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Poster Child: The Kemba Smith Story
Poster Child is the memoir of Kember Smith .The story chronicles how she went from college student to drug dealer's girlfriend to domestic violence victim to federal prisioner. Her story shows how making oor choices blinded by love can have long term consequences
333 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
40 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 23, 2013
I followed this story for many years and have shared it with several young ladies prior to them going to college. To my surprise, I recently learned that Kemba Smith had finally written a book; I commend her for doing an excellent job at sharing her story with the world through this book. Poster Child is an enlightening and emotional story about college life and peer pressure, physical and emotional abuse and justice for those who receive unfair sentences. It is a story shared by many who may never tell their stories. But Poster Child should be on physical and virtual shelves of young people coming up today to serve as a reminder that our choices lead us to our realities.
August 14, 2015
Poster Child
I'm so thankful that Kemba took her time to tell her story when she was ready. I'm going to make this mandatory reading for every young girl in my circle including my three daughters! I have been waiting since I was introduced to her through "Emerge" magazine to know the whole story.
I'm so thankful that Kemba took her time to tell her story when she was ready. I'm going to make this mandatory reading for every young girl in my circle including my three daughters! I have been waiting since I was introduced to her through "Emerge" magazine to know the whole story.
April 6, 2020
A very open and honest memoir about a good girl gone bad. I highly recommend all girls read this before they start college. As parents we do the best we can to raise them, but once they leave for college anything could happen. The only downside about this book was Kemba seemed to try to justify her actions in certain situations. I would like to know why she didn't leave him as soon as she found out he was a drug dealer.
October 23, 2018
Very engaging. I first read of Kemba's story through the EMERGE article. It was interesting to read how her last months of imprisonment played out and who supported her clemency.
January 12, 2013
This book is an inspiring story that I would recommend to everyone. Kemba Smith’s story is one that few have heard. She was in an abusive relationship with Peter Hall “Khalif,” a drug dealer. She would end up going to jail serving six and half years for his crimes. Luckily she was able to gain her freedom by being pardoned by President Bill Clinton in 2000. Her story teaches women and men alike not to place their security in others and not to search for approval in the wrong places.
Poster Child: The Kemba Smith Story is about a sheltered girl that fell into the wrong crowd. She was not use to the college environment at Hampton University and eventually surrounded herself with misleading people. She dug a deep hole and lost herself over a period of three years. She meets this popular guy on campus. He was not a student. Her affection for him is a very big problem. Even though he abused her emotionally and physically many times, she still loved and cared for him. Kemba writes about this problem but discusses many viewpoints surrounding it.
Kemba’s story was comprehensive; she seemed to want to let people know her everything that happened to her. Some say the book is biased because it is an autobiography. She tells us her experiences and wants the readers to really get her story.
The book is set up chronologically. Each chapter is a continuation of the previous one. After you read each chapter, you do not want to stop. You want to know what happens next and where Kemba will end up. The book is also an organized timeline starting with her growing up at home, being released from prison, and life after prison. This setup gives her book a steady flow and makes it easy to read.
Kemba Smith did a great job writing this book. Although, she had help from Monique W. Morris, this is Kemba’s story and no one else could have done it better because it was not there story to tell. I expected a dull, boring autobiography but it was not. She put her emotions into the book; you could feel it while you read. You were in her shoes and got to experience what she went through during her dark years. She wrote in a very personal way that connected her story to a teenager’s life. She was not trying to be sophisticated but genuine as she wrote.
The part that stuck out the most was the honesty of the content. Kemba did not leave anything out or try to sugar coat her story. She was truthful about her mistakes and the wrongs in her life. This can be helpful to the readers so that they will not end up in the same situation. It can teach those in abusive relationships, to speak up and get aid. Kemba was able to get free and others can too. Poster Child will give women and men in difficult situations like hers hope.
Poster Child: The Kemba Smith Story is about a sheltered girl that fell into the wrong crowd. She was not use to the college environment at Hampton University and eventually surrounded herself with misleading people. She dug a deep hole and lost herself over a period of three years. She meets this popular guy on campus. He was not a student. Her affection for him is a very big problem. Even though he abused her emotionally and physically many times, she still loved and cared for him. Kemba writes about this problem but discusses many viewpoints surrounding it.
Kemba’s story was comprehensive; she seemed to want to let people know her everything that happened to her. Some say the book is biased because it is an autobiography. She tells us her experiences and wants the readers to really get her story.
The book is set up chronologically. Each chapter is a continuation of the previous one. After you read each chapter, you do not want to stop. You want to know what happens next and where Kemba will end up. The book is also an organized timeline starting with her growing up at home, being released from prison, and life after prison. This setup gives her book a steady flow and makes it easy to read.
Kemba Smith did a great job writing this book. Although, she had help from Monique W. Morris, this is Kemba’s story and no one else could have done it better because it was not there story to tell. I expected a dull, boring autobiography but it was not. She put her emotions into the book; you could feel it while you read. You were in her shoes and got to experience what she went through during her dark years. She wrote in a very personal way that connected her story to a teenager’s life. She was not trying to be sophisticated but genuine as she wrote.
The part that stuck out the most was the honesty of the content. Kemba did not leave anything out or try to sugar coat her story. She was truthful about her mistakes and the wrongs in her life. This can be helpful to the readers so that they will not end up in the same situation. It can teach those in abusive relationships, to speak up and get aid. Kemba was able to get free and others can too. Poster Child will give women and men in difficult situations like hers hope.
December 5, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, it is a true story, and in a lot of ways a tragic one, despite all of the best intentions, her parents and her family doing all of the right things. This young lady still took a wrong turn, seeking approval and acceptance in the wrong places. I had read about her story about fifteen years ago, and while there was not much more that I could do except write congressmen and pray about it. I am delighted that the story had a peaceful ending. I would recommend this book to many, many folks, for it is an example of how a family is supposed to help and protect one another, and how perfect strangers can be helpful and protective of other perfect strangers despite the fact that it is still a cold cruel world out there. Thank you Kemba for telling your story, it should give some peace to others that have trod your path, and I am happy to see her on this side of the gray bars.
September 25, 2018
I enjoyed that this was a much more realistic perspective of women in federal prison than Orange Is the New Black. It is telling that Kerman (OITNB), who is white, was convicted on a more serious crime, and only spent 18 months in the same prison Smith, who is black, was sentenced to 24.5 years. I had the pleasure to see Smith speak at a gathering of criminal defense lawyers and I think she is much better spoken than she is a writer.
Despite leaving me more enraged about the inequalities of our justice system than my usual simmer, I enjoyed the book.
Despite leaving me more enraged about the inequalities of our justice system than my usual simmer, I enjoyed the book.
March 9, 2014
Inspiring book and well written.
January 17, 2021
Poster Child, a memoir by Kemba Smith, was compelling and frustrating. My frustration has two components: frustrated about our justice system, which stems from my humanity, and frustration about Smith’s choices and interpretations of her choices, which stems from my white male privilege.
In 1994, Smith was sentenced to a mandatory 24 1/2 years in federal prison, with no chance for parole, despite being a first time, non-violent offender. She was a drug dealer’s girlfriend and convicted of conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. The legislation’s goal was to persuade other dealers’ companions to abandon their relationships and/or reveal their enterprises to law enforcement. Of course, the strategy failed. Instead it sent wives, girlfriends, and other companions to prison—often in lieu of the actual offender—to endure physical, sexual, and psychological abuse perpetrated by or tolerated by prison officials.
Smith certainly earned some consequences, from my perspective, but not 24 1/2 years. Her story reminded me of another book I’ve read called These Eyes. That author and Smith courageously wrote about surviving abusive intimate relationships, which Smith wrote about as “battered wives syndrome.” Research shows “that there is usually more of an intense attachment call traumatic bonding that develops when a person is both treated nicely at times by the man she is involved with, alternating with periods of abuse, sometimes very severe, that includes threats to kill the individual or her family.” Simply walking away from that level of psychological enslavement may not be perceived as possible by the woman (or man) receiving the abuse. Additionally, partner abuse in the 1990s was culturally acceptable among Smith’s friends as this tragic paragraph revealed: “Katiya nonchalantly referred to abuse as simply an unpleasant, but natural, part of having a relationship. On this day, she said nothing about what had obviously happened to me. No one did. No one asked me what happened. No one told me to stay in the house. No one told me not to get back in his car. None of my friends told me to get out of the relationship, they just stood silently, watching me rush through the house and walk quickly back to the door.” And before we point fingers, I’d argue the acceptance of partner abuse persists in far too many families in 21st-century America.
President Clinton granted Smith clemency in December 2000. She served her five years of probation, reunited with her son and parents, and published this book in 2011.
My coworker recommended this book as she started learning about restorative justice as an alternative to punitive justice. While I would not have picked up this book without her recommendation, I am glad that I read it and that I read it this winter, a winter in which social justice, enfranchisement, and dozens of other rights and privileges still seem tied to the amount of pigmentation in skin tissue. It’s a stupid quality upon which to base treatment of fellow humans, but we humans (especially in the US) seem to choose easy and stupid over difficult and thoughtful more times than not.
In 1994, Smith was sentenced to a mandatory 24 1/2 years in federal prison, with no chance for parole, despite being a first time, non-violent offender. She was a drug dealer’s girlfriend and convicted of conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. The legislation’s goal was to persuade other dealers’ companions to abandon their relationships and/or reveal their enterprises to law enforcement. Of course, the strategy failed. Instead it sent wives, girlfriends, and other companions to prison—often in lieu of the actual offender—to endure physical, sexual, and psychological abuse perpetrated by or tolerated by prison officials.
Smith certainly earned some consequences, from my perspective, but not 24 1/2 years. Her story reminded me of another book I’ve read called These Eyes. That author and Smith courageously wrote about surviving abusive intimate relationships, which Smith wrote about as “battered wives syndrome.” Research shows “that there is usually more of an intense attachment call traumatic bonding that develops when a person is both treated nicely at times by the man she is involved with, alternating with periods of abuse, sometimes very severe, that includes threats to kill the individual or her family.” Simply walking away from that level of psychological enslavement may not be perceived as possible by the woman (or man) receiving the abuse. Additionally, partner abuse in the 1990s was culturally acceptable among Smith’s friends as this tragic paragraph revealed: “Katiya nonchalantly referred to abuse as simply an unpleasant, but natural, part of having a relationship. On this day, she said nothing about what had obviously happened to me. No one did. No one asked me what happened. No one told me to stay in the house. No one told me not to get back in his car. None of my friends told me to get out of the relationship, they just stood silently, watching me rush through the house and walk quickly back to the door.” And before we point fingers, I’d argue the acceptance of partner abuse persists in far too many families in 21st-century America.
President Clinton granted Smith clemency in December 2000. She served her five years of probation, reunited with her son and parents, and published this book in 2011.
My coworker recommended this book as she started learning about restorative justice as an alternative to punitive justice. While I would not have picked up this book without her recommendation, I am glad that I read it and that I read it this winter, a winter in which social justice, enfranchisement, and dozens of other rights and privileges still seem tied to the amount of pigmentation in skin tissue. It’s a stupid quality upon which to base treatment of fellow humans, but we humans (especially in the US) seem to choose easy and stupid over difficult and thoughtful more times than not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2017
The book Poster Child The Kemba Smith Story is a great book to read. This particular author of this book came to my church about two years ago. Before selling her book she pretty much shared with the congregation her life story. She particularly was trying to reach out to younger girls and boys. She was raised by good parents. She had graduated from high school and made her way to college. But she came across some mountains. She was lost for a moment. She began dating a drug dealer and was abused physically. Sometimes we get ourselves in situations and we do not realize how far we have gotten until she had to start lying to others that mean the most to us. She was lost and felt like she did not have a way out. She becomes locked up and this is her very first time being locked up. She has no chance to get out either. She kept the faith and pressed on day to day. She had served 6 years but she never gave up. When she came to my church her story to the children was to never settle. Just because it glitters does not mean that its good for you. And he message to the girls was never let a man be abusive in any shape fashion or form. Her last words were time waits for nobody, pick your friends wisely.
April 17, 2019
This book is an absolute must for any young lady to read. Really, a read for anyone. This book entails of Kemba Smith's story from a college student, drug dealer's girlfriend, to inmate. There are many stories of unfair sentencing in the United States, particularly with African American women. Ms. Smith is a solider for justice and has set the trail for other Black women and men who have been treated unfairly by the American justice system. This is a cautionary tale for those young ladies who are involved with a man based on what he has. It may be all good in the beginning and then...BOOM, he has all types of issues going on. Do not associate with any guy (or woman) based on their status and materialistic things. You never know what they have going on secretly. She encourages individuals to be aware of who they associate themselves with. Also, to be a warrior for justice. Ms. Smith did a great job with telling her story.
December 31, 2025
This book is Kemba’s memoir detailing how her falling for a drug dealer during her college years led to her imprisonment. It’s a tragic story of all that she endured during and after the relationship with this man but fortunately it has a happy ending thanks to the help of activists, her family support and legal representation. This is a great read for young adults graduating from high school transitioning into the real world to warn them about how important the company they keep is. Great read! So happy her story had a happy ending.
June 24, 2018
What is remarkable about this author, Kemba Smith-Pradia, is that she is still working to help release other women serving harsh sentencing produced by the federal governments so-called "War On Drugs" during the 1990's. I follow Kemba's blog as well to see what she and some politicians (Maxine Waters), legal groups (FAMM & LDF), and sororities are currently working on to change these unjust laws.
Well deserved five 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 rating.
Well deserved five 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 rating.
October 7, 2018
I first learned of “Kemba’s Nightmare” from her Emerge cover story, and it stuck with me for years. I recently had the opportunity to meet her and talk with her about her life since.
I read this book in one evening. It’s THAT engrossing. I’m in the criminal justice reform space and have read many texts about the War on Drugs. Few affected me the way this one did. She has as amazing story, she tells it honestly and vividly. Highly recommend for everyone - but especially young adults that risk getting caught in the system as Kemba did. I also believe it’s a must read for those seeking to understand the role domestic violence and abuse played in the involvement of so many girlfriends/wives in so called “drug conspiracies” and why so many ended up in prison because of it.
Five stars.
I read this book in one evening. It’s THAT engrossing. I’m in the criminal justice reform space and have read many texts about the War on Drugs. Few affected me the way this one did. She has as amazing story, she tells it honestly and vividly. Highly recommend for everyone - but especially young adults that risk getting caught in the system as Kemba did. I also believe it’s a must read for those seeking to understand the role domestic violence and abuse played in the involvement of so many girlfriends/wives in so called “drug conspiracies” and why so many ended up in prison because of it.
Five stars.
November 23, 2025
A Bla,k Woman's Reminder We are Still at War
The beginning and endings were the best parts". I am sure that Means wanted to give credit to everyone who supported her, but the story was missed during some of the name-calling, I would have been more interested in her son's adjustment to her taking her place as Mama. How about her friends? Is there a relationship with the other son? How was she able to finish school and continue parenting. So many challenges!
The beginning and endings were the best parts". I am sure that Means wanted to give credit to everyone who supported her, but the story was missed during some of the name-calling, I would have been more interested in her son's adjustment to her taking her place as Mama. How about her friends? Is there a relationship with the other son? How was she able to finish school and continue parenting. So many challenges!
November 25, 2024
The Bias Of Our Legal System
I learned so much about the struggles young women go throw. Reading this book made think of what .y daughter may have gone throw when she sent away to college, but has not shared with me.
It was really interesting reading. Kemba is to be congratulated for struggles she went threw with the system as well with her drug dealing boyfriend
I learned so much about the struggles young women go throw. Reading this book made think of what .y daughter may have gone throw when she sent away to college, but has not shared with me.
It was really interesting reading. Kemba is to be congratulated for struggles she went threw with the system as well with her drug dealing boyfriend
April 5, 2018
Very good read
I remember her story but never read the book. Glad I read the book to really understand. It's crazy how that could have happen to her and so many others. Glad that her life is going so well now
I remember her story but never read the book. Glad I read the book to really understand. It's crazy how that could have happen to her and so many others. Glad that her life is going so well now
May 29, 2024
I learned so much in this book about the institution and how crazy it is that because of the association you have with a person or a group how that affects and impacts the trajectory of your life. It's really crazy how unfortunate that is but all the more.
December 19, 2020
This is not a happy book. But it deserves the accolades given because this story had to be told. This could have happened to any of us. I’m so glad she had her son and parents to keep her going.
March 5, 2024
This book tells how a person can get caught up in a situation that goes from bad to worse. It is an easy read. It is well written. It is a must read for everyone. It is a cautionary tale.
March 13, 2024
Excellent Cautionary Tale!
Watching the movie Kemba brought me here.
This an excellent cautionary tale that should be required reading in high schools and colleges.
Watching the movie Kemba brought me here.
This an excellent cautionary tale that should be required reading in high schools and colleges.
September 23, 2024
love Biographies
I read this book because I remember Ms Smith’s story. It gave me understanding of what happened to Ms Smith
I read this book because I remember Ms Smith’s story. It gave me understanding of what happened to Ms Smith
December 17, 2024
A Heartfelt Story!
This story shows how living a sheltered life can be detrimental to your future. Not to mention how easy it is to get caught up wanting to be accepted by people.
This story shows how living a sheltered life can be detrimental to your future. Not to mention how easy it is to get caught up wanting to be accepted by people.
January 28, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, it discusses some of the flaws in our judicial system. The typical story though in regards to women who date drug dealers.
June 24, 2018
This memoir gets another five 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 rating from me.
November 11, 2016
Very real!
Her experience is very real with what is going on in the system! We have a long way to go as a country!
Her experience is very real with what is going on in the system! We have a long way to go as a country!
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February 2, 2018I really enjoyed this book. Its showed how easy it is to get in trouble but not easy to get out of. Its a little mature, but i thing young girls should definetly read this story. I feel young girls would learn alot about what they should look out for and what to expect in college. What really angered me was so much love she had for khalif yet he still beat her and did some cruel things. Overall I think this book is amazing and should be way more popular then it its and im grateful kemba shared her story with the world.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews