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Review For
A Woman with an Issue
Author
Angela Braxton
By Simon T. Bailey
Author of
Release Your Brilliance
Simon T. Bailey is a speaker, author, inspirational coach and an expert in releasing human
potential.
That this book exists at all is a miracle.
That it was ever written is astounding.
This is a story of a woman who was so caught up in drug abuse, physical abuse, neglect,
and loss that she never should have survived, much less lived to prevail as both an author
and a social advocate.
With a calm and simple eloquence that comes from hindsight and forgiveness,
Ms. Braxton tells her story.
But that is not to say we do not feel her agony.
As she recounts her horrible cycle: alcoholism,cocaine use, treatment, the loss of her older
children, more drug use, crime, prison, more treatment, more drug use, repeated beatings
from men, more crime, more drugs, the loss of her youngest children,and still more drugs,
we gasp, we weep, and we ache with her.
So affected are we in the reading of the memoir that we often will it to be fiction, to turn out
the way we want it to.
But this book is the stuff of real life. And as such it does not indulge, but rather leaves us
dissatisfied. Not dissatisfied with the writer's style or message, no, not that at all.
But dissatisfied with our world, our society, and ourselves.
A Woman With An Issue arouses our sense of justice and compassion for all human
beings, and we are not the same after reading it.
If you have ever struggled with substance abuse or lost custody of your children, if you
have ever felt despair so great you can't climb out from under it, this memoir can offer you
strength and tangible hope. It was written for you. But even if you haven't, I urge you to
lose yourself in Ms. Braxton's biography. It has the power to revive, renew and restore your
faith in the courage and goodness of humanity and in the love and presence of God.
A Woman with an Issue
Author
Angela Braxton
By Simon T. Bailey
Author of
Release Your Brilliance
Simon T. Bailey is a speaker, author, inspirational coach and an expert in releasing human
potential.
That this book exists at all is a miracle.
That it was ever written is astounding.
This is a story of a woman who was so caught up in drug abuse, physical abuse, neglect,
and loss that she never should have survived, much less lived to prevail as both an author
and a social advocate.
With a calm and simple eloquence that comes from hindsight and forgiveness,
Ms. Braxton tells her story.
But that is not to say we do not feel her agony.
As she recounts her horrible cycle: alcoholism,cocaine use, treatment, the loss of her older
children, more drug use, crime, prison, more treatment, more drug use, repeated beatings
from men, more crime, more drugs, the loss of her youngest children,and still more drugs,
we gasp, we weep, and we ache with her.
So affected are we in the reading of the memoir that we often will it to be fiction, to turn out
the way we want it to.
But this book is the stuff of real life. And as such it does not indulge, but rather leaves us
dissatisfied. Not dissatisfied with the writer's style or message, no, not that at all.
But dissatisfied with our world, our society, and ourselves.
A Woman With An Issue arouses our sense of justice and compassion for all human
beings, and we are not the same after reading it.
If you have ever struggled with substance abuse or lost custody of your children, if you
have ever felt despair so great you can't climb out from under it, this memoir can offer you
strength and tangible hope. It was written for you. But even if you haven't, I urge you to
lose yourself in Ms. Braxton's biography. It has the power to revive, renew and restore your
faith in the courage and goodness of humanity and in the love and presence of God.
Angela and Gary
Grantees Conference in Washington, D.C.
2007
Grantees Conference in Washington, D.C.
2007
Reading A Women with an Issue was one of the most powerful experiences I have had in years.
It is a story about the ultimate strength a person can have in spite of being confronted with
everything that humanity can throw at you to keep you down. On the one hand, it is a story
about lost hope, lost innocence, lost children and just plain being lost in this country. Yet to stop
there is to miss the focus on the real message of Braxton’s memoir. It is a story of persistence,
faith and downright gutsy survival to make sure that in the end the author, her family and
community knows that she has something to offer this world and damn if anybody and any
government agency is going to keep her from her mission. It is a story about Phoenix rising.
Braxton doesn’t just rise, she glows with love, faith in God and an unending commitment to help
others who have experienced all the suffering of those who walk in that dark world of shame,
blame and self-destruction.
Never once does the author talk of the fact that on top of all the lousy cards that she was dealt,
being an African American woman in this country made life even tougher. We know of the
disproportionality of families of color who lose their children to the child welfare system. We
sadly also know that racism and sexism are all too alive and well in our country today. Without a
word being mentioned, you know she has endured those “isms” as well. But again, this is not a
story about what went wrong, although you can find plenty in the book to revile in that mindset –
rather, this is a book about guts, inner strength, allowing the powers of the spirit to transform
yourself and profound persistence in the face of odds of which I have never seen the likes.
Braxton’s story is like someone going up to the lottery ticket counter with her last dollar and
finding out the next day she won 50 million dollars. It is simply the story of a miracle. If you want
to put all your troubles and pains in perspective, A Woman with an Issue is the book to read.
If you want to see how the power of faith can lift someone up when the weight of the world has
held her down, reading this book will inspire you. Finally, if you want to witness how someone
has channeled hurt, anger and rejection into solutions and hope for herself and others, make
sure you read this book. Simply an amazing read.
Gary DeCarolis
It is a story about the ultimate strength a person can have in spite of being confronted with
everything that humanity can throw at you to keep you down. On the one hand, it is a story
about lost hope, lost innocence, lost children and just plain being lost in this country. Yet to stop
there is to miss the focus on the real message of Braxton’s memoir. It is a story of persistence,
faith and downright gutsy survival to make sure that in the end the author, her family and
community knows that she has something to offer this world and damn if anybody and any
government agency is going to keep her from her mission. It is a story about Phoenix rising.
Braxton doesn’t just rise, she glows with love, faith in God and an unending commitment to help
others who have experienced all the suffering of those who walk in that dark world of shame,
blame and self-destruction.
Never once does the author talk of the fact that on top of all the lousy cards that she was dealt,
being an African American woman in this country made life even tougher. We know of the
disproportionality of families of color who lose their children to the child welfare system. We
sadly also know that racism and sexism are all too alive and well in our country today. Without a
word being mentioned, you know she has endured those “isms” as well. But again, this is not a
story about what went wrong, although you can find plenty in the book to revile in that mindset –
rather, this is a book about guts, inner strength, allowing the powers of the spirit to transform
yourself and profound persistence in the face of odds of which I have never seen the likes.
Braxton’s story is like someone going up to the lottery ticket counter with her last dollar and
finding out the next day she won 50 million dollars. It is simply the story of a miracle. If you want
to put all your troubles and pains in perspective, A Woman with an Issue is the book to read.
If you want to see how the power of faith can lift someone up when the weight of the world has
held her down, reading this book will inspire you. Finally, if you want to witness how someone
has channeled hurt, anger and rejection into solutions and hope for herself and others, make
sure you read this book. Simply an amazing read.
Gary DeCarolis
Reviews
for
A Woman with an Issue
Author
Angela Braxton
Gary De Carolis, President
Center for Community Leadership
for
A Woman with an Issue
Author
Angela Braxton
Gary De Carolis, President
Center for Community Leadership