| Author | Message | ||
     Brownbeauty123 AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Brownbeauty123 Post Number: 2212 Registered: 03-2006 Rating: N/A |
A few days ago I was in my local book store browsing the AA literature section, and noticed how ghetto all of the covers are, and the titles. The average AA literature book had naked women on the front cover, and titles like "Black and Ugly As Ever"..I even read a few of the pages and was just turned off by the dialogue. It was all about looks and sex. I couldn't take it. Does anyone know any good AA Literature books to read? It seems that you have to really search hard for some decent AA books | ||
| Thumper Veteran Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 834 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello, Brownbeauty: Now, I'm not going to knock the naked women on the front cover books. I read a few of them lately and find them well written...JUST A FEW!! Check out my latest 12 reviews. There are some real good AA literature being written, but they are becoming increasingly hard to find now-a-days. It's more important than ever that we keep each other informed when we run across good AA lit and support these books and their authors! | ||
| Schakspir AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Schakspir Post Number: 1267 Registered: 12-2005 Rating: N/A |
Yes, Thumper, that is absolutely right. We must support these authors and their books, even if we don't necessarily like them. Right? | ||
| Thumper Veteran Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 835 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello, Schakspir: Wrong!! Why would you support something you don't like? But, I guess my point would be, IF you haven't READ it, who do you know if you like it or not? | ||
| Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 7946 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: |
It was all about looks and sex. I couldn't take it. (You can't stand it looking at the covers of some books? This country is doomed. Does anyone know any good AA Literature books to read? It seems that you have to really search hard for some decent AA books (You're hopeless. You're on a whole website dedicated to such books and you can't find them. Martin and Malcolm died for nothing!) | ||
| Schakspir AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Schakspir Post Number: 1268 Registered: 12-2005 Rating: N/A |
My point being that even if I PERSONALLY thought the particular author was not to my liking, I would support that author if I knew that the book had value. For instance, I don't care much for the writings of Colson Whitehead, but yeah, I would support him, since he IS serious about what he does--unlike, say, Relentless Aaron. | ||
| Schakspir AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Schakspir Post Number: 1269 Registered: 12-2005 Rating: N/A |
"Martin and Malcolm died for nothing!" Agreed. We are the clowns and buffoons of the whole African Diaspora. | ||
| Soul_sister Regular Poster Username: Soul_sister Post Number: 97 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Do not despair there are some underground greats. MariaElena Johns, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, Kuwana Haulsey, Bonita Glover, Gabrielle Pina, and so others, I cannot recall at this moment. Many of these people have careers that are not solely literary - however, they have produced great stuff that has not been marketed to the masses. Like hiphop and other art forms, there are HUGE amounts of money that are made by those who produce and market the product. Those who create have little involvement in the other side of the busy - remember that scuffle with Foxy Brown and what about Prince when he became "the symbol/Slave" Clearly, everyone is digging Black cultural products - from Shea butter to ghetto lingo. What is the solution?? Maintain a standard and do not waiver. I am reading this forthcoming work by W.B. Garvey - Digging Gold Mountain -- it is about Jamaician immigrants working on the Panama Canal - so far - mighty good - Thumper did this one cross your desk??? I believe we are experiencing a human renaissance that is increasingly divergent those who appreciate art and those who appreciate titillation -- from neo-soul to well written indies - the table is set -- you can choose what you eat - and like the Hebrew boys - I will not eat the kings portion - but prefer the pulse to eat, and water to drink. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. That is the small, secret blessing behind reading stimulating, well crafted works -- the depth of character and breath of appreciation is worth the simmering thrill instead of mere titillation. Peace Soul Sister ps - sorry for the long post - I am getting geared up for BEA - Yippee! | ||
| Carey AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 1912 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Soul Sister, will you marry me *smile*. That was a great post! You basically said it's our choice. You said that you choose not to eat the kings portion. I am going to steal that. Is it stealing when you tell someone that you are going to take it? Maybe that's a muggin'. Anyway, that post said it all. | ||
| Hen81 Veteran Poster Username: Hen81 Post Number: 191 Registered: 09-2007 Rating: |
I think the issue with what populates the shelves in the "black" literature section of some book stores is that there is a "black" section at all. In some ways, a section that caters to a certain group gives the power over to the retailer to determine that group's choice in what they can select. Any retailer will stock the 80% that sells the most and skip the 20% that represents a broad diversity of writing. Readers who will not search the net will settle for those narrow choices. With so few black bookstores around, choice has become a problem. Do you want to see Sweet Sweetback or Mandingo. Number 2, the existence of sections based upon race encourages those outside of the designated group to bypass the section altogether as the suggestion is that those books only appeal to black readers and that hurts authors. Can you imagine if Obama had only campaigned to the black voting block, he certainly would not be President. http://DTPollard.com | ||
| Thumper Veteran Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 837 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, I think that the "black" literature being on certain shelves is not all that bad. First, back in the day I remember asking for this section because it saved me time when I went to a bookstore, not an AA bookstore, I could go to one section and see all of the books right there without looking all over the place for books that might or might not be there. Soul Sister: Hey, I see your point. I know that there are plenty of AA authors whose books are now underground. I am looking for a way to connect with those "underground" authors and the reading audience. With the cost of so many things going up, it's essential that we find a way to utilize the technology that we have at hand, maybe that could lead the way to decrease the cost it takes to publish a book and decrease the price for us to buy the book. I did not get a copy of Digging Gold Mountain coming across my desk. I'm going to have to check into that. |
