What do You think about I Wish I Had A Red Dress (2002)?
Our Own RealityJoyce Mitchell is a devoted social worker, an optimist and a widow. Since the loss of her husband, she founded the Sewing Circus - a place for young women where they can receive assistance, job counseling, GED classes, daycare, and development into becoming ‘free’ women. Joyce and the Sewing Circus have been in business for two years and now they have to find a way to keep the program funded. Nate Anderson is new to Idlewood. He’s the Assistant Principal at the high school. Friends of Joyce’s have been unsuccessful at setting her up. This time it appears that Nate, a former cop, who is looking for a way to connect to the young males before the cuffs, just may be the one. With so many issues arising between the young ladies and males in the community, it seems to keep Joyce and Nate on opposing sides. Will they ever find a common ground?In this second installment, readers are introduced to individual members of the Sewing Circus as well as other residents of Idlewild. I absolutely LOVE the way the author utilizes certain black male stars as positive males and how through black movies they are able to analyze life and see things in a different way and apply it to their own lives. Both the title and cover play an important part into the journey of the lives of those in the story. I really enjoyed this book.4.5
—Nardsbaby Reader
I loved everything about this book,the prose, the characters, the story with a couple of exceptions. The idea that it was somehow within men's purview to protect women from other men. As someone who has had to claw tooth and nail from the maw of ruin all the while being told that all I needed to do was find some man to protect me, I have to say that's one of the most dangerous ideas ever proffered from a feminist that I've ever heard. It was only when I started ignoring all that nonsense and took it upon myself to protect myself and care for myself, that life got any better for me. Oddly enough, at that exact moment most meaningful support for myself and my children pretty much ended. I can only think that it was in the best interest of everyone (except for myself and my children) that I stay vulnerable and dependent, and once I broke away from that to make my own decisions people washed their hands of me.This is the crux of whatever problem that exists between the sexes. An outright refusal to literally see each other as equals. Not the same, but equal. Every man isn't as strong, as fast, as intelligent as every other. But no one would think less of one man for winning a fight through strength, while another won through speed, and another through manipulation of the fight. The same is true for women.Men are not responsible for our safety, we are! So, go take your self defense and martial arts classes, learn how to shoot a gun, call the police, educate yourself, and teach other women to do the same. Stop waiting around for some dude to show up on a white horse. He may never come, and then where will you be?
—Leslie
