A circle of editors, writers, agents, and other professionals in Black Books gathered with Marva Allen at Harlem’s Hue Man Bookstore to honor AALBC.com founder Troy Johnson. Hosted by “Lit Leaders” (elegantly attired in allContinue reading

>INTERVIEW: junot diaz================== http://www.counterpunch.org/waj04112008.htmlAn Interview with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novelist Junot DiazRevenge of the Ghetto NerdBy WAJAHAT ALI The Ghetto nerd came to America at age 6 with his impoverished Dominican family, like so many othersContinue reading

Seems like folk have fallen into two camps over the Wright controversy: Either they resent Wright and want him to shush so as not to ruin Obama’s candidacy, or they resent the media and wantContinue reading

Thanks to publicist Linda Duggins for sending this FOX video of Father Pfleger of Saint Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago. Watch the 10 minute video. Father Pfleger calls out Fox, discusses his relationship with WrightContinue reading

Back in the early 90s, when Bush the Elder ran the White House, Hip Hop was about to shift out of the love tradition in which it was born, American families were just starting toContinue reading

Thanks to Joyce Davis for this: **While many are speculating that Hillary Clinton will win tomorrow’s Pennsylvania primary, a new survey commissioned by LEADS at Spelman College reveals that minority female democrats are not asContinue reading

Please see below for the important information Spelman women have compiled. Thanks, Joyce Davis, for sending me this: Political analysts continue to question whether America is ready for its first Black or first women president.Continue reading

Thanks to my Uncle Lance, who sent me this link to DipDive. Check it out – and YES! that is Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet’s daughter Zoe. So beautiful. Go, Obama. Go!

Please see Jelani’s open letter below and support this brother. Go, Obama. Go! Dear Friends: I recently declared my candidacy for delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. If elected I will be one ofContinue reading

“So You Have a Problem With Men?” originally appeared on Persephone Speaks.com: Tuesday, February 19, 2008So You Have a Problem with Men? Tayari Jones is the author of two novels, The Untelling (2005), which wonContinue reading

If you want to be among the luminaries of contemporary Black writing and thinking, then you attend the National Black Writers Conference. Yesterday, powerful ideas, encouragement, and joy in the celebration of Black writing predominated.Continue reading

Read Alice Walker’s essay on TheRoot.com and her daughter Rebecca’s comment , the first one on the site. Joy! Go, Obama. Go!

Thanks to Sabiyha Prince for sending me this: Open Letter to the New York Times — by Rev. Jeremiah Wright Open Letter (not published) to the New York Times Read more on BET.com. March 11,Continue reading

Thanks to Elizabeth Nunez and Tina McElroy Ansa for sending me this info: The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence was inaugurated last year to honor works of African-American fiction. The award carries aContinue reading

According to Philly.com, activist Mumia Abu Jamal has been removed from death row. Read the court opinion. Read earlier stories on Mumia.

Malik Shabazz of the New Black Panther Party called FOX’s Sean Hannity out. According to Jason Linkins on The Huffington Post, Hannity asked Shabazz: “What I don’t think you’re understanding here, Malik, is that whenContinue reading

Please listen to our conversation, where we move toward a definition of Black as distinct from African American, discuss the ways identity impacts the writing process, and suggest methods to identify well-crafted prose. (The distinguishedContinue reading