RIP African American children's book author Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers

August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014

USA Today says:

"Whenever Walter Dean Myers wrote a book — and he published nearly 100 of them for children and teens — he would ask his wife, Connie, to assemble a collage of related images that he hung above his desk.

'I like to look up and have my characters looking back at me,' Myers told USA TODAY in a 2008 interview at his home in Jersey City.

Myers, whose award-winning novels and non-fiction chronicled urban life, war and African-American history, died Tuesday at the age of 76.

His gritty and realistic novels for teens include Fallen Angels (1988) about the Vietnam War, Sunrise Over Fallujah (2008) about the Iraq war and Monster (1998) about a 16-year-old boy charged with murder.

Myers is survived by his wife and two sons. Several books by Myers are forthcoming, including Juba!, (to be released in April 2015), a novel for teens based on the life of a young African American dancer."

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2014/07/02/walter-dean-myers/12107821/

The Man from Essence and the challenges of building a black magazine

Essence is a popular magazine for African American women.  If you are a black woman, at some point during your life you have heard about, seen, or even read at least one of the issues from the magazine. 

I remember whenever I went to get my hair done in Atlanta, there was always a copy of the magazine on the tables.  My mom had a collection of old Essence and Ebony magazines.  I especially loved these magazines because I could see all the beautiful and hard working black men and women across America.  Every cover portrayed a strong black female (and sometimes a black male) and it encouraged me to believe that I  could also grow up to be a success.  There's no value that can be placed on the importance of showing positive role models to the black community.

It's amazing to think about how long the magazine has been around.  Right after the Civil Right's movement, in 1969 the magazine started when a few business people of color decided to ban together.  As Capital Public Radio said,

"Today, it's a reading staple in many African-American households, doctors' offices, hair salons and other places black women gather. While Essence has undergone several changes over the years ... it is still a place where black women can turn to see diverse images of themselves, read about their most pressing concerns and see the latest trends in fashion and beauty."

And I hope Essence will continue to provide the black community and world with images of strong black leaders and stars for many more years to come.

Check out the new book:
The Man from Essence: Creating a Magazine for Black Women

Source: http://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=320997345

List of ten books by African authors

The beautiful things that heaven bears by Dinaw Mengestu






 Tears of the Gireaffe by Alexander McCall Smith



Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe




Girls at War by Chinua Achebe




Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie










Americanhah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie





So long a letter by Matiama Ba







The Stranger Albert Camus






The Beautyful ones are not yet born by Ayi Kweiarmah









Ghana must go by Taiye Selasi


Source: http://www.jaguda.com/2014/06/09/top-10-books-read-summer-explore-african-authors/
#Africa, #books

Africana History Fact: Peter Abrahams (novelist)

Peter Abrahams
(March 19, 1919, Vrededorp, South Africa), expatriate South African Novelist

His father was an Ethiopian and his mother was French and African, so Abrahams was considered "Coloured" in South Africa.  He grew up outside of Johannesburg and began working at the age of nine.  He didn't enroll in school until he heard about Shakespeare's Othello which sparked his interest in literature. 

He started out publishing his poems in local newspapers.  Later, he joined the South African Communist Party and tried to start a school for poor Africans.  After the school's failure, he moved from South Africa to England.  He wrote for the London Observer and the New York Herald and took an assignment in Jamaica.

He is known for the books:

Song of the City
Mine Boy
Wild Conquest
A Night of Their Own
This Island Now
Jamaica: An Island Mosaic
Return to Goli
Tell Freedom

From Africana: Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience.

Quote of the week

There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.

Countee Cullen

In memory of Maya Angelou

Maya Angelous passed away due to complications with a long time battle with heart problems in Winston-Salem, NC.  I lived there for four years and attended Wake Forest University.  Maya Angelou was one of our professors at the school.  I'll never forget when my first week at school in orientation when Maya Angelou appeared in a presentation to greet us as freshmen.

Maya Angelou is know as a great America writer and actress who launched into worldwide stardom after being chosen as the featured poet at President Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration.  As one author states, "The wit, wisdom, and power of Maya Angelou's work have made her one of the most beloved contemporary American writers."  It is truly a great lose now that she has passed away.

In loving memory of Maya Angelou
1928 - 2014

Power of the Crowd: Help Diversify the World of Literature

It only takes one to make a difference

Individually, most people are powerless to make a significant change; but when those individuals join forces, they can change the world.  Crowd-funding empowers the public and allows people to get involved with the books they want to see on the shelf.  Fund a book and help sponsor one of D. C. Cowan’s future novels. You'll be helping the world of literature diversify protagonists with more male and female characters of color. 

D. C. Cowan uses Pubslush as their platform for crowd-funding.  The authors ask that you support this series because you will receive a great reward in return, but also they ask for your support because the world of fantasy fiction is seriously lacking in minority heroes.  You'll not only be helping the authors and editors who work for DCCowanAuthors.com, but also helping the world of literature see a little more color in its characters.

 

Every penny can help

Three ways to support:

1.)   Crowd-funding: Remember, this is not a hand-out.  You make a pledge and receive a reward in return for your support.    http://blackroseseries.pubslush.com

2.)   Make a financial pledge:  You can pledge a little (i.e. $1.00) or a lot (i.e. $25.00) to their cause. http://www.dccowanauthors.com/#!fund-a-book/c1tob

3.)   Purchase books currently available from the author: Proceeds go towards Black Rose Series. http://www.dccowanauthors.com/#!shop/c1fn5

Black Rose Pledge
http://www.dccowan.wix.com/black-rose-pledge
#crowdfunding, #books