Troy

The Dynamic Southern Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will kick off a seven-month tour featuring prominent writers who are also active members of the sorority. The tour will begin in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, September 20th at Greenbriar Mall from 12:30 - 5:00. Presenters include distinguished Delta Authors: Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook Victoria Christopher Murray Stephanie Perry Moore Ruth Watson Dr. Marjorie Kimbrough Dr. Martha Ward Plowden Angela Ray Brenda Jackson L.D. "Neicy" Wells Dr. Francene Breakfield Join us for this special event sponsored by the National Arts and Letters Commission and hosted by the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter. An Anthology of Sisterhood is a collection of more than 100 original poems, essays, short stories and lyrics commissioned from twenty-two women who are joined in sisterhood through their membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Each chapter of the book highlights a different author and allows her to share her voice and unique experience of sisterhood. Topics include positive relationships among women, spirituality, friendship, sorority life, sibling rivalry, and gender equity. The roster of contributors represents 10 states and includes educators, health professionals, politicians, business owners, artists, and writers. They are leaders in their community and within their organization. L. D. Wells & Dr. Francene Breakfield Co-Editors

Barnes & Noble is offering 50% off two upcoming titles from bestselling two bestselling authors A Christmas Prayer (Grand Central Publishing, October 28, 2014) by Kimberla Lawson Roby and INSTINCT Daily Readings: 100 Insights That Will Uncover, Sharpen and Activate Your Instinct (FaithWords, October 7, 2014) by Bishop T.D. Jakes

Sounds like the next Steve Harvey Book, Think Like a Man as Well as a Woman. Sure I like to hear expert opinions about a subject, Del. But expert opinions can be completely wrong. I can't think of a single field of study where expert opinions are not diametrically opposed. On many subjects, even technical ones, I prefer to hear the opinions of older people, people who have experienced life and witnessed a few things. For example, I often find it very frustrating to hear the "expert" opinion of some 30 year old Black person on how great social media is for society; a person who has no real concept of what life was like before social media, or life before the Internet for that matter. I'm not sure what you mean by, "...emotional sensitivity, but you may be a bit impatient and want it to develop quickly or in a direct or linear fashion." If you could elaborate on that, that would be cool.

It seems writing FCK is an acceptable why of writing the f-bomb. I see it plastered on shirts everywhere. Would writing F*CK, or just plain FUCK be any worse? (Technically, in my case, it is. By simply spelling out the word correctly I run the very serious risk of running afoul of the Google censors, who determine where their ads can be placed, but that is another story). At any rate, I thought this video was cute. But is is largely preaching to the choir and I seriously doubt an actually racist will change their thinking after viewing it. Indeed why would the view it? The Internet has become such a stratified bubble--I doubt anyone who could benefit from watching this video would ever come across it. Social media have become so fixated on showing you what they think you want to see it, the likelihood of discovering something interesting that vary with your world view is much harder, unless you are inclined to seek it out.

... four years later thing has gotten much worse. As I look back on the literary author i recommended (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Heidi W. Durrow, Caryl Phillips), Two are not American and one (Heidi) is the daughter of White Danish immigrant. I realized recently that we have not had an Black American novelist on the NY Times Bestsellers list in months (last I checked). I helped create the Power List to make of for what is not showing up on the Times List, and the end of Essence's Bestsellers List, but gaining traction has been slow. I'll persist but it is hard work. I've recently increased my emphasis on promoting works by classic authors who are great writers but are obscure today. Interestingly writers like Ernest Gaines and Jamaica Kincaid (who is still writing) fall into that category. Others like Carolyn Rodgers or Drusilla Dunjee Houston are seemingly completely unknown. Even worse creating content and expending energy promoting these authors will not likely generate any revenue, zilch. Indeed promoting these authors saps limited time, energy and money. This is why so few people are doing it today. It is hard and there is no financial reward. The same is true for fiction written by contemporary writers. There is simply no infrastructure to support them. Everyone stands on their own, doing what they can with social media. But that is inefficient and ineffective. These conditions create an environment where our authors are simply not discussed. Conversations on this forum, about Black literature, is virtually gone. None of the websites I've tracked over the 15 years are doing any better. Book clubs are considered a great resources for boosting word of mouth, but there are simply not enough clubs, to make a big difference, besides they are not organized in a way in which any influence they have could be exploited. There may be some action on Goodreads, but I don't use that site, I like to support our own business--or at least entities interested in working with me. The attitude of supporting our our businesses, seems anachronistic, relic of a bygone era.

The men you often gripe about Harry are outliers, statistical aberrations, so unusual they could be ignored while trying to understand the general population. The problem is that these statistical anomalies make for compelling, inexpensively produced TV the masses. Sadly too many people come away thinking that many Black men that behave just like Desmond Hatchett. In reality, there are many more men like me, who have two kids, by the same woman, a woman that I was married to before those kids were conceived and that I have been married to for 24 years. Unfortunately, no one has taken the resources to make compelling programming with positive Black characters, doing normal things, so we are left with programming highlighting the exploits of dudes with 34 children, houseswifes, flavor of love and the rest. Obviously it can be done, The Cosby show was one example. But it seems no one really cares enough to demand anything better. That is really our problem not the handful of cats running impregnating anything stupid enough to spread their legs.

BEFORE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION The Raymond House • 655 -13th Street • Suite 302 • Oakland, California 94612 August 18, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Justin Desmangles, 916-425-7916 The Before Columbus Foundation announces the Winners of the Thirty-Fifth Annual AMERICAN BOOK AWARDS Ceremonies, October 26, 2014, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Oakland, CA—The Before Columbus Foundation announces the Winners of the Thirty-Fifth Annual AMERICAN BOOK AWARDS. The 2014 American Book Award winners will be formally recognized on Sunday, October 26th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the SF Jazz Center, Joe Henderson Lab, 201 Franklin Street (at Fell), San Francisco, CA. This event is open to the public. The American Book Awards were created to provide recognition for outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America's diverse literary community. The purpose of the awards is to recognize literary excellence without limitations or restrictions. There are no categories, no nominees, and therefore no losers. The award winners range from well-known and established writers to under-recognized authors and first works. There are no quotas for diversity, the winners list simply reflects it as a natural process. The Before Columbus Foundation views American culture as inclusive and has always considered the term “multicultural” to be not a description of various categories, groups, or “special interests,” but rather as the definition of all of American literature. The Awards are not bestowed by an industry organization, but rather are a writers’ award given by other writers. The 2014 American Book Award Winners are: Andrew Bacevich Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country, Metropolitan Books Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin Black Against Empire; The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party, University of California Press Juan Delgado (poetry) and Thomas McGovern (photography) Vital Signs, Heyday Books Alex Espinoza The Five Acts of Diego León, Random House Jonathan Scott Holloway Jim Crow Wisdom: Memory and Identity in Black America Since 1940, University of North Carolina Press Joan Naviyuk Kane Hyperboreal, University of Pittsburgh Press Jamaica Kincaid See Now Then, Farrar, Straus and Giroux Tanya Olson Boyishly, YesYes Books Sterling D. Plumpp Home/Bass, Third World Press Emily Raboteau Searching For Zion: The Quest for Home in the African Diaspora, Atlantic Monthly Press Jerome Rothenberg with Heriberto Yepez Eye of Witness: A Jerome Rothenberg Reader, Commonwealth Books Nick Turse Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam, Metropolitan Books Margaret Wrinkle Wash, Atlantic Monthly Press Koon Woon Water Chasing Water, Kaya Press Armond White Anti-Censorship Award: Michael Parenti Lifetime Achievement:

This even had been rescheduled to SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014. 10th African American Literary Awards Show SATURDAY, SEPT. 27TH , 2014 MIST HARLEM 46 WEST 116TH STREET, NY NY 5:30-7 p.m. VIP Champagne reception 7 p.m.: Doors Open 7:30 p.m. Awards Dinner presentation 9:30 p.m. After party by DJ Stormin Norman Gourmet buffet from Madiba Harlem 2014 Honorees the late Dr. Maya Angelou & James Earl Hardy Purchase Tickets Mention "AALBC.com" and get the $150 VIP Ticket for $100? As described here: Portion of proceeds to benefit non profit Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF) Sponsors Uptown magazine media sponsor Uber Aloft Harlem For sponsorship opportunities please contact Musa Jackson: 646-326-4104 musajacksonproductions@gmail.com Read our coverage of The African American Literary Awards Show over the past decade.

Here is more information about all the previous award winning titles

Harry Brown, are you suggesting that the Neo-Nazis are potentially aligned; as in "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" scenario?

I found this video on a cool new website: www.afrostateofmind.com There has been a resurgence interest in natural hair styles and this change has been reflected in the number of books on the subject that I have seen lately. I did not watch this particular video all the way through as I just wanted to see the reveal. I don't think this is a fair assessment of the difference between "natural" and relaxed hair, for one the model is wearing a wig--a crazy looking one at that. And her natural hair was... I just call it undone. This particular model would look equally attractive, albeit different, with a nice natural style or a halfway decent looking wig. While I personally prefer a natural style, I don't really care what women decide to do with their own hair. I don't even sport a "natural" style myself. I shave my head bald. I don't like my natural state of a receding hair line, growing bald spot, and salt and pepper color. Perhaps if I lived in a culture where natural signs of aging were respected for what they are, signs of maturity, I might allow my hair to grow out my head, naturally. But the baldie bean does offer one important benefit--I don't have to deal with the barbershop any more. That was one activity I never liked, my time and money is better spent now. Well at least my time is ;-)

The discussion forum was down for several hours yesterday--the cause is unknown. Some suspect hacking... At any rate, I saw a 401 error, earlier today but I can't replicate the problem and I used all three of my ID's trying to do so. I suspect any remaining issues are the residual effects of yesterday's problem. If you see a problem try closing the browser and logging in again. If the problem persists please email me at troy@aalbc.com Thank You, Troy

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Submissions are still open for the 2014 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, a $10,000 award that honors Louisiana’s revered storyteller, Ernest J. Gaines, and serves to inspire and recognize rising African-American fiction writers of excellence at a national level. The book award was initiated by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and is in its eighth year. The national panel of distinguished literary judges includes Thomas Beller, Anthony Grooms, Francine Prose, Elizabeth Nunez and Patricia Towers. The 2014 winner will be announced in November. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation sponsors the winner’s travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he/she will receive the $10,000 prize at a ceremony and reception in his/her honor. The award aims to allow the writer the flexibility and wherewithal to remain focused creating of excellent literature. The author will also participate in educational activities during his/her time in Louisiana. The Gaines Award emphasizes the role of literature and the arts in education, and through small creative writing workshops or a reading with Q&A, it encourages youth to pursue reading and creative forms of expression. Previous Gaines Award Winners: Attica Locke Dinaw Mengestu Victor LaValle Stephanie Powell Watts Ravi Howard Jeffrey Allen Olympia Vernon The deadline to submit eligible books for consideration of the 2014 Gaines Award is October 1, 2014. There is no fee to enter. Entries must be works of fiction (novels or short story collections) published in 2013 or 2014; Galleys for books that will be published by December 31, 2014 are accepted. The award ceremony will be Thursday, January 22, 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jessica A. Boone| Senior Donor Services Officer Baton Rouge Area Foundation 402 N. Fourth Street Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 225-387-6126 www.braf.org www.ernestjgainesaward.org

Deep. In this instance, at least, he was a very lucky young man. I'm sure you are correct about the motivation of the cops, and I'm glad no one was hurt, at least not physically.

I guarantee, if that happened in Statesboro, GA, it would be a completely different story. Was the person he hit Black or white? Was the neighborhood poor or middle class? Black guy hits a Black person in a poor neighborhood--no problem. Beside reporting crimes makes the numbers look bad, and who wants to deal with all the paper work to record the antics of a bunch of monkeys. Black guy hits a white person in an upscale neighborhood, that he does not live in, it would be a different story. Having a family member on the job always helps. Sorry to hear about your daughter(in-law). Losing a mother is not easy for a young man, but hitting someone while driving drunk is a very serious offense. Most of my buddies, who have loss the privilege to drive, lost it for that reason. One cat I know was locked for close to a year. You wanna make sure it is not a behavior that gets repeated. I swore I would never speed again (at least not in the state of GA). Never, ever run from the cops, or otherwise resist arrest (even if you know you are right) that is usually when bad shit happens--especially to us.

Was pulled over for speeding in Statesboro GA, the gnat capital of the world, earlier this Summer. I was not driving recklessly or unsafe for the conditions; broad daylight, empty road. I was not drunk, nor endangering anyone. I was given a $725 dollar ticket! Sure I was "wrong." I was driving faster than the posted speed limit. But $725 bucks! That is just crazy. No, I was not shot, nor handcuffed, or even touched. The two white male officers on the scene were not rude, just stoic and clearly uncaring, but the punishment was WAY beyond the crime. I felt assaulted and that fine though not a big deal to some forced me to change my plans for attending a book event. Was my race a factor in being stopped? Who knows, but I can help but suspect it was. Would I have been treated differently were I white? I believe I would have been. Do I believe these officers could have been members of the Klan, sure. Do I believe they have racists in their families? Given the location--absolutely. I have been pulled over by troopers more times than I can remember. Being pulled over for doing absolutely nothing wrong is quite common. Po-Po profiling Black men is a reality. If I, or any Black man, is busted in the wrong -- they throw the book at us. Three strike laws were not meant for white boys. Besides aggravation, we have increased insurance rates, points, and of course the financial burden of fines. But on paper I just look like some guy who was speeding and got what he deserved. While all the other speeders driving along, anonymously, enjoying benefits and privilege the skin color affords them. Now I'm a presentable, educated, articulate, law abiding citizen. If I constantly get the treated with the firmest hand of the law with each encounter what do you thing a young man with sagging mans, and an attitude will get? The same treatment is evident in our school systems and corporate environments. We live in a racist society, and the racists are usually not card carrying members of the Klan, Harry.

For Immediate Release: 9/3/14 Media Contact: Ailene Torres, Ailene@upmarketpr.com Texas Voodoo Zombies are coming to Dallas We are pleased to announce that Texas Voodoo Zombies are coming!!! Yes, Victor McGlothin, local bestselling novelist and filmmaker is currently in pre-production to begin filming a historic horror movie project. McGlothin and Victory Vision Films are excited about being the first in the country to bring zombies to the ‘hood. Victor McGlothin, a Kimball High School and University of North Texas grad, has penned 13 bestselling books before producing two short films “Backsliders” and “On The Radio;” based on his popular novels. Now, he’s recasting the mold to which many readers know him best. “I’m a story teller and my projects usually end with a girl falling in love and a guy blowing something up,” McGlothin jokes. “So this is kinda the same, only with zombies.” Funding is a challenge for any filmmaker but McGlothin believes the help of his crowdfunding campaign, now live on Indiegogo, will make this movie a huge success. “I’m hopeful that area Dallasites, zombie fans and Victor McGlothin fans will rally around this project financially and make it something special that we can all be proud of. In Indie film making, it’s really the contributions that make dreams come true,” McGlothin said, while heading into rehearsals. (see the movie trailer and campaign) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_p9cu-jbe0 https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/texas-voodoo-zombies With Texas becoming increasingly a hot bed for movie productions, Dallas based Victory Vision Films and Victor McGlothin should feel right at home. “I love Texas, horror movies and the tough neighborhood I grew up in so it’s only natural to incorporate the three of them in my first big breakout film. I’m proud to do something that’s never been done in horror movies, I’m bringing zombies to the ‘hood.” We look forward to seeing how Victor’s film, Texas Voodoo Zombies, turns out. Imagine that, a real Zombie Hoodpocalyse in Dallas. What will they think of next!

Interesting exchange. In my mind both parties are corrupt, or rather, under the control of the wealthy and powerful. If you look at outrageous incarceration rates, the mortgage crisis, the current crisis in education, needless lives lost in senseless wars, a tobacco (and food) industry allowed to profit off products known to be deadly, and so much more, you will see all of this was presided over by both parties. Of course each party will say well they have to clean up the other party's mess, or they are being blocked by the opposing party. But at the end of the day all of these politicians are paid very well and get benefits so generous it is obscene. Few seem concerned with the people they were elected to serve. As a result, I have no faith in either major party and by extension the current political system. Also, I was just thinking about how I have not heard from Cornel West in the media lately, while Sharpton is everywhere. One would think West is doing nothing, based upon media coverage. I don't think this an accident.

I'm not exactly a prince fan myself. I'm more familiar with his older music, I have not purchased anything his has made in many years, but his concerts are really quite good. I do know that there are many Prince fans out there, hence the mention here. Go see a Prince concert when you can.

1890, deep. He lived through, as an adult, the entire depression, WWI, WWII and Jim Crow. I wonder if he was world weary? Despite all the nonsense we see today, America, the world even, seems to be a much better place for the generations that came after his; at least it seems that way... I'm gonna hold onto my dream of being able to control my destiny for a bit longer, otherwise what is the point?

ART OFFICIAL AGE, becomes available on September 30. I stumbled across this looking for something else. Whatever that something else was I've forgotten what is was as got detracted listening to cuts and reading comments about this upcoming release. I'm not exactly a rabid Prince fan, but he generally gives an excellent live performance. I've seen him twice but I know many who have seen him 10, 20, 30 times. I can't think of any artist I would go through the effort and expense of seeing that many times. At any rate it was interesting to read some people get on Prince for being irrelevant and autotuning to worshiping him believe he is the best thing since mobile access to Facebook. At any rate hopefully I'll make a few buck from people clcking the link: http://aalbc.it/artofficialage to buy Princes latest from iTunes. If sales of Prince's latest can help subsidize my efforts to share information about important books it is all good!

"land the free white man and home of the brave black nigger" Interesting quote what year was you dad born in Cynique? Sure the election of Obama proved the system is broken. However Obama was elected, in part, because Black people voted him in. In Ferguson, I've read voter turn out in the Black community is roughly 10%, not much than in Harlem during the midterms. Ferguson would have much better representation if they simply exercised their rights to vote. I would not call the election of Obama a revolution. The fight to get the right to vote was revolutionary, taking advantage of that right is not. The old system clearly worked much better; Gladwell's article illustrated a fine example. I'm afraid if we have to fight for the right to vote or to eat at a lunch counter we would be in sad shape. I don't even blame us for the situation. Perhaps if MLK and company where protesting in 2014 they would encounter the same issues. Our enemy is brilliant and they execute flawlessly.

Talib Kweli explains, during a interaction with Don Lemon, that Tweeting does not make a revolution. He does however point out that there are several organizations, on the ground, doing the work I did not think was getting done. I trust they get the people of Ferguson to vote, with their numerical majority they could at least get some Black folks in office who would be more inclined to support the Black residents there.