What Keeps Me Standing: Letters from Black Grandmothers on Peace, Hope and Inspiration

by Dennis Kimbro

Book Overview

In his previous bestsellers, Think and Grow Rich and What Makes the Great Great, Dennis Kimbro revealed the success secrets of highly touted entrepreneurs, corporate climbers, and Olympic athletes, as well as famous black Americans from George Washington Carver to Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, and Jesse Jackson. In What Keeps Me Standing, he turns to another group of sages and mentors: the grandmothers who have long been the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767912381
• ISBN13: 9780767912389
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Infinite Wisdom

Dennis Kimbro set about contacting the sages of our time; our grandmothers. He asked each woman to write a letter to her children and tell them something about life. WHAT KEEPS ME STANDING is Kimbro's excellent compilation of these letters.Our grandmothers are the backbone of the African-American community. Their eyes have born witness to countless events. Their hands have toiled in ways that we will never know. Their arms have offered comfort through some of life's most challenging times. Their eyes have shed tears of sadness, while their hearts have leapt for joy at the achievements of their people. These are the ones that have stories to tell that are typically not passed down in the history books. These valedictorians of the school of hard knocks are our Black grandmothers. The pages in this book pass on infinite pearls of wisdom, causing the reader to give pause and reflect on each letter. In one letter, a grandmother writes, "It is not enough to be good; we must be good for something." Another writes, "When you serve others first, you serve yourself best." This book offers profound wisdom that does its very best to capture the epitome of the human spirit. One particular letter that touched me stated to always remember that you are "still a student, still learning every day to be human...to have a live a life full of grace and mercy."Mr. Kimbro should be commended for his efforts and shown sincere appreciation for setting about the task of collecting the wisdom of our elders, our grandmothers. WHAT KEEPS ME STANDING does not disappoint. This is a must read for all who are seeking enlightenment, encouragement and self-reflection.Reviewed by Nedineof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

WOW!

I am truly and deeply touched by this book in ways that words are hardly adequate to describe. I picked it up on a whim in the bookstore, and as I pore my way through its pages, it constantly redirects me and helps me remember the countless lessons my mother, grandmother, and the other "mothers" in my life have taught me. If you are searching for an inspiration that has long since become lost in the muck and mire of everyday life; if you are looking for hope in your purpose and God given gifts again; if you are questioning your faith and the divine path before you, READ THIS BOOK. Well done, Mr. Kimbro.

The Best

If you are looking for a real good Mother's Day present as well as looking for some guidance, and you don't have the benefit of a wise old mama and grandma, well, this is the book for you. Filled with life stories, bits of wisdom,advice,poems and essays, this book will make you come back for more. Written by women in their 50s to their 100s(there were two) who give you words of wisdom and plenty advice. One of my favorite stories was from a 102 year old woman who is the oldest graduate from Spellman(she graduated in 1919), and she talked about how Mr Rosenwald would go out in the southern countryside recruiting young black women with strong Christian values and potential(she said promise)to come to Spellman. She also gave her own personal commentary on the way things were now and why she felt that although this generation had failed to do anything, there was still hope. Her story inspired me the most. A lot of women spoke of growing up in the South, knowing poverty, working for wages that were not compatible with their experience. One lady spoke about working in a laundry for over 50 years because her parents advised her that everybody has got to go out there and work, and so should she. Quite a bit spoke about husbands leaving them(and with no less than seven kids)and how they worked despite of that without the man's help. One woman, who is a great-grandmother, had to take in her four greatgrandkids, because the grandparents and parents as well as the fathers were not interested, and the mother was addicted to crack. Despite the fact that this woman is not in the best of health, she's still thriving and so are the kids(two boys and two girls ages 10-15). One woman quit school, yet went to night school and eventually became a nurse. Another became a nurse after her mother worked hard to do so. She(the daughter) in turn, turned around and helped her mother get her high school diploma and nursing school degree. I could go on and on, but with what I said, you get the point. This book is one of those books that you wish would not stop despite it all. This book deserves more than five stars.(More like 10plus for the content alone). Do yourself a favor Pick up a copy of this book. For yourself, the young mother starting out, anyone looking for a lift, and I promise you, you won't be disappointed.