 
Tanya Jean-Baptiste
When Asadah first asked me to write a piece for this project, initially I felt it would be a “piece of cake.” However, in the midst of writing, I hit some road blocks and barriers that I did not even know were there. As a writer, I can write about most topics quite easily. And matters of the heart are sometimes the easiest to write about, so the thought of sharing my experience as a child seemed like a task that could quickly be done with sincerity, honesty and accuracy.
It literally took me over three weeks to write my piece. It was very difficult. I would start to write and then stop. Write. Stop. Write. Stop. I didn’t do know what was happening until after I was finally complete. I looked back at my experience and realized that every time I would begin to write and automatically memories of being beat by family would be re-stimulated. Emotions and comments made at the time of various and numerous beatings were constantly being replayed in my mind while trying to portray the effects of how such behaviors impact young people in my writing. Challenging is an understatement to describe how this experience was for me. But “worth it” is the most accurate.
Throughout the process all I knew was I had to persevere. Many times I was tempted to stop writing, or make up some excuse as to why it couldn’t be done. I knew that if I didn’t tell my story that I would be partially responsible for all the children that got beat or “disciplined” after me. I knew that if I didn’t share my experience that parents would never know what it was that they were actually doing and how their actions were directly affecting their children. So I wrote. I wrote what came to me and what I felt needed to be said. I know that parents will still feel the need to violently discipline their children and children will still feel unwanted, unloved and unheard. However, at the end of the day, if I am able to help one parent understand their child better, one child understand that they are a wonderful Creation and in turn, help a family grow closer together, than I did my part!
Thank you for caring and knowing that something differently can be done about it!
 Rick Hilliard
Beat Black Kids is a must read book! It ia an experience that you no doubt will apply to your children. It will allow you to believe it or not learn what we as parents are doing wrong. Sure we think we know it all (been there, done that), but think about it...we don't know everything. We need to stop and listen to our children. Let them speak. We all need to be heard...you know, "Let it out." I have gone from, "Because I said so" to "Go ahead, I'm listening." I've gone from, "When you pay a bill you can let a light burn," to "You know if you keep that light burning it will show in your allowance." Sometimes we all need an explanation. It's how we learn. Now I know. I always did, but I didn't DO. My wife sees the change and smiles and my children's allowance has never decreased. READ THE BOOK!
 Herbert Bennett
Before being asked to be part of this book I didn't think much about the topic of physical punishment. Beating black kids or any child, regardless of race, to me was something that some children needed, while others did not. To me there seemed to be no right or wrong answer in the matter. I know I was beat as a child for sure. But as I began to think deeper about being beaten, I had to ask myself, did it help me to become a better person? The answer I came up with was no. These beatings did not help me grow into a better person; they just made me angry and annoyed but did not really stop me from doing the action that caused it. They did help me become sneakier so that next time I would not get caught. In fact, I think being beaten is what triggered my violent behavior as a child. Although my family had always taught me verbally that violence was not the way to get a message across, some of their actions toward me made that a contradiction. How can you tell a child one minute to use their words to solve a problem then the next minute tell them to “go get me the belt because it seems like you're not hearing me.”
Being part of this book helped me think about beating children on a more intellectual level. A level that I don't think many parents go to when they decide to raise their hand, the belt or any other foreign object to discipline their children. I believe that words are in fact the most powerful way to solve a problem. Wounds can heal, and scars may go away but the words of a person can be embedded in a persons mind forever. None of the beatings I've received in my life have I later reflected on to be of any value to making me who I am today. However, the discussions I have had after my bad behavior or wrong actions allowed me to see the situation from a different perspective and to later reflect on what I had done. These discussions and words of wisdom from those who truly cared about me are the things that I accredit for making me the intelligent black man I am today. It was an honor to be a part of this great book and I will encourage others to read it or to at least take some time to think about and discuss what beating children really does to the individual and the effect it has on society as a whole.
 Fiyah Oates
I'm so happy Asadah has come out with this book and feel honored to be a part of the project as a contributor, webdesigner, book formatter, book cover and whatever else Asadah needed from me, I was happy to supply. I did raise my children with spankings and now have changed my perspective. I council my oldest daughter on how not to use corporal punishment as a form of disclipline. Her father is on board with me after I reasoned with him. We are able to discipline my granddaughter without the hint of spankings and she behaves better with us than with my daughter who has not fully adopted the philosophy, but is coming along!
Vanessa Lewis
Being able to participate with this project, even is a small way was huge for me. It caused me to reflect on my childhood experiences with my parents. I wished there were such a topic back then.
I pray that people really read this book and recognize how important it is for us as black people to find a different way of disciplining our children. We have generations of powerful black people growing up in our hands and our actions and methods are critical to their growth and development. We cannot continue to beat the pure soul, spirit and essence out of our babies. There are better ways! Just read 'Beating Black Kids' you will find some great solutions.
Vanessa Taylor
"Bravo for Asadah! Beating Black Kids definitely makes you reflect on your childhoodand the raising of your own children. Though I can count the times I was spanked on one hand, I wonder if it was really necessary. This book will make you laugh, cry, think and grow. It's a must have."
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