Part 1
Memoir | Hostess | Part I of VI
I loved my role as a hostess! I felt like I was on cloud nine, serving as the hostess at Larry Forgione’s Signature Café in the prestigious Lord & Taylor’s Department Store, nestled in the posh neighborhood straddling Washington, D.C., and Chevy Chase, Maryland.
By Mia Z. Edwards4 months ago in Chapters
The Other Side of the Dome
The river didn’t change. It never did. It curved like a quiet question around the hill, just below Granny’s home, a proud, whitewashed house with bougainvillea wrapped around the porch posts. The kind of place that smiled at guests and stared down its own.
By Eunice Kamau5 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Maximus Leonetti | Part I of VI
Growing up in the projects, we weren’t exactly rolling in dough. But whenever legal or financial troubles knocked, Maximus Leonetti was our fixer. He was also a fountain of wisdom for us youngsters, offering advice and information relevant to our experiences as African Americans navigating the hurdles of life.
By Mia Z. Edwards5 months ago in Chapters
Somebody's Someone - Chapter Five
The boutique door clicked shut behind Yennia, and the crisp fall air wrapped around her like a breath held too long. She glanced down at her phone, scrolling with purpose as her heels tapped against the pavement toward her car.
By Neshzivne Dadirri5 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Murderer | Part I of VI
In our tight-knit community, in ‘the housing projects’, there lurked a sinister presence — a murderer. This individual had a chilling preference for targeting women whose names began with the letter “D.” The fear that gripped the projects was palpable. People were afraid to step outside, the matriarchs hesitated to let their children play freely, and even the ‘secular matriarchs’ avoided gathering in the Court during the evenings. Suspicion hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over our once-harmonious community.
By Mia Z. Edwards5 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Saintly Matriarchs | Part I of VI
In my formative years, I witnessed the awe-inspiring sight of the saintly matriarchs in the projects gathering for Friday night prayer services at Sister Ella’s house. This spectacle left a profound impact on me and ultimately led to my decision to embrace Christianity at the age of 26.
By Mia Z. Edwards5 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | The Housing Projects | Part I of VI
The Whispers Whispers of doubt echo through the streets of Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.), casting skepticism on whether anything positive can emerge from the section of the city Southeast (S.E.), the urban housing projects predominantly populated by low-income African Americans, which is often underestimated and overlooked. These speculations, though harsh, persisted. Like the biblical scripture that questions the possibility of anything good coming out of the City of Nazareth, the response to these doubts is an invitation to witness the truth for oneself. Just as Nazareth was deemed a place from which nothing good could emerge, the Southeast section of the city in Washington, DC faced similar misconceptions.
By Mia Z. Edwards5 months ago in Chapters
Not That Woman
I was always enamored by Mary Kay ladies and the women at church potlucks. They were always pressed and perfumed, powdered and primped- like Lucy & Desi’s neighbors had walked out of the screen. Even then, they were a bit old-fashioned. But that Doris Day, Barbie aesthetic was powerful. It was reinforced by the Girl Scout Den Mother, who smelled like Aqua Net and Pine-Sol. The tidiest, prettiest ladies were the most listened to. They could walk for days in high heels and A-line skirts, then wash dishes in frilly aprons without breaking stride.
By Danielle Katsouros5 months ago in Chapters
