Gumbo for the Soul: Here's Our Child-Where's the Village? [Paperback]

Beverly Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 19, 2008

"Here's Our Child, Where's The Village?" conveys that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish as happy, thriving and free spirited people regardless of race and the displacement factors governing their lives. The question isn't "Here's Our Child, Where's The Village?" The question is whose village will you be?"We must bear each others burdens. Though the village has been replaced by concrete and Roe v. Wade, there remains innocent children deserving of love and a safe haven. They may be parentless, but they are not Godless..." -Bruce George, Co-Founder of Def Poetry Jam)"Connecting kids to permanency is paramount."Stacia C. Hammond- Executive Director/FounderAdoption Support & Consultation Services of Florida, Inc. (ASCS)"It gives me great pleasure to pen the foreword for "Here's Our Child; Where's the Village?" and participate in the efforts of the Gumbo for the Soul project. The joy one gets from a child is indescribable, but something everyone can enjoy in one capacity or another; especially if we believe in the old African Proverb, it takes a village to raise a child". -Tee C Royal, founder of RAWSISTAZ Literary Group Gumbo for The Soul Publications and logo are registeredtrademarks of Beverly Black Johnson. All Right Reservedwww.gumboforthesoul.comProverbs 10:14Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beverly Black Johnson hails from the San Francisco. She is the publisher of the award-winning book, Gumbo For The Soul: The Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community which garnered an endorsement from talk show host, Tavis Smiley. Since its inception in 2003, Gumbo has grown into an on-going project to produce a series. Set to release in November 2008 is the second in the series, Gumbo For The Soul: "Heres Our Child-Where's The Village"? an anthology focusing on heightening awareness of the many children worldwide awaiting adoption. Beverly two oldest children escaped adoption during some rough periods in her life when her mother stepped in acting as the "Village". Her story will be told in a full biographical account of her life's trials and tribulations.More info is available at www.gumboforthesoul.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (November 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440101264
• ISBN-13: 978-1440101267
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,338,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proud To Be Part Of The Village, December 27, 2008

By 

Terra Little (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gumbo for the Soul: Here's Our Child-Where's the Village? (Paperback)

This anthology addresses an important, integral aspect of our society - both yours and mine. The sad fact of the matter is that there are children out there who don't have a village to surround themselves with. This is both a shame and a challenge that we must overcome and embrace. To be the change we wish to see in our children, let us all charge forth and take action. The essays, short stories, and commentary found in this anthology will move you, make you think, and give you hope - all things that our children sorely need you to do. In my line of work, I take part in the village everyday and a literary work like this serves as a reminder of why and how. Read this work and ponder the ways you can take part, too. You can always count on the Gumbo for the Soul family to throw down the gauntlet with timely, informative, and entertaining literary works, and this one carries on the tradition. Needless to say I'm proud to be part of the village.

Terra Little
Author of "Running from Mercy" & "Where There's Smoke"
2009 Gumbo Contributor

5.0 out of 5 stars (RAW Rating: 4.5) - A Different Type of Village, May 7, 2009

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gumbo for the Soul: Here's Our Child-Where's the Village? (Paperback)

GUMBO FOR THE SOUL: Here's Our Child, Where's the Village? compiled by Beverly Black Johnson, is a collection of essays and poems focusing on the foster child, the adoptive child and the families who care for them. Also, surprisingly highlighted are the different type of villages, one may not have considered. Each author of an essay or poem has knowledge of the subject matter and each eloquently expresses their views or experience.

It is very difficult to select a favorite essay, so I will list a few. Will by Anna K. Stone depicts a defiant child and the struggle of a teacher who literally provides shelter and guidance in a very unorthodox way. She was not "his" teacher, she was "a" teacher in the building who stumbled upon his mishaps. Call Me Ma'am by Terra B. Little highlights the respect she commands for herself and for her clients as a probation officer. Through the Eyes of A Child: Aunt Louise's Red Shoes by Sharon Gray is a love story about the unconditional love of a child toward her aunt. When the aunt's mask is revealed the continued love from the child shines through. In Our Ghetto by Michael Guinn, the author paints a picture of the ghetto through the use of analogies and metaphors utilizing a lyrical prose. The technique is effective in forcing you to visualize, acknowledge and empathize with what is written. Some of the poems I enjoyed were Love Stew-Cooked in a Slow Cooker by H Renay Anderson, Am I Tomorrow's Keeper by Lorraine Elzia and Mama Cries by Demetrius Phillips.

This GUMBO FOR THE SOUL collection is a testament to the many people throughout the world who create and maintain our villages for the sake of the children. Also included is a resource section which provides additional knowledge as it relates to foster care and adoption systems. This is a wonderful collection which provides some awareness to the mounting situation of our children's struggles.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers