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Vote for the Best Book Trailer of 2010!
Vote for the Best Book Trailer of 2010! Troy Johnson Article There are only 2 days left to cast your vote for the finalists of the Best Book trailer of 2010. Cast you vote now: https://bit.ly/best...
Winner's Announced! The Best Book Trailer of 2010
Winner's Announced! The Best Book Trailer of 2010 Troy Johnson Article Here are the winners of the Best Book Trailer's of 2010. Please join me in congratulation off of the winners. 1st Prize ...
Get On Up - A New James Brown Movie Coming!
Get On Up - A New James Brown Movie Coming! Troy Johnson Article I just learned about this up coming film from my online buddy, CD Burns, an hour ago. After watching the trailer, I figured I’d shar...
Enter AALBC.com's Best Book Trailer for 2010 Competition
Enter AALBC.com's Best Book Trailer for 2010 Competition Troy Johnson Article To submit your video for consideration visit: https://bit.ly/bestbooktrailer2010
The Top 7 American Writers of the 20th Century
The Top 7 American Writers of the 20th Century Troy Johnson Article [caption id="attachment_948" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="AALBC.com Founder, Troy Johnson on James Baldwin"][/caption] ...
Video Distribution Service (http://videobookpromo.com)
Video Distribution Service (http://videobookpromo.com) Troy Johnson Article Video Distribution Service videobookpromo.com You've done the hard part; spending time and money creating your book tra...
Random Thoughts About Facebook
Random Thoughts About Facebook Troy Johnson Article I originally wrote this post in March of 2011, over 4½ years later, a life time in WWW years, I decided to revisit this article. My November 2015 ...
Top Ten Reasons Why African American Bookstores Are Closing
Top Ten Reasons Why African American Bookstores Are Closing Gwen Richardson Article Editor’s Note: On March 25, 2012 we published our new bookstore database. At the same time we also publ...
New Self-Publishing Literary Award to Promote Diverse Books in Libraries
New Self-Publishing Literary Award to Promote Diverse Books in Libraries Troy Johnson Article BCALA; SELF-e partner for new self-publishing literary award to promote diverse books in libraries The B...
National Conference of African American Librarians
National Conference of African American Librarians Troy Johnson Article Authors and Publishers: Exhibit at the National Conference of African American Librarians The Black Caucus of the American...
The ESSENCE Brand—Where Black Women Come First—NOT!
The ESSENCE Brand—Where Black Women Come First—NOT! Troy Johnson Article A few weeks ago, I visited Essence Magazine’s website to learn which Black owned bookstore they were going to use as the books...
What does Steve Harvey Know About Relationships?
What does Steve Harvey Know About Relationships? Troy Johnson Article My intent is not to pick on Steve Harvey personally, because I’m sure he is no worse, or better, than any of us. I just chose hi...
Barack Obama at Harlem's Apollo Theater, November 29th 2007
Barack Obama at Harlem's Apollo Theater, November 29th 2007 Troy Johnson Article Barack Obama http://aalbc.com/authors/barack_obama.htm Barack Obama hosted a fund raiser at Harlem's "World ...
Child’s Play: A Poem
Child’s Play: A Poem Frederick K. Foote, Jr. Article Another young Black man knocked unconscious, lying motionless on the fake grass His fellow players move around him in hushed groups radiating fea...
Tavis Smiley is no good for Black folks!
Tavis Smiley is no good for Black folks! Troy Johnson Article Actually, I believe the exact opposite, strongly. I used the provocative title to draw attention to this blog post. My hope is that y...
Remembering Glenn Thompson
Remembering Glenn Thompson W. Paul Coates Article Born in Harlem and raised in Brooklyn, Glenn Thompson [September 24, 1940 – September 7, 2001] left the U. S. as a young man and traveled...
Victoria Christopher Murray Celebrates a Writing Career Spanning 20 Years and 27 Novels!
Victoria Christopher Murray Celebrates a Writing Career Spanning 20 Years and 27 Novels! Troy Johnson Article “In 1997, I self-published my first novel, Temptation. I sold 9,000 copies in 6 months,...
Only 54 Black Owned Bookstores Remain in America
Only 54 Black Owned Bookstores Remain in America Troy Johnson Article This is a follow up to an article, “Death of the Black Owned, Independent, Book...
Prince Among Slaves - Abdul Rahman Sori’s Story
Prince Among Slaves - Abdul Rahman Sori’s Story Troy Johnson Article With the recent popularity of the film 12 Years a Slave and focus on Solomon Northup’s the tragic story story, we tend to forget ...
AALBC.com eNewsletter – October 11th 2012 – Issue #195
AALBC.com eNewsletter – October 11th 2012 – Issue #195 Troy Johnson Article Subscribe to this eNewsletter Read our eNewsletter Archives Read Our eNewsletter on Your Kindle By Troy Johnson Authors...
Social Media Conversation with Two Successful Webmasters
Social Media Conversation with Two Successful Webmasters Troy Johnson Article Here Ron Kavanaugh, founder of Mosaicbooks.com and I, founder of AALBC.com, speak with Darryl J. Jenkins (my cousin) ...
Need Inspiration to Write? Begin Within
Need Inspiration to Write? Begin Within Troy Johnson Article Need Inspiration to Write? Begin Within by Leah Mullen It was a beautifully cool late summer evening, and I was walking down M...
Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It<em> (2nd review)</em>
Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It (2nd review) Thumper Article I am usually excited when I get to read a new J. D. Mason novel. Over the years, she has become one of my favorite authors. When I ...
Join Effort to Make “Forever an Ex” a Best-Selling Book
Join Effort to Make “Forever an Ex” a Best-Selling Book Troy Johnson Article Join the National Initiative to Propel Victoria Christopher Murray’s new novel, Forever an Ex, to Best-seller Status. Ab...
Chester Himes
Chester Himes Michael Marsh Article Long before becoming a famous novelist, Chester Himes was a budding criminal. But his life changed after he was arrested in Chicago. His approach to his fir...
Julie Dash discusses Daughters of the Dust on banresandnoble.com
Julie Dash discusses Daughters of the Dust on banresandnoble.com Julie Dash Article Moderator: Welcome, Ms. Dash! We are so pleased you can join us this evening! Do you have any opening comments? ...
Visitor’s day at Camp Grant – Research & Share Your Family History (Part 3)
Visitor’s day at Camp Grant – Research & Share Your Family History (Part 3) Connie Bradley Article The author of the next installment of “Research & Share Your History” is my virtual ...
Ivan Van Sertima: My Historical Guide and Mentor
Ivan Van Sertima: My Historical Guide and Mentor Joel A. Freeman Article My interest in Black history was launched in earnest about 42+ years ago in 1980 when some Black pro athletes asked me questio...
AALBC.com Celebrates 20 Years!
AALBC.com Celebrates 20 Years! Troy Johnson Article Website Upgrade Nearing Completion I’m just a few months away from completing AALBC’s most recent upgrade. It has been a two year ...
March 28, 2017 Newsletter — Book Recommendations, News, Contests, and More
March 28, 2017 Newsletter — Book Recommendations, News, Contests, and More Troy Johnson Article Top 120 Children’s Books from the Past 50 Years Our list of the Top 120 Children’s Books published ove...
Anita Hemmings, the First Black Student to Attend Vassar College
Anita Hemmings, the First Black Student to Attend Vassar College Troy Johnson Article Karin Tanabe’s gripping new historical novel, The Gilded Years (Washington Square Press, June 7, 2016) is based o...
The 2016 Black Pack Party: A Wonderful Celebration!
The 2016 Black Pack Party: A Wonderful Celebration! Troy Johnson Article The 10th Black Pack Party, like all the others, was a wonderful celebration. Hosted during Book Expo America each year, the B...
The Pimping of Wikipedia
The Pimping of Wikipedia Troy Johnson Article The Pimping of Wikipedia: Contributing to the Decline of the World Wide Web From the late 1990s and in to the following decade, the World Wide Web was a...
My Interview with Snoop of HBO's The Wire
My Interview with Snoop of HBO's The Wire Troy Johnson Article Felicia "Snoop" Pearson and AALBC.com founder Troy Johnsonvideo taped interview (8 minutes) The first time I saw Snoop was on HBO's The ...
Why Did The City Sun [1984–1996] Matter?
Why Did The City Sun [1984–1996] Matter? Wayne Dawkins Article Editors’s Note: Check out Dawkins’ book about The City Sun’s publisher Andrew W. Cooper A decade ago ...
A Reaction to the Opinion, “Watched Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song for the first time. It was really bad.”
A Reaction to the Opinion, “Watched Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song for the first time. It was really bad.” W. Paul Coates Article Maybe, but I do agree with you on the acting; not much there to crow abo...
Richard Wright to Jay-Z: The Decline of Young Black Male Literary Writers
Richard Wright to Jay-Z: The Decline of Young Black Male Literary Writers K.L. Reeves Article Young Writers Need Models Young writers need models. Early in my apprenticeship my predecessors fed me ...
The Gilded Six-Bits, A Short Story
The Gilded Six-Bits, A Short Story Zora Neale Hurston Article A screening of the film The Gilded Six-Bits was held July 29, 2010 as part of the AALBC.com Brownstones Series in Harlem, New York. B...
2003's List
2003's List Troy Johnson Article Maximizing the Potential of the World Wide Web (September 2003) by Troy Johnson, Founder AALBC.com The Internet is a vast place and contains an amazing ...
Sample Manuscript Critique #1 - AALBC.com Manscript Critique Service
Sample Manuscript Critique #1 - AALBC.com Manscript Critique Service Troy Johnson Article Sample Critique #1 Here is what an in depth examination of your manuscript or book will look like using A...
Blue Nile Press Presents: Raisins in Milk by David Covin
Blue Nile Press Presents: Raisins in Milk by David Covin Troy Johnson Article In 1977, when Toni Morrison was an editor for Random House, she read an early version of Raisins in Milk. In a letter she...
July 25, 2017 Newsletter - Includes the Most Critically Acclaimed Books of the Last 40 Years
July 25, 2017 Newsletter - Includes the Most Critically Acclaimed Books of the Last 40 Years Troy Johnson Article May – June 2017 Bestselling Books Children’s books outsold all genres for the...
The Results of a Decade on Social Media
The Results of a Decade on Social Media Troy Johnson Article One of the most profound changes I’ve witnessed on the web, in the past decade, is the rise of social media. Here I share my insight and ...
Walter Dean Myers: More Than an Outstanding Writer
Walter Dean Myers: More Than an Outstanding Writer Troy Johnson Article by Wade Hudson I was stunned when I heard that Walter Dean Myers had made his transition. During the 25 plus years that my w...
AALBC.com has changed a lot over the last 13 years.
AALBC.com has changed a lot over the last 13 years. Troy Johnson Article Sometimes I'm amazed at how an experiment started 13 years ago turned into my livelihood today. While AALBC.co...
Two Years Ago - Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passion
Two Years Ago - Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passion Troy Johnson Article Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passionby Tanangachi Mfuni, Amsterdam News Sta...
Susan Taylor Baker King’s Memoir
Susan Taylor Baker King’s Memoir Susie King Taylor Article An Excerpt from Susan Taylor Baker King’s Memoir:Reminiscences of My Life in Camp with the 33rd US Colored Troops, Late 1st S.C. Vol...
September Newsletter: Recommended Reads, the MS Book Festival, and More
September Newsletter: Recommended Reads, the MS Book Festival, and More Troy Johnson Article Recommended Reads N. K. Jemisin the Only Writer to Win the Best Novel Hugo Award in three Consecutive Yea...
The Ultimate Top 10 Books Lists, Great New Books, Black Classic Press Celebrates 40 Years, and More!
The Ultimate Top 10 Books Lists, Great New Books, Black Classic Press Celebrates 40 Years, and More! Troy Johnson Article Please join us as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Black Classic Press ...
2 Ways Google is Killing Online Booksellers & How You Can Help
2 Ways Google is Killing Online Booksellers & How You Can Help Troy Johnson Article (1) Google Uses its Dominance in Search to Hijack Traffic from Websites Google does this by placing content, it ha...
30+ Must Read Books - Something for Everyone
30+ Must Read Books - Something for Everyone Troy Johnson Article Our January 2016 eNewsletter was sponsored by author Russell A. Mabane. Learn how you may sponsor an AALBC.com eNewsletter. ...
Join the Fight for Independence on the Web
Join the Fight for Independence on the Web Troy Johnson Article This article is intended for writers and other content providers, who are active on social media and have a goal of generating reve...
5 Ways to Support Independent Black Voices
5 Ways to Support Independent Black Voices Troy Johnson Article The Digital Divide, or the disparity between internet adoption rates between various groups, has been a topic of conversation since the...
7 Free Tools Guaranteed to Make Your Website Better!
7 Free Tools Guaranteed to Make Your Website Better! Troy Johnson Article Managing a large website can be a difficult, requiring a wide variety of skills. As the sole developer of AALBC.c...
Virginia Deberry and Donna Grant: Our writing career is officially on HOLD
Virginia Deberry and Donna Grant: Our writing career is officially on HOLD Virginia Deberry and Donna Grant Article Virginia DeBerry (r) and Donna Grant (l)
AALBC.com Clients Make the NY Times Best Sellers List!
AALBC.com Clients Make the NY Times Best Sellers List! Troy Johnson Article [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="250"] #13 NY Times Best Seller, Hardcover Fiction May 20, 2012[/caption] I start...
The Best of The Black Book Web Sites - and other thoughts
The Best of The Black Book Web Sites - and other thoughts Troy Johnson Article Having published and monitored the activity of on-line newsletters for over 7 years I have a good feel for what subjects...
EyeEdit -- Editorial Services
EyeEdit -- Editorial Services Troy Johnson Article EyeEdit is a Black owned and operated online company established to provide editing, proofreading and writing services. Our clien...
AALBC is Done with Amazon!
AALBC is Done with Amazon! Troy Johnson Article For almost 22, years AALBC has exposed readers of all backgrounds to books written by, or about, people of African descent. AALBC has published th...
New Novel Explores What Our World Would Be Like if the South Won the Civil War
New Novel Explores What Our World Would Be Like if the South Won the Civil War Troy Johnson Article Lex Ramsay has crafted a captivating alternative history novel, Southern Republic, that bring...
Google‘s Adverse Impact on the World Wide Web
Google‘s Adverse Impact on the World Wide Web Troy Johnson Article (Note: On Sunday May 20, CBS’s 60 Minutes aired a segment on the power of Google, validating much of what I’ve written below) Goo...
Bestselling Books, The Top 25 Black-Owned Sites, New Books, and More
Bestselling Books, The Top 25 Black-Owned Sites, New Books, and More Troy Johnson Article Bestselling Books July – August 2017 Fiction titles outsold all other genres this period, led by the stren...
How is African American Literature Really Doing?
How is African American Literature Really Doing? Troy Johnson Article For those in the business of Black books in America, this is a common question; “How is African American Literature Doing?” Some...
Documentary Film on History of Blacks in Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction Books
Documentary Film on History of Blacks in Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction Books Troy Johnson Article https://www.youtube.com/embed/uvDW5z0b9po “The Invisible Universe documentary reveals the his...
April 18, 2017 Newsletter: New Books, Vote for Your Favorite Author, and More
April 18, 2017 Newsletter: New Books, Vote for Your Favorite Author, and More Troy Johnson Article AALBC.com Congratulates all the Winners of Pulitzer Prizes in the Letters and Drama Categories Fict...
The Music Moguls Who Bled Millions from a Black Legend
The Music Moguls Who Bled Millions from a Black Legend Reclamation Project Article Originally Published by the NOI Research Group The recent death of the great Rock & Roll pioneer Chuck Berr...
March 1, 2017 Newsletter — Book Award Announcements, New Books, and More
March 1, 2017 Newsletter — Book Award Announcements, New Books, and More Troy Johnson Article New Books Coming Out March 2017 Helene Cooper tells the amazing of story Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, leader o...
Hilarious New Novel From Award-winning Playwright David Lamb
Hilarious New Novel From Award-winning Playwright David Lamb Troy Johnson Article What’s worth fighting for the heart or the wallet? From the Creator of Platanos Y Collard Greens, David Lamb’s Ama...
Celebrating the Best in Black Literature (May 31, 2016 Newsletter)
Celebrating the Best in Black Literature (May 31, 2016 Newsletter) Troy Johnson Article Subscribe to AALBC.com’s eNewsletter Books to be Published in June Summer will heat up with some great new ...
2016 National Black Writers Conference
2016 National Black Writers Conference Troy Johnson Article Update: March 25, 2016 The Conference's Complete and final Schedule of Events is Now Available. Greetings Colleagues, We are excited a...
Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children’s Literature
Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children’s Literature Troy Johnson Article Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children’s Literature by Wade Hudson This Diversity Books Pledge was developed after a...
2015 Year End Thank You!
2015 Year End Thank You! Troy Johnson Article Coming in the New Year The biggest news for the new year is our website upgrade. We are redesigning AALBC.com from scratch, and we have the benefit of 1...
New List! Best-Selling Children’s Books
New List! Best-Selling Children’s Books Troy Johnson Article We've Just Added an Additional Category to Our Popular Best Sellers List—Children’s Books! Over the years, there has always been a gre...
How Bloggers Can Help Each Other
How Bloggers Can Help Each Other Troy Johnson Article A few years ago I created a website, Huria Search, to showcase and highlight the websites of Black content providers, including magazines, ne...
Our 10 Most Popular Discussions (and Why Discussion Forums Matter)
Our 10 Most Popular Discussions (and Why Discussion Forums Matter) Troy Johnson Article Our discussion forums have been running for more than 17 years. According to Google's Analytics, these are the...
Spike’s New Film is Bad, Kickstarter Funding is Worse
Spike’s New Film is Bad, Kickstarter Funding is Worse Troy Johnson Article AALBC.com’s movie critic, Kam Williams, is my friend. He is one of the most easy going guys I know. He has reviewed thousa...
Enrich Your Life; Read a Good Book – August 2014 eNewsletter
Enrich Your Life; Read a Good Book – August 2014 eNewsletter Troy Johnson Article You may receive this eNewsletter directly in your email-box by subscribing. It may also be read on your Kindle ebook ...
Are Reading Rates Declining in the African American Community?
Are Reading Rates Declining in the African American Community? Troy Johnson Article Frequent AALBC.com visitors may already know I consider search results biased toward large corporate sites t...
5 Things Writers Must Do To Survive Online
5 Things Writers Must Do To Survive Online Troy Johnson Article Today, despite all the technology and social media at our disposal, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the average writer to ear...
What Was The Last Book You Read? The Celebrity Edition
What Was The Last Book You Read? The Celebrity Edition Troy Johnson Article Over the years we've published hundreds of interviews with celebrities. Each one is usually asked, what is now know as the...
AALBC.com eNewsletter – November 30th 2012 – Issue #196
AALBC.com eNewsletter – November 30th 2012 – Issue #196 Troy Johnson Article AALBC.com would like to thank all of you for being loyal readers of our eNewsletter. We are proud to have continuously...
Death of the Black Owned, Independent, Bookstore
Death of the Black Owned, Independent, Bookstore Troy Johnson Article Editor's Note: We published an update of our bookstores in March of 2014. One of the very first things I put on AA...
Huria Search - Search the Global Black Community
Huria Search - Search the Global Black Community Troy Johnson Article Editors Note: As of March 2016, after a 5 year run, Huria Search's run as a standalone site has ended. The Search engine and the...
Reflections on Black Book Reviews
Reflections on Black Book Reviews Troy Johnson Article For more than a decade I, through AALBC.com, have published hundred's of reviews of books written by or about Black people. Over the years thi...
In Defense of Ashley Judd
In Defense of Ashley Judd Kevin Powell Article Ashley Judd is a very courageous woman. I am not referring to her work as a global ambassador for YouthAids, or her efforts to end poverty and sexual...
Open Letter to Chris Brown
Open Letter to Chris Brown Kevin Powell Article Open Letter to Chris Brown by Kevin Powell March 23rd, 2011 Dear Chris: I really did not want to write this open letter, and would have prefe...
African Rhytms: The Autobiography of Randy Weston - Read This Book
African Rhytms: The Autobiography of Randy Weston - Read This Book Troy Johnson Article [caption id="attachment_316" align="alignnone" width="572" caption="Randy Weston performs at the Brooklyn Museu...
A Filmmaker You Should Know: Janks Morton
A Filmmaker You Should Know: Janks Morton Troy Johnson Article Janks Morton has been in the entertainment industry for more than 20 years and is a much sought-after teacher, lecturer, commentator...
Lisa Armstrong's Moving Article in Essence Magazine [Jan. 2011]
Lisa Armstrong's Moving Article in Essence Magazine [Jan. 2011] Troy Johnson Article [caption id="attachment_248" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Photograph by Andre Lamberston - Essence Mag...
Rappers Delight – Jay Z’s new book and the RZA interviewed
Rappers Delight – Jay Z’s new book and the RZA interviewed Troy Johnson Article “My life after childhood has two main stories: the story of the hustler and the story of the rapper, and the two ov...
Playing Around With My New Blog
Playing Around With My New Blog Troy Johnson Article It really is a misnomer to call WordPress "blogging software" it is much more powerful and feature rich than most what most websites provide and c...
Video Interview with Farai Chideya
Video Interview with Farai Chideya Troy Johnson Article I just upload a video interview with Farai Chideya. It was shot at the AALBC.com Gallery in Harlem. Ron Kavanaugh of MosaicBooks.com did the i...
New Reviews by one of AALBC.com's Favorite Reviewers - Thumper
New Reviews by one of AALBC.com's Favorite Reviewers - Thumper Troy Johnson Article Thumper went on hiatus for a couple of years, to complete another graduate degree. He is working his way back slowl...
A Tribute to AALBC.com's 10th Anniversary
A Tribute to AALBC.com's 10th Anniversary Troy Johnson Article Presented ToTROY JOHNSONIn Appreciation For YourDedication, Professionalism,Guidance, And IntegrityIn the Publishing IndustryThanks You ...
Three Largest Africa-American Book Sites Join Force to Promote Black Literature
Three Largest Africa-American Book Sites Join Force to Promote Black Literature Troy Johnson Article January 7, 2008For Immediate Release MEDIA INQUIRIESTroy Johnson, AALBC.com, (866) 603-8394Gwen Ri...
2007 Outstanding Alumni Award from Syracuse University
2007 Outstanding Alumni Award from Syracuse University Troy Johnson Article It has been almost 30 years since I first set foot on the Syracuse University Campus during, what I believe was, the 1st Em...
We are offering a Great New Service
We are offering a Great New Service Troy Johnson Article I must say after a almost 15 years of building web pages and even longer surfing the net, there is very little that make me say "wow". Recentl...
African-American Pavilion at Book Expo America 2007
African-American Pavilion at Book Expo America 2007 Troy Johnson Article BookExpo America's Conference/Educational Programs run from May 31 - June 3, 2007 at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New...
Mah Niggaz
Mah Niggaz Troy Johnson Article I've been writing newsletters to highlight the most recent work on AALBC.com for at least 8 years. I'm a facts and figures kind of guy, so I always review the statisti...