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I will definitely consider this @Mel Hopkins although I have never done a blog, but I think these are very good ideas!

Hi Everyone -- thanks for engaging in this conversation. And thanks, Troy, for kicking it off. I'm the publisher for The Mantle. I came up with the headline and the mailing that Troy distributed. For me, the use of "shithole" (or a censored version, like "sh*thole") was a way of co-opting the unfortunate (SAD!) phrase uttered by the president. It was an attempt to take control of the conversation by using the president's own words against him. One of the replies Troy received to the mailing said as much: Just this morning I received an email from a friend who lives in Haiti, who referred to the island as "my shithole country" with a mix of irony and pride. The journalist and iconoclast Chris Hedges used the phrase repeatedly in his piece, "No Telescope Needed to Find a 'Shithole Country,'" to recount the many misguided American policies toward Latin American in the past 50 years, and to declare that the U.S. is the real shithole in this dialogue. Weeks later the phrase continues to be used on Twitter to describe all kinds of political arguments and claptraps. Elsewhere, the women's movement has made a similar play in turning Trump's words against him by proudly proclaiming "pussy grabs back," in protest to his sexual abuse. Anyone who opened the email and read the content beyond the subject line would see the anger I felt in having to even write such a message: All of that said, this was a piece of marketing. The headline was deliberately provocative. I'm a book publisher, not a charity. I need to sell books so my writers can earn money to keep doing what they love, and so I can continue to bring emerging and under-heard voices to the American public. And if it takes a shitty headline to get your attention, I'll use it as thoughtfully as I can. Peace.

@Pioneer1i wasn't aware that Afro-Americans were snubbing African immigrants to this country. I was of the opinion that i belong to a small minority in my hostile attitude. And holding this opinion, i am under the impression that most Afro-Americans have no problem with African immigrants. And why do native-born black Americans have an obligation to welcome Africans into this country? They have a perfect right to be indifferent toward these interlopers. And in being dysfunctional, the black American community has a lot of company, the most obvious example being Trump and his supporters. Not to mention the spine-impaired Democrats. The "me too" war between misbehaving white males and finger-pointing white harpies is a prime example of a dysfunction family. Now go back to mining more of the "gems" of wisdom which you glue together from the fragments of broken rot-gut whiskey bottles.

I confess that i harbor a resentment for African immigrants who come to this country with their condescending attitudes toward the slave descendants with whom they share little history, - with their taking advantage of all the benefits they don't deserve because they haven't paid their dues. As soon as i see or hear an African-sounding surname, i am turned off by the accolades the bearers receive in their adopted country. i've never been impressed with the very ordinary, overrated Lupita Nyong'o who, for some reason became the anointed darling of the entertainment media, and i was disapppointed when goofy-lookin, red-eyed Daniel Kaluuya received best actor nominations for the movie "Get Out", benefiting from the tokenism that could've just as easily been bestowed upon an authentic, more talented black American actor. I did admire Nelson Mandela because he stayed in his own lane. So sue me. i'm prejudiced. Donald Trump has made it okay for me to be this way. Who knew?

The publisher is offering a 33% discount on their titles for a limited time: #readingblack

Also, it's the publisher's unique selling proposition - I know from that one line, their authors are from the motherland.. That's powerful marketing lol

Here is some of the feedback from the email -- almost all of these messages came from a cell phone. “Love it..." “Yes, you do...and we, from the USA who have to put up with that ignoramus, are glad you do!” “Terrific!!” “I understand what you're doing here but I really wish people would stop perpetuating what the asshole said in making reference to these countries! When they go low, we go high and this does not represent high.” “I received your email this morning and would like to remark that my family has been publishing books from Haiti, another “shithole country.” Please forward some information about aalbc specifically marketing information at your earliest convenience. Thanks in advance.” “Right on Troy with respect” Brotha, you on point. I'm thinking of a podcast with "shithole" Harlemites in the arts. Your stepping towards the word and not away from it is a great new year present. Immeasurable respect and admiration for the awesome work you are doing! I want to make an observation that I hope you will accept in the spirit of community and uplift in which it is given. I, like so many others, was devastated to learn of the President’s derogatory reference to El Salvador, Haiti and Africa. I believe we subconsciously advance his remarks and sentiments when we repeat and replay them.

@Troy aren't those the words from the publisher of The Mantle? If yes, it seems then those words should remain. It makes a strong statement. If those are your words, then :eek: ....

IMO, this eye-catching headline has the potential to be offensive. It could be construed as your saying that you publish books from these countries because it doesn't matter to you that they are shit holes. This makes you look almost as bad Trump because you are reinforcing rather than reprimanding his choice of words. If it was meant to be a joke, it's a bad one. What if a white marketer used this phrase?

The purpose of this club is to provide a platform, with a variety of tools, to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas focused on organizing a boycott of Amazon’s Bookstore.

Good last vent @Mel Hopkins Now onto community and growth , news years resolution, only happy thoughts in AALBC @Troy yes, I will suggest more , try to aid more #readingblack