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Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama - Book Review
Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama - Book Review Troy Johnson Article "Of Thee I Sing is basically a baker’s dozen of brief biographies of important figures in American hist...
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...
Happy New Year From AALBC.com’s Troy Johnson
Happy New Year From AALBC.com’s Troy Johnson Troy Johnson Article 2013, what a year! With so many great new books and films last year, there was a lot to celebrate. We also extended our reach through...
New Books Worth Checking Out - July 2013
New Books Worth Checking Out - July 2013 Troy Johnson Article At least once a month, on my Blog, I will share information about new books that I think you will enjoy. If you subscribe to my blog, v...
Gone to Where the Bong Trees Grow
Gone to Where the Bong Trees Grow L. E. Rainey Article The next time you pick up a picture book written by a contemporary children’s author flip through the pages. Take a few minutes to...
Introducing Delaney Diamond, USA Today Bestselling Author
Introducing Delaney Diamond, USA Today Bestselling Author Troy Johnson Article Delaney Diamond is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sweet, sensual, passionate romance novels and is the manager ...
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....
Free eBooks - Great Reads Available for Download Now
Free eBooks - Great Reads Available for Download Now Troy Johnson Article There are so many free, high quality, eBooks available for immediate download, it is really quite astonishing. One can down...
Myths about Single Mothers
Myths about Single Mothers Joy Thomas Moore Article ❖ Majority of single mothers are irresponsible, single from the outset and minority. REALITY: Around half of single mothers have never ...
The Sight of the 360 Event
The Sight of the 360 Event Troy Johnson Article I never did identify all the folks in the photos below (Troy's note: 1/24/2026) , Toni Asante Lightfoot, Kalamu ya Salaam, , , wad...
Opal's Jim Crow Blues - Research & Share Your Family History (Part 2)
Opal's Jim Crow Blues - Research & Share Your Family History (Part 2) Troy Johnson Article Today's blog post is by guest Cheryl Wills. Cheryl, a television news anchor and reporter, has extensively ...
Please Pardon the Appearence of My Blog
Please Pardon the Appearence of My Blog Troy Johnson Article Earlier in the year Google made a change in their Blogger application which forced me to relocate my Blog to Google's servers. This chang...
Novel Writing Workshops
Novel Writing Workshops Troy Johnson Article Novel Writing Workshop AALBC.com's Novel Writing Workshop (8 Sessions Online) Enjoy a writing workshop from the convenience of your own home! Get ...
Are Negro Girls Getting Prettier?
Are Negro Girls Getting Prettier? Troy Johnson Article Ebony February 1966, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p25 The article focuses on the improvements in the beauty, health and personality of African American w...
Thumper’s Picks
Thumper’s Picks Thumper Article It’s been a while but I’m back with a whole new set of books that I have fallen in love with, passed around, and will sing the praises of at the drop of ...
Mary Monroe’s New Book, REMEMBRANCE, "A Cozy Holiday Read!"
Mary Monroe’s New Book, REMEMBRANCE, "A Cozy Holiday Read!" Troy Johnson Article It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Kensington’s got you covered when it comes to cozy holiday reads! In t...
Marc Lacy Releases Curse of the Whiskey House
Marc Lacy Releases Curse of the Whiskey House Troy Johnson Article Curse of The Whiskey House made AALBC.com Best Sellers List for May/June 2015! Curse of the Whiskey House The highly anticipat...
SECRETS World Premieres, September 16 at 8:00 p.m. on BET
SECRETS World Premieres, September 16 at 8:00 p.m. on BET Troy Johnson Article One Man’s Lustful Affair, A Brother's Jealousy and A Wife’s Suspicions Collide and Unravel a Once Perfect Home in Debu...
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...
September eNewsletter: Bestselling Books, 118 Book Events, and More
September eNewsletter: Bestselling Books, 118 Book Events, and More Troy Johnson Article July/August 2016 Bestselling Books Titles on Go On Girl! Book Club's reading list are prominent on our best...
Caribbean Books You Should Know
Caribbean Books You Should Know Joanne C. Hillhouse Article By Joanne C. Hillhouse "I come from Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean. I write stories of and from the Caribbean. My first boo...
Terrific Books Coming in May, Beyond Adichie, and More!
Terrific Books Coming in May, Beyond Adichie, and More! Troy Johnson Article Terrific New Books Coming in May Former U.S. Poet Laureate, Rita Dove will publish a collection of her poetry from the 30...
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...
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...
It’s Been Fun, Kids! C. Kelly Robinson Retires
It’s Been Fun, Kids! C. Kelly Robinson Retires C. Kelly Robinson Article Family, friends, and loyal readers, This week’s passing of acclaimed author and journalist BeBe Moore Campbell mov...
Former Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine Opens Akwaaba D.C. Inn for Black Writers
Former Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine Opens Akwaaba D.C. Inn for Black Writers Jamie Walker Article Washington, D.C.: Hundreds of book lovers (in addition to a host of best-selling authors...
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...
African Voices Magazine
African Voices Magazine Troy Johnson Article African Voices Communications, Inc. http://www.africanvoices.com 270 West 96th Street New York, NY, 10025 Office: 212-285-2982 Fax: 212-316-3335 ...
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...
VIDEO: Amiri Baraka: Evolution of a Revolutionary Poet
VIDEO: Amiri Baraka: Evolution of a Revolutionary Poet Troy Johnson Article Amiri Baraka: Evolution of a Revolutionary PoetExhibit at Zambezi Bazaar in conjunction with the Leimert Park Book Fair.Ami...
New World of Words: Black Writers and poets spin tales of imagination and reality from Detroit to the world
New World of Words: Black Writers and poets spin tales of imagination and reality from Detroit to the world Renee Prewitt Killingsworth Article Originally featured in Detroit’s Cityview News...
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 "...
Complete List of 1,453 Titles Sold in 2006
Complete List of 1,453 Titles Sold in 2006 Troy Johnson Article Complete List of 1,453 Titles Sold in 2006 In 2006 AALBC.com sold 1,453 different titles via the Amazon....
Essence Atkins: The “Are We There Yet?” Interview
Essence Atkins: The “Are We There Yet?” Interview Kam Williams Article Essence Atkins was born in New York City on February 7, 1972. Between her innate sense of comedy and girl-next-door ch...
Interview with Production Designer Wynn Thomas
Interview with Production Designer Wynn Thomas Booker T. Mattison Article Production designer Wynn Thomas started working in theatre as a teenager growing up in Philadelphia. Upon graduation...
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...
President Obama: More Than Meets the Eyes
President Obama: More Than Meets the Eyes Vanessa Davis Griggs Article At the end of the day, can you look yourself in the mirror and be okay with the person who looks back at you? Can yo...
How Facebook is Perverting Your Internet.
How Facebook is Perverting Your Internet. Troy Johnson Article A friend shared a link to a video on Facebook with me. The video, shown at the end of the article, is a short New York Times documentar...
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. ...
A Great Tip and Advice for Creating a Blog or Website (Part I)
A Great Tip and Advice for Creating a Blog or Website (Part I) Troy Johnson Article If it is not already obvious from my previous post, I'm a big fan of WordPress. A few months ago, using software f...
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 ...
List of Contributors to Step into a World
List of Contributors to Step into a World Kevin Powell Article The Following is the List of Contributors to This Amazing Volume Toyin Adewale is a native of Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeri...
AA LIT. CONFERENCE 2001
AA LIT. CONFERENCE 2001 Troy Johnson Article 2nd Annual African American Literature Conference Saturday, April 7,2001 at the Nyumburu Cultural Center on the University of Maryland College Park ...
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...
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...
New Books February 2017, Book Reviews, Events, and More
New Books February 2017, Book Reviews, Events, and More Troy Johnson Article New Books Coming Out February 2017 Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson A timely and powerful story about a teen gir...
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...
Gloria Naylor Discusses Her Novel The Men of Brewster Place on Barnesandnoble.com
Gloria Naylor Discusses Her Novel The Men of Brewster Place on Barnesandnoble.com Gloria Naylor Article Moderator: Welcome, Gloria Naylor! Thank you for taking the time to join us online this evening...
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 ...
Ghost Boys, a Powerful New Novel, for Young Readers, from Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ghost Boys, a Powerful New Novel, for Young Readers, from Jewell Parker Rhodes Troy Johnson Article The #1 Kids’ Indie Next Pick A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a po...
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...
Colin Channer On His Novel, Satisfy My Soul
Colin Channer On His Novel, Satisfy My Soul Colin Channer Article What is SATISFY MY SOUL saying about the American experience? That the destruction of African gods has shaped the destiny of...
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 ...
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...
Notes on “Quotes” from An American Marriage
Notes on “Quotes” from An American Marriage Tayari Jones Article “But home isn’t where you land; home is where you launch. You can’t pick your home any more than you can choose your...
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,...
Dwayne Alexander Smith on Winning the 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work—Debut Author
Dwayne Alexander Smith on Winning the 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work—Debut Author Dwayne Alexander Smith Article When I reached the podium, after the applause had faded, the fir...
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...
Anita Diggs
Anita Diggs Troy Johnson Article Anita Diggs is the author of three novels: A Mighty Love, A Meeting in the Ladies Room and The Other Side of the Game. She has worked as a Senior Editor...
A Profile of the Late Hugh Holton
A Profile of the Late Hugh Holton Michael Marsh Article Hugh Holton, passed May 18, 2001 at age 54, just eight days after his eighth novel, The Devil’s Shadow Books Behind the Ba...
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 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] ...
Who Was Frank Yerby?
Who Was Frank Yerby? Eugene Stovall Article Frank Garvin Yerby (September 5, 1916 — November 29, 1991) Frank Yerby was an African American writer who gave the world a body of ...
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 ...
W. Paul Coates Literarian Award Acceptance Speech from the 2024 National Book Awards
W. Paul Coates Literarian Award Acceptance Speech from the 2024 National Book Awards W. Paul Coates Article Watch a Video of Walter Mosleys’s Introduction and Paul Coates Acceptance Speech. ...
Anthony Anderson Expounds on Everything from Watts to New Orleans to His New Movie
Anthony Anderson Expounds on Everything from Watts to New Orleans to His New Movie Kam Williams Article Anthony Anderson was born in Compton, California on August 15, 1970, and attended t...
Reading Tony Martin Matters
Reading Tony Martin Matters Rhone Fraser Article In my interview with Paul Coates about his 2024 Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, he made the point that the works of Tony Martin sh...
October Bestsellers, Award Winning Books, New Bookstores and More
October Bestsellers, Award Winning Books, New Bookstores and More Troy Johnson Article Bestselling Books September/October 2017 The fiction category was dominated by Sadeqa Johnson’s novel Second ...
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...
May 2017 Newsletter: Bestselling Books, New Books, Author Info, and Much More
May 2017 Newsletter: Bestselling Books, New Books, Author Info, and Much More Troy Johnson Article Our May Newsletter is Generously Sponsored by Amistad Bestselling Books Bestselling Books: M...
The Cartel series is back...and more deadly than ever.
The Cartel series is back...and more deadly than ever. Troy Johnson Article Ashley & JaQuavis are New York Times bestselling authors of over 30 novels. They are the youngest Black writers to ...
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...
Jane Addams Book Award Winner Jewell Parker Rhodes
Jane Addams Book Award Winner Jewell Parker Rhodes Troy Johnson Article ABOUT JEWELL PARKER RHODES Jewell Parker Rhodes is the Piper Endowed Chair and founding artistic director of the Virginia G. P...
Unpublished Stories From Octavia Butler Available for the First Time
Unpublished Stories From Octavia Butler Available for the First Time Troy Johnson Article Octavia E. Butler (1947–2006) was a bestselling and award-winning author, considered one of the best scie...
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...
March 26th 2013 – eNewsletter Highlights
March 26th 2013 – eNewsletter Highlights Troy Johnson Article Read Our Complete eNewsletter AALBC.com mourns the passing of Nigerian novelist and poet Chinua Achebe (November 16, 1930 — March ...
February 28th 2013 - eNewsletter Highlights
February 28th 2013 - eNewsletter Highlights Troy Johnson Article Our monthly eNewsletter contains information about books and films by or about people of African descent. Authors You Should Know ...
AALBC.com eNewsletter - September 20th 2012 - Issue #194
AALBC.com eNewsletter - September 20th 2012 - Issue #194 Troy Johnson Article Subscribe to this eNewsletter Read our eNewsletter Archives Read Our eNewsletter on Your Kindle AALBC.com's 25 Best Se...
An Author You Should Know: Lalita Tademy
An Author You Should Know: Lalita Tademy Troy Johnson Article [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="559" caption="Lalita Tademy (Photo Credit © InMenlo LLC, 2010)"][/caption] Recently a visitor ...
Broadway’s The Color Purple Empowers Many
Broadway’s The Color Purple Empowers Many Jamie Walker Article New York: Ever since its debut on Broadway, Alice Walker’s compelling narrative-turned-musical, ’The Color Purple,&rs...
Dealing With Writer's Block: Eight Things To Do While You're Waiting In Limbo
Dealing With Writer's Block: Eight Things To Do While You're Waiting In Limbo Jamie Walker Article Having writer’s block is no laughing manner. Some w...
Women’s Fiction and Diversity
Women’s Fiction and Diversity Renee Swindle Article Renee SwindleI’ve been reading what the publishing industry has dubbed “women’s fiction” since books by autho...
Genesis Press Inc.
Genesis Press Inc. Troy Johnson Article Genesis Press Inc. is the home of Indigo Romance, the nation's leading line of African-American romance novels. Genesis is a pioneer in publishing dive...
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...
Publishers Indemnity Insurance: What is it, and how do you get it?
Publishers Indemnity Insurance: What is it, and how do you get it? Troy Johnson Article "One of the key components necessary for self-published authors to get their book into Bla...
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...
Sample Manuscript Critique #2 - AALBC.com Manscript Critique Service
Sample Manuscript Critique #2 - AALBC.com Manscript Critique Service Troy Johnson Article Sample Critique #2 Here is what an in depth examination of your manuscript or book will look like using A...
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...
Hyena Women and Other Strange Tales of Social Chaos
Hyena Women and Other Strange Tales of Social Chaos L. E. Rainey Article Several years ago I watched a documentary about a pride of lions and a pack of hyenas living in the African savannah. By e...
Macavelli Press
Macavelli Press Troy Johnson Article Macavelli is currently reviewing manuscripts: Macavelli Press Mission Statement http://www.macavellipress.com More than fifty thousand books are publ...
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...
Garvey & Garveyism is Back in Print / 100 Anniversary of UNIA
Garvey & Garveyism is Back in Print / 100 Anniversary of UNIA Troy Johnson Article Garvey and Garveyism, a well known classic that has been out of print for more than 3 decades, is essential for read...
My Friend and Publishing Leader Manie Barron Passed away Saturday
My Friend and Publishing Leader Manie Barron Passed away Saturday Troy Johnson Article [caption id="attachment_334" align="alignnone" width="478" caption="Emanuel Joseph Barron (December 7, 1955 to J...
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 Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”
“The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain” Langston Hughes Article One of the most promising of the young Negro poets said to me once, “I want to be a poet—not a Negro poet,” meanin...
Can I Get An Amen?
Can I Get An Amen? Ruth C. Taylor Article This article was originally published on now defunct, but historically significant, The Black World Today website and is shared here for archival purposes....
The Blair Bamboozle: A Fiction Writer’s Encounter With Jayson Blair
The Blair Bamboozle: A Fiction Writer’s Encounter With Jayson Blair Brian Egeston Article Burning Down My Masters’ House: My Life at th...
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...
Simon & Schuster Gives Racist Troll $250K Book Deal, But Boycotting Them Makes No Sense
Simon & Schuster Gives Racist Troll $250K Book Deal, But Boycotting Them Makes No Sense Troy Johnson Article Editor’s Note: Subsequent to the publication of the article, a video of Milo making commen...
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...