Black literature isn't just for Black people!

I love this .... and I'll tell you why ....

If you go to http://welcomewhitefolks.blogspot.com/ you will find this intro in the margins:

White Readers Meet Black Authors

Your official invitation into the African American section of the bookstore! A sometimes serious, sometimes light-hearted plea for EVERYBODY to give a black writer a try.

You know, it's interesting ... I've read Cosmo, Elle, Reader's Digest, Time, People, Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, Glamour, Seventeen, Sassy, Rolling Stone, and many more. I even had subscriptions to some of those, at one time or another .... in addition to my accounts with Essence, Jet, Ebony, Honey, Black Enterprise, Vibe.

Yet, how many non-black people do you know have ever read or subscribed to Essence (a classy fashion and lifestyle mag .... for anyone)? Or Ebony (a beautiful representation of Black people in America)? Or Vibe (hey, they say more Whites buy hip-hop music than anyone else... so why not subscribe and get the inside scoop on your favorite artists?) What about Black Enterprise? (money is green not black or white... yet popular money mags don't address the Black consumer and spending power of Blacks..... but money advice is colorless).

In school, we're all exposed to the writers of -what some people consider- "the Classics" ... Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Austen, Tolstoy, so on and so fourth.

But what a shame to deprive students of Ralph Ellison, Lorraine Hansberry, Angelou, Morrison, etc.

Yes, of course, there are some exceptional school programs out there exposing students to a diverse collection of literature. Bravo!!!

But back to my original point, how many non-Black book lovers / lovers of good writing .... line their shelves or integrate their coffee table with writers of color ... I mean... more than one or two token books?

Just a thought, what do you think?

Historical Times

2009 - What a year, and it's not even over!

We began the year with the inauguration of the First African-American President of the United States of America. It was a triumphant event that I spent all day watching on CNN, full of pomp and circumstance. (This Tuesday fell right after MLK day). I've never seen an inaguration.... I mean, I certainly don't remember much of the Clinton inauguration. But I don't think that CNN followed the event and surrounding events as closely as they did Obama. I do remember that Maya Angelou wrote a poem in commemoration.

The passing of a musical genius - Michael Jackson. The entire world mourned respectfully. The televised homecoming "celebration" was beautifully coordinated and performed.

The passing of Eunice Kennedy, closely followed by the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy and given the presidential treatment for his burial (which I've never seen).

The Revolution IS being televised, Mr. Gil Scott-Heron !