Acclaimed R&B singer Bettye LaVette celebrates her storied career in show business in this compelling memoir. As a teenager in Detroit, Bettye LaVette had a hit single with “My Man—He’s a Lovin’ Man.” By the time she was twenty, she had faded back into obscurity and was barely surviving in New York City. For the next forty years, despite being associated with legends such as Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, and James Brown, she remained relatively unknown outside a circle of devoted fans. Every time it seemed that her dream of stepping into the spotlight was finally coming true, bad luck smashed her hopes, again and again. Then, after a lifetime of singing in clubs and lounges, her unforgettable televised performances at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors and at President Obama’s pre-Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 2009 won her the recognition she had sought for her entire life. Bettye LaVette’s career has been a one-of-a-kind roller-coaster ride through the world of music; it has taken her from the peaks to the pits and back. In this unflinchingly honest memoir, she boldly recounts her freewheeling childhood—her parents ran an illegal liquor business out of their living room, which was frequented by some of the top acts of the forties and fifties—her short-lived conquest of the R&B world in the 1960s, her decline into poverty and despair, and her recent comeback and career revival, with two Grammy-nominated CDs and numerous appearances on major television talk shows. Poignant, brazen, and fearless, A Woman Like Me is a tour de force from one of the most outspoken female performers singing today—and she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Employing a short story format which finds an autobiographical thread, this book links together disparate times and loves in the author's life, a reassertion and reassembly of his identity in literary format. It presents an account of the author's memories, dreams and desires.

Throughout the centuries, frustration, disappointment, and despair on both sides has created a great divide between black women and black men. In the world of relationships, it has become increasingly difficult for black women to make an emotional, spiritual, and psychological connection with black men. For many women, they don't even know how to begin to put on a different "hat" and often find themselves saying, "Why can't I find a good black man?" The truth of the matter is, many black women are sinking and drowning, according to many black men. On the other side of the spectrum there are black men who also have a considerable amount of scar tissue to deal with, not the least of which has been black women who are deceitful, disrespectful, high maintenance, materialistic gold diggers with "get paid" mentalities. The end result is that many black men have become frustrated with black women and have also chosen to cross color lines in unbelievably large numbers. For those black men, having a strong Nubian queen by their side has become nothing more than a pipe dream they used to have. For them, dating outside their race is no longer taboo and no longer creates the innate feeling of betraying black women. Sadly, a lot of black men all over the country have lost love and respect for many black women. A lot of black men feel many black women have no idea how to love them, care for them, or nurture their men. They no longer believe that black women are good homemakers nor can they keep a peaceful home. This is an epidemic that has spread all over America. It is my sincere belief that the thoughts and ideas outlined in my book will help answer numerous questions with which black women continue to struggle regarding their relationships with men--particularly black American men, such as: Why will he bed me but not wed me? Why have many black women lost the love and respect of black men? Why are black men continuing to cross the fence in alarming numbers? Why are black men becoming more hesitant to approach black women? Are black men really intimidated by successful black women? Why are so many black men disappointed, discouraged, and frustrated with many black women? Why do many black men see black women as too difficult and too complicated to deal with? Why are some black men making a vow to never date or marry another black woman ever again? Why are many black women hitting home runs in their careers but striking out in their relationships and marriages? These are some of the questions that are answered in this book. This is why it was so important for me to write this book. I want to inform black women in America what they need to do to help restore the faith of good-quality black men. I want black women to understand that I am writing this book as a wake-up call. If I do my job well, perhaps these words will sufficiently energize the mind, heart, and soul of the amazing creation God called woman to stimulate positive behavioral change in her--or at least provoke a little thought. Now, I know I'm treading on thin ice here, but trust me when I say this book is not about bashing black women in America. It's a book about reality and truth. More often than not, most of us do not like to hear the truth because it forces us to take a good look at ourselves, blemishes and all. The old adage, "The truth hurts," could certainly apply here. However, another old adage is also applicable: "The truth shall set you free." By writing this book, I truly hope to make it easier for black men and woman to come together as one. I want black women to understand that just because many black men have lost faith doesn't mean that we have given up on you. The reality is that sometimes we need to be challenged, and this book will definitely challenge many black women in America to take an introspective look at themselves. Keywords: African American Women, Black Women, Woman, Black Men, Relationship, Dating, Marriage, Sex, Self-Help

Do You Want to Keep Your Man From the Arms of Another Woman? Renee-Michelles Ladies, How to Keep Your Man From a Woman Like Me delivers a unique perspective as to why and how men are drawn into the arms of another woman. With in-your-face details, this down-to-earth hard hitting guide delves into the world of seduction and exposes the mind state of the women who play the game. Within its pages, the author provides straightforward advice to girlfriends and wives who ask: ? How do I keep my man at home? ? If he is a good man, will he still cheat? ? Are they really just friends? Full of real-life stories of the men who have fallen to the other woman, and the authors unique Reverse-Seduction Principles, Ladies, How to Keep Your Man from a Woman Like Me provides practical bottom line answers. It will help you identify the type of women that go after other womens men, reposition yourself and relate to your man on an entirely new level. Once youve discovered the tricks of the trade, the rest is up to you!

Letters, To Women Like Me is a compilation of essays and poems written by best-selling contemporary poet, Mirtha Michelle Castro Mármol. The essays derive from her personal quest of self-discovery with the overall purpose of learning herself as a woman in a modern world in which old traditions are being replaced by new ideologies. Inspired by conversations she’s had with the women in her life, she poses one to ask eternal questions in regards to love, career, sex and life; all while sharing her realizations and candid answers. It is a heartfelt journey filled with potential love stories, her discovery of self-love and confidence, laced with hope and a powerful understanding that a fulfilling life starts from within.

From challenging expectations as a bright and restless child of the Windrush generation to making history as the first elected Black female MP in the UK, Diane Abbott has seen it all. A Woman Like Me takes readers through Diane’s incredible journey, painting a vivid picture of growing up in 1960s North London with her working-class Jamaican parents, before entering the hallowed halls of Cambridge University to study history. Ever since the day she first walked through the House of Commons as the first Black woman MP, she has been a fearless and vocal champion for the causes that have made Britain what it is today, whether it’s increasing access to education for Black children and speaking out against the Iraq war or advocating tirelessly for refugees and immigrants. A unique figure in British public life, Diane has often had nothing but the courage of her convictions to carry her through incredibly hostile environments, from torrential abuse in the mainstream media and on social media, to being shunned by the political establishment, including by her own party. Written with frankness and wry humour, A Woman Like Me is an inspirational account that celebrates how one woman succeeded against massive odds and built an extraordinary legacy.

At the forefront of a revolution in American motherhood, the second edition of WHAT'S A SMART WOMAN LIKE YOU DOING AT HOME? is an inspiring & affirming book that celebrates the challenges & triumphs of being a mother at home, & refutes stereotypes such as "supermom," "housewife" & "working mother." SMART WOMAN reveals what today's mothers are really feeling through thoughtful analyses of social trends, poignant essays & real life stories. Using quotes excerpted from many of the candid & unsolicited letters received, the authors expose the gap between what the media often says about mothers & what mothers say about themselves. The publisher, Mothers at Home, is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 to offer support to mothers across the country who consciously choose to devote their exceptional skills & good minds to nurturing their families. For nine years, Mothers at Home has published WELCOME HOME, a monthly journal with a readership of over 30,000. They continuously receive volumes of mail, hearing from thousands of women. In 1991, Mothers at Home published DISCOVERING MOTHERHOOD, a collection of essays written by mothers about the challenges & joys of motherhood. The first edition of SMART WOMAN, published in 1986, sold over 20,000 copies. Just revised, the authors have included updated statistics on who today's mothers at home really are. They offer public policy recommendations for creating a society that supports all mothers. Today, the choice to be at home may well be the most controversial one woman can make. What once seemed natural now invites open criticism. SMART WOMAN affirms the importance of nurturing & mothering, & speaks to the millions of mothers who have rejected some of the popular assumptions about their own careers & instead have chosen to put their children first without putting themselves last.