Sugar in the Raw: Voices of Young Black Girls in America

by Rebecca Carroll

Book Overview

With raw candor, elicited by Rebecca Carroll's perceptive questioning, 15 black women between the ages of 11 and 18, from places as diverse as Brooklyn and Seattle, Alabama and Vermont, speak out about their inner and outer lives. What they say about identity, self-esteem, the role of race in their perceptions and treatment, personal values, and their hopes for the future is both enlightening and moving. 144 pp. National pubilcity. 15,000 print.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517884976
• ISBN13: 9780517884973
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter Publishers
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Feminine Pride Shines in "Sugar in the Raw"

This small, paperback captures the emotional tales of young, African American girls from across the United States. Discussions of self-esteem, identity, racism, prejudice, and relationships permeate throughout Rebecca Carroll's book. Readers of all ages amd races come away with a profound understanding of what it means to be Black and female, but most importantly, the pride and strength that these young women carry within themselves in order to survive in America's society. Young girls of this culture will undoubtedly regard this book as a treasured resource since these humorous, personal and frank stories connect them to a sense of comaraderie, support and confidence. Carroll only reveals fifteen of fifty stories, which leaves you wanting and wondering about the rest.

Coming of Age Stories

SUGAR IN THE RAW is an inspiring collection of essays written by 15 African American young women who, as the backcover asserts, "refuse to be ignored." These girls may share a racial ancestry but their stories are as unique as they are. This thin volume contains essays from young women of all walks of life: from a bisexual homegirl in Portland trying to keep it together to a biracial girl in lily white Vermont coming to terms with who she is, the reader of SUGAR will share in all the girl's excitement, fears and triumphs. The only drawback is the the book is so short. The editor interviewed over 90 girls from around the country but only 15 are included here. SUGAR can be easily read in one sitting and will leave you wanting more. Hopefully, a SUGAR II is in the works.All in all, this book would make a great gift for a young woman of any race.

Excellent book for african-american girls

Just a short note to say that I purchased this book for two young women (12 & 14). They received the books as christmas gifts. Yes, they would have preferred clothing or cash, but once they started reading they couldn't put it down.This is the type of book that initiates conversations, questions and thoughts on some of life's harder issues.

Sugar in the Raw is a really great book.

Sugar in the Raw is such a great book. I am a 13 year old girl. Before reading this book I had the idea that all teen girls, no matter what skin color, are going through the same thing. Now that I have finished reading the book, I've learned that black girls are going through the same thing plus more. They have to deal with a lot of prejudice.They must try to prove everyones image of a black girl in America wrong. This image is all wrong and comes from Americas history. Slavery started something that hasn't competely gone away yet. This wrong idea is that white people somehow should rule over black people. That we are somehow better. I don't know how the color of your skin can determine who is better than who. The truth is everyone is unique. Everyone has at least one quality about them that is better than someone else.You can be whatever you want.The only person that determines what you are like is you.