Cleage, Pearl & Burnett, Jr., Zaron W. We speak your names; a celebration.

CLEAGE, Pearl & BURNETT, Jr., Zaron W. We speak your names; a celebration. Read by Pearl Cleage. 1 cd. 1 hour. Blackstone Audiobooks. 2005/2006. 0-7861-7331-9. $17.00. Vinyl; content, author notes. JSA*

In May of 2005, Oprah Winfrey held a three-day celebration of current African-American female role models as well as the ancestors. One of the highlights of the event was this Pearl Cleage praise poem. Giving tribute to living women like Alice Walker, Nancy Wilson, Oprah herself, Nikki Giovanni, Toni Morrison, Aretha Franklin, and others, the qualities of bravery, magic, and sensuality are evoked. Cleage speaks of the eagerness with which young black girls would rush to television seats to listen and dream of their own futures whenever these icons appeared. The production contains an introduction that explains the background of the event. Although covered by the media that emphasized the glitz and glamour of the occasion, focusing on designer gowns and accoutrements, Cleage makes clear that this was a celebration of sisterhood, of accomplishment, and of dreams that did not dry like a raisin in the sun. More narrative than poetic, this is an excellent addition to a multicultural collection. Nancy Crowder Chaplin, Libn., VCCW, Goochland, VA

J--Recommend for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommend for senior high school students.

A--Recommend for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.