Barely eighteen, Kanika has everything to look forward to. She's fine, smart, and strong—qualities she inherited from a momma who made sure her little girl had every privilege—courtesy of Tony, one of Brooklyn's most powerful crime lords. Born to the life, Kanika knows the hustle from the inside out, but her future holds college and some quality time with Tony's second-in-command, Tyrell... Then Kanika's world explodes in a hail of bullets and blood when a hit takes down both the man who raised her and the mother she adores. Alone, shattered, and possibly a target herself, Kanika lets Tyrell convince her to attend college in Virginia and move in with her birth father. Down South has a whole other rhythm than Brooklyn, and the parent Kanika barely knows is a different kind of mobster than Tony was. Shon is angry and unpredictable... Determined as she is to make things work, Kanika is equally committed to finding out who killed Tony and her momma. She's not about to forget Tyrell. But nothing can prepare Kanika for what she's about to face: from temptation to danger to revelations that will call all her loyalties into question—and put her life on the line...

The moral of the story is: You Can Be Whatever You Desire To Be. Do Not Give-Up. Continue to Dream You Can Achieve Your Goals.

This urban novel takes place in Brooklyn, NY about two cousins who have to play cat and mouse to find out who’s putting a hit on Nico’s head and Why? Who shot him? Everything seems to be fine, it’s 4th of July weekend and it’s parties everywhere but tonight the hottest party to be at is Big Sid’s, he knows all the Rappers and hustlers from everywhere who will be invading Brooklyn and L, TISH, SHEA, MARIE,& NIKKI, WILL be there too until tragedy and betrayal strikes them on this hot night. What happens next no one knows.

Heather Maria Ramirez is making a unique mark with her pen for the world of readers. She is an inspirational speaker for women in struggle across the world. People from all lifestyles attend to hear her poetic flow of motivational and inspirational speaking in such places as teen pregnancy centers, high schools, battered women shelters, and correctional facilities for women, and her book signing events. This writer has touched the hearts of readers all over the world with her GODMOTHER QUOTE'S and advice about life lessons, of how to keep your head up when trying to rise up out of negative atmospheres. Godmother Quote's of Gangsta-ology 101 the Poetic Confessions of a Goddess was a true classic in the making. The Godmother takes her readers to school with this book. The poetic flow and short stories in this book are breathtaking, eye opening, and uplifting tales about human experience. The Godmother believes all good women learn from the examples set by other good women. Being a teacher is not an easy job, but the Godmother gives nada but the best learning experience to her students. Are you a reader who is ready to pass this course of Gangsta-ology 101? Well, there is only one way to find out. The bell has rung students, so have a seat, pay attention, and open the book, because class is in session! Just what kind of Gangstress are you . . . Are you a survivor . . . Oh, yeah, then prove it, because the Godmother is calling ya bluff . . . Heather Maria Ramirez is an internationally known and an award-winning writer. This book is remarkable and unforgettable. It is a different kind of gangsta with a classy and unique kind of flow. She is known as the flyest writer! The flyest of them all . . .

A Day to Remember.. is not just a book, it's a real life testament to what God can do . In it, the author shares her personal recollections of the death of her parents and her experiences as a sexually exploited orphan who resorted to a life on the streets. Exposed within these pages are the "secrets" that held her hostage for over two decades. Journey with her as she unlocks the door to forgiveness and healing and embarks upon a spiritual path that would ultimately uncover a life beyond her wildest dreams. Written on the instruction of God, A Day to Remember... extends to its readers the opportunity to shed their physical, emotional and spiritual shackles in exchange for a life of meaning and purpose.

This riveting, honest, and important collection of poems offers an inside view of what life is like behind the prison walls of the Arkansas Penitentiary. Geared towards young men who may be contemplating a life of crime, author Stevie Cannon speaks about the choices they have in life, and all of the ramifications of imprisonment, for both themselves and for their families. Through these poems, Stevie Cannon puts himself in the shoes of men that will never experience freedom again, some of whom have made the ultimate mistake in committing the crime of murder. About the Author: Stevie Cannon grew up in a rough neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee, and now lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He has written four other books and is working on his next. His work is motivated by his commitment to help young men to do the right thing and stay out of prison. Publisher's Website: http: //sbpra.com/StevieCannon

The collection of poems is an intriguing reflection of the sometimes torturous evolution of inner self which so many South Africans face as they struggle to find who they are in a multicultural society that espouses the values of traditional culture while reaching for the promise of a global community. Thus the blend of Xhosa and English as Ntsiki strives to merge her modern views with cultural roots. She feels strongly the need to reclaim her culture and language and blend them within the context of a cosmopolitan society. She captures the vibe and energy of young South Africa and its blossoming as well as its quandaries. Ntsiki does not hesitate to deal with controversial and painful issues, such as rape, and her work challenges the reader to stop and think, really think. The quest for self expression and self-understanding echoes throughout the book and through it, she exhorts the reader to have the courage to explore and understand himself. Underlying many poems is the unspoken but burning desire that, by telling the truth, she will create possibilities for others to do the same. In many ways, Wena is a celebration of life. The poems brim over with Ntsikis own desire to drink to the full and then go out there and pour love and life out into the world. The manner in which she distills meaning and value from the negative is perhaps best expressed in her own words, from the poem, I choose life:

This book presents practical approaches for engaging with Hip Hop music and culture in the classroom. As the most popular form of music and youth culture today, Hip Hop is a powerful medium through which students can explore their identities and locate themselves in our social world. Designed for novice and veteran teachers, this book is filled with pedagogical tools, strategies, lesson plans, and real-world guidance on integrating Hip Hop into the curriculum. Through a wide range of approaches and insights, Lauren Leigh Kelly invites teachers to look to popular media culture to support students’ development and critical engagement with texts. Covering classroom practice, assessment strategies, and curricular and standards-based guidelines, the lessons in this book will bolster students’ linguistic and critical thinking skills and help students to better understand and act upon the societal forces around them. The varied activities, assignments, and handouts are designed to inspire teachers and easily facilitate modification of the assignments to suit their own contexts. The impact of Hip Hop on youth culture is undeniable, now more than ever; this is the perfect book for teachers who want to connect with their students, support meaning-making in the classroom, affirm the validity of youth culture, and foster an inclusive and engaging classroom environment.

Queer survivors piece together the clues to discover their own lives! Dangerous Families: Queer Writing on Surviving goes beyond the recovery narrative to create a new queer literature of investigation, exploration, and transformation. Twenty-six stories illuminate the reality of growing up in fear, struggling to rebuild lives damaged by sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse. The book explores how abuse turns queer survivors—male, female, and transgendered—into healers, heartbreakers, and homicidal maniacs, presenting brilliant stories that sear and soar. Dangerous Families: Queer Writing on Surviving addresses all forms of abuse head-on, representing a cross-section of queer survivors in terms of race, class, ethnicity, education, origin, sexuality, and gender. Contributors use their own life experiences to create a book that takes back control from well-meaning “outsiders,” as they recount the daily struggle to overcome the damage done to their minds, bodies, and spirits in a world that denies their gender, sexual, and social identities. From the editor: “Dangerous Families consists entirely of writing by survivors of childhood abuse. That's right—no therapists analyzing our plight, no talk-show hosts exploiting us—just survivors, exploring our complicated, frightening, and fulfilling lives. These stories dispense with the usual technique of carefully massaging the reader's fragile worldview before plunging this unsuspecting innocent into a world of horror. They go right to the horror, the beauty, and the joy, often throwing the reader off-guard, revealing layers of meaning before the reader can step back.” Dangerous Families: Queer Writing on Surviving is an anthology of 26 true stories of growing up queer in families that magnify the horrors of the outside world instead of offering protection. The book is an essential read for therapists, caseworkers, cultural studies specialists, and anyone struggling to survive childhood abuse.

ghet-to n. (Merriam-Webster dictionary) Italian, from Venetian dialect ghèto island where Jews were forced to live; literally, foundry (located on the island), from ghetàr, to cast; from Latin jactare to throw 1: a quarter of a city in which Jews were formerly required to live 2: a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure 3a: an isolated group a geriatric ighetto/i” bb: ghet-to adj. (twenty-first-century everyday parlance) 1a: behavior that makes you want to say “Huh?” b: actions that seem to go against basic home training and common sense 2: used to describe something with inferior status or limited opportunity. Usually used with “so.” That’s so ighetto/i” ; He’s so ighetto/i” brb3: As current and all-consuming as “ghetto” is in these days of gold teeth, weaves (blond and red), Pepsi-filled baby bottles, and babymamas, ghetto has a long history. The original ghetto was in the Jewish quarter of Venice, a Catholic city. Before it became the Jewish quarter, this area contained an iron foundry or ghèto, hence the name. These days, ghetto no longer refers to where you live, but to how you live. It is a mindset, and not limited to a class or a race. Some things are worth repeating: ghetto is not limited to a class or a race. Ghetto is found in the heart of the nation’s inner cities as well as the heart of the nation’s most cherished suburbs; among those too young to understand (we hope) and those old enough to know better; in little white houses, and all the way to the White House; in corporate corridors, Ivy League havens, and, of course, Hollywood. More devastating, ghetto is also packaged in the form of music, TV, books, and movies, and then sold around the world. Bottom line: ghetto is contagious, and no one is immune, no matter how much we like to suck our teeth and shake our heads at what we think is only happening someplace else… From an award-winning journalist and cultural commentator comes a provocative examination of the impact of “ghetto” mores, attitudes, and lifestyles on urban communities and American culture in general. Infused with humor and entertaining asides—including lists of events and people that the author nominates for the Ghetto Hall of Fame, and a short section written entirely in ghetto slang—Ghettonation is a timely and engrossing report on a controversial social phenomenon. Like Bill Cosby’s infamous, much-discussed comments about the problems within the Black community today, it is sure to trigger widespread interest and heated debate.