Product Description

Forty-five black women writers—known and new—discuss midlife in the first anthology of its kind

Finally, a collection that celebrates, considers, contemplates, even criticizes "midlife" from a black woman"s point of view. Age Ain"t Nothing
but a Number ranges over every aspect of black women"s lives: personal growth, family and friendship, love and sexuality, health, beauty, illness,
spirituality, creativity, financial independence, work, and scores of other topics.

Midlife today isn"t your grandmother"s "change of life." Today, black women call hot flashes "power surges," and menopause, the "pause that refreshes." These days, middle-aged women may be newlyweds or new mothers, as
well as grandmothers or widows. They may experience the empty-nest syndrome and then the "return-to-the-nest syndrome" as adult children move back home. They may navigate the field of Internet dating, travel the world,
teach homeless women, take up pottery, or study international business.

This anthology captures all of these aspects of midlife as experienced by some of the finest voices in African-American writing today. Featuring
the work of Maya Angelou, J. California Cooper, Pearl Cleage, Nikki Giovanni, Susan L. Taylor, Alice Walker, and dozens of others, Age Ain"t Nothing but a Number will make readers think, laugh, and cry and will be the perfect gift
book for spring.

Carleen Brice is the author of Walk Tall: Affirmations for People of Color (Beacon / 2811-8 / $12.00 pb), which was a Blackboard Bestseller, and Lead Me Home: An African American Guide Through the Grief Journey, and
was a contributing editor for R.I.P.: The Complete Book of Death and Dying. She has written for various publications, including Mademoiselle,
the Chicago Tribune, and BET.com, and lives in Denver, Colorado.

"Reading this medley of wisdom, laughter, reflection and love is wonderfully satisfying."
--Venise Berry, author of Colored Sugar Water

"Provocative, poignant and passionate --captures black women in our glorious mid-years. As rich and satisfying as a warm dish of peach cobbler."
-- Evelyn C. White, editor, The Black Women's Health Book

"When I grow up I want to keep on growing! AGE AIN"T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER is my roadmap. Thank you my ageless sisters."

--- Iyanla Vanzant, author of Every Day I Pray: Prayers for Awakening to the Grace of Inner Communion

"Over the years, these women -- our writers -- have named our truths. With this important anthology, they rise once again and escort us into the next phase with beauty, wisdom, humor, love and, as always, style. What a gift!"

--- Farah Jasmine Griffin, author of If You Can"t Be Free, Be a Mystery: In Search of Billie Holiday

Rather than support the unhealthy and negative attitudes toward age which are so common, Carleen Brice points us toward embracing the richness of who we are, and who we are becoming.

This is a much needed collection, providing affirmation of womanhood and teaching us that contrary to the negative programming of our culture of youth, there is life after thirty that is valuable, meaningful, and even fun."

-Johnetta B. Cole, President emerita at Spelman College, Professor emerita at Emory University, and current President of Bennett College

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #569043 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 252 pages

From Booklist
Stereotypical images have portrayed black women as sexual objects in their youths and as nannies as they age. This collection of essays, fiction, and poems offers a variety of perspectives on black women in middle age (from their late 30s through their 50s) celebrating newfound freedom from pressure and the expectations placed on younger women. The 43 contributors, famous and obscure, include Nikki Giovanni, Alice Walker, Susan L. Taylor, Rita Dove, Terry McMillan, Gloria Naylor, Maya Angelou, and Pearl Cleage. These women explore the transition into middle age-- the emotional, psychological, professional, and physical changes--from career switches to widowhood to accepting childlessless. Sober essays warn of the rising incidences of sexually transmitted disease among the aging and the facts about the approach and onset of menopause. Poems and short stories evoke the renewed sense of self and sensuality in some women as they age. The collection is arranged in four sections: personal growth, health issues, relationships, and love. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Reading this medley of wisdom, laughter, reflection and love is wonderfully satisfying." -- Venise Berry, author of Colored Sugar Water

"When I grow up I want to keep on growing! [This book] is my roadmap. Thank you my ageless sisters." -- Iyanla Vanzant, author of In the Meantime and Acts of Faith

From the Inside Flap
Finally, a collection that celebrates, contemplates, even criticizes midlife . . . but from a black woman’s point of view. Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number is the first anthology of its kind. Featuring the writing of 40 of the finest black women writers, this anthology ranges over every aspect of black women’s lives—family, friendship, love, sex, beauty, health, spirituality, work, and many other topics. Maya Angelou, J. California Cooper, Pearl Cleage, Patricia Raybon, Elyse Singleton, April Sinclair, Rita Dove, Gloria Naylor, Jewelle Gomez, Nikki Giovanni, Tina McElroy Ansa, Terry McMillan—these are just a few of the many writers showcased here. Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number tells the real story of midlife. Spirited, candid, moving, funny, and immensely readable, this anthology should make every reader stand up and dance.

Customer Reviews

Age Ain't Nothing Nut A Number
I really enjoyed this collection of writings by now middle aged African-American women, Nikki Giovanni, Susan Taylor,
J. California Cooper, Plearl Cleage, Maya Angelou, April Sinclair and many more not so famous sisters, but excellent writers with wonderful stories to tell. Not about their bouts with hot flashes, but just about life and the changes in it. It's like sitting with friends and listening to their stories, I really enjoyed it!

feeling good about yourself!
Brice's anthology - Age Ain't Nothing but a Number - is all about ways to feel good about oneself. Written from the Black Women's perspective -- an oft-whispered voice in the self-esteem arena -- this book creates a great sense of pride -- for all women -- about feeling good and feeling all the better in the process of aging. I found it very inspiring and insightful - but more so, truly a delight to read. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

It's fun growing up
After reading this book I purchased several copies and gave them to my friends as birthday presents. I found this book to be a refreshing and informative read about the aging process, mastery, and wisdom. It made facing another birthday a true blessing in the cycle called life. Unlike other societal messages, this book embraces the aging process; it made me glad not to be 20 years old and rejoice that I'm in my 40s.