Raise Him Up {review}

I recently recieved "Raise Him Up- A Single Mother's Guide to Raising a Successful Black Man" by Derrick Moore and Stephanie Perry Moore to review.

I figured, hey, my son is half black, I want to see what this is about.

Book Description:
There is no greater hope for single mothers than to watch their sons succeed, and African-American single mothers face more adversity than most. Raise Him Up delves into the challenges faced by African-American single moms and offers advice, scriptural support, and helpful prayers. Each chapter relates a spiritual point taken from the book of Acts, a mother's story, and draws parallels to the struggles of the modern day African-American mother. Chapters also offer stories of African-American athletes who were raised by single moms, and against all odds, succeeded.

Moms will learn to give encouragement, push their boys to try new things, and keep them out of trouble.Raise Him Up is essential reading for single African-American moms who want nothing more than to see their sons grow into happy, successful men.

My Review:

Each chapter in this book includes a Motivational Point, Spiritual Impact, Mama's Story, Athetic Fact and Inspirational Insight.

While this book is a great read for Christian Black women, It in no way takes into account a woman of another race who is raising their black child to be a STRONG Black man.  I am sure there are many women who would find this book extremely effective in their lives.  I'm just not one.  

There is one thing I'd like to point out... This book was writting BY A COUPLE.  I guess where I'm going with this, is how can they suggest they know and understand what it's like to be a single mother raising ANY child.  You may be the child of a single mother, but I promise, you don't know what it's like, UNTIL YOU DO IT.  I was a single mother.  It's not easy.  At all.

Ok..back to the book.

There are parts of the book that I liked:  The Motivational Points...Page 39 reads: 

As a single mom working hard for your son, you are an expert in giving.  You live by the motto: his needs first, yours second.  If he needs a hug and you're tired, you give it.  If he needs discipline and your heart wants to be lenient, you "woman up" and give hiim the correction he needs.

This, is correct... there are SO many times that single parents want to take the 'easy road'...  but it's not possible.
You want to get some sleep, but you've got a mouth (or mouths) to feed.

Tonight, I was tired... my husband got up, and fed our son dinner.   12 years ago, when I was single, I had to do it, tired or not. (I have a 14yr old, from a previous jerk.  I mean, man.)

The BEST part of any book for me, by far, are the ones that were relatable.  In this case, it was their Mama's Story.  While I'm (obviously) not an African American, many of their stories I can relate to from personal experience.

The story they shared that I held to the most, was one where there was nothing in the cabinet or fridge, except flour, butter and syrup.  They called their mom, who explained to them how to make flapjacks from those ingredients.  So many times, my dad made what seemed like a feast, from very little.  I remember going in the fridge, and seeing nothing, looking in the pantry, and seeing misc cans of nothingness... Lonnie (he's actually my step-father, but HE'S MY DAD) would go in, and grab a can of this, and a can of that, and then BAM...dinner.  I never would have thought a can of corn, a can of tomatoes and some leftovers could taste THAT good.  I will NEVER forget that meal.

I can't say I don't recommend the book, because honestly, if you're Christian, you can learn something.  Many of what's in the book can be used towards raising a child of any race... I think they'd have gotten a better response if it weren't racially motivated.  That said, there are SO many single black women that  do need help raising their children, I can't say that it's a bad thing, having this book geared towards them.

I will say, that there are things that, as a mixed race mom, I cannot teach my black child.  I don't disagree with this.  I am grateful that my black husband is around, to do what I cannot.  Either way, my son will be a successful black man, even if I'm not black.

My final note... I don't particularly like books that are geared toward race.  I feel that if a White, or Asian, or Mexican, or Filipino couple had written the same book, the book would have been taken in a different tone, and looked at differently.  Just my 2c.

I give the book

Disclosure:  I received this book in exchange for writing my HONEST opinion.  No agreement was made between myself and anyone (the author, pr agency, book company or other) for a positive review.  Only that I would give it my honest opinon, which I have done.  You may or may not agree with my opinons.  That's ok... like my husband always says, "opinions are like noses...everyone's got'm"

Got a different opinion?  Have you read this book?  PLEASE comment, and let me know if you agree, disagree or?