the first time I heard about it. If she’s missing, why don’t I see her name on television every night like I see the names of Laci Peterson, Lori Hacking, Chandra Levy, Brooke Wilberger or Dru Sjodin? I can’t distinguish any significant differences in the women. The only one that is obvious is

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1098302599211750802004-10-20T15:04:00.000-05:002005-01-20T00:36:54.733-05:00

Rarely have I encountered a book that moved me as much as James McBride’s Miracle at St. Anna. Not only should it be declared an American classic, every college should make it part of their freshman reading list. McBride engages the seldom mentioned subject of black combat soldiers in World War II. Four members of the famed 92nd Infantry Division (the Buffalo Soldiers), find themselves trapped

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1098117887254406682004-10-18T11:44:00.000-05:002004-10-18T11:44:47.253-05:00

If Jim DeMint (Rep.) is elected to the U.S. Senate and you're homosexual or a single mother, you'd better be worried. DeMint, currently running for the U.S. Senate seat being relinquished by the distinguished "Fritz" Hollings (D-SC), issued a statement that gay and lesbians should not be allowed to teach in the public schools. He also, in justification of that remark, stated that he felt the

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1097778502955673002004-10-14T13:28:00.000-05:002004-10-14T13:43:18.850-05:00

Remember Nike's "Just Do It" campaign? Well, it seems President Bush has adopted the saying as part of his platform, but changed it a little - "Just Do Without!" That's the message I got last night watching the third and final debate. When asked what his reaction was to the shortage of flu vaccine for the coming winter, Bush's response was for younger, healthier people to "just do without" a flu

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1097242288966842622004-10-08T08:31:00.000-05:002004-10-19T14:39:02.463-05:00

The NAACP is suing a Florida county election supervisor to open another early voting site in the eastern part of Volusia County where more minorites reside. The election supervisor is refusing claiming that opening the additional site in Daytona Beach would require her to open two others to make the availability of sites more evenly distributed. Although, the even distribution of sites is not

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1097107681674418702004-10-06T19:08:00.000-05:002005-01-20T00:33:21.500-05:00

Alice Randall has created a modern literary classic. She mixes a spicy gumbo of Russian literature, Motown, and Hip-Hop that glides across the palate of the mind to rave culinary reviews. It’s funky, hip, and sexy, yet sophisticated, cosmopolitan, and romantic. Amazon.com: Pushkin and the Queen of Spades : A Novel: Explore similar items

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1097107503103831372004-10-06T19:05:00.000-05:002005-01-20T00:41:13.076-05:00

Truth Be Told was this reader’s first experience with the Christian fiction genre. I was expecting something a little more preachy, but was pleasantly surprised by Ms. Murray’s aplomb in dealing with contemporary issues faced by many families today. It sounds a little like a romance novel at times, but the dignity of the story is redeemed by the raw emotion she evokes in situations that only God

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1097107300696295212004-10-06T19:02:00.000-05:002005-01-20T00:46:04.490-05:00

A.J. Verdelle tells the compelling story of a young girl who is destined to become a working class drudge just like her mother until the intervention of an uncompromising educator who recognizes her brilliance. Miss Pearson inspires Denise to shrug off her country ways and don the mantle of the educated, but the task is not completed before an addition to the family threatens Denise’s further

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096990007121588282004-10-05T10:26:00.000-05:002004-10-05T16:15:53.863-05:00

Articles have been touting the increase in diversity that will occur after this year's election. And although, diversity in general is a good thing, we have to be careful and choose our candidates based on their convictions. A classic case would be the Illinois Senate Race between Barak Obama (Dem.) and Alan Keyes (Rep.). Both are African-American men; however their politics are extremely

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096987194146674462004-10-05T09:39:00.000-05:002004-10-05T09:39:54.146-05:00

BellSouth Quiet acts of heroism occur everyday, I'm sure. It's just too bad that we don't know about them or don't recognize the courage and commitment it took to fulfill the assignment. This man's heroism wasn't recognized until after his death. Although Mr. McCright was a war hero, the lesson here is applicable in our everyday lives. Mr. McCright had no idea that keeping the ledgers he

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096894331442643582004-10-04T07:52:00.000-05:002004-10-04T07:52:11.443-05:00

I must admit that tax cuts sound nice, especially when they are aimed at middle class families like mine. But I really am on the fence about this most recent one. John Kerry supports tax cuts that apply to middle class families, but opposes the ones that extend these cuts to families that earn over $200k per year. Regardless, I still don't feel right about it when I see the military struggling

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096893451852136442004-10-04T07:37:00.000-05:002004-10-04T07:37:31.853-05:00

We have all watched for weeks as Tropical Storm (sometimes Hurricane) Jeanne cut a swath of devastation across the Caribbean and Southeast. I have especially watched the aftermath in Haiti. Discussions have erupted in some of the Yahoo groups I'm a member of as to why we aren't doing more or should we be doing anything for Haiti. After helping to deport it's last President, we have left a

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096891595689128132004-10-04T07:06:00.000-05:002004-10-04T07:58:44.703-05:00

Imagine that. Poland is sick of the war in Iraq and wants to get out too. And after President Bush insisted that Poland was our staunch ally. But, then again, I'm sure the President knew this in advance and hoped to put the Polish government on the spot by expressly naming them during the debate last Thursday. BellSouth

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096780627078675062004-10-03T00:17:00.000-05:002005-01-20T00:49:19.856-05:00

Los Angeles in 1948 marks a crossroads for both Hosanna Clark and Gilda Rosenstein. Both are running from violent pasts. Hosanna from the vicious mob that raped her sister and stole her family’s farm and Gilda from the death camps of Nazi Germany. Tapping their resilient inner strength, the two women manage to start a small cosmetics company catering to women of color. But their success doesn’t

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096780418334092462004-10-03T00:14:00.000-05:002005-01-20T00:56:36.230-05:00

Bernice McFadden’s debut novel Sugar is a richly woven tapestry of black life and culture in the 1950’s South. From the steps of the one hundred year old Baptist church to the smoky late night stomping and wailing at the town’s only juke joint, Sugar holds you captive in the moment. The story begins when Sugar, a platinum wig wearing, wanna-be singer turned prostitute, struts into Bigelow,

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096762143208805872004-10-02T22:09:00.000-05:002004-10-10T14:04:09.636-05:00

Let's start with politics. Hopefully, everyone who is eligible has registered to vote. I believe today was the deadline in my state. Some states allow a few more days, so be sure and check with your local board of elections to determine your local deadline. After watching the debate on Thursday, I am convinced that I will be voting for John Kerry for President. Local politics, however, may leave

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096762285251537272004-10-02T19:11:00.000-05:002004-10-02T19:11:25.250-05:00

Patrotic couple 

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566516.post-1096756161808868332004-10-02T17:23:00.000-05:002004-10-02T17:29:21.806-05:00

Welcome, friends. I want to thank you for visiting my blog. In the future, I hope to post items of interest that you will find both entertaining and useful. Please feel free to post your comments as well.

Suburban Sistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10436654501517296653noreply@blogger.com6