Passion, Pride, and Politickin'

Book excerpt: Praise for Passion, Pride, and Politickin': "With the Gold Pen awarded to her by the Black Writer's Alliance for this outstanding poetry collection, Ms. Sharif packs the original vision of the hip-hop generation, the urgent calling of previous and current revolutions, our youth's unfortunate despondency, and a concerned openness for evolution " ~Chezon Jackson, Rolling Out Urbanstyle Magazine"With poetic styles which vary from haiku to street-wise dramatic monologue, using the conventions of "standard" English as well as the defiance of "Ebonics"-and what comes through, no matter what the voice, no matter what the subject; is Ms. Sharif's clear moral stance: Her verse and prose sing always of the deep, innocent, compelling, human need to do the right thing and have it be done unto her." ~Joyce A. Barnes, playwright, author of "Amistad" and "Promise Me the Moon""Take time to travel with this intelligent and gracious sister. Passion, Pride and Politickin': Homegrown Poetry and Essays is a must read for poetry lovers and truth seekers alike." ~Cheryl Faye, author of "Be Careful What You Wish For""The book is packed with powerful expressions of life from a personal, as well as from a world perspective if you want a mindful of energy and inspiring thoughtful prose, Passion, Pride, and Politickin' is for you." ~Zamounde Allie, author of "As The World Burns""Ms. Sharif has established herself as heir apparent to the royal line of African-American female writers love, trust, racism, and urban culture are some of the topics she addresses, with beguiling prose and in-your-face realism ." ~Memphis Vaughan Jr., author, editor of Timbooktu.com 2001 National Gold Pen Award Winner for Best Poetry Collection