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Death of the Black Owned, Independent, Bookstore http://aalbc.it/deathboibs The title of my article may seem rather bleak, but if you look at the data this is exactly where we are headed -- and fast.

Waterstar I see no evidence of such guidance OK, it is too early in the morning for be to be so negative...

Waterstar my time is so limited that I rather spend doing something else that watch a documenatry of questionable validity. While professional integrity and critical thinking skills are not synonymous -- they are both sorely lacking in our media. I just Googled the film and found nothing to suggest that it was questionable. Wikipedia (our information Bible) #3 in my search result indicated nothing. I posted a link to my AALBC.com review. How did you find Kam's review?

Waterstar Spread the word! I wish I had tme for a book I'm doing everything I can to help Black books have a voice online. I just created a database of Black bookstores: http://aalbc.com/writers/bookstores.html There are 87 stores n this list and I hope to add more this is what remains after account for the closing of over 200 stores! I through websites were dying.

writergirl I hear you hence my donning of the symbolic "hoodie". Again I assert that Zimmerman too is a victim of an environment which gives raise to actions like this. Sure I Zimermman needs to be put under the jail; but unless the enviroment in this country changes Zimmerman is just a portent of the future.

Hey Water yes it is a longtime -- glad to see your name again! Unfortunately Lous Reyes Rivera, who write the above message, passed earlier this month: http://aalbc.com/authors/louis_reyes_rivera.html

Waterstar this is one of those situations when Kam's review: http://aalbc.com/reviews/the_boys_of_baraka.htm was enough for me. I had not interest is seeing the film. It is not very often he pans a film so strongly.

writegirl870 anyone who actually contributes to Wikipedia knows the deficencies you've just mentioned. Getting that point across to others is much more difficult. Now Britannica is on-line too, has been for years -- even BEFORE Wikipedia. The problem is that generating the content for Britannica take experts and that takes money. Britannica might even STILL be viable if Google served them first instead of WIkipedia for search results -- this is the ONLY reason Wikipedia has become so relevant and one of the most popular sites on the web. The only thing I not clear on is what is Google's strategy behind elevating Wikipedia at the expense of Britannica and every other better source of any given pice of information.

Cynique, people especially our people are just angry. It is a powder keg on both sides. Ignorant white folks don't know who the real enemy is -- once they figure it out then and maybe then things will change for the better. Black folks already know, but few are willing to admit, that even a Black presdient can not make things better. This will be demonstrated by our lack luster turnout at the polls in November.

Information-yet-no-critical-thinking-skills-Age I wish someone would write the book in the subject. The assumption is since we have more access to information that we are automatically better off -- when on every measurable level we are not. The assumption is that if we put a PC's in every classroom the students will be better off, or if everyone gets a 3D 60" flat screen TV with 1,00 channels and we'll be better entertained. It is very frustrating dealing with people who believe society is better off but can not point to a single thing that is actually better (especially for Black folks) other than to say technology has improved. Sure there have been advances for individuals as a result of technology, but I'm talking about the masses; who continue to be largley exploited -- with the aid of technology.

He is Barack Obama. Glad you got your keyboard fixed. Thought I see the caps lock is still broken :-)

I had a long drawn out conversation about this topic the other day on Facebook (we used to have those types of debates here but that is the topic of another conversation). At any rate, it makes little sense to compare an printed encyclopedia with Wikipedia. The encyclopedia was never intended to reflect current event -- that was what newspapers were for. Wikipedia is often cited as a contributing factor to Britannica's demise, so the comparisons are inevitably made. My issue has to do with the nature of the information, whether in a newspaper, Wikipedia, or an encyclopedia, and how it is created, positioned and disseminated. In today’s world real journalism has taken a back seat to amateur bloggers, reference material is cobbled together by the masses rather than credentialed individuals, and editorial and opinion is positioned as fact. All the way, celebrity and scandal taken precedence over meaningful information all in the name of more money. This causes very serious problems in the way information is gathered and broadcast. We have no real way of know what is true or a lie. Individuals have not real way of even assessing presidential candidates ‘cause all well get are sound bites and spin. Despite the ever increasing number of websites, Blogs, and social media the web has made obtaining factual information MORE difficult – not easier. It is getting worse every year. Wikipedia is not immune to this problem. Wikipedia, validation by the mob, not nearly as efficient as validation by experts, as you would find in an encyclopedia. An encyclopedia does not have contributions made by entities trying to promote their businesses (commercials), as Wikipedia. Wikipedia is also a platform for entities who have axes to grind and post slanderous if not outright lies to advance a position. I’m sure some people will assert that Britannica is culturally biased, but if they think Wikipedia is not biased they are truly ignorant.

I'm telling you Cynique we are reverting as a nation, in a rapid decline. No one seems to care very much. I guess with professional sports and reality TV we can all play the fiddle why the country goes down the crapper.

Britannica is Dead -- Good Riddance... Right? I'm as technically oriented as they get, but Britannica discontinuing the publication of their encyclopedia does not strike me as a good thing. What do you think? Here is a related Article: http://www.mediapost...britannica.html

Thanks for sharing information about your book. Here is a short link you can use: http://bit.ly/evangaline to link to your book.

Biotumelo, I hope you resolve you PC problem soon Cynique, the country is already quite stratified. In places as "diverse" as NYC segregation is quite evident within individual neighborhoods. Shortly after Obama was elected I predicted that he would not be reelected for a 2nd term. I stand by th prediction today. Before Obama annouced his candidancy I predicted that he would be the next president. The predictions are based upon the same sentiments, people are desperate for a "change" for the better. Unless there are some very fundamental changes in our system, things will only get only worse in America. Black folks, as usual are the canaries in the mine shaft leading the way in every negative category, but as Black folks go so does the rest of the country...

Boitumelo, make sure the new keyboard Caps Lock key is not broken too

Coming May 8, 2012

Welcome Melanie, and thanks for sharing your input. While folks are reading this topic I wish more would weigh in. Congrats on the small press publishing your work. I submit that the insatiable drive for ever increasing profits has contributed to the decline of publishing. Of course as Black people, we bear the brunt of the negative impact. Publishing is not the only causality, music, TV, film, is all suffering for similiar reasons. Back to books and Blacks folks: A business can operate, thrive even without persuing only profit. The reason the smaller press published yor book, I suspect, is that they were concerned with more than simply turning a dollar. They have a mission besides money. Melanie, perhas you can tell us what it is about yout work and the publisher that made them descide to publish your work? I know Kensington Publishing operates a little differently than Simon and Schuster. I know Akashic press selects authors in a different fashion than Hachette Book Group. Sure the differences cut across the board, but the differences are so much more stark for Black authors. As an excerise, I'll ask folks to find 10 Black authors published by Akashic Books, then compare them to 10 Black authors published by Hachette Book group compare the authors and let me know what you think.

Boitmelo, I'm surprised at you. I thought you'd be more focused on the dismal graduation rates of that school. Mississippi Valley State University as has 4 year graduation rate of 14% Perhaps the play in game the Devils them a potential for 1 win in the NCAA tourney, before they get blown out by #1 seed Kentucy. So that is at least two games instead of one that generates revenue for the school which they can channel into academic programs, raise the profile of the school and maybe do something about actually educating students and getting them degrees.

Clearly we are a celebrity obsessed culture. This is axiomatic and obviously to anyone who has been here more than a few minutes. The masses can't help themselves, perhaps it is human nature. Maybe people would care if the media (including the "so called" Black media) covered Payne and his accomplishments, in the same matter in which they chronicle every detail of Bobby and Whitney's dysfunctional relationship. Boitumelo if you really cared, I would suggest that you expend your energy talking about what Donald Payne actually accomplished and why he is noteworthy. This would be more be far more constructive than bitching about the obvious celebrity obsessed culture we live in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LmRu0ATdBw KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. HOW TO HELP: Donate to Invisible Children: www.causes.com/donatekony2012 Purchase KONY 2012 products: http://invisiblechildrenstore.myshopify.com/ Sign the Pledge: www.causes.com/konypledge For official PRESS and artist REPRESENTATION ONLY: Monica Vigo pr@invisiblechildren.com DIRECTOR: Jason Russell LEAD EDITOR: Kathryn Lang EDITORS: Kevin Trout, Jay Salbert, Jesse Eslinger LEAD ANIMATOR: Chad Clendinen ANIMATOR: Jesse Eslinger 3-D MODELING: Victor Soto VISUAL EFFECTS: Chris Hop WRITERS: Jason Russell, Jedidiah Jenkins, Kathryn Lang, Danica Russell, Ben Keesey, Azy Groth PRODUCERS: Kimmy Vandivort, Heather Longerbeam, Chad Clendinen, Noelle Jouglet ORIGINAL SCORES: Joel P. West SOUND MIX: Stephen Grubbs, Mark Friedgen, Smart Post Sound COLOR: Damian Pelphrey, Company 3 CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, Laren Poole, Gavin Kelly, Chad Clendinen, Kevin Trout, Jay Salbert, Shannon Lynch PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Jaime Landsverk LEAD DESIGNER: Tyler Fordham DESIGNERS: Chadwick Gantes, Stephen Witmer MUSIC CREDIT: "02 Ghosts I" Performed by Nine Inch Nails Written by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor Produced by Alan Moulder, Atticus Ross, and Trent Reznor Nine Inch Nails appear courtesy of The Null Corporation "Punching in a Dream" Performed by The Naked and Famous Written by Aaron Short, Alisa Xayalith, and Thom Powers Produced by Thom Powers The Naked and Famous appear courtesy of Somewhat Damaged and Universal Republic "Arrival of the Birds" Performed by The Cinematic Orchestra Written by The Cinematic Orchestra Produced by The Cinematic Orchestra The Cinematic Orchestra appears courtesy of Disney Records "Roll Away Your Stone" Performed by Mumford and Sons Written by Benjamin Lovett, Edward Dwane, Marcus Mumford, and Winston Marshall Produced by Markus Dravs Mumford and Sons appear courtesy of Glassnote Entertainment Group LLC "On (Instrumental)" Performed by Bloc Party Written by Bloc Party Produced by Jacknife Lee Bloc Party appears courtesy of Vice Records "A Dream within a Dream" Performed by The Glitch Mob The Glitch Mob appears courtesy of Glass Air "I Can't Stop" Performed by Flux Pavilion Flux Pavilion appears courtesy of Circus Records Limited

Markbookworm, welcome to the discussion baords! Markbooworm there are indeed more books being published than ever before -- especially by Black folks. However I would say that the renaissance has already taken place and what we are seeing is a decline. More books being published but smaller average sales per author. Declining advances, fewer boostores, fewers book websites, fewer literary magazines, less book coverage in newspapers and magaiznes than 5 years ago. But my main point, is what is happenning in the halls of the large publishing houses like Random House, Hachette, Simon & Shuster, relative to Black folks. It looks like we simply have fewer Black folks working, than when the orginal Black Pack party was held 10 years ago. I don't have data but I know there are less Black editors than there were 5 years ago. About the authors you mentioned: Baisden is popular, and does positive things for the community, but I would not categorize his work as "creative". Besides hasin't he been writing the essentially the same book since he first published almost 20 years ago? McBride, while abundantly talented artistically, has only written 1 novel, not excactly reflective of a trend or an influence on one (all due respect to both authors, both of whom have sold a lot of book on AALBC.com). I'm unfamiliar with J.Pizarro-Cruz.