Praise for
Souls of My Young Sisters
Souls of My Sisters let all women know it was okay to tell your story and now Souls of My Young Sisters helps young women struggling through life’s challenges tell their stories and heal all of us. A must read for all women!
—Kyla Pratt, Actress
Growing up is difficult and confusing at times. Young women may be looking for answers that are not readily available. Souls of My Young Sisters successfully helps you navigate through those growing pains.
—Melyssa Ford, Actress and Former BET Host
Souls of My Young Sisters helps with your struggle of self-acceptance and puts you on the road to a better relationship with God, yourself, and the beauty of sharing your experience with others.
—Neffeteria “Neffe” Pugh
Souls of My Young Sisters is like having that sister who shares advice, tells you secrets, and helps you get a better understanding of who you are as an evolving young woman.
—Tia Mowry, Actress
ALSO AVAILABLE
Souls of My Sisters
Souls Revealed
It Happened in Church
He’s Gone…You’re Back
Tears to Triumph
Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.
Souls of My Young Sisters
Young Women Break Their Silence with Personal Stories That Will Change Your Life
Written and Edited by
DAWN MARIE DANIELS AND CANDACE SANDY
Foreword by
MADELINE N. SMALL and MARY J. BLIGE
SOULS OF MY SISTERS BOOKS
Kensington Publishing Corp.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
I. Who Am I?
Raegan L. Burden—Little Women
Niyah Moore—A Young Woman’s Cry
Dee Vazquez—Self-Esteem and Identity
Floree Williams—Loving Me?
II. Why Does It Hurt So Bad?
Sybil Clark Amuti—I Am Free
Milani Rose—Weathering the Storm
Ebony Fletcher—Desperation
Ihotu Jennifer Ali—Fire and Water
J. Nerissa Percival—It’s Not Over
III. Fear Is a Four-Letter Word
Quintrecia Lane—I Am Bigger than My Fears
Crissinda Ponder—My Father’s Absence
Jasmine Nicole Gibson—Marked
Tweetie—Fear Is Not Knowing What Your Calling Is in Life
IV. Am I My Mother?
Shampale Williams—Left Behind
Charon Acevedo—Time to Tell
Barbara L. Jackson—Motherless Child
Denika Donahue—Orphan on the Block
Tinisha Nicole Johnson—Mothers Are Wise
Latonya P. Story—The Window Within
V. Is This Love, a Relationship, Marriage, or Just Hooking Up?
Syreta J. Oglesby—“I Love You. Do You Love Me? Can We Be Friends?”
Kristen Rogers—Big Country
Shalena Broaster—Your Mom’s in My Business
Dr. Ravaughn Williams—Too Good to Be True
Star Toile Murrell—80s Baby
VI. Overcoming Life’s Challenges
Jennifer Lewis—I Am Blessed
Kayla LaShell Harley—No Mirrors
Desiree Hulen—Moving Beyond Labels and Boxes
Robin E. Wilson—The Best Medicine
Lalah Hathaway—The President of Me
VII. Isms
Ashley Foxx—Little Black Miniskirt
Bianca Payton—The Black Girl
Nicole Paultre Bell—Thanksgiving Day
VIII. I’m on Top of My Game
Rashana Hooks—Goal Digger
Donja Bridges—Loving the Skin I’m In
Shamony Makeba Gibson—Dancing My Way to Financial Freedom
Georgia Woodbine—Running into a Brick Wall
IX. Got Faith?
Kimberly N. Cooper—Fear and Faith Can’t Exist in the Same Space
Diera Shaw—Being Twentysomething
Nicole Sallis—Deliverance Allowed Me to Discover the Real Me
Jasmine Jordan—When You Are Down to Nothing, God Is Up to Something
X. My Body, My Temple
Samantha Wheeler—Badges of Courage
Aleia K. Moore—A Second Chance at Life
Hydeia Broadbent—Luckier Than Most
Monica Marie Jones—Don’t Wait for the Weight
Sasheer Moore—Struck with Kindness
XI. It’s So Hard to Say Good-bye
Tameka L. Cage—Loving Myself, Releasing Him
Jessica A. Robinson—I Wasn’t Raised to Run
Alysia Satchel—Sunrise to Sunset: How My Grandmother’s Strength Reigns in My Spirit
LaShieka Purvis Hunter—Priorities
Evelyn L. Williamson—My Sonny Boy
Resource Guide
Soul Sources
Foreword
When You Honor Your Sister, You Honor Yourself!
By Mary J. Blige, Founder, and Madeline Nelson-Small, Executive Director FFAWN (Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now, Inc.)
God help you if you’re a phoenix, who dares to rise up from the ashes.
—Ani DiFranco
We first met at a taping of It’s Showtime at the Apollo and we barely said hello. We had traveled similar paths, through childhood. We both suffered mental and physical abuse at the hands of those closest to us from the time we were five years of age. We both grew up with family members and friends we trusted and loved telling us we would never amount to anything. We both had a strong need to fit in, which led us to feeling as if we should not strive for greatness. We both escaped our home lives in our late teens and we both entered the entertainment industry. And, though we had different roles in the world of music, we had very similar