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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...
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...
Spotlight on the 14th National Black Writers Conference: March 22 – March 25, 2018
Spotlight on the 14th National Black Writers Conference: March 22 – March 25, 2018 Troy Johnson Article AALBC.com is Hosting an Independent Publishing Workshop How to Publish Your Book Independently...
March 1, 2017 Newsletter — Book Award Announcements, New Books, and More
March 1, 2017 Newsletter — Book Award Announcements, New Books, and More Troy Johnson Article New Books Coming Out March 2017 Helene Cooper tells the amazing of story Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, leader o...
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 ...
“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...
AALBC.com eNewsletter March 28th 2006
AALBC.com eNewsletter March 28th 2006 Troy Johnson Article The Following is an excerpt of AALBC.com's March 28th eNewsletter:MAKING THE BEST OF AALBC.comTip #1 — Use the Google Search EngineAALBC.com...
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 ...
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...
Surviving Chaos, How I Found Peace at A Beach Bar by Harold Phifer Book Reviewed
Surviving Chaos, How I Found Peace at A Beach Bar by Harold Phifer Book Reviewed Denolyn Carroll Article ADD TO CART Publication Date: Feb 18, 2021List Price: $17.95 Format: Paperback, 2...
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...
Bestselling Books, Book Reviews, & More - May 2019 Newsletter
Bestselling Books, Book Reviews, & More - May 2019 Newsletter Troy Johnson Article New Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby is the magnificent follow-up to the original, celebrated anthology, u...
March 28, 2017 Newsletter — Book Recommendations, News, Contests, and More
March 28, 2017 Newsletter — Book Recommendations, News, Contests, and More Troy Johnson Article Top 120 Children’s Books from the Past 50 Years Our list of the Top 120 Children’s Books published ove...
AALBC.com May 2013 eNewsletter Book Highlights
AALBC.com May 2013 eNewsletter Book Highlights Troy Johnson Article AALBC.com Best-selling Books - March to April 2013 This version of AALBC.com's eNewsletter, which focuses on book rela...
June 2017 eNewsletter: The Best New Books, Author Info, and More
June 2017 eNewsletter: The Best New Books, Author Info, and More Troy Johnson Article This Month’s Newsletter is Made Possible by Support From Amistad Authors You Should Know Tracy K. Smith...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
On Reading the Sad News: Ama Ata Aidoo
On Reading the Sad News: Ama Ata Aidoo Rashidah Ismaili Article Ama Ata Aidoo (March 23, 1942 – May 31, 2023) Just after reading the New York Times Art section where I see the continued resi...
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 ...
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...
Etheridge Knight Festival
Etheridge Knight Festival Troy Johnson Article Etheridge Knight Inc. P.O. Box 18043 Indianapolis, IN 46218 Phone (317) 396-1529.Fax (317) 925-1481 E-mail EKFestival@aol.com The 11th Annual ...
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...
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...
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...
Black Women Lead the Way Promoting Black Culture through Books
Black Women Lead the Way Promoting Black Culture through Books Troy Johnson Article “Where a woman rules, streams run uphill.” —Ethiopian proverb AALBC.com’s Bestselling Books - January to February ...
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...
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...
Ben-Jochannan, Clarke & Van Sertima's Reading Lists
Ben-Jochannan, Clarke & Van Sertima's Reading Lists Troy Johnson Article Dr. Ivan Van Sertima (Jan 26, 1935 – May 25, 2009), Dr. Yosef “Dr. Ben” Ben-Jochannan (Dec 31, 1918 - March 19, 2015), and Dr...
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 Lit Bit Celebrates Women’s History Month
The Lit Bit Celebrates Women’s History Month Charisse Carney-Nunes Article Welcome to Women’s History Month! So often we African Americans complain that the preceding month of February, Bla...
Huria Search - Search the Global Black Community
Huria Search - Search the Global Black Community Troy Johnson Article Editors Note: As of March 2016, after a 5 year run, Huria Search's run as a standalone site has ended. The Search engine and the...
Random Thoughts About Facebook
Random Thoughts About Facebook Troy Johnson Article I originally wrote this post in March of 2011, over 4½ years later, a life time in WWW years, I decided to revisit this article. My November 2015 ...
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...
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...
AALBC in the Media
AALBC in the Media Troy Johnson article AALBC.com is Frequently Cited in Major Media (Clips Pre-2003) Lists AALBC.com, i...
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...
Dialogue
Dialogue Troy Johnson Article Please note Dialogue is currently on hiatus (as of this notice, March 2002) Visit Dialogue's web site http://www.ace-dialogue.org D I A L O G U E A Discussion ...
Youth Poetry Contest Guidelines
Youth Poetry Contest Guidelines Troy Johnson Article 20 02 THE ETHERIDGE KNIGHT 8TH ANNUAL YOUTH POETRY CONTEST GUIDELINES Open to Elementary, Middle and High School Students O...
The Web calendar editor for AALBC.com Events Page
The Web calendar editor for AALBC.com Events Page Troy Johnson Article Month January February March April May June July August September October November December...
Lisa Davis Literary Agency
Lisa Davis Literary Agency Troy Johnson Article Lisa Davis Literary Agency represents fiction�literary and commercial�and many areas of nonfiction, including women's issues, popular culture, se...
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...
Troy Johnson: Literary Activist of the Year 2017
Troy Johnson: Literary Activist of the Year 2017 Troy Johnson Article On June 10, 2017, I had the fortune of being honored with the Literary Activist of the Year Award, which was presented to me ...
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...
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...
University of Pittsburgh Press
University of Pittsburgh Press Troy Johnson Article http://www.pitt.edu/~press Title: Captivity Author: Toi Derricotte Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press Date Published:...
Book Reviewing, African-American Style
Book Reviewing, African-American Style Wanda Coleman Article This article appeared in the September 16, 2002 edition of The Nation On April 14 [2002], my review of Maya Angelou’s A Song Flu...
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...
Documentary Film on History of Blacks in Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction Books
Documentary Film on History of Blacks in Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction Books Troy Johnson Article https://www.youtube.com/embed/uvDW5z0b9po “The Invisible Universe documentary reveals the his...
AALBC.com eNewsletter – December 31st 2012 – Issue #197
AALBC.com eNewsletter – December 31st 2012 – Issue #197 Troy Johnson Article AALBC.com eNewsletter – December 31st 2012 – Issue #197 I hope you enjoy AALBC.com's last eNewsletter for 2012. Please ta...
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...
A Fire in Harlem - Tribute to Sekou Sundiata at Up South International Book Festival
A Fire in Harlem - Tribute to Sekou Sundiata at Up South International Book Festival DuEwa M. Frazier Article Up South International Book Festival September 19th ’ September 23rd 2007 www...
More Poetry!/Less Jam!
More Poetry!/Less Jam! Tara Betts Article More Poetry!/Less Jam! by Tara Betts Bruce George’s outgoing voicemail message at Phat Farm states "Don’t leave a message unless it&rsq...
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....
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...
Etheridge Knight Poetry Fest 2001
Etheridge Knight Poetry Fest 2001 Troy Johnson Article THIS EVENT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND IS RECORDED HERE AS AN HISTORICAL ARCHIVE. FRIDAY, APRIL 20TH THRU SUNDAY, APRIL 22ND, 200...
On-line Writers Workshop
On-line Writers Workshop Troy Johnson Article WANTED: Black Writers with balls and ovaries of teflon and steel who can put up with heat waves, flashbacks, old lovers and word processors who c...
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 ...
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...
Video Coverage of the 2018 National Book Club Conference
Video Coverage of the 2018 National Book Club Conference Troy Johnson Article I attended the 2018 National Book Club Conference August 3rd and 4th. I have not attended since the 2010. The confer...
Blue Nile Press Presents: Raisins in Milk by David Covin
Blue Nile Press Presents: Raisins in Milk by David Covin Troy Johnson Article In 1977, when Toni Morrison was an editor for Random House, she read an early version of Raisins in Milk. In a letter she...
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...
Ellis Cose: An Author You Should Know
Ellis Cose: An Author You Should Know Troy Johnson Article [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Author Ellis Cose (l) with childhood buddy Verdeen White of Earth White and Fire"][/...
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...
Actor Bill Duke Praises Author Relentless Aaron
Actor Bill Duke Praises Author Relentless Aaron Troy Johnson Article Troy Johnson of AALBC.com joined renowned actor and director, Bill Duke and best selling author Relentless Aaron for a celebrator...
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...
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 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...
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 ...
Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children’s Literature
Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children’s Literature Troy Johnson Article Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children’s Literature by Wade Hudson This Diversity Books Pledge was developed after a...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
The Black Arts Movement (BAM)
The Black Arts Movement (BAM) Kalamu ya Salaam Article “…aesthetic and spiritual sister of the Black Power concept.”―Larry Neal The Black Arts Movement spans the period fr...
The Moors in Europe
The Moors in Europe Runoko Rashidi Article THE GLOBAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY HISTORY NOTES: THE MOORS IN EUROPE BY RUNOKO RASHIDI It would not be inaccurate to say that the Moors helped reintrodu...
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...
Parker Publishing
Parker Publishing Troy Johnson Article Parker Publishing was established by seasoned industry professionals, and targets the ever-expansive market of books by and about African-Americans. ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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
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 ...
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...
Introducing Bestselling Author Nina Foxx
Introducing Bestselling Author Nina Foxx Troy Johnson Article Editor’s Note: (Foxx received a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work)! Nina Foxx is an award-winn...
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...
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)
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...
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 ...
Dr. Frances Cress Welsing: An Author You Should Know
Dr. Frances Cress Welsing: An Author You Should Know Troy Johnson Article Dr. Welsing's book the The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors [1991, Third World Press] has been a best selling book on ...
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...
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...
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...
AALBC.com The #1 Site for African American Literature - Author Profiles, Book Reviews, Interviews and More
AALBC.com The #1 Site for African American Literature - Author Profiles, Book Reviews, Interviews and More Troy Johnson Article Go to New AALBC.com Events Page
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.
Why Fertile Ground is an Important Work
Why Fertile Ground is an Important Work Kalamu ya Salaam Article These Are The Lyrics, Our People Are The Music WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE SPIRIT OF BLACKNESS, the spirit of doing for self...
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...