Thanks to a loyal reader for giving me the heads up on this. I am still shaking my head.

ESSENCE magazine posted an online interview with Real Housewives of Atlanta’s cast member, Sheree Whitfield.

In the article, ESSENCE points out that Sheree has three children, Tierra, Kairo and Kaleigh. The two youngest kids are by Sheree’s ex-husband NFL great Bob Whitfield.

Tierra is Sheree’s 23-year-old daughter whom she gave birth to at age 15.

Sheree’s 3 beautiful children are shown posing In the photos accompanying the article. I did a double take when I read the captions under the photos describing Tierra as Sheree’s “friend.”

I have no words for this woman. I am just blown away that a mother would put her image before her own child. I am further surprised that ESSENCE‘s esteemed editor, Kenya, would allow another black woman to be disrespected in this manner.

I received the following email from one of Tierra’s friends last week. I didn’t post it at the time because the allegations seemed far fetched.

They don’t seem so far fetched now:

Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 08:05
From: [Name removed by request]
To: sandra@sandrarose.com
Subject: How Sheree Treats Her Daughter

Hey Sandra,

I hope all is well. I am really good friends with Sheree’s eldest daughter Tierra. We met in college at TSU and after graduation we both moved back to Atlanta. Sheree does Tierra so wrong. Tierra never have money. She is constantly borrowing money from me and my other friends. Tierra also mentioned that once she was at the mall with her mother. She called her mother “mom” and she just went off on her. She told Tierra “don’t call me mom in public, I have a reputation.”

Tierra says that her mother makes her pay rent cause she cannot afford to make the house payments. Tierra also said that her mother took out loans to fund the show. In addition, Tierra was just at my apartment watching cable because she said the cable was cut off at her house.

I have been to their house off of Roswell road several times and I have never seen a maid, personal assistant or chef. Something is wrong with this picture. If Sheree have so much money, why is her daughter asking her friends to borrow money constantly. Me and my girlfriends can never understand why. I was so disgusted watching this show just knowing the truth about what is going on with Sheree. Thanks Sandra!