Most Americans are familiar with the date April 4 1968. That was the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a giant in the fight for equally, was viciously gun downed in Memphis, TN. What most people are not aware of is that on the day following, Aril 5, 1968, Mrs. King returned to Memphis and continued to lead the march for economic and social justice for the striking and impoverished garbage workers. In that act of selfless devotion to the cause of equality, Coretta Scott King raised the fallen torch of freedom and became a new giant of the Civil Rights Revolution. She had endured all the travails: death threats, bombings, harassment, and finally, the assassination of her beloved husband. In all this, she never relented, never succumbed, never gave up. There are many superlatives that can be used to describe the wonderful and heroic life of Coretta Scott King, but one word comes readily to mind: COMMITMENT. So as we reflect and celebrate her life, perhaps we should all rededicate ourselves to the struggle and principles of freedom by asking, “How real is my commitment?”

SEMAJ PUBLICATIONS OF DENVER, publishes a true testimony of endurance Ivette Cambridge’s Hanging Without A Noose by James Lisbon. Poetry always has a certain air when read or heard on the spoken word segment. Countless poets reveal their inner self as a means to cleanse, enlighten, educate and to also entertain. A special woman, Ivette Cambridge, has revealed much about herself and the power to overcome the obstacles that may have been placed before one. Ivette Cambridge aka Ms. Poetic Justice has been penning poetry for the last 25 years. Her book, titled Hanging Without Out A Nooses, published by Semaj Publications of Denver, is a testimony of endurance during the most trying times. Ms. Poetic Justice journey is one that will encourage each and everyone one of us to believe we can indeed beat any odds before us. James Lisbon Ms. Poetic Justice, a fitting name I must say. Welcome. Where did the title of the book come from? Ms. Poetic Justice Thank you! The title of this book came from a conversation I was having with my Teenage daughter Ashley regarding my drug use. She stated that I was committing suicide without actually hanging or shooting myself. So when I put this book together which deals with mostly poetry during addiction "we" meaning my daughter Ashley and I decided to call it just that "Hanging Without A Noose". Lisbon Was this book written years ago and just put together in this format or was this recently penned? Ms. Poetic Justice Though I have been writing for many years, I never worked at the importance of sharing my poetry because it was so personal, and for many I felt that I was alone and no one could come to understand what I was speaking off. Four years ago when I did my first performance I found out differently and decided that a book would be appropriate. Lisbon This book seems extremely personal, why did you feel the need to release these memories through a book? Would you say this book was therapeutic or was it difficult to relive the pain captured? Ms. Poetic Justice My family enforced tough love on me a few years ago and my mother called the police and I was arrested on drug charges. While doing my little time in Jail I met alot of beautiful, intelligent women like myself who had suffered from child abuse, and abusive relationships which led them to drug abuse just like myself. I began to read some of my poetry to those women and an officer there suggested I read to the entire POD one evening. This was about 120 other women. The reaction of tears and the emotions that filled the yard that night was overwhelming. I had a message that those ladies needed to hear, and I delivered it through my poetry. My book has been very therapeutic to me. It has given me courage and has put a closure to alot of my encounters Lisbon That is amazing. Do you also recite your poetry live? Where? Ms. Poetic Justice Yes I do recite it live every opportunity that I get. I really like to take my message to rehab centers and women shelters. Lisbon I must also commend you on forking over 25% of your sales for prevention of some of the crisis you endured. How important is it for people to continue to reach out to those struggling with addiction? Ms. Poetic Justice Thank You. No war can be won until the battles within us have been fought and put to rest. We spend billions of dollars fighting these wars overseas, destroying and rebuilding. It is just as important to help our young people who are fighting their inner battles and are loosing their own war because we lack the funds, or do nothing to help. I want to quickly comment on a situation that could have gotten me killed. About six years ago I tried to get into a woman's shelter after being physically and emotionally abused very bad, there was no room for me and my child. Now if the government invested in more than one woman's shelter in the town in which I lived, I probably would have never returned home, yet I had no where else to go. Yes it is very important. Lisbon Is this your first book of poetry? Are you going to compile another book in the near future? Ms. Poetic Justice Yes this is my first book of poetry. I am working on my second book titled Sista Soulja. Sista Soulja deals with the mind of an abusive woman through poetry. Lisbon What was your source of courage during your early years as a child and teenager? Ms. Poetic Justice God for one! But courage comes from within. Being raised by a single mother raising six children and watching her struggle and prevail was all the encouragement I needed. Lisbon Who are some people who inspired you to become the person you are today? Ms. Poetic Justice Through God all things are possible. My addiction has inspired me to become who I am because it humbled me. I was powerless over it and because I am a strong woman, something that belittled me so much became my strength to put it into submission. As far as people that inspired me, well my daughters Ashley and Tatianna whom never stopped believing and loving me regardless of my battles. I always kept it real with them and they have been real with me in return. And believe me it wasn't always nice. My peers at a drug rehab who saw in me what I at times did not see in myself. My new husband who believed in me and continues to believe in what I am doing. Yes my new husband who I just married after over two years of dating this wonderful man! Lisbon That is a great team of support. Are there any programs you can direct our youth who may be battling domestics abuse (physical and verbal)? Ms. Poetic Justice Child abuse is such a sensitive and personal thing that people in particular our young people are ashamed of and most are afraid and won't tell anyone. Instead they lash out by joining gangs or by doing drugs and suppressing what’s at hand. In the long run it is more destructive than if they had told someone. There is help out there and no one has to suffer internally any longer. If you can confide in a parent, tell a teacher, a school counselor, or a Pastor. The child abuse hotline is available nation wide, 24 hours a day, 7days a week. 1-800-422- 3453/1-800-4-ACHILD/Drug Hotline 1-866-506-7342. Remember you don't have to Hang Without A Noose any longer. There is help!! Lisbon Indeed, words of truth. We thank you for your time, lastly is there any thing else you would like to say to our readers? Ms. Poetic Justice In closing I'd like to say that too many of our women are dying at the price of love, which is really disturbed love. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, and begins to lower your self-esteem and values "Get Out". Love does not have to hurt, and child abuse should not exist!!! I'd like to encourage each and everyone of you to keep journals of what we are enduring, because for me my journals have led me to poetry. Poetry is my pain, joy, expressions, and closures. Thank you, Ivette Cambridge,Ms. Poetic Justice

How Are You Working to Fight Breast Cancer? My family has been affected by breast cancer. Has yours? Perhaps it was your godmother, mother, aunt, or cousin. I plan to walk to celebrate my aunt surviving breast cancer. Maybe you will join me The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a 60-mile walk offering participants a way to express their commitment to eradicating breast cancer. The 3-Day is held in 10 cities across the country, drawing thousands of walkers and expected to raise more than $20 million this year. Tents will be set up in camps along the three-day route as walkers walk 20 miles each day. An all-volunteer crew transports the gear, tents, showers and catered hot meals from camp to camp. A volunteer medical staff will be available at the camps and pit stops along the way. Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which supports breast-cancer research, education and outreach programs to fight a disease that claims 40,000 lives every year in the United States. Months of training The Breast Cancer 3-Day encourages walkers/team to train together for several months before the 60- mile walk. This will not only prepare you for the walk but will foster a healthy lifestyle, possible weight loss, and cultivate new long lasting relationships. The commitment Participation in the 3-Day entails paying a entry fee and walking. But more than that, it is a significant commitment that goes well beyond the completion of the 60-mile walk. First there is the fund-raising, which can be a feat in itself. Each walker is required to raise $2,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Although that may seem daunting, the 3-Day organization offers advice and provides every walker with a free Web page to use for fund-raising. Then there are the long training walks over several months before the event. A staff of volunteer coaches coordinates training groups that help keep walkers motivated. Then there is the actual event, when participants walk for three days with limited amenities such as portable toilets and showers. I recently did my part in raising breast cancer awareness. Now I'm sharing this opportunity with you. Follow this link to see how you can help: http://friends.the3day.org/? r=ETEDJxcikxASB2oFASwE&i=yh&p=8&z=1&tc=5&is=

In Celebration of Black History Month New Young Adult Anthology Designed to Get Black Teenagers to Read Open the Unusual Door: True Life Stories of Challenge, Adventure, and Success by Black Americans Edited by Barbara Summers NEW YORK (January 2006)—Barbara Summers, author, educator, and former Ford model, was tired of reading the headlines that black kids don’t read. “I felt that if the sad statistics were true, maybe there was something I could do about it. What if our young people weren’t reading because the reading materials weren’t interesting or relevant? What if parents wanted to change the headlines but didn’t know what other books to get?” Her goal to provide an educational resource that was equally engaging resulted in the new inspirational anthology, Open the Unusual Door: True Life Stories of Challenge, Adventure, and Success by Black Americans, a collection of sixteen excerpts from memoirs of African American achievers. Summers selected a diverse group of African Americans including Derek Jeter, Russell Simmons, Colin Powell, Queen Latifah — and others perhaps less well known but equally well respected in their fields — astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson, journalist Lynne Duke, and fencer Peter Westbrook. From reading these revealing, gripping, and unpredictable true life stories, young people will find the power within to recognize that when one door closes, another one opens. To harvest additional literary excitement, Barbara Summers and her publisher, Houghton Mifflin, are sponsoring an Open the Unusual Door Essay Contest. Teens ages 13 and up can enter to win cash prizes. Guidelines are available at http://www.opentheunusualdoor.com/contest.htm. Barbara Summers is the author of three books, including Black and Beautiful: How Women of Color Changed the Fashion Industry, which was based on her experience as a Ford model for seventeen years. She edited the bestselling I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America. She lives and teaches in New York City. Contributors in Open the Unusual Door include: Derek Jeter * Queen Latifah * Susan Fales-Hill * Colin Powell * Sister Souljah * bell hooks Dexter Scott King * Antwone Fisher * Lynne Duke * Whoopi Goldberg * Neil de Grasse Tyson E. Lynn Harris * Michael Cottman * Peter Westbrook * Russell Simmons * Chamique Holdsclaw Houghton Mifflin; November 2005; $7.99; 224 pages; ISBN: 0618585311 $7.99 Pb; 224 pages; 5 x 7 Age Range: (13+) Grades 7+ .