Sacramento Black Book Fair June 6 - June 8, 2014

This is an invitation to participate in a ground-breaking event for Sacramento: the First Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair (SBBF). The SBBF is an offshoot of Blue Nile Press, a Sacramento Publisher of Black Books. This historic event will take place from June 6 - June 8, 2014.

It will bring writers, publishers, readers, and vendors from Sacramento, the state, the country, and the international community, to a celebration of reading and writing, here in the River City. The SBBF will take place in the heart of Oak Park, an important neighborhood for Black Sacramentans, where the city’s Mayor, and former NBA Star, Kevin Johnson was raised. The SBBF will be anchored by venues at the Women’s Civic Improvement Club, The Brickhouse Art Gallery, Evolve the Gallery, the Oak Park United Methodist Church, Underground Books, and the Guild Theater. For more information, and to contact us, please go to: sacramentoblackbookfair.com

Furious Cool: Richard Pryor and the World That Made Him

Richard Pryor was arguably the single most influential performer of the second half of the twentieth century, and certainly he was the most successful black actor/comedian ever. Controversial and somewhat enigmatic in his lifetime, Pryor’s performances opened up a new world of possibilities, merging fantasy with angry reality in a way that wasn’t just new it was heretofore unthinkable.

It’s so much easier for me to talk about my life in front of two thousand people than it is one-to-one. I’m a real defensive person, because if you were sensitive in my neighborhood, you were something to eat.

This title is being sold, for 30% off, until Dec. 22nd. Your order will be fulfilled by MahoganyBooks. Read why it is important to buy books from independent booksellers.

Bartlett’s Familiar Black Quotations

Bartlett’s Familiar Black Quotations: 5,000 Years of Literature, Lyrics, Poems, Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs from Voices Around the World edited by Retha Powers paints a rich canvas of Black history through time. Five thousand quotes are culled from the time of Ancient Egypt through American slavery, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Era, Apartheid, to the present day. With a foreword by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and passages from authors, artists, scientists, philosophers, theologians, activists, politicians, and many others. A wonderful reference tool and gift.

Kalyani Magazine | Literary Magazine by Women of Color

Kalyani Magazine goes beyond literature—it’s about history. Women of color make up over 40% of the world’s population, and yet men make up most of the published writing — when we look back at the 21st century, who will be represented?

Although there are magazines out there for women, and for specific ethnicities, there isn’t one for all women of color. We have had authors from Africa, Southeast Asia, India, the US and Canada, writing to diverse audiences. Not only does this preserve the voices, but it enables our readers to learn more about the true experiences that exist around the world.

Discover more magazines at Huria Search

Creating Great eBook Covers with MyEbookCover.com

MyEcoverMaker is an extremely easy to use point-and-click online software to create ebook covers without the need for expensive software like photoshop and plugins to create stunning 3D eCovers.

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I’m a strong advocate of the idea that people should be compensated for the vast wealth we collectively generate for corporations through our activity on the world wide web. Our personal information, browsing habits, social media activity and transactions are far more valuable than what we get in return.

The folks at Bing have taken a step in the right direction, by offering people gift cards in exchange for using their search engine. You even earn rewards for referring others. Your activity is valuable; you deserve to be compensated. More importantly, Bing’s results are, relatively speaking, pretty darn good. Compare Bing’s search results, against their biggest competitor, yourself..

Kasi Lemmons — The “Black Nativity” Interview

A proven talent as an actress, writer and director, Kasi Lemmons continues to tantalize creatively with her thought provoking body of work. Her work as an actress includes roles in Silence of the Lambs opposite Jodie Foster, and Spike Lee’s School Daze, as well as Hard Target, Fear of a Black Hat, Candyman and Vampire’s Kiss.

Here, she talks about her adaptation of the Langston Hughes musical Black Nativity, which stars Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Tyrese, and her husband, Vondie Curtis-Hall.

Naomie Harris — “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” Interview

As a critically acclaimed actress in film, television, and theatre, Naomie Harris is making more of a name for herself with each of her successive, luminous performances. Last year, she starred as Bond girl ‘Eve’ opposite Daniel Craig in the 007 feature Skyfall.

After earning a degree in social and political science with honors from Cambridge University, Naomie trained at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Here, she talks about her latest outing as ‘Winnie Mandela’ opposite Idris Elba in Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom.

Benedict Cumberbatch — “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Interview

This year alone, Cumberbatch has starred in The Fifth Estate, 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County, Star Trek into Darkness and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. And on television, he reprised his title role in the PBS Masterpiece series Sherlock Holmes.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that busy Benedict was just named Artist of the Year by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. In addition, he was on the cover of Time Magazine in October and was ranked #1 by Empire Magazine on its 2013 list of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars.

Ann Coulter — “Never Trust a Liberal over 3 Interview”

If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose? Most people we ask this question respond with, “the ability to fly” or “invisibility.” Ann’s response, “USA.” I think Ann is funny. However others have a different point of view.

“The right-wing Republican-oriented media is bogged down with blonde, blue-eyed ditzes like Ann Coulter and ex-view airhead Elizabeth Hasselbeck. The latest example of the absurdity that exists in the ranks of this sisterhood comes out of the mouth of Fox TV host, Megyn Kelly. She is who broke the news to anyone who was misguided enough to think differently, that Santa Claus and Jesus were white.” —Cynique (read the rest of her comments)

Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas

Mabel “Madea” Simmons is the moralizing, motor-mouthed senior citizen created and first introduced on stage by the incomparable Tyler Perry. The compulsive granny is a self-righteous vigilante who can’t help but intervene on the spot whenever she sees an innocent victim being bullied by a sadistic villain.

At the point of departure in A Madea Christmas, the eighth screen adventure in the popular film series, we find her working as Mrs. Santa Claus in a downtown Atlanta department store. The seasonal job affords the politically-incorrect impersonator an opportunity to shock kids and their ears-covering parents with a profusion of her trademark off-color asides and English-mangling malapropisms.

Black Nativity

Naima (Jennifer Hudson) is a single-mom struggling to pay the rent on the apartment she shares with son Langston (Jacob Latimore), 15, who’s the same age she was when she had him. Back then, she was as headstrong as he is now, which explains why she ran away from a good home in Harlem to raise him alone in Baltimore.

Today, upon receiving an eviction notice, cash-strapped Naima reluctantly sends the rebellious adolescent in need of a father figure to New York to live with her parents, Aretha (Angela Bassett) and Reverend Cornell Cobbs (Forest Whitaker), prominent members of the black community. But Langston lands in trouble even before they have a chance to pick him up at the bus station, so they end-up having to bail him out of jail.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Idris Is Impressive in Inspirational Adaptation of Revered Icon’s Autobiography Nelson “Madiba” Mandela (Idris Elba) secretly started writing his autobiography “Long Walk to Freedom” while still serving what he had every reason to believe might very well be a life sentence on Robben Island. The lawyer-turned-spokesman for the outlawed African National Congress had been convicted of treason for trying to dismantle South Africa’s racist regime.

But he was indeed freed following 27 years in prison of imprisonment when the bloody civil war was on the brink of bringing an end to Apartheid. At that point, Mandela assured the apprehensive white minority that despite the fact that, “Fear has made you an unjust and brutal people, when we come to power, there will be no revenge.”

The African-American Film Critics Association’s Award Winning Films and Actors

The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has named 12 Years a Slave as the Best Picture of 2013. The Fox Searchlight film’s also earned Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Newcomer honors for Steve McQueen, John Ridley and Lupita Nyong’o. The organization, which represents the leading African-American film critics nationwide, will formally present its awards during a private ceremony on Friday, January 31, 2014 hosted by Orlando Jones at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, CA.

In the acting categories, Forest Whitaker won Best Actor for his performance in Lee Daniels: The Butler and Sandra Bullock was named Best Actress for Gravity. Oprah Winfrey received Best Supporting Actress 2013 for her role in The Butler and Jared Leto earned Best Supporting Actor 2013 for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club.

Negro Digest

For the publication of Black Arts creative literature, no magazine was more important than the Chicago-based Johnson publication Negro Digest / Black World. Johnson published America’s most popular Black magazines, Jet and Ebony. Hoyt Fuller, who became the editor in 1961, was a Black intellectual with near-encyclopedic knowledge of Black literature and seemingly inexhaustible contacts. Because Negro Digest, a monthly, ninety-eight-page journal, was a Johnson publication, it was sold on newsstands nationwide. Originally patterned on Reader’s Digest, Negro Digest changed its name to Black World in 1970, indicative of Fuller’s view that the magazine ought to be a voice for Black people everywhere. The name change also reflected the widespread rejection of “Negro” and the adoption of “Black” as the designation of choice for people of African descent and to indicate identification with both the diaspora and Africa. The legitimation of “Black” and “African” is another enduring legacy of the Black Arts Movement. —Kalamu ya Salaam

Beyoncé’s New Album Sparks Controversy

“[If you] are looking for a different gift for either the guy or the gal in your life, you might want to pick up Beyoncé’s new album which just dropped unannounced and will go on sale next week It’s proclaimed to be a real blockbuster, featuring an endless roster of new songs featuring guest appearances by a host of celebrity artists, not to mention husband, Jay Z and daughter, Blue Ivy. But, wait. There’s more. A panorama of videos wherein Beyoncé’s whole life passes before your eyes will also be available. Who would not want to put, at the top of their to-do list, the purchasing of Mrs. Carter’s self indulgent love letter to herself. Oops. Sorry. Beyoncé insists this monumental exercise in narcissism is a gift to her fans who apparently can’t get enough of her. Thank you, thank you. Merry Christmas.

Super couple that they are, Jay Z and his royal consort Beyonce are so over the top that they overwhelm me to the point of getting on my nerves. Who needs Prince William and Duchess Kate to be bored by when we have the king and queen of hip-hop right in our midst.” —Cynique (read the rest and tell us what you think)

Black Issues Book Review

Black Issues Book Review (BIBR) was founded in 1998 by William E. Cox, Adrienne Ingrum, and Susan McHenry.

BIBR’s first issue (Jan/Feb 1997) featured the legendary author Octavia Butler. BIBR did not pick some over exposed celebrity, or trendy rapper, to grace the cover. They selected a talented writer (the author of one of my favorite book’s, Kindred). This signaled to me that BIBR was serious about showcasing talent. In fact, in 1999, Black Issues Book Review was named one of “the ten best new magazines” by The American Library Journal from more than a thousand new publications.

The final issue (Sept/Oct 2007) was published by Target Market News and featured Edwidge Danticat.

Win a Copy of Prisoners on Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital Download!

The first three people to subscribe, or renew their subscription, to this eNewsletter at the Supporter or Sustainer level will win this Blu-ray Combo Pack.

This film stars Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis and Terrence Howard. How far would you go to protect your family? Keller Dover (Jackman) is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) arrests its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces his release.

Killens Review of Arts & Letters Seeks Proposals for Journal

The Killens Review of Arts & Letters, a highly regarded literary journal, is seeking short stories, creative nonfiction, essays, poetry, and artwork for its Spring/Summer 2014 issue. The nationally-known journal is requesting submissions related to the various cultural, sociopolitical, and historical experiences of writers and people of color from the African diaspora. Interested writers, faculty, scholars and students are urged to submit material by January 17, 2014.

Interested writers should submit their materials to writers@mec.cuny.edu with “Killens Review” in the subject heading. Your submission should include a brief bio and a synopsis of the work being submitted. Unfortunately, the Killens Review of Arts & Letters Submission Committee will not accept book manuscripts.