"I See Thru Muddy Water," is a compelling tale that exposes the secret lives of "down-low" men. The duplicity of this lifestyle leaves so many women wounded and ravaged with disease. This book runs on the raw side as the writer discloses her own dirty laundry from the past. Nichol Collins shares frank encounters with a variety of men ranging from law enforcement officers to clergymen. She discloses the fetishes which "so called" straight men enjoyed with her while she was a transgender lesbian. Perversion is a spirit without boundaries. Many men were attracted to her male appearance and willingly paid her to fulfill their erotic fantasies. After two decades in this aberrant arena exploring a little bit of everything, Nichol surrendered to the Lord. Her purpose for writing this story is to enlighten women about the treachery of "down-low" men. She tells you all the signs to be cognizant of to escape falling into their trap. www.globeshakers.com

Facing Life's Struggles As We Grow...Life can be so challenging yet so rewarding. As we grow we've notice things are not as what we thought it would be. Drugs have interrupted families, insecurities have kept people secluded from the world, broken homes, loss of loved ones, new children are born and depression has had some people turn suicidal. Is it love? Or is it lust? The fast pace beating of your heart when you see that person, I've learned that's only at the start. Giving your all thinking its love just to find out they're paying you no attention at all. Spiritually I try to stay focused on what really matters, knowing that he will provide me with what I need. Putting him first and letting everything else just fall into place. Stepping Through Muddy Waters is a walk through the ups and downs in life. It'll help you to have a different outlook on life itself. In writing I have also had a better prospective on things. As you step through the pages of this book you will find yourself or maybe someone that you may know and help change the negative into positive.

May we exist like a lotus, / At home in the muddy water. / Thus we bow to life as it is. This verse is an important reminder, says Ezra Bayda, of what the spiritual life is truly about: the willingness to open ourselves to whatever life presents—no matter how messy or complicated. And through that willingness to be open, we can discover wisdom, compassion, and the genuine life we all want. In At Home in the Muddy Water, Bayda applies this simple Zen teaching to a range of everyday concerns—including relationships, trust, sexuality, and money—showing that everything we need to practice is right here before us, and that peace and fulfillment is available to everyone, right here, right now, no matter what their circumstances.

Gathers local folklore, folk songs, childrens games, and essays on race, the Black church, and Black artists

The story of Billy Joe Billingsley, a troubled teenager who grew up to be a full-fledged criminal, and Jane Moss, his constant companion. Jane closed her eyes to Billy Joe’s activities until the FBI stepped in. Their journey takes you from Atlanta to Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and other southern states where the so-called Dixie Mafia flourished in the late 1960s. Billy Joe and Jane had one common thread — their hometown of Overton. Billy Joe, a true Southern gentleman, would be penalized forever for one mistake he made in his youth. Not only was he penalized by some of the people in the small town of Overton, Billy Joe penalized himself. He thought he was unworthy of their trust and friendship. Jane’s top priority was her job. Her only other interests were shoes, clothes, and where she would wear them — until the night she bumped into Billy Joe. Throughout the city of Atlanta in 1967, hippies were wandering the streets with their soulmates. Jane was no hippie, but she knew a soulmate when she saw one, and Billy Joe was definitely hers. It was obvious that Billy Joe felt the same towards Jane.

Muddy Waters invented electric blues and created the template for the rock and roll band and its wild lifestyle. Gordon excavates Muddy's mysterious past and early career, taking us from Mississippi fields to postwar Chicago street corners.

A bold exposé of the controversial secret that has potentially dire consequences in many African American communities. Delivering the first frank and thorough investigation of life “on the down low” (the DL), J. L. King exposes a closeted culture of sex between black men who lead “straight” lives. King explores his own past as a DL man, and the path that led him to let go of the lies and bring forth a message that can promote emotional healing and open discussions about relationships, sex, sexuality, and health in the black community. Providing a long-overdue wake-up call, J. L. King bravely puts the spotlight on a topic that has until now remained dangerously taboo. Drawn from hundreds of interviews, statistics, and the author’s firsthand knowledge of DL behavior, On the Down Low reveals the warning signs African American women need to know. King also discusses the potential health consequences of having unprotected sex, as African American women represent an alarming 64 percent of new HIV infections. Volatile yet vital, On the Down Low is sure to be one of the most talked-about books of the year. “A survey by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta found that nearly a quarter of black HIV-positive men who had sex with men consider themselves heterosexual.” —Essence