Customer Reviews

Straight, No Chaser: How I Became a Grown-Up Black Woman

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Go Jill! I recently saw you on BET with Tavis Smiley and 3 or 4 Black female ministers.

Nearly every feeling you expressed in your book was something I felt in the past or in some way still do today. What hit home was something significant that most Black people miss, especially the younger ones. As we approach the 21st century, American history is being rewritten to exclude the civil rights movement! And yes, you put it succintly, Black women are becoming invisible, erased!

Why I didn't give this book five stars -- the book ended with no recommendations to resolve the anger and bitterness issues expressed throughout the book. Also, too many open-ended inuendos about other Black leaders such as Al Sharpton, Maya Angelou, etc.

Still, Jill, keep writing.

Well !!! I don't want to use the term scathing to describe this book as that word seems to have a negative connotation. This book is, in my eyes, far from negative. But, the unfiltered, blunt and to the point observations that Ms. Nelson makes about the status of Black women in America may leave many folks singed !!

Sharing revealing examples from her own life, the author cuts through many of the euphemisms used to mask racism, sexism and the outright abuse of Black women over the decades. She unapologetically discusses her pain, anger frustration while leaving us the message that it is OKAY for us feel and express it as well. We do not have to continue to be good little colored girls in the face of people telling us, through words and actions, that we do not count. The 'niggerbitchfit' we feel boiling over and out of us, on far too many occasions, has its merits for our mental and physical well being !

She also makes some stinging comments about some of Black America's cherished 'role models' and 'icons'. Who would dare to call Maya Angelou a 'mammy' figure? Who would call the women of 'Living Single' updated examples of the same old black female stereotypes? Ms. Nelson. She does not mince words!

In addition to reading the book, I attended her reading and signing. Marcus Books in Oakland, CA is a small store but it was packed with admirers ... and critics. Jill Nelson handled herself well and stuck to her guns when faced with comments from a few disgruntled male visitors who tried to make this book (about Black female empowerment) about them.

If you think you can handle it, buy it, read it and heed its advice. The last chapter leaves us with a mission and a challenge ...

I LOVE JILL NELSON!!! I have been a loyal fan and devoted follower of her writings since her days as a writer for ESSENCE magazine and the Village Voice. I even remember reading some of her articles when she was a writer for the Washington Post. Her latest literary effort, "Straight, No Chaser," is written in the same, no-nonsense, subtle yet direct, with just a twinge of sarcasm writing style that made her first book, "Volunteer Slavery," a bestseller and became a Bible of sorts to just about every African-American journalist in America..myself included! In her new book, I was especially touched by Nelson's periodic reference to the Deletha Word tragedy that occurred on a dark bridge in Detroit 4 years ago this month. Nelson writes about the awful event and describes how a minor incident escalated into a terrible tragedy and the loss of a life. I also enjoyed the chapter about violence toward women and how her ex-husband once "slapped me upside my head with his open palm so hard I see red, white and blue stars and my ear rings for twenty-four hours." I also enjoyed how she accurately points out that many of the so-called "black leaders," of today are usually loud-mouthed ministers who ALWAYS want to put race at the forefront of everything and blame all of African-Americans problems on the white man. Finally, while her latest book is very good, "Volunteer Slavery ," is better and still remains one of my all-time favorite books. Few writers are able to reveal so much about others yet, still be able to put themselves and their own faults and foibles on public display as skillfully and as well as Nelson does in each book. Keep up the good work Jill!! You have a legion of fans out here who love you and your work!!!!

The only reason I gave this book a 4 was due to the fact that I agree with Jill Nelson in her viewpoints regarding the effects of slavery on the African-American population. Other than that, the book just didn't measure up. There were too many generalizations, too many attacks on people without some background as to why the attackswere made. She dumped all over Maya Angelou. Why? I'd like to have had more information so I could form an opinion also. She belittles Betty Shabazz and Coretta Scott King as having been married to famous men and therefore are not really that important in their own right. Did she ever give thought that maybe, just maybe they had something to do with the success of their spouses? All throughout her book she expresses her anger over the pseudo-success of light skin entertainers as being models of success for white people and then goes on to name Queen Latifah as one of her most revered persons. She also ranked Angela Davis at the top. Angela being light skinned also, makes me wonder about Jill's thought process. I understood what she was trying to say, but she just wasn't consistent. If I were her agent I would have looked at the manuscript and said, "Jill, you've got some good stuff here, but why don't you go back, take a long walk, relax and re work this thing." Need another example - try this one which is quoted directly from the book. " Black elected officials, whose right to vote and run for office are the result of the civil rights movement and whose mandate once came from a sense of collective good, now lie, steal and fornicate with regularity. When busted, their response is to lie. " Jill gives no background facts or says some black officials or a few black officials or many black officials, the statement is made in the book, just as you read it here. I purchased the book because I thought Jill's earlier book was very good. This one left a lot to be desired

I enjoyed the book. I thought that Ms Nelson identified ideas, motivations and feelings that I have experienced, but never organized the concepts nearly as concisely or eloquently. I will recommend this book to my friends, if for no other reason than to vocalize issues that I percieve a lot of black women face but do not recognize as dangerous. The silence and as Jill Nelson put it "the invisibility" endangers our issues due to the much more vocal, male dominated views toward racism and gender issues which are commonly viewed as "white woman" issues. Bravo for bringing such radical ideas to light. My only problem with the book was that it was largely opinion, largely unsubstantiated with real research except the author's own life and conditions. In my opinion, there is no excuse for that because no doubt there are countless historical examples as well as current events that Ms Nelson could have provided to shore up her ideas. I found their absense to detract from the book's substance and smacks of laziness on the part of the author. Having said that, I found the book's ideas and Ms Nelson's experiences to be compelling and profound. I recommend the book.

This is just another poorly edited, poorly written, and poorly conceived blame whitey, blame black men, blame society, blame everyone but yourself race books. A book of essays should convey challenging and intelligent arguments and thoughts. Nelson's book is just a collection of silly generalizations. This book was clearly written on the fly. Readers seeking smart writing by real intellectuals should try Shelby Steele and bell hooks. All I learned from this book is how embittered and mean spirited a person Jill Nelson is.

Jill Nelson captures the essence of what I had been feeling since childhood, but was never able to express. For those people who are upset that she sounds angry it is about time someone is angry at how the African American woman has been treated by Black and White men. I am so glad that someone addresses the abuse that African American women put themselves through in order to be aligned with the Black Man only to have him betray her by pretending that she does not exist. Many of our men would not be where they are today if it were not for the Black female, yet most Black men have no use for their Nubian sisters. I am so glad that someone addresses the rage, frustration, and hurt that this realization causes. Thank you Jill Nelson for the voice.

Ms. Nelson writes compellingly about many issues facing the Black woman. I found the book illuminating, enlightening and difficult to put down as each sentence demanded my attention. It validated some of my own personal concerns and illuminated other issues I need to be concerned about.

Another job well done for Jill Nelson.

She spoke of my newsroom experience in Volunteer Slavery. She put names to so many of the feelings that I have, defined my "secret language," spoke my mind. She told the things I have been ashamed to - because "nice colored girls don't..."

Keep talking, Jill. I'm listening.

All the positive comments before me pretty much speak for me. The only thing new that I have to add is that people need to read the book and make their own judgement. I think it is really funny how we as Black People will over critique our stuff and just except other folks writing as "good writing with tangible concepts." She had to speak in generalized terms because one book can't possible cover everything and everybody. Everything written is opinion, so take what you need out of Ms. Nelson's book and grow from it. My stockings off to a well written book. My book club is into it heavy.