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African American Literature Book Club - The #1 Site for "Readers of Black Literature" |
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RECENT AALBC.COM BOOK REVIEWS, ARTICLES,
INTERVIEWS & FILM REVIEWS
Regrettably, Ms. Hamilton, the first children’s book author ever to receive a genius grant from the MacArthur Foundation, passed away a few years ago. However, her animated voice can still be heard here accompanied by James Earl Jones on the CD accompanying this edition. The book also features new airbrushed illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon, the acclaimed artists who had collaborated on the original. While ultimately uplifting, The People Could Fly does contain descriptions of some of the indignities and brutalities doled out during slavery. Although this might frighten some youngsters in the target audience, remember that much more graphic accounts of violence have been standard fairy tale fare for ages.
"I’m going to tell you a story you’ve never heard before, because no one knows this story the way I know it. It takes place on the night of June 12, 1994, and it concerns the murder of my ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her young friend, Ronald Goldman. I want you to forget everything you think you know about that night, because I know the facts better than anyone. I know the players. I’ve seen the evidence. I’ve heard the theories. And, of course, I‘ve read all the stories: That I did it. That I did it but I don’t know I did it. That I can no longer tell fact from fiction… Well, sit back people. The things I know, and the things I believe, you can’t even imagine. And I’m going to share them with you. Because the story you know, or think you know- that’s not the story. Not even close."
Just three days after his stand-up special, Unapologetic, debuted on HBO, D.L. Hughley has released that concert taped in Washington, D.C. on DVD. The irreverent comic’s 60-minute set touches on a variety of hot-button topics, the hottest being the one which inspired the show’s title. The review is accompanied by video clips or Hughley at his best.
Author Sylvia Hubbard has written a wonderful sensual tale of intrigue and family drama in her latest release, Secrets, Lies & Family Ties. The novel was a very different blend of sex, betrayal, family secrets, murder and corporate espionage written by a very imaginative writer. The story opens as the characters prepare to attend the first reunion ten years after graduation from GreenLow’s Academy, a private high school. The main character, Grae still held issues from her high school experience. She was the overweight and not so attractive young girl who had lost her mother and had never known her father. She was on scholarship being raised by a lawyer who was her guardian. A very focused student, she never had the time to enjoy the normal activities of teen life. She was determined to succeed and become the smartest Black woman n the planet.
The Vixen Diaries was the 2nd best selling book on AALBC.com for July/August 2007— a full month before it's publication date. Comparing herself to Flava Flav, an equally-notorious character curiously capable of countless sexual conquests, Karrine claims that her recent suitors have included Halle Berry’s ex-husband Eric Benet, Jamie Foxx, Dennis Rodman and Bobby Brown, to name a few. But while they might have had the hots for her, she apparently is saving herself with hopes of reconciling with her ex-boyfriend, comedian Bill Maher.
On Friday, September 21, 2007, there was a fire in Harlem! A fire was created from the mouths, hearts, and minds of the artists who performed and read in tribute to the late, legendary poet and performer, Sekou Sundiata at the Up South International Book Festival at Harlem Stage at The Gatehouse. The entire festival this year was dedicated to the memory of Sekou Sundiata (1948-2007). The Up South International Book Festival took place September 19th – September 23rd 2007. Visit www.UpSouth.org for more information
Born Eric Marlon Bishop on December 13, 1967, Jamie Foxx has come a long way from his humble beginnings in tiny Terrell, Texas. In the wake of delivering his career performance in Ray in 2004, he collected an Oscar, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, an NAACP Image Award and countless other accolades for that unforgettable impersonation of Ray Charles. The versatile actor/comedian/singer/musician has since released a Grammy-nominated CD, Unpredictable, while continuing to make more movies, including Stealth, Jarhead, Miami Vice, Dreamgirls, and his latest, The Kingdom, an international potboiler about an elite team of commandos with five days to find the madman behind the terrorist bombing of a Western compound in Saudi Arabia. Here, Jamie talks about his role as FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury.
When Harlemite Troy Johnson launched a website dedicated to Black books nearly eight years ago, it came out of “a passion for Black people,” he said. Today, Johnson’s African American Literary Book Club (aalbc.com) is a virtual watering hole for Black booklovers and has been called the most popular website dedicated to African-American literature. Originally Published Vol. 97 No. 40 September 28-October 4, 2006 © 2006, Amsterdam News
AUTHORS YOU SHOULD KNOW http://authors.aalbc.com/author1.htm
Frances Cress Welsing is an African American psychiatrist practicing in Washington, D.C.. She is famous for the 'Cress Theory of Color Confrontation', a theory that explores the practice of White Supremacy. Author of The Isis Papers; The Keys to the Colors (1991). According to Cress Welsing, White Supremacy is practiced by those people who classify themselves as "white" to ensure the genetic survival of "white" people. Her theory is predicated on the work of Neely Fuller (1969), who states that White Supremacy is a global system of domination against people of color. Welsing is also in the film 500 Years Later (DVD). Watch a clip and trailer.
Born the only child of a poet and a painter, K'wan Foye was surrounded by creativity. For years K’wan composed novels and tried to get published, only to have door after door slammed in his face. Finally, in 2002, Triple Crown Publications picked him up, and K’wan shook the publishing world with his debut novel, Gangsta. With his witty dialect and page- turning plots, K’wan quickly earned the favor of readers and the number 3 spot on Essence magazine’s bestseller list.
Today, Doug a 14-year NBA star/author and Jackie, a fashion guru/author the “dynamic duo” have created several arms of their continuously growing empire. As a team, they operate Jackie Christie.com in addition to their film production company, Infinite Love Productions which co-produced “The Christie's Committed”, their reality-based show that aired nationwide on BET J. “The Christie's-Uncut”, their satirical comedy DVD which was screened in July 2007 at the Hollywood Black Film Festival and their most recent accomplishment as authors of “No Ordinary Love” the first of many books to come out of their publishing company, Infinite Love Publishing.
Sidibe Ibrahima, affectionately called "Sidi," was born and raised in Africa's Ivory Coast until he moved to Germany in 1982. He attended college in Germany and developed his entrepreneurial spirit there before returning to the Ivory Coast. In 2000, Sidi headed to America armed with his ability to speak seven different languages as well as write four and began working at a jewelry store for $3.50 and driving a cab. When he amassed $600 in savings, he opened his first table in Harlem selling books. "In his usual spot on 125th Street [& Adam Clayton Powell Blvd], taking call after call on his cell phone on a recent Tuesday, Sidibe Ibrahima looked every inch an editor. Under one arm, he carried proofs of a novel that a friend had asked him to look at. Over the phone, he was reassuring another writer about her book. "Send me two chapters," he told her soothingly. With his little glasses and his affable, patient manner, Mr. Ibrahima would not seem out of place stalking the halls of a high-profile publishing house" —Alex Mindlin New York Times, July 17, 2005
In her new book The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs (Thunder’s Mouth Press/October 2007), Felicia Pride extracts empowering lessons embedded within the genre’s most popular songs. Pride is also the coauthor of the young adult anthology Hallway Diaries (Harlequin/Kimani Tru, September 2007) and the author of Everybody Hates First Girlfriends (Simon & Schuster, September 2007), a chapter book in the literary series based on the award-winning television show Everybody Hates Chris.
Treasure is the author of the critically acclaimed novels A Street Girl Named Desire and Harlem Girl Lost. Treasure tells us: "Things started to spiral out of control at home. My mother’s secret addiction to alcohol could no longer remain hidden, and her life, and ours, spiraled downward. She lost jobs and was in and out of mental institutions. My siblings and I were left to fend for ourselves and helpless and angry, I became a menace and juvenile delinquent. Every night would bring a new low as my mother would come home beaten and battered physically from men who took advantage of her. Over the years her condition worsened and one by one each of my older siblings left the house as they turned 18, and I felt abandoned. The library remained my one safe haven; it was my sanctuary. I used books to block out my hunger and pain." Includes a revealing an moving video interview.
Daaimah began writing Yoyo Love in the fall of 1997: "I’ve always loved reading novels but was tired of only reading about characters with fabulous careers, their marriages or divorces. That is when I decided to write about people closer to my age. I figured I wasn’t the only one interested in reading about a young woman not yet established, nor married." Look out for her next Novel Diamond Playgirls coming in December, by Dafina Books
AALBC.com RECOMMENDS
Motherhood is great right? For every women, every moment, all the time. Called riveting and "brilliantly introspective" by the Black Caucus of the ALA, Jump At The Sun challenges the cult of motherhood. Complicated characters, stinging sociological observations and an ending to break your heart. "Four stars" – People Magazine Now available in paperback. Read an AALBC.com Book Review of the Hardcover edition: http://aalbc.com/reviews/jump_at_the_sun.htm
The Good Girl Book Club™ endeavors to encourage aspiring Christian women through pro-active reading and on-line discussions by choosing books that will address every aspect of a woman's world: spiritual, physical, emotional, social and financial. The Good Girl Book Club™ will entertain and inspire readers while strengthening their relationship with Christ, foster personal growth and equip readers to live faithfully in an increasingly secular world.
In Sentences, Carey chronicles his life in the sometimes glamorous, and often violent, hip-hop industry; from the first time he picked up a microphone at a block party as a youngster, to the day he lost the use of his legs to gang violence, to his incarceration, and eventually, to his self-reinvention and rise back to the top of his game, becoming a Hip-Hop Grand Master and being placed among the pantheon of the culture. No questions are left unanswered and no apologies are made, resulting in what's sure to be a groundbreaking graphic novel.
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EVENTS
The AALAS Open Book Awards is the first of its kind. It is the most comprehensive awards show ever to recognize, honor, celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements and contributions that authors and writers make to the publishing, arts and entertainment industries.
Check out our photographs and save the date for next
year's event: September 24th 2008. This is the signings of all signings. Held at the Hip Hop Cultural
Center upstairs from Hue-Man, this book signing for Essence Bestselling
Hip Hop author K’Wan will be a party complete with D.J, Free Food, Free
Booze and music by Imani Gooden and performance by Flip of the Group
Die-Hard. $20 get you into this ultra fabu party but it also get you a
free copy of the book. Space is limited. This event will be filmed and
entrance will be your permission to be in the video. Check out our photographs.
The Parren J. Mitchell Foundation is honoring publishing industry pioneer, Linda Gill, General Manager of Kimani Press, a new division of Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd. She is the recipient of the 2007 Founders Award which is given to individuals that promote the goals and objectives of the foundation. The dinner will be held on Friday, October 12, 2007 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at the Greenbelt Marriott in Greenbelt, Maryland--6400 Ivy Lane. Gill will serve as the 2007 keynote speaker as well. "Linda is a dedicated individual committed to reaching back and helping other minorities in the publishing industry. In this age of media where positive images of African-Americans are challenged daily, she has also consistently delivered products we can all be proud of, and that honor Parren Mitchell's hopes for our community," states Foundation Board Chairwoman Gloria Redman.
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INTERESTING DISCUSSION BOARD POSTS http://www.thumperscorner.com/cgi/discus/search.cgi?method=last&number=7&units=1440&tree=ON&where=all Congratulations to popular AALBC.com Discussion board participant Cynique on making her 10,000 discussion board post!
Madame Cynique, The "Iron Woman" of these here discussion
boards!
Each post a homerun
With Love, "CONGRATULATIONS CYNIQUE !!! As you approach your 10,000th informed, incisive post on AALBC. Looking forward to the next 10,000 post[s]." -Sese "You are so wonderful, Cynique And your words are always profound May you post a million more times" -Mzuri "KUDOS, Madame Cynique! Ten THOUSAND posts of wit, wisdom, and whimsy. You're just W-W-WONDERFUL!" -Urban_scribe
"Congrats to you Cynique. It has and will always be a
pleasure to read your post even when we agree to disagree. LOL! I love
the fact that you can and will hold your own. You got true grit woman!
Carry on! Your wisdom is truly appreciated." -Linda |
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Troy Johnson |
The People Could
Fly by Virginia Hamilton 
If
I Did It: Confessions of the Killer by O.J. Simpson - Book Review by Kam
Williams
D.L. Hughley HBO Special Already on DVD
- Reviewed by Kam Williams
Secrets, Lies and Family
Ties by Sylvia Hubbard Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah
The Vixen Diaries by Karrine Steffans - Book Review by Kam Williams
A
Fire in Harlem - Tribute to Sekou Sundiata at Up South International
Book Festival by DuEwa M. Frazier
Jamie Foxx The Kingdom Interview
Two Years Ago Today
- Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passion
Dr.
Frances Cress Welsing
K'wan
Doug
& Jackie Christie
Sidi
Felicia Pride
Treasure E. Blue
Daaimah S.
Poole
Jump
at the Sun: A Novel by Kim Mclarin 
The Good Girl Book Club™
Sentences:
The Life of M.F. Grimm 
African
American Literary Awards Show 
K’Wan's
8PM-MIDNIGHT PARRRT-Y
The
Parren J. Mitchell Foundation Honors Publishing Industry Pioneer Linda
Gill at The 6th Annual Awards Dinner
Peace,
AALBC.com
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