Books featured here seek to educate, motivate, relate and create positive thought through subject content that might not otherwise be addressed and perhaps not-so-positive perspectives. Thus we address all issues.
To have your book featured here send an email to gumboforthesoul@yahoo.com

GUMBO FOR THE SOUL:THE RECIPE FOR LITERACY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
~authored by over 100 writers, Essence best sellers, radio and tv personalities, Gumbo is a source of inspiration in over-coming adversity and persevering through the tough school years. Includes a resource for parents and teachers, scholarship info and delicious Gumbo recipes.
Available via Barnes and Noble
"Gumbo for The Soul: The Recipe For Literacy in the Black Community"
Bookcover ©1990 "With Honors" by Synthia SAINT JAMES
Foreword by
Heather Covington, author of Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature and NAACP Image Award Nominee.
"Gumbo for the Soul" dares to call it like it is. This serving of Gumbo is a must-read for every parent, teacher, mentor and all who believe it is important that our children can read and comprehend the English language."
-- Tavis Smiley, Author, Television and Radio Host
"GUMBO FOR THE SOUL tells African-Americans exactly what the recipe for a good life is. . . it is inspirational, uplifting, and recommended for people of all ages, colors and aspirations. "
- Alice Holman, RAWSISTAZ.com
Rawsistaz Reviewer rates Gumbo 5 out of 5
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From the Foreword by Jim Brown
“The Bandana Republic is the most provocative, researched, educational, opinionated piece of work that I’ve ever read . . . In its own provocative way, The Bandana Republic makes you think, reflect, cry. I recommend to all of you, and to all people who purchase this anthology: read it, learn from it, try to draw your own conclusions.
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Ramona Thomas' debut book Grandma's Brown Cookies is a vivid and wonderful journey into the world of nutritious and healthy choices. Kyndle visits the family doctor who administered a magical potion to rid him of his hearing and seeing problem. The potion was a powerful concoction that enabled him to hear and see what other humans could not. As Kyndle and his Mom journeyed through the grocery store maze, seeking ingredients for the traditional family cookie recipe, Kyndle began to see foods moving and talking. The foods encouraged Kyndle to convince his Mom to make the healthier choice. This delightful story teaches children young and old to make healthy choices and accept what is natural.
http://www.ramonatn.com
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Manjani Jackson is a mouthy New York teenager who believes her life’s purpose is to lead her “deaf”, dumb, and blind” brothas and sistahs into The Revolution. On one of the worst days of her life tragedy strikes, landing her in a all white school. Although she is working at getting along, the racist students makes it impossible, and before long, the administration crosses the lin, forcing Manjani into political action. Check it out at
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Discover Love in the Pages of Provocative
Poetry and Prose: Portraits of Black Love
by Sardonyx Jade
Provocative Poetry and Prose: Portraits of
Black Love features sensual and romantic
poetry, Black love stories, a commentary
about relationships in the Black
Community and beautiful photography of a
couple embracing.
http://www.sardonyx-jade.com/index.html
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FILMS
Blaze
The Truth Through Hip Hop
Feature Length Film
Now Available on DVD!
In a society where artists are glorified for being gunned down, women are admired for wearing fewer clothes, and children are quoting lyrics to songs that should be deemed Rated X, how do you spell relief? B- L- A- Z- E!
At the heart of this film is a desire to expose the "Other Side of Hip Hop". Candid interviews, music video clips, and concert performances, all blend to create this smoothie of acidic relief.
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A Kingdom perspective on what pleases and displeases the Lord, and how to apply Biblical principles to advance the Kingdom.
Within the pages of this book you will learn how to seek and please God like never before, so that you may obtain a great and far more exceeding reward in this life and the life hereafter.
VISIT ERIC THOMPSON'S WEBSITE AT www.godpleaser.net
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Author and artist V. L. Morris serves up some lovable soup in this gentle picture book which glows with warm colorful scenes of a little girl playing tricks to get a bowl of her grandma's soup. V.L. Morris's tale begins and ends with amusing and childish pranks. Along the way, she tells the story through the words of a sweet, yet mischievous little girl. That’s not all. An activity book with mazes, word find, scramble games, and coloring, is included. No one can fail to pick up on her message of joy and love for "Grandma's Soup: As Told By Ja’Nae".
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Shine Annie- a novel..by Betty Oglesby Payne
Annie Ruth. Lucinda. Billie Lee. Curtis. Lenny. Raymond. Mr. Sid. Miss Bostic. Gabrielle. Edwina. Reverend Phillips. I know these people.
Rail City. Tobacco County. Fort Valley State. Morehouse. Albany State. Savannah State. I know these places.
The Civil Rights Movement. Voter registration. Martin Luther King's arrest in Albany. GA. Hanging out at the local juke joint. Hauling moonshine. I know these events.
As a black southerner and child of the sixties, I can relate to so much of Payne's prose in her excellent first novel. The story told here is one that vividly tells the hardships and triumphs of a young woman growing up in the racially charged and changing South of that time. Her sacrifices, as well, as those made by all around here, make for an enthralling read.
The author has done a magnificent job in bringing to life characters and situations so real that the reader feels as if he is reading a biography with dialogue.
"Shine Annie" does just that: illuminates and elevates a pride that can only be felt by the people that experienced the era.
For the uninitiated, it is a welcome "lesson."
Available at amazon.com
Review:
by Reginald D. Garrard
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