Black Literature

Greetings! I’m posting to request a review of my press’s forthcoming title: The House of Erzulie, a literary novel by Kirsten Imani Kasai, scheduled for release on February 21, 2018 from Shade Mountain Press (ISBN 978-0-9984634-1-4). A tale of obsession and racial guilt on an 1850s Louisiana plantation, The House of Erzulie is based on extensive historical research by Kasai, a biracial author with Southern roots. The novel is imbued with the uncanny and the surreal, while also alluding to the very real horrors of slavery as it draws on the long tradition of the African-American Gothic novel. Gayle Brandeis praises the novel’s “unflinching eye and lush, deeply …

STUBBS, SELF PORTRAIT FROM A HALFWAY HOUSE, IS A CAREER CRIMINAL BORN WIT' ONE HAND, SPENDIN' DECADES IN STATE & FEDERAL PRISON ON DRUG CHARGES. SIGNED TO GHETTOHEAT® IN 2010, STUBBS WAS RELEASED FROM FEDERAL PRISON IN 2012, & DROPPED FROM GHETTOHEAT® FOR INSUBORDINATION.... STUBBS, SHOT IN HIS HEART AFTERWARDS DURIN' A HOME INVASION: & SURVIVED--WAS BROUGHT BACK TO GHETTOHEAT® BY HICKSON & PLACED IN GHETTOHEAT®BOOK CAMP, YET SENT BACK TO FEDERAL PRISON TWO DAYS AFTER HIS BIRTHDAY: VIOLATIN' HIS PAROLE! HIS MEMOIR: BROTHERS BEHIND BARS: VOLUME 1 WILL RELEASE BEFORE HIS NOVEL, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY! BLACK HISTORY: GHETTOHEAT® STYLE! #GHETTOHE…

Hello Guys, I write to bring this literary fiction novel to your attention. Year of publication is march 31, 2019 ISBN: 978-1090267115 Synopsis When a ruler of a land gets so brutal by denying young women even the opportunity of getting married, he leaves everywhere littered with aging spinsters whose bride prices are way through the roof for almost all bachelors to afford. Spinsters, bachelors and everyone in the land are desperate for change to happen. Silenced by fear, and unsure of where and how to start, they resign to a doomed fate, until the return of the one who falls in love, and even has no idea he can liberate women and the entire land …

Community Book Center, cultural hub of black community, fighting to stay open BY KATY RECKDAHL | Special to The New Orleans Advocate, June 10, 2017 This article is worth reading because it speaks to the fight many are activity engaged in to serve our communities from a cultural perspective. If we all a profit driven corporations from outside our community do this on our behalf we are lost as a people and will suffer more than we already do. This article really raises the question I asked in another post about the viability of a book store focused on Black books; are they desired by enough people in the Black community to make it a available busine…

MahoganyBooks Bookstore is hosting a “first look” of its bookstore to supporters and the Anacostia community on December 4th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Derrick and Ramunda are my peeps I've been working with them for years. They were a reporting source along with AALBC.com for the, now defunct, Power List Bestsellers (discussed in the video below).

Debut Fiction by Kaaronica Evans-Ware Banished from her clan for being a Muslim, a 400 year-old jinn named Zamar is hiding from her past. But an ancient evil is about to surface, unearthing her secrets and carrying painful reminders of the life she once lived. Ages ago, Zamar had lived in solitary exile along the banks of the Senegal River. Then a lone man entered her world, altering it forever. Spanning several centuries, book one of Fire & Clay, pulls you into the unseen world of mankind’s distant cousins, the jinn. Like humans, these beings were given the gift of free will. And like us there are a few that choose the way of good, some that choos…

The Ultimate Top 10 Books Lists, Great New Books, Black Classic Press Celebrates 40 Years, and More!

Sister. Of. The. Yam. Self-Discovery. About. Black. Women,Their. Inner. Well. Being,How. Their. Development. Is. Shaped. From. Forms. Of. Domination .. Happy. Mother's. Day. To. Black. Mother's. . Soul-Singer. Betty. Wright. Has. Died,News. Says. .Sister. Of. The. Yam. Book. By. Bell. Hooks...

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Sister Souljah has a new (relatively new) book out, A Moment of Silence. Has any one read this one, or even heard about it? I get a bunch of books from Simon & Schuster, but I didn't even know this book was out until last week--which is surprising given the relative celebrity of the authors and the popularity of her first book, The Coldest Winter Ever.

Dear @Troy I am working on a story and I plan on posting it only in the forum of AALBC. But, I realize, I never asked you , what is the best way to present literature in AALBC? I know with html tools you can use textareas and you can always just place text in a forum post or blog post, but in your experience on the website you own and always manage in majority, what is the best way to present literature?

MOMMY'S KHMAR by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Illustrated by Ebony Glenn "A Top 130 African-American Children’s Book" I thought this book was sweet. While Muslims make up a relatively tiny portion of Black America's religious community. I think it would be useful not just for children in this religious minority for children outside the group to learn about different aspects of our multifaceted American culture.

We have not written the press release or started to promote the list yet, so you are getting the list first! There are a wide variety of titles on our list of 40 of the most popular books read by African Americans over the last few months. Check out all of these titles, I've pulled together videos, reviews and more. Looking below the surface: Here is a list of the conglomerates publishing the most popular books we are reading (This view is not shared on the menu of the powerlist website). As I continue to collect data an interesting story emerges. For example, more than 2/3's of the most popular books read by African American readers are published by just 3 conglomera…

This along the same of as the articles like "The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates and "The Decline of Black Business And what it means for American democracy" by Brian S. Feldman. Of course art of the reason is structural, but the largest impact is mental. “... [we are taught to be] docile and compliant with being taught to be a mule and a burden bearer whose only goal in life is to seek approval and acceptance and to qualify to work for white people.”

I am about to publish this press release. I wanted to get feedback from the community before I sent it out. Thank you in advance. Article Title: Clarence N M Coggins sponsoring a Coloring Contest for children to help counter the increasing wealth Article Text: Creator of Danielle the Girl from the New York series, Clarence N M Coggins is sponsoring a contest to help counter the increasing wealth inequality by helping children learn how to accumulate wealth. This will be an Annual Global Coloring Contest that means anyone from around the globe can participate in it. As it's an open competition thus there is no age limitation as well. Cl…

The following was shared by @Wendy Jones on the the page where I posted the results of the survey of the question; would you stop buying book from Amazon's bookstore to save the book industry? Where to begin. Well, first I'll answer the question Troy posed to me then I will attempt to answer some of the points made by the people who don't think it's a good idea to boycott Amazon. How did I decide to write a letter to the CEO resigning from being an Amazon purchaser? Here is one of the articles I read. This one deals with inhuman treatment of workers: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/amazon-devastating-expose-accuses-internet-retailer-…

If. I. Had. A. Hammer. Book. By. The. Late. Great. Hank. Aaron ,He ,Talks. About. His. Triumph. And. Struggles. With. Racism. ,Negro -Leagues. ,And. Becoming. Baseball. Home. Run. King.. News. Showed. One. Of. His. Interviews. . Civil. Rights. Activist. He. Was. A,Great. Man...Lot. Of. People. Say He. Is. The. Home. Run. King Not ,Barry. Bonds ....

The only reason we're in here is we care about the culture says Troy Johnson. @aalbc #BusinessofBooks #KBF2016

Title: Picturing Freedom: African Americans & Their Cars, A Photographic History Authors: Stanley B. Burns, MD & Elizabeth A. Burns ISBN: 978-1-936002-12-2 publication date: June 2022 For book review - will send copies Picturing Freedom chronicles and celebrates the photographic history of African Americans and their cars by focusing on personal images of the pride and joy of car ownership (1900-1980+). All of the photographs were taken in Black communities by a family member or a friend. This publication adds to the visual narrative of our culture through 272-pages and over 450 unique photographs. Accompanying the images are …

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Authors and publishers, Exhibit at the National Conference of African American Librarians this is an opportunity to get your books into libraries across the country. Libraries are much more open to working with indie authors and publishers, than they have been in the past. In addition, to exhibiting opportunities (AALBC.com friends get 25% off the regular rates). There are opportunities for authors to participate for free and submit proposals for presentations. This conference will not take place for another two years. Take advantage of it.

Slave. Girl. Becomes. A. Vampire. Gilda. Stories. By. Jewelle Gomez..

FEAR Nothing is more intimately related to the emotional welfare of the black male than the sum of his fears. From the start, it would be rather amiss of me if I didn’t relate that what I have discovered about fear is that fear can be either a life experience or a life sentence dependent upon the torque and velocity of that particular fear. For example, my fear of fire has prevented me from foolishly thrusting my hand into an open flame, and it is precisely fear of this nature that has proven to be a life-affirming experience. Then you have, on the other hand, those fears that are so mind-numbing they are a “emotional” life sentence. I am not certain …

Hood. Supreme. Political. And-Criminal. Families. Within. The -Street. Wars. In. Chicago. Book-,By Mz Lady P...

"...hard times are coming, when we’ll be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine some real grounds for hope. We’ll need writers who can remember freedom poets, visionaries the realists of a larger reality. Right now, we need writers who know the difference between production of a market commodity and the practice of an art. --applause-- Developing written material to suit sales strategies in order to maximize corporate profit and advertising revenue is not the same thing as responsible book publishing or authorship.--ap…

Zimbabwean novelist NoViolet BulaWayo reading during the National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 book celebration November 19th 2013:

Often I complain about how the NY Times covers Black people -- but this, this right here, is great!. Now people will argue about the authors NOT included and that is fine, but these presentation is spectacular. You all know how often I lament the invisibility of Black men. This is the opposite of that. A artistically grand presentation of Black men -- covering broad full spectrum of manhood (from an earlier discussion 😉 ) Follow this link to read the article and watch the video. Enjoy.

Book Store Database on Huria Search Last week I updated Huria Search to take our bookstore database generate webpages for each bookstore to include a representative photos, video, social media links, website snap shot, map to the store social media links, hours of operation and more. The book store database may be found here. Here is an example link to a local store near Harlem: https://aalbc.com/bookstores/store.php?store_name=Sister%26rsquo%3Bs+Uptown+Bookstore This is an attempt to capture every single Black owned independent bookstore in America. The database currently has 113 stores. If there are any missing stores or stores tha…

This new book was released on February 20th, 2016 at the Los Angeles Public Library Author Series" Literacy is Every Thing." Success Stories: Insights by African American Men" is an inspirational collection of stories by 19 African American Men. It also includes researched based information by Reginald Grant, MSEd on Reaching and Teaching African American Children. A cross generational collection of stories from college students to men in retirement, a true glimpse into the journey of African American Men in America. “African American males want the same things as everyone else, a family, a job a education, the opportunity to live the American dream. “ J. Everett Pe…

See all the photos on my Blog

Vertical Visions Media Presents the untold story: “A book that uncovers why Miles Davis was so fascinated by the untold stories of how these Memphis musicians were so ahead of the others…” Upright Bass:The Musical Life and Legacy of Jamil Nasser A Jazz Memoir ISBN# 139780692895986 Available for purchase at www.jamilsnasser.com Publication Date: July 1, 2018 Media contact: Amir Nasser, Verticalvisionsmedia@gmail.com or 240-449-5816 "I loved the way Jamil played bass, so I asked him to join my band. His great bass playing, and personality contributed much to my music." B.B. King Abou…

Simon & Schuster even created a page where indie stores can download a banner to help promote the video and independent stores in general. I've been engaged in my own effort to support Black owned independent book stores with Huria Search visitors can review a list of all the Black owned independent bookstores in the US. They can also review detailed information about each store, like Aziz Book in IL. Already much of the information I provide on Huria Search is the most complete and up to date available anywhere. In future updates I plan to provide a facility for stores to upload event information and more. This information can be shared on anyone…

DRM Lawsuit Filed By Independent Bookstores Against Amazon, 'Big Six' Publishers Three independent bookstores are taking Amazon and the so-called Big Six publishers (Random House, Penguin, Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan) to court in an attempt to level the playing field for book retailers. If successful, the lawsuit could completely change how ebooks are sold. The class-action complaint, filed in New York on Feb 15., claims that by entering into confidential agreements with the Big Six publishers, who control approximately 60 percent of print book revenue in the U.S., Amazon has created a monopoly in the marketplace that is designed …

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Two-time Oscar-nominee, Lee Daniels talks with AALBC.com about his latest film LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER The film is based upon the book The Butler: A Witness to History by Wil Haygood.

Right now I only have one set of a three book series of Tonya Bolden’s Powerful Series: Buy all three books get 10% off, free shipping, no sales tax*: ONLY ONE LEFT! First is her Civil War novel, Crossing Ebenezer Creek; followed by, Inventing Victoria, set during Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow; the third novel is Saving Savannah, the story of a steely young woman desperate for her past not to define her future. I posted this deal on social media before posting it here -- I'm slipping! In fact, I should have only posted it here and on the “Book Alley” discussion forum on Lip Stick Alley.

This was one the the click-baity headlines you see advertised on websites. Even though my perverse curiosity is often peaked (who can resist the "You'd be alarmed how these 10 beautiful famous people look today") I avoid these links like the plague. How every this title, "WATCH: Two Transgenders Blow Out Girls In State Meet," made me laugh because I immediately thought about @Pioneer1 Rather than clicking the link I did a google search and was surprised to discover Transgender athletes is "a thing" now. Apparently all a guys has to say is that he is a girl and he can race with the girls. The "ex-dudes" are breaking records. From…

My first novel is now live on Net Galley. Lucky John tells the story of John Roberts; A cheating husband with a 20 year grudge, who grows from being angry at everyone he felt did him wrong, to praying that those same people will forgive him. Family histories both proud and tragic play out in the background as John tries to figure out how to fix the mess he's made. Please take a look and let me know what you think: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/199679

PART 1: BLACK AMERICANS CANNOT JUST BLAME WHITE AMERICANS FOR ALLEGED RACISTS ACTS OF VIOLENCE THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED Excerpts taken from The Introduction Essays Related To Violence and The Salvation Of America. Unpublished manuscript by FreedomJournal Press Editor’s Note: Due to an impending crisis regarding love and human understanding we FreedomJournal Press will post some of our previously reported material. However, some of these Essays have not been posted especially those that are a part of the two books we will mention. We will begin with the “Introduction taken from Youth Related Vio…

Lola Leroy,Book About The Slave Era. Black Girl And Her Brother Born From Slave Master And A Interracial Born Woman,,Who Could Pass For White..She Is Kidnapped,Freed By Union Soldiers. She And Her Brother Did Not Want To Pretend,To Be White, Despite Knowing It Could Make Their Live,Easier. She Tried To Find Her Scattered Family. She Meets,Her Uncle. Then Meets Her Dark Skinned Grand Mother...Lola Leroy Book By Frances Harper...

“Uninformed men make unsafe leaders. that is the primal cause for so many errors of judgment in state and national councils. We look upon them not as statesmen but as promoters of petty politics, for out of their deliberations spring no alleviation of the woes of the world. It is from this lack of understanding in leadership that the world suffers most today. We could discriminate between the true and false in our civilization, if we knew more about primitive culture. The way by which the first man climbed must ever be the human way. Racial prejudices are the greatest menace to world progress. Classes clash because the wealth of the world concentrates more and more in the…

Thanks for participating in the kickoff for my new book Ratchet Woman. Over 8,400 copies of the book were downloaded during the free promotion that has ended. Initial reviews were all 4 and 5 stars. It's not free anymore but it's still available. http://amzn.to/12tx5Fk Reviews for Ratchet Woman

★ New Book! MY NAME IS PRINCE, Photos of Prince Rogers Nelson by Randee St. Nicholas with Free 2 Day Shipping and No Sales Tax (at least in 49 states)

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! I recently learned more about the Book Review Process, so please excuse my delay. I hope this will not be a factor as I will be releasing the Audiobook for this novel in Summer 2018. I am currently working on the sequel. Book Facts Title: Beyond the Hurt Author: Akilah Trinay Publisher: ReVision Publishing February 2016 Print: ISBN 978-0-692-56655-8, $14.95, 236 Pages, 5 X 8 paperback Word Count: 62,890 Kindle: ASIN B01C7F3PR0, $7.99 Website: www.revisionpub.com https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Hurt-Akilah-Trinay/dp/0692566554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527364…

The Quiet Revolution: Black America's Solution for Complete Liberation, defies all mainstream tactics in Black America's war for equality and liberation from America's white supremacy oppression. Without marching, protesting or taking up arms, the Quiet Revolution disarms white America from weapons of racism and discrimination using an approach above their comprehension, political authority and legal jurisdiction. Not only will Black Americans benefit from this approach, but other minority groups also that have struggled against white supremacy for generations. The Quiet Revolution solves the issues of widespread unemployment, mass incarceration, political disenfranchisem…

When the Bindamu invaded her homeland, First Hunter Nandi of the Chuiku (Leopard Clan) was chosen by her people and her Priestess to lead the fight against them. But does she possess the skills and strength to unite the rival nKu against the powerful empire? Inspired by the art of Shakira Rivers, Priestess of nKu tells the story of Nandi, a young girl destined to become the leader of her people and a powerful entity in the world of Ki Khanga. Get the e-book today or preorder your paperback! www.mvmediaatl.com

The House at Sugar Beach: Helene Cooper Helene Cooper is "Congo," a descendant of two Liberian dynasties -- traced back to the first ship of freemen that set sail from New York in 1820 to found Monrovia. Helene grew up at Sugar Beach, a twenty-two-room mansion by the sea. Her childhood was filled with servants, flashy cars, a villa in Spain, and a farmhouse up-country. It was also an African childhood, filled with knock foot games and hot pepper soup, heartmen and neegee. When Helene was eight, the Coopers took in a foster child -- a common custom among the Liberian elite. Eunice, a Bassa girl, suddenly became known as "Mrs. Cooper's daughter." For years …

Hello, I would like to submit my self-published book for review consideration. Author: Georgia Madison Title: Gettin' Down to the "Real" Nitty-Gritty, Life: American Dream or American Nightmare ISBN-13: 978-0983341802 ASIN: B017ON3OWQ Publication Date: November 6, 2015 Link:http://a.co/hUEqqeA In this unpredictable life, a lot of times we find we have to "laugh to keep from crying" and it makes us question if: "Life is Beautiful," "Life is a B*tch Then You Die," "Life is Hard But I'm Glad I'm Here." There's a popular saying out these days that says, "Keep it Real." If you want to read a book that really keeps it "real" r…

Just in Time for Valentines and Black History Month A pleasant day to one and all. I am Kendal-Valentino Smith, and I would like to introduce you to my work, my book, recently released on am*zon, Passion: The Art of Making Love and War. Passion: The Art of Making Love & War expresses love as the unbiddable, ungovernable, uncontrollable force that can overthrow empires, completely subduing the will of the individual. It posits the erotic love in terms of its beauty, sincerity and its purity. Yet it portrays this love according to its opposites as it is ancient and classical, yet bold and modern, the best kept secret yet bellowed from the mountaintop, passive an…

I just published our bestsellers list for the period ending April 30th. I actually did not have a chance to really analyze the list, so I did not notice that Brown Girl Books published the top three books on the fiction side! I usually analyze the list for trends right before i publish the information in my newsletter. However, the news became quite evident after posting the information on Twitter. I have to congratulate both the authors and the publisher, they are one of the great stories in Black books today--look out for great things from Brown Girls Books.