Force of Beauty

A Newark Family Memoir

By: Mikki Taylor, Deborah Riley Draper

Narrated by: Mikki Taylor

Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

 My family. My Newark.

The story of three generations of Black women, one extraordinary friendship, and a not-often recalled history of the city that made them.

In Force of Beauty, Mikki Taylor, editor-at-large of Essence magazine and longtime activist, introduces us to her gifted grandmother, Bessie, her glamorous mother, Modina, and how Modina’s friendship with the legendary Sarah Vaughan shaped Mikki’s childhood. Taylor’s mini-memoir is a tribute to Newark in the '50s and '60s, of cool jazz clubs and close-knit neighborhoods, a handsome house on Avon Avenue, and one family’s tale of perseverance and ingenuity in a city they all loved.

At a time when Black women were marginalized, disrespected, overlooked, and unseen, Bessie and Modina showed Mikki how beauty and style can be a force for good.

The recording includes an introduction by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and a reading by Mayor Baraka of the poem his father, the esteemed Amiri Baraka, wrote about the Newark rebellion, which Taylor discusses living through as a young girl.

©2021 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

Great story. God awful reader.

Very interesting compelling memoir and an important recounting of a fascinating history but with a lot of unexplained gaps that I wondered about. Desperately needed a better editor. Too bad they didn’t hire a professional reader.

Narration distracts from story

Interesting story about dynamic people but the narration makes it sound like a story acted out for 3 year old toddlers.

Black history

The book has been educational for me and I can continue to encourage others to learn about our history.

Great story but couldn’t get through it

This is a great glimpse into history but I can’t get past the narrator. Maybe I’ll try reading it

Wonderful memoir

Lays out the direction and scope of a life very different from my own, admirable and fascinating. Unfortunately the reader was pretty awful. Her i flections have nothing at all to do with the lines she is reading

Good story, torturous to listen to

I found the stories and the history fascinating, interesting and fun to hear about. However, the reader put an exclamation point after nearly every word and it was all I could do to continue listening.

Mikki Taylor's Interesting 3-generation memoir

I loved Mikki-Taylor's story about her familial influencers and how she became the iconic Essence editor. Surrounded by beauty and strong women, Mikki learned from her grandmother and mother to be independent, true to herself, and how to measure her worth. I loved her recollections of growing up in Newark and the struggles that faced her family.

great story

It was very engaging and historical to hear. I was invested in the story and made me more interested. I love that it was positive and that the tradition or hope was never burnt out.

Newark Society

Definitely, not what I thought it was going to be. Gave great information and the narrator was enthusiastic.

Excellent Historical Read about Black American Life

Who knew that one of the most respected black beauty editors had such an amazing introduction to the world of black empowerment from her very own mother-a stylus that created Sarah Vaughn’s trend setting look at a time when black beauty was ignored by beauty brands and the media. This was a must read for anyone looking to enter into the fashion or beauty industries.