| Dear Reader, My goal is to get at least 1% of our current subscribers to purchase their subscription to the AALBC.com eNewsletter for only $7.99 per
| | Dear Reader, My goal is to get at least 1% of our current subscribers to purchase their subscription to the AALBC.com eNewsletter for only $7.99 per year. Your paid subscription makes it possible for me, with the support of dedicated writers, to continue to improve our coverage of books, films and related subjects. If you are already a paid subscriber, thank you! Peace,
Troy Johnson
Founder, AALBC.com |
 AALBC.com mourns the passing of Nigerian novelist and poet Chinua Achebe (November 16, 1930 — March 22, 2013) Author of classic novel “Things Fall Apart” |
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Fiction
1. The Perfect Marriage by Kimberla Lawson Roby
2. I Dreamt I Was in Heaven by Leonce Gaiter
3. Scandalous by Victoria Christopher Murray Nonfiction
1. Sistergirl Devotions: Keeping Jesus in the Mix on the Job By Carol M. Mackey
2. Words Cross & Across: Word Search on Barack Obama By Dr. Eugene Williams Sr
3. Understanding Black Male Learning Styles By Jawanza Kunjufu Check out all 25 Fiction and 25 Non-fiction Best Sellers |
Bestselling author Eric Pete was born in Seattle, WA. With an intense love of reading from an early age, Eric was unknowingly building the foundation for what was to come. Eric had considered writing a novel for several years, but it wasn’t until recently that he gave in to the stories in his head and decided to share them with the world.is one of contemporary fiction’s rising stars. His latest novel Frostbite brings back the "Prince of Lies" from Eric’s critically acclaimed Crushed Ice. His real name is Truth, but most don’t call him that. He’s a man…a ghost…a figment that the lucky ones don’t even know exists. |
Born in Thieytou, Center Senegal, Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop (1923—1986) was born to an aristocratic Muslim Wolof family in Senegal where he was educated in a traditional Islamic school. Diop’s family was part of the Mouride brotherhood, the only independent Muslim group in Africa according to Diop. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Senegal before moving to Paris for graduate studies, where he ended his scholastic education. Diop teaches us in his best-sellin book, The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality, that the Black Egyptians are the original settlers of KMT [Kemet]. "The native Sudanese are one of the original pigmented Arabs in that region. They are members of the same ethnic family with the ancient Egyptians, the Ethiopians, the Southern Arabians, and the primitive inhabitants of Babylon. All founders and sustainers of the mighty Nilotic civilization we still admire today." |
Lock is the author of Who You Callin’ Silly? How a Silly Woman Becomes Virtuous. In it she helps reader take control of their lives by refusing to be defined by stigmas, stereotypes, prejudices, past mistakes and present challenges. Kim Lock also assists her husband in the business aspects of their church, Unity Gospel House of Prayer, Milwaukee Wisconsin. In addition, she is a soloist in the choir, and a member of the praise dance team. If you want to be touched by a beautiful family, visit Kimberly’s page. |
This novel raises some conflicting concerns about the nature of faith in our daily lives, while it provides a brief but intimate peep inside the urban black church. In Gift Of Faith, the church is certainly not without its corruptions and venal leadership, as with any secular entity, but it also consists of truly dedicated individuals who struggle mightily with personal, moral, and social issues. In this regard, Gift Of Faith sends a strong signal that not only is God not dead, but the black church is just getting its second wind as a carrier of the torch of light and truth in this age of quickening darkness. |
In the foreword of Squirrels & Puppies, Mebane’s second book, the author has fun with the reader, saying in a tongue-in-cheek style that this collection has steered clear of the spiritual themes of his first book. His debut, Rape & Killing: Stories from a Strange Mind, got Mebane some notoriety in some literary circles. Here, the “dark morality tales” range from the hilarious odd variety such as “The Woodchipper,” where Chipu the red squirrel has a human lover, but cannot get her pregnant to the blackly comic type as “Doggie Death Panel,” where five dogs — Sasha, Knickers, Mittens, Poopsy and Mr. Tinkles- serve notice tragically on their human owner in a way Dr. Seuss would have never conceived. Along this same theme, his story, “Feline and Femininity,” has the mother and daughter trying to figure out what’s wrong with Muffin, the cat. However, Muffin has got a hot surge of feline hormones and she’s in heat, needing some attention. |
In this slender novel, Cowards and Angels, Aileen Muhammad tries to do an almost impossible task in African American literature, to recreate a modern neo-spiritual version of Jean Toomer’s 1923 innovative Cane. Like the black fictional classic of years ago, she shifts the topic from an over-emphasis on the issues of color and caste to encompass the larger subjects of the soul and spirituality. This is not to say that Muhammad lacks the courage to toss caution to the wind and occasionally risk it all in her search for something modernistic and highly unique. She is fearless, determined, and bold in her choices. The central story begins with Ace Smart, the son of a physician and a writer of the fabled Harlem Renaissance. He is not immune to tragedy, for his father is discovered hung in his office and his mother dies shortly after her man’s needless death. However, the family tree of the Smart blood line is black and his ancestors were very proud of it. It seems that Ace’s father, Dr. Jabbar and his parents came from the Fjelland Plantation, with his grandfather guiding fugitive blacks to their freedom. Serving the race was a part of his clan’s DNA. |
The civil rights movement is indirectly the focus of Ramblers, a fascinating opus about an integrated team of talented and dignified young men who not only ascended to the top of their sport but simultaneously helped change the color of college basketball once and for all. The book recounts in riveting detail how the Loyola players maintained their composure despite being spat on, cursed at and showered with garbage during NCAA Tournament contests hosted across the South including the Final Four on the floor of the ironically-named Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. Written by veteran journalist Michael Lenehan, an award-winning editor at the Atlantic and the Chicago Reader, Ramblers is a worthwhile read chronicling a memorable upset and, perhaps more importantly, a triumph of character over cowardice that had repercussions way beyond the basketball court. |
When you think of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, what automatically comes to mind for most people is Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. And while Dr. King’s remarks certainly deserve every bit of recognition they have garnered over the years, it is also important to remember that hundreds of thousands of ordinary American citizens committed to civil rights had descended on the National Mall to attend the event. The book is essentially a photographic essay chronicled by Leonard Freed (1929-2006) before, during and after at the March. His beautiful black & white images are rarely of the leaders (only one of Dr. King), but rather are evocative portraits of the movement’s hopeful foot soldiers who’d trudged from all over the country to petition the government for equal rights. |
Founded in 1969 by Nathan Hare and Robert Chrisman (1938 to March 10th, 2013), The Black Scholar, is one of the first journals dedicated to black studies and research. As I flip through the pages of the very first issue, it is a reminder to me that there was a large community of people who were wrestling with the complex problems that plagued the Black community, who were actively engaged in making fundamental changes, and who did this from a global perspective. Today the publication is committed to continuing the tradition of political engagement.. |
It’s impossible for me to limit my favorite films of 2012 to just 10 of the year’s 1,000 or so releases After all, it feels unfair even to compare most of them to each other, since they represent so many different genres, countries and cultures, and enjoyed such a range in budgets. Therefore, as per usual, this critic’s annual list features 100 entries in order to honor as many of the best offerings as possible. And despite the cloud of controversy swirling around Kathryn’s Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty for its depiction of torture and Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained for its violence and use of the N-word, both of these movies are nevertheless deserving of high accolades in my humble opinion. Also check out our annual Blacktrospective — The Best Black Films of 2012 |
In 1817, the American Colonization Society (ACS) was formed with the support of Kentucky politician Henry Clay; Francis Scott Key, author of The Star Spangled Banner; Bushrod Washington, nephew of President George Washington and Supreme Court Justice; and William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol. All were slave owners with moderate politics. Quakers also supported the effort, believing emancipation of slaves impossible. Land in Africa was purchased from local tribes for the purpose of creating a colony for slave owners to ship their slaves back to Africa. In 1822, approximately 86 freed slaves voluntarily boarded a ship bound for Africa. Over the next 40 years, nearly 20,000 former slaves would arrive in Liberia. |
The hit online show, The Book Look, speaks with Michael Baisden about supporting black authors and books; Host Monda Webb keeps the pages turning as Charisse Carney-Nunes covers the controversial Malcolm X book, A Lie of Reinvention, and Kwame Alexander tackles Booker T. Mattison’s Snitch. Play the “The Book Look” videos on your website or blog. Just cut a paste a few lines of code and we’ll update your site with the latest Book Look videos. |
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Olympus Has Fallen is a derivative action flick which might be best described as a cross of Die Hard (1988) and In the Line of Fire (1993), except that instead of Bruce Willis or Clint Eastwood, we have Gerard Butler playing the invincible, two-fisted protagonist. The fast-paced film is engaging and entertaining enough to come recommended provided you’re willing to put your brain on hold and not question any of the picture’s implausible plot developments. Featuring pyrotechnics worthy of a 4th of July fireworks display, Olympus Has Fallen is an eye-popping, patriotic, high-octane adventure that leaves no doubt about who’s the vindicated hero that kept the world safe for democracy. The Butler did it! Gerard Butler, that is. |
As young children, the McCrae sisters, Gail (Deborah Mailman), Julie (Jessica Mauboy) and Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), formed a promising singing group with their cousin Kay (Shari Sebbens). But the ensemble barely got off the ground before Kay was seized by the authorities while recuperating in a hospital. You see, the girls were growing up in Australia at a time when the law allowed fair-skinned aborigines to be taken from their mothers and placed with Caucasian families so they could be raised in accordance with the “White Ways.” Consequently, half-caste Kay had virtually no further contact with indigenous culture or any of her relatives over the next decade… |
1. What Black Men Think
Produced and directed by Janks Morton, What Black Men Think is an in depth view of how myths, stereotypes and misrepresentations render Black men non-necessities in their communities and families. 2. Zane’s Sex Chronicles Season 1
Based on a set of erotic short stories from best-selling author Zane, this urban adult series follows five alluring women who enthusiastically embrace their sexuality, engaging in arousing trysts with their husbands, boyfriends, ex-lovers and total strangers. Click out the other Top Ten Selling DVDs for 2012 |
Terrence Howard - The “Dead Man Down” Interview In 2006, Terrence Howard received an Academy Award nomination for his lead role in John Singleton’s Hustle & Flow, and the song which he performed in the film became the first rap song ever to receive an Academy Award. That same year, he was also a member of the all-star cast (along with Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Thandie Newton and Matt Dillon) of Crash, the Oscar-winning Best Picture. Here, he talks about his latest film, Dead Man Down, where he plays crime boss Alphonse Hoyt opposite Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace and F. Murray Abraham. You’ll also find Terrance’s earliest memory very interesting. |
Finally, the long awaited sequel to Sister Souljah’s very popular debut novel, The Coldest Winter Ever, established her as "the mother of all contemporary urban literature". A Deeper Love Inside debuted at #5 on AALBC.com’s Best-sellers list for Jan/Feb 2013. Readers will encounter their favorite characters from The Coldest Winter Ever, including Winter and Midnight. Normally I would have notified you about this book last month. Read why I did not. |
Day hits her stride with the enchanting Morgan Men series kickoff. The chemistry is instantaneous between “forever-grooving-always-moving female magnet” sports manager Michael Morgan and his new client, phenomenal sprinter Shayna Washington. However, the sworn bachelor is uncomfortable dating clients, and Shayna’s self-confidence has been damaged by her stalking ex-fiancé, Jarrell Powell, and her manipulative, selfish mother. When Jarrell beats Shayna and she turns to Michael for help, he realizes his feelings go beyond the professional. Readers will cheer for the hero and heroine to find a happy ending, especially given Shayna’s heartbreaking past. Day’s characters reach out to the reader from the first page to the last. The story brims with tension, charm, and the power of love. Contemporary romance fans will savor this book while awaiting the next Morgan story. |
Launched in 1998, Mosaic is a website and tri-annual print magazine exploring the literary arts by writers of African descent. Each issue contains a unique blend of profiles, book reviews, and literature lesson plans. Mosaic is produced by the Literary Freedom Project, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt not-for-profit arts organization that supports the literary arts through education, creative thinking, and new media. Ron Kavanaugh is the publisher and Marcia E. Wilson (WideVision Photography) is the “Around Town” Photographer. Marcia is also a frequent contributor to AALBC.com. She took the photograph of Chinua Achebe at the start of this eNewsletter. Learn more about Mosaic. |
I rediscovered this book the other day and had the same initial reaction Thumper had over a decade ago who when here viewed it. "I flipped the cover to the table of contents, read the list of authors and got excited. The authors are among the finest ever assembled in one book. Instantly After Hours became a must-read." Just look at the list of contributors: Charles Johnson, Colin Channer, Cole Riley, Brian Peterson, Kalamu Ya Salaam, Tracy Grant, Earl Sewell, John A. Williams, Kenji Jasper, Eric E. Pete, Alexs D. Pate, Brian Egleston, Clarence Major, Curtis Bunn, Gary Phillips, Brandon Massey, Robert Scott Adams, Jervey Tervalon, and Arthur Flowers. |
In light of the recent firing at another publication and the resulting hand-wringing, I thought it was important to offer a gentle reminder. There are magazines, still publishing, that are more likely to hear and listen to our concerns. "EBONY is the No. 1 source for an authoritative perspective on the Black-American community. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief, Amy D. Barnett, the monthly magazine, now in its 66th year, reaches nearly 11-million readers. EBONY features the best thinkers, trendsetters, hottest celebrities and next-generation leaders of Black-America. It’s more than a magazine, it’s a movement." |
Jackie Robinson’s story does not end with his passing. His legacy continues through the efforts of his wife Rachel Robinson. Rachel continued honoring Jackie’s legacy by founding the Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1973. The foundation’s mission is to perpetuate the memory of Jackie Robinson through the advancement of higher education among under-served populations. Over the years, Rachel has been recognized for her charitable work by universities, Major League Baseball, Congress and the President. I attended a couple of the the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s annual banquets which honored the accomplishments brilliant and talented young scholarship recipients. I also enjoyed the annual picnic/jazz concert and fundraiser held in the Robinson’s back yard in Connecticut. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more. |
These web sites are in the top 1% of all web sites, of any type, and represent an excellent sample of the best Black book web sites.
Each site’s traffic is estimated by Alexa Internet, Inc. The web sites are sorted based upon their 3 month average traffic ranking as of March 8, 2013. The goal of this page is to highlight websites that are committed to promoting books written by Black writers, but are not dedicated to a single author or publisher. Each website has different strengths and approaches, but they all provide you with information about books and authors that are becoming increasingly difficult to find online. If I’m missing any websites that you like, please email me troy@aalbc.com. I’m in the process of compiling a database similar our bookstore database. |
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Medgar Evers College, Founders Auditorium, 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225 General Donation: $10, Student/ Faculty/ Senior Donation: $5, Closing Reception Donation: $30 View the entire program. Keynote Address; Farah Jasmine Griffin; Mistress of Ceremonies: Lindamichelle Baron; Panelists Include, Malaika Adero, Grace Aneiza Ali, Kieth Gilyard, Linda Janet Holmes, Thabiti Lewis, Eugene Redmond, & Sonia Sanchez |
 The Black Pack Party is an annual celebration of book industry professionals, authors, and friends. It is hosted by AALBC.com, Linda A. Duggins, MosaicBooks.com, and Written Magazine. |
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? Queens Spring Book Fair, April 20, Jamaica, NY
? 1st Annual Bronx Literary Festival, May 18, Bronx, NY
? Bayou Soul Writers & Readers Conference, July 3, New Orleans, LA
? Baltimore Urban Book Festival, July 14, Baltimore, MD
? The QBR Wheatley Book Awards, July 19, Harlem, NY
? The 15th Harlem Book Fair, July 20, Harlem, NY
? National Book Club Conference, Aug 2-4, Atlanta, GA
? Onyxcon V, August 16-17, Atlanta, GA
? L.A. Black Book Expo, August 17, 2013, Los Angeles, CA
? Charlotte Book Fair, Oct 5, Charlotte , NC
? National Black Book Festival, Oct 24-26, Houston, TX
You may easily share information about your events (anywhere in the world), by posting the information on our discussion board and events calendar. |
Generally people are often surprised to know that I’m the only one who has ever managed the AALBC.com website, blogs, discussion forums even the eNewsletter you are reading now. I started AALBC.com more than 15 years as a learning exercise and it quickly became my life long passion. Visit http://troydjohnson.com to learn a little more about me. Be sure to say, "hello" to me at my next event :-) |
A Manuscript Review is an assessment of your manuscript, by one of our editors, to judge what we think it needs, such as either a line-edit, an editorial letter, proofreading or copy editing or a combination of those. In the review will also be our fee, and a schedule for completion of the work. Each manuscript assessment fee is different and will vary based on the manuscript’s length, the amount of work required, the type of editing needed, and the services chosen. The $125 Manuscript Review fee is paid before the manuscript is reviewed and is subtracted from the final assessment fee. |
Launched in 1998 AALBC.com is the largest and most frequently visited website dedicated to books by or about people of African descent. AALBC.com is uniquely positioned to promote your book or product to a highly targeted audience. We utilize a world class advertising server which allows us to target your banner ad to a specific location, from a country down to a zip-code) or to display to during specific times. Great for promoting local or regional events. AALBC.com provides customized services and is able develop an advertising campaign to display our book cover or advertising banner on a single page, throughout AALBC.com or even across multiple partner websites. We provide offerings for any budget with campaigns starting as low as $49 per month. We also over discounts to advertisers who run multiple ads at the same time or who run campaigns for 3 consecutive months. We have the ability to display all IAB standard ad banners sizes, video and Flash banners throughout our website If you need help just send us an email at troy@aalbc.com. It you need even more guidance I also provide private consulting services as well. |
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