Food, Farm, Collective, To do for self, Family, Race and Human race
KHALIFAH DISCUSSES MAJOR PROGRAM SCHEDULE AT THE FARM
H. KHALIF KHALIFAH TALKS ABOUT
THE FOUNDING OF BLACK BOOK AWARDS
FOR EXCELLENCE IN BLACK LITERATURE
Independent Black writers are published, or aspiring to be published writers, who are following in the foot steps of all significant Black men and women who are identified with the Liberation Struggle of Black people.
In writing specifically for the welfare and wholesomeness of Black people, white publishers would not publish “hard core” black writing as it was written. So the would-be-liberators of Black people took their work to the next level and published it themselves. Over time, an industry separate from white publishing was created.
Today, 2009, Independent Black Writers do not necessarily publish with the liberation of Black people as the primary reason, but they are part of the industry that was created by others who had that thought in mind.
THE GREAT AMERICAN MARKETPLACE
Yes, it is a great marketplace because, but like everything else in America the production and marketing of literature is based and under girded, in America, by the oppression of Black people. Also, like other parts of American life, Black people do not have a full expression in the Literary Marketplace.
The most important, arguably, four books in our advent on the North American continent were written and published by Independent Black Writers: The four books are #1 “The Mis-Education of the Negro” by Dr. Carter G. Woodson who wrote this classic Trade Paperback in 1933…
BEFORE I CONTINUE…
I want everyone to know that in naming the “most important books in Black American history,” I realize is only my opinion. . . As I took a few minutes away from this piece, it occurred to me that I should leave the names of the next three, ‘most important books’ to see what the consensus of the Independent Black Writers Alliance may be.
Anyone who care to voice their views, and name the 4 books that have been most important in our rise from the mire of slavery and oppression, you can voice them without prejudice at Independent Black Writers space www.blackwritersalliance.com
THE FOUNDING OF BLACK BOOK AWARDS
Hopefully, the above will suffice everyone regarding the mindset in the Founding the Black Publishing Industry.
The Founding of Black Book Awards for Excellence in Black Literature came from my understanding of the history of the Black publishing industry. From the “understanding came the wisdom” to validate and celebrate Black Literature.
Leading into the presentation of the 18ths, I am writing a brief history about how and why we came institutionalize an event to validate and celebrate Black Literature by giving out Black Book Awards for Excellence in Black Literature. I can be reached via telephone at (704) 277-1462. or go to www.blackbooksaward.com
HARLEM, NEW YORK 1991.
The Black Book Awards evolved from programs that UNITED BROTHERS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. sponsored at the then, “Harlem State Office Building” on 125th Street in 1977 and 1978. Back then United Brothers were Umar Omar (Robert T. Davis), Anthony Roe, Claude Perry, James McRae, Jamal Abdullah and Robert Harris. Sisters would come later and the name was changed to UBUS Communications Systems.
The programs were called “THE HARLEM LITERARY AND ARTS FESTIVAL.”
Rev. Robert Pike of Washington, D.C. was the special guest speaker in 1977. His book “What Does Black Women Want From Black Men,” had made a splash. The main speakers were: Prof John Henrik Clarke, Dr. ben Jochannan, Imam Ali Rashid, Mr. Simon Bly, Jr. and Brother Preston Wilcox. The statement in the “Official Festival Journal” the following year is the basis by which we have sponsored 17th Black Book Awards” to date:
“A look at what we have done tell us the necessity for Africans, as a people, to be knowledgeable about our past history: This is a sure guide to building the solid, independent foundation from which to move confidently onto the future.”
The quote is taken from the “Official Journal” in 1978. So the origin of Black Book Awards is Documented.
[Part Two of this article will be continued. . . But the entire copy of this long article can story be read at www.blackwritersalliance.com or www.blackbooksaward.com ]
HISTORY OF BLACK BOOK AWARDS
UBCS also sponsored the “2nd ANNUAL HARLEM LITERARY AND ARTS FESTIVAL” in 1978 at the Harlem State Office Building. Like the first, this too was a great success and firmly implanted in my own mind the importance of Black people writing our own history; authenticating our own literature and validating it as relevant to the cause to free the race from the status as chattel slaves, 2nd class citizens, and other forms of oppression.
HARLEM, 1978 – QUEEN MOTHER MOORE, AMOS N. WILSON
In the 1978 Harlem Literary & Arts Festival we came back with Prof Amos N. Wilson as our Main Speaker. We had just recently published the First Edition of Dr. Wilsons’ seminal work: Developmental Psychology of the Black Child.
Dr. Wilson would grow profoundly over the next 15 years as he gave his life –independently published – several monumental works on the entire social fabric of Black people. All of his books were Independently published.
The legendary Queen Mother Moore was also on the program in 1978. She committed to come with one important stipulation: “What I have to say is for the Sisters. I want nothing I say recorded.”
I kept my promise to Queen Mother Moore, but have since come to regret doing so. I did learn a valuable lesson about the sponsorship of programs that have carried me through the years: There was a so-called brother I let video tape the proceedings. Everything was filmed except the Queen Mother’s speech – I believe.
I didn’t have the $funds to buy the VHS from the guy. He would not wait while I gathered the cash, but promised I could buy them later – I have not seen him or the tape from this day to that day. The lesson learned was to do my own documentation – and that is what we have managed to do with our storehouse of the recordings of Black Book Awards.
The tape are being digitized and put on DVD’s – manufactured into a product. Some will be Streamed and Web cast during the Month of May. All will be available for sale to help cover the large expense of presenting the BLACK BOOK AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BLACK LITERATURE.”
HISTORY OF BLACK BOOK AWARDS CONTINUES . . .
Parts 1 & 2 of The Harlem Literary and Arts Festival were presented at what was called at that time “The Harlem State Office Building. We didn’t give out any Black Book Awards at either program. But not because they were not deserving of them; we just did not think to give any.
Besides Queen Mother Moore and Prof Amos N. Wilson, Rich Bartee, Hedy A Fox, Preston Wilcox, and several others who were known at the time.
Food was served as it was during the programs 1 & 2, but would not be served at the next one: 14 years later at the Malcolm Shabazz Masjid, Harlem, N.Y during the First Weekend in June of 1991. Since 1991, we have presented the Awards at a Banquet where food was served. Payment to dine, and the guided tour of The Nat Turner Trail is the only part of Literary Weekend that is not Free. Literary Weekend is always the First Weekend in June.
Entry to be considered for an award can be made up to May 15, 2009 at www.blackbooksaward.com – send a copy of your book to P. O. Box 9, Drewryville, VA 23844. Call (704) 277-1462.
THE FOUNDING OF BLACK BOOK AWARDS
FOR EXCELLENCE IN BLACK LITERATURE
Independent Black writers are published, or aspiring to be published writers, who are following in the foot steps of all significant Black men and women who are identified with the Liberation Struggle of Black people.
In writing specifically for the welfare and wholesomeness of Black people, white publishers would not publish “hard core” black writing as it was written. So the would-be-liberators of Black people took their work to the next level and published it themselves. Over time, an industry separate from white publishing was created.
Today, 2009, Independent Black Writers do not necessarily publish with the liberation of Black people as the primary reason, but they are part of the industry that was created by others who had that thought in mind.
THE GREAT AMERICAN MARKETPLACE
Yes, it is a great marketplace because, but like everything else in America the production and marketing of literature is based and under girded, in America, by the oppression of Black people. Also, like other parts of American life, Black people do not have a full expression in the Literary Marketplace.
The most important, arguably, four books in our advent on the North American continent were written and published by Independent Black Writers: The four books are #1 “The Mis-Education of the Negro” by Dr. Carter G. Woodson who wrote this classic Trade Paperback in 1933…
BEFORE I CONTINUE…
I want everyone to know that in naming the “most important books in Black American history,” I realize is only my opinion. . . As I took a few minutes away from this piece, it occurred to me that I should leave the names of the next three, ‘most important books’ to see what the consensus of the Independent Black Writers Alliance may be.
Anyone who care to voice their views, and name the 4 books that have been most important in our rise from the mire of slavery and oppression, you can voice them without prejudice at Independent Black Writers space www.blackwritersalliance.com
THE FOUNDING OF BLACK BOOK AWARDS
Hopefully, the above will suffice everyone regarding the mindset in the Founding the Black Publishing Industry.
The Founding of Black Book Awards for Excellence in Black Literature came from my understanding of the history of the Black publishing industry. From the “understanding came the wisdom” to validate and celebrate Black Literature.
Leading into the presentation of the 18ths, I am writing a brief history about how and why we came institutionalize an event to validate and celebrate Black Literature by giving out Black Book Awards for Excellence in Black Literature. I can be reached via telephone at (704) 277-1462. or go to www.blackbooksaward.com
HARLEM, NEW YORK 1991.
The Black Book Awards evolved from programs that UNITED BROTHERS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. sponsored at the then, “Harlem State Office Building” on 125th Street in 1977 and 1978. Back then United Brothers were Umar Omar (Robert T. Davis), Anthony Roe, Claude Perry, James McRae, Jamal Abdullah and Robert Harris. Sisters would come later and the name was changed to UBUS Communications Systems.
The programs were called “THE HARLEM LITERARY AND ARTS FESTIVAL.”
Rev. Robert Pike of Washington, D.C. was the special guest speaker in 1977. His book “What Does Black Women Want From Black Men,” had made a splash. The main speakers were: Prof John Henrik Clarke, Dr. ben Jochannan, Imam Ali Rashid, Mr. Simon Bly, Jr. and Brother Preston Wilcox. The statement in the “Official Festival Journal” the following year is the basis by which we have sponsored 17th Black Book Awards” to date:
“A look at what we have done tell us the necessity for Africans, as a people, to be knowledgeable about our past history: This is a sure guide to building the solid, independent foundation from which to move confidently onto the future.”
The quote is taken from the “Official Journal” in 1978. So the origin of Black Book Awards is Documented.
[Part Two of this article will be continued. . . But the entire copy of this long article can story be read at www.blackwritersalliance.com or www.blackbooksaward.com ]
HISTORY OF BLACK BOOK AWARDS
UBCS also sponsored the “2nd ANNUAL HARLEM LITERARY AND ARTS FESTIVAL” in 1978 at the Harlem State Office Building. Like the first, this too was a great success and firmly implanted in my own mind the importance of Black people writing our own history; authenticating our own literature and validating it as relevant to the cause to free the race from the status as chattel slaves, 2nd class citizens, and other forms of oppression.
HARLEM, 1978 – QUEEN MOTHER MOORE, AMOS N. WILSON
In the 1978 Harlem Literary & Arts Festival we came back with Prof Amos N. Wilson as our Main Speaker. We had just recently published the First Edition of Dr. Wilsons’ seminal work: Developmental Psychology of the Black Child.
Dr. Wilson would grow profoundly over the next 15 years as he gave his life –independently published – several monumental works on the entire social fabric of Black people. All of his books were Independently published.
The legendary Queen Mother Moore was also on the program in 1978. She committed to come with one important stipulation: “What I have to say is for the Sisters. I want nothing I say recorded.”
I kept my promise to Queen Mother Moore, but have since come to regret doing so. I did learn a valuable lesson about the sponsorship of programs that have carried me through the years: There was a so-called brother I let video tape the proceedings. Everything was filmed except the Queen Mother’s speech – I believe.
I didn’t have the $funds to buy the VHS from the guy. He would not wait while I gathered the cash, but promised I could buy them later – I have not seen him or the tape from this day to that day. The lesson learned was to do my own documentation – and that is what we have managed to do with our storehouse of the recordings of Black Book Awards.
The tape are being digitized and put on DVD’s – manufactured into a product. Some will be Streamed and Web cast during the Month of May. All will be available for sale to help cover the large expense of presenting the BLACK BOOK AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BLACK LITERATURE.”
HISTORY OF BLACK BOOK AWARDS CONTINUES . . .
Parts 1 & 2 of The Harlem Literary and Arts Festival were presented at what was called at that time “The Harlem State Office Building. We didn’t give out any Black Book Awards at either program. But not because they were not deserving of them; we just did not think to give any.
Besides Queen Mother Moore and Prof Amos N. Wilson, Rich Bartee, Hedy A Fox, Preston Wilcox, and several others who were known at the time.
Food was served as it was during the programs 1 & 2, but would not be served at the next one: 14 years later at the Malcolm Shabazz Masjid, Harlem, N.Y during the First Weekend in June of 1991. Since 1991, we have presented the Awards at a Banquet where food was served. Payment to dine, and the guided tour of The Nat Turner Trail is the only part of Literary Weekend that is not Free. Literary Weekend is always the First Weekend in June.
Entry to be considered for an award can be made up to May 15, 2009 at www.blackbooksaward.com – send a copy of your book to P. O. Box 9, Drewryville, VA 23844. Call (704) 277-1462.
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