All Entries Tagged With: "Books"
Need Cash? Students Can Now Sell Textbooks via Chegg & Accept Payments on Prepaid Card
Chegg, an online student hub, has given college kids a cool platform to earn cash and learn to manage their money.
The new program is part of the “textbook buyback” initiative which is a collaborative effort between Chegg and American Express Serve®. American Express provides students with the Serve® prepaid card after textbooks are sold inside the Chegg website. The prepaid card does not have any hidden fees. Students do not have to pass a credit check to get one. Instead, the only qualification is that students set up an account on Chegg. Though the process below may seems a bit much, AMEX and Chegg assures that selling books and earning money is rather simple. Check it out…
1) Student visits the Chegg website, requests and agrees to a quote for the books they would like to sell, and prints a shipping label to send their books to Chegg.
2) Student will then be directed to sign up for Serve from American Express within the Chegg website, and a Serve prepaid Card will be directly shipped to them. Buyback funds will be sent from Chegg within 24-hours of processing the book.
3) Student receives their Serve Card in the mail and activates it. They can use the newly available funds to transfer money between friends with Serve accounts, make an ATM withdrawal or to safely and securely shop virtually anywhere American Express® Cards are accepted.
“Going to college requires many transitions for students; one of the most important is developing good financial habits. We are thrilled to partner with Serve and help students manage their money using a trusted digital account,” said Elizabeth Harz, vice president of business development for Chegg. “Saving students time, money and helping them get smarter is what Chegg is all about. Teaming with Serve helps us deliver on this charter and provides American Express an authentic connection to this important and influential audience of 18 to 24 year olds.”
Starting now through August 30, 2013, students can open a new Serve Account and make purchases and receive a $10 credit. For more information, go to www.chegg.com.
Chegg, the student hub, is transforming the way millions of students learn by connecting them to the people and tools needed to succeed in college through homework help, course selection, eTextbook and textbook options as well as school and scholarship connections. Students nationwide use Chegg 365 days a year to make learning easier, more accessible and more productive. As a part of the company’s philanthropic efforts, Chegg is dedicated to its Chegg For Good program, which empowers students to be a catalyst for change on their campus, in their communities and around the world. From starting as a textbook rental company to evolving into the student hub, Chegg is enhancing education for millions of students by saving them time, saving them money and helping them get smarter.
Youth-Friendly Freebies: May 4th “National Free Comic Book Day” + $1 Summer Movies at Regal
Hey parents! After sifting through the worldwide web for youth-related content, here are two cost savvy treats that’ll be great for your kids.
First off, “National Free Comic Book Day” will be celebrated on May 4th. At participating comic book stores across the globe, 4.6 million comic books will be given away free to customers. In case you are wondering if only certain series of books will be free, don’t worry because ALL of your favorite books are included (i.e. Star Wars, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Walking Dead, and Superman). The free books will appeal to a broad audience who’s known to appreciate horror, sci-fi, action-packed, or kid-friendly content. So, YES, this means that the adults will have an opportunity to catch the savings too. 
In addition, comic shops will offer other great deals and exclusive items. Don’t be surprised if you see a few super-heroes onsite. If you would like to see the full list of free titles, go to www.freecomicbookday.com. While on the site, check the Locator to see which stores in your area will be participating.
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For the kids who’d prefer to see their favorite super-hero or cartoon character on film, you’re in luck! This summer, Regal Entertainment Group (Regal Cinemas) launch their “Summer Movie Express 2013″ festival. The festival will run for nine weeks offering movie-goers the chance to watch G and PG rated movies. Movies will be show on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10AM. Admission will only cost $1 dollar with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.
Over 300 Regal Cinemas locations will be participating and the movies selected are guaranteed to be a hit with the kids. The Three Stooges, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Rio, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Yogi Bear, Happy Feet Two and many other films are on the list of scheduled movies.
To find the complete list and show dates, go to www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express .
Best Books To Help Young Adults Manage Their Financial Life
It’s 2013. We are living in a day and age where information, on just about anything, is readily available. Whether it’s through the internet or at your local library, advice on a wide ray of subjects can be found if one just take the time out to look. This is especially true for parents who aren’t necessarily equipped with enough knowledge to pass down to their kids. One area that often stomps the parents when asked a question is money.
Personal finance, investing, wealth management, etc are all topics that parents should start teaching their kids early on. But unfortunately there are many parents that suffer from personal money issues. So, this automatically deters them from being a great role model and/or teacher. However, the necessary information and resources that can help young adults manage their financial lives are out there.
To help parents instill some financial accountability into their kids, STACKS Magazine found several great Books To Help Young Adults Manage Their Financial Life. Here’s the list:
1. The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
2. Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe & Sound
3. Financial Planning for Your First Job by Matthew Brandeburg
4. Investment Visionaries: A Roadmap to Wealth from the World’s Greatest Money Managers by Peter J. Tanous
5. Get A Financial Life: Personal Finance In Your Twenties and Thirties by Beth Kobliner
6. Your So Money: Live Rich, Even When Your Not by Farnoosh Torabi
7. Street Wise: A Guide for Teen Investors by Janet Bamford
Parents, most of these books can be purchased online on Amazon. The earlier your child start developing some financial responsibility, the less financial headaches they’ll experience in the future.
Good Deed: Ne-Yo’s Fiance Monyetta Shaw Instills Life Lessons In New Childrens Book ‘The Adventures of Maddie’
Monyetta Shaw, the fiancé of singer/songwriter Ne-Yo, recently released her first childrens book. The Adventures of Maddie is a book inspired by her daughter Maddie and the lessons she’s learned as a mother of two.
The book, published under her Evan Grace Publishing imprint, is one of several endeavours Ms. Shaw is embarking upon through the formation of her new company, The Evan Grace Group. Although the book is centered around an African-American child, The Adventures of Maddie is catered to all races. This is quite unique in that you don’t hear of many African-American based books for young kids. In addition, the contents in the book centers around values, life lessons, morals, and Maddie’s own daily adventures as a young 6 year old. This is also great and a valuable stepping stone to help mothers positively assist in the development of their kids.
The book is the first of a series that will follow Maddie as she embarks on life as a little girl growing up. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, The Adventures of Maddie can be purchased on Amazon for $11.95 (paperback).
Terrence J to Share “The Wealth of My Mother’s Wisdom” in a New Book
After leaving his post last year as one of the host of BET’s 106 and Park, Terrence J moved on up to the “E” side snagging a spot as a host on ‘E News.’ With those two gigs, the title of television host is secure on his resume.
But now he’s about to add the title of author to his repertoire. Terrence J recently announced that he has a book on the way. The book entitled The Wealth of My Mother’s Wisdom will revolve around how the life lessons his mother taught him impacted his life.
About this new venture and what inspired him, Terrence J said,
“During the process of playing the “Mama’s boy” in Think Like a Man, I took an in-depth look at my own mother and her extraordinary journey of raising me while a still teenager herself. I know that many of the successful moments in my life, personally and professionally, have been in part because of the lessons that she taught me, and I am proud to share her words of wisdom to inspire others.”
The Wealth of My Mother’s Wisdom by Terrence J will be published by HarperCollins Publishers and is scheduled for a September 2013 release.
Questlove Set To Release Memoir ‘Mo’ Meta Blues: The World According To Questlove’
You may recognize him by his big afro and afro pick or as the drummer for The Roots and lead band director on Jimmy Fallon’s late night talk show. Whichever the case, he’s adding one more title to his name…author.
‘Mo Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove” is Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s first book. The book is a memoir that will detail his life and share thoughts on black music and pop culture. Depsite spending most of his time on music, teaching at NYU, and running a catering business, he’s found time to pen down this book.
According to the NY Daily News, it is a memoir that…
“…as you might expect from the pop culture-obsessed drummer, is full of riffs on different subjects. Thompson promises to hold forth on “some of the lates, the greats, the fakes and the true originals of the music world,” according to the press release, which we spotted through The Hollywood Reporter. But he’ll also hold forth on black history and the state of musical criticism, blending his tales of working with Jay-Z and Elvis Costello with meditations on their place in pop history.”
Via Grand Central Publishing, the book will be released on June 18th.
Sounds very interesting…definitely one to read.
Book Review: The Soundtrack To My Life by Garfield Hylton
Garfield Hylton is a fellow blogger and twitter character that I have grown to admire. Maybe it was the raw style that he comes with on a consistent basis. Or, maybe it was the curmudgeon-turned-comedian approach to life he unexpectedly leads. Whatever the case, when he said he had written a book I was immediately thrilled. I was thrilled by the fact that I would get to read and review the piece of work that he put together. So, when I downloaded my copy of The Soundtrack To My Life, I was hoping for something as hilarious and profound as his blogs.
After reading his book, I realized that the discussed topics were no laughing matter. This was probably the most serious, and open, I have ever seen him.
The format of the book is pretty simple to understand. Each chapter, which details a certain aspect of his life, accompanies a song that reflects precisely what is being talked about. For example, his chapter “Friends- How Many Of Us Have Them?” is linked with MF Doom’s “Deep Fried Frienz” instinctively. The same is done with the chapters “Girl Problems” (Big Sean’s “Sellin’ Dreams”) and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” (Kanye West’s “Blame Game”). As song lyrics are interwoven into the chapter’s dialogue, a reader can almost “hear” how the entire chapter is playing out.
Garfield wants the reader to have a visceral, and musical, experience through his writing. This is one of the things that make this book work.
The other thing that makes this tome work is Garfield’s sheer, uncut honesty. He shares a lot of information about himself and his daily struggles. The reader gets to see how his father’s absence has contributed to his lack of judgment with interpersonal relationships. Garfield also shares his beliefs on the collegiate educational system (it is all a money making sham) and why he chose writing and put his desire to be a lawyer on the backburner.
The only major complaint that anyone can give is the fact that the book is very, very short. Only clocking in at around 50 pages, this is rarely what one considers the classic length of an autobiography. Yet, what he doesn’t have in length, he doubles with sheer passion and in-your-face details of trials, tribulations, and eventual triumph. In the regular publishing world, the length will be an issue. For the sake of readership, though, it truly works out in his favor.
Concrete and concise, The Soundtrack To My Life is a book that is so pure and uncut that the emotions bleed over from the pages. Garfield Hylton does the most difficult thing ever: he exposes himself. When one exposes themselves, they run the risk of being hurt. As short as the composition is, the length of existing ambiance is way more long-lasting than the words can show. Hylton’s soundtrack is just a reminder that art imitates the life we artistically seek.
Boris Kodjoe Snags Leading Role In Zane’s ‘Addicted’
Actor Boris Kodjoe has snagged a leading role in the upcoming film ‘Addicted’. By way of Lionsgate, the film will be based on best-selling author Zane’s book of the same name. The storyline revolves around a successful African-American businesswoman who has to endure the ups and downs of her sex addiction.
Here’s the synopsis…
For Zoe Reynard, finding the pleasure she wants, the way she wants it, is not worth the risk of losing everything she has: marriage to the man she has loved since childhood, a thriving company, and three wonderful children. But Zoe feels helpless in the grip of an overpowering addiction to sex. Finding a compassionate woman therapist to help her, Zoe finally summons the courage to tell her torrid story, a tale of guilt and desire as shocking as it is compelling. From the sensitive artist with whom she spends stolen hours on rumpled sheets, to the rough and violent man who draws her toward destruction, Zoe is a woman desperately searching for fulfillment – and something darker, deeper, and perhaps deadly. As her life spins out of control and her sexual escapades carry her toward a dangerous choice, Zoe is racing against time to uncover the source of her ‘fatal attraction’ – as chilling secrets tumble forth from the recesses of a woman’s mind, and perilous temptations lead toward a climax that can threaten her sanity, her marriage and her life.
Sharon Leal and William Levy have been added to the cast as well. No word yet on who’ll be starring as Zoe. As for a release date, there’s no word on that yet either considering production was supposed to begin this summer but didn’t. But we’ll keep you posted as details emerge.
50 Cent’s New Fitness Book Promo
Even though he introduced himself to the world as a rapper, I think it’s becoming more and more evident that 50 Cent is less of that these days and more like an entrepreneur. A few weeks ago we told you about his upcoming venture to release his fitness book, Formula 50: A 6-Week Total Body Transformation Plan. While the book is not scheduled for release until December, 50 is already setting the promo trail ablaze recently release a promo video for the book. Check it out below and let us know in the comments if you’ll be getting your workout on with the G-Unit boss.
“Profit With Purpose” by Marketing Maven,Teneshia Warner (former mentee to Russell Simmons)
via press release:
New York, NY October 9, 2012 – Marketing Maven Teneshia Warner, founder of award-winning agency Egami Consulting Group (Egami), has written Profit With Purpose: A Marketer’s Guide to Deliver Purpose-Driven Campaigns to Multicultural Audiences. With forewords by global philanthropist, Hip-hop pioneer and entrepreneur Russell Simmons, the book is a practical guide to engaging the multicultural audience in a purpose-driven way.
Profit With Purpose, is the first book to be published on multicultural Purpose-Driven Marketing and highlights the award-winning client work that Egami and MSLGroup have collaborated on over the years. The overarching theme is that people, products and services have a meaning, and that meaning is their purpose. When that purpose is aligned to meet the needs and/or serves others, great things can happen as lives are enriched and innovation occurs. Purpose-Driven Marketing highlights that the consumer can benefit in conjunction with a profitable bottom-line. This exciting new approach to multicultural marketing requires brands to shift from the ‘selling business’ and into the ‘business of serving’.
To purchase a copy of the book for $28, go to Paramount Publishing Inc’s website.
Thanks for sharing Janice Torres/Egami Consulting Group, Inc!
50 Cent’s “Formula 50”
Rapper, actor, and entrepreneur Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson is embarking on yet another business venture. This time in the form of a fitness book, the Queens native is about to help you transform your body. Partnering with publishing house Penguin Group USA, 50 is set to release Formula 50: A 6-Week Total Body Transformation Plan.
According to a press release on why he went this route, 50 said, “I had a strong desire to write this book because it is very important to me to help people make positive changes and take charge of their overall health. FORMULA 50 is a radical six week mind-body transformation plan geared to help readers develop mental toughness to achieve optimum results while offering a nutrition component.”
Formula 50 will hit store shelves December 2012. Will you copping the book and working it out the Formula 50 way???
Mia X Releases Teaser For “Things Grandma Told Me, Things Grandma Showed Me”
Back in August, I mentioned that former No Limit Records emcee Mia X would soon release a cookbook/memoir. [READ: Who Knew?? Rapper Mia X Set To Release Cookbook/Memoir] Well, she’s finally released an excerpt of her book Things My Grandma Told Me, Things My Grandma Showed Me exclusively to AllHipHop.com. Although there’s been no official date of release, Mia X has graciously given her fans a preview into her life and some of her Mamaw-inspired dishes. Get your read on below…
I was feeling down and depressed because I found out that my boyfriend had gotten someone else pregnant. I knew that if I left him, I would have to move back with my mama, and even though I had the best mommy, once you move out and live on your own you establish a comfort zone unlike no other. I called mamaw to see what she was doing.
She was saying that she had a pot of red beans on the stove and was about to make cabbage also. I knew she was cooking for a small army because of the heavy traffic of folks who visited her house everyday. So I asked her if she could use some company and help. She made me smile when she said, “You know mamaw always welcomes your company, Mity.”
After we hung up, I got dressed and headed to mamaw’s.
On the way I thought about everything that was going on in my life. I loved my boyfriend, we had a daughter, he loved and treated my son as his own, I wanted to be with him, but I was so mad, shamed, and hurt. I just wanted him to settle down with me and do right! All his b*tches and making all these babies. When will he stop was the only thought in my head.
Knock knock I said, turning the knob to mamaws always unlocked door. “Come on baby. I’m in my room.” Hey lady. I hugged her neck and kissed her satin smooth mahogany skin. I was trying to avoid eye contact because I had been crying all night.
“What’s goin on witcha lil gal”? I didnt have a poker face, so mamaw knew something was bothering me. On top of the fact that she could damn near see through all of us be it good or bad. I exhaled but before I could say anything she told me. “Go was dem outside spirits off you hands so we can sit down and make conte” (discuss things/gossip).
Mamaw had a house rule. Once you crossed her door seal you had to wash you hands. She said you should never bring the random germs from the outside spirits to linger in someones house. As far as her kitchen went, even if you already washed your hands, before you touched anything you had to wash them again.
“Stir the beans and pour the water off the pickle tips(pickled pork briskette) and fill the pot up again they need to boil twice,” Mamaw was saying as she was making her way to the kitchen. I was placing the pickle tips and fresh water back on the stove for the second boil when she said.
“What the n*gga did dat got you looking like you gotta be David Dukes chamber maid?” He made a baby on me mamaw! I burst into tears. My heart felt like it was about to explode.
But wait, there’s more! Read the full excerpt here.
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Empire Expands To Music and Clothing
Has your love-life changed since reading ’50 Shades of Grey’? Or have you left those fantasies to the characters in the book?
The ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ book series, by E.L. James, is undeniably one of the top-selling novels of 2011-2012. To date, the trilogy (including Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Free) has sold a combined 40 million copies worldwide. The phenomenon has become a top marketing strategy amongst companies who seek new angles to sell their products. Well, James is ready to capitalize on the popularity of the novels.
According to the Associated Press, James will partner with EMI Music on “Fifity Shades of Grey: The Classical Album”. The album is set to be released in September 2012. Also, female fans will soon get the opportunity to sex it up in the bedroom with Fifty Shades garters and stockings. Underwear, pajamas, and robes will also be available.
Who Knew?? Rapper Mia X Set to Release Cookbook/Memoir
You know, I follow Mama Mia on Twitter (@TheRealMiaX) and I do see her tweet pics of food often. But honestly, I never put two and two together that she loves cooking. So much, in fact, that she’s releasing a new cookbook and memoir soon.
Things My Grandma Told Me, Things My Grandma Showed Me will be a collection of her favorite recipes (many of which she learned from her beloved grandmother). In addition, the book will serve as a memoir into Mia X’s life and her time as first lady of No Limit Records. The cookbook/memoir will be accompanied by a CD and DVD. All of her fans will appreciate hearing the fearless emcee again. As for the DVD, she’s currently shopping around a reality show In The Kitchen with Mama Mia. The show will reflect on music, life, and food.
Mia X was always one of my favorite female rappers. I’m excited for her and these new endeavours. You go Mia!
T.I. Releases Street Novel + Grand Hustle Restructuring?
Clifford “T.I.” Harris is back on the scene and is clearly showing us all that he wasn’t just sitting still for a year twindling his thumbs. After his September release from an Arkansas prison, the KANG has been working non-stop to reestablish his spot in music and rekindle those precious moments with his family. Beyond the music, though, T.I. is currently shooting scenes for his 10-episode reality show series. The show is schedule to air on VH1 on December 5. Along with the show, he’s etched his name in the literary world as an author with his new book entitled Power & Beauty: A Love Story of Life on the Streets. The book is co-written by T.I. and David Ritz (a novelist who’s co-written life stories of Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Grandmaster Flash). According to HarperCollinsPublishers, the synopsis is …
After the death of his mother, Charlotte, Paul “Power” Clay allows himself to be guided by Slim, a local businessman. Slim always has the best of everything, and Power is sure that if he learns Slim’s ways, he’ll make something of himself–and perhaps be worthy of Tanya “Beauty” Long. From Chicago to Miami to New York, through drugs, women, and violence, Power makes the difficult transition from boy to man and, in doing so, begins to question if those who have taught him–including Slim–truly have his best interests at heart.
Beauty has always known that the only person she can rely on is herself. After her mother died when she was eleven years old, she was adopted by close family friend Charlotte Clay. But with Charlotte’s death, Beauty knows she’s no longer safe and protected–especially as Power gets sucked into a new kind of life. As soon as she can, she turns her back on Atlanta–and the growing love she feels for Power–for a chance to make it in the Big Apple. With a successful fashion career on the horizon, Beauty takes New York by storm with her wit, business savvy, and breathtaking good looks. But she’s never forgotten those she left behind. And when it becomes clear that Power needs her, Beauty will risk everything to save the man she loves.
If you are a T.I. fan or just love to read, the book is currently in stores. So go cop one!
In addition to the book, the reality show, and most definitely the music, the company in which he helped build will soon experience some restructuring. T.I. told Billboard in a recent interview…
“[We're going to] reshape and remold this company from the bottom up, from an executive standpoint and an artist standpoint,” he said of the label he co-founded with Jason Geter and that has been operating under the Warner umbrella, with distribution through Atlantic, since 2003. “It’s a unanimous decision,” he said. “The way we’ve done it, we’ve been considerably successful, but in order to do better, we’re going to have to do things differently.”
And there you have it! Grand Hustle has been in existence since 2003. It is definitely time to assign new positions and develop new strategies. It’s good to see T.I. and his team trying to put themselves in a place to be able to “stomp with the big dogs”.
In the mean time, check out T.I.’s new track “I’m Flexin” produced by Mississippi rapper, Big K.R.I.T.
DOES T.I. STILL GOT WHAT IT TAKES??
Clark Howard’s New Book Shows Us How To Live Large In Lean Times
The ever so popular, Clark Howard, has released a New York Best Seller, “Living Large In Lean Times: 250+ Ways to Buy Smarter, Spend Smarter, and Save Money”. The guide contains useful tips that should help those who are having a hard time managing their finances and saving money. On his website, it mentions that the book will show you how to:
*Locate missing and unclaimed money in your name
*Lower your student loan payment
*Find legitimate work-at-home opportunities
*Get unlimited texting and emailing for less than $10 a month
*Know the kind of personal info NOT to post on social networking sites
*Determine the best mortgage rate
…and much, much more!!
To order your copy, check out Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Indiebound, or iTunes.
Russell Simmons Says ‘Super Rich’ Is A Mindstate [Video]
From Def Jam Records to Phat Farm clothing, hip-hop mogul and activist Russell Simmons is now lending his advice in his new book Super Rich: A Guide To Having It All. In this book, which is also a great follow-up to his first novel and New York Best Seller Do You, he explains that it is imperative to have a certain consciousness or faith while running a business.
“…so I’ve had all these experiences where I bought businesses and had to buy out the partners because they didnt believe in the long term vision and wanted to see short term results. But in all cases, I stuck with my goal and the brands became worthwhile. The investment made good sense. But it took a little longer. And I think people need faith in small businesses. I think if you have a great idea, it’s still a great idea…just because it hits a road block doesnt mean it’s time to quit.”
Check out the video:
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If you haven’t purchased Russell’s new book, Super Rich: A Guide To Having It All, you can find it at your local bookstores or online.
You can follow Russell Simmons on Twitter @UncleRush.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Janet Jackson Opens Up About Low Self-Esteem In New Book
Many of us (women and men) deal with or have dealt with the trials of having low self-esteem once in our lives. But just imagine having to deal with it while being a childhood star. Well, Janet Jackson’s new book invites readers on a journey into the icon’s life as she dealt with this issue.
Here’s an excerpt:
Breaking Free
In 1977, at age ten, I was cast on the TV sitcom “Good Times.” My character was Penny, an abused child in desperate need of love. I really didn’t want to do the show. I didn’t want to be away from my family. And being on television only added to my negative feelings about my body.
Before production began, I was told two things: I was fat and needed to slim down, and because I was beginning to develop, I needed to bind my breasts. In both cases the message was devastating — my body was wrong. The message was also clear — to be successful, I had to change the way I looked.
I didn’t even know what it meant to “bind my breasts.” At first I was frightened. Were they talking about some kind of operation? For a girl so young, this was confusing. Naturally, I kept the confusion to myself.
“It means we need to tie down your breasts so you appear flat-chested,” the wardrobe woman explained.
So, each day of shooting, I went through the ordeal of having wide strips of gauze tied across my chest to hide the natural shape of my breasts. It was uncomfortable and humiliating.
I never discussed this with anyone. Never said a word to my parents, sisters, or brothers. I kept it all hidden inside. I didn’t know what to do with my feelings of fear and embarrassment. So I hid them. I was ashamed of them. After all, I was an actress, and my job was to please others — writers, directors, and producers — and to entertain the audience. There was no room for personal confusion.
To read the rest of the excerpt, check out MSN.
Janet Jackson’s book, “True You”, is in stores now.
Oh Really! Hip-Hop Is Target In Ashley Judd’s Memoir
Although, radio and tv are plagued with artists of various genres coming together to make hit songs. Those visual acts of racial progression are just a cover up. Music lovers please be aware that there are people out there that will continue to dislike hip hop and the lifestyles it displays. Case in point: Actress Ashley Judd. She recently felt the wrath of hip-hop fans around the world who were outraged at several comments she had to say about this music genre.
The backlash began after an excerpt from her book depicted the actress lobbing harsh words at the rap and hip-hop genres as well as artists Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy. While speaking about an AIDS awareness program she works with, Judd writes, “Along with other performers, YouthAIDS was supported by rap and hip-hop artists like Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy to spread the message…um, who? Those names were a red flag.”
Judd continued, “As far as I’m concerned, most rap and hip-hop music – with its rape culture and insanely abusive lyrics and depictions of girls and women as ‘ho’s’ – is the contemporary soundtrack of misogyny.”
She concludes, “I believe that the social construction of gender – the cultural beliefs and practices that divide the sexes and institutionalize and normalize the unequal treatment of girls and women, privilege the interests of boys and men, and, most nefariously, incessantly sexualize girls and women – is the root cause of poverty and suffering around the world.”
And of course, after the backlash, Judd wanted to retract her statements…
“The outcry regarding my remarks, 2 paragraphs of my 400+ page book, regarding hip hop and rap, has been as astounding as it is out of context…I have looked closely at the feedback I have received about those two paragraphs, and absolutely see your points, and I fully capitulate to your rightness, and again humbly offer my heartfelt amends for not having been able to see the fault in my writing, and not having anticipated it would be painful for so many. Crucial words are missing that could have made a giant difference,” she says in a post on GlobalGrind.com.
Judd asserts that those paragraphs should read: “Some hip hop, and some rap, is abusive. Some of it is part of the contemporary soundtrack [of] misogyny (which, of course, is multi-sonic). Some of it promotes the rape culture so pervasive in our world…I should have been clear…that I include hip-hop and rap as part of a much larger problem. It is beyond unfortunate that I am talking about some, for example, of Snoop Dogs’ lyrics, an assumption has been spread I was talking about every single artist in both genres.”
She explains that if someone were to make generalizations about the music genres she grew up with, she too would feel slighted.
It’s crazy that she’s retracting statements AFTER the original words have published. SMH.
To read the rest of the article, go HERE.
Do you think Judd has a point?
Toya Carter Releases ‘Priceless Inspirations’ + “A Family Affair” On BET, April 19
Antonia “Toya” Carter is making her own mark on entertainment…and now in the publication world. The former wife of multi-platinum rapper Lil Wayne, mother of Reginae Carter, and reality show tv star, Toya Carter has now released her first book ‘Priceless Insipirations’.
According to HarpersCollins:
On her hit television show ′Tiny and Toya′, Antonia ′Toya′ Carter seems to be living the good life: she has a beautiful home, good friends, and is pursuing her dreams in fashion design. But hers has been a life of peaks and valleys. Abandoned by her parents as a child, she was passed from family member to family member as her mother sank deeper into her drug addiction. Feeling unloved and unwelcomed, Toya fell into the arms of a 15-year-old rising musical star-Dwayne Michael Carter, known these days as the rapper ′Lil Wayne′– and ended up pregnant at the tender age of 14.
In Letters to My Younger Self, Toya takes the reader through the pain of being a teenage mother struggling to raise a child while still a child herself-without the benefit of the guidance of her own mother. Using the words she recorded in the journals she kept as a teen-and the wisdom she has gained in the years since-Toya bares her own struggles, using them to offer young women real and heartfelt understanding and advice about sex, relationships, motherhood and growing up.
Sounds like this is a good read. We are going to have to check it out!
In related news, make sure to watch Toya’s new show “Toya: A Family Affair“. The reality show will peep into the life of Toya and her family. The show premiers on BET, Tuesday, April 19 at 10pm EST.
Read This! The Little Black Book of Success by Elaine Meryl Brown
Black women have many obstacles they have to face in life. To add to the constant battles, the workplace is a breeding spot for having to prove yourself to your peers. Having worked in corporate america myself for over 10 plus years, being a woman working up the corporate ladder takes stamina (too say the least). Woman you have to be confident, know what your talking about at all times, be able to play with the big boys, and stay focused on your goals. If you are a lady that want to know great ways to help you get to the top of your career, I found this book by Elaine Meryl Brown. The Little Black Book of Success, according to BlackExpressions.com will provides the following:
You can reach your own pinnacle of professional power with this “mentor in your pocket” handbook as three dynamic, successful black female executives share their strategies to play the power game—and win. Focusing on the building blocks of leadership and dealing specifically with stereotypes (avoid the Mammy Trap, don’t become the Angry Black Woman) and the perils of self-victimization, chapters include:
• The “N” Word: Networking
• Racism Is No Excuse, But It Can Be a Motivator
• Acknowledge There Is a Game and Accept That You Must PlayComplete with a foreword by Essence® editor-in-chief Angela Burt-Murray, this book will help you maximize your leadership potential and exceed all expectations.
Here’s a snippet from Chapter One of the book:
Always Consider Yourself a VIP
Many of you are already active in the workplace or will soon be entering workforces all over the world – in privately held corporations, large foundations, small not-for-profit organizations, advocacy groups, government positions, or other jobs right in your neighborhood – and yet, you may not know a very important secret: There is a leader inside each of you just waiting to come out! All you need to do is develop and hone the skills that will help the leader in you to surface and shine. Leaders are not only born, they can also be created. Even if you have never held a leadership position and were told that you did not have “leadership potential” as you were growing up, you can learn what it takes to be a leader right now. Like math, science, and languages, leadership can be learned because it requires skill sets that can be taught. And since you are clearly capable of learning, the path to leadership is one you can always pursue. However, along the path to leadership success, you will have to refuse to give in to negative thinking that can hold you back. Too often brilliant and beautiful young women of color sabotage themselves, sometimes without even knowing that they are doing it, so that they never become the leaders they are capable of becoming or achieve the level of leadership success they deserve. The most critical aspect of leadership is self-esteem, which must flow from the core of your being. In order to become a leader and remain an effective one, you must always consider yourself a Very Important Person (VIP). This doesn’t mean that you should be arrogant or cocky and walk into your job believing that you already know everything you need to know. Instead, it means that you need to feel confident that you are bringing much value to any workplace and that your cultural strengths, values, and work ethic will stand you in good stead as you go about learning how to do your job, and that you will be successful despite any challenges you may face, whether they are small or large. How you feel about yourself is imperative to moving forward and sustaining your efforts to meet your leadership goals. Feeling that you’re a VIP, reminding yourself that you’re a VIP, dressing like you’re a VIP, and acting like you’re a VIP (within reason, of course) will help to give you the confidence you need to conquer real and imagined obstacles in your workplace. Rest assured that you can overcome any hurdles you may encounter on your way to becoming a leader – just be prepared and hang on to your hat.
This is a great read! Check your local book stores or go to Amazon or Black Expressions online to purchase a copy. Cost is only $20.00.
Spotlight: Shanti Das
The Black Mecca of the South, Atlanta, has produced some of the most notable entertainers in the business. The business of music, in general, has withheld a certain prestige and respect when you think of what the city has given to the world. But as the saying goes “behind every great man, there’s a great woman”. And in the case of this spotlight article, our woman has definitely been the backbone and defining factor to many of our favorite artists in the music industry. From TLC, Usher, Outkast, Toni Braxton, etc, she’s been that key person that helped mold their careers and build their brands. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Without Ms. Shanti “Shoestring” Das, these artists may not have put a major stamp on this industry or even become icons.
But before becoming this great woman, Shanti had to endure several struggles. As a woman in this male-dominated industry, she speaks on maintaining dignity and respect in her new book The Hip Hop Professional: A Woman’s Guide To Climbing The Ladder Of Success In The Entertainment Business. In the book, she details her road from falling in love with hip hop during her younger years in the S.W.A.T.S (Southwest ATL) to becoming the executive vice president at Motown in New York. If you want to see first hand what it took to get to the top, look at Shanti. Her perserverance and love for the culture echoed through her work ethic. This is why she’s highly respected by her peers such as L.A. Reid, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Dr. Cornel West, Andre 3000, and many others.
What was your inspiration?
Actually, I did a panel back in march at …University and a friend of mine suggested that I write a book. She said “oh, you do all these different panels and you mentor a lot of people, it would be great to actually have a book telling your story”. I didn’t really think that I could be an author although I had dreamed of being an author one day. You know it’s just, you’re never sure what you can do or can’t do, but um…She encouraged me to do it and I started writing that night and I wrote all night before I flew up to Princeton (?) that next day for the panel. Once I got there I actually met Dr. Kunar West and read him some of the excerpts from the book and he said “you should really finish it” and he encouraged me and he said people definitely needed to hear my story because there are a lot of people that want to work in the industry but it’s not necessarily the easiest industry to break into. I finished the book in like 3 days, it took me 3 or 4 months to pull everything together – to get a proper editor, do the proper photo clearances, add a little bit of meat to each chapter, but for the most part it was pretty much written and outlined in like 3 days.
Was there any point in your career that you would consider your most memorable? What about that time made it the most memorable?
I think the most memorable point in my career was really when I first started – being able to work with the caliber of artists that I worked with. I was very fortunate to get hired out of college at Laface Records. … Outkast and Toni Braxton. Soon after that touring with Usher and TLC. And of course it took a minute for those guys to get to platinum success, They were an amazing group of artists to work with. Being able to work under the tutelage of LA Reid and Babyface was incredible. And so, back then, I think the industry was really thriving in the 90’s, labels we making a lot of money, we were able to be really creative in terms of our marketing efforts and things we were able to do in the marketplace. So, it was just a really good time. I think that’s probably the most memorable time in my career; because there were incredible perks and a lot of hard work to be put in but, you got to really reap some great benefits out of it as well.
You mentioned some of the artists that you have worked with, who did you love working with the most and would love to work with again?
I gotta say that it was really special working with Usher. He was such a hard worker, so creative; didn’t settle for mediocrity. I mean Usher always wanted to do everything very grand and that is something that I learned about him early on. Even when he was sitting down coming up with promotional ideas he always wanted to make everything really big and over the top. I just respected his vision for not wanting to settle, to always think out of the box, to do things first. And again, he gave his career two hundred percent which made you want to work that much harder for him. So, I would definitely love to work with Usher again at some point.
What steps would you advise anyone who wants to get into the industry to take?
Particularly for aspiring artists, I’ll start there first. You have to look at all that is going on – on the internet. There’s so much change in terms of how labels sign artists now. Back in the day you could send your demo tape in and if the label was interested they would fly you up and you’d do a showcase…. They want to do a deal, that’s an investment. Well nowadays, labels aren’t making as much money as they used to so they’re a little bit more particular about who they sign and so opportunities that are out there.. .getting exposure prior to being signed… these artists need to take advantage of that. Networking sites like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook with the fanpages, even Myspace. Set up your own profile, start building up your fan base. Labels like to see artists that already have a buzz in there hometown, or in their particular marketplace so that they know that they’re not just taking a chance on somebody. But to hear somebody unsigned has sold x amount of records in their town, already performing at the clubs, local dj’s know about them, they can walk up in the club and get right in, They want people that are out there getting attraction, getting the heat so that they can build their own unique fan base as part of them getting signed. So, I would tell the aspiring artists to take advantage of all that. Look at Justin Bieber, he had all those various videos up on youtube and finally he got noticed. Look at how Lil’ Wayne, he was signed to a label, but before he dropped The Carter he kept himself visible on the internet and he jumped on all of these songs, whether they were remixes that he did or remixes from other labels. You just gotta put your self out there and be as visible as possible.
Now, for aspiring marketers and people that want to work on the business side of the industry, I would encourage, especially if you are still in college to intern. A lot companies hire former interns. Continue to go to conventions, local conventions or national conventions. There are not as many conventions as there used to be but there are still events that happen in the market place. The Recording Academy. They sign up and coming writers and producers. They’ll do events in the marketplace. Even if you don’t want to be an artist and want to work on the business side it’s still cool to attend some of those kinds of seminars that involve artists, writers and producers because it’s still an opportunity for you to to network. That is the key…networking with as many like people as possible. I really encourage that.
Regarding marketing for an artist, what is that ‘spark’ that executives are looking for that can make them a superstar? What is that thing?
The “it” factor is what I like to call it. You either got it or you don’t. It’s hard, to me it is not something that is tangible, it’s just something that exists. For instance if you walk into a room …a person that commands the attention of a room even just when they walk in. It’s the swagger, it’ the style, it’s the confidence, all that wrapped up into one. You don’t want to sign an artist that walks in and they’re all shy and not ready to perform. It’s people that go in there and really win over the room instantly as soon as they walk in. To me that’s that it factor, you either have it or you don’t. I’ve seen artists signed in the past where they had a little bit in some areas and not too much in the others and you put’em through artist development and try to work it, work it, work it and you can go into a studio now and record a song, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be a superstar. It means that you can be a mediocre artist and come out with an ok record, but the longevity in terms of being a superstar isn’t necessarily there. And that’s why we were so blown away with Usher and TLC back then because they had that it factor. We didn’t have to teach them to have swag, we didn’t have to teach them how to dress. Of course we get stylists to enhance there ideas, but they knew exactly how they wanted to look and what they wanted to do. So, that’s that it factor to me.
Speaking of someone with that “it” factor, and with all the focus being put on Nicki Minaj…What were your thoughts on the recent documentary “My Mic Sounds Nice”, that aired on BET? Do you think the comments made about the female artists in the industry were accurate? And do you think Nicki will be that key player in rejuvenating the female presence in music?
I thought it was a well out together documentary. I liked the fact that they went way back to the Roxanne Shante days, you know, Monie Love, MC Lyte and all those folks; and highlighted some of the people that actually were pioneers of female hip hop. And I think pretty much everything was true in terms of how they talked about in the 90s when hip hop started to flourish and make a lot of money. It was a really special time, I think, for the female MCs because you had so many that were selling records and doing well and touring, like Foxy Brown and Lil Kim. So yeah, I pretty much thought it was an accurate account of the current state of the female MC as well as shedding light on what happened in the past.
I like the fact that they were able to spotlight some of the new and up and coming acts that we didn’t really know about. You know Nicki Minaj is doing well right now and I think, one – she’s talented, but it didn’t hurt being a part of that camp. And I know some people feel like why should I have to be a part of a camp to get noticed? I just think overall when people think hip hop a lot of times they automatically think about the male MC. The female MC, back in the day, spoke from a more conscious perspective and we don’t really see as much of that anymore. I would like to see some of that coming back into the forefront of what the female MC has to say.
if you look at somebody like a MC Lyte and Queen Latifah… when you think about building businesses and going from rapper to mogul, kind of like how Will Smith did as a male artist. Queen Latifah has been able to do that and part of the reason she’s been able to do it is because of her imaging. I’m not saying you can’t have racy and aggressive lyrics as a female MC, but you need that balance so that you can be able to walk into some of these corporations and build some opportunities and brands and go into movies, films, and television.
Look at like Foxy Brown and Lil Kim…they weren’t able to necessarily cross that bridge from being MCs to really being a business mogul. I think part of that has to do with imaging. So I would like to see some more balanced MCs. I think Nicki Minaj…some of her outfits and stuff are a little racy, but I do thinks she’s talented. I like the fact that she’s animated like Missy Elliott and I do hope she’s able to cross that bridge. But just from a pure lyrical standpoint, I think she’s really talented. I don’t think she’s the end all be all, but I think she is helping to pave the way and open up the doors for society accepting the female MC again.
I also agree with what one of the executives said that sometimes it’s expensive to be in the business of the female MC. Because you got to have the brand squad…cause you got to make sure you got the hair, the style, the makeup. Labels aren’t making as much money as they used to so they’re going to look at that. I think if they had to compare it side by side, putting out a male MC versus a female MC , sometimes, it might be about the dollar, the bottom line.
If you get somebody that’s just that talented, like Nicki and start putting her on everybody’s stuff …it still shows that there’s a desire out there for females in hip hop. ‘Cause now everybody wants her on their song. Look at all the male artists that have Nicki on their song as well.
I also agree with what one of the executives said that sometimes it’s expensive to be in the business of the female MC. Because you got to have the brand squad…cause you got to make sure you got the hair, the style, the makeup. Labels aren’t making as much money as they used to so they’re going to look at that. I think if they had to compare it side by side, putting out a male MC versus a female MC , sometimes, it might be about the dollar, the bottom line.
If you get somebody that’s just that talented, like Nicki and start putting her on everybody’s stuff …it still shows that there’s a desire out there for females in hip hop. ‘Cause now everybody wants her on their song. Look at all the male artists that have Nicki on their song as well.
Of course money is always that #1 discussed topic. How can artists and labels work together to keep things open and honest especially when it comes to finances and contract agreements to prevent the financial mishaps that often times occur with these artists that get in the business??
We live in a reality world…a reality tv show world where there’s like this overnight sensation. Everybody just wants to be a star! Everybody wants to go from 0 to 10. They don’t wanna take the baby steps…they don’t want to go through steps 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 until they get there. It’s like everybody just wants to have that overnight success. But, you still got to do your homework! Become more knowledgeable about the business. Know what you’re getting into so that you can ask for the right deal for yourself.
Honestly, I think a lot of the responsibility does fall on the artist, because if you have a good manager and a good lawyer…it’s all about having the right representation and people around you that you can trust- who can go in and have a conversation with the label and they can fight for the best deal possible for you. Point blank, I see a lot of artists who get into situations where they sign these deals cause they’re just so hungry to get a label deal. They’ll go and get their homeboy to represent them or somebody who was referred, but they didn’t necessarily go and do their homework to see if this was a good lawyer…if this was a good accountant…if this was a good manager.
You can’t just go off of a quick referral. Artists need to take control of their business. Because this is a business first! Don’t be so green and so hungry and jump at any opportunity. Do your homework! Make sure that you’re not signing your life away! Labels obviously are going to try to pick the best deal possible for the label. Not saying that they don’t have the artist’s interest at heart, but at the same time it’s a business. So you’re going to go after what proves to be more lucrative for your company. So, with the labels you need to make sure that you’ve got the right lawyer in there negotiating and re-negotiating and making sure and that’ll say guess what, I’m not going to sign this deal until it makes sense for all parties involved. Artists need to make sure they have the right folks representing them. I see it happen too often where they don’t have the right folks representing them.
Everybody just wants a deal! Sometimes artists jump at the first opportunity to sign a contract. NO! You want to go out and build up enough buzz on yourself in the marketplace to where there’s a demand. Maybe you’ll get in a situation where there are a couple of labels that want you. Then it turns into somewhat of a bidding war. But guess what? At least now the labels now know that they’ve got to give you the best deal possible. Which means what? Up in the dollars!
And, make sure you’re not signing all of your touring and merchandise away. Now days labels like to sign these 360 deals where they want a piece of everything and I can’t say that I don’t blame the labels because the marketplace has changed and the business model has changed overall within the music industry. Labels don’t make as much money as they used to just from royalties on the sales from cds. So, they need other ways to supplement all of the other income that used to come in from an artist. So yeah, they’re going to want a little bit of everything, but it’s up to the artist to make sure that they negotiate the right percentage of that.
That’s some great advice!
What’s your present career status? Are you still in the business?
I resigned from Motown in November 09’. I’ve now started my own consulting firm which is PressReset.Me. Basically it was just me pressing my own reset button and my company offers entertainment marketing consulting as well as life mentoring. I’m helping people that want to re-start their careers and just need advice on not being afraid to step out there and take that leap of faith. Right now I have clients that I’m doing marketing for. Also, I have a showcase called ATL Live on the Park and we have been going strong since May of this year. We do it once a month and it’s a live music showcase and we focus on established and emerging artists. So we give artists an opportunity to have a platform in the city of Atlanta, to perform in front of a music industry crowd as well as urban business professionals. So I’m excited about that! And then just really doing a lot with my book and starting to speak at colleges and talking to concerned college students or pre-professionals that want to work in the industry.
As far as the monthly showcases…are tickets sold for that or is it invitation only?
No, it’s open to the public. We have a fan page on Facebook. We’re going to have a website up soon, but for now we’re just doing everything through Facebook. Also artists can submit material to be considered to perform at the ATL Live Show. They submit material at ATLLiveonthePark@gmail.com. The website for my book is www.thehiphopprofessional.com and on the site you can purchase a book and also book me to speak at your school or event.
Thanks Shanti for the interview!
Trick Daddy’s Book “Magic City: Trials of A Native Son”
Word on the street is that Trick Daddy’s book Magic City: Trials of A Native Son is a must read! I’m going to have to go cop me a copy and support the 305 Mayor. But in the meantime, with the help of author Peter Bailey, the book hits shelves on November 16 and Trick gave RapFix an exclusive excerpt from the first chapter, “Born A Thug.” Check it out below:
“My life began with Pork-n-Beans.
I’m not talking about the canned food that most residents in Anyhood, USA, have in their cupboards. Not the soppy stuff sitting next to the Kool-Aid and ramen, staples of a diet built on hard knocks.
History cats say the name came about because the only meal residents in Liberty Square Houses could afford was pork-n-beans. The idea isn’t that far-fetched. My family’s cupboard was stocked with the cuisine. But the origins stemmed from the stench that came from a local store that cooked the sloppy mess.
It stunk up the entire projects. Then younger folks coined the name on whatever color your front door was. Apartments with blue doors were called Blueberries. Those with green doors were Green Machine. Mines had maroon doors, called Pork-n-Beans.
It’s a stone’s throw away from downtown Miami, but the Beans might as well be in a foreign country judging by the way cabbies warn visitors to stay away. I’ll admit the place ain’t South Beach. The neighborhood lies to the east of the I‑95 expressway off exit 6A, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Drivers usually whiz past the wheelchair-bound beggars before they roll up to their car windows along the exit’s service road. You’d think it’s hard to ignore a dude with two half-legs and a sign that says a penny for my pain, thank you. Abandoned corner stores, vacant lots, and crippled-looking palm trees line Sixty-second Street until Twelfth Parkway, where the projects begin.
I lived at 1238 Northwest Sixty-eighth Street with my mother, Pearl Brockington, my ten brothers and sisters, and whichever boyfriend she had at the time, usually some sorry good-for-nothing milking the free AC.
Yeah, I said ten brothers and sisters. That’s not counting my other twenty or so half siblings on my daddy’s side. He has an unknown number of children, but I’ll get to that later. I was born unceremoniously at Jackson Memorial Hospital on September 27, 1974. There weren’t any cameras or festivities when little Maurice Young popped into the world. As a kid I imagined my father holding my mother’s hand, cheering her through the delivery, kissing her forehead, and whispering things like “Wow, baby, we did it!”—my parents smiling for the camera as a shot is snapped of a bloody, crying infant. Then I snap to. I see a doctor hovering over my mother sighing, nurses in the corner shaking their heads. Just another ghetto child born on the welfare dime waiting to wreak havoc in the projects. Even if those doctors and nurses didn’t say it, I’m sure the thought crossed their minds watching Pearl all strung out, sweat and blood on the delivery table. She was truly a member of the UN even if Ban Ki‑moon didn’t know it.
Uneducated.
Unmarried.
Unemployed.
Society would have to make room for yet another one. Pearl and I were alone. It was just me and my older sister, Tameko. Angela, Zakea, Keyon, Omar, Jhabor, Jermaine, D’Angelo, Tavarus, and Hakeem came later.
With only a seventh-grade education, Pearl turned to what seemed to be her most viable economic option—making babies. From the late 1970s to the early ’80s all a teenage girl had to do was have kids and the government took care of her. In a sad and twisted way, babies were like vouchers that got you housing and other goodies. The welfare system was systematically trapping folks into a cycle of poverty with disregard to rehabbing young mothers like Pearl. She had already suffered a life of abuse and neglect. Having kids with men who didn’t love her just compounded that pain.
Like many folks in the Pork-n-Beans, Pearl’s roots went back to Georgia and the Carolinas. Her immediate family came from a small town in South Carolina, a poor place, the kind that puts a face to the conditions that coined the term “dirty” South. Pearl, alongside her siblings, aunts, and uncles, lived on several acres of land scattered over a five-mile radius. Her father was a typical Southerner of the newly freed generation of blacks. To this day my granddaddy speaks with an obvious uncertainty of his stock in life. He’s a typical old man from the South. I’ve only met him three times, but he left a lasting impression. It’s like the shackles broken by my great-granddaddy never left my granddaddy’s wrists. Nevertheless, he tried his hardest to turn sour lemons into sweet lemonade. But he couldn’t stop the abuse my mother would suffer in that small town.
My relatives lived close together so that they could depend on one another for the day-to-day. A couple of my great-uncles reaped the spoils of living in such close quarters. Those spoils were tender young girls to molest. Pearl never spoke much about the abuse, but it left her scarred.
When the family arrived in Miami, the plan was to gain a foothold in new soil, but they soon found themselves stuck in the same rut minus the windchill. My granddaddy decided to hell with the South and moved to Rochester, New York, leaving my fifteen-year-old Pearl behind to be raised by one of her
aunts. The racism dealt to them and other blacks was no different from what they faced in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Except for a few liquor stores and bodegas, Liberty City had no businesses. Folks had to head to the suburbs to shop.
A couple of high-profile incidents of police brutality only made things worse. People wanted to change the state of the neighborhood, with its broken sewer pipes and deep potholes. So they cleared way for a new city the best way blacks in Miami knew how.
We burned the motherf—er down.”
If you have had a chance to read the book, let us know your thoughts!
Is David Beckham writing kiddie books now?
U.K. soccer player, David Beckham, is next on the list of aspiring authors. Or is he? It is reported that The David Beckham Academy is set to release childrens books. The first book is set to be released in June 2009.
Per Perez Hilton: A rep for Beckham says, “The David Beckham Academy is more than just David’s dream of giving children the chance to experience great football coaching, it exists to encourage all aspects of their learning and development. David is particularly pleased that The Academy has inspired a series of books that will bring children to reading through football.”
Even though the books will not be written by Beckham, it is good to see him be a part of some positive child development activities.
