When strangers meet in social clubs, watch reality television, or interact on Facebook, they contribute to the social glue of mass society—not because they promote civic engagement or democracy, but because they enact the sacred promise of friendship. Where most theories of nationalism focus on issues of collective identity formation, Kaplan’s novel framework turns attention to compatriots’ experience of solidarity and how it builds on interpersonal ties and performances of public intimacy. Combining critical analyses of contemporary theories of nationalism, civil society, and politics of friendship with in-depth empirical case studies of social club sociability, Kaplan ultimately shows that strangers-turned-friends acquire symbolic, male-centered meaning and generate feelings of national solidarity.

They were children who had seen too much Youll be dead before youre five, those were the first words Joyce Ann could remember her grandmother saying to her and the fact that she was almost nine did not make living any easier Joyce Ann, Josephine, Kenny, and Janie-all the children had seen too much, been through too much, dealt with too many grown-up things to be considered children in more than age. Josephine spent her days fighting to protect herself and her siblings from bigger kids who saw the undersized children of a woman barely more than four feet tall as fair game Janies days were spent cooking and caring for nine younger siblings and sleepless nights were spent wondering when rather than if one of her mothers numerous male visitors would decide to do the unimaginable Kennys secrets were kept from even his closest friends. How could a child explain life with a mother who managed every detail of every day of his life from what he would wear to lessons that were not always about music It was only the promise of friendship that brought these four young people together in a story about the power of love and acceptance among friends.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A remarkable story about the power of friendship. Chosen by Essence to be among the forty most influential African Americans, the three doctors grew up in the streets of Newark, facing city life’s temptations, pitfalls, even jail. But one day these three young men made a pact. They promised each other they would all become doctors, and stick it out together through the long, difficult journey to attaining that dream. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt are not only friends to this day—they are all doctors. This is a story about joining forces and beating the odds. A story about changing your life, and the lives of those you love most... together.

A perfect gift to share your heart as a friend, Friendship Promises offers devotional reflections, prayers, Scripture, and journaling prompts that will develop a strong relationship with both God and other women around you.

"From a tragic accident comes a story of astounding friendship and resilience"--

The Promise of Friendship investigates what makes friendship possible and good for human beings. In dialogue with authors ranging from Aristotle and Montaigne to Proust, Levinas, and Derrida, Sarah Horton argues that friendship is suited to our finitude—that is, to the limits within which human beings live—and proposes a novel understanding of friendship as translation: friends translate the world for each other so that each one experiences the world not as the other does but in light of the friend's always-unknowable experience. The very distance between friends that makes it impossible for them to know each other wholly also makes it possible for them to be transformed by friendship. Friendship, then, is possible and good for those who love precisely that they can never wholly know the friend. Friendship is a profound, mutual self-giving that highlights the irreplaceability of each person, fundamentally shapes the self, and is one of the greatest joys of human existence.

Moore, better known as Umm Zakiyyah, the internationally acclaimed author of the If I Should Speak trilogy, introduces readers to a new genre in her debut juvenile fiction story. Maryam and her African-American friend Latifah try to find common ground with Samira, but when Samira convinces Maryam to disobey her parents, Maryam is worried they may have gone too far.

A New York Times Bestseller! Just weeks before her wedding, four of Rachelle Friedman's friends threw her a bachelorette party. At the end of a perfect evening of dancing and celebration, they decided to take a moonlight swim. One of her friends playfully pushed her into the water . . . two feet too far from the deep end. That chilling moment changed their lives forever. Rachelle broke her neck and was paralyzed from the chest down. She would never walk again. The Promise is a powerful memoir of resilience, love, and loyalty. On the night of the accident, the five girls made an unspoken agreement to never reveal the name of the friend who had pushed Rachelle into the pool—and their bond has remained unbroken. As Rachelle undergoes a physical battle for her life, her friend struggles emotionally to prevent one moment in time from defining her forever. It's the story of true integrity; it's also about finding the incredible strength inside each of us we never knew we had. Also a love story, The Promise chronicles Rachelle and Chris's relationship, their struggle with her paralysis and rehab, the physical challenges of intimacy, and ultimately, their fairy-tale wedding.

God made you for friendship. Friendship is one of the deepest pleasures of life. But in our busy, fast-paced, mobile world, we've lost this rich view of friendship and instead settled for shallow acquaintances based on little more than similar tastes or shared interests. Helping us recapture a vision of true friendship, pastor Drew Hunter explores God's design for friendship and what it really looks like in practice—giving us practical advice to cultivate the kinds of true friendships that lead to true and life-giving joy.

Seeing a mouse might not seem unusual to you, but in the town of Debonshire, it's unheard of! Legend has it that when mice first came to the town many years ago, every last one was chased away by dogs, who feared the tiny creatures. So imagine Farlee the Airedale terrier's surprise when a fall off his bike puts him face to face with a little mouse named Cornelius. What follows is a tale about finding friendship inunexpected places-complete with this Feather Troop Friendship Promise for friends big and small:1. Friends love at all times.2. Friends help each other be the best that they can be.3. Friends have the courage to stand up for what's right.4. Friends accept you for you.5. Friends have FUN!