SWEET ORISA

He has a Black Panther flag and a red, black and green flag sticking out on either side of his porch. I feel safer when Im close to Mr. Johnsons house. Not all the kids like him but wont none of them disrespect him or do anything crazy near his house. Not even Chuck. Thats for sure. They say Mr. Johnson and his crew carries guns. You about have to around here. -from the short story Concrete Rose Where are the voices of light and conscience that are not afraid to illuminate the underbellies of the critical issues facing todays African-American family and Americas neglectful treatment of the whole family structure? Sweet Orisa is a collection of short stories that gives force to the many young voices that have been left out of the dialogue of African-Americans elders and social elites. Author Marquis R. Naves voice permeates Sweet Orisa as the clear call of a neorealist African-American following in the footsteps of James Baldwin and Toni Morrison. The voice within these pages forces it way into the exclusive conversation. The author deals with the challenges of attaining communityhood, self-determination, equality, and the recognition of African- American humanity. Emotional and evocative, the stories in Sweet Orisa comprise a journey centered in rage, loss, and frustration that transforms to forgiveness, self-determination, and identity._,