In his previous bestsellers, *Think and Grow Rich * and What Makes the
Great Great, Dennis Kimbro revealed the success secrets of highly
touted entrepreneurs, corporate climbers, and Olympic athletes, as well
as famous black Americans from George Washington Carver to Bill Cosby,
Oprah Winfrey, and Jesse Jackson. In What Keeps Me Standing, he turns
to another group of sages and mentors: the grandmothers who have long
been the backbone of the African American family and community.
Over a period of five years, Kimbro contacted one thousand
grandmothers--women from a wide range of backgrounds and
locations--asking, "If you had to write a one page letter to your
children or the next generation, what would you tell them about life?"
Their answers, collected here, show that success in life cannot be
measured in terms of wealth and material goods alone. The lives they
describe and the advice they proffer capture both a richness in spirit
and a strong belief in the power of every individual to take charge of
his or her own destiny. In the face of racism, both blatant and subtle,
financial struggles, and personal setbacks, black grandmothers have
helped their communities in thousands of tangible and intangible ways,
providing support, inspiration, and love not only to their own children
and grandchildren but also to neighbors, friends, and extended families.
Filled with examples of how even the smallest acts of kindness and
compassion can make a difference in the world, What Keeps Me Standing is
a treasure trove of the wisdom that comes with years of experience,
transformation, and growth. It is the perfect gift.
