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Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 11:53 pm: | 
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For Immediate Release
CONTACT:
Black Male Authors Give Away Books In Housing Projects
Atlanta, Georgia --When Black male fiction writers were flown into Atlanta, they had no idea they’d be walking into a housing project giving away free copies of their books.
November 8th and 9th, 2002 marked what many are calling a movement--the first ever Black Male Fiction Writers Symposium. The event took place on the campus of Clark Atlanta University and was attended by approximately 300 people over the course of two days. Audience members were a combination of elementary, high school, and college students as well as professors, writers, readers, and other professionals. Friday afternoon, a group of young black men were marched into the symposium by their Morehouse College professor. Another professor from Clark Atlanta University brought two classes to take part in the event.
Organized by authors, Vincent Alexandria, Brian Egeston, and Timmothy B. McCann, the symposium assembled more than twenty-one Black male fiction writers from across the nation to discuss issues such as encouraging young black men and boys to read, quality of writing, and gaining more recognition in the publishing world.
Royal Marshall, nationally syndicated talk show producer, served as moderator for two of the panels. He invoked lively discussion with audience participation about raising the next generation of readers and profiling the African American Fiction reader. National best-selling author, Victoria Christopher Murray of Los Angeles, California and author/publisher Nancey Flowers of Brooklyn, New York moderated panels quizzing authors about the future of African American fiction, strengthening the voice of the Black male fiction writers, and what actions the panel members would take after the symposium.
Events such as this are typically a haven for selling books, however authors serving as panelists donated copies of their books. Some authors donated as many as ten copies of their work while others donated an entire case. The books were given to attendees of the symposium as an attempt to encourage more men to read fiction.
Participants of the symposium reiterated the need for action and proposed the compilation of an anthology for young boys. Another item birthed from the symposium was the inception of The Bad Boy Book Club—a nation wide organization geared specifically towards encouraging young black boys to read.
The most moving aspect of the symposium occurred when the symposium organizers encouraged the other authors in attendance to “Not talk about it but be about it.” At the close of the event, authors serving as panelists were asked to pick up copies of their books and head for the door. Not only did the authors grab their books, but members of the audience grabbed books and joined in single file headed for the University Homes housing projects one block away from the Clark Atlanta Campus.
One author approached a car occupied by urban youth blasting their music and offered a copy of his book to one of the passengers. Immediately, the driver lowered the volume and other passengers inside the car began climbing over one another wanting a book for themselves.
In an incredible display, author Kenji Jasper approached a group of men and suddenly found himself in the middle of a drug transaction. Jasper handed one of the men a copy of his book and the group willingly accepted his offering and began thumbing through the pages, thanking Jasper.
The Black Male Fiction Writer’s Symposium is now slated as an annual event.
Brian Egeston (404) 784-1176 brian@brianwrites.com
Timm McCann (352) 372-7527 Timmmcann@aol.com
Vincent Alexandria (816) 520-6716 rachone@swbell.net |
norwood
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 05:00 am: |
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Great idea for giving back, we must continue to do, and promote such works. |
Griff Starr
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 11:10 am: |
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Beautiful! |
RLSpencer
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 11:07 am: |
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I have written a great story(first time) called "The Molasses Tree"which is scheluded for publication early fall.I am self publishing through Trafford Publishing. Please watch for it. |
Cmack
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 04:23 pm: |
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I am always touched when I read stories of people giving back to the community, and what better way to do so than with books. Great story!!!!! |
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