Review: A Taste of Bitter Reality
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 19, 2014
“Close Your Eyes, Sweet Angel” by M.J. Winn is a short but tragic story of a young black woman, Chandra, who was raised by her Grandmother in a southern state, but who moved north to ‘the big city’ where she turned to prostitution to survive. Finding herself pregnant, she brought her newborn back to her Grandmother to raise. Knowing how the girl earned her money, the Grandmother was willing to take the baby, but would not even allow the young mother in her house.One Valentine’s Day Chandra briefly saw a young girl in a nightgown standing in the entrance to the Black Cat Club where she “entertained” her clients. Upon seeing the girl, Chandra realized it had been 10 years since she had called to wish her own daughter a happy birthday, merry Christmas, happy New Year, happy Easter, or for any other reason. Stricken with guilt, she vowed to call her daughter the next morning… or after work at the latest. She had called faithfully for the girl’s first 4 years of life, but her Grandmother refused to even let her talk to the girl. Instead, she said she would pass along her wishes.This story is very well written, but tragic nonetheless. On so many levels it is an indictment against our society, and its tolerance for treating people differently, based only on the color of their skin. It is also a strong indictment against the men who frequent such “clubs” and enable young women who might otherwise never consider prostitution… the money is too good, and too tempting to turn down.In Chandra’s case, as is no doubt true in real life as well, the result of her prostitution was to lose her daughter, her Mother, and her Grandmother. This tale is not one you will read for its entertainment value. It is, however, one you SHOULD read, for its dispensation of acrimonious reality. People who have lived their lives sheltered from this reality really do need to learn about it, if only to develop a sense of remorse about the death of “the American Dream”.