The Bap Handbook: The Official Guide to the Black American Princess

This book is hilarious and it perfectly encapsualtes what it means to be a BAP in America. During my BAP upbringing, I was mocked by both black and white classmates. The black students were ten times meaner to me. Each time I walked by they chanted: white girl and they repeatedly told me how unattractive I was. If reading this book upsets you then you obviously need to get a life. Books like this one are supposed to be fun and lighthearted. This one definitely is. Most forms of media and entertainment portray the negative shoot 'em up/pregnant teenager/cracked out african american. Other forms show black people shucking and jiving like minstrels. It's fantastic that these women took the time to write about the modern day black woman. Whether you fit into one of the categories or not, doesn't matter. The book shows that there is more to the black woman than the stereotype of a loud, gum popping, neck rolling hoochie named Bonquita. It highlights women with class. I loved it!

This book is hilarious. I didn't stop laughing from cover to cover. I could relate to most of it, so I recognized that this book was not written as a "How-To" but more as just something that pokes fun in order to enjoy a good laugh. It is light-hearted and entertaining. You cannot take it too seriously or else you lose the purpose anyway. So if you are reading it to learn how to become a BAP, please stop right now! But you must admit, all of us know women who fit into each and every category! That's why this book is so great! It makes a fabulous summer/beach read.

This book was meant to be LIGHTHEARTED, folks. Ease up! As a Butterfly (not a lot of money but posesses class nonethless), I found the book hilarious and refreshing. Also, for those of us concerned about the mispelled words, it looks like the newer copies have been better edited.I think most of us know that there is more to life and character than whether or not you can afford to buy Prada on sale. And of course, parents can go overboard in wanting their children to succeed. But I see nothing wrong with wanting to surround your children with the best that life has to offer (which can be done even if you're not wealthy), and wanting them to strive for excellence. Our children are just as precious as that of whites!Also, Bogus was not an example of ridiculing those of us who are poor (the Butterfly definition makes that clear distinction; Butterfiles grew up poor, but were inspired to achieve better things in life). She is an example of those among us who spend beyond their means and have the mistaken notion that you are defined by the labels on your back; she lacks any kind of substance otherwise. She has no career goals (not even that of a wife and mother, which IS a career!), no direction, no nothing. She lives from paycheck to paycheck trying to live large, and ends up being flat broke, busted and completely disgusted. It's a scene that's all too familiar in our communities. I definitely agree with the book's premise that we need to be more mindful of the names we give our children. I'm not against African or other ethnic names (My first name is persian and means "Lofty"; my second middle name, 'Nekka, is African for 'her mother is beautiful), but please let it be a REAL one! I'm sick and tired of unpronounceable hybrid-pretend names that sound horrible (Shenehneh is NOT African! Get a clue!). Our children deserve names they can be proud of and that are a reflection of the godd things we want for them.All in all, I enjoyed the book. We need to learn to laugh at ourselves more (in a healthy way).

This book is hilarious and it perfectly encapsualtes what it means to be a BAP in America. During my BAP upbringing, I was mocked by both black and white classmates. The black students were ten times meaner to me. Each time I walked by they chanted: white girl and they repeatedly told me how unattractive I was.Both of my parents had MBAs and it was expected that I would do the following: excel at school, be well-mannered at all times, attend church functions, read 5 books outside of class a week, be knowledgeable about the fine arts and be the perfect hostess.I don't understand why this book is causing such a fuss. Ten years ago, books about black folks took place in urban settings. I can't relate to growing up the 'hood, but it doesn't make the experiences of the inner city blacks any less valid than mine.I feel sorry for those BAPS and nonBAPs who are unwilling to associate with someone from a different background. I think it would be helpful if a BAP and a nonBAP wrote a book together or hosted a radio show. We are all in this together!...

Ever since I slid my frame into my very faded overalls, and my size 8 and 1/2B's into my first pair of Birkenstocks to go hiking through Mexico, I have been a BAP. Having read this wonderful book about our lives, I now know that it's okay to be Black and like tofu, soy products, wheat grass, joni mitchell and educational t.v.! Thank you for giving the rest of the world this humorous insight into our lives. My favorite part were the lists of acceptable and unacceptable BAP names. I have known too many women with some of those unacceptable ones!