My Rose: An African American Mother's Story of AIDS

by Geneva E. Bell, Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. (Foreword)

AIDS continues to be a forbidden topic in the African American community. My Rose is Geneva Bell's moving story of her gay son, Jeffery, as he lived with and eventually died of AIDS. It is a plainspoken, personal account of a mother's devastation, of her shame and her anger at God - but also of the deep faith that enabled her to come to terms with this tragedy, even without the full support of the church.
Study questions are provided at the end of each chapter for individual reflection and group discussion. A list of suggested resource books and organizations is also included.

86 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Loocuh Frayshure · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing in how obfuscated some of the story is and how centered it is on the mom and not the gay son, but the biggest detraction for many is probably the relentless God rambling this features. It’s nonstop. And it’s a cope, which is fine, but it eats up so much of the brief 80 something pages that you almost wonder why bother?

This is no Death Be Not Proud, unfortunately.

[Mrslee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think for a book this small, a foreword, preface, & introduction was unnecessarily. However, the mother's experience was described in gripping detail!

[Jakki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rev Jeremiah Wright (President Obama's former pastor) wrote the forward in this book as it was his church that the author and her son were members of.

An eye-opening story written by an African-American Christina mom about her son with AIDS. The judgement she felt from some of her church friends was hard to read as were the passages about fmaily secrets. Ultimately she learns forgiveness towards those who are ignorant. Healing and acceptance for and about her son results in a "good death" for him.

[Angie]

This book doesn't deserve any stars it was a huge disapointment. For such a meaning full topic she leaves out all details, and all emotions and just focuses on god. I was annoyed by how much she mentioned the word and I forced my self to read to page 38 before quiting.