Uprising: Who the Hell Said You Can't Ditch and Switch -- The Awakening of Diamond and Silk

by Lynnette Diamond Hardaway, Rochelle Silk Richardson

Coming on the threshold of what promises to be the most acrimonious presidential election in American history, Diamond and Silk’s book will be a rallying cry for tens of millions of Americans who are tired of being told what to think and whom to vote for. Diamond and Silk’s story is one of overcoming poverty and shame and choosing victory over victimhood. Theirs is a story that defies the left’s narrative and that the mainstream media refuses to acknowledge, accept, and respect.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2020

About the author

Lynnette Diamond Hardaway and Rochelle Silk Richardson are sisters from North Carolina. The Duo rose to prominence in 2015 receiving media attention for their support for President Donald J. Trump. Diamond and Silk are American live-stream video bloggers, social media personalities, political activists and Fox Nation hosts.

Reviews

[Jacquie Stricklind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every voter should read this book! These two women are so real they tell it like it is, it is so refreshing! The reader will find out what made Diamond and Silk change political party and want to campaign for Donald Trump. This book also tells their story of their lives and how important their parents and their faith are to them. Diamond and Silk you totally rock!

[Amit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vote.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has a story to tell and sometimes they can actually tell a story that's interesting, exciting, and thought-provoking. Diamond and Silk are the nicknames of two outspoken African-American sisters, actually born ten months apart, who put out entertaining videos where they speak their minds, often about politics, and let the chips fall where they may. And, they are unlikely video stars, with grandparents who were poor North Carolina sharecroppers, with one of them carrying a baby in high school yet still graduating, and working at looms in the textile mills. That being the textile mills that once dotted the Southern landscape and seemed to disappear overnight with NAFTA and the other trade deals along with the jobs and the lifeblood of small towns when the factories moved across the border or overseas in search of ever-cheaper labor. And, what jobs were left seemed to be snatched up by those here illegally who could underprice in the labor market people who'd been here all their lives. It wasn't until 2015 that Diamond and Silk found a political candidate who spoke to these concerns. It was their vocal support for President Trump that catapulted them to national fame. The book chronicles their newfound fame and their subsequent difficulties with censorship at Facebook and YouTube as attempt after attempt was made to silence their voices and diminish them. "Uprising" is so well-written that the reader feels as if they are actually listening to the back and forth between these two sisters on a podcast. This is accomplished by alternating between plain text (Diamond's voice) and italicized text (Silk's voice).

[booklady]

These two ladies are hilarious! (Google them if they are unfamiliar; their program along with a host of others have been subject to canceling by popular media sites such as Facebook.) Humor is one of the highest forms of wisdom, which makes the fact our country can no longer laugh at itself so tragic. We need to regain that! Instead of humor, we have embraced fear, fear-mongering, ridicule, violence, canceling, denying the truth and so many other weapons of the real enemy.

Was thrilled to read an article about them this morning in the Epoch Times and will get to this as soon as I can!!!

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant. I had never heard of these ladies before. But the cover got my attention and kept it. They are detailed, and thorough in everything they say. They are Fearless in their Trump support and ideas. Their style is admirable. The back and forth between the sisters is exactly how they are live and on the podcast. It was like reading an easy conversation at the kitchen table with some good food, and friends on a Friday night. The one thing missing is how they got the book deal and what lead to that. I would have liked to see more.

[CHERYL A POLING · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim because I follow these ladies On social media.Very good to read I could not put it down. This book tells you about their life as a Democrat and why they switched to the Republican party. Great read learned a lot about them.

[Matt Hoffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

DIAMOND OH DIAMOND
SILK OH SILK

Great quotes such as “That’s right, Diamond” and “I remember that, Silk”.

It’s all fun and games until Diamond and Silk say that COVID-19 is a deep state conspiracy.

[Adrienna · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you do not want to be judgmental or turned off from the reading based on a political person they voted for and later biggest fans, skip the intro or preface, and the other half of the book after page 90+ pages.

My first issue with the read, I cannot tell which sister is speaking. It took up to chapter 4 to realize that one sister (Diamond) is speaking in regular font text and the other sister (Silk) is italics. This should have been established in the preface or intro. I did get confused in chapter 2/3 when the sisters both got pregnant at 17 years old, and had to go back when I got to chapter 4, to see the difference to realize that one sis had a girl (Silk) and other had a boy (Diamond). Further along, I chuckled or shook my head at statements like "mouth from the south", p68 'kickback paddy whack' where I asked myself what does this statement mean? Rhyming is one thing, understanding the statement is another. I can only grasp that they were upset or frustrated with jobs being kicked to illegal immigrants overseas is how they put it on this page.

Good reminder statement: People try to break your spirit or stop your flow--they have a problem with themselves (p 72, paraphrased). Furthermore, when Diamond was sick with blood count, I like how she thanked those praying, but clearly said they did nothing (but just that, words without action, agree with this...people will pray for you but sadly do nothing to really help you).

After 90 or so pages, it didn't work for me. It largely focused on their travels to follow the candidacy during the presidential elections, when he won, shameless plugs, subtle bashing and sadly they got so-called bashing in their interviews with black men...

Overall, I strongly believe "Uprising" was ghost-written by Candace Owens since I read her book before this one entitled "BlackOut" and noticed her writing voice in the chapter "Your haters make you greater" and towards the ending chapters i.e. using the term "left" of which is a term that Candace uses frequently in her book, views stemmed from slavery and political position on the Dem. Party such as enforced by Jim Crow laws--claiming to intimidate, manipulate, keep black pop. stuck and stifle their reach (see page 128). The ladies/sisters attempted to defend Donald J. Trump, white supremacy and especially the statement "Make America great again".

Lastly, I do not disagree with ditch the party and choose the person. This should go both ways, not just shaming the Dem Party to switch to Rep. party, vice versa, since it is about the person or so-called best candidate. They didn't mention as pastor kids that we are to pray for our leaders in general, and this is what I do before voting. all politicians in my opinion are in the office for gain, not to help the people, and we the people, can stand up aside from vote but make our voices loud and proud in the local areas before it even gets to the president. Work on the little fires and also focus on the ones that can help this country as a whole.

I borrowed a copy from library.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gurl! This is probably a publisher's dream. That's right! It seems that this book is presented in style that was easy for authors Diamond & Silk, as all their publisher had to to do was turn on the tape recorder and the gurls went for it. Mm-Hmm. The reader just has to make sure in reading that Diamond is in regular print; Silk is in Italics.

The gurls wanted to make a point that the book is not religious and that God pointed in the direction of support for Donald J. Trump. The daughters of entrepreneurs turned Elder and evangelist in the Holiness Church in Raeford, NC, the daughters were reared partially in Detroit, MI. It seems that years in Detroit were not particularly kind as Diamond (Lynette) had a particularly hard time in school. It seems that bullying was part of her life and it also seemed that Silk (Rochelle) had some difficulty in classroom work. There also seemed to be some ill-will with their father's side of the family. It seems that their mother's sharecropping roots did not meet the standards of the landowning Hardaways of MS and the family let them know it. One point that sticks out was the cousin who could not pass the state boards for podiatry and Diamond and Silk considered her/his attempts at a higher-education a waste of money. The duo, who I am assuming, never considered furthering their education.

There also seemed to be conflict with their Mother, who is presented here as strict evangelist,disciplinarian and homemaker. It seems that their Mother had protocols on how she wanted her daughters to behave and dress. Pants/slacks were out of the question of schoolgirls and this was big bone of contention, as the girls could not dress similar to their peers in school.

But how did the gurls become attracted to Trump? It seems that a layoff from Burlington Industries in the NC really got to both gurls. Both were trained on the weaving machine. Working the machine and checking the machines output of fabric was a job that they were trained to do and both love it. NAFTA, the gurls determined, was the reason that they lost their jobs. The jobs had gone to Mexico where the cost of labor was cheap. Burlington did not have to worry about the salaries (Diamond and Silk were earning a lot of overtime), pensions, sick pay, 401Ks, Social Security, unemployment payments, etc. It was a great move according to Burlington. To add insult to injury, the gurls noticed that a number of Spanish-speaking immigrants had moved into the Raeford, NC, and they spoke little English and seemed to have created their own communities. Diamond had noticed the rhetoric of Donald J. Trump and decided that this is a candidate that they could get behind.

The gurls were undermined by the Democratic Party's support of NAFTA and Spanish immigrants. Also, the girls realized that most of the Jim Crow laws and discriminatory policies against African-Americans were started by the Democratic Party or Dixiecrats in their parents' formative years. This years before North Carolinians had Republicans John East and Jesse Helms.

The gurls set up a YouTube web page supporting their candidate and his views. They were ardent supporters of his Southern wall to stem the tide of illegal immigrants and the repeal of NAFTA, I guess just the Southern portion of the agreement. In addition, Diamond and Silk have supported Mr. Trump's attacks on the mainstream media, print and electronic, and the judiciary, dependent upon the judge's rulings. The media was considered biased and their reporting of the events of the day were considered fake. The old adage of you can't believe everything that you read and your eyes and ears are playing tricks on you when you see things like George Floyd's suffocation.

Anyway having gotten the notice of Donald Trump, the gurls were soon invited into his orbit and the invitations to conservative and Republican events, especially to open the programs poured in. The eye rolling, the gurrrl and Hm-mmm during the pro-Trump commentary really was most entertaining when combined with their research and critiques. The black community did not take notice until after Mr. Trump won the Presidency and the gurls did their "He's Yo President" song-and-dance routine during one of their YouTube posting.

As events unfolded under President Trump's presidency, the gurls decided to switch parties. The historic infractions by the Democratic Party were too much. The party of Lincoln, although it was not the Republican Party at that time, had done so much more for black empowerment. The gurls never said what they did, however freeing the slaves (a military decision at the time) is the biggest.

God has been steering their steps and decisions. As the girls did more research, they moved into the area of science and suggested their own way of dealing with the novel Covid-19 virus. Their scientific suggestion was too much for Fox network who didn't consider them scientists. The gurls had previously got into it with Facebook, whom they accused depriving them of income because of their conservative views and censoring some of their posts.

It is not a bad book. Something that comes to my mind is the ex-slave narratives, where historians wanted to document life in slavery in the United States by those who lived under it. It is almost the same, as the publisher, Regnery, provided little editing and no filter to Diamond and Silk. The gurls received a compliment from the incomparable Roseanne Barr, who did not understand why they were fighting with Fox. She thought they were comediennes like herself expressing commentary. The gurls were so flattered and grateful.

[Susan Featheringill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! Great insight for two beautiful sisters!

I liked how Diamond and Silk shared their lives to tell the reader what happened to them. They do a lot of research to come to their conclusions instead of just following what they have been told in the past. Easy to read and understand how situations can be confused by others. I enjoyed the back and forth between the sisters. It felt like I was sitting at the kitchen table with them listening to their knowledge. Lots of fun! I would recommend.

[Suzanne Balaban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diamond and Silk's memoir, UPRISING is a new, and perhaps unexpected, national bestseller.

Former factory workers, Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, better known as Diamond and Silk, have been denounced, censored and cancelled more times than Mark Twain, Henry Miller and Philip Roth combined. Their genuine love for a revolutionary president, their common sense biblical beliefs, authenticity and dominance of the digital alleyways of political dissent make them as dangerous to the establishment as Lenny Bruce was a few generations ago.

But their continued influence on millions may be one of the reasons for the shocking 36% full month July job approval rating for Trump among black voters reported by Rasmussen. And their stock is on the upswing. Besides the book, they’ve got a new TV show, podcast and social media platform scooping up new followers.

Carried to the ramparts by the American people, Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson catalyzed Donald Trump's election and became two of the most powerful women in America. And so once again, the establishment is using opprobrium, censorship and (revealed in the book for the first time) death threats to silence their inconvenient voice. The elite will do anything to stop their uprising from succeeding a second time - but there are too many people of conscience now.

"These women have a lot of wit, a lot of humor and guts. They have more clarity on (our political) situation than 99% of the Black Studies professors. They're terrific, brilliant and funny. Their book, UPRISING, really, truly reflects them."
Dennis Prager - national radio host

[Kathy D. Pate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring American Women

This book was something I would recommend to anyone who needs a reality check on what it means to be real in America and achieve from very little. diamond and Silk share so many life lessons, that many can say, yes that happened to me too, they draw you in like a family conversation. Brilliant! A true lesson in perseverance and being, your authentic self. I love these two true American women.

[Stephen Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being 100%

Diamond & Silk tell about themselves and how they became such ardent supporters have of candidate (and then President) Trump. The road has rarely been smooth, but they are overcomers.
The book is written exactly the way they speak. Their endearing accents come through as clearly as their sincerity.

[TheQueensBooksII · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written in the style the sisters also appear in real life—like a give and take conversation between them. It took me a little bit to get used to it; it was not what I was expecting. The book gives you the full flavor of Diamond and Silk—their ideas, their brand, their thinking and their background.

I always resisted and negated the idea of systemic racism in this country; sorry, just don't buy it. And although this was in no way a major theme of the book, Diamond and Silk gave me a new way to think about "systemic racism" and it is not what I expected. You can find lots of systemic racism in the ways and means of social democratic policy, like social welfare programs, what they teach in schools, how people are manipulated in voting and so forth. And it isn't just black people (Diamond and Silk don't capitalize 'black,' BTW); you could say it is also impoverished and compromised people regardless of race. What opened my eyes to that was the discussion about COVID and a potential vaccine.

The book's last three chapters are worth the price of admission.

[Dayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this ten stars, I would! I saw these women on television and thought them very entertaining but this book let me know just how well informed and intelligent they are. They worked in the textile industry in North Carolina (did you ever wonder why all our towels and sheets are made in foreign countries?) and saw firsthand what the NAFTA program was doing to American industry. They educated themselves about this and other programs that the Democrat politicians had, for years, been promising would benefit black people, to no avail. They decided to get off the Democrat Plantation and think for themselves. They found in Donald John Trump a kindred spirit and actively began to promote him in his campaign for US President. They each have a voice in this book by the use of different typeface and you can hear their voices loud and clear. Love you both!

[BarbaraW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely done. Makes you question those in power. Two gutsy women who stood up for what they believed in. Shook up both the Republican and Democrat parties. Guided by God in their support of Mr Trump. Question whether social media has the right to control the narrative. Feel the need to have other avenues to reign in the power of the Zuckerbergs of the world.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

They are pretty funny! I’d never heard of them before I started reading this book. Switched from print to audio and enjoyed hearing their own voices read it.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging read by two smart, brave, hard-working women. Their life stories (told in this book) are so interesting. They are an entertaining pair!

Quotes:
"I don't know what it is about Democrats: They don't want us to work and have the opportunity to obtain things on our own without getting involved in it and twisting it up. It seems like when they see that you're doing something and it's working well, Democrats find a way to put some red tape there to block you or stop you." -p. 71

"In 2016, you would have black people talking about how they were still in chains. They actually felt like they were enchained... They didn't realize that the more you stay chained to the system, the more you miss out on opportunities, blessings, and freedoms that exist around you. It's time for black people to wake up. We should not be the poster children for lack and limitation." -p. 156

"(Jim Crow and KKK) was designed and implemented by the Democrat Party to intimidate and manipulate in order to dominate-- a tactic used to control the masses. Democrats have cleverly and strategically created a divide within the black community by conditioning some to believe that they are in the plantation house with the slave master, while the others are outside tending the fields." -p. 237

"Do we want free stuff, or do we want freedom? It was the Republican Party that fought to free the slaves. It was the Democrat Party that fought to keep slaves enslaved to them and their government." -p. 240

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diamond and Silk are the real thing. The book is written exactly how they talk. There was no reason to say I question who was speaking through the book because if you've ever heard or seen them, that is how the book reads. It was a flavor of a time that so many of us walked through, but with their first hand experience and knowledge. Their description of ill mannered people trying to put a program together attempting to crushed the very direction they had in their heart. The Diamond and Silk who is not politically correct that so many of us love and look forward too. The ugliness of the haters which tend to follow stardom was poignantly clear, while the way President Trump personally addressed them with love and respect brought tears to my eyes too. Top notch book.

[Jenny Weatherwax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

Ladies, thank you! I loved to hear about your formative years. It is always wonderful to see how God has a plan that may be the last thing on our mind. It is so important that you wrote this book because I really believe that what is lacking right now is truth. I have been sickened when I think about how black people have been cheated by false promises by the Democrats. You don't need the government! People need to have the confidence and courage to reach for the stars. You are victors not victims! Looking forward to seeing what God has next for Diamond and Silk!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! I am so glad Diamond and Silk have written this book explaining what many of us have observed for the past several years: that we regular folks have a brain, and can see through all the bs the media pushes on us daily. These ladies are a true national gem! Finally, there is a voice to draw attention to all the ways the dastardly Dems work so hard pushing the lies to and about the black population.

I've loved Diamond and Silk since I first heard and saw them online. Keep up the great work, ladies!

[Atlantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I meant to review this book long before now so I can’t pinpoint when I was started and finished this book. However, if you have never seen Diamond and Silk and want a courageous story about learning the country’s politics and navigating the harrowing waters of the sea of bureaucracy, this is for you. Filled with salty wit and humor-these ladies show you how God broke the mold. If you are a D&S regular some of this material will be repetitive but still entertaining and worth owning a copy along with one to pass around.

[Katherine A Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Number one on my book list

I have enjoyed your appearances on television AND really enjoyed (and appreciated) your book. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life experiences. My most favorite thing is your determination to do the right thing when easy or very difficult and with support or not. I am just personally proud of you and what you do. My best wishes and more importantly my prayers.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this five stars, but books that are recorded and then typed out with a few references thrown in always seem a bit lazy to me. However, Diamond and Silk have important voices and their history needs to be understood. Their bravery at exposing the censorship of social media, their upbringing and good work ethic, their reasoned support for their beliefs are all critical components of their success.

[Laura Dorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diamond and Silk are so warm, and interesting! These 2 sisters tell of their early lives and how their work life started to slide down hill under the Clinton administration. Then they saw Trump on TV one evening and just decided to follow him literally! And to support him! Would that all Republicans could be so spontaneous! The whole time they were taken care of by Trump’s staff. They had very few expenditures of their own.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diamond and Silk came to my attention through twitter. I have followed them there for quite a while, so I was very excited to read their story. Well, I listened to it and was not disappointed!! Thank you Diamond and Silk for being a voice for such a time as this. You represent me and many others who just want to continue to live free in this great country!! God bless you!!

[Dawn Borgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great, honest book. I love hearing people’s personal stories and this book did not disappoint. Thank you for your honesty and transparency, but also for your God given wisdom, discernment and boldness to speak the truth, whether it’s the popular response or not. Your honesty and humor were a pleasure as you relayed stories that were difficult or maddening to hear.

[Quanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Politics For Everyone

Part bio, part political primer, and just great nuggets of wisdom. The book is written in the back and forth dialogue they use on their videos. I read the whole book, but, chapter 15 is a "re-read" chapter for me.That chapter sums up the driving force that propelled the two sisters to change parties.

[Willard J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diamond and Silk

I don’t say I liked it but I loved this book very much because it’s dynamic and fascinating. I highly recommended this book to the American people who wondered why America was dismantled. I chose this highest rating because I learned about this excellent book that made me understand the parts of American History.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent story about Diamond and Silk. It begins with stories of their childhood in the South and ends with stories about supporting Donald Trump for President. It is a very entertaining read no matter what side of the political system you are on.