Cuttin' the Rug under the Moonlight Sky

by Sharony Andrews Green

In Cuttin' the Rug Under the Moonlit Sky author and artist Sharony Andrews Green portrays and pays tribute the women in her life-mamas, grandmas, godmamas, sistergirls, girlfriends, kinfolk and kinspirit, some real, some imagined. Comprised of a series of 42 four-color illustrated portraits of many different women all of whom have "Mae" in their names, and accompanying text capturing their idiosyncratic voices, experiences and perspectives on life, Cuttin' the Rug is a lively, revealing and often surprising look at the diversity of black women's lives.

Reading Cuttin' the Rug is "like sittin' on your grandma's porchstep getting the latest gossip about a sister who had a certain dream, disposition or passion." The author developed a special fondness for the name Mae due to its presence in her upbringing and family tree, and the lives of the Maes she portrays span from the turn of the century to the present day. From the fearless Miss Lucy Mae who is headed to the Great White Vermont to the resourceful Ella Mae who dances to pay the rent and feed her babies, they are all survivors with attitude, determination and beauty.

An irresistible mix of pictures and prose, Cuttin' the Rug Under the Moonlit Sky is an exuberant celebration of the strength, endurance, pride and kinship of black women.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 1997

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this - great flash fiction.

[Tanya Cassingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this book. It has been an all-time favorite ever since I discovered it at Charis Books in Atlanta a looong time ago (late 80s/early 90s). I bought six additional copies to give away as gifts. The book consists of wonderful, expressive drawings and prose/poems - all about *strong* women. One thing they all have in common is the "middle" name of Mae - and of course being badass women. I have ever since used that middle name for my close friends! Even my car is named Lula Mae. Over the years I've checked now and then to see if Ms. Green has written anything else, but have only found the autobiography of her father Grant Green, who was a famous jazz musician (I haven't read it yet).

I somehow found her email in the 90s and and was able to write and tell her how much I love the book. She sent back a very nice reply but I have since lost the email address. I seem to recall that she created this little book on a lark. I think she was on a road trip with friends, they stopped at a store and she bought some paper and colored pens and drew a lot of the pictures in the car.

Luckily, Cuttin' the Rug is still in print and available through Amazon etc. It's such a cool, sassy, funny little book!

[Opal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dear friend wrote this clever book.