Still Rising from Ashes

Charlene grew up poverty-stricken in the Bronx, New York. As a child, she bore witness to the streets decimating her family. Her mother's relationships with men turned abusive as her crack cocaine addiction grew. Her brothers traded their innocence for lives of crime, and church dances with childhood friends and neighborhood sweet hearts became nightclub shootings with gang bangers and bad boys. Anger burned in Charlene so blindingly, it led her to the same dark streets that sparked her rage in the first place. There would be much more pain before she'd find her way again, but the fire of faith burns brighter than that of anger. Soon, the poverty from whence Charlene came would be but ashes. Then, the real work would begin."Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars": Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, March 14, 2018: includes a listing for Charlene Swinton-Mattox's Still Rising.*2018 Pushcart Prize NomineeCharlene Swinton-Mattox is an author, TV personality, and model. After leaving New York, Charlene attended Central Connecticut State University where she majored in communications. She has since earned an MBA in Marketing, as well as a MA in Social Media Relations. Currently, Swinton-Mattox serves as a board member for the Spanish Speaking Center of New Britain. She resides in Connecticut with her husband of 26 years and their two children, along with two children for whom she serves as a foster parent.