Author Keith G. Wright has released the latest addition to his “Ain’t No Joke” series. Unlike his previous two books – one about being a successful parent and another about surviving the teenage years – this one is about something he’s never gone through…being a woman. Does a man – or even this man – have what it takes to write a book about the struggles and roadblocks that modern women face on a daily basis?
“The World of Women Ain’t No Joke: Beautiful, Intelligent, & Powerful in an Unforgiving World” is a look into the realities that women throughout history have faced. From the times of our forefathers (or foremothers) fighting for equal rights to today’s woman who fights a glass ceiling and the derogatory entertainment media, the female gender has always had obstacles to overcome. Wright paints a passionate picture of women’s history and an alarming look at the future as he urges our society to stop its disrespectful behavior towards the female sex. He concludes his book with a call to all women to take responsibility for the fate of their daughters and granddaughters – to speak out against the injustices. Men can’t be blamed for everything and “it isn’t always a man at the helm of a disaster.”
Wright does a very thorough job of presenting statistical data to show that our ‘modern’ world isn’t as fantastic and enlightened as we may think it would be. Violent crime, divorce, AIDS rates, and lack of education are only a few of the problems. Wright advocates American women to take the lead on and fight globally. I think his most astounding point in the book is made when paralleling the modern woman’s current plight with the downfall of Black America. “Women and Black America shared a similar rise throughout the Civil Rights Era, and it appears, at the current rate of degradation, they may share a similar fall…today Black America is spinning out of control, and out of relevance…and America’s women seem bent on blazing the same trail, eyeing a very similar fate.” He also notes the double standard on racial slurs – Don Imus’ words still ringing strong in our ears but D.L. Hughley’s comments on Jay Leno’s show were heard by millions but no public outcry ensued.
“The World of Women Ain’t No Joke” is not at all what I expected. Admiration coupled with inspiration and motivation, his writing reaches across the boundaries of race, religion, and even gender. I found myself more and more intrigued as I got deeper into Wright’s message in this book of empowerment. Women of all ages are sure to find “The World of Women Ain’t No Joke” informative and eye-opening while men can learn to be more respectful sons, boyfriends, husbands, and fathers.
As the son of a single mother, Keith G. Wright took his first-hand perspective on what life is like for today’s woman and put it into beautiful, intelligent, and powerful words. Advocating for a better society tomorrow, he urges today’s women to take a stand against disrespect, devaluation, and objectifying while fighting for whatever cause the world needs them to succeed at. Regardless of race, religion, or gender, “The World of Women Ain’t No Joke” is a superb tribute to the past and an empowering message for our society’s future. So what do I think of a man – this man – writing this kind of book? I think his mama raised him Wright.
Ain’t No Joke, Inc. (2008)
ISBN 9780977834228
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (1/08)
The World of Women Ain't No Joke by Keith Wright - Book Review
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