As far as we were concerned it was live for all of us to be chilling in the same building, or at least the next building over. I had three aunts, four uncles, and a whole slew of cousins.

We lived in the projects but we were cool with that. It was important for me to know I deserved the best, no slum jewelry, cheap shoes, or knock-off designer stuff, only the real thing. My moms said that my fingers were too small and soft to even hold a ring in place, but he insisted that he had a guy who would have it adjusted just right. The same night I got home my pops gave me a diamond ring set in 24-karat gold. My father, Ricky Santiaga, was so proud of his new baby girl that he had a limo waiting to pick my moms up from the hospital. I came busting out of my momma’s big coochie on January 28, 1977, during one of New York’s worst snowstorms. Let me take my time and tell my story.īrooklyn-born I don’t have no sob stories for you about rats and roaches and pissy-pew hallways. Hell, you can’t smell nobody’s breath through a camera. When it comes right down to it, those are the ones who really count, the people who was there, who seen it all. All of y’all are too quick to jump to her defense without knowing what somebody up close and personal thinks. Don’t go jumping to any conclusions either. Before I get heated just talking about her, let me make it clear who I am and where I stand. She the type of female I’d like to cut in the face with my razor.

I never liked Sister Souljah, straight up. There is violence and sex, and though I'm not one who could talk about the authenticity of the culture, it certainly felt authentic. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I found myself both rooting for and angry with Winter as a character and with some of the choices she makes, yet understanding why she feels this is the 'right' thing to do all at the same time. Brooklyn is her home, and she's a strong character with her own goals.Sister Souljah herself is a character in the book, introduced right away with Winter complaining that she can't stand Souljah, which I found a really intriguing choice. Winter is a tough young woman, and while she didn't grow up in poverty she's used to the violence and drugs on the street. But then her family moves out Long Island, her father is arrested, and things begin going downhill from there.This is my first introduction to urban or street fiction, and considered to be a classic of the genre. Winter Santiaga has it made: she's rich, practically queen of Brooklyn, while her drug lord father runs a successful business.

The coldest winter ever free