Troy

Thanks for offering a few.Cynique. I agree all of these are important. I need to associate a date with each one. Was there a definitive moment for each? Maybe for; 1. the advent of the self-publishing boon (I'll find out the launch date of Iuniverse or whoever was 1st in this space) 2. the emergence of the street lit popularity (I'll use the publication of Terri Woods 1st novel to signify the ushering in of Street Lit) 3. the rise of the e-book venue (I could use the date of the Kindle's Launch. .Thanks!

Yeah Salt N Pepper, MC Lyte and right up there. In fact they and other were interviewed in the first video. The fact of the matter is men dominate Rap.. Now Cynique why would you call Tupac a "foul mouth punk"? I did not know Tupac personally but what I do know is that the young man we see presented, most often in the public, is not who he was, in reality. I based this upon what other who knew hum personally have written. Indeed Nikki Giovanni went as far as to replicate the tattoo "Thug Life" on her arm that tupac wore across his belly.

Oh I though Ice-T said "the" greatest. In any case I don't think Ice-T heaped more praise on any other rapper. Do you Del? The other video is The Legends of Hip Hop. I watched it on a DVD from the library, but the entire video is on youtube (embedded below) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_cA_-SGhXY I have not gone to a rap concert since 1990, when I saw Pubic Enemy perform in southern Florida -- I think Miami. At any rate PE is one of my favorite groups, but I was disappointed in the concert. There stage performance -- even with the SW1's was pretty stock -- you know the pacing back and forth on the stage and the audio was not great... I have zero interest in paying to see a Rap artist group perform. Jay-Z performed in Brooklyn recently the thought passed my mind to see him in the new arena, but travel, cost, time -- it was not worth it to me... I guess if I was 18 it would be a different story. Pioneer while we share an enjoyment of PE you always lose me when you make statements like this: "Both of them [biggie and Tupac] share SOME responsibility for much of the thuggish lifestyle that has destroyed the families and even lives of so many Black people in America today." See, to me, this seems like a outlandish exaggeration. So I'll ask, why do you believe this to be true? I believe their combined contribution to the state of Black American families is so negligible that it can be ignored. If anything, the contribution of people like Tupac, one could argue, has been net positive. But destroying lives and Black families -- come on man you can't really mean that.

Self Published Authors Get Ready, You’re Being Dumped "If you’re a self published author, get ready for some disappointing news. Your usefulness is coming to an end. Yes, you have all worked very hard for very little return in building an empire to be exploited by multinational enterprises, but sadly, your job is almost done and it’s time now for you to be given the ‘boot’. " This is a pretty interesting conversation for you self-published authors. The articles comments are more enlightening than the original article, as if often the case. The problem with the comments is that you can't believe most of what people write you really have to research statements for veracity. But the issues raised are nonetheless interesting and worthy of consideration.

Kukujumuku by Wayetu Moore (Author) and Augustus Moore Jr. (Illustrator) One Moore Book publishes and distributes culturally sensitive books for children of countries with low literacy rates and underrepresented cultures. One Moore Book provides literature for children whose narratives are largely missing from the children's book publishing industry. The books will also serve as a key to unknown people and places for all kids who do not have access to cultures outside of their own.

1st Annual Bronx Literary Festival in Poe Park. Saturday, May 18, 2013 Learn more on their Facebook Page

Beautiful. ...just as I knew it would be. Thank you.

I saw another better documentary last night I'll get the name when I get home. The production was much lower in quality but they focused more on the Zulu Nation who obviously know a lot more about the origins of Rap a component of Hip Hop.

THE BLACK COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL Free and Open to the Public All Ages Welcome TOMORROW Saturday, January 12 10AM ● 4PM THE BLACK COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL FULL DAY SCHEDULE Pop-Up Exhibition | Main Lobby Black Kirby by John Jennings, SUNY Buffalo and Stacey Robinson All Day Black Comic Book Exhibitors | Main Lobby & Mezzanine 10AM Film Screening and Q&A | Langston Hughes Auditorium White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black Masculinities in Comic Books Dr. Jonathan Gayles, Georgia State University 10:30AM Workshop | American Negro Theater The Art of Making Comics <B Comic Book Writer and Founder of KidsComicCon 12PM Film Screening and Q&A | Langston Hughes Auditorium White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black Masculinities in Comic Books Dr. Jonathan Gayles, Georgia State University 12:30PM Workshop | American Negro Theater Family Cartooning Workshop Jerry Craft, Syndicated Cartoonist of Mama’s Boyz 2PM Panel Discussion | Langston Hughes Auditorium Moderator: Dr. Jonathan Gayles, Georgia State University Panelists: Comics Come to Harlem: Race and the Lafargue Clinics Case Against Comics Qiana Joelle Whitted, University of South Carolina Secret Identities and Mutant Minorities Marcus W. Singer, Howard University Representing Black Citizenship, or Why Understanding the History of Black Comics Helps Us Understand “Django Unchained” Rebecca Ann Wanzo, Washington University St. Louis Pride, Power, and Protest? Marvel Comic and the Black Superhero after 1970 Julian C. Chambliss, Rollins College 2PM Youth Film Screening | American Negro Theater Our Friend Martin: An Adventure Inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr. ___________________________________________________________ Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture The New York Public Library 515 Malcolm X Blvd at 135th Street New York, NY 10037 Directions: Train: or Train to 135th Street Bus: M7 Bus to 135th Street WALK-IN REGISTRATION Follow Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture on: www.schomburgcenter.org

I'm creating a "Black" publishing timeline covering significant events in black publishing over the last 20 years. What events, milestones or accomplishments do you think are important? They do not have to be actions taken by Black people. They could just be events that have impacted Black folks. Thanks, Troy

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR The 21st Annual African American Children's Book Fair will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2013, 1:00-3:00PM, Community College of Philadelphia, 17th Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA. The event is free and opened to the public. The Book Fair started out on a cold frosty day at John Wanamaker Department Store. Sounds like the beginning of a novel. But today is it one of the oldest and largest single day events for African American Children's Books in the region. On average over 3,500 people attend the event each year. With a reported double digit illiteracy rate in the region, our success is due to the fact that we offer the best and the brightest from the multi-cultural literary community; books that enlighten enrich and empower the young citizens in our community. Parents, caregivers, and educators from the tri-state area are very supportive of the event because they understand that children who read make more responsible decisions about their lifestyles. Over 21 nationally known bestselling authors/illustrators will participate. Many have won the American Library Association Coretta Scott King award. Confirmed participants are James Ransome, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Margaree King Mitchell, Deborah Gregory, Jabari Asim, Glennette Tilly Turner, Eric Velasquez, Shadra Strickland, Elizabeth Zunon, Marilyn Nelson, Floyd Cooper, Regina Brooks, Alice Randall, Caroline Randall Williams, David Miller, Renee Watson and Jerry Craft. These authors/illustrators have written some of the best books of our generation. The afternoon is packed with activities that promote the power and joy of reading. Authors and illustrators will make presentations from their books. The Literary Row distributes book related promotional materials free of charges. Our Educator’s book-giveaway distributes brand new books to teachers and librarian to use in their classrooms. A BOOK OPENS UP A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: VANESSE LLOYD-SGAMBATI (215) 877-2012 (MEDIA ONLY) or 878-BOOK. E-mail vlloydsgam@aol.com

At the end of the day it is just a game co-opted into a money machine for a few rich folks. Everything else is just bull shit to support the revenue machine when MLB has become.

Yes I'm also aware they I can "borrow" and eBook from a library with leaving my home. Why on earth would someone pay for an ebook under these conditions? The business models better catch up...

Nah'Sun, I think the Black filmmakers place upon themselves this aspect of "paying homage" when they should be concerned with "entertaining". I think it is possible to make a "conscious" film that is also entertaining (commercially successful), but it is very, very difficult. White filmmakers don't have to worry about "respecting the ancestors" so they just go on a make movies about anything, even occasionally Black folks as in Django, Red Tails, etc. Tyler Perry and Bob Johnson are not too concerned about how Black are portrayed in the media and have focused in entertaining folks and they have become exceedingly wealthy as a consequence. But they have also borne the brunt of harsh criticism from the Black community. Again, i think it is very possible to make an exciting, commercially successful, historically accurate film about people like Toussaint L'ouverture for example. I'm not sure why these stories are not make into movies. I'm mean they are making films about Abraham Lincoln being a vampire hunter, for Christ's sake, before doing a film about the heroics of a Nat Turner.

No I have not are you referring to this book? Is so why?

The Anansi conference was this past November. I was unaware of it -- it looked like quite good with an excellent assemblage of authors. I ABSOLUTELY would have attended covered, and shared information about it -- if I knew about it. I'm familiar with Lee Low Books but was unfamiliar with their New Voices Awards, which I see goes back over a decade. The SCBWI On-The-Verge Emerging Voices Award looks like a really good program. I saw the Adiche Ted talk which I've embedded below (you just post the link and program does the rest) I'm up on Jacquline Woodson, the Library School Journal described Each Kindness as one of the best best for 2012. LookAgainPress, thanks for taking the time to share all of this information. In today's world where only the "Big" books and award get any coverage it is really up to us to spread the word. I use this site to learn about the industries happenings so TRULY appreciate the type of contributions. -- Thanks!

Again I never heard a Black man describe Eminem as the greatest rappper. Once I heard that I figured there was an ulterior motive -- I just could not think of a plausible one, so I'll take Ice-T at his word.... In the hip-hop would I'm not convinced they would have a white rapper anymore due that a Black rapper. Vanilla Ice was widely rejected while the Beastie Boys were embraced -- I think largely due to talent or lack thereof. In recent years talent does not seem to correlate very much with commercial success and there seems to be a bias toward young, Black males who are "street".. Even a rapper like Kanye West (highlighted) in the film is weak compared to Caz, or Mellie Rap or KRS one....

LookAgainPress please feel free to share the links, photos, video of the business you are recommending. Sometimes I follow up and do this on behalf of others I'm just too pressed for time nowadays....

LoookAgainPress, please just post the information. There are people here who just read and don't contribute to the discussion but would be interested in learning about the event. These pages are also indexed by search engines so people search on the subject can discover the information as well. It is not likely the people will go through the additional step of trying to figure out how to reach you, then send a request and wait for a response.

The reunion must have been a sight! Did you attend the 50th or a more recent one? The son in the story, describes how, when he was a kid, he meet another boy (Black) just hanging his neighborhood. He asked kid if he wanted to go to his house and kids said, "yeah", and off they went... When they got home the visiting kid sees his sisters playing in the yard and said, "Who are they?". The son replied, "Those are my sisters". The parents step into the back yard to meet their son's new playmate, and the visiting kid says, "Who are they?" The son, growing incredulous says, "Those are my parents" The visiting kids say "Aw man!" and he leaves. Cynique it would be something if that visiting kid was one of you sons. I'll try to find the story and post a link. The American Life has this habit of cleverly naming programs that obscures what the stories will be about, but make it really hard to reference.

How in the world did I miss this post! I found this fascinating. The line: “All that Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, Steampunk shit ain’t real, bruh. I keeps it real, son…for myself and definitely for my seeds (“children”). I got no interest in those ‘escapist’ hobbies, yo.” was hilarious I could just hear the speaker. I've heard many variations of the same idea myself. This subject is quite topical in the context of the film Django as Black people, so desperate to see our own story, told are bizzarely criticizing the film because it is no done accurately?! In High School (back before they taught to a test and still tried to educate kids) we were given a book to read called Subliminal Seduction (Signet, 1974). In this book the author talks about advertisers using techniques which you were not consciously aware f (subliminal) to sell products, reducing your ability to evaluate the proposition making it easier to sell to you. The ability for our minds to be controlled on a subliminal level has only increased. needless to say those controlling out minds do not have our interests at heart... ---------------- LookAgainPress, welcome to the conversations!

Cynique, if you care to share here on a new thread I'd like to hear about your sibling how many what were they like, how old were they when they passed.

There was an interesting story on This American Life about a family in Maywood IL. The young woman (Italian) was date another student. Her beau was also Italian. At the same time the young lady was banging this Brother (Black) who was on the basketball team. The young lady became pregnant and as was custom during the time (about 40 years ago I believe), the girl's father forced the kids to get married When the child was born the young it was the Brother's child but the young lady was in complete denial -- so much so she truly believed the child was her husbands. The rest of the family, unaware of the young lady's jungle fever had no reason to suspect otherwise... at least not desire to. The family was Italian and suggested the darker complexion child, a boy, inherited Moorish trails from their southern Italian ancestry (which makes me think of Pioneer's argument ). Whenever the young man encountered people in public they assumed he was Black. The poor boy was confused too as he had no reason to believe he had a Black father. If you are into great telling of true stories check out This American Life, from Chicago Public Media. this story of just one of hundreds -- though fascinating this one is not even one of my favorites. It just reminded me of Cynique because the principals involved are from her neck of the woods. You can down load this and other stories (as podcasts) from Amazon or Itunes

Pioneer I don't agree with Ice-T either. I enjoy the foul mouthed Biggie Smalls, the funny Schooly D, or the conscious Chuck D more myself. I was just really very suprised by Ice-T's statement about Eminem, I thought Nah'Sun would get a kick out of proiminet Hip-Hop Artish big upping Eminem So you are saying all that stuff about 8 Mile growing up in the 'hood is all BS? I would not be surprised, I sure most Rappper front (put on airs) about growing up in the ghetto under rough circumstances.

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap - Eminem - Clip Hey Nah'Sun if you are lurking out there Ice-T said this about Eminem; It is amazing the a white boy is the greatest rapper of them all (I've paraphrased Ice-T but that is essentially what he said). I'm not saying I agree, I'm just saying.... He did have Bam in his documentary, but overall I'd give the documentary which I'd give 2.5 stars (out of 5). It was a very biased and shallow treatment of Rap, but I'm sure most youngins and hip-hop fanatics will love it. It was good to see so many different artists provide a sample of their lyrical skills.