by Emma M. Talbott Black Belt Press, 1997 Montgomery, Alabama 190 pages Softcover: $15.95

Emma M. Talbott paralyzes her parenting guide, The Joy and Challenge of Raising African American Children, with a negativity that is antithetical to the philosophy she advocates for nurturing African American children. She instructs the parent "to affirm" the Black child, but overlooks the need "to affirm" our Black parents, heritage and culture.

It is especially unfortunate that Talbott belabors the desperate circumstances of our past and present, apparently to stress "the challenge" in rearing a Black child. Our present circumstances include more crime, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, crabs-in-abarrel syndrome mentalities and unhealthy lifestyles. Accentuating specific, less published accomplishments of African Americans and proven interventions would provide a more affirmative, instructive and motivational context for presenting the parent guide.

Most detrimental, Talbott belittles her target audience, the Black parent. For example:

"Overindulging your child is a serious breach of common sense."

"No clearthinking parent can afford to leave the education and development of their children totally in the hands of formal educators and educational institutions."

"No matter how tired you are after working all day or night, you still need to spend quality time with your children."

"Telling your children to do as you say and not as you do... paints an accurate picture of you as a hypocrite."

"If your child's attitude is negative, it is a good idea to check your own."

"Wise parents lead and guide their children, not the other way around."

"Many parents dress their children in designer outfits and expensive athletic shoes...yet claim poverty when it comes to spending money on a family outing or vacation."

Moreover, Talbott exhibits--perhaps unintentionally--a strange detachment from, and disdain for, not only the Black parent, but also Black culture. Discussing Black churches, she reports, "Many churches which had limited their function to serving as Sunday morning emotional release centers are now developing meaningful outreach programs."