Our Time Has Come

I just finished this book and I am doubly impressed. I laughed, I cried and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I was able to put myself in every place, on every street and imagine all the people. I am an avid reader and I own and collect several books. Sylvester Stephens will definitely be in my collection. I really liked it and I am passing it on to my friends who like to read, as well. Sylvester, you are so talented and I am hanging onto the edge of my seat waiting for 'Office Girls' to hit the stands. Thanks.

Have you ever read a book that touched you so deeply, and days later you find yourself still thinking about the experience? Its hold is so magnetic that simple every day actions draw you back to the book even more. OUR TIME HAS COME is that kind of book and its timing is incredible. It focuses on why our rights are so important, why we as African Americans must continue to fight for them, and why we can't afford to become lackadaisical about them. This story is about three generations of the Chambers family. The chronology begins with Alexander and Annie Mae Chambers who realized the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation was not enough to give colored families complete freedom and equality. Alexander believed that more needed to be done in the area of civil rights and that his son, Isaiah, would continue to carry the torch to help their family overcome the manacles of slavery. Isaiah would marry Orabell and after being chased out of Mississippi, would become a well-known activist for human rights. He continued the legacy left by his father believing that all men are created equal and fighting for that belief to the end. Unfortunately, his life was cut short and he never got a chance to see his son, Solomon. Orabell gave Solomon the best of everything; the only thing she couldn't give him was the same drive and determination that the former Chambers men had. Solomon would marry Sunshine and struggle with understanding the battle for equality. He would in fact struggle with this battle until 2007 when he would have to step up to the plate to save the nation and his race from self-destruction. Sylvester Stephens has written a very powerful and moving account of being black in America and just how close we are to losing our rights if we're not careful. Each character was so delicately woven into the fabric of this book that I came away feeling like a very close relative. Using each of the main characters, he traced the fight for freedom from the turbulent years following the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, through the chaotic times of the civil rights movement of the 60's and 70's, and through the fictitious maneuvering of the political scene of the future. Although this was a work of fiction, it made me sit up and think about how precious freedom is. Considering the election in our country this year, this is a timely and well-engineered book, and should be a wake up call to Black America. Everything may not be as guaranteed as we think. It would be a shame for our time to come and go and we not realize it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be adding Mr. Stephens to my list of authors to read. Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

It most certainly has and this book re-inforces that we as Black People need to realize that Our Time Has Come. As I was riding the train but lets go back. When I finished this book at home yesterday many thoughts and emotions flooded me concerning the effects that this book put on me. I wanted to quote from the book to show you the passages that shook me to my core and remind me of who I am and from whence I came...A Black Man living in the United States of America in the year 2004. I was absolutely giddy as I was going to write about this book and go on and on but in the end all I can say and will say is PLEASE PURCHASE THIS BOOK. I will say this (smile). Our Time Has Come brings up a very interesting point in regards to our nation's history... If the 14th and 15th Amendment guranteed citizens born in the United States the right to vote regardless of race then why do we have the Voting Rights Act? It is time for us to make our voices heard. In 1865 the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln which abolished slavery and made Black men and women free. X years later, are we truly free? If anyone has read this book PLEASE send me a note ([email protected]). I am so wanting to share my thoughts about this wonderful book. 2004 has been a banner year for me and books. The Known World, The Darkest Child, and now Our Time Has Come. Our Time Has Come is written by Sylvester Stephens. Juss