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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)
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...
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...
Bklyn Festival Showcases Emerging Authors
Bklyn Festival Showcases Emerging Authors Troy Johnson Article Brooklyn Festival Showcases Emerging Authors by Leah Mullen Perhaps the most overlooked and under acknowledged heroines and heroes...
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...
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 ...
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...
Literature Libraries
Literature Libraries Troy Johnson Article On this page you will find links to literary reference materials. Sources include Project Gutenburg (where the AALBC obtained our copy of Aesops Fabl...
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. ...
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...
Brooklyn Book Festival 2013 - Photos and Video
Brooklyn Book Festival 2013 - Photos and Video Troy Johnson Article
The Top Cities for Readers of African American Literature
The Top Cities for Readers of African American Literature Troy Johnson Article AALBC.com assessed the relative strengths of almost 300 American cities, to determine which ones are best able to provid...
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...
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...
Skyelight Literature
Skyelight Literature Troy Johnson Article FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Skye Phillips Toll Free: 877‐335‐4874 Fax: 516 345 0652 info@skyelightbooks.com ...
African-American Literature Web Sites Launch “Power List” of Best-Selling Books
African-American Literature Web Sites Launch “Power List” of Best-Selling Books Troy Johnson Article FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Troy Johnson: troy@aalbc.com Gwen Richardson: grichardson@cu...
Vote for the Best Book Trailer of 2010!
Vote for the Best Book Trailer of 2010! Troy Johnson Article There are only 2 days left to cast your vote for the finalists of the Best Book trailer of 2010. Cast you vote now: https://bit.ly/best...
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...
Antigua & Barbuda Literary Festival 2008 - Was a Blast
Antigua & Barbuda Literary Festival 2008 - Was a Blast Troy Johnson Article I have never attended an event that was more personally fulfilling and fun in my entire life! Participants which includ...
AALBC’s Newsletter: Bestsellers, Novelist Stacey Abrams, Texas Book Festival Videos & More
AALBC’s Newsletter: Bestsellers, Novelist Stacey Abrams, Texas Book Festival Videos & More Troy Johnson Article Subscribe Forward
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...
EK Festival 2002 Flyer
EK Festival 2002 Flyer Troy Johnson Article Read More about this event
How is African American Literature Really Doing?
How is African American Literature Really Doing? Troy Johnson Article For those in the business of Black books in America, this is a common question; “How is African American Literature Doing?” Some...
Three Largest Africa-American Book Sites Join Force to Promote Black Literature
Three Largest Africa-American Book Sites Join Force to Promote Black Literature Troy Johnson Article January 7, 2008For Immediate Release MEDIA INQUIRIESTroy Johnson, AALBC.com, (866) 603-8394Gwen Ri...
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...
“Furious Flower” Conference Celebrates African American Poetry
“Furious Flower” Conference Celebrates African American Poetry Jamie Walker Article Harrisonburg, Virginia: Over sixty distinguished poets and scholars gathered to help set the agenda for African A...
On Percival Everett
On Percival Everett African American Literature Book Club Article I think Erasure by Percival Everett is the first great manifesto for literature by African Americans in the 21st century. I beli...
36 African-American Nominees for National Book Awards
36 African-American Nominees for National Book Awards Troy Johnson Article November 11, 2015 Update: A complete list of National Book Award Honorees, of African descent, is now available. The mi...
Black Renaissance Noire
Black Renaissance Noire Troy Johnson Article Black Renaissance Noire African American Literature Book Club - The #1 Site for "Readers of Blac...
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.
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...
New List! Best-Selling Children’s Books
New List! Best-Selling Children’s Books Troy Johnson Article We've Just Added an Additional Category to Our Popular Best Sellers List—Children’s Books! Over the years, there has always been a gre...
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...
3rd Blackboard Midwest Music & Book Fest.
3rd Blackboard Midwest Music & Book Fest. Troy Johnson Article ***PLEASE FORWARD*** For more information, contact Cherlyn Michaels @ info@archlandbooks.com or by phone at 314.369.613...
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...
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...
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 ...
On-Line Newsletters
On-Line Newsletters Troy Johnson Article The following on-line newsletters (listed in no particular order) are an extremely valuable and informative resource to anyone with an interest in African...
THE BLACK SCHOLAR: Journal of Black Studies and Research
THE BLACK SCHOLAR: Journal of Black Studies and Research Troy Johnson Article Volume 1 Number 1 November 1969 Mission Statement From the Inaugural Issue: THE BLACK SCHOLAR has been born out of th...
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...
2012 Black Pack Party Photographs
2012 Black Pack Party Photographs Troy Johnson Article (HARLEM - June 12, 2012) - Londel's Restaurant served as the venue for the 6th Black Pack Party held June 6th, 2012. The Black Pack Party, held...
We Must Patronize Black-Owned Websites or Lose Them
We Must Patronize Black-Owned Websites or Lose Them Troy Johnson Article Part of AALBC.com’s mission is to help support Black-owned websites. Historically, I've focused on sites related to books i...
17th Annual Celeb.of Black Writing
17th Annual Celeb.of Black Writing Troy Johnson Article PHOTOS and a report of this event coming soon! The 17th Annual Celebration of Black Writing February 16 to 18, 2001 Philadelphia For...
2 Ways Google is Killing Online Booksellers & How You Can Help
2 Ways Google is Killing Online Booksellers & How You Can Help Troy Johnson Article (1) Google Uses its Dominance in Search to Hijack Traffic from Websites Google does this by placing content, it ha...
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 ...
U.B. & U.S.
U.B. & U.S. Troy Johnson Article "BLACK AMERICA'S MOST RELIABLE, PRINTER, PUBLISHER AND DISTRIBUTOR" 912 West Pembroke Avenue Hampton, Virginia 23669 (757) 723-2696 First United Brother, H...
BARTLETT’S FAMILIAR BLACK QUOTATIONS: Edited by Retha Powers
BARTLETT’S FAMILIAR BLACK QUOTATIONS: Edited by Retha Powers Troy Johnson Article Bartlett's Familiar Black Quotations: 5,000 Years of Literature, Lyrics, Poems, Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs...
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...
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...
History of our Annual Black Pack Party
History of our Annual Black Pack Party Troy Johnson Article The Black Pack Party is a gathering of professionals across the Black book ecosystem. It was originally held annually during Book Expo Amer...
How to Share Your Book Information with AALBC
How to Share Your Book Information with AALBC Troy Johnson Article Below is the information you need to provide AALBC to have your book considered for inclusion in AALBC’s online bookstore. Ple...
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
June 2016 Newsletter Celebrating the Best in Black Literature
June 2016 Newsletter Celebrating the Best in Black Literature Troy Johnson Article Subscribe to AALBC.com’s eNewsletter Carter G. Woodson Award Winning Books The National Council for the Social...
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 ...
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...
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AALBC.com - African American Literature Book Club (Home)
AALBC.com is the oldest and largest website dedicated to books by or about people of African descent. Celebrating Black literature, authors, book reviews, bestselling books, literary events, and Black...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Why Diversity in Children’s Literature is Important
Why Diversity in Children’s Literature is Important Jewell Parker Rhodes Article A Keynote Address Delivered by Jewell Parker Rhodes April 30, 2015, during the American Booksellers Association&rs...
AA LIT. CONFERENCE 2000
AA LIT. CONFERENCE 2000 Troy Johnson Article THIS EVENT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND IS RECORDED HERE AS AN HISTORICAL ARCHIVE. AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE CONFERENCE 2000 "THE LEGACY LIVES 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...
What is Wrong with Goodreads and Wikipedia?
What is Wrong with Goodreads and Wikipedia? Troy Johnson Article ...and why are they promoting Zane’s tax liability rather than her literary accomplishments? “The Web is critical not merely to the d...
Susan Taylor Baker King’s Memoir
Susan Taylor Baker King’s Memoir Susie King Taylor Article An Excerpt from Susan Taylor Baker King’s Memoir:Reminiscences of My Life in Camp with the 33rd US Colored Troops, Late 1st S.C. Vol...
F.Y.O.S.
F.Y.O.S. Troy Johnson Article Founders independent publishing company, FYOS Entertainment, LLC Tonya Marie is a Dean's List graduate of Northwestern University (N...
Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passion
Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passion Troy Johnson Article Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passionby TANANGACHI MFUNIAmsterdam News StaffSeptember 28 - O...
The 5th National Black Writers Conference Report from the Field 2
The 5th National Black Writers Conference Report from the Field 2 Kalamu ya Salaam Article Report from the Field National Black Writers Conference 2000 Part 2 of 3 “E...
Black Orchid Lit. Agency
Black Orchid Lit. Agency Troy Johnson Article Black Orchid Literary Agency http://www.flashtech.net/bola/ 820 Lamar Street Cleveland, TX 77327 William E. Wright, President &...
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
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 ...
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...
Blacktrospective 2012 - Annual Assessment of the Best in Black Film
Blacktrospective 2012 - Annual Assessment of the Best in Black Film Troy Johnson Article Each year we publish our annual list of the best in Black cinema. This list is unique in that it assesses...
Black Belt Press
Black Belt Press Troy Johnson Article The Black Belt, defined by its dark, rich soil, stretches across central Alabama. It was the heart of the cotton belt. It was and is a place of great beauty,...
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...
Message
Message Troy Johnson Article __________________________________________ AALBC.com Troy Johnson FounderAfrican American Literature Book Club Phone: 866-603-8394
“Would You Stop Buying Books from Amazon.com to Save the Black Book Industry?”
“Would You Stop Buying Books from Amazon.com to Save the Black Book Industry?” Troy Johnson Article Exploring The Feasibility Boycotting Amazon’s Bookstore In the following video, Ruth J. Morrison, ...
Why Black Owned Websites Fail
Why Black Owned Websites Fail Troy Johnson Article A few days ago a friend came across an article in, WhereItzAt Magazine. In the magazine was an article, “In defense of Black Bookstores,” addressed ...
Farrakhan to Black Youth: Study Ferguson, MO and Gaza
Farrakhan to Black Youth: Study Ferguson, MO and Gaza Leroy Baylor Article The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan Photo: Michael Muhammad The military readiness of police in Fer...
Kimani Press
Kimani Press Troy Johnson Article This Summer Sizzles With the Launch Of Kimani Romance�! Bestselling Authors Pen Sophisticated and Sexy Novels for the World's Only African-American Roman...
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...
Our Future is Cyberspace
Our Future is Cyberspace Troy Johnson Article “Outsiders” have often dictated the trends of African American Culture, sometimes doing the job themselves, sometimes using what authors John A. Williams...
Their Eyes Were Reading Smut
Their Eyes Were Reading Smut Nick Chiles Article Last month I happened to go into the Borders Books store at the Stonecrest mall in Lithonia, Ga., about a half-hour from my house here. To my surprise...
The 2017 Black Pack Party @ Clyde Frazier’s May 31, 2017
The 2017 Black Pack Party @ Clyde Frazier’s May 31, 2017 Troy Johnson Article 11th Annual Black Pack Party We are hosting the 11th Annual Black Pack Party on the evening of Wednesday, May 31st. It w...
Black Writers Dominate the 2017 Pulitzer Prizes
Black Writers Dominate the 2017 Pulitzer Prizes Troy Johnson Article Back in January of this year, I took the time to try to figure out how many Black writers have won Pulitzer Prizes in the six ...
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...
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...
Neshee Publication
Neshee Publication Troy Johnson Article http://nesheepublication.com Neshee Publication� was founded in January, 2001 by Aalim & Heather Elitou, a husband and wife team also known as...
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...
BLK Bestsellers - Top Selling Black Books
The definitive monthly bestsellers list for Black-authored books across Adult Fiction, Nonfiction, YA, and Children literature, powered by Circana sales data.
Black Book Festivals, Fairs & Literary Events
Directory of annual African American book fairs, literary conferences, writer retreats, and festivals celebrating Black literature.
Dark Matter II
Dark Matter II Troy Johnson Article The Call for submission has ended DARK MATTER II : Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora Edited by Sheree R. Thomas GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION...
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...
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...
Black Book Websites Need Love Too
Black Book Websites Need Love Too Troy Johnson Article Over the last decade there has been a great deal of lamenting over the closing of Black owned, independent brick and mortar book stores. Recent...
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...
Highlighting Books Needed for Survival
Highlighting Books Needed for Survival Troy Johnson Article Our August 23rd Newsletter is Sponsored by Knopf Expanding Awards Section Our lists of award winning books have greatly increased i...