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Exercise Your Mind With a Good Book – July 29, 2014 eNewsletter
Exercise Your Mind With a Good Book – July 29, 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 eb...
Is Erykah Badu's New Striptease Video: Publicity Stunt or Deep Message?
Is Erykah Badu's New Striptease Video: Publicity Stunt or Deep Message? Troy Johnson Article Is Erykah Badu's New Striptease Video: Publicity Stunt or Deep Message?What do you think? If you've ...
The Louisiana Girls Trilogy from Jewell Parker Rhodes
The Louisiana Girls Trilogy from Jewell Parker Rhodes Troy Johnson Article The Louisiana Girls trilogy from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes brings together three heroic girls from acros...
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...
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...
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 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...
National Book Awards Honors IBPA Members’ Impact
National Book Awards Honors IBPA Members’ Impact Troy Johnson Article This article was originally published in the April 2025 issue of the IBPA Independent magazine, the magazine for members of the I...
Book Club Picks - $10 Classics from HarperCollins - Plus More in AALBC’s eNewsletter
Book Club Picks - $10 Classics from HarperCollins - Plus More in AALBC’s eNewsletter Troy Johnson Article Books a Few Book Clubs are Enjoying this Month The Tea’s October Selection – We Shou...
Google Worsens Web Experience by Retuning Poor Search Results
Google Worsens Web Experience by Retuning Poor Search Results Troy Johnson Article Please read the notes at the end of the article for important updates to this Blog post (the last note added Februar...
10 Books African-Americans Should Read & Have in the Home
10 Books African-Americans Should Read & Have in the Home Troy Johnson Article Today, at 5PM EST, I'll be participating in a live interview with Paul Billings host of the "The Beat" on WUVS-LP 103.7F...
21st Century Slavery - My Reaction
21st Century Slavery - My Reaction Troy Johnson Article Generally when I get spam, whether it come from friends, family or a stranger, I usually just delete it. I get a lot of email. Most of it is ...
It’s All About Love: Romance Readers Speak Out
It’s All About Love: Romance Readers Speak Out Gwendolyn Osborne Article Many Americans hold preconceived notions about romance fiction without having read one of these books. Their knowledg...
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...
Black Book Videos & Author Channels
AALBC’s independent video channel: 600+ deep-dive author interviews, poetry sessions, book festival panels, and literary craft discussions celebrating Black literature.
10 Keys to Writing Successful Grant Proposals
10 Keys to Writing Successful Grant Proposals Gina Wilson Beckles Article Dr. Gina Wilson Beckles Let’s say you’ve been given the task of writing a grant proposal, even though you a...
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 ...
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...
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...
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. ...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Gift of Revelation’s Author Explains his Penchant for Spirituality and how he Overcame Challenges to Produce a Popular Line of Religious Fiction
Gift of Revelation’s Author Explains his Penchant for Spirituality and how he Overcame Challenges to Produce a Popular Line of Religious Fiction Robert Fleming Article Q. Where have you been after ...
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...
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] ...
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 ...
An Author You Should Know: Annette Gordon-Reed
An Author You Should Know: Annette Gordon-Reed Troy Johnson Article [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Annette Gordon-Reed, American historian and legal scholar"][/caption] Hist...
Russell Simmons Hosts Book Party for CNN’s Soledad O’Brien
Russell Simmons Hosts Book Party for CNN’s Soledad O’Brien Troy Johnson Article [caption id="attachment_199" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="photograph Steve Fenn/CNN"][/caption] Over the...
Mother’s Day Stories
Mother’s Day Stories Troy Johnson Article Mother’s Day Stories: A Lifetime of Appreciation in a Few Words The Defenders Online http://tinyurl.com/troy-mom I have a tribute to my mom here along wi...
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...
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...
James Brown “Godfather of Soul” Dies at 73 (1933–2006)
James Brown “Godfather of Soul” Dies at 73 (1933–2006) Jamie Walker Article Photo Source: http://www.funky-stuff.com Atlanta, GA James Brown, the legendary ’Godfather of Soul...
Can Black People Go 5 Minutes Without Music?
Can Black People Go 5 Minutes Without Music? Troy Johnson Article ...or rather why do we have to blast the music during every gathering? Having been back in Harlem now for about 4 years -- after bein...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
Gentle Pen Editorial Services
Gentle Pen Editorial Services Troy Johnson Article http://www.gentlepen.com Behind Every Good Writer is a Great Editor! A good story is crafted with solid writing. A great book is well edit...
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 ...
AAFCA Honored MOONLIGHT as Top Film & QUEEN SUGAR as the Top TV Show
AAFCA Honored MOONLIGHT as Top Film & QUEEN SUGAR as the Top TV Show Troy Johnson Article FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION (AAFCA) HONORED MOONLIGHT AS THE TOP ...
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...
She is Global, an Artist, a Movement—Malaika Adero is “Global I Aam”
She is Global, an Artist, a Movement—Malaika Adero is “Global I Aam” Patrick A. Howell Article
Black Books Galore! AALBC.com's November 2016 eNewsletter
Black Books Galore! AALBC.com's November 2016 eNewsletter Troy Johnson Article Picador USA – Our eNewsletter Sponsor for November Read one of the year’s most highly lauded – and highly provocative...
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...
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...
Journalists Roundtable, Oct. 6, 2015
Journalists Roundtable, Oct. 6, 2015 Richard Prince Article Photos: by Sharon Farmer/sfphotoworks Our October roundtable changed topics quickly in response to news the previous day of the res...
7 Award Winning Books You Will Definitely Enjoy
7 Award Winning Books You Will Definitely Enjoy Troy Johnson Article [caption id="attachment_2853" align="alignright" width="140"] Ernest J. Gaines[/caption] The following seven books are all winn...
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...
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...
3 Must Read Books for Social Media Advocates, Addicts & Sharecroppers
3 Must Read Books for Social Media Advocates, Addicts & Sharecroppers Troy Johnson Article These are three books I recommend we should all read. The strength of the Internet and promise it held ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Troy's Really Cool African Adventure
Troy's Really Cool African Adventure Troy Johnson Article Kenya http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133389&id=620627049&l=acae84f3a9 Ghana http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1320...
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...
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...
Stevie Wonder Concert Clip
Stevie Wonder Concert Clip Troy Johnson Article Stevie Wonder Concert Clip I drove from NYC and paid almost 3 times face for a pair of tickets to see Stevie Wonder perform on a chilly evening on the ...
African Americans Figure Prominently in Presidential Debate
African Americans Figure Prominently in Presidential Debate Jamie Walker Article African Americans Figure Prominently in Presidential Debate by Jamie Walker Washington, DC&...
Kevin Powell for Congress
Kevin Powell for Congress Kevin Powell Article Message Date: April 9th 2006 Good day to you, friend. I hope you and yours are well. As you may know by now, I am a candidate for th...
Greene Response to “Their Eyes Were Reading Smut”
Greene Response to “Their Eyes Were Reading Smut” Brenda M. Greene Article Brenda M. Greene, Ph.D.,Professor of English Medgar Evers College, CUNY The Op-Ed Page 229 We...
Remembering Ossie Davis, With Love
Remembering Ossie Davis, With Love Jamie Walker Article “In the light of Africa, there is Ossie Davis.” —Attallah Shabazz
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...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
Mos Def: Amino Alkaline ' The Watermelon Syndicate rocked the dome of Carnegie Hall
Mos Def: Amino Alkaline ' The Watermelon Syndicate rocked the dome of Carnegie Hall DuEwa M. Frazier Article On Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 8pm, presented by Festival Network in part...
A Tale of Two Countries
A Tale of Two Countries Anthony Browder Article This is a tale of two countries and their treatment of two African American men named Michael Brown. This is also a tale about the best of times ...
Jennifer Lopez on Playing Puchi and Producing Her First Picture
Jennifer Lopez on Playing Puchi and Producing Her First Picture Kam Williams Article Born in the South Bronx on July 24, 1969, Jennifer Lynn Lopez “J-Lo” has come a long way f...
Back to (Mysteries) School
Back to (Mysteries) School Mel Hopkins Article Is the oldest storytelling format, the monomyth, also known as The Hero’s Journey, one of the templates used for awakening the human consciousness...
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...
4th Annual AA Children's Book Fair
4th Annual AA Children's Book Fair Troy Johnson Article Toni Trent Parker, member of Black Americans in Publishing, will produce her fourth annual African American Children's Book Fair on Saturda...
AALBC.com Workshops for Writers
AALBC.com Workshops for Writers Troy Johnson Article Self-Publishing Workshop Saturday, December 6th 2008 - Harlem, New York Postponed until March 2009 Co-sponsored with ...
Earl Cox
Earl Cox Troy Johnson Article Earl Cox is a publishing industry veteran of nearly two decades. As President and Chief Executive of Earl Cox & Associates Worldwide and Writersandpoets.co...
What is a Editor and Copyeditor?
What is a Editor and Copyeditor? Troy Johnson Article Answer supplied by Anita Diggs What is the difference between an Editor and Copyeditor? An editor looks for the strengths and weaknesses o...
Kujichagulia Press
Kujichagulia Press Troy Johnson Article Kujichagulia Press is an independent African-American publishing house that was founded in 1994 by Erriel Kofi Addae (Erriel D. Roberson) and his wife, El...
Njozi Magazine
Njozi Magazine Troy Johnson Article Njozi Magazine Dream Variation Enterprises is currently seeking submissions for Njozi Magazine, A voice of the Urban Creative Intellectual. Dream Variation...
Publishing Consultant
Publishing Consultant Troy Johnson Article Under construction.... Earl Cox started his career in publishing nearly eighteen years ago as a shipping and receiving clerk at the Baruch College Books...