Sugar in the Raw: Voices of Young Black Girls in America [Paperback]

Rebecca Carroll (Author), Ntozake Shange (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 14, 1997

With raw candor, elicited by Rebecca Carroll's perceptive questioning, 15 black women between the ages of 11 and 18, from places as diverse as Brooklyn and Seattle, Alabama and Vermont, speak out about their inner and outer lives. What they say about identity, self-esteem, the role of race in their perceptions and treatment, personal values, and their hopes for the future is both enlightening and moving. 144 pp. National pubilcity. 15,000 print.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Conducting interviews for Sugar in the Raw, Rebecca Carroll traveled to 12 cities across the country, and talked to more than 50 girls. From that number, she selected 15 who tell their stories in their own words in this stereotype-breaking book. Nicole, a 17-year-old biracial girl living in Vermont, tells us she checks the boxes for every race category on census forms. "You can call me whatever you please," she says, "but I'll still be Nicole." Elsewhere, Laninka, also 17, from Birmingham, Alabama, tells of her love for ballet and African dance, while Sophie, 20, who lives in Freehold, New Jersey, tells of growing up in her adoptive white family and her search for her black identity. Throughout, the girls show their strength and their determination to make a way for themselves in a world that does not always appreciate them.

From School Library Journal

YA?A collection of 15 spirited and thought-provoking monologues based on conversations and interviews the author held with over 50 young black women. The selections reflect the girls' diverse experiences, attitudes, and dreams, and represent a broad spectrum of social class and geographical regions. Jo-Laine of Brooklyn, NY, observes, "The kind of girl I am has everything to do with the kind of woman I think I'll be. I know that I am bold and straightforward. When it comes time to deal with boys and whatnot, I will make clear who I am and how I expect to be treated." Aisha, of Seattle, WA, declares, "My strong suit is what I can do with my mind and my personality. Yes, I am beautiful, too, but it's not a priority to me." Reacting to the author's project, Reni of Birmingham, AL, says, "I think the concept of this book is very inspirational because it is so important for black girls to hear what other black girls are thinking. People create who they are based on their experiences with and their exposure to other people." The book is entertaining and instructional both for what it tells readers about the hearts and minds of black teens and for the model it serves for those who want to learn to evoke personality and power in their own writing.?Cynthia J. Rieben, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1st edition (January 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517884976
• ISBN-13: 978-0517884973
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #719,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for african-american girls, July 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sugar in the Raw: Voices of Young Black Girls in America (Paperback)

Just a short note to say that I purchased this book for two young women (12 & 14). They received the books as christmas gifts. Yes, they would have preferred clothing or cash, but once they started reading they couldn't put it down.

This is the type of book that initiates conversations, questions and thoughts on some of life's harder issues.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Feminine Pride Shines in "Sugar in the Raw", December 6, 2001

By 

Eileen Dimalanta (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sugar in the Raw: Voices of Young Black Girls in America (Paperback)

This small, paperback captures the emotional tales of young, African American girls from across the United States. Discussions of self-esteem, identity, racism, prejudice, and relationships permeate throughout Rebecca Carroll's book. Readers of all ages amd races come away with a profound understanding of what it means to be Black and female, but most importantly, the pride and strength that these young women carry within themselves in order to survive in America's society. Young girls of this culture will undoubtedly regard this book as a treasured resource since these humorous, personal and frank stories connect them to a sense of comaraderie, support and confidence. Carroll only reveals fifteen of fifty stories, which leaves you wanting and wondering about the rest.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Coming of Age Stories, October 30, 2000

By 

NappyGirl (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sugar in the Raw: Voices of Young Black Girls in America (Paperback)

SUGAR IN THE RAW is an inspiring collection of essays written by 15 African American young women who, as the backcover asserts, "refuse to be ignored."

These girls may share a racial ancestry but their stories are as unique as they are. This thin volume contains essays from young women of all walks of life: from a bisexual homegirl in Portland trying to keep it together to a biracial girl in lily white Vermont coming to terms with who she is, the reader of SUGAR will share in all the girl's excitement, fears and triumphs.

The only drawback is the the book is so short. The editor interviewed over 90 girls from around the country but only 15 are included here. SUGAR can be easily read in one sitting and will leave you wanting more. Hopefully, a SUGAR II is in the works.

All in all, this book would make a great gift for a young woman of any race.