On June 10, 2017, I had the fortune of being honored with the Literary Activist of the Year Award, which was presented to me during a terrific ceremony at the EpiRiverside Center in Austell, Georgia. The awards ceremony was hosted by AAMBC (African Americans on the Move Book Club). Fellow nominees, in the Literary Activist category, included
Malaika Adero,
Curtis Bunn, Jeff Friday, and Lasheera Lee.
It really was a wonderful ceremony. There was entertainment, including live musical performances, spoken word, and even comedy. Poet,
Nikki Giovanni honored with the Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award. Writer
Teri Woods was also honored for her impact in Urban Fiction.
Most of my time is spent behind a screen tapping away at a keyboard. It is not glamorous work and 95% of it takes place behind the scenes in isolation. It is neither glamorous or very lucrative, so I truly appreciate the times when my effort is recognized as important and worthy of celebration.
My hat goes off to
Tamika Newhouse, founder of the AAMBC Literary Awards, for doing more than her part to celebrate Black writers and the professionals who support them.
[caption id="attachment_4469" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
with Poet Nikki Giovanni[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4470" align="alignnone" width="500"]
with fellow Nominee, Malaika Adero[/caption]
The Complete List of Winners
Literary Activist
Winner:
Troy Johnson
Book Club of the Year
Winner:
556 Book Chicks
Publisher of the Year
Winner:
St. Martins Press
Male Author of the Year
Winner:
Marc Lamont Hill
Female Author of the Year
Winner:
Mercy B.
Non- Fiction/Self Help Book of the Year
Winner:
Around the Way Girl by Tarajee P. Henson and Denene Millner
Angie Martinez My Voice: A Memoir by Angie Martinez
Winner:
I’m Judging You by Luvvie Ajayai
Magazine of the Year
Winner:
Essence
Breakout Author of the Year
Winner: Dedra Allen
Independent Digital Publisher of the Year
Winner:
Shan Presents
Street Lit Writer of the Year
Winner:
K’wan
Urban Book of the Year
Winner:
The Perfect Find by Tia Williams
Romance Author of the Year
Winner:
Mercy B.
Screenwriter of the Year
Winner: Armani Martin
Reader’s Choice Award
Winner:
Mz. Lady P.
eBook of the Year
Winner:
St. Pierre Boyz: All is Fair in Love and War by Mesha Mesh and Mz. Lady P.
Christian Fiction Author of the Year
Winner:
Kimberla Lawson Roby
Editor of the Year
Winner: Vanessa K. De Luca
Vanguard of Urban Media
Winner: Blavity
Motion Picture of the Year
Winner: Secrets
Blogger of the Year
And the winner Christina S. Brown “Love Brown Sugar”
