Shahidah Ahmad

Sometimes Black Roses Grow on You Shahidah Ahmad

Publisher Marketing: It's an African American Tale about four courageous young Black people. It starts with their struggles at a racist, predominantly, White school. It's a place and time where they are abused by White students and teachers, where Tiana struggles with wanting to be a cheerleader in a squad where even high yellow Black girls were only there so that the school wouldn't seem so racist. But she is a Black girl the color of Iman (the model). That means, she's among the darkest of the Negro race. And she struggles with a love for a mulatto named Nicadeemius who has won the heart of the school, but who wouldn't give her a second glance except to abuse her. Will she win his heart? A good question when one of the four friends is a mulatto who is just as light skinned as he is and might seem better suited for his attention. It follows them to where Heracio - the Latino friend - enters college and finds Nicadeemius there. The question is raise: Is Nicadeemius a Muslim? And then there's Sally Turner. What can be said about Sally Turner? Later, Tiana and Phylisha work at the same job with their new friend Nancy Curtis. A beautiful, mulatto, co-worker has his eyes on Tiana; but he brings back too many memories of Tinkle High and Nicadeemius. Phylisha insists that Tiana give him a chance. But Tiana insists that he's just like Nicadeemius. Will he be able to break through the barriers in Tiana's heart? Will he fall for Phylisha? What will become of the beautiful Black roses?