Sweet Potato Queens

The Sweet Potato Queens [http://www.sweetpotatoqueens.com/] , based in Jackson, Mississippi, is a women's organization with over 5500 chapters in over 20 countries.

The Sweet Potato Queens concept has been explained and made popular by a series of books by Jill Conner Browne, born in Tupelo and raised in Jackson, who came up with the idea in 1982. (Browne is the author of a number of books which form the backbone of the Sweet Potato Queen "movement.") It involves a belief in a sisterhood that promotes self esteem and positive thinking, appealing to mostly middle-aged middle-class women. In 2005, almost ten thousand women dressed up in costumes and came to Jackson for the annual Hal and Mal's St. Patrick’s Day parade, proceeds from which benefited a local children’s hospital.

Each local chapter assumes its own theme and designs its own costumes. Some of the chapters participate in parades and fund-raisers in their local communities.

Sweet Potato Queen Books(all by Jill Conner Browne)

*"Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love" (Jan 19, 1999)
*"God Save the Sweet Potato Queens" (Jan 9, 2001)
*"The Sweet Potato Queens' Big-Ass Cookbook and Financial Planner" (Jan 7, 2003)
*"Sweet Potato Queens' Field Guide to Men: Every Man I Love Is Either Married, Gay, or Dead" (Oct 5, 2004)
*"The Sweet Potato Queens' Wedding Planner/Divorce Guide" (Dec 27, 2005)
*"The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel: Stuff We Didn't Actually Do, but Could Have, and May Yet" (Jan 2, 2007)
*"The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit" (Jan 1, 2008)

ee also

*Sweet Tea Queens
*Red Hat Society

External links

* [http://www.sweetpotatoqueens.com Sweet Potato Queens Official Website]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-02-20-sweet-potato-queen_x.htm Tour Fit For A Sweet For A Sweet Potato Queen]