Blog Archives
The Leader Connection
The Leader Connection lays out a clear and heartfelt blueprint for what leadership can look like when connection sits at the center. The book moves through personal stories, reflections, and structured explanations of leadership styles, communication, emotional intelligence, inclusivity, and the daily habits that shape teams. It blends storytelling with guidance in a way that feels both instructional and personal. The author returns again and again to one central idea that leadership is not about authority. Leadership is about people, relationships, and the courage to show up with empathy and clarity.
The writing has an honesty that makes the lessons easier to take in. It feels like sitting with someone who has lived through the highs and lows of leadership and wants to save you a few hard knocks. Some sections moved quickly and carried a lot of detail. Still, the personal moments resonated with me. The porch conversations with family, the reflections on being only “30 percent” at times, and the admission that leadership is a lifelong balancing act. These parts made the book feel warm, real, and grounded. I appreciated that it did not pretend that leadership is neat or simple. It showed the mess. It showed the growth. It showed the heart behind the concepts.
The breakdown of the eight leadership styles was one of my favorite pieces. The explanations were straightforward and avoided the kind of buzzwords that often bog down leadership books. The author talked about transformational leadership in a way that made me feel energized. Then he moved to servant leadership and cracked it open through lived experience rather than textbook definitions. I also liked how he admitted the limitations of each style. Nothing was presented as perfect. Everything had a cost and a reward. That honesty added weight to the guidance. At times, I wished for more story and fewer lists, but even then, the content stayed practical and easy to follow. The tone felt approachable, like a mentor showing you notes from a career full of lessons, some earned the hard way.
I feel that this book would be a meaningful fit for new leaders, seasoned managers who want to reconnect with their purpose, and anyone who feels the weight of responsibility and wants a clearer path forward. It is especially fitting for people who lead with heart, or who want to. The book’s message is simple. If you focus on people, if you stay honest, if you listen, if you stay willing to grow, you can make a real difference.
pages: 186 | ASIN: B0FN1VV122
We Can Change It!
When Will BLACK Lives Truly Matter? is a powerful and deeply personal narrative that traces your journey from a troubled upbringing in Detroit to becoming a community leader and advocate for change. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Honestly, I’m afraid of growing old. We have strayed from our greatness as a black community, and no one holds us accountable anymore. With 13 grandchildren, I have transformed my life and career to stand with them and for them.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Getting frustrated with we wait until something bad happens to stand up, saying I’m going to stop watching the news!! Then my heart got heavy, you have to do something now…
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Sharing the progress made by various communities is commendable, but ultimately, this is a call to action. To truly incite change, we must actively participate in stopping gun violence and addressing Black-on-Black crime. Get involved in mentoring programs or establish one within your community. Consider engaging with initiatives like My Brother’s Keeper, Black Girls Code, The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, and Harlem Children’s Zone. Let’s unite and embody the concept of a supportive village—normalize the presence of strong Black families and encourage fathers to guide their sons towards a better path.
What do you hope readers take away from your story?
We can change! It is time to seriously consider what we can do to make meaningful changes for our future generations.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
When Will Black Lives Truly Matter?
When Will Black Lives Truly Matter? tells a story that is both deeply personal and urgently collective. The author weaves together his own past, marked by crime and survival in Detroit, with broader histories of slavery, systemic racism, and the struggles and triumphs of Black America. He doesn’t just point to the harm done by outside forces. He also calls out the need for accountability within Black communities themselves. The chapters move through personal narratives, stories from across the country, well-known figures like Emmett Till, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X, and finally toward concrete calls for reform, community building, and empowering the next generation.
The writing is raw and straightforward, which makes it hit hard. At times, it feels almost like sitting across the table from someone who has lived it all and is telling you exactly what they think, no filter. That voice has power, though occasionally it runs over details that might have deserved more depth. Still, the honesty makes up for it. Parker’s focus on personal responsibility alongside systemic reform can feel tough to wrestle with.
What I appreciated most was the balance of pain and hope. The book doesn’t just dwell on violence, racism, and despair. It shines a light on community programs, stories of people turning their lives around, and the potential of young people to lead change. The rhythm of personal anecdotes mixed with statistics and historical context kept me engaged. I respected the blunt delivery because it felt like truth spoken without polish or pretense.
I’d recommend this book to readers who want more than headlines or soundbites. It’s for people ready to sit with uncomfortable truths, people who want to hear directly from someone who has lived the complexity of these struggles. Activists, educators, and anyone working in community spaces would find it especially valuable. It’s not an easy read emotionally, but it’s a necessary one, and it leaves you thinking about what role you can play in making change.
Pages: 78 | ASIN : B0FNGMKX9J
LITERARY TITAN 