Cotton Pickin' Paycheck, A 21st Century Journal of Escape from Slavery
Joan E. Gosier
published by HBCUkids Inc., 2009
447 pages
In Cotton Pickin' Paycheck, John E. Gosier chronicles her journey from worker bee to entrepreneur through a rollicking story of a remarkable life. Unwilling to succumb to the confines and constrictions of corporate America, Gosier developed a recipe for realizing her dream to achieve peace through freedom by carefully charting her desired life path.
In the book's 15 lessons, the reader is encouraged to optimize their own life by following the formula: Exploration + Discipline + Application = Personal Freedom. Gosier explains one may apply it no matter what their present circumstances or beliefs. For her, using a deep religious faith to order her steps allows for building a strong foundation for future endeavors.
From the beginning, Gosier makes it plain that Cotton Pickin' Paycheck is a labor of love dedicated to her ancestors, nuclear family and relatives to come. Researching her family's history has helped her become grounded and empowered. She enjoys delving into the history and wisdom of other African Americans. Gosier advocates education as "Important Gear for Life" and believes it is never too early to start a child toward its perpetual pursuit. She shares this mission with others through her award-winning website BlackParentConnect.com along with other sites designed to instill the idea of attending college in all children. Gosier's motto is "We can do this!" Her insightful and resourceful book will surely show you how.