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Speaking of @aka Contrarian and longevity. This popped in my inbox this morning. I first met Carolyn at least 20 years ago, she is part of the NYC literati founding a literary magazine and a film festival. Celebrate Harlem's Newest Centenarian! Happy 100th Birthday, Mom! Dear Fam, Today, join my family and I in honoring my mother's 100th birthday celebration! I'm taking pause over the next few days to rejoice my mom's longevity and contributions to her Harlem community. We have lost so many loved ones during the past few years that it is necessary to take time to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special milestones (personal and professional) in our lives. NYC's hustle culture rarely allows you to honor important moments in your life or take time to be present in the moment and relax. We are human and not machines. As a Libra, I am committed to practicing the art of balance and invite you to take time to reflect and shout out "Happy 100th Birthday" to my special mom. She inspired me to be courageous during the pandemic and return to the foundation she established when I was five years old. Mom was the first vegetarian I know who started a personal protest in buying food filled with "chemicals" and "Yellow Dye Number 9." Her favorite book was "Back to Eden," which favored holistic living and natural foods. I attribute my mom's longevity not only to what she put in her body but her mental capacity to put faith, love and compassion above everything. May mom continue to enjoy more years with us! Enclosed is my short poem dedicated to mom that I wrote years ago! Wishing you a happy holiday weekend and joy! peace and blessings, Carolyn Executive Director African Voices Declaration of Independence (The Day My Mother Went Insane) the day she went insane my mother declared herself a Sovereign State She threw away money Washington, Lincoln & Jackson went up in flames she hung a red flag in the living room, declared her home a new nation The day my mother went insane started 25 years ago She passed a law against Red meat, declared it an illegal contraband in her home She tossed pork chops, steak and even the leftover fried chicken in the trash Her insanity she says Is God´s Wisdom the day my mother went insane she threw away her pressing comb, let her hair lock she screamed about conspiracies against Black boys and girls, attending schools that don't teach and dying at the hands of cops that kill the day my mother went insane American doctors held her hostage, tried to make her believe Prozac and talk shows were real tried to make her believe that killing babies was okay tried to make her believe their insanity was reality the day my mother went insane I cried, silently because she was Free A nation unto her own. © January 1999, Carolyn A. Butts

In "If Courage Could Talk, "Book Five of the acclaimed series, the Thomas family faces the brutality of World War II while battling murder and political corruption in Chicago. Blending real events — from the heroism of the Tuskegee Airmen and 761st Tank Battalion to the struggle for justice at home — these books go beyond stories of oppression to reveal the ambition, resilience, and sophistication of Black life across generations. This is U.S. history told from the inside, where courage isn’t just on the battlefield. "If Courage Could Talk" and the broader whileBlack Chronicles stand out because they portray African American historical fiction as a continuous, character-driven epic rather than a series of disconnected snapshots. The non-fictional and fictional characters remind us of our amazing history. My Author Website includes Chapter One

I received my BA degree in Psychology in 2001 and in 2003 I was diagnosed with the most debilitating mental illness known to man, schizophrenia. I have been hospitalized 10 or more times. I didn't let this stop me. I learned everything I could about schizophrenia and mood swings. I learned how not to act. How to work with people. I began giving mental health workshops in my community and I was awarded as a Baynews9 every day hero seen by two million. I wrote my books, " Don't call me crazy! I'm just in love," as a fiction inspired by my true story. I write this to tell you that any dream is possible. You can become a successful author it's all about learning who your target market is and taking courses to learn how to market. You can read my books at www.swiyyah.com