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"Stimulating Historical Poetry!!!"
This is an excellent book of poetry. It consists of a variety of poetic forms and styles that are easy to understand, such as acrostic, rhyming couplets, narrative, quatrain, and freeform. The essence of the poems serves as a teaching tool or a memory refresher, depending on one’s knowledge of African-American history. Some of the poems have a sense of humor while being very serious at the same time. For instance, the rhyming couplets and message in “It Takes a Village” are outstanding. “Anger Management” really sends an awesome message regarding the existing conflicts in different areas between African-American youth.

There are... More > other ingenious poems in the book, such as, the bombing of the “Black Wall Street” in Oklahoma, which is really an eye opener for everyone (Oklahoma Bombing). “Watch What You Eat” is really a poem to live by because of the medical ailments affecting African-Americans. The Book of Leviticus as stated in the poem has some comprehensive solutions. Linda’s faith in God really shines through in this awesome book. The poem “African Burial Ground” in New York is just incredible. I visited the site several years ago and it was just a moving experience. I could write a dissertation on this excellent book; however, one must read it for oneself and feel the humbling experience. I could not put the book down once I started reading until I read the last poem, which linked some of the songs of the unforgettable Luther Vandross into a very thoughtful piece. What a great way to end a book with an awesome and uplifting poem. This book is very poignant and has a positive experience awaiting you. Get your copy today and don’t delay. There is an exciting experience awaiting you in the wonderful words of Afroetry!
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"Wonderfully Satisfying"
Afroetry is a wonderfully satisfying collection of poetry by Linda Mayfield-Hayes. In compiling this impressive opus, Hayes has attempted to shed light on the various aspects of Black history & culture that are often ignored by the media and in classrooms, and, after reading even a portion of what she has to share, you'll thank her for her commendable efforts.

As of late, discussions regarding race relations have too often been reduced to the back-and-forth slinging of hackneyed clichés and over-simplified characterizations; in Afroetry, Hayes takes a refreshing dive into real (often uncomfortable) honesty, invoking the reconciliation that can only... More > come through indulgence in real truth. Consider her take on the N-word in her poem, "Nigger":

They call me nigger
I was made in God's image
They blasphemy God.


And this passage from "Modern Day Slave":

Private companies also profit
Off the sweat of prisoners backs
The majority of these inmates
Just happen to be male blacks;


Rather than recycle rhetoric or quote statistics, Hayes aims straight for the heart of racial conflict in America, and does so quite effectively.

Of course, no treatise on Black culture would be complete without a proper sense of history, and Hayes provides numerous historical gems regarding African-American lore, including tales of the Tulsa race riot of 1921, the achievements of Farrah Gray, and even a secret female member of the famed Buffalo Soldiers. She also waxes philosophic on six year-old Ruby Bridges's experiences in integrating Franz Elementary School in "From The Mouth Of A Babe":

President Eisenhower ordered Federal Marshals
To escort her to and from school each day
As she bravely faced the threatening white mob
This is what she would silently pray:

"Please God, try to forgive these people
Because even if they say those bad things
They don't know what they're doing;


To build on its historical commentary, Hayes's collection is also rife with educational nuggets framing the current state of race relations in America. Nowhere else is this more telling than in her stinging rebuke of corporate America in "Unfairness Of Working In America":

"You're an excellent worker" they tell me
"You're really top of the class
But I'm afraid regarding that promotion
We'll simply just have to pass";


She goes on to suggest that entrepreneurship is the best path to take if true economic equality is ever to be attained - and one can hardly fault her in that assessment.

Afroetry comes in at just over 50 pages, but in its brevity is a profundity that many books twice its size often lack. Hayes has compiled a masterpiece of poetic cultural treasures that beckon to be discovered - don't miss your chance to be enriched. < Less

In celebration of Black History Month, local poet, Linda Hayes will be hosting a book signing of her book 646-204 exam, "Afroetry: Afrocentric Poetry that Educates & Motivates". Like Dr. Carter Woodson, the founder of Black History Month, Linda believes blacks should be proud of their heritage and others should try to understand it. In this book 640-460 exam, she uses poetry as a means of teaching black people about their history, heritage and culture.

Linda received an Associate in Applied Science degree in Data Processing from Kingsborough Community College and has been in... More > love with computer technology ever since 642-661 exam. Writing is her second love. She has been writing poetry since her teens and is the author of three poetry books and one childrens book
. Her poems have won first place in a couple of poetry contests. Linda currently resides in Delaware with her husband who is also a published poet VCP-310 exam. < Less