GROVE STREET
A tribute to Marion Barry, Jr. Misty Copeland inspires next generation ballerinas Raheem DeVaughn gives back to the DMV Amaleka McCall makes literary moves Henry Bass & Jerry Craft’s “Zombie Zone” Shelia’ Corner Judge Carla Smith Darren Desepoli preserves literary history Ilyasah Shabazz preserves Malcom X’s legacy Nai’lah Carter talks natural hair Sharon Lucas brings black authors & readers together Printer advice Commentary & more
Commentary A reoccurring thought stuck in my mind. If you do not like what you are hearing or seeing around you, get up and do something to make a positive change! In this issue of Grove Street, I would like to pay tribute to changemakers who are not complaining about inequities, problems, or lack of opportunity. They are actively working to change things for the better by implementing their ideas. While I have been away from Grove Street, I immersed myself in the world of journalism, attended fabulous events, and dove into newspaper publishing. During my time working as a newspaper editor, I can truly say that I was flooded with press releases informing me about great things that people were doing in their profession and in their communities. In American culture, we often are flooded with bad news, such as crime and shocking behavior that worsens the human condition. I have learned that there is plenty of good news to share. To put it bluntly, I feel that the world needs to hear more good news about what African Americans are doing, along with progressive people in the rest of the world. Readers and television viewers must let networks and publishers know that good news can sell well, too. My past frustration with publishing Grove Street was the lesser appeal of celebrity news without drama, and straightforward interviews that did not include sensationalism. Unfortunately, that is what often sells. However, I recently received several media inquiries about our publication, our mission, and our commitment to celebrating black history. Those emails were motivating and timely. Putting this magazine together, gathering quality content, and attending events is extremely time consuming. We have never charged subscription fees while producing digital content, although our structure may have to change. But for reasons I may not even know, there is a reason that you found us. Helping to tell human interest stories equitably is important to me. Part of equity also entails recognizing community leadership. Many times, we celebrate famous faces and names during black history month. While trailblazers we know have a critical place in how our story is shaped, this time I also would like to stress the importance of acknowledging the next generation of changemakers, community changemakers, and artistic changemakers. We do not have to be rich, famous or popular to spark a movement that can make an important change. While studying predecessors is important, so is becoming aware of people in our midst who may or may not make national news. Each changemaker in this issue—famous or not— exhibits passion in their career, volunteer efforts, or overall way in which they live while working to improve the human condition. This special tribute is partially a year in review that integrates some of the very best events that I have covered, while also highlighting people who contribute in the literary arts and in various professions. You will also receive book industry advice provided by Arnold & Bao Printing, LLC. Welcome back!
Andrea Blackstone
Editor-In-Chief Andrea Blackstone Associate Editor Shelia Bell http://www.sheliaebell.net/ Digital Partners: Eleanor Shields/ Black Butterfly Review Magazine http://data.axmag.com/data/201411/20141111/U21199_F311250/HTML5/index.html
http://alexhaley.com/ Arnold & Bao Printing, LLC www.arnoldbaoprinting.com Darren Desepoli Contributing Writers: Nai’lah Carter
http://nailahcarter.com/ Del Arnold Advertising Email velocitydmv@gmail.com No content or images can be copied or used without the consent of Grove Street.
Photo courtesy of Natasha Brown
“Black History is a culmination of our success and struggles, our legacies and hard work. Black History is 365 days a year. It is embedded in every aspect of American culture. We make history daily, and my hope and concern today is that Black youth understand and own the great ancestral lines in their heritage and realize the deep impact their current actions will have on our future generations.� Natasha T. Brown Author, Activist, Award-winning Communicator Founder: Think Brown INK @NatashaTBrown natashatbrown.com
My new book "10 Blessings of Betrayal: A Spiritual Journey of Rebuilding through Tragedy," was released on Valentine's Day. Visit http://www.amazon.com/10-Blessings-Betrayal-Spiritual-Rebuildingebook/product-reviews/B00TEYCOGQ. TBI's new guidebook "The Build Up Branding Blueprint: 7 Steps to Launch and Sustain Impact Brands" is available. Visit http://thebuilduplab.org/2013/03/.
Misty Copeland Photo credit: Andrea Blackstone
Misty Copeland inspires the next generation of ballerinas By Andrea Blackstone
Misty Copeland visited Baltimore, Maryland on January 31, 2015, during Enoch Pratt Library’s Booklovers’ Breakfast. The third African American soloist at American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is regarded as a history maker in the ballet world, but she is also an author. Copeland is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, “Life in Motion.” She is also the author of the children’s book, “Firebird.” The author shared that the story of Firebird evolved because Raven Wilkinson — her mentor who was an American ballerina in the 1950s with the company in the South, Ballet Russe inspired her. “She left America because she was pretty much chased out by the KKK,” Copeland said.
Wilkinson’s experiences led Copeland to feel that she could take on the ballet world herself. Firebird entails mentorship of an older dancer who lets a young dancer know that it is okay to have doubts. Pieces of Copeland’s life shape the backdrop of the story. Copeland, 32, faced obstacles as a child growing up in California. At one point, she slept on the floor of a motel room along with her siblings, all of whom were supported by their single mother, Sylvia DelaCerna. Hard work paid off for the teenager who was first exposed to ballet at the age of 13 through the Boys & Girls Club. “I’m just thrilled to be doing these roles that every little girl dreams of doing,” Copeland said. Copeland spoke about working with her manager three years ago, when she wondered how to motivate a new demographic. The ballet dancer remarked that she understands the weight that it holds to be a black woman who has been given the opportunity to become a principal dancer with a company like ABT. “I think the first time that we saw change was when I debuted the role of Firebird in New York City. To see all of the brown people in the audience—I think the artistic staff of ABT…the people who had been going to the ballet industry for over 50 years—were all shocked. Half of the audience was African American,” Copeland said. “There are critics in the ballet world who would say Misty is just this fad. People just want to see her perform, but it is going to change the art form when she is not on stage any longer. I truly believe that people are coming because of me, and then they are seeing that ‘Oh, I can see my daughter up there now because she can see herself through Misty.’ I truly believe that we can promote change for the long term.” The ballet dancer predicted that she has another eight to ten years left to dance. Copeland stressed her desire to see more diversity in the ballet world. “I will forever stay connected to the ballet world in some way and never leave it. I think I was meant to be a part of it, and I love it so much,” Copeland said. “I want to give back everything that it has given to me.” One young dancer who attended the breakfast related to Copeland’s candor and plight. “Honesty, it was probably one of the best days of my life because it was really inspirational and refreshing seeing a black ballerina. She had so much valuable information that is going to help me in my life as I continue my dance career, and I’m so appreciative,” said All-State Dancer, Giavanni Powell. Powell attends South River High School and ranks as one of Maryland’s top 25 dancers who attend public school in Maryland. Other students in attendance were from Prince George’s County, Maryland. Rhonda Dallas, the Executive Director of the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, arranged for six aspiring dancers to attend the Booklovers’ Breakfast.
“Honestly, it was probably one of the best days of my life because it was really inspirational and refreshing seeing a black ballerina. She had so much valuable information that is going to help me in my life as I continue my dance career, and I’m so appreciative.” --All-State Dancer, Giavanni Powell
Misty Copeland signs books for fans.
Enoch Pratt Library staff with Misty Copeland during the close of the Booklovers’ Breakfast.
Photo courtesy of Del Arnold
Book Printing 101 Arnold & Bao Printing, LLC was founded by Del & Julia Arnold. The Maryland-based printing company has been in operation for a year and a half. Arnold & Bao Printing offers consulting, design, printing, translation, publishing, marketing, distribution and fulfillment services for nonprofits, businesses, and self-published authors. Grove Street: Is POD really cheaper? Can books be printed competitively? Del: Choosing digital versus offset printing is a question that many self-publishers struggle with, but printing your titles on traditional offset equipment may not always be the most economical approach over the long term. Self-publishers must take into account the costs that they can potentially incur down the road should inventory not sell right away or become obsolete. These are just a couple of the considerations when weighing the choice between digital versus offset printing. We call this concept lifespan of book, and it is our solution for helping you manage inventory and associated costs by printing more closely to actual demand. The result is the maximization of a title's revenues and profits from cradle to grave. We help our customers analyze digital versus offset printing opportunities so that they can choose the manufacturing method that works best for them over time. Printing a large quantity of books may look like the best solution in the short run. However, careful analysis may reveal that printing a shorter run is a more cost effective approach. With short run printing, titles never have to go out of print, helping you make money on sales of slow selling titles that would otherwise go out-of-print or never get printed in the first place. You can also put out-of-print titles back into production, so you never have to say no to an order in hand, whether it's for one copy or several thousand. Short run printing also provides an affordable way to print and reprint books in small quantities. This saves you money on inventory and warehouse space. It significantly reduces or eliminates the need to write off and destroy remaining excess stock.
It is important to realize that inventory is not free and that printing more books than you need just to drive unit costs down does not make sense. By focusing instead on the total costs of doing business, you will reduce inventory, improve your cash flow, and your bottom line. Grove Street: Explain how many copies are required for a traditional print run. Del: Traditional offset print runs have become smaller and smaller due to new digital printing technologies that have similar high quality prints as the traditional offset presses. Because of these advancements, we are able to print as little as one book. Grove Street: What has your largest order been? What kind of book was it? Del: Our largest order was for 100,000 books. The book was a perfect bound gloss cover that was printed for a well-known Christian evangelist who actually gave them all away to new converts at a large event that took place in Washington D.C. in July of 2014. Grove Street: What are advantages of authors using your services instead of calling printers themselves? Del: Arnold & Bao Printing has established relationships with many well-known printing, design, and publishing companies around the world, giving our clients access to a full spectrum of services that can be utilized by our clients for their specific needs. Because of these established relationships, we are given reduced rates that self-publishers or companies are not able to obtain on their own. Additionally, our customer service is superior, and we work hard to ensure every job is completed on time and communicate diligently with our clients so we can understand every detail of the job, ensuring it is completed in a highly effective and efficient manner. Grove Street: What costs are involved with your printing services? Del: Every job is different, and the cost will vary depending on the services you are provided. Most clients use our design services to create their book or social media covers. Publishing services such as editing, developmental editing, proofreading, and typesetting can be substantial depending on how much work your manuscript needs. Translation services are a cost you will want to include, especially with the rising population of different immigrants coming to the United States from around the world. Finally, you will want to consider your printing costs which can vary depending on the number of books you print, type of materials used, size of books (6�, 9�), number of pages, color versus black and white, offset or digital printing, special enhancements, such as foil printing or embossing, and shipping destination. Grove Street: What is a big mistake that many authors make before getting you to arrange book printing? Del: Many clients do not market their book properly before they go to print. You have to remember that this is a business just like any other endeavor a person would start. Marketing yourself 6 months to a year in advance, through your own website, social media, and blogging sites are just a few ways that you can provide constant updates about the progress of your book which can create a buzz and interest in pre-ordering before you even think about printing. Additionally, I would suggest that you seek the advice of a professional consultant who can help
you avoid many of the pitfalls that self-publishers fall into because they simply lack experience. Most companies will limit the time they spend with you as there are many people calling every day, so it is impossible that they spend hours on the phone with every client answering their every question. A professional consultant can help you understand the industry and provide you with tips on how to save time and money. For example, many printing companies have standard sizes such as 8.5� x 5.5� that can be more cost effective when compared to using a book size that creates a lot of waste when cut into an odd size. Another example is how many printing companies have a 10% over/under run policy where the printer can produce either less or more depending on various events that take place during printing. Self-publishers are shocked when they get a bill for 10% more than what was expected or do not have enough books to fulfill orders. If you are going to self-publish a book, hiring a consultant who is experienced can save you many unnecessary headaches! Contact Del Arnold via del@arnoldbaoprinting.com. Visit Arnold & Bao Printing, LLC online at www.arnoldbaoprinting.com.
Judge Carla Smith promoted to Sixth Circuit Court in Montgomery County
Photo credit: Andrea Blackstone
Even if you are a Maryland resident, you may have missed an interesting piece of legal history. Judge Carla Smith was sworn in as the first black female Montgomery District Court judge in 2012. The mother of three sons was appointed by former Gov. Martin O’Malley December 30, 2014 as a judge in the Sixth Circuit Court of Maryland in Montgomery County, which is one of the largest counties in the state of Maryland “I will not let you down. I promise that. I will give 110 percent. I will give every person the opportunity to be heard. If I don’t know the answer, I will have my clerk look it up,” Smith said, humorously. During Smith’s 20-year legal career in District Courtroom, she reportedly earned the respect of litigants and colleagues. Prior to becoming a district court judge, she served as an assistant state’s attorney in Prince George’s County and also Montgomery County. From 2012-2014, Smith reportedly worked as an associate judge in the Sixth District Court for Montgomery County. She worked as a chief attorney in the Family Violence Division in Montgomery County from 2007-2012. The judge is regarded as the go to person on child abuse and domestic violence matters in Maryland She has been instrumental in establishing a criminal child abuse statute, in addition to playing a significant role in the creation of the Montgomery County Family Justice Center. During the process of her recent judgeship, Smith was interviewed by up to twelve specialty bars. She was interviewed by a judicial commission who required letters of recommendation
and gathered information for former Gov. O’Malley to consider. Desired qualities of candidates included someone that has a strong ethic, an individual who possesses a genuine ability to listen and hear, a legal leader who has exhibited a positive, even-handed demeanor and a person who is fair. “I recognized that all of those firsts, wouldn’t have happened without the sweat and work of others and not just Martin Luther King, but others who live right here in Montgomery County. The names I heard growing up, some of them are here today,” Smith said. “I also think it’s our obligation to forge ahead,” the granddaughter of immigrants said. Smith spoke about the indignities that her Jamaican grandmother, who lived to be 104 years old, faced because of the color of her skin. However, the woman who worked as a domestic did not let it change who she was. While Smith reflected on her investiture, she acknowledged a list of trailblazers in attendance, including: Ike Leggett, the first county council member and first black County Executive in Montgomery County, Sharon Burrell, the first black female judge in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Jessica Dixon Weaver, the first female to receive tenure at Southern Methodist Dedman School of law, Angela Alsobrooks, the first black female State’s Attorney in Prince George’s County, the first Hispanic judge in Montgomery County, Marielsa Bernard, Eric Nee, the first Chinese judge in Montgomery County and the honorable Jeannie Cho, the first Korean female judge in Montgomery County, Maryland
Photo credit: Andrea Blackstone September 18, 2014, former District of Columbia mayor and Ward City Councilman, Marion Barry, Jr. signed books at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Barry was longtime friends with the Ali family who owns the nationally recognized landmark. Councilmember Jim Graham, rear, watches his friend sign books for eager fans.
One thing that I noticed about the late Marion Barry, Jr. was that he was willing to do the work to promote that book that he penned along with Omar Tyree. Instead of complaining about his health challenges, the ‘Mayor for Life’ showed up at various places around the beltway promoting “Mayor for Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr.” Upon reading the book, I discovered another perspective about a man who did so much for residents in Washington, D.C. Some reporters focused on errors in his personal life, but what they often disregarded was that the ‘Mayor for Life’ could never be destroyed in the hearts and minds of many who recall how he fought for everyday people in pursuit of a better opportunities and circumstances. One night I read “Mayor For Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr.” I gained another perspective of the former mayor before he passed away. The book was a mixture of history, perseverance, and even admission. The last time I saw the late mayor, I told him that all reporters were not out to tarnish his image. Through this brief tribute, I seek to stay true to my word.
Virginia Ali and her son, right, share a tender moment before the late Marion Barry, Jr.’s book signing. Ben’s Chili Bowl, located at 1213 U Street in the District, has historical significance. When Washington was segregated, notable artists who performed on U Street —such as Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington— would often stop by the restaurant. Ben’s also stayed open during the 1968 riots, making sacrifices to feed black activists, law enforcement officials, and firemen. The establishment is still frequented by celebrities and public figures.
“Mayor For Life,” which was published by Strebor Books, was nominated for an NAACP Award. The 46 annual NAACP Image Awards aired on TVOne February 6, 2015.
Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. March 6, 1936 – Nov. 23, 2014
“Hello, Ward One. Hello, everybody. You know earlier this year I had a serious illness. I had a blood infection. It literally knocked me to my knees, but because of your prayers and a good God, I’m back. Let’s give God some praise. He’s brought us out of a lot of things hasn’t He?” “I don’t know where to start with Virginia Ali. I’ve known here for at least 45 of those 56 years. I remember when the metro was being built. I brought the green line to U Street. It was last. I made it first. It was here. It was a mess. Most businesses closed down but Ben’s Chili Bowl and a family kept it open.” “Jim Graham was there when nobody else was there. We’ve been fighting for TANIF, fighting for welfare recipients, fighting for your people. Jim I appreciate you. He’s a good friend. I love each and every one of you. I love this community. I love Washington, D.C. I love the kind of work that God inspired me to do. It was God’s work. I’m a vessel. I’d rather give than to take. I’d rather help than to hurt. I’d rather love than to hate. God has blessed me and blessed this city. U Street didn’t look like this. Fourteen Street didn’t look like that - none of this area. People are not going to come in the community and displace long-term residents.” “I wrote this book because lots of things had been written about me. Thirty-second sound bites. Long stories. Short stories. But a lot of that wasn’t complete. It was misinformation. This book is about nothing but the truth. It talks about me being born in Mississippi, poor and black in that area and coming up here. The book is supposed to be educational and inspirational. Basically what it says is: It’s not where you were born or when or how, but what you can do with your life after you are born.”
Omar Tyree (left) and the late four-time mayor of Washington, D.C., Marion Barry, Jr. (right) at the Authors’ Pavilion during the 2014 Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference.
The making of ‘ Mayor For Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr’ “It was an eleven month process where I had to keep coming up to Washington D.C. because he (Marion Barry, Jr.) didn’t want me to do any phoners with him. He wanted me to sit across from him and look him in the eyes. I had to keep driving up here and sometimes I’d be waiting for Mr. Barry for a while. So, I’d get there on time and wait for three hours to get one hour, but we finally finished it. It’s a great book. It’s a monumental read. It talks about the Mayor before you knew him. That’s more important to me because we didn’t know him as an academic, as a Freedom Fighter, as a black individual from the South, and all of thing things that he has done.” --Omar Tyree
this!
Photo credit: Andrea Blackstone Edgar Brookins, general manager of the AFRO American Newspaper and R&B recording artist/ record producer, Al B. Sure were spotted together in Virginia supporting homeless women veterans Oct. 12, 2014.
Author Amaleka McCall becomes associate publisher of OWL
Amaleka McCall during Night Owl’s launch in D.C. 2014
By Andrea Blackstone
A new black romance and erotica publishing line is on the block. Amaleka McCall is part of it. McCall, an author who has written six full-length novels and included in five anthologies, was hand selected by Ashley and JaQuavis to serve as Associate Publisher and Acquisitions Editor for Night Owl in 2014. Ashley and JaQuavis are the New York Times Bestselling authors of over 40 novels who also founded Official Writers League (O.W.L) in 2012. McCall hails from Brooklyn, N.Y. but currently resides in Va. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Master’s in Public Administration, and holds down a day job while building a solid writing career. The mother of three never self-published her work, yet she remains humble. “Loyalty, talent, and humility is what the OWL movement is about,” McCall said. “I feel like my biggest accomplishment is staying afloat in the industry for 10 years. I may not have that NY Times bestseller yet, but I have managed to stay published and relevant for 10 years, which is sometimes rare in our industry. Heading up this romance company is also one of the most rewarding things I have accomplished thus far. I love being able to give talented authors work that they can feel good about,” McCall said. McCall said that Night Owl's mission is to create stories that offer unforgettable characters that readers will root for in their quest to overcome conflicts in the name of finding long-term loving relationships. The first two books of the Wealth and Desires series under Night Owl will be released in early 2015. The talented writer’s latest book, “Suicide Queens,” was published by Official Writers League on January 24, 2015. Additionally, McCall will co-write the novel, “Full Circle 2: The Wives Association” with reality T.V. star, Evelyn Lozada. Look up McCall on Twitter @AMcBraithwaite and Facebook under Amaleka McCall Braithwaite.
About Suicide Queens Allyson "Ally" Cintron grew up in a family of killers. Her father was the head of the notorious Los Asesinos--a crew of hired hit men who carried out some of the deadliest hits on some of the most powerful players in the game. When the tables unexpectedly turn on the family, Ally is the only one left alive. Reeling from the death of her parents, Ally tries to commit suicide. When she is found clinging to life, the social services system places her at Amityville Juvenile Detention and Psychiatric Center. At Amityville, Ally meets Bianca and Charlie, who were also locked up for trying to take their own lives. Bound by pain and suffering the abuses of the system, all three girls form a pact and name themselves the Suicide Queens. When Ally tricks a doctor into releasing her, she is out for revenge and returns to the only life she knows--street life. Will her father's old ties help her? Or will she inherit her father's debts to the streets? Walk with this Suicide Queen and find out if she has what it takes to stay alive in a game so bloody she might wish she were dead. http://www.amazon.com/Suicide-Queens-Amaleka-McCallebook/dp/B00SPAJ1AW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423946999&sr=11&keywords=amaleka+mccall
Descendant of Kunta Kinteh aspires to raise money to bring clean water to the Gambia
If you do not know who Lamin Jatta is, he previously appeared in Grove Street Issue #15. Jatta, a descendant of Kunta Kinteh, has not forgotten the Gambia and the people who live there. Water is something that many Americans take for granted, but in developing countries, not everyone has benefit of clean drinking water. Jatta has been hard at work, trying to raise money for a mission that he believes in. Through the Kunta Kinteh Family Foundation, Jatta is bringing Ben Vereen, Mark Wolper, a few members of the Haley family, and other special guests together in Seattle, Washington for a special program at the Seattle Art Museum, 2015 on February 28. If you are located in or near Seattle, an exclusive screening of “Kuntah Kinteh Island-Coming Home Without Shackles� will be held. Tickets are available via www.kuntakintehisland.eventbrite.com.
Creative pair makes strides in children’s literature, showcases African American characters
Photo credit: Andrea Blackstone
Port of Harlem contributor, McKenya Dilworth, (left rear), Patrik Henry Bass, books editor of Essence, book illustrator Jerry Craft and Dilworth’s intern mingle after discussing Bass and Craft’s book, “Zero th Degree Zombie Zone” during the 14 annual Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
My kid’s pick for this issue is “Zero Degree Zombie Zone” by Patrik Henry Bass and Jerry Craft. Although I have not read the book that was published by Scholastic Press yet, I consider the story that introduces readers to three boys and a bossy girl named Keisha to be a worthy literary trip. Bass—an award-winning writer and editor—who serves as the editorial projects director of Essence explained how the book concept evolved. “Scholastic reached out to me—Andrea Davis Pinkney—who is an editor at Scholastic. She is a bit of a legend in the industry. She reached out to me in my day job at Essence Magazine where I’m the books editor. We were just talking about the children’s book world, what she was seeing and what I was seeing. She was talking about the opportunity to fill a void and that was to try to get African American boys to read more,” Bass said. “I’d been always toying around with the idea of fantasy, because I get all kinds of books across my desk when I would see them. They are wonderful works. I don’t need to name the names of all of the authors, but the books were divided into two categories. It was either realistic fiction or it was biographies. I was seeing all of these fantasy stories, but I wasn’t seeing any African American kids in the fantasy stories at
all…not even one kid. So, I said, Andrea, if we do this I would like to toy with the idea of putting African American kids in a fantasy category and see where it goes from there. Six years later and here we are.” Craft said that he has two sons that weren’t necessarily readers early on. After reading it, his sons gave the story the thumbs up. He was given a few months to complete the illustrations. “I worked harder bringing things into the house that they did want to read. This is kind of right up their alley, you know, where it’s two friends. It’s ordinary kids having to rise to the occasion and do something extraordinary.” Bass said that it is critical for young African Americans to see themselves in literature. “I think it’s critical because it you don’t see yourselves then you don’t really have a foundation. That was one of the goals that I was trying to do without making it heavy-handed. I wanted to make something realistic, but the best way to do that is through an universal lens where you’re not attached to an issue, you’re attached to an emotion. I just wanted kids to be attached to an emotion to bring emotion back to the children, without there being some degree of crisis, so this extraordinary zombie attack happens to the school. It really does test them. I think when children step into the narrative, they will relate to issues of loyalty, goals, of competiveness, dealing with their envy, and also dealing with working together. They will see themselves in a different lens than from other mediums…whether that’s the illustrations, a cartoon, or whether a newspaper clipping or report. They will see themselves accurately. They will see themselves as multidimensional—that thinking, that growing,” Bass said.
The Life of Payne was published Dec. 30, 2014. It is the second book in Shelia E. Bell’s Fairley High teen series. This book is appropriate for readers in middle school and up.
Grove Street: What is this book about? S.B.: The Life of Payne is a story about the tumultuous life of a young man and his siblings who are being raised by an abusive, drug addicted mother. Grove Street: Tell me a little about the main character. S.B.: Payne, whose name is Payden Lamar Washington, is a fifteen-year-old young man who is the oldest of six. He is often the target of his mother's violent, abusive temper due to her drug addiction. He loves music and art and excels in school, which is his sanctuary away from a life filled with pain. Grove Street: What inspired you to write this book? S.B.: I was inspired to write this story because I wanted young people who may be experiencing a similar story like Payne's, to know that there are those who care about them and are concerned about their well-being. I also wrote this story because the life Payne and his siblings lead is experienced on a daily basis in homes all over this country. Grove Street: Is it a part of a series? S.B.: Yes, it is part of a series: The Fairley High Series, but it is not a sequel.
Grove Street: Who is your favorite character and why? S.B.: I guess I would say that the protagonist, Payne, is my favorite character. He exemplifies strength and determination in spite of the horrible home situation he faces day after day. He has a spirit of resiliency and though he tires of being put in such a tough position because of his mother's lack of parenting, he continues to take care of his siblings. He has a positive outlook on his life and believes that the key to escaping the harsh realities of his home life is through getting a good education. Purchase The Life of Payne http://www.amazon.com/Life-Payne-Fairley-High-Bookebook/dp/B00RMB7WXI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422821328&sr=81&keywords=The+life+of+payne+by+shelia
Should we hold artists accountable for their messages? Should we expect them to be involved in improving communities? Meet Raheem DeVaughn.
Photo credit- Andrea Blackstone
Singer Raheem DeVaughn gives back through new nonprofit
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Singer Raheem DeVaughn during the 1 annual Raheem Devaughn LiveLife Charity Foundation Weekend.
Raheem Devaughn is a busy man. The three-time Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, known as The Love King, is currently promoting his album, Love, Sex & Passion. Amidst his career endeavors, his genuine concern for the community led to launching the LoveLife Foundation April 26, 2014 in Washington, D.C. Causes that will be addressed include, domestic violence, autism, cancer, education, HIV/AIDS, mental illness and music and the arts. DeVaughn encouraged artists to use their gift for this purpose while taking inspiring words and actions back to the streets. “We have a sense of responsibility as artists. We have to start holding our artists—not just locally—but nationally and globally—we’ve got to hold them accountable. If they can’t see fit to sit on a panel like this or organize and strategize in your community…you support them on iTunes. You support them on BET. You support them at the Essence Music Festival,” DeVaughn said, during the Black Men’s Summit and Town Hall Meeting August 21, 2014. “There’s a level of propaganda, and there’s youth down the street that need to be in here and engaged in this conversation.”
The Black Men’s Summit and Town Hall Meeting August 21 was held at the Temple of Praise in SE, Washington, D.C. Panel participants stand with Raheem DeVaughn (center, left) Roland Martin of TV One’s News One Now (center, right) moderated the discussion.
Roland Martin, (right), allows an attendee to speak during the summit. Topics such as materialism, manhood, police brutality, fatherhood, mentorship, media images, and community involvement were discussed during The Black Men’s Summit and Town Hall Meeting.
DeVaughn paints and talks with youth who attended Meet The Music—Youth & Arts Seminar that was held August 23, 2014. Experts exposed youth to musical and artistic careers as a part of the events during LoveLife Foundation’s charity weekend. Visit http://lovelifefoundationdmv.org/ for more information.
Photo courtesy of Eleanor Shields
Eleanor Shields is a book reviewer, digital publisher, wife, and mother who has given years of free services to the literary community. Shields has a genuine passion for giving authors from all backgrounds exposure and also allowing African Americans to receive wider publicity for their work and accomplishments. She makes time to support authors in-person and online. We would like to take a moment to salute this Marylander for all that she does to promote literacy and the love of diverse literature. Read her latest e-zine issue via http://data.axmag.com/data/201411/20141111/U21199_F311250/HTML5/index.html.
Ilyasah Shabazz honors her roots through literature
Photo credit: Andrea Blackstone Ilyasah Shabazz, the third daughter of Malcom X, participated in the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Grove Street participated in a joint interview. Shabazz discussed the th importance of publishing “Malcolm Little.” This year marks the 50 anniversary of Malcom X’s assassination. As we remember him, we consider how Ilyasah is working to preserve his legacy through literature.
Grove Street: What motivated you to write this book from the perspective of your father as a child? I.S.: There were several motivators. One was that I had a bunch of children who were in the mall. They wanted to go to Barnes and Noble bookstore to buy books. We went and I told them to pick out a book. I couldn’t find a book that I wanted to get them where they would look at it and see themselves in a positive manner. Next, I thought it was important to tell the true story of my father’s childhood. What went into a young boy that could grow up to become one of the greatest political strategists of our lifetime, and one that would have such compassion and integrity? So, I wrote it for those reasons and to make sure that I set the record straight about
his childhood. I found that there are many books that speculate on who he was and what his childhood was like. Grove Street: How were you able to gather stories of the garden that his mom used as a backdrop for teaching the lessons that followed throughout and the beautiful imagery of the butterfly? I.S.: My father was a collector of butterflies. He loved nature. He loved poetry. He truly was a very compassionate person. He wrote poetry to my mother so he was very much just a wonderful person. It was his mother who instilled the value of compassion, whether it was an insect, fruits, vegetables or people and that having some compassion just for life. They had this land. She would have crops for each of her children to grow different kinds of vegetables. She would teach them stories about many different things. She instilled in them the love for education, the love for learning. These are stories that my aunts and uncles shared growing up. Grove Street: How has the book been received? I.S.: It has five stars on Amazon, so I’m happy about that. There have been many awards for the book. Yes, I think that a lot of children are reading it…a lot of parents are reading the book with their children. I’m getting a really, really good response especially in social media. There’s a lot of talk of this book and pictures. Even my Twitter. I retweet all of these wonderful commendations. Grove Street: What age group is the book geared toward? I.S.: It’s a children’s illustration book, but I’ve seen that it’s been encouraged for all ages. They still are recommending the book for 12-13 year olds. Grove Street: I would just like to ask a little more about your collection process. Did you reach out to your nuclear family? Did you feel sort of like an anthropologist or mini Zora Neal Hurston trying to piece together all of the stories accurately? I.S.: I am a lover of history. I am a proponent of the importance of history. My father would often talk about the roots. My grandmother spoke about the roots of all living things. I think it’s important to research, document, and preserve history. I think it’s important to encourage young people to understand and to trace their history—especially with this rich history. I think that if you go back to as far as we can document thousands and thousands of years ago…when we show our children the people on whose shoulders we stand today, it encourages them to seek more purposeful, meaning-driven lives. Grove Street: What is your writing process? I.S.: Actually, writing was one of my hobbies when I was a lot younger. I was more of a writer than I was a speaker. I used to write stories and I used to create plays. So, I’ve always had a love of writing and expression, just being very imaginative, very visual, and I think being a very visual person makes you write. I think it takes a good writer to paint the story, and so I have been doing that a very long time. Did I think I was going to be an author when I was a child? No, but people always used to tell me, my girlfriend’s father who was like a surrogate dad to me I talk about him in “Growing Up X”—John Anthony—he used to always say, You must make sure that when you grow up you become a writer.’ I was like, thank you Mr. Anthony, but I never thought I was going to be a writer.
Shabazz also authored “Growing Up X,” a young adult version of “Malcolm Little” published by Candlewick Press and “X: A Novel,” which was released Jan. 6, 2015. Connect on Twitter @ilyasahShabazz
Darren Desepoli
Darren at the Alex Haley Memorial in Annapolis, Maryland (Photo by Andrea Blackstone)
We last spoke with Darren Desepoli in our Spring Edition of Grove Street Magazine entitled: Celebrating Education, The Arts & Entertainment. At that time, Darren escaped the cold winter and headed to Florida with his pop-up camper, and his dog, Puggie, so he could work full-time building up the Alex Haley Roots Foundation website. Since then, Darren has kept us updated about his endeavors regarding promoting the powerful legacy of Alex Haley, which Grove Street will now touch upon. Grove Street: Anything else you want to mention regarding the Alex Haley Roots Foundation site? Darren: Yes. Despite learning more about how Alex Haley was such a humanitarian to others, he also instilled within me the value and emphasis he placed on family and upon family reunions. Thus, I wanted the website to have contributions from the younger generation family members. As a result, the platform is now in place for Bill Haley Jr. to state and implement his exact vision for his grandfather’s legacy and build upward from there. In addition, individual pages were created for the nephew and niece of Alex Haley to display their content and accomplishments. All of the Alex Haley Museum Newsletters, written by another family member, were added as well. I’m sure Alex Haley would be proud that this family interaction was brought about. Grove Street: In August you mentioned you were going to be attending a few events in the South that were honoring the accomplishments of Alex Haley. Can you tell us how that came about? Darren: The initial spark came when I was granted a courtesy admission to the New-York Historical Society back on March 9, 2014 to hear Ilyasah Shabazz speak about her new book, Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X. At the end of her event, I purchased her book and waited in line to have it autographed by her. After she asked me how I
would like her signature, I asked to have my copy signed and dedicated to Alex Haley so that I could send it to his boyhood home in Henning, Tennessee for it to be on display. After Ms. Shabazz warmly smiled, she very kindly acknowledged my request. Shortly afterward, I was informed that the museum in Henning was going to receive a very special acknowledgement in the summer, which I felt I should be present for. Therefore, I decided to take the road trip and donate Ilyasah Shabazz’s signed book to the Alex Haley Museum in person. Grove Street: Can tell us about the special acknowledgement received by the Alex Haley Museum? Alex Haley Museum Dedicated As A Literary Landmark By United For Libraries Darren: In addition to receiving the literary award, the Museum also held the 93rd birthday celebration for Alex Haley. Here is a brief description of the event from the latest Alex Haley Museum newsletter: In honor of Alex Haley’s 93rd Birthday (August 11, 2014), the Alex Haley Museum & Interpretative Center hosted a Literary Landmark Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, August 9. The ceremony included the unveiling of the official Literary Landmark bronze plaque; proclamations by city, county and state officials; the United States Coast Guard and Color Guard Detail; commissioners and Historic Sites Program Director Martha Akins from the Tennessee Historical Commission (THC); music by trumpeter, Joshua Campbell and vocalist, Charlotte Ammons. WMC-TV 5 news anchor, Justin Hanson was the master of ceremonies. Other special guests included Haley’s grandson and wife, Michael and Melody Baker of North Carolina, Alex Haley researcher Darren Desepoli of New York, ‘60’s Freedom Riders bus driver, Jim Ruth of Brighton, TN; and author Lucas Johnson of Nashville. I was very happy that I attended as I always wanted to meet Lucas Johnson who authored the book, Finding the Good, which depicted the life of Fred Montgomery, the son of sharecroppers in west Tennessee, and boyhood friend of Alex Haley. I especially enjoyed talking with Jim Ruth who was the first driver to take a group of Freedom Riders from Nashville to Jackson, Mississippi in 1961.
Photos Courtesy of The Alex Haley Museum & Interpretative Center, Henning Tennessee
You can read the full press release here: Literary Landmark: Alex Haley Museum & Interpretive Center Grove Street: You then felt that Knoxville was Alex Haley’s Town. How did that came about? Hearing Stories About Alex Haley While Checking Into The Red Roof Inn Darren: After wrapping up in Henning on August 10, 2014, I drove to my hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee. I was wearing my Alex Haley Museum t-shirt when the hotel receptionist struck up a conversation with me. He told me that he was once invited to a party that Alex Haley was hosting right up the road and he unintentionally made Alex Haley spit out his beverage. He personally thought that what he stated during his conversation with Alex wasn’t that funny but Alex obviously felt it was. The hotel receptionist then shared a couple of stories of how Alex Haley was always friendly to everyone in town and how even at the local post office Alex stopped what he was doing and took the time to speak to all who spoke to him. As a result of hearing these stories, it gave me a firmer reality on why there was a 13-foot bronze statue of Alex Haley a few exits down the road at Haley Heritage Square in Morningside Park. Grove Street: You then received a personal tour of The Alex Haley Farm. How did you enjoy that? Visiting The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Alex Haley Farm Darren: The following day I received a tour of the CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, Tennessee by Ms. Theresa Venable who is the Chief Librarian and Programs Coordinator and also the 2011 winner of The Zora Neale Hurston Award. Haley Farm is a beautiful 157-acre farm that once belonged to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex Haley. Purchased in 1994 by the Children’s Defense Fund, Haley Farm is a warm, welcoming, countryside retreat consisting of guest cottages, a chapel, meeting lodge and library. Back in the day, for Alex Haley, one of life’s great pleasures was to let city visitors savor the moment when “they wake up and the mist is over the farm, ducks are swimming around, the creek is running, and the fish are jumping.” John Rice Irwin, a Tennessee historian and museum curator, recalls that when Haley decided to build a manmade lake right before the rainy season, neighboring farmers trooped over to help. Using their pickup-truck headlights for illumination, they worked until three in the morning. All night long, Haley raced from the farmhouse to the lake, bringing his neighbors snacks and steaming cups of coffee and stated, “People wouldn’t be this kind in Los Angeles.” ~ Alex Haley.
Photos Courtesy of The (CDF) Alex Haley Farm, Clinton, Tennessee
You can read more about the CDF Haley Farm at the Alex Haley Tribute Site: Alex Haley Farm Grove Street: You then visited The Museum of Appalachia. How did you enjoy that? Visiting The Museum of Appalachia Darren: After my tour of the CDF Haley Farm, I drove over to the nearby Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee. The mini-tour was arranged by their President, Elaine Irwin Meyer, who is the daughter of John Rice Irwin. Her son, John Meyer, came over to the Museum restaurant table I was seated at and shared a few personal stories about Alex Haley as his grandfather, John Rice Irwin, maintained a very close friendship with Alex Haley. In addition, Gertie Brummitt King, Alex Haley’s personal cook for 5 years, was also present that day at the Museum of Appalachia and joined us for lunch. In her 2012 paperback, Alex Haley: The Man I Knew, Gertie shares the unforgettable moments she spent with Alex Haley as his employee and friend. During those years, she was able to get to know the real person the public
did not know—a compassionate and caring man. Gertie also provided me with a personally signed copy of her book. I couldn’t think of a better way of ending my trip on the actual birth date of Alex Haley and participating in the storytelling experience that Alex Haley truly defined for us all by those who were very close and dear to him—Priceless!
Alex Haley: The Man I Knew Photos Courtesy of The Amazon Website
You can order Gertie Brummitt King’s book on Amazon: Alex Haley: The Man I Knew Grove Street: What are your future plans in reference to forwarding the legacy of Alex Haley? Darren: I’m currently planning my next camping trip in the South so that I can write full time amongst nature and release the official biography of Alex Haley—which is long overdue! In his foreword to The Mountain Man and the President, Alex Haley mentions, “There is the quiet beauty, the majesty of nature to find peace and inspiration in. A writer needs that, people need that.” For more information about Alex Haley, please visit the official Alex Haley Roots Foundation website: http://www.alexhaley.com and also the Alex Haley Tribute site: http://www.alexhaley.com (The Mountain Man and the President was published by Steck-Vaughn. © 1993 Dialogue Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
By Nai’lah Carter
Photos courtesy of Nai’lah Carter Nai’lah Carter is an author, natural hair enthusiast, and self-taught makeup guru. Carter promotes the love of textured hair while showing online followers how to love and care for it .
With the cool weather upon us, we need to be cognizant of the dryness in the air and understand the results it can have on natural hair. Can you use the same products year around? Sure, but if you want to continue to maintain healthy hair, you have to increase your moisturizing regimens. Here are six great hair nots that will help you to avoid hair knots, dull, brittle hair and not to mention, split ends: 1. Use more leave-ins. Some naturalistas think that as long as they’re washing and conditioning regularly that this is the key to maintaining moisture. Too much washing can actually strip your hair of its natural oils, thus drying it out. A good leave-in hydrates, detangles without weighing down and gives your curls that soft and bouncy feel. Two highly recommended products that work great on different hair types are Mizani’s D’Tangle and Cantu Shea Butter Leave In. Mizani’s product is an awesome detangler that leaves your hair smooth and silky. Cantu Shea Butter Leave In not only smells great, but it works as a part of your styling routine. I’ll delve further in the next few steps.
2. Rejuvenate natural curls with a co-wash instead of a regular wash. A co-wash (conditioner washing) is a means of washing your hair with a conditioner versus a shampoo. This way is gentler and also minimizes color damage by adding the right amount of hydration to your tresses while reducing frizz. You can actually co-wash more frequently—so don’t avoid regular wash, just mix it up. I highly recommended a product called Coconut Cowash Cleansing Condition made by As I Am. As we all know, coconut oil stimulates hair growth, so kill two birds with one stone—grow and revive. For color treated hair, I would definitely recommend using revitalizing shampoos and conditioners to keep your color vibrant.
3. Nourish your hair with the needed treatment. Depending on how damaged your hair may become, you need to invest in a really good treatment. Treatments condition hair follicles without leaving heavy residues. There are levels of treatments, reconstructors, protein treatments, and deep treatments; all of which should be done religiously, every four to six weeks. For severely damaged hair, seek a reconstructor (this repairs the fibers in your hair thus helping the softness to return). For moderately damaged hair, seek a protein treatment (this hardens the cuticle layer thus strengthening hair) and for regular damage, seek a deep treatment (helps improve dryness in hair). I’d recommend any treatment product by Motions. 4. Trim, trim, trim! Ladies, I cannot express the importance of trimming hair more. Trimming relieves your hair of bad ends. If your hair is damaged, you need to invest in a trim to prevent those ends from harming the rest of your beautiful tresses. If you have split ends/damaged hair, it can move upwards from your ends to your roots so don’t worry about length; your focus should be on healthy—length will come. An average trim timeframe is six weeks to six months. If you’re used to getting a trim every three to four months during Spring/Summer, then try trimming every month and a half to two months as it gets colder. 5. Use heat protectants. Since we can no longer rock wash and go’s when it’s 40 degrees outdoors, many of you will turn to blow dryers, flat and curling irons. Keep in mind the damage that heat can have on your hair. If you must use heat, then use a heat protectant. Some great products are Crème of Nature’s Argan oil—which smells amazing and has seven great leave-in features—and Motions Heat Styled Straight Finish Leave-in Conditioner with coconut oil and keratin. 6. Use oils to seal in moisture. Depending on which one you choose, there are other benefits to certain oils. Lavender and rosemary promote hair growth, olive oil strengthens hair and
almond oil gives hair shine and also promotes hair growth. Whichever oil you decide based on your hair type, always use an oil when styling as it seals in the moisture from your leave-in. I always tell ladies, when doing any style, think in three’s: leave-in, product (curling butter, pudding, etc.), and an oil. If you feed your hair with the right products, it will thank you by growing strong and healthy.
Now ladies, don’t think for a minute, that dryers are your only life-savers during the cold months. There are a myriad of styles you can accomplish on both dry and wet hair. YouTube is your friend, so look up some tutorials on fun buns and pin-ups, chunky flat twists, single doublestrand twists and my favorite, braid outs. The secret to successful, long and full braid-outs and twist outs is using less water to style it. If you have more water in your hair, it will take an even longer time for your style to dry. Upon taking your hair down, if you notice it’s damp, don’t let it down because you will not achieve the results you’re seeking. Check out my tutorial on flattwists here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8KhBwLrJ_g&list=UUzzrlWRlphtmsScDcyU4VuQ&index=1 2 I’m a huge advocate of women learning to embrace their own beauty and aim at showing through example. I am no hair guru, just a woman who’s learned how to manage these kinky curls on this natural hair journey. While you may notice on my YouTube channel, I have a few tutorials, there are an assortment of videos that vary from spoken word, to hair tips, to merely talk about loving and appreciating self. I hope these hair tips assist you as we face the beautiful cold weather. Even though we pay a lot of attention to what’s on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that truly matters. Stay naturally beautiful, ladies! Nai’lah Carter is the author of “You Have What It Takes" For more information about her, visit www.nailahcarter.com; Twitter: @nailahcarter, YouTube; @nailahcarter, Facebook; TheNailahCarter and Google +: Nai’lah Carter. Nai’lah also has some graffiti Tees available for Naturalistas/Transitioners as well as for fellow writers. T-shirts are available in men and women sizes that can be purchased directly from her website.
Empowerment Radio Network offers forum for black issues
Photo credit: Andrea Blackstone David Anderson, is a business loan broker and founder of the black-owned, Atlanta based Empowerment Radio Network that focuses on discussing black issues, having positive cash flow, and promoting entrepreneurship. In January 2015, an announcement of partnership to launch a syndicated daily radio show, The Roland Martin Show, was made. Anderson spoke with Grove Street during the 2014 Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference.
David Anderson’s grandfather owned an amateur radio station when he was a kid. Today, the founder of Empowerment Radio Network self-finances his venture to ensure that listeners can talk about issues while expressing how they really feel without sponsors pulling ads. “The Federal Communication Commission has a total of about 12,000 AM and FM terrestrial signals that are currently in use right now. Of that, only 78 are owned by blacks,” Anderson said. “Radio is for dissemination of information in the community.” There is an opportunity to acquire AM signals because there are approximately over 420 AM stations that are defunct. AM stations can now have FM translators. “You can listen to programs on AM and FM simultaneously. There’s a lot happening in the radio world that we’re not participating in because we are not involved. It’s a huge opportunity. It’s a big space for black talk radio. We want to be a part of that. We want to ensure that we can talk about our own issues.” “We have a great partnership with Radio One. We air on a number of their stations nationwide,” Anderson said. “We’re taking our time. We’re growing something.”
Blackanomics airs Monday through Friday on the Empowerment Radio Network. Follow @Blackanomics on Twitter. Listen to the Empowerment Radio Network on the go via the Tune In Radio app for Android or iPhone users. Visit www.empowermentradionetwork.com for more information.
Maryland book advocate inspires local movement to support African American authors
Photo credit: Andrea Blackstone Sharon Lucas speaks at a luncheon during the 2014 Black Authors & Readers Rock Weekend, held at the Comfort Inn in Bowie, Md. last October where 27 authors participated. Lucas is the planner and founder of the Reading Divas Book Club.
When it comes to promoting African American authors, Sharon Lucas, a Prince George’s County resident, is more than a dedicated supporter. Although her book club is not confined by sticking to race of an author or genre, Lucas and the other Reading Divas primarily read works authored by African Americans. Last year marked Lucas’ seventh year hosting the event. Between 150-160 book lovers were in attendance. Kimberly Lawson Roby was the keynote speaker.
Kimberly Lawson Roby
Nina Foxx talks with a reader.
”We don’t do as well as we can and should to support our African American authors. This weekend is called the Black Authors and Readers Rock Weekend for a reason. A white author can write a book and make the New York Times bestsellers list just because of the numbers. They have hundreds times more readers. We have to stop sharing books. You know, you buy one book and the whole family reads that one book. Every time you share a book these authors lose a sale. Every time you buy a Nintendo or whatever X Box game, instead of five or six books for your children or grandchildren, you’re robbing them of what you have and the fact that you are an avid reader,” Lucas said. You can find the Md. resident who retired in 2010 posing with authors during book events, hosting them during one of her events hosted by her book club, traveling to book trade shows, teaching others how to maximize the book club experience or visiting other book clubs. “The first year was to celebrate our (book club) 10th anniversary. I enjoyed it so much that we've had it every year since,” Lucas said. “About 12 book clubs attended the Black Authors and Readers Rock Weekend. The group that traveled the furthest were from Durham, NC.” Dr. Daniel Black will be the keynote speaker for the 2015 Black Authors and Readers Rock Weekend. The 2015 Black Authors & Readers Rock Weekend will be held on Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17, at the Comfort Inn of Bowie, Md. Visit http://www.realdivasread.com/ for more information.
Lucas’ signature event is designed to show support for favorite authors and it also encourages readers to embrace new and emerging authors.
The author of “Open Door Marriage,” Naleighna Kai, shares a joy-filled moment with Lucas and her fellow book club members. Lucas’ event unites readers and authors together in an intimate setting. Fourteen of sixteen Reading Divas were in attendance.
Save the Date The Prince George's Book Festival Saturday, May 23, 2015 Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Place: Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex Address: 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD. Mission Statement: To raise reading awareness, promote reading for all races and age groups, and to encourage and support authors and readers in the community - which is crucial in this era of declining readers, struggling library systems and the closing of many brick and mortar bookstores. This is a FREE event, open to the public. Authors can get more information and registration materials at www.springbookfestival.simplesite.com and register at www.springbookfestival.eventbrite.com. The early bird ends March 15.
Photo courtesy of Shelia Bell left to right (Regina Dobbins, BWABC VP, Author Jihad and author/founder BWABC Shelia E. Bell)
The 4th annual BLACK WRITERS AND BOOK CLUBS (BWABC) LITERACY FESTIVAL is September 19, 2015 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center (Memphis, Tennessee) during National Literacy Month. This FREE festival features 100 talented and gifted authors who travel to Memphis, Tennessee from across the country. Authors showcase and sell their books,
participate in panel discussions, literacy workshops, and share their professional expertise in an effort to support and “promote literacy one community at a time.” This year the literacy festival is presented by a partnership between The Bar-Kays Foundation and The Black Writers and Book Clubs Literacy Association. The 2015 headline author is New York Times Bestselling author, Carl Weber. Weber owns the largest African American publishing company in the country and has numerous bestselling titles. The fact that the festival has a goal to promote literacy and bring awareness to the perils of being illiterate is a testament to the vision given to Shelia E. Bell, president and founder of BWABC Literacy Association. “Her tenacity and the team that surrounds her and shares in her vision is what has made this festival the growing success that it is rapidly becoming.” (Andrea Blackstone) Writers are encouraged to register to participate, as well as vendors. The BWABC Literacy Association also offer several sponsorship packages. Visit our website at BWABC Literacy Festival 2015 The BWABC Literacy Festival is the perfect place to network with authors, book clubs, avid readers, and people from across the nation who are concerned about literacy. The festival includes a Book Marketplace, Purple Carpet Reception, Author Readings, Entertainment, Door Prizes, Book Club Panel Discussions, Literary Roundtable Symposium, Kids Corner, BWABC Literacy Rocks! Awards, Literacy Game Show, BWABC Young Author Contest, and much more! BWABC also offers several sponsorship opportunities. For more information, you can email BWABC1@gmail.com
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2014 BWABC Literacy Festival
Is Black History Month only for black people? Letter to the Editor Black History Month is a time of remembrance and celebration of the great achievements of black people, but some folks do not share the same enthusiasm as I do in celebrating this holiday. Actually, I was quite shocked to learn how some people felt about the month! While most people are not racist, the reality is that some still have a racist mentality towards blacks in general. Black History Month focuses on the positive achievements of black people; but this history is being drowned out by overwhelming media coverage of negative stereotypes of the black race, and it is negatively affecting relations between all races of people. Notice, I didn’t just say white people! This is because most races still have these same negative beliefs toward black people. I asked several people of various races how they felt about Black History Month, and the answers I received could be separated into three categories. Out of the four people I asked, two were excited about Black History Month and shared the same positive feelings about it as I do. One gave me a politically correct answer, but didn’t seem to have any real interest in celebrating, and the last person was downright racist in how he felt. This individual expressed to me several racial epithets and went on to explain that, “All black people were criminal thugs, who were lazy, good for nothing, animals who demand equality but will not stop being racist themselves. Just look at all the news and you will see what I am talking about.” I was appalled with what he said, but what really surprised me was that this person was not white! After the initial shock wore off, I explained to him that his feelings are just not true. My best friend of 25 years is a black man, and I know many of his family and friends. These black people are some of the most outstanding people I know, and they have contributed greatly to society and were not racist at all. What is sad is that this reality is not the news that is being spread around. I guess that is why I love Black History Month because the focus is on the positive contributions of black people. By focusing on the positive attributes, we can overcome negative stereotypes that cause fear, bitterness, and hatred. But how can we accomplish this with so much racial turmoil around the nation? To answer this question, I look at the beliefs and actions of a very wellknown black preacher. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man with great passion and heartfelt beliefs that lead him to be one of the most influential civil rights leaders this world has ever known. When I think about Black History Month, I like to look at it through his eyes. He lived through horrific struggles, yet in the face of racism and oppression he still managed to operate in love! This was his greatest message! A message of love that was lived out through peaceful protests to achieve his goal of racial equality. What made Martin Luther King, Jr. different was his approach to fighting racism. He knew it was all too easy to succumb to violence, bitterness, and even becoming racist yourself. He
stated, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” As a pastor and a man of God, he knew that love and forgiveness was the only way to gain the sympathy needed to achieve his goal. No matter what he went through and no matter how people treated him he still walked in love. What a powerful example of grace. His example of love and grace is what all people should strive to achieve. Society needs to understand the principles that God has put into place. The Bible says in I John 3:15, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” This verse addresses all racism no matter where it comes from or who dishes it out. Many Christians today need to consider these scriptures and adjust their behavior and thinking to line up with God’s word, and understand that God’s best is unity among all people. Martin Luther King, Jr. understood that Love is the greatest gift, and this is the correct way to solve racial issues so that we can walk in unity. Think about what would happen if everyone were to work together to solve the many problems of mankind. Think about a world where everyone gets along and the economy is booming! A place where no one has to fear discrimination or fear walking down the wrong street. Imagine a place where everyone walks in love, unity, and grace and everyone is treated the same. This vision doesn't have to be a dream. If we unite and work together and adhere to God’s Word, we can achieve anything we put our hands and minds to. Mathew 12:25 says, “ . . . Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” So let’s focus on the positive contributions that Black History Month brings, and work together to end all forms of racism! The first step to ending racism is salvation in Jesus Christ. Without this, the world cannot understand the things of God. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Salvation is a free gift from God. If you repent and turn away from your sin and ask Jesus Christ into your heart and believe He died on the cross for your sins, you can be saved and live out eternity in heaven. The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. In Romans 10: 9 – 13, it says, “ . . . if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” Lastly, the Bible says in Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Racism simply could not exist if everyone was saved and forgave one another in spite of
what someone has done to them. This is the fruit of the Spirit that Martin Luther King, Jr. lived out in his daily life. If we live and trust in God, we can overcome all hate. Maybe it is too late for the racist man I mentioned above, but if we can focus on the good that Black History Month brings and utilize God’s principles I just discussed, we can change the minds of future generations. Their mentality towards black people can be more realistic and based on the truth and not media propaganda! Remember, united we stand and divided we fall! Del Arnold
Thank you for celebrating black history month with us. Find me on Twitter @AndreaBlackston and Instagram @AndreaBlackstone. Email inquiries about Grove Street to velocitydmv@gmail.com.