On Saturday, March 29, 2025, hostesses Denise K. Dowdy and Ruby Martin invited Tabahani Book Circle members to join them at the West Charlotte County Jail dining hall. (aka Imperial Heights fellowship hall)
The selected Book of the Month was Laughing in the Dark, From Colored Girls to Women of Color-A Journey from Prison to Power by Patrice Gaines. This book was a TBC Anniversary Edition 1997/Non-Fiction. Each member was asked to bring sanitary napkins/tampons at the request of the selected community service recipient, New Life Beginnings in Long Beach. https://www.newlb.org/
Ruby and Denise decided to recreate the women’s prison (WCCJ) from the book. All members were asked to adorn themselves in Jailhouse Green attire. As they entered the facility, they were randomly categorized as either an inmate or a visitor. The inmates were welcomed home with a jailhouse goodie bag consisting of shower shoes, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Everyone was photographed in front of a jail cell backdrop.
Visitors were seated at tables directly across from the Inmates. Their table was adorned with a nice tablecloth, while the inmate’s table was bare and had zero appeal. set at tables directly across from the Inmates. Their table was adorned with a nice tablecloth, while the inmate’s table was bare with zero appeal. Visitors were given a plate with a knife and a fork, while inmates were given a jailhouse tray and a spoon to eat with.
Two games were played: a music song matched game from the 1950s-1970s era, and the Name That Tune game with music from the same decades. We dined from a breakfast menu (best meal of the day in the book) which included eggs, shrimp/grits, smothered potatoes, fried chicken wings, pork and turkey sausage, honey biscuits, fruit, a variety of juices, mocktail mimosas, coffee, tea, and Krispy Kreme donuts. The meal was catered by Chew’ Zen GQ Catering.
The book discussion was facilitated by members Shanette Anderson and Felicia Stromile. There were only a few members who recalled reading this book when we read it back in 1997. It appeared to be a well-received book with an average rating of around 3. A few themes that were explored in the book were: Daddy/Daughter issues, low self-esteem, family secrets, self-hatred, sexual abuse, social injustice, sexism, just to name a few. The book itself took place in the 60’s and 70’s, however, this book could have just as easily been written today! The hostesses supplied each TBC member who was present with a Beautiful Afrocentric Kaftan fit for a Jailhouse Queen.
