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Alvin Hayes

A blog by aMhayes in General

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About this blog

This blog will discuss African American history, politics, and current events. And every so often I’ll add some information from the whileBlack Chronicles you might find interesting.

 

 I’ll begin with this thought. African Americans represent the ideal citizen in America. But we make the same mistake over and over. Any guess as to what that might be?

 

 

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Entries in this blog

African American Historical Fiction

African Proverb: A Village Without The Elderly is Like A Well Without Water. What Water Is To A Well Elders Are To A Society

Experience the danger, thrill, and tenacity of a family's struggle to protect their legacy in the face of a violent Reconstruction-era South in "If the Elders Call". Bertha and Tucker, two former slaves introduced In “If Cotton Could Talk” have instilled the values of the Elders into their children: Junior, Joan, Joseph, Rose, and Gladys. But when a ruthless sheriff and a wealthy white supremacist target their newfound success, Junior, and his son Earl, must step up and take charge.   
African American Historical Fiction

New Orleans & The Black Lady With Blue Eyes

"If New Orleans Could Talk" Recently relocated to New Orleans, Earl Thomas sets about getting his family settled and in the business of making money so they can get to their next safe destination, Chicago.   This gripping tale of family, freedom, and forbidden dreams is set in early 20th-century New Orleans. Earl and his family are determined to make a better life for themselves, and his daughter Linda is eager to learn, grow, and lead the family out of the South.   Bet
African American Historical Fiction

whileBlack Chronicles: Black History Told Thru Stories

Discover a family that never backs down in the WhileBlack Chronicles, a powerful series of historical fiction books about African American life.   In the first installment, "If Cotton Could Talk," readers will be transported to a cotton plantation in Mississippi in 1850, and follow the inspiring story of the relationships between those enslaved.   In the second book, "If the Elders Call," readers will witness the next generation led by Earl, fighting back against the violen
The Vote

The whileBlack Chronicles'

An excerpt from the White People's Playbook Page on my website. More of my random thoughts you might find of interest.   The WPP narrative is that we don’t vote because we are leeches of government and just don’t care. But history tells a much different story. Led by freed men and women ex-slaves aligned with white allies in the south, to sweep Republicans into power. Just think about that for a moment. The civil war ended 5 years earlier and ex-slaves were exercising their right to vo
African American Historical Fiction

The whileBlack Chronicles' When United Black Families Encounter Powerful Whites What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

The first book in the whileBlack Chronicles’ takes place where most of us started in America; on a cotton plantation. Some of you may think, “Great, just what I want to read about, the evils of slavery. So, who cares? It was too long ago, and besides, everyone knows slavery was bad. I thought the same way. At the same time, the Chronicles’ has to begin on a plantation. For a novice writer like me, it was a challenge. How do I bring the story to life and not write about the breakup of famil
African American Historical Fiction

The whileBlack Chronicles' Website

I have a "homegrown" website. I'm asking readers to please visit. Any suggestions for improvement are appreciated. Is the website interesting? Would you refer anyone to it?   I've attached posts on what I call the reasons people don't visit my website. Hopefully, it will bring a smile to your day.
African American Historical Fiction

The whileBlack Chronicles' eBook Promotion "If Cotton Could Talk"

This is a great gift for a young adult who is an avid reader.   #13 in African Literature (Kindle Store) #24 in Teen & Young Adult US 19th Century Historical Fiction eBooks #59 in Teen & Young Adult 19th Century United States Historical Fiction    
African American Historical Fiction

The Vote

A brief history is in order. Black suffrage was a tool of white supremacy before the Civil War. During the 1860s, in a New York State election, people voted against black suffrage.  White behavior will make you go, hmmmmmm WTF. How many free Africans lived in NY in 1860? Out of a NYC population of 7,000,  1,600 were of African descent and most of them were slaves. I guess the thinking was “Shit, let the 100 black folks vote and they will take over everything and fuck it up for us.” The
African American Historical Fiction

The whileBlack Chronicles'

Tucker and Bertha, who meet as strangers on a Mississippi plantation in “If Cotton Could Talk”, build relationships and instill in future generations the courage to never back down. Dan Connor gathers a posse to hunt down his former slave Sambo who escapes to Indian country with his wife. Tucker seeks revenge for the whipping he received from another slave, the brutal Mr. Jasper, the overseer. Bertha’s son Junior and her grandson Earl build an extensive business, angering powerful people.
African American Historical Fiction

The whileBlack Chronicles' When Strong Black Families Encounter Powerful Whites What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

The fourth book in the Chronicles’ begins with the Thomas family’s migration to Chicago. Between 1910 and 1970, six million Blacks left the land of their Elders to flee East, West, and North.

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