I was honored to moderate a panel celebrating writers of Caribbean descent this past Saturday at the Brooklyn Public Library. Organized by Maryland-based newspaper publisher Joy Bramble of The Caribbean International Literary Festival, publicist and co-founder of the Harlem Book Fair Linda Duggins , and Marcia Mayne of Date With a Book, the event drew an intimate crowd of folk passionate about promoting Caribbean authors. American Book Award winner Elizabeth Nunez, debut author of Earth’s Waters Nicole Blades, and author Glenville Lovell formed the lively panel.
I wanted to focus our discussion on identity, the writer’s relationship with (multiple) homes, (re)claiming the Caribbean by depicting realtities far removed from tourist fantasies of paradise, and the relationship between community and craft.
Elizabeth Nunez spoke honestly about her relationship with Trinidad, one she says has shifted over the years. As she spoke, many women in the audience nodded their heads and seemed to be reflecting on their own complex relationships with “home.”
Nicole Blades, who lived in her family’s homeland of Barbados for several years as a young adult, talked about her female protagonist, who “is drowning in paradise” and is terribly uncomfortable when she first visits tourists in their hotel room on her island, at the beach she visits nearly every day.
Glenville Lovell, who visits Barbados frequently, talked about his work as a movement artist in Barbados and his participation in Carifesta, the Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts as just two ways he remains ardently Bajan.
In terms of community, I was thinking about ways writers network in informal ways to help support one another and honor the legacy of literary Caribbean authors. This led to a discussion of formal networks and institutions, like Date With a Book and The Caribbean International Literary Festival, and the need to support them.
Many of the members of the audience asked how to help spread the word about Caribbean authors, especially in Brooklyn and in the public schools. Another interesting question from the audience asked if non-Caribbean authors could depict an authentic Caribbean narrative. This question, I think, developed out of Elizabeth Nunez’s reading and discussion of her latest novel, Prospero’s Daughter, and the question of self the title character struggles with as her father, Prospero, forces her to claim her whiteness – even though she identifies with locals of African descent.
This event was part of June’s Caribbean American Heritage Month in New York.
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I received this lovely comment from Elizabeth Nunez:
You were the magician, Eisa. Thank you for creating a stimulating evening.
Elizabeth
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We should do something like that down here in DC.
Please tell Glenville I said hello. Loved our panels back in the day when they had him pegged as a fellow detective/thriller writer.
PS my historical novel Yella Patsy’s Boys, coming out in 12/08, has a contemptorary thread featuring a girl if Bermuda/Trini nationality finding out that her mother’s family actually originated in the US–freed slaves who fought for the British in the war of 1812 (and set fire to the White House and Capital Building). I call that “full circle” Caribbean-American heritage.
Also please say hello to Mrs. Joy Bramble and hopes she shouts out to her son david for me!
CAC
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STOP HARLEM BOOK FAIR CONMAN
Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair is a professional conman. Solid Gold Travel has had the unfortunate experience of being conned by him recently, leaving a huge debt and responsibility.
In early 2007, Mr. Rodriguez entered an agreement with the Bermuda Department of Tourism and Solid Gold Travel to sponsor a Cruise to Bermuda for August of 2008. When the time came for Mr. Rodriguez to pay his agreed upon deposit for the Cruise, he submitted 2 consecutive bad checks. After his second check bounced, we reached out to Mr. Rodriguez via phone and email to no response whatsoever. Now, after several months and several attempts to reach him, Mr. Rodriguez will not respond.
In recent conversations, we have found that Mr. Rodriguez has defrauded numerous other businesses and minority organizations.
As minority business owners for over 20 years, we understand the importance and value of the Black Business responsibility and reputation. Max Rodriguez has built a career out of scamming our community and should be held responsible for his actions.
If you or someone you know has been tricked, conned or ripped off by Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, we invite you to share your story or contact us at solidbash@aol.com.