@Troy  I think I received three items that are flagged and queued up to read. I'll most likely post the newsletter on theleadstory.org - too 

Thanks Mel.

Keep me posted on efforts with your book. I'm still working on an affiliate program to allow readers/fans to direct sales to an author's site in exchange for a commision .  Did I ever mention that to you?

@TroyI was just thinking about posting something about ISBN.  I may not use an ISBN  at all.  I'm pondering this might be a way from amazon acquiring the title even in an return status.  So while you're considering the affiliate program concept,  is it possible for you to figure that action (no ISBN) into it?  EDIT

when is the next interview @Mel Hopkins

@richardmurray   Not sure. There is an interview I want to get but it really isn't about the celebrity  per se, but more about the  topic.  This particular subject is known for creating value for the professional boxers he manages - and that goes to the core of the story I'm interested in writing next.  

  I really don't pursue celebrity interviews.  I prefer to write about topics such as my cryptocurrency article in the same issue.  

fair enough @Mel Hopkins just happy you are doing what you love:) ... is any digital currency black owned? I know a  blockchain is expensive to setup or maintain. 

Third World is a good example.  They were struggling as a business and are now a not-for-profit.  Haki has been give about a bazillion awards and honors, but we needed to be figuring out a way for the press to become a publishing powerhouse reaping the benefit of publishing bestselling authors.

Man I must be an a bad mood.... seems I can only find the negative in things lately...I guess I'm just tired of us being so marginalized and weak....

@Troy Well, if you want to feel better about the entire black community,I will try to lift your spirit... as you know,  one hundred year ago, whether in africa/the caribbean/north or south or central america/ any part from asia - all black people were enslaved in that we either wore shackles or helped put shackles made from others on ourselves. Now, am I telling you to jump above the sky now that we are less marginalized or weak, while still being marginalized or weak... no. I am telling you to strengthen the weapon that allowed black people to find happy lives throughout the recent times; that weapon is patience. A patience that: seem silly on a plantation, seem silly in the mountains from ethiopia, seem silly on the shores from saint domingue, seem silly as we make our first homes in the usa or brasil, seem silly as we are making the first  black college in a state in the union, seem silly as we make illegal fiscal profit anywhere, seem silly as we march in every land we are in from france/england/u.s.a./brasil to jamaica/ghana/congo/south africa, seem silly laying down near fred hampton, seem silly as we see a few from us reach individual heights the collective seem unable to achieve... until, one day, after we are excruciatingly patient,after we have been tired so long we only know about  being tired, nothing seem silly; cause we each had the patience to wait till nothing no longer is.

 thanks @richardmurray that was generous, kind, and uplifiting. I'll add patience to my vocabulary. 

LOL that is the most positive way of looking at it @Mel Hopkins 

...and sounds like a good approach.  I know a few folks who secured the white co-sign, but in order to keep it you have to distance yourself from those who may be perceived as too radically Black.

For example, in order for Obama to keep his white co-sign he had to repudiate Minister Farrakhan and distance himself from Jeremiah Wright.  Obama got a lot of grief from some, in the Black community, for doing this, but you can't become POTUS or any white institution without the white cosign.

What disappointed me is that Obama did not give a single Black-owned newspaper an interview during his first 6 years in office and may have served his entire presidency without doing it (I did not research the last two years).  One might think; what harm could some from speaking to a journalist at a Black newspaper? The problem is that Obama might have been called to account for his lack of direct support of the Black community which was too big a risk.  Obama is the "president of all people."

I'll have you know I was told recently that I'm perceived as radical.  I was told this by an industry icon and mentor.  I repeated what they said to make it clear that I hear the correctly and to determine if they were serious. They replied "Yes, you are."  Would you believe I took that as a compliment :-)  

I took it as a compliment because I know anyone who explicitly advocates for Black people and institutions, without couching it in language of "diversity" is perceived as radical.

I also know that anyone who advocates a boycott of Facebook and Amazon is definitely one willing to go against the grain and is not trying to win friends by going with the majority... Honestly, if I run AALBC.com thinking like everyone else, this site would have died a long time ago.

Pwuhahaha!!! These Snatched Co-Sign cards are hilarious!!!

I proud of you!  We have to be radical, even when working for a PWI!  In fact, one of the terms my former supervisors used to write about me over and over was "strong opinion" I believe that was code word to let others know "beware she will not "shuck, jive and yasam" for anyone in your organization.   I couldn't! It is important to let your employer know when they're being racist! Or when they are harming others with their policies.   

How can we not? 

We must be radical.   

HIGH FIVE!!! 

excellent dialog from you both

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31450913-the-idea-of-you this is her giveaway on goodreads

Yes, I entered.  I didn't want to send traffic to goodreads so I didn't link to it. Too bad the publisher didn't reach out to AALBC for the contest promotion.

@Mel Hopkins fair enough:) yes i wish she would had, i wonder if she know the site exist

on my link it says image "17" out of 762

OK thanks!

You're welcome! If you don't see it. I saved the image link.

Too cute! 

Let me see, my Chinese themed book would be..."The Enchanted Paddy Field" that would tell the story of  the importance of cultivating one's talents. 

yes it is, very positive

the enchanted paddy field, good title:) yes, cultivate self like you cultivate the land

What a wonderful exercise - Thank you for the inspiration!

@richardmurrayI would if I wrote cutting age Young Adult novels!

why not try? try to do something unique in black history month, something you had not before, or just this year in general?

That is exactly my plan but so far it doesn't involve YA books - at least I don't think it does 

@Mel Hopkins black voices was sold but not black planet, black planet was bought by tv one, probably the largest black owned media enterprise in the usa. Black planet's problem is twitter and facebook, paid for many top accounts originally and then the rest was entropy.

Good points, I am fine with being Black Famous too:)

Quote

Black planet's problem is twitter and facebook, @richardmurray

How is twitter and facebook a problem for Black Planet?  I assume you mean competition.  Am I correct? 

You are correct,  I meant a problem in fair competitiveness. Facebook nor Twitter have any straight concern to Black planet or AALBC :)  To be fair, facebook/twitter/youtube do a lot of backdoor attacks to each other. And, any website that becomes very popular will have to deal with that ewar reality. I must end with something you know already @Mel Hopkins but I feel must be said,  financially, many firms view the existence of competition as a problem, meaning monopoly is their goal. 

i see @Mel Hopkins thank you... well, like most modern programming products they are built on top of current systems. To make a electronic network from scratch, that is the only way you have the control some want, is to be blunt fiscally expensive. 

Thank you, it makes a lot of sense! I actually did take some of my clients that route to build an audience. back in 2008.  We used the facebook and blogtalkradio platforms and encouraged the audience to go to the client's newly build website.  

As for grabbit.deals,  I was going to check to see if he had a website... I only have a facebook page and it's difficult to interact as a "friend" from the page.  I don't understand "bitcoin" but this seems like a fun way to get an introductory lesson.

welcome

bitcoin originally started as a sharing system, an algorithm dictated the value to items in bitcoin and people would trade with each other, objects giving a remainder as bitcoin, thus allowing some to earn. the people who ran the system would back every transaction by their own bitcoin bank if you will and over time it would grow. the problem is, national banks financially back every dollar in every currency in all the countries on earth. bitcoin not supported by any of these banks made it legally very complicated, as fisal law especially internationally is complex, intentionally. PEr any market fiscal illegal profiteers ran into bitcoin and hurt the system very badly, and having no countries backing made the negative stories hard to handle. It has been restarted from some others, but until governments utilize it, it will always have problems as a system

sometimes people make it too complicated in the usa. asking someone not to go for money in a country founded for money, that is why natives were annihilated, so whites could have free land. money is not merely a system, it is the life's blood of the usa and as such, when people want fiscal choices to not be done, the best solution is a counter deal

I have no counter-argument for all that you've written. I wish I did... It would mean we now live in a utopia..

I say a monetopia:) 

yes @Mel HopkinsI found the list too, i have found some of the films on youtube complete side for free. i was going to post it later as a blog post in aalbc, as well as my email list. I can private message you in aalbc if you want to see the links. 

@richardmurray  Thank you.  That is thoughtful of you but it won't be necessary, I'm currently a netflix subscriber.  I do look forward to your review.  

ok cool:) thanks  @Mel Hopkins Hope you enjoyed valentines:)

thank you for the suggestion! It is time for me to get a new library card for here.  My last one was good for Illinois.  I need to get out of the house anyway.

Welp @richardmurray , that was short-lived. I don't have to leave the house today -  these books are archived at archive.org. I just downloaded a pdf 

ahh fortunate:) good @Mel Hopkins

Yes!  Especially since every 8th grade class in America decided to visit at the same time... lol!  @Troy, it is a fascinating museum -  I hope you plan to visit it over several days as it is nearly impossible to do it in one day.  It's a lot of material to process especially if you have specific interests.. Mine happens to be textile, sewing, jewelry & fashion  design Industry, then cultural activism and entertainment - so my eye always wandered towards those exhibits.  In doing so, I almost missed other aspects of being African in America which were equally if not more important... Thank goodness my mom pointed out those things to me, so I could snap or take a photo. It is a great experience... and clearly important to many Americans because practically all nationalities were represented on the first day I attended... One more suggestion - keep a nearly empty tummy because you'll want to save room for the food in the Sweet Home Cafe  it is DELICIOUS!!!   I never seen so many white folks chow down on fried chicken collards and corn bread!  My mom had the shrimp and grits, I had the grilled barbecue chicken with alabama white sauce, rice and beans w/ pork bits and green beans and potatoes!  I didn't need anything to eat for the rest of the day LOL

I'll only have a day for the trip planned in July, but I visit DC enough where I can take in more of the museum. I'll save room for the food.

This is really weird.  This content disappeared from my profile page.  I clicked on my profile and this status was in edit mode. 

Me neither. But I hope to find evidence of one. I read on blog, code black entertainment might be one.  Tyler Perry Studios would be a contender but it's reported he has a separate distributor.

I recall some very prominent actor, I wanna say Don Cheadle, said a Black person can not green light a movie, but I don't know enough about the industry to know if this is true or not...

So far from what I've learned - he's right.  Without significant distribution it's unlikely that a movie will appear in the theaters..  Just like the internet is facebook and google; major theaters that have a lock on screens  are AMC, Cinemark ,Regal Entertainment  - and I've heard/read these chains don't take a chance on anything that's not a guaranteed blockbuster.  They want to feel seats every weekend.

Thanks. I'd read the article. It appears in the same issue as one in which Ta-nehisi Coates was featured above the fold on the cover of the Arts section.  If I had the resources I would have attended the 50th Anniversary celebration.

It is a good thing that the New York Times covered the milestone, check out The Chicago Crusader's coverge: https://chicagocrusader.com/hundreds-gather-to-celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-third-world-press-foundation/#comment-9705

Thank you for the link! I will definitely add it to my website!

what if all the writers on aalbc submitted a written work, based on one theme, something short, whether prose/poetry... opinion/fiction and then submitted it as a book to third world publishing?  @Troy @Mel Hopkins

will share in my newsletter and about the everse:)

You are so good too me! Thank you so much!!!

always the village

The whole scene now is reactionary. You are more than right. I every rarely get into the whole thing now. I practice what I preach and just get stuff done. We should all be that way.

I was chatting (on an actual phone call) last night and I noticed my friend and I kept saying what "black people don't do" and then finally she said "What we do"  and I nearly dropped my phone because her words were so powerful!  It is now my goal to focus on "People who do  (blank)!"

That's definitely more empowering than talking about what we don't do. People always ask me do I know what's going on in the news. I often say nope and the reason I say nope is because I can't control that, shape it or change it so it doesn't deserve my energy. I'm with you and I am focused on doing vs talking and hearsay.

Here I thought Rev Al, would lose prominence after Obama left office...

But I was unaware of the 100% Black-owned TV Network.  This is good news.  Hey @harry brown, what do you think of Bishop Wayne T. Jackson?

Another example of the Black Church positively impact the lives of Black Women and Men.

@Troy hahaha! I guess you'd have to be a church-goer to believe that one.  The black church is no friend to black women.  Any woman who can't see that is very much brainwashed about  African antiquity and how it relates to spirituality.  Remember the black church arose out of U.S slavery... not from African practices. 

 But here's where I do give  credit to the black church as I do HBCUs - both are a dominate force in black media.   You will find I give a lot space to the black church and its activities -on The LeadStory because  the black church as a medium  is the conscience of Main Stream Media

By the way, Bishop Jackson is the same man who did a one-on-one interview with 45 when he was a candidate. 

good status side dialog

I thought juries were chosen, and lawyers battle over who to choose and i find in these cases, a pro system jury is always selected

I've served on a jury.  It was  a murder trial.  We acquitted the young (black) man.  Not enough evidence.   When we are present - we are the system.  

hmmm good point. 

do you believe in the hero's journey as a structure? @Mel Hopkins

Happy Valentine's Day @richardmurray !  

I don't believe the hero's journey  conforms to all stories.  Children's books come to mind - I just wrote a story about my grand"pup" and communication. And that story is more of a fable and doesn't follow the path of the hero's journey.  

NOW my novel, "Sleeping with a D-Man" follows the Hero's Journey's format at every step.   So, I'd say most novels loosely follow the structure.

Now here's where my personal belief comes in. Whenever, I'm experiencing and going through a particularly stressful period in my life.  I take a step back and map out the points and highlights on the Hero's Journey plotline to see exactly where I am in the journey. I want to see if the prize is on horizon.  :D

Happy Valentine's day @Mel Hopkins :)

tell me your valentines album https://aalbc.com/tc/blogs/entry/261-black-hearts-day-art-or-text-craft-parade-good-news-blog/

good point, fables do not fit the hero's journey or any story that does not involve a guide or a maturing lead hero character

Interesting insight into the life of Mel:)

 Thanks so much Mel!

You're welcome! I hope you had a great celebration!

Happy Belated, Troy.

yes to myself, but the question is, what is the authors career goal ? if it is to only make fiscal profit then cultural positions are irrelevant

agreed ... and if her reason are financial then it makes this stand even more powerful!

I used to share these stats myself.  Indeed I've served on panels decrying the numbers.

The primary reason is that these numbers are completely misleading there were FAR more than 92 children's book published in 2016 by African Americans.  The Cooperative Children's Book Center sample set are just the books that they received, which is a far cry from the number of books that were published.

I suspect the majority of people who have published children's books have never heard of the Cooperative Children's Book Center CCBC. 

It is time for us to stop letting organizations like this control the narrative.  The are indeed a great many books that are published that need to be celebrated.  Let's focus on and uplift the great number of wonderful books that are available rather than focusing on the unnecessarily pessimistic viewpoint promulgated by the CCBC. 

As a matter of fact, I'll create a page that focuses on new Children's books for the year. Below check out a list of 32 books just for 2017 and it isn't even March yet. The list would be even longer if I had the resources.  Indeed if folks shared even this list rather than focusing on what is not being done we'd all be better off.

1. The Sweetest Sound by Sherri Winston
2. Pathfinders: The Journeys of 16 Extraordinary Blac... by Tonya Bolden
3. Let’s Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout; Dance, Spin ... by Patricia C. McKissack
4. The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hen... by Cynthia Levinson
5. Mama’s Boyz: In Living Color! by Jerry Craft
6. Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History by Walter Dean Myers
7. The Legendary Miss Lena Horne by Carole Boston Weatherford
8. The Harlem Charade by Natasha Tarpley
9. Block Party (Confetti Kids) by Gwendolyn Hooks
10. If You Were a Kid During the Civil Rights Movement by Gwendolyn Hooks
11. Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
12. This Side of Home by Renée Watson
13. The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in... by Kwame Alexander
14. When Morning Comes by Arushi Raina
15. I Love My Haircut! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
16. All Ears, All Eyes by Richard Jackson
17. Music Time (Dive Into Reading) by Gwendolyn Hooks
18. Jake the Fake Keeps it Real by Craig Robinson and Adam Mansbach
19. The Mystery of the Missing Dog and Other Stories (... by
20. The Ring Bearer by Floyd Cooper
21. Rich: A Dyamonde Daniel Book by Nikki Grimes
22. Almost Zero: A Dyamonde Daniel Book by Nikki Grimes
23. Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden
24. Skin Again by Bell Hooks
25. Float Like a Butterfly by Ntozake Shange
26. This Beautiful Day by Richard Jackson
27. Miles Morales (A Spider-Man Novel) (A Marvel YA No... by Jason Reynolds
28. Who Are Venus and Serena Williams? by James Buckley Jr.
29. Patina (Track) by Jason Reynolds
30. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
31. Pelé: The King of Soccer by Eddy Simon
32. Snow Scene by Richard Jackson

     

Perfect! I will update my blog post with a link.   CCBC indicated in their article that they are beginning to receive independent publications too - and they are including them in the count.. They have a blog too and I linked to this status update and mentioned that you are also keeping an up-to-date list of newly published children's books by and about African-Americans I invited her to visit and comment. 

I visited the store a few years ago.  The photo depicts the street perfectly it is hectic, reminded me of the way some of the major shopping street used to be in Harlem 116th street, 3rd ave, 125th street. If this shot was taken during the summer months there would be many more people in the shot.

The stores also hosts lectures. I've watched several of them on Youtube.

When I'm in a Philly again, I have to visit - it seems eclectic and cultural...like a spot I want to say "Oh I've been there."