Brotha 2 Brotha -- Becoming Healthy Men from the Inside Out

Brotha 2 Brotha – Becoming Healthy Men from the Inside Out by W. Eric Croomes provides a clear roadmap, complete with biblical references, to help African-American men of all ages contend with the forces that can keep them from achieving their personal best. Brotha 2 Brotha takes on several perspectives as it examines obstacles unique to black males in our communities. Its approach is not only biblical, spiritual and philosophical, it most importantly offers practicality in getting to the heart of the matter. Historically, literature and self-help books dealing with problems unique to black males have looked to external forces such as legal and social constraints as the root cause of various problems. A rigorous self-examination, according to Croomes, is the essential foundation for making true progress in this life. Croomes examines in great depth the relationship of David and Goliath to illustrate how mountains can be moved and wars can be won by mastering one’s self. The one aspect of his book Brotha 2 Brotha I found most striking are the guidelines he sets forth in his checklist for survival, as survival is the all-important first step in reaching higher ground. I highly recommend this book to both men and women, but particularly to men’s groups, pastors, educators and parents as a means of facilitating meaningful dialogue and action on both the personal and community plane to improve the lives of black men and society as a whole.

Chandra Adams
North Bay Media Review

Consciousness Magazine

Consciousness Magazine is a year old periodical from Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2005 by CEO Aaron Robinson and Vice President Mozella Sullivan, Consciousness seeks to expand your mind by what else, raising your consciousness Packed with educational features, news stories, useful historical information, self-help topics, contests and more inside to keep the reader’s interest.

The black and white pictorial format should not discourage the reader to the fact many of the articles are submissions by many talented people across the country. Readers will find an interesting tidbit by Dangerous Lee; a heartfelt poem by the poetess Mocha Sistah, there are interviews of up and coming artists in the literary and music worlds, and then there are uplifting pieces about individuals making a difference in the community. In one issue, Ms. Oprah Winfrey makes an appearance to Hopkins Park, IL catering to a disadvantaged community.

I strongly suggest you subscribe to Consciousness not for its grass roots appeal, but for the down to earth stories every human being in each walk of life can relate to. Although it doesn’t have the shine and gloss of its literary brethren such as (magazine), Consciousness stands out on its own as a must read for everyone in need of positive stories and messages rarely found in the media.

You may contact Mozella at:

P.O. Box 2496
Kankakee, IL 60901
myspace.com/consciousnessmagazine
msullivan@consciousmag.com

Heart of Thorns by Rahmani and Miller

Heart of Thorns
Abdullah K. Rahmani
with Carolyn Miller
Milligan Books
ISBN: 0976767848
January 2006

Imagine going through live as a young boy, witnessing the brutal beatings of a father upon a mother; realizing your deeper fears come true with the caretaker of the house, watching your country invaded by an outside nation, then escaping to a place called American, finally realizing you have a life and a right to live out your destiny as you see fit.

This is the life experience growing up for one Abdullah K. Rahmani's Heart of Thorns, as told to the readesr by Carolyn L. Miller. In this book, you'll read about Mr. Rahmani's years growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan before the Soviet occupation in 1979, during the invasion and after, fleeing to America for safety. Along the way, you'll read about how Mr. Rahmani grew up, the friends he made, the people that violated his body and mind - and it will shock you to find out who - and feeling his heartfelt love for his family although his father's violent displays toward his mother and his mother's denial of affection creat a heart of thorns that eventually Abdullah learns to shed, no matter how painful it is.

Upon reading this book, I didn't quite figure out right away Mr. Rahmani was part of a family of influence in his native country until later on; he gives a vivid and graphic detail of the rapes he encountered, feelings of sadness when he doesn't feel the love his heart requires from his parents, his fears about the day the Soviet tanks entered Kabul is an emotionally stirring account of what he witnessed on the streets while at the same time, reuniting with his parents and planning their escape; and while the reader may not agree with Mr. Rahmani's sexual preference, they will come away with the feeling that there are things you can change, and things you cannot. I found this to be a good read and thorough history lesson. It is amazing that Mr. Rahmani could remember in exact detail all of the bittersweet things that affected his maturing years and uses them as a form of catharsis to heal himself. Heart of Thorns is a benefit into forgiveness and healing each of us can profit from, no matter who or what we are.

Charles L. Chatmon
Author of The Depths of My Soul
and The Voices of South Central

Our Color, Our Kind by Luther C. Wallace III

Our Color, Our Kind
Luther C. Wallace III
Authorhouse Books
ISBN: 1420865099
August 2005

In 2005, Luther C. Wallace III wrote Our Color, Our Kind in what's described as 'a male bedside reader'. Unfortunately, he will never enjoy the fruits of his labor as he passed away later in the year. However, in this posthumous collection of short stories, Mr. Wallace's deft but insightful storytelling is a pure delight for the readers who will never get to know the real Luther C. Wallace, except through his words.

In Our Color, Our Kind, you witness stories of a couple who through their son's violent act, are forced to face the hideous fact that everything that they have gained, they might lose in 'Rage Noir'; 'Mack Daddy' is a wonderful change of pace showing why players get played, a black woman gets an education in 'B'FUPY and the Native', speaking of education, one man learns quite a lot from a lover in 'Education Is a Dangerous Thing', 'What's Wrong with Me?' deals with the addiction that has many people asking the same thing, and 'I See the Party Lights' shows us the folly of war and ther results of veterans who witness the atrocities of it.

The book takes an extraordinary view into the black experience through objective eyes and Mr. Wallace definitely displayed the skills of a great writer. His literary candor is excellent, his characters riveting. You feel pathos and disgust toward them while at the same time, you feel the pain, the joys and the life of a man or woman in colored skin goes through on a daily basis.

Our Color, Our Kind is truly a gift from a great man who shares the human condition of this life through well-written tales and our place in it.

Charles L. Chatmon
Author of The Depths of My Soul
and The Voices of South Central