Customer Reviews

No Disrespect

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

First, I want to say that I really admire what Sister Souljah was trying to do with this book. I mean, how many people just bare it all to the whole world in the hopes that others will learn from their mistakes? Not many! However, I feel this book is still very much limited by the author's own shortcomings. After an emotional and promising beginning, most of this book seems to be about how gorgeous she thinks she is and how let down she's been by black males. She talks about the damage racism has caused blacks all over the world and then espouses intrinsic racial beliefs about people constantly. Basically, she believes in genetic identity: that all black people are spiritually Africans and should probably live separately in their own country. (Should people who are part white and part black spend half their year in one country and then half in the other? What about people who are black, asian and white? Do they need three residences?) At certain points she was sounding uncomfortably like David Duke to me. And, when she runs into something she doesn't understand, such as homosexuality or white women who admire African culture, her first, middle, and last impulse is to judge and condemn. Her later novel The Coldest Winter Ever contains all the lessons this book was meant to, with only a sliver of the bigotry toward gays and anyone other than religious blacks. I would definitely recommend that book with five full stars, over this one. Yet while I didn't agree with much she had to say, this was a very moving, well written memoir. I still gotta give her respect for the fact that she cares so much about the situation of blacks in America that she is willing to put herself on the line for the cause.

This book was given to me as a gift and I had no idea that I would enjoy it as much as I did. All I knew about Souljah at the time was that she was a controversial sista who used to hang out with Public Enemy. But this is not your average autobiography. The way she tells her story and names her chapters after characters in the order that they appear in her life was very unique. Her characters were well developed, especially Nicki. Miss thang was a trip! The unexpected turns that happen in Souljah's life, the disappointments, the triumphs, the crazy people in her life will keep you up at night constantly turning pages. This is a great first novel by Souljah and I am eagerly awaiting her next project.

Sister Souljah is MAGNIFICENT!!!! I read "The Coldest Winter Ever" first, and I had to have this one!! The man at the bookstore told me that President Clinton had real issues about "No Disrespect". Thats when I REALLY wanted it. And I'm glad I got it. The girl is BAD!!! I can't wait for her next book to come out!!! This book is definitely a page turner!!! I highly recommend this book to every African man and woman!!!

After reading "No Disrespect", I have learned that the behavior of a race is greatly influenced by the surroundings and the brainwashing of other cultures. Although many people will not admit to being prejudiced, the evidence is apparent. I myself feel that African Americans need to learn about our beginnings just like the teachers in the schools want us to learn about the beginnings of this country. February should not be the only month for Black History. We are black everyday we are on this earth. Sista Souljah kept it real in her book. "Black Problems" are real and will always exist. This is a book I recommend for teenagers to read to get a jump on life and the experiences they will face. I have much love for my people, and want us to again unify and take care of business; raising strong black children.

No Disrespect, October 29, 2003
The novel No Disrespect by Sister Souljah is about the life of a young African American woman. Full of stories of triumphs and tribulations, the main character in the book is put into situations that help her grow as not only a woman but also as an African American woman. Sister Souljah No Disrespect takes you on the real journey of her life. She is a writer who isn't scared to express the hardships of life. After reading her first, novel, The Coldest Winter Ever, I knew that I was going to have to read No Disrespect and I was not disappointed. The book begins discussing her childhood and her experiences that she learned from in the projects. It's a real journey of Sister Souljah's life full of knowledge and truth. Her writings in each chapter are about people in her life that both educated her and mis-educated her. With this start Sister Souljah captures the readers attention by causing many different emotions. These experiences for Ms. Souljah have helped her to be the intelligent, courageous, strong woman she becomes by the end of the book. With these experiences the author informs her readers with an understanding of the real African American life. It's a book about a young confused girl who alters into a strong enlightened woman. Throughout the book Sister Souljah the author refers to many experiences in her life that always end up with a resulting lesson. With these lessons Sister Souljah teaches her readers about class, gender, and the prejudices that are associated with them. By the end of the story Sister Souljah refuses to allow people to disrespect her but only gives and expects the respect she always wanted and deserved. No Disrespect is an amazing novel that everyone should read at least one time in their lives.

I thought this was a great book. Sister Souljah and Eric Jerome Dickey are two of my most favorite authors. Her book is so real ,interesting and exciting I didn't want to put it down. Her characters are some of the most interesting and complicated people, and the way the plot goes keeps you wondering whats going to happen next. It is a great book and I promise you won't be dissapointed if you read this. Some other good books are Cheaters, the Liar's Game, Milk In my coffe, and Friends and Lovers, by Eric Jerome Dickey. The coldest Winter Ever and all of Mr. Dickey's novels would make wonderful movies.

a friend of mine had said this book was ab-soul-lutely stunning, and i'm disappointed to say it was anything but. The vast majority of the text is spent pointing fingers at various groups who are seen by Souljah to be opressing the African-American woman, and yet she doesen't go into any real solutions to the problems. I, being a black lesbian, was extremely offended by her outright homophobic comments in the book, and had to try to get through them without throwing it away. I ended up throwing it away anyway at the end. Feel like revolution? Listen to Me'Shell Ndegeocello. Don't buy this book.

I really enjoyed this novel. After reading "The Coldest Winter Ever", I knew that I had to read this book. Although "The Coldest Winter Ever" was fictional, and "No Disrespect" was more non-fictional, there are overlapping similarities. It is a novel that I felt I could not put down.

Souljah talks about her life from childhood, adolescence, and then young-adulthood and reflects on those people in her life that taught her valuable lessons (whether intentionally or unintentionally). As an African American heterosexual woman, I disagree with her views on both homosexuality (I felt that she was a little homophobic and misunderstanding about that aspect of sexuality), and the extent of her talking about interracial dating, the black vs. white issue, etc. However, I respect her opinions and feel that she was speaking her life truths, and what was important in her life. I deeply respect Souljah's opinionated mind, and agree that writing is all about expressing your personal beliefs and truths.

I believe Sister Souljah wrote this book when she was in her early twenties, and if that's the case, it is pretty impressive. She draws lessons from her own personal experiences, and from those close to her. I really thought it was thought-provoking, and not nearly as polemical as some make her out to be.

However, her rationalization of cheating with a man who's spoken for ("there aren't enough black men out there, so we'll have to share") wears a bit thin, and her criticism that gay black men are doing a disservice to the black community at large...should be the other way around.

Sister Souljah became my favorite writer when I finished The Coldest Winter Ever. I just loved it! This led me to read No Disrespect. The book begins discussing her childhood and how her parents marriage came to end, and as a result her family moved into the projects. Throughout the book she refers to her beauty. She always describes her full figure and constantly compares herself to other women. This became a little boring, until it finally clicks that even with her physical beauty and inner strength, she was extremely vulnerable. She experienced so many trials and tribulations, even though she was well known and respected in the black community.

I cannot say enough about this book. Her honesty became clear to me in the end. That I really appreciate. Her depiction of "Black America" is most accurate. I have stated many of these things myself. Read this book only if you're not easily offended (black or white) and if you really want to grow as a person. My props to Sister Souljah for living up to my expectations.!