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April Bestselling Books, Win Barracoon, Top Erotica, Google is too Powerful, and More
April Bestselling Books, Win Barracoon, Top Erotica, Google is too Powerful, and More Troy Johnson Article Bestselling Books March/April 2018 Fiction: The Yearning by Mohale Mashigo was the best...
The Last Poets: Still On a Mission
The Last Poets: Still On a Mission DuEwa M. Frazier Article Before hip hop pioneers like the Sugar Hill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel or Run DMC, there was The Last Poets. Called the "...
Serious Problems With Facebook Promotion
Serious Problems With Facebook Promotion Troy Johnson Article Writers, if you are using Facebook to promote your work—especially paid promotion— invest 30 minutes of your time to watch these two vide...
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...
Mainstream American Publishers Launch Large Number of Imprints Focused on Black Books
Mainstream American Publishers Launch Large Number of Imprints Focused on Black Books Mainstream American Publishers Launch Large Number of Imprints Focused on Black Books Also check out the top 100 p...
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...
THE BLACK SCHOLAR: Journal of Black Studies and Research
THE BLACK SCHOLAR: Journal of Black Studies and Research Troy Johnson Article Volume 1 Number 1 November 1969 Mission Statement From the Inaugural Issue: THE BLACK SCHOLAR has been born out of th...
We Must Patronize Black-Owned Websites or Lose Them
We Must Patronize Black-Owned Websites or Lose Them Troy Johnson Article Part of AALBC.com’s mission is to help support Black-owned websites. Historically, I've focused on sites related to books i...
17th Annual Celeb.of Black Writing
17th Annual Celeb.of Black Writing Troy Johnson Article PHOTOS and a report of this event coming soon! The 17th Annual Celebration of Black Writing February 16 to 18, 2001 Philadelphia For...
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 100 Best Web Sites for African Americans
The 100 Best Web Sites for African Americans Troy Johnson Article On April 4, 2003, EarthLink announced a partnership with MOBE (Marketing Opportunities in Business and Entertainment) to present The ...
History of our Annual Black Pack Party
History of our Annual Black Pack Party Troy Johnson Article The Black Pack Party is a gathering of professionals across the Black book ecosystem. It was originally held annually during Book Expo Amer...
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...
Black Book Websites Need Love Too
Black Book Websites Need Love Too Troy Johnson Article Over the last decade there has been a great deal of lamenting over the closing of Black owned, independent brick and mortar book stores. Recent...
Black Issues Book Review Magazine (1999 to 2007)
Black Issues Book Review Magazine (1999 to 2007) Black Issues Book Review Magazine (1999 to 2007) Black Issues Book Review (BIBR) was founded in 1998 by William E. Cox, Adrienne Ingrum, and Susan McHe...
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 ...
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 ...
“Who Will Write a Story for the Children of Eric Garner?”
“Who Will Write a Story for the Children of Eric Garner?” Troy Johnson Article AALBC Guest Post by Zetta Elliott “Who will write a story for the children of Eric Garner?” This question came to mi...
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...
There is a Lack of Unity Among Black Websites
There is a Lack of Unity Among Black Websites Troy Johnson Article Over the last year, I’ve invested a lot of effort informing the public about the adverse impact of the corporate take over of the we...
Black Belt Press
Black Belt Press Loading The Black Belt, defined by its dark, rich soil, stretches across central Alabama. It was the heart of the cotton belt. It was and is a place of great beauty, of e...
Come On, Jesse: Don’t Hate The Playa, Hate The Game!
Come On, Jesse: Don’t Hate The Playa, Hate The Game! Anthony Asadullah Samad Article Jesse Jackson, Sr.’s “;live mike” comments about Barack Obama reminds us that there&r...
Introducing An American Story
Introducing An American Story Kwame Alexander Article An American Story Written by Kwame Alexander, Art by Dare Coulter Kwame Alexander, the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning ...
Jayne Allen’s Inspiration for Black Girls Must Die Exhausted
Jayne Allen’s Inspiration for Black Girls Must Die Exhausted Jayne Allen Article I knew that I wanted to write a story that gave authentic purpose to showcasing a Black female protagonist. I wanted...
Blacktrospective 2012 - Annual Assessment of the Best in Black Film
Blacktrospective 2012 - Annual Assessment of the Best in Black Film Troy Johnson Article Each year we publish our annual list of the best in Black cinema. This list is unique in that it assesses...
2012 Black Pack Party Photographs
2012 Black Pack Party Photographs Troy Johnson Article (HARLEM - June 12, 2012) - Londel's Restaurant served as the venue for the 6th Black Pack Party held June 6th, 2012. The Black Pack Party, held...
Black Belt Press
Black Belt Press Troy Johnson Article The Black Belt, defined by its dark, rich soil, stretches across central Alabama. It was the heart of the cotton belt. It was and is a place of great beauty,...
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...
We, As a People, Will Get to the Promised Land!
We, As a People, Will Get to the Promised Land! Martin Luther King, Jr. Article Dr. King’s last sermon was delivered April 3, 1968, at the Church of God in Christ Headquarters, Memphis, Tennes...
Voices of The Harlem Renaissance
Voices of The Harlem Renaissance Alain Locke Article From Locke’s essay “Harlem,” published in the March 1925 issue of Survey Graphic. If we were to offer a symbol of what Harlem...
AA LIT. CONFERENCE 2001
AA LIT. CONFERENCE 2001 Loading 2nd Annual African American Literature Conference Saturday, April 7,2001 at the Nyumburu Cultural Center on the University of Maryland College Park For further i...
“Would You Stop Buying Books from Amazon.com to Save the Black Book Industry?”
“Would You Stop Buying Books from Amazon.com to Save the Black Book Industry?” Troy Johnson Article Exploring The Feasibility Boycotting Amazon’s Bookstore In the following video, Ruth J. Morrison, ...
Why Black Owned Websites Fail
Why Black Owned Websites Fail Troy Johnson Article A few days ago a friend came across an article in, WhereItzAt Magazine. In the magazine was an article, “In defense of Black Bookstores,” addressed ...
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...
Farrakhan to Black Youth: Study Ferguson, MO and Gaza
Farrakhan to Black Youth: Study Ferguson, MO and Gaza Leroy Baylor Article The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan Photo: Michael Muhammad The military readiness of police in Fer...
Kimani Press
Kimani Press Troy Johnson Article This Summer Sizzles With the Launch Of Kimani Romance�! Bestselling Authors Pen Sophisticated and Sexy Novels for the World's Only African-American Roman...
BARTLETT’S FAMILIAR BLACK QUOTATIONS: Edited by Retha Powers
BARTLETT’S FAMILIAR BLACK QUOTATIONS: Edited by Retha Powers Loading Bartlett's Familiar Black Quotations: 5,000 Years of Literature, Lyrics, Poems, Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs from Voices Around ...
Black Renaissance Noire
Black Renaissance Noire Loading Black Renaissance Noire African American Literature Book Club - The #1 Site for "Readers of Black Literature" AALBC.com Home � Back&...
38th NAACP Image Awards (2007)
38th NAACP Image Awards (2007) Kam Williams Article Image Awards Upstaged by Resignation of NAACP President 38th NAACP Image Awards (2007) by Kam Williams &nb...
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...
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 ...
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...
NAACP Image Award Winner, Tony Rose pens, “America the Black Point of View”
NAACP Image Award Winner, Tony Rose pens, “America the Black Point of View” Troy Johnson Article An Autobiographical History Book by, NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literature, Tony Rose ...
378 Excellent Books, 77 Important Events
378 Excellent Books, 77 Important Events Troy Johnson Article Top 100+ Recommended Children’s Books Children book authors, industry professionals, and avid readers contributed their favorite chi...
AA Cultural Expo 2000
AA Cultural Expo 2000 Loading This was the AALBC.com's second year at the National African American Cultural Expo, which is held every year at the Philadelphia Convention Center. 2000's e...
The 2017 Black Pack Party @ Clyde Frazier’s May 31, 2017
The 2017 Black Pack Party @ Clyde Frazier’s May 31, 2017 Troy Johnson Article 11th Annual Black Pack Party We are hosting the 11th Annual Black Pack Party on the evening of Wednesday, May 31st. It w...
Black Writers Dominate the 2017 Pulitzer Prizes
Black Writers Dominate the 2017 Pulitzer Prizes Troy Johnson Article Back in January of this year, I took the time to try to figure out how many Black writers have won Pulitzer Prizes in the six ...
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...
BARTLETT’S FAMILIAR BLACK QUOTATIONS: Edited by Retha Powers
BARTLETT’S FAMILIAR BLACK QUOTATIONS: Edited by Retha Powers Troy Johnson Article Bartlett's Familiar Black Quotations: 5,000 Years of Literature, Lyrics, Poems, Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs...
Neshee Publication
Neshee Publication Troy Johnson Article http://nesheepublication.com Neshee Publication� was founded in January, 2001 by Aalim & Heather Elitou, a husband and wife team also known as...
Neshee Publication
Neshee Publication Loading http://nesheepublication.com Neshee Publication� was founded in January, 2001 by Aalim & Heather Elitou, a husband and wife team also known as Neshee. Neshee in t...
Mixed Race or Just Mixed Up? Children's Books Provide Answers
Mixed Race or Just Mixed Up? Children's Books Provide Answers Troy Johnson Article I noticed a surge in the number of books I sold, over the last two months (see best-selling books list), that dealt ...
Their Eyes Were Reading Smut
Their Eyes Were Reading Smut Nick Chiles Article Last month I happened to go into the Borders Books store at the Stonecrest mall in Lithonia, Ga., about a half-hour from my house here. To my surprise...
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...
Getting in Dialogue
Getting in Dialogue Troy Johnson Article INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS Interested in being interviewed or having your project considered for DIALOGUE? Mail your biographical sketch and a detailed de...
Share Info from Indie Black Owned Websites
Share Info from Indie Black Owned Websites Troy Johnson Article Add Huria Search Resources to Your Website or Blog Huria Search was created in reaction to the current trend in search results that f...
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...
The Black Arts Movement’s Attack on W.E.B. Du Bois’ Theory of Double Consciousness
The Black Arts Movement’s Attack on W.E.B. Du Bois’ Theory of Double Consciousness Tony Lindsay Article Tony Lindsay There have been two major Black literary movements in American history: The...
African Amer. Images
African Amer. Images Loading http://www.africanamericanimages.com/ African American Images 1909 W 95th Street Chicago IL. 60643 1-800-552-1991 fax 773-445-9844 President, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu AF...
Black Americans in Publishing
Black Americans in Publishing Loading This orgaization is no longer active. Information provided here is for archival purposes. Black Americans in Publishing, Inc P.O. Box 6275 FDR Station New York, N...
Souls
Souls Loading http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ccbh/souls/index.html Souls is a quarterly interdisciplinary journal sponsored by the Center for Contemporary Black History, a scholarly resource center...
Black Orchid Lit. Agency
Black Orchid Lit. Agency Loading Black Orchid Literary Agency http://www.flashtech.net/bola/ 820 Lamar Street Cleveland, TX 77327 William E. Wright, President & Publisher Founded: June 1998...
More Bios.
More Bios. Loading 360� A Revolution of Black Poets Produced in the tradition of the Black Poetry Festivals and Conferences of the Black Arts Movement, this first National festival of co...
Migrated Writers
Migrated Writers Migrated Writers 17th Annual Celeb.of Black Writing A Report From The Field More Bios. The Sight of the 360 Event 4th Annual AA Children's Book Fair AA Cultural Expo 2000 AA Book Stor...
Black Renaissance Noire
Black Renaissance Noire Loading Selected by Library Journal as one of the ten best magazines of 1996 Vol. 3 No. 1 Fall 2000 Manthia Diawara Editor-in-Chief Barbara Lewis Managing Editor B...
Video: Update on The Premier Website for Black Books
Video: Update on The Premier Website for Black Books Troy Johnson Article AALBC.com is a massive, feature rich, website. Many visitors don't appreciate the site's size and scope, so I created this v...
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...
Cheryl Woodruff Named President and Associate Publisher of SmileyBooks
Cheryl Woodruff Named President and Associate Publisher of SmileyBooks Troy Johnson Article OK y'all this is big. Cheryl Woodruff, founder and former associate publisher of One World, Random House’s ...
Bebop Books
Bebop Books Loading Bebop Books is currently accepting manuscripts for emergent readers with multicultural themes. Emergent readers are used by kindergarten and first-grade teachers to help you...
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...
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...
For Black History Month: Research & Share Your Family History
For Black History Month: Research & Share Your Family History Troy Johnson Article [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"] Troy Johnson's Maternal Father Rev. Freeman Foster his 2nd Wife Hazel ...
State of the Black Union 2009
State of the Black Union 2009 Kam Williams Article Tavis Assembles Black Luminaries in L.A. for 10th Annual Gathering State of the Black Union by Kam Williams The 10th Annual Sta...
State of the Black Union 2008
State of the Black Union 2008 Kam Williams Article Obama’s Conspicuous Absence Overshadows Annual Gathering State of the Black Union 2008 by Kam Williams Senator Barack Obama...
Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passion
Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passion Troy Johnson Article Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passionby TANANGACHI MFUNIAmsterdam News StaffSeptember 28 - O...
The 5th National Black Writers Conference Report from the Field 2
The 5th National Black Writers Conference Report from the Field 2 Kalamu ya Salaam Article Report from the Field National Black Writers Conference 2000 Part 2 of 3 “E...
New Hair-do is a “Natural”
New Hair-do is a “Natural” Connie Bradley Article This article originally appeared in the Chicago Today newspaper's Op-Ed page in the early 1970's I finally succumbed. If someone ha...
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 Magic of Just Being
The Magic of Just Being Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Article I love and celebrate Black Girl Magic and Black Excellence. I mean! Just look at us. We truly are extraordinary. But sometimes &hellip...
More Bios.
More Bios. Troy Johnson Article 360� A Revolution of Black Poets Produced in the tradition of the Black Poetry Festivals and Conferences of the Black Arts Movement, this first Nati...
Black Renaissance Noire
Black Renaissance Noire Troy Johnson Article Selected by Library Journal as one of the ten best magazines of 1996 Vol. 3 No. 1 Fall 2000 Manthia Diawara Editor-in-C...
Black Americans in Publishing
Black Americans in Publishing Troy Johnson Article This orgaization is no longer active. Information provided here is for archival purposes. Black Americans in Publishing, Inc P.O. Box 6275 FDR S...
Black Orchid Lit. Agency
Black Orchid Lit. Agency Troy Johnson Article Black Orchid Literary Agency http://www.flashtech.net/bola/ 820 Lamar Street Cleveland, TX 77327 William E. Wright, President &...
Every Generation Media
Every Generation Media Loading www.everygeneration.co.uk EVERY GENERATION SEEKS TALENTED JOURNALIST AND MEDIA PERSONNEL 'Every Generation Media and Foundation is a social enterprise company with a foc...
Highlighting Books Needed for Survival
Highlighting Books Needed for Survival Troy Johnson Article Our August 23rd Newsletter is Sponsored by Knopf Expanding Awards Section Our lists of award winning books have greatly increased i...
Taking Over Wall Street with Books by Charisse Carney-Nunes
Taking Over Wall Street with Books by Charisse Carney-Nunes Charisse Carney-Nunes Article The Lit Bit Wall Street is in for another invasion… no, not just more protestors armed with ...
Author Martha Southgate Reflects on the State of African American Fiction
Author Martha Southgate Reflects on the State of African American Fiction Troy Johnson Article This article was brought to my attention by author Eisa Ulen (www.EisaUlen.com/blog).Author Martha South...
“Furious Flower” Conference Celebrates African American Poetry
“Furious Flower” Conference Celebrates African American Poetry Jamie Walker Article Harrisonburg, Virginia: Over sixty distinguished poets and scholars gathered to help set the agenda for African A...
Sonia Sanchez Performs “Full Moon” Concert in NYC
Sonia Sanchez Performs “Full Moon” Concert in NYC Jamie Walker Article New York: Poet Sonia Sanchez celebrated the release of her new CD called The Full Moon of Sonia (V.I.A. Recording Art...
Cultivating Pearls: A Writer’s Retreat Comes Home
Cultivating Pearls: A Writer’s Retreat Comes Home Ahmad Wright Article An oft used African proverb by a well-known fiction author states, “Where there is mud, there is water.” Trans...
Advertising Online
Advertising Online Troy Johnson Article Advertising Online: Is this the Wave of the Future for Selling Black Books? by Leah Mullen Denise Turney got her start selling books over the intern...
Advertising Online
Advertising Online Loading Advertising Online: Is this the Wave of the Future for Selling Black Books? by Leah Mullen Denise Turney got her start selling books over the internet a f...
Harlemnite Prays for Shootings... So Say the New York Times
Harlemnite Prays for Shootings... So Say the New York Times Troy Johnson Article Someone forwarded me a NY Times Article. The Times usually pisses me off when they write about Black folks 'cause they...
Obama Rises, Old Guard Civil Rights Leaders Scowl
Obama Rises, Old Guard Civil Rights Leaders Scowl William Jelani Cobb Article President Elect, Barack Obama, D-Ill. Speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memori...
Shine On: The Writings of Diane Oliver
Shine On: The Writings of Diane Oliver Michael A. Gonzales Article In 2021 my friend Paul Price was cleaning out a storage unit when he stumbled on collection of Black literature called Right On! A...
August 2018 eNewsletter Recommended Reads, Videos, and More
August 2018 eNewsletter Recommended Reads, Videos, and More Troy Johnson Article Videos from the National Book Club Conference I attended the 2018 National Book Club Conference August 3rd and 4th....
The Kevin M. Weeks Story: Never Say Die; Be Optimistic
The Kevin M. Weeks Story: Never Say Die; Be Optimistic Kevin M. Weeks Article The Kevin M. Weeks Story: Never Say Die; Be Optimistic ’Never Say Die; Be Optimis...
Bebop Books
Bebop Books Troy Johnson Article Bebop Books is currently accepting manuscripts for emergent readers with multicultural themes. Emergent readers are used by kindergarten and first-grade teachers ...
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 ...
Financial Advice During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Financial Advice During the Covid-19 Pandemic Lynnette Khalfani-Cox Article The COVID-19 outbreak is disproportionately impacting African-Americans, from a public health standpoint and from an econom...