Troy

AFRICAN BOOKSTORE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS IN BUSINESS & THE LIFE OF ANTHONY HORATIO - 2/13/1933 to 2/20/2017 Anthony Horatio Harrison, an African-Jamaican, born on February 13, 1933 in Kingston Jamaica, was the founder of the African Bookstore. In the 1990's Anthony Harrison, after working several years as a Precision Machinist, from the United Kingdom to the United States of America, always believed that his children along with his community should constantly engage themselves with constructive information. Through this firm belief, he started to sell books. Anthony Harrison sold books from his vehicle from 1992 until August 1994, after that period he opened the first African Bookstore in Broward County, Florida. The store flourished and therefore with that success he continued to support and encourage economic stability, self-reflection, independence, and empowerment of the community. The African Bookstore has now taken on a more advanced approach through the new millennium by enlarging their website under new leadership. Anthony Harrison’s daughters who are educators, along with new Technological Executive personnel, are familiar with the dynamics of the Internet age, and so they continue to inspire others to read, and are firm believers in the educational process of self-knowledge and enrichment. The above information was provided courtesy of Yvonne Harrison-King. Today the African Bookstore is web based only. sales@africanbookstore.net www.africanbookstore.net

Pioneer I'm sorry man I'm having trouble following your reasoning. You are conflating a lot of issues in a manner I find confusing, You can have alpha males in white and blue collar jobs You can have alpha males who are rich or poor. You can have alpha males that are physically imposing and aggressive and those who are nerdy Again, I guess it boils down to how you define the term, "Alpha Male." The term like the term "Race," is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps because both "Race" and "Alpha Male" are technical terms and are also used more loosely in colloquial settings. I see now it is that later usage which causes the most confusion. Going back to race for a second. Suppose I say, "Joe is Black." If you think about it, what does the really say about Joe? We can't infer anything specific about how he looks or even his culture. Describing Joe as "Black" has more to do with the person using the term than Joe himself. The same is true calling Joe an "Alpha Male." Unless you knew the person making the statement very well, you really could not know what they were saying about Joe unless you asked for clarification. I do agree however that the culture is aligned to create compliant worker bees and blind consumers. If that means eliminating the "Alpha Males," who would fight against compliance with the program, then I agree with you. Alpha males don't spend all day scrolling through their Instagram and Twitter feeds.

Pioneer, the title of the conversation was random thoughts, so I guess anything goes. Are you asking because you have no clue? Did nothing I wrote in response to Cynique's post reveal anything to you? Indeed does my activities and behavior, as reflected on the website, over that last 20 years say nothing to you about my vision? Let me answer your question with a question. What do you think my vision is?

I did just look up Magnus after making my post and now I see why I drew a blank. I looked up the correct word this time and see that it means one of the Magi (proper noun) and it also means magician, sorcerer, or astrologer. Del when you call Cynique a Magus what are you actually saying about her? Thanks for believing and saying that you believe in my vision. It helps. I can't do anything that I'm trying to do alone. I'm not sure any of us can go through life doing anything of value in isolation. We need the support of others. Thanks.

Visit Nubiapoets.com for more information.

Yeah I'm sorry I missed you @Dr T , I was running the whole time. Did you do Punta Gorda the previous weekend? I stopped by Copperfish Books, In Punta Gorda on my way back home it is a neat little store. I was not aware of the fair in Venice this weekend. I just added it to my website: https://aalbc.com/events/index.php?st=Florida#Venice+Book+Fair+and+Writers+Festival I'll be watching basketball and playing poker with my boys on Saturday.

Yes this forum is truly is indeed a microcosm of the world particularly as we "embrace our truths and distrust the source of rebuttals to them." That fact has indeed made be sensitive to the characteristic in my own behavior. I try to keep and open mind and have adjusted my position when new information, or a different perspective, was introduced here. @Cynique, I have changed my position a number of times based upon your commentary. For example, after Hillary became the democratic nominee for president, I, like so many other Black folks decided to simply not vote. But after reading your words it became clear that I needed to vote and I did (obviously for Clinton). As you know Cynique, I have always appreciated your mind and have personally benefited from it. Del calls you a "Magnus" (I still have not looked it up to know what it means), but a rose by any other name... I think it is society's loss that we spend so much time consuming on social media consuming and spreading the "wisdom" of inexperienced children, and dumb rudderless celebrities while ignoring the sage words of our elders. This is the primary reason I've stopped using social media. You have to be careful where you consume information. Now that we know social media is used to manipulate people, I refuse to use it. How many Black people, I wonder, decided not to vote in the last presidential election because of the "information" (propaganda really) that was deliberately fed to them in order to dissuade them from voting? This, I guess, is also the reason why I've dedicated my life to selling books. It is not so much about the books themselves, but the knowledge contained within them. This is also why I spend so much time promoting what others may feel is my competition-- other booksellers. It is also why I promote the Black press and Black journalists. I think platforms like this forum are necessary. The goal is not to compel you to spend every waking moment with a handheld device in your hand scrolling through the content here. Nor is the goal to sell your information to big data firms and marketers to manipulate your behavior. The goal is to exchange ideas and hopefully learn something new. I appreciate the majority of people look for ideas that reinforce what they already believe. That is why social media excels and why it is so popular. I think what has always set regular contributors to these forums apart is that we are not afraid to exposure our ideas to critique. This is really not an easy thing to do. So while we may exhibit traits of the general population, of holding fast to our ideas. You can't do that here very long and enjoy or benefit from the process.

I actually did not make the Punta Gorda Book Festival, but I did make the Southwest Florida Reading Festival. I'm probably gonna chill for a while. The next book Festival I'm definitely planning to attend is the Sacramento Black Book Festival in June. when I plan to speak about the corporatization of the World Wide Web and how that has adversely impacted the Black book ecosystem. Hopefully, the talk will be more interesting than it sounds :-)

Here are a couple of videos of Kimberla Lawson Roby at the Southwest Florida Reading Festival In the first video Kim and two other NY Times Bestselling authors describe their favorite bookstores: Beatrix Williams Vero Beach Book Center, Vero Beach, FL FoxTale Book Shoppe Atlanta, GA The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale AZ Murder by the Book, Houston, TX Banks Square Books, Mystic, CT Diane's Books of Greenwich, Greenwich, CT R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT Kimberla Lawson Roby Dock Bookshop, Fort Worth, TX Shelly Shepard Gray Books&Co, Beavercreek, OH Page & Palette, Fairhope, AL Here Kim talks about her work. Overall it was a really nice book fair. The weather was great low 80's, low humidity, and on the river front. The Fort Myers is a really nice place this time of the year. The only real downside is was that there was not a lot of cultural diversity in the participating authors and the attendees. Here I'm with author D. Watkins A random crowd shot. While there were many events for children and plenty of kids in attendance, there were also a lot attendees who senior citizens (a good thing). In fact, during Kim's presentation, I'm sure I was younger than the average person in the audience. The audiences I observed during the panels skewed white, female, and 60+ Below is author Edward R. Laden. He was the only Black author participating or exhibiting that I did not know, but there were not that many Black authors in attendance. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to talk to Edward, but he has a website: http://www.leadstory1.com/

It has been a few years since I've run book giveaways, and I'm happy to reintroduce this benefit to AALBC.com visitors. Technically you have to be a newsletter subscriber to win, but the is a small detail compared to what you can win!

Man Pioneer you seemed to have internalized ever racial stereotype invented by our oppressor. Even your reasoning is inconsistent You implied that the dominant alpha males was usually the wealthiest with the most choice in women, as if that was not longer the case. But the individuals you presented both had women throwing themselves at these brothers and both were quite wealthy. You speak about Black men as if we are gorillas.

@Pioneer1, @Cynique , is right man. The fact that rap music is riddled with Nigga this and nigga that, should be proof enough. You do know that the vast majority of rap is purchased by white boys, right? Also, I hear the word "nigger" uttered every time I hit the street. If I get on public transportation is not unusual at all for young men say it in front of white people. I even hear young white people say it. When I taught young folks they used the word so liberally I started to think something was wrong with me asking them not to use it. One kid used "my Ninja" instead. Which seemed kinda silly... The days of the unspoken rule of not using the word in front of white people is over, surely you see that? If not go to a rap concert, and listen to all the white people sing the word lead by a Black man. Times have changed buddy.

I don't know what else to say @Pioneer1 Matter has energy. It is not energy. I'll let someone else try to explain it. It took me 2 seconds to find this article written by a physicist, Matter and Energy: A False Dichotomy. It is written in lay terms you may find it interesting. This may then help you understand thoughts.

Well, I saw the movie and enjoyed it. It was good film but not great film. I thought the comic relief character diminished the film overall it was just a bit too over the top. The acting was really good.

Pioneer, again the formula describes how much energy "has," it is not what matter "is." Two bananas = $1, that does not mean bananas "are" dollars. Get it? I did not say thoughts are energy either. Thoughts require energy to be generated and sensed by the brain, but again that is not what they are. Wind powers a sailboat, but a sailboat is not wind. Right?

I'm going to see it tonight... I need a diversion.

If the basketball player said this (i missed the whole controversy), he is not lying, but being straight up. What is the problem, being truthful?

Mari Evans passed away on March 10, 2017. I met her once about 19 years ago. She was legendary then. New reports way Evan was 93 when she passed. However I've been told by other she hit 95 in 2014, which would make her 97 now.

@Delano thanks for the reminder, What does Maya need to share with you.

It looks like Jordan Peele is a very talented dude. This will probably be the next film I see.

I'll probably get cranking on the survey for the 21st century very soon. Here is a collage of the 50 Favorite African-American Authors of the 20th Century

Hi @bsrealtalk, you did not include an image so I added a mocked up version of your book cover. I'm not sure if a hardcover is available but if one ever is you may be able to use the image below. You also did not include a website. Please add it when you get a chance. Thanks for sharing.

Executive Producer: Dante J. James Phone: 919-475-9879 Email: Dante@BlackPearlMW.com Website: www. BlackPearlMW.com Address: 1914 Burroughs Drive, Dayton, OH 45406 Black Pearl Media Works, New Film Projects Press Release March 15, 2017 Black Pearl Media Works produces artistic, entertaining, profitable media that explores humanity through the lens of black cultures worldwide. Emmy award winning independent filmmaker, Dante James is pleased to announce the formation of Black Pearl Media Works, LLC (BPMW). The multi-media production company has received partial financing for two projects; a feature length documentary, God of The Oppressed and a series of dramatic short films, In Our Own Words. “It has taken many years to marshal my own resources and cultivate a relationship with an investor who understands the importance of resources from black financiers,” James said in discussing the challenges facing black filmmakers. “We believe this approach will shield projects grounded in our history and culture from the ‘filters’ that often come with resources from entities outside of our community, James said. For many years, I made films for PBS, however as a black man, independent filmmaker and activist coupled with the challenges black people face I’m committed to making the strongest, and most creative statements possible in my films. For me that was not possible with PBS. I’m not criticizing PBS or rejecting resources from outside our community but artistic and editorial control is a prerequisite. My new projects are representative of my desire to explore humanity through the lens of the black experience ‘unfiltered’ by the dominant culture.” In Our Own Words, presents a creative chronicle of the African American experience through short stories by iconic and lesser-known black writers, some of whom could not get past the publishing ‘filters’ they encountered. The concept for the series is grounded in self-definition paired with concerns regarding the degrading, shallow images of African Americans, that are too prevalent in corporate controlled media. Unfortunately, many of these images are created by black people. “Now with new means of distribution, liberated black filmmakers have opportunities to redefine the images of black people. Too often the view of black life is demeaning and perverted to the point that it has become the perception of who we are and that perception is literally and figuratively destroying us. More accurate definitions of who we are can be found in our literature,” James said. Black writers have defined their own world, moving beyond the traditional definitions often imposed on them. The short stories of In Our Own Words will be selected by outstanding African American literature scholars, Maryemma Graham, Ph.D. and Joycelyn Moody, Ph.D. The first film of the series, THE DOLL, based on a short story by Charles W. Chesnutt was completed several years ago. It was awarded best dramatic short at the Hollywood Black Film Festival. Through the stories of Nat Turner, Bishop Henry McNeil Turner, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Rev. Traci Blackmon and others, God of the Oppressed will explore Black Liberation and Womanist Theology. Stories, characters and gospel music will celebrate and frame a perspective of God within the context of an oppressed people. Prof. James Cone, author of the book, God of the Oppressed, will serve as chief academic advisor. Cone argues for a theology constructed from the experiences of black people who understand God’s role in liberating those crying for the pain to end. He challenges theologians to abandon the white system defining the meaning of God. Cone’s work challenges black men and women to listen to the voices of black people to construct a theology framed from their experiences. Rev. Carl Kenney, a black liberation theology minister will be a co-producer. Kenney said. "Let my people go, is the age-old cry of black people holding to the claim that God loves the oppressed. Black theology isn't passive it fights for freedom while refuting claims of inferiority.” God of the Oppressed is an extension of Dante James’ work as the executive producer of THIS FAR BY FAITH, the final series from Blackside Films. Both projects will begin pre-production immediately, however BPMW is seeking additional investors/partners with those who recognize the domestic and international profit potential of these projects, appreciate black culture and literature and are concerned about the shallow interpretations of black experiences. Media inquiries and interested investors should call Dante at 919-475-9879 or email him at dante@blackpearlmw.com. Job applicants can apply a www.blackpearlmw.com. In closing, James stated, “these projects will require producers, directors, actors, screenwriters and other production personnel. Hopefully, they will be a vehicle to put our people to work telling stories that explore our experiences from our point of view. I also see this work and this new company as a connection to my friend and mentor the late Henry Hampton.”

Pioneer creation and evolutions are mutally exclusive, but based upon your response I gather you believe in evolution. There are people who believe man was created in his current form a few thousand years ago. Of course this is what we believe, for we have no way of knowing. We are trusting the people who tell us these things. Also why are you belaboring the point on thoughts being matter? The brain is matter. The energy produced by the brain's activity, which includes our thoughts are not.

The key is that they do not get the press. Phyllis you are a writer (can you email me your bio), have you ever considered writing a story about one of the churches you are talking about. I would be happy to share it. If you have already published one share a link I'll share that too. I don't mean to put undue pressure on you, but I agree with you. I also know mainstream media are going to focus on the dysfunctional aspects of the Black Church. If anyone is going to do it, it will have to be us. Harry mentioned a good book and I have added it to the website. The more we support what is good the better we will become.