Kola Boof

Amen.

Kola Boof Photo Shoot: This is a photo shoot and much, much more. Photo Shoot

No, it's not surprising Troy. Many Mixed-race Africans (particularly "Ethnic Ethiopians"--which means they are the Light-skinned slick-haired ones)....many Mixed Africans try to deny being mixed. In African countries like Nigeria & Ethiopia, it's not as cool to be mixed...so they will claim that their tribe was always Yellow skinned. You have Yoruba & Hausa who will claim they are Igbo just to explain away why they're so light. If you noticed the girls photo, she was BROWN! She wasn't even yellow. That's another thing in Africa. What we consider "light skinned" in Africa (Jill Scott, even Kola Boof) is nowhere near lightskinned in America and Europe. A sizeable portion of Sudan is mixed-race with Arab...but they are still charcoal to chocolate colored. The African Blood is so strong that very often the mixed children still come out "Black" (black in color with African hair texture). Which is always the African parent's hope when mixing. I still love that girl as my sister. I find it ridiculous that mixed & light people equate being considered Black with being loved. It's totally false. I love many mixed/lightskinned people far more than I love Blacks. Barack Obama is one. He's like my favorite living human! Just because I don't see a certain Mixed person as "Black" doesn't mean I don't greatly love and admire them. I'm am SO not like that. But people make that assumption.

Carey, I LOVE Barbara Neely's maid books. But she's really a detective who does maid work. Now that should be made into a movie!! Totally different stuff. You can't compare it. TROY, No. I refuted her claims by reminding her that "Some" Igbo are mixed today because of the European mixing that went on in Nigeria 100 years before slave trade started. The traders mixed with Igbo in 1400-1500s and now she's trying to pretend that never happened. 1st with Arabs in Nigeria then with Europeans.

DOUBLEDAY Book Club has picked up my novel "The Sexy Part of the Bible." If you are a member of either DOUBLEDAY or BLACK EXPRESSIONS please buy a copy from them. They have the book in hardcover. DOUBLEDAY: The Sexy Part of the Bible

Carey I'm not against you going to see it. But I don't want to see anymore "Black maid" movies. Ever! And if you read my commentary you'll understand why.

This new movie "THE HELP" caused me to write an essay about why I won't be seeing it. It's published by WOMANIST MUSINGS and I'm posting a link here. I hope that other Black women will read my feelings and add your own. READ ESSAY Click Here

It wasn't just Amiri Baraka who was upset at my presence on stage. It was the majority of Black Men present...angry and verbally abusive because a Black African woman spoke directly to the Socio-political problems facing Black & Mixed Women as its own dilemma needful of revolution...while at the same time calling out the men's failure to acknowledge & represent Black FEMALE humanity in their rhetoric. Naturally these men expect black women to blindly support and agitate on behalf of "The Black Man" ...even though most of those men don't give a fuck about us and don't even know us once they get back to their rich abodes with their non-black women. Ever the Queen, I spoke unapologetically and forcefully to what concerns and should concern other Black Women...about BEING BLACK WOMEN...in this society that so completely hates & ignores Black women. There was also a very deliberate "Scheduling conflict" in which my publishers were told that my time on stage was at 4:30 pm, then 3:30 pm, then 2:30 pm and then 3:30 again. In the lobby there was a sign with my time as 4:30...but they had 2:30 on printed programs. And it just so happened that THE MEN (black sexist academics & publishing males) miscalculated their visions of what I would be like. More than 2 dozen of these men shouted "Get off the stage bitch!", "Jew loving Cunt!", "Feminist bitch", "Man-looking bitch", "Ugly black bitch" and other slurs IN UNISON towards me. It was extremely hurtful; I felt abused by their racist & sexist taunts...I felt overwhelmed by the real living Hatred that Black American Men have for Black Women. But I stood my ground, defying their intimidation tactics. I suggested that they "Make me" get off the stage. I promised to bite off and swallow the penis of any man who tried. The most vocal attacker of course was Amiri Baraka in the front row with his bodyguards, his wife and other members of his family. He sat in the front row. Because I so loved (and still love) Amiri Baraka and had always considered him one of my Fathers, symbolically, his taunts of hatred and anti-Black woman rhetoric were especially cutting and emotional for me. He called me "Bitch" 7 times, but also "Jew lover", "Cunt," "Man-looking Amazon bitch", "CIA Prostitute" and "Whore for the CIA." I so hated to slap him. It hurt me more than it hurt him. But the hate & bullying directed at me called for a show of WOMANLY fortitude. My power silenced everyone. The whole room (including his bodyguards) wanted to rip me limb from limb...but POSAR (my ex-fiance and former bodyguard of Al Sharpton) threatened to pulverize anyone who touched me. So no one touched me. And of course, I am formidable myself. It was the BLACK LITERATI's first face to face look at their real mother in action. It was a showdown and I was NOT silenced or reduced in any way. I was bigger than everybody. It was ME (and no else) being photographed by the dozens of papparrazi outside as I left the building. It was a "passing of the baton"....a seminal moment in which those who have cursed & hated my presence in the Black American Literati circle for years were finally forced to see that I am the future and that I am more relevant and powerful than they are. Instead of EMBRACING this strange child they've raised, the Black Americans keep thinking they can will me away with their jealousy, prejudice and misplaced pride. But I am their real mother. Forces more powerful than either them or myself have placed me here. And that brings me to an apt REVIEW of my new book posted today by the Seattle pop culture newspaper, THE STRANGER in which they declare that my name, Kola Boof, is the BEST WRITER'S NAME EVER and that my book is a work of supreme greatness: The Stranger Suggests Kola Boof You can't keep a good woman down. Especially when she's Nilotic Oromo African. I was the love in the room.

Cynique, I thank you so much. BLUSH. I think even you will appreciate the level of writing and imagination propelling the book. Thanks for your kindness. ______________________ Book lovers in New York!!! "Johnny Temple Presents Kola Boof" will be held at the Harlem Book Fair Sat. July 23rd Thurgood Marshall Hall 4:30 - 5:30 pm The next day, there's a Reception for me at Sankofa Academy on Fulton St. in Brooklyn, NY at 4pm. There will be food & I will be reading there followed by book signing. Then on Monday, July 25th...I have a reading at BlueStockings Bookstore in Manhattan at 7pm. Then I go to Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, West Palm Beach, Miami and San Francisco. Kola Boof TOUR SCHEDULE For people who'd like to see me in person, my book tour has been expanded (instead of 22 cities by December...I'm now doing 50 cities by next June). Please check this Tour Schedule for updates on dates & cities: Kola Boof Tour Schedule

THANK YOU TROY!! "Johnny Temple Presents Kola Boof" will be held at the Harlem Book Fair Sat. July 23rd Thurgood Marshall Hall 4:30 - 5:30 pm I'm of course reading the new novel & more. I could do the interview in the morning, however, as I will be arriving at 11 a.m. The next day, there's a Reception for me at Sankofa Academy on Fulton St. in Brooklyn, NY at 4pm. There will be food & I will be reading there followed by book signing. Then on Monday, July 25th...I have a reading at BlueStockings Bookstore in Manhattan at 7pm. Then I go to Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, West Palm Beach, Miami and San Francisco. Kola Boof TOUR SCHEDULE For people who'd like to see me in person, my book tour has been expanded (instead of 22 cities by December...I'm now doing 50 cities by next June). Please check this Tour Schedule for updates on dates & cities: Kola Boof Tour Schedule

Dear Troy, I was so overjoyed to see you at my book event in Harlem last month. Since AALBC is where it all started for me in America, I wanted to share with you & everyone how my new book is taking off! Thanks so much for your support and understanding. SUNDAY BOSTON GLOBE Madison Smartt Bell, one of the nation's most respected literary authors, wrote a glowing review of "The Sexy Part of the Bible" in SUNDAY's edition of the Boston Globe. Book Review of Sexy Part BOOKLIST review of Kola Boof's "The Sexy Part of the Bible" REVIEW of The Sexy Part BLACK EXPRESSIONS BOOK PICK FOR AUGUST!! *Hardcover Version: Kola Boof Sexy Part of the Bible

Dear Troy, I was so overjoyed to see you at my book event in Harlem last month. Since AALBC is where it all started for me in America, I wanted to share with you & everyone how my new book is taking off! Thanks so much for your support and understanding. SUNDAY BOSTON GLOBE Madison Smartt Bell, one of the nation's most respected literary authors, wrote a glowing review of "The Sexy Part of the Bible" in SUNDAY's edition of the Boston Globe. Book Review of Sexy Part BOOKLIST review of Kola Boof's "The Sexy Part of the Bible" REVIEW of The Sexy Part BLACK EXPRESSIONS BOOK PICK FOR AUGUST!! *Hardcover Version: Kola Boof Sexy Part of the Bible

No, Cynique....the ARCHIVES....would not disprove shit other than you and Mzuri were hateful liars who had it in for me and along with other hateful two-faced BITCHES who know nothing about my life or my living room...such as Zane & the rest of the camp here....you all ROUTINELY lied on and backed up each other, rather than the facts. Sort of like when you claimed (insisted) that I didn't hold an event at the Schomburg Theatre in New York City. Want to go dig up THAT archive Cynique?? Never mind that Howard Dodson, Derrick Bell and countless others showed YOU CYNIQUE to be a liar. And not once did you back down from that lie. So your word...when describing my life & my living room...is about as good as a piece of 4th Century Toilet Paper. I have never claimed to be any Essence magazine executive on this board. It's well known that people posted on this board using my name who are not me. NOR have I lied about any of the shit you (FROM CHICAGO & nowhere in my radius) posted about my life or my bedroom. PHOTOS of how my house was decorated were printed in a magazine and Nafisa posted THOSE photos. Anyone can check the magazine & many have Cynique. So that fact right there..shuts you and aalbc.com down. I don't know why on earth I keep trying to be friends with the people here. You've slandered me and made it clear how much you want to hurt me 5 million times. I don't know why I keep trying to make amends. Goodbye.

Cynique, I categorically DENY both the things you said (Essence Magazine & the layout of my home, which in fact, really was my home interior). I don't mind (and really don't blame you) for taking whatever I say with a grain of salt. But I was not caught in any lies as you say. I stand by BOTH the letter from Essence Magazine (which, if it's the letter I posted--I've had so many from Essence, indeed I PROVED) and the magazine photo layout of my home. It was Mzuri, yourself and others who claimed I made up dating Jamal Lewis (which I tried to go along with it as a "lie" because I didn't have permission to discuss it and had plastered his photo on AALBC.COM). But what do you know Cynique??....two weeks after I tried to cover it up....JAMAL LEWIS went on the radio and talked about our dates. Now it's public record. He even got me booked on Tiki Barber's show, remember? So much for your claims, sis. These are FACTS that can be checked. Kola Boof

Excuse me Cynique, And I am very serious about this. There is a photo of Maya Angelou's "mother" (only it's not her mother, but an African Professor friend in Ghana)posted somewhere on the web. There is a photo of Terry McMillan with Nelson George from way back posted somewhere and they incorrectly billed him as her husband. I'm not surprised, nor do I think it's strange, that someone posted one of my ex-boyfriends and billed him as my children's father. The same thing happened to my WHITE AGENT and ME. And it was a Friend who wrongly assumed that Posar was White and posted the wrong photo. MANY PEOPLE post all kinds of photos of me; about me; create websites without my permission; fan sites---go out of their way to slander me. I am a very controversial person and I attract a lot of attackers. Fortunately, for me, the TRUTH always shines through, no matter how people try to twist things in the hope that I will be damaged or discredited. The fact that I AM so truthful is what always saves me, Cynique.

LOL!! I didn't post that pic, Cynique. That's NOT Simon. He's another boyfriend of mine and the press posted the wrong photo. Once they post a photo, it goes from one place to the next and they think all black people look alike. I didn't post the photo that you're referring to, although, that is another boyfriend.

LMAO!! Cynique.... The New York Post "outed" Thomas's real name....it's Simon Palacio. One and the same. Once they printed his real name, I just stopped saying Thomas. The guy who took that photograph of me behind my house is pretty well known. He works at the World Stage in Leimert Park, which is kind of the "Black Harlem" district of Los Angeles. His cousin is Jenoyne Adams (who Troy probably knows). It's a real picture.

I despise Oscar Micheaux and his films because of their blatant COLORISM. They're more insulting than the Hollywood films of that era if you're a Black woman. I do like some of Spike Lee's work, but overall, I think Quentin Tarantino is a far more gifted & relevant filmmaker---Quentin is everything Spike was SUPPOSED to be. Without peer...is Senegal's Ousmane Sembene. Easily the greatest BLACK filmmaker of all time. His films starting with "Black Girl" (1964) to "Xala" to "Guelwaar" to "Molaade" and "Faat Kine" are astoundingly GREAT. Truly masterpieces. While others have Jesus Christ....I have Ousmane Sembene. I got to speak with him by phone to Morocco just before he died. He was almost 90. He wasn't too pleased with my public image, but was happy that I worshiped him so. Haha.

Everyone who knows me, Cynique, knows that my Ex-husband owns this ranch and I've always talked about this place & him...since the day I first posted on Thumper's Corner. I have no money other than what my CURRENT man, Posar, gives me. Simon takes care of his kids. Not a single photograph of myself that I've presented has ever been Photo-shopped. OTHERS create hateful images of me (such as Marcia whatever her name is). But time will discredit all those who try to make dummy-fake pictures of me. HUNDREDS have met me in person and know that I'm the real deal; they've met my children; been to my home. Troy Johnson has been invited to my home. Which is why I can't WAIT to take a picture with you in person. There's nothing photo-shopped about me and my life.

I thought this would be interesting to revisit on a Black Book site since I wasn't here when the fall out occurred. **SOME** huge GAY fans of Kola Boof were greatly offended by something I did & it became a big article on WomanistMusings.Com. For my reading at the National Black Theater last year, I invited some of the so called "Drag Queens" who impersonate me (I think I'm the first author to have impersonators--which is why I'm supposedly a Diva according to my friend Dream Hampton). Anyway, the behavior of the "girls" and our comedy routine drew a huge and resounding criticism. Photo of the REAL KOLA BOOF posing with Tamarrah, my good friend and Kola Boof impersonator backstage at my event. This is one of the letters of complaint (from Darren Carruthers) I received: “Dear Kola Boof…as an openly gay Black man and a long time fan of your books I was appalled to see your show in New York open with an image that degrades the gay, lesbian and transgendered community. I’m referring to the big drag queen that came out and announced he was you, then went on to berate the audience about who is and is not Black. I suppose you thought this was cute, but what I saw was a garish caricature poorly misrepresenting the only gay image of the night. As a gay person, I felt I was seeing a Minstrel show. It was a slap in the face. Black face anyone? Who are you (Kola Boof) to have your gay fans dressing up and impersonating you? For that matter, who is Cher, Tina Turner, Madonna and Diana Ross to be impersonated either? Why can’t Drag Queens be respected for their talent and presented as them selves? In your books, no other straight writer presents such loving and realistic portrayals of gay, lesbian and transgendered people. That is why I’ve always supported you and will continue to do so. But I would like to know why a brilliant progressive cultural thinker like your self is supporting this Minstrelsy?”---Darren Carruthers My Response: Darren raised a fabulous question for this new decade—why can’t so called Drag Queens with talent be respected as entertainers in their own right; without the “acceptance-marker” of having to impersonate iconic female images? And more personally, why would I—who just got finished lambasting “White Women” for not being sensitive to Black Women’s issues—turn around and feature a gay or lesbian person in my show in a “Minstrel” connotation. First of all, on a personal note, I can only say that I am ignorant, female privileged and didn’t even think about it from the perspective “Minstrelsy.” Justice Reign (aka Tamarrah Fox), a bisexual cross-dressing male in Seattle wrote to me as a “Kola fan” (we have now become good friends). Justice wanted to honor me by appearing in my show to represent the substantial number of gay-lesbian and transgendered people who seem to have become smitten with my work over the years. During that actual show—I talked about the support I receive from the gay community; how much they mean to me as human beings; and specifically, how much Justice Reign (Tamarrah Fox) means to me. I do not see Justice as a “Drag Queen” or even as a “sexual label” period.” I see him as a very kind human being and someone that I greatly love. As I said from the stage of my show—“He’s like a child that I wish I had given birth to. I love him; he’s my baby.” It’s Justice’s choice to be a Cross-dresser, but that state of action is not the total sum of what he is to me. To me, he’s my heart; a human being. Before I get into the second part of the question, I need to be clear. I do understand that there is a huge difference between people who are Inter-Sex (humans born with both sexes); trans people (individuals who sometimes require sex reassignment to live happily in their true gender) and cross-dressers (people who may or may not be straight, but dress up like the other sex for myriad reasons). I know quite a bit about what they are and I have no malice whatsoever for people who find themselves in those realities. Please notice that I’ve added Inter-Sex human beings, as I think it’s long overdue for humanity to recognize this group’s existence as yet another “Socio-Biological Reality.” One that is just as old as Amoeba and Y chromosomes. It is never my intention to ignore anyone’s presence or lampoon anyone’s identity. For the next part of the question, one that I’m not fully capable of answering—I would like to quote two close friends of mine. The first one is openly transgendered and well known Blogger Monica Roberts. Monica says: “Kola…the gay men making this complaint are either ignorant of their history or haven't been paying attention. People such as Charles Busch and Sir Lady Java have been recognized for their talent for decades. Sir Lady Java was a well known Los Angeles based African-American impersonator from New Orleans covered in JET magazine during the late sixties and seventies. Java was billed as the 'Prettiest Man on Earth'. Java's act consisted of live singing, impersonations and exotic dancing and was enhanced by her 38-24-38 curves she claimed were not surgically enhanced. Frank Marino used to lead the Las Vegas FI revue called 'A Evening At La Cage' that played the Riviera Hotel for 23 years before closing down. And that's before I even tap into trans history and mention people such as Coccinelle, who performed in a some movies and turned down an offer to perform with Bob Hope. Britain's April Ashley performed in those same Paris trans reviews with Coccinelle before becoming a model. The popularity of drag in the United States seems like it waxes and wanes according to whether we are in a conservative or liberal political cycle. Whether we're being run by conservative or liberal progressive administrations, talented people will always be recognized.” The bestselling openly gay author and Princeton graduate Timothy T.J. Williams saw things from a different perspective—one that I’ve heard some feminists complain about. He says: “If drag queens really are paying homage to famous women then they are doing so in an extremely peculiar fashion. Since I have so many transgendered and female impersonating friends (sometimes there’s overlap but there is a difference) I've seen many shows. The impersonation always goes straight toward the negative. Whitney is always on crack, Cher is always monotone, and Barbara has a fake Rudolph like nose. While I still enjoy the shows there is an element of satire that sometimes goes too far. I don't think this is meant to chop these iconic women (who could care less) down to size so much as it is to highlight the absurdity of the gay male audiences obsession with these women.” I can certainly see what Timothy is getting at—the fact that this cross dressing as famous women might be a signal about Self hatred. Something that is always present in minority groups, and in my opinion, is greatly under-discussed and rampant in the Gay/Lesbian/Transgendered communities. Either way, I am very sorry that I might have taken part in presenting a Minstrel image of gay/transgendered people. I have been writing a book about trans people for some time. The idea began to flood my mind after I was accused of being one (in a very serious way) a while back. I lost an important job in television because someone falsely invented said information to smear me (and it is a smear in most of America’s power sectors) so that the other person could get the job. By the time I found out what had happened, it was too late. But I did later become acquainted with a trans person in Los Angeles and found her so fascinating that I decided to write a collection of short stories that exclusively feature and explore the lives of men and women who’ve undergone sex changes (or want to and can’t afford it). Earlier, as a teen, I wrote a similar one about Inter Sex people, but tucked it away in a drawer. Who knows—maybe God, the Universe will change the world so that these sexual differences can be discussed seriously and not as comic relief; not as flamboyant freak parades for straight cisgendered people—not as scientific or academic fodder—but from a grass roots human living level. As a literary artist and Womanist, I would like to be a part of making that happen. So If and when my stories about trans people are ever published, I’m certain it will be a renegade breakthrough tome—mainly because the narrative is being driven by actual trans people and not just my poetic writer’s hand. That will be my small gift and gesture of love.

A fucking alligator next door to "Osama's mistress"! Guarding marijuana. No one would EVER believe this.

This lake is the BACK of my house. This is where you see me Praying and Swimming nude in the videos I made. Now you can see how upsetting and dangerous this is--having him NEXT DOOR (though we're on acres). My sons could be attacked; I could be killed and eaten and no one would know WHERE I disappeared to!

And that's another thing.... Your video "interview an author" thingy would be a hit by now if you conducted & promoted it correctly. Pick Sundays and have a SET time. People like to get into a routine and after about 2 years, you'd have a SIZEABLE "routine" viewing audience who turn up no matter who you're interviewing. If I lived in NYC, I'd do a book/celebrity video show for you. I know so many people to profile and how to make it interesting and get people to tune in. You could be a lot more creative and do a whole 30 minutes. You already know people like Tanunurive and Terry McMillan. Come up with interesting topics "does aging as a woman age your writing?" and get some women writers to talk on air about that. THIS SITE COULD BE SO HUGE!

Troy, I've always wondered why you don't have some type of "Awards" show to solidify your place in the industry. The Annual Black Pack Party is a wonderful tradition; it's growing. But you should have an Award tie-in (not that crappy mess Yvette Naywood mis-manages either). Something very serious that will become "elite" over the decades...the Troy Pen in literature or something hooked into this website. (Get a snobby group of 10 Professors to pool their year end opinions--I guarantee they'd do it for FREE)....then throw in your Sales/bestseller's list Prize....hire a P.R. Firm and get some literary celebrities to hand them out. You'd be a smash! Your site is very popular, so are you, but you don't have the Landmark Signature elements that a "Sylvia's Restaurant" or an "Ebony" magazine have--you need an Award of some kind. Do you realize that Yvette Naywood's awards aren't even reported on GOOGLE??? She's got no idea what she's doing! No next-day P.R.; no nothing leading up but grass roots. My publisher didn't even know he had nominees and had never even HEARD OF that fucking award--and that was 2 days before the ceremony!!!! (Imagine if I hadn't told him) You could SO trump that and you really need to. You're already working your butt off with the traveling as it is. You might as well do something more concrete to CONSOLIDATE your brand and do it before somebody else catches on. You're in the heart of the Publishing arena, for all and sundry, you're in New York City!

I live in Hemet, California. My next door neighbor made the news today with his pet alligator. I had no idea of all this illegal stuff was going on: My link My God. I'm just done. ~~ Here's a pic of me with my own animals.