AALBC Search
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...
Rare Classic Footage Resurfaces of Miles Davis from the Fifties
Rare Classic Footage Resurfaces of Miles Davis from the Fifties Kam Williams Article Rare Classic Footage Resurfaces of Miles Davis from the Fifties The Sound of Mil...
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...
By 2034 95% of Americans Will be Obese or Overweight
By 2034 95% of Americans Will be Obese or Overweight Troy Johnson Article I saw the new documentary film Fed Up and was both outraged and saddened. Simply put, food companies are killing us and this...
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...
Donald Trump is a Negger
Donald Trump is a Negger AALBC Staff Writer Article It’s not a typo. Donald Trump used a pick-up artist’s strategy to win the presidency. For those of you who don’t know much abo...
Panel discussion entitled Their Eyes Were Reading Smut:
Panel discussion entitled Their Eyes Were Reading Smut: Troy Johnson Article I attended a panel discussion entitled Their Eyes Were Reading Smut: The Impact of Ghetto Fiction on African American Lite...
Quantum Leap Publisher
Quantum Leap Publisher Troy Johnson Article http://qleappub.com/ Quantum Leap Publisher produces a range of diverse books including photographic books. Since its founding in 1990, the c...
Get Published Not Exploited
Get Published Not Exploited Kalamu ya Salaam Article I don’t give up my copyright to anyone. Period. I will do work for hire— in which case, the copyright is understood before hand t...
My Reaction to "Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons calls for an end to "offensive words" in rap music"
My Reaction to "Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons calls for an end to "offensive words" in rap music" Troy Johnson Article I guess the following could be considered a rant: This is j...
Nat Turner’s Mental and Military Motivations
Nat Turner’s Mental and Military Motivations Ezrah Aharone Article Nate Parker’s movie The Birth of a Nation has revived the question: What caused Nat Turner’s 1831 uprising? Turner, firs...
FYAH.com
FYAH.com Troy Johnson Article If you are asking for submissions for an upcoming anthology or conferences, please forward info to: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS@fyah.com. FYAH demands a little more than ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
In Remembrance of Dr. Walter Rodney, Martyred on June 13, 1980
In Remembrance of Dr. Walter Rodney, Martyred on June 13, 1980 James McIntosh Article This talk was delivered by Dr. McIntosh at John Henrik Clarke House on June 7, 2015 Today our topic is Walt...
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...
"Troy's Triangle" for Publishing Success
"Troy's Triangle" for Publishing Success Troy Johnson Article [caption id="attachment_973" align="aligncenter" width="581" caption=""Troy's Triangle" for Publishing Success Copyright ©...
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)
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...
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 ...
BET's Hot Ghetto Mess or Stop supporting the negative literature
BET's Hot Ghetto Mess or Stop supporting the negative literature Troy Johnson Article A prominent individual in Black publishing recently suggested that “I choose a side”. Basically I need to stop su...
“...what, he think he live in a white neighborhood or sumptin?!”
“...what, he think he live in a white neighborhood or sumptin?!” Troy Johnson Article I'll never understand, why people feel it is okay to litter. I can go outside, right now and watch an adult fini...
Marcus Books of San Francisco Evicted—Should We Care?
Marcus Books of San Francisco Evicted—Should We Care? Troy Johnson Article Back in the the summer of 2013, I joined the fight to help save Marcus Books. My motivation was not solely limited to savin...
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...
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America Michael Eric Dyson Article Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White AmericaBeloved, the deed has been done. We have—since that ’we’ mu...
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 ...
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...
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...
Sign Up as an Amazon.com Affiliate
Sign Up as an Amazon.com Affiliate Troy Johnson Article Sign Up as an Amazon.com Affiliate Authors whenever you supply an URL or post a link to Amazon, for other to buy your book wh...
Pros and Cons of Mainstream and Self-Publishing
Pros and Cons of Mainstream and Self-Publishing C. Liegh McInnis Article There are two basic routes to getting published, mainstream and self-publishing. Mainstream is when one submits one&rsqu...
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...
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...
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 Influence on Easter (Ancient & Modern)
African Influence on Easter (Ancient & Modern) Cinque Brown Article Many African American will be celebrating the religious holiday of Easter this weekend. It is interesting that many of us only thin...
Amazon‘s Echo Look: Exploiting Our Inner Narcissist
Amazon‘s Echo Look: Exploiting Our Inner Narcissist Troy Johnson Article The depth to which a corporation will sink to exploit our insecurities and separate us from our money knows no bounds. ...
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 ...
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...
An Author You Should Know (Married Couples Edition)
An Author You Should Know (Married Couples Edition) Troy Johnson Article “An Author You Should Know” is a regular feature of AALBC.com where we promote noteworthy authors on our homepage, blog (see r...
Do You Trust That There are no Mistakes in Life?
Do You Trust That There are no Mistakes in Life? Troy Johnson Article Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make ...
Don't Bring Home a White Boy
Don't Bring Home a White Boy Troy Johnson Article A couple of days ago I posted a video (below) of Karen Hunter and Karyn Langhorne Folan, who are the publisher and author, respectively, of the b...
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...
Authors Don't Need Twitter
Authors Don't Need Twitter Troy Johnson Article Many authors invest a great deal of time managing their Twitter accounts. Hours a day are spent attracting new followers and keeping them engaged with...
So You Think You Want a Grant!
So You Think You Want a Grant! Gina Wilson Beckles Article Gina Wilson Beckles, Ph.D. Program Evaluation Services, Inc. With the Gates and Buffetts of the world pledging to give away half of t...
Esther Magazine
Esther Magazine Troy Johnson Article Esther Magazine www.esthermagazine.com Good News for the Urban Teenage Girl of Faith Esther Magazine's in-your-face editorial content is not about ...
“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, ...
Would You Stop Buying Books from Amazon.com to Save the Book Industry?
Would You Stop Buying Books from Amazon.com to Save the Book Industry? Troy Johnson Article Boycotting Amazon’s bookstore might mean, at least initially, that you’ll have pay a little more for books,...
Power List of Best-Selling African-American Books - Fall 2014
Power List of Best-Selling African-American Books - Fall 2014 Troy Johnson Article Strong Sales Shown Among Hardcover Non-Fiction Titles in Fall Edition of the Power List of Best-Selling African-...
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...
How do I get my book featured on AALBC.com (for free)?
How do I get my book featured on AALBC.com (for free)? Troy Johnson Article “How do I get my book featured on AALBC.com?” is a question often posed to me by authors, publishers and publicists. Of...
American Gangster
American Gangster Troy Johnson Article The movie American Gangster was filmed in my neighborhood in Harlem. The steps of the church Denzel Washington is standing, in the photograph above, is just aro...
Marketing Your Book – Eight Unique Ways to Promote Your Book
Marketing Your Book – Eight Unique Ways to Promote Your Book Desiree Day Article Marketing Your Book - Eight Unique Ways to Promote Your Book by Desiree Day Whether you have just completed yo...
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 ...
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 #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...
Timbooktu
Timbooktu Troy Johnson Article http://www.timbooktu.com/ Submitting Your Work to TimBookTu The TimBookTu Web Page is a free web site provided for African-American writers, poets, and essay...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Remembering Ossie Davis, With Love
Remembering Ossie Davis, With Love Jamie Walker Article “In the light of Africa, there is Ossie Davis.” —Attallah Shabazz
Nominee Shares Her Experience at the 2015 NAACP Image Awards Ceremony for Outstanding Literary Work
Nominee Shares Her Experience at the 2015 NAACP Image Awards Ceremony for Outstanding Literary Work Gwen Richardson Article African-American authors rarely receive national recognition for their work...
Clinton as Vice President Would be a Disaster for Obama
Clinton as Vice President Would be a Disaster for Obama Gwen Richardson Article As Senator Barack Obama wrapped up the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, Senator Hillary Clinton and h...
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...
African Amer. Images
African Amer. Images Troy Johnson Article http://www.africanamericanimages.com/ African American Images 1909 W 95th Street Chicago IL. 60643 1-800-552-1991 fax 773-445-9844 President, D...
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...
Musings on AALBC.com
Musings on AALBC.com Troy Johnson Article Blogs...and I'm averaging about one post a month. One thing I've learned is that blogs take time -- it you are short on time don't bother.It is not that I'm ...
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...
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...
The Power of Blogs Part 2
The Power of Blogs Part 2 Troy Johnson Article Interestingly enough the process was not as difficult as I thought it might be, however it is far from intuitive -- particularly if you are not technica...
I have not read a book in three months!
I have not read a book in three months! Troy Johnson Article
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...
Dr. John Henrik Clarke - A Great and Mighty Walk - Watch This Film!
Dr. John Henrik Clarke - A Great and Mighty Walk - Watch This Film! Troy Johnson Article "...the first light of human consciousness and the world's first civilizations were in Africa."-Dr. John Henr...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Hilton Publishing
Hilton Publishing Troy Johnson Article http://www.hiltonpub.com The Hilton Publishing Company has been established to promote the successful and profitable publication of two kinds of manuscri...
Sonia Sanchez and Ten Grandmothers Acquitted of “Defiant Trespassing”
Sonia Sanchez and Ten Grandmothers Acquitted of “Defiant Trespassing” Jamie Walker Article Photo: Michael T. Regan Philadelphia, PA: Sonia Sanchez, 71, and ten other grandmothers, who are part ...
Why Take the Lull by the Horns!: Closing the Leadership Gap is important all all business leaders and employees
Why Take the Lull by the Horns!: Closing the Leadership Gap is important all all business leaders and employees Lee E. Meadows Article What leadership opportunities did you miss today? The inhe...
Her Praise: Profile of Camille Yarbrough, a Renaissance Woman
Her Praise: Profile of Camille Yarbrough, a Renaissance Woman DuEwa M. Frazier Article With a career in the performing arts that has spanned a lifetime the acclaimed singer, actress, poet, act...
AA Cultural Expo 2000
AA Cultural Expo 2000 Troy Johnson Article 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. 20...
ReGeJe Press
ReGeJe Press Troy Johnson Article ReGeJe Press http://www.angelfire.com/mi/regejepress/ "In the past few years, more books by and about African Americans have been published by mainstream publis...
Submission Guidelines
Submission Guidelines Troy Johnson Article DIALOGUE is published by The Alliance for Cultural Enrichment, Inc. (ACE), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Because ACE is a small but growing orga...
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 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...
“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...
Come on Florida, Let’s Race to the Top!
Come on Florida, Let’s Race to the Top! Gina Wilson Beckles Article Dr. Gina Wilson Beckles As a fourth generation Floridian, I am appalled and embarrassed that four of the eight school distric...
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...
A Report From The Field
A Report From The Field Troy Johnson Article 360� A Revolution of Black Poets -- A Report From The Field "360� was a two day gathering of poets in Baltimore, Maryland on September 11 & 12, ...
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...
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 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...
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 ...
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 ...
Book-Remarks.com
Book-Remarks.com Troy Johnson Article The goal of Book-Remarks.com is to offer exciting, timely, positive, and useful information to the African-American reading community. Book-Remarks...
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...