Troy

There is a saying, "When the missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land and the missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible." The Black religious experience is much older that what we see in America today. There are some who feel the religion as it was "given" to the enslaved African was a tool to placate them. Harry Brown is far from alone in his sentiment. During a King celebration I heard Rev. Mike Walrond speak, and he was very critical of ministries that were more concerned with enriching their pastors and accumulating material things, rather than serving the people. Also, it is no secret that there were many in the Black church that were not supporters of Dr. King, when he was most active -- even up to the point when he was killed. So while the Brothers and Sisters in The Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam and other groups disagreed with King on tactics, they were clear on one thing; the oppression had to stop. So while white racist clearly don't want Black unity, I would not suggest that the Black Church is the only institution Black American has that can bring us unity. No one institution can.

Well I have to bend to you knowledge on the subject of AKA's @Mel Hopkins, as mine is the perspective of a dude looking in from the outside. Clearly you are aware of the stereotypes associated with AKA and how they contrast to say Zeta's, or how how the stereotypical Alpha stands in stark contrast to say an Omega.

Mel, I'm afraid no one would distribute or consume the list, so I'm not sure it is worth the effort. I'm not taking the idea off the table, but it is definitely way on the back burner. You can add your blog to the list using this form: http://aalbc.org/blogs/addnewblogform.html these are the blogs whose feeds I would aggregate. Don't stress over the categories I'm going to recategorize all the blogs and when I review the list later in the year.

Nate Parler Interviewed on Birth of a Nation October 2016

I think the little boy who played in Beasts of No Nation should have been nominated too. It is hard for me to get worked up about the state of Black film given the state of Black books and journalism. I never watch the Academy Awards program, so it is hard for me to care very much about it. It is celebrity driven and in many ways I think our culture is too focused on celebrity as it is. Perhaps Chris Rock will say something to support his brother and sisters. It is not enough for me to tune in though, cause I know whatever he says, that is relevant to the cause, will be on the web 5 seconds later. When (if) that happens I'll grab it off Youtube and post it here. Otherwise I'm sure I'll have nothing to contribute to the conversation about a white award program designed to celebrate the accomplishments of other white people.

Social media acting as the mediary IS the problem with social for businesses @Mel Hopkins I think the only reason people believe this is better is because I that never known anything else. My 20K+ followers are useless to me. I'm not saying my individual followers are useless themselves, it is that they are useless to be in terms of my ability to reach them. Facebook will not show them my posts, Facebook will not allow me to message them or any any way contact them directly. My mailing list is far more effective. If only 15% of my mailing list opened my email, that is far better than the reach I can get with Facebook. Needless to say my website itself is even more effective than my mailing list. This is not anecdotal this is a simple fact. Mailing lists and websites are more effective than social media. Despite that authors in particular are abandoning websites and making the Facebook pages their primary web presence. Even the ones who have websites invest all their time trying to grow an audience on social media rather than growing an audience for their own websites. In fact authors truth be told could actually use this platform to much better results than social media... @CDBurns I actually understand what my man is asking regarding the sneakers :-) But we could go back and forth with the emails and messages man. I would'nt even have to got to my racist hate messages. But seriously it is not all that bad on my end, I guess cause I'm used to it. But that email stuck me as a bit much LOL.

Chris the skull and bones is the joke. I dunno who make the graphic. I just thought it was funny.

Ok there has been some movement of the Birthday Cake for George Washington. The publisher updated the book cover to more accurately reflect sentiments of his slaves.

“I stumbled across your website and I'm wondering if you can help me. I read a book a couple of months ago and I'm wondering if you can give me any suggestions about how to go about finding this book I do know that is written by a black author but I don't know the name of the book and I don't know the name of the author is there a way that you may be able to help me? I look forward to hearing from you.” My initial reaction was to suggest some Ginkgo biloba, Now 30 years ago, I might have been able to help; maybe even run the titles off the top of my head. I replied respectfully. Don't ask me why..

Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children‘s Literature

What does a blog series look like? I believe I may already be doing this to a certain extent.

To be fair mainstream publishers have published a bunch of books where Black folks have been the ones to turn around a school. But lately the focus is profiting off dysfunction. So I agree your story would probably not get published today.

If he is not I am.

...of course we have all heard this story before. It was recently covered in my hometown newspaper, the New York Post with a title reflecting the sensibilities of New Yorkers, "My year of terror and abuse teaching at a NYC high school." The article goes on to relate; In 2008, in a fit of idealism, Ed Boland, a well-off New Yorker who had spent 20 years as an executive at a nonprofit, had a midlife epiphany: He should leave his white-glove world, the galas at the Waldorf and drinks at the Yale Club, and go work with the city’s neediest children. In the end, Boland isn't hoisted on his students' shoulders and no one passes AP anything. This is no urban fairy tale of at-risk kids saved by a Hollywood hero, but a searing indictment of schools that claim to be progressive but still fail their students. Told with compassion, humor, and a keen eye, Boland's story is sure to ignite debate about the future of American education and attempts to reform it. The article, and I presume the book, goes on to describe case after case of dysfunction, presented our amusement. The school of course is not a regular school; the students all seem to have profound problems. At the end of the day, the rich white guy was obviously unqualified to instruct these students. After a few months of failure he then secures a book deal, plenty of media coverage, and make even more money. I wonder if he ever considers how the school year he spend with those students was wasted. I'm sure this guy was raised reading books like, A Birthday Cake for George Washington.

“A bit more that two hundred years ago, outside a city called Charleston South Carolina, a girl and her mother picked blackberries from the plantation garden.” How lovely... The book, A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat, by Emily Jenkins is another example of a book where the horrors of slavery are completely ignored. Another children reading this might think being enslaved forever was an idyllic existence. I know it is bad as far is it goes for Black children's books, but because I primarily focus on book written by Black people I largely missed the titles that white folks write for themselves. Reading this stuff is it any wonder why white folks say that we are better off having been enslaved rather that remaining in Africa. It is 1816 or 2016?

Check this shit out! "This month, Scholastic Press is proud to publish a picture book entitled A Birthday Cake for George Washington, by Ramin Ganeshram, with illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. With the recent controversy surrounding the publication of A Fine Dessert, a picture book by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, including this thought-provoking essay from Kirkus comparing these two books in particular, I felt it important to share my view that while there are similarities between A Birthday Cake for George Washington and A Fine Dessert (both books celebrate the making of a dessert with a parent and child), the two books are vastly different. The topic of slavery is one that must be handled with the utmost care, especially in the form of visual depictions, historical references, dialogue, and characterizations in books for young readers. In A Birthday Cake for George Washington the lives of enslaved people ― and the complex inequities of their bondage ― play a key role in the narrative. Through carefully curated research, A Birthday Cake for George Washington presents an important slice of American history. It is based on the true story of Hercules, the president’s cook. Hercules was one of over 300 African Americans enslaved by George and Martha Washington. Even though he was a slave, everyone knew and admired Hercules ― especially the president!" (more: http://oomscholasticblog.com/post/proud-slice-history?linkId=20148698) --Andrea Davis Pinkney, VP and executive editor, Scholastic Trade Publishing Andrea, is an award winning children's book author and is proud of this book!? You don't have to be white to be culturally insensitive or behave in a racist fashion against Black people. I now notice that there was some angry reaction on social media.

Chris our impotence is appalling and pathetic! Here is a reaction I got on Twitter.

“How could they smile? How could they be anything but unrelentingly miserable... How could they be proud to bake a cake for George Washington? “The answers to those questions are complex because human nature is complex. Bizarrely and yes, disturbingly, there were some enslaved people who had a better quality of life than others and ‘close’ relationships with those who enslaved them. But they were smart enough to use those ‘advantages’ to improve their lives.” --Ganeshram, the author From the book's description on Scholastic's (the publisher of this fiction from an alternative universe) Website: Everyone is buzzing about the president's birthday! Especially George Washington's servants, who scurry around the kitchen preparing to make this the best celebration ever. Oh, how George Washington loves his cake! And, oh, how he depends on Hercules, his head chef, to make it for him. Hercules, a slave, takes great pride in baking the president's cake. But this year there is one problem — they are out of sugar. This story, told in the voice of Delia, Hercules's young daughter, is based on real events, and underscores the loving exchange between a very determined father and his eager daughter, who are faced with an unspoken, bittersweet reality. No matter how delicious the president's cake turns out to be, Delia and Papa will not taste the sweetness of freedom. New York Times food writer Ramin Ganeshram and acclaimed illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton serve up a slice of history in a picture book narrative that will surely satisfy. Heavens to Betsy! as I've lamented many times before this is what happens when you don't control your narrative. Sure they are scurrying about 'cause ole George would skin his niggers if they did not obey. I chose the word "skin" because it is that language George Washington herself used when talking about his enslaved people. Here is a quotes: “Charlotte I Guess will be reported Sick this week I Gave her a Whiping on Saturday & I find She dont intend to work in order I suppose to be even with Me When I was Culling out the River hogs she sent by Muddy hole David requesting I would Give her a Spear rib as She Long’d for it this I knew to be false and thought it to be a piece of impudence in her which She has a Great Share of I did not send it but on Saturday I sent one to each of the Women at the Qu[arte]r of Course She had one with the rest but She I fancy watch’d me home & as soon as I got in the house brings the Spear rib & thro’s down at the Door (affronted I suppose at my not sending it on Thursday) told me indeed She wanted none of my Meat & was in Short very impudent I took a hickory Switch which I rode with & Gave her a very Good Whiping She certainly could come for nothing else, On Monday Morning Mrs Ehlers informed me She had sent her work but Charlotte had sent it back I went to the Qur & Gave a little more but I believe She has not done any thing yet under a pretence of her finger receiving a blow & was Swelld She threatens me very much with informing Lady Washington when She comes home & says She has not been whipd for 14 Years past, but I fully expect I shall have to Give her some More of it before She will behave herself for I am determined to lower her Spirit or Skin her Back.” —Washington’s farm manager Anthony Whitting In response George Washington wrote, “Your treatment of Charlotte was very proper—and if she, or any other—of the Servants will not do their duty by fair means—or are impertinent, correction (as the only alternative) must be administered.” Scholastic is "pulling" the book according to a Guardian article. It however is still on shelves and available for purchase from all the major on-line retailers. It is currently a #1 Bestseller on Amazon. If anyones need a children's book written about them, it is the defiant Charlotte who gave Washington's overseer so much grief. Would we publish it? Would we buy it. Happy MLK Day

If anyone is on the fence about this offer, I've sweetened the deal! Not only is the large book ad a good deal already, but I'll also give authors a FREE author profile if they purchase the Large Book Cover Ad.

Paul, your account has been approved. If you post using your account you will no longer has to wait for me to approve it before it shows up.

Well you have come to the right place. Lets start with A Good Day to Print. You can rest assured if they can't give you a competitive price they let you know. This company is run by the W. Paul Coates founder of Black Classic Press. Oh yeah when you have founder printer post the cover and ISBN so that we can add you to our database: http://aalbc.org/authors/authors.php

If I have a university or corporate co-sign that might be a good idea. Getting people to read such a book would take all of my available time and money. I already sacrifice too much running AALBC.com.

I purchased $4 worth of tickets for the $900M and $2 worth of tickets for the $1.5B dollar lottery. I did not win a cent. You are basically purchasing a dream, a possibility that your life can take a turn for the better. It is no wonder lottery booths proliferate in poor neighborhoods. I wonder if the constant playing, and hoping, that inevitably ends in losing, if we would be better off having not played at all. Is the hope, then the loss, better than not having the hoped at all? I'd imagine it would be more constructive to place our bets on something with a more realistics opportunity to win, like the craps table in a casino. Better still, image if we took the money wasted on lottery tickets and used it to build something. Humm, I think I have a better chance at hitting the Power Ball.

Sorry for the late notice Image Credit: Illustration by Mshindo Kuumba. Black Comic Book Festival Logo by Alex Batchelor. The Schomburg Center’s 4th Annual Black Comic Book Festival TODAY Saturday, January 16 10AM - 7PM Free and Open to the Public The Schomburg Center's 4th Annual Black Comic Book Festival celebrates the rich tradition of black comix in a full day event featuring panel discussions, film screenings, hands-on workshops and exhibit tables with premiere black comic artists from across the country. Join us and check out the mind-blowing afrofutrism art and design exhibition Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination curated by John Jennings and Reynaldo Anderson. AGENDA: http://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2016/01/16/4th-annual-black-comic-book-festival REGISTER: Free Admission. Fun for all ages! Register through https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-black-comic-book-festival-registration-19966098137 ORGANIZERS: The Schomburg Center's Black Comic Book Festival is presented by: Deirdre Hollman, Schomburg Education & Junior Scholars Program in collaboration with: Jerry Craft, Mama's Boyz and John Jennings, SUNY Buffalo/Black Kirby #blackcomicbookfestnyc Stay connected with SCHOMBURG EDUCATION! Web: www.schomburgcenter.org/education

@CDBurns, that is precisely my point. But one important difference remains, the Chinese people understand their situation and know who to fight to correct it. We, Black folks, don't have that benefit. In fact, we are the most ardent supporters of those controlling our voices.