Roy L. Pickering Jr.'s Blog, page 24

Rivalry Revisited

*******************************************************************************ESPN recently aired their latest 30/30 documentary about the famous/infamous Fab 5 team from Michigan. Their rivalry with Duke was by necessity a major area of focus. Jalen Rose talks about (and as producer he could of course include and exclude whatever he wished) his impression at the time that Duke recruited black players who were "Uncle Toms." This didn't go over well with at least one of those former Duke players – Grant Hill. So there was a little back and forth between them, none of it actually face to face, much of it sent indirectly towards the other rather than naming names. On Twitter Jalen wrote: "I didn't say anything in the doc that I didn't say to a players FACE". Okay, not sure how this excuses the idiocy of his thought process. At best it gives him more "street cred", something that a so called Uncle Tom would of course be sorely lacking. Jalen continued: "For those MOANING about how something or someone was portrayed in the doc note that it was FRAMED from 1991-1993 not 2011 #quit crying."

The moaning Jalen Rose referred to was an Op Ed piece written by Grant Hill and published by the New York Times in rebuttal to characterizations made in the documentary. He speaks eloquently for himself so I won't bother to do much summarizing - [Hill's own words]. Bottom line, Grant Hill does not agree with nor appreciate what Jalen Rose had to say. No surprise there. But what I did find somewhat alarming was people taking sides on Twitter, with a surprisingly robust amount on Team Rose. I'm not talking about people who thought Hill overreacted because Rose was expressing the way he felt in the distant past as a teen, not his current opinions as a grown man with public platform. It's not entirely clear to what degree Jalen has changed his tune but I'll take him at his tweet that the mentality was "framed from 1991-1993 not 2011". No, I'm referring to people who believe that what Jalen Rose said and felt in 1991-1993 was then and is today still valid. Certainly if they think Rose was accurately describing Hill then they themselves describe countless African Americans in such manner. For what sins? Growing up in a two parent home? Getting a college degree? Or perhaps a degree is okay but better not be obtained from too "white acting" a college. Having a corporate job? Speaking in grammatically correct sentences? Writing eloquently? Marrying a white woman? Wait up, Grant Hill didn't even do that last one. But surely he intends to one day dump Tamia for Kim Kardashian. That's what Uncle Toms do, no? Perhaps I should have picked someone less ethnic than Kim to make a stronger point. Dame Judi Dench?

Grant Hill's response may very well have been overkill, but I know why he reacted strongly and I'm glad he did. His rebuttal was not merely directed at Jalen Rose but at everyone who ever thought of him (or any other black person) in such a manner, including all those tweeters I just mentioned. What I read in his words is what I've always believed in my heart. There is no right or wrong way to be black. There's no one way to be black at all. There's simply being human in the best manner you can manage, regardless of your particular set of window dressing. Be who you are and don't quietly let anyone disrespect you on account of it. But when they inevitably do, it will always say a whole lot more about them than it says about you.

Below are some thoughts I expressed on the matter one tweet at a time, with a few retweets of sentiments expressed by others sprinkled in. What's your take?



Didn't see the Fab 5 documentary, just tweets about it. Only catching up now to controversial remarks by Jalen Rose & Grant Hill's response.


The concept that if u aren't "keeping it real", speaking mostly slang, dressing 4 opposite of success, classifies u as "Uncle Tom" must die.


I'm tired of black people beating up on black people for not being "black enough". Progress impossible if holding your own self back


The most devout Jew doesn't criticize another for being less Jewish. Super Italian doesn't diss another for not being Italian enough. But blacks…


Complexion adds a whole other layer of complexity. U can wear dashiki & afro & keep fist raised in air all day, but u light skinned? Denied.


As if people are selecting how much DNA from which branches of the humanity tree they wish to have. That's 5 yrs down the road, minimum


Melanin argument is at least tangible. Retarded, but tangible. Calling someone "not black" because they like to read & excel at math? WTF?!


No people are more bigoted against black people than certain black Americans. There, I said it. It's factual. I see proof on here EVERY DAY.


Just let people be whoever it is they happen to be. If they're not personally f'ing with you, their mode of existence isn't your concern.


p.s.- White people are way less preoccupied w/ keeping blacks down than you may believe. Most people of all races are simply looking out for selves.


And by "selves" I don't mean members of same race. I mean you look out for your own damn self, then your family, then out from there.


You give the biggest white bigot a choice between doing something racist for hell of it or accepting $100, cash gets snatched 9-10 times.


And that's the biggest bigot I'm talking about. Most of you have been lucky enough never to have actually met that A-hole, whoever he may be.


So in the words of my man Spike Lee - WAKE UP. After that, get smart & get paid. After that, give back to your community & world at large.


And as you'll see if you check out tweets by @

Surely there are black men out there named Tom who have nephews & nieces. Does this pose a problem for them?


RT @ToureX Grant notes that in the doc Jalen leaves it unclear what he now feels about Black Dukies. His tweeted "clarification" isn't clarifying much.


RT @To which I replied - Name 1 white man not named Tom ever called Uncle Tom


Fact: No man of any race ever felt badly about being called an Uncle Nate Dogg. Simply implies improved quality by mere presence.


RT @LLCoolChels Bottom line is GH has a right to respond and defend who he was THEN and where he came from just like JR has a right to tell his story.


There is no intelligent explanation for an ignorant opinion. "I was young & misinformed" is the best anybody has ever come up with.


I'm older but not any wiser is a particularly poor argument.


Calling someone an "Uncle Tom" is not matter of perspective (as I just saw somebody categorize it) in most cases, just plain wrong.


RT @Brandale2221 As a Person who has been labeled BOTH an Uncle Tom & a COON .. both by black folks...IMO the problem is how we label ourselves.


To all those tweeps out there raising your kids in two parent households or being raised in one yourself, keep Tomming.


RT @BritniDWrites Folks shld be happy Rose is able to articulate his past hurt & isn't knocking somebody upside the head cuz he can't express his emotions.
To which I replied - Interesting point. I suppose a documentary is slightly less blunt than a bat upside the head.





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Patches of Grey




by Roy L. Pickering Jr.

Giveaway ends March 23, 2011.

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Fighting Words

Someone once said for the first time ever that a picture speaks a thousand words. In the case of the image down below, a picture and one sentence speak volumes. Many New Yorkers were startled to spot this bold billboard in New York City yesterday, the number and region increasing as the media spotlighted it and inevitably it became a hot topic on Twitter, emphasis on HOT. Abortion is not an issue that people have carefree opinions about. Those on one side of the debate feel as passionately as those on the opposite, and even people who attempt to straddle the fence are unable to do so in a casual manner. Rhetoric on abortion rights is often tossed about in the game of political football, but abortion does not neatly fall into a category where Democrats unite in one perspective and Republicans all join hands in opposition. If you're not Pro Life you must be Pro Death, if you're not Pro Choice you must be Anti Choice. Of course the reality of perspectives is not nearly so elementary. Everyone agrees (I think) that in an ideal world no woman would ever feel compelled to have an abortion. And the right to make your own choice free of duress is the American way. So when the choice an American woman makes is at the expense of the unborn, sparks fly as ideologies clash.


The creators of the feather ruffling billboard cranked up the temperature on a matter already boiling over by making it race specific. By targeting African Americans rather than women in general (or people in general since baby making tends to be a joint activity) cries of racism were inescapable. The commentary made was a punch to the gut of every person who identifies themselves as being Black. I certainly felt the sucker punch. But after the initial reaction there was divergence of opinion. Some felt that with the bombardment of messages we receive today, resorting to shock value in such an instance is a necessary evil. Better to disturb people into contemplation than being subtle at the risk of being ignored. Others started off furious and remained that way, feeling that their Blackness, their Womanhood, and their Black Womanhood had all been assaulted.


I have zero intention of preaching my personal views about abortion here. Nor will I delve into the subject of racial sensitivity at the moment. You can browse previous postings for my take on identity and sometimes misplaced pride. Reactions and opinions from all parties about the billboard shown below are valid. I'll just stick with the facts as I understand them to be, and common sense as I am best able to render it. Taking a side is often more tempting that trying to see both of them, but for now I'll resist temptation.


The billboard informs us in jarring fashion that abortion is the number one cause of death in the African American community. We are not told where it ranks with any other ethnic groups or throughout the world at large, which implies (honestly or not I do not know) that African Americans abort fetuses at a higher rate than anyone else. If factual, awareness of the truth is never a bad thing. Awareness precedes action and I don't believe anyone can convincingly argue against trying to lower the ranking. Debates therefore should take place about WHO is best suited to deliver this message, WHERE it is best done, WHEN are the most suitable occassions, WHY the bearer of such news is delivering it (political gain being the least acceptable reason), and most importantly, HOW we should move to prevent a sad statistic from becoming an epidemic. Teen abstinence certainly needs to take a seat at the bargaining table along with information and availability of contraceptives. But we know that in spite of education attempts such measures will not be taken in a great many situations (such as when your mother is the governor of Alaska as one example), so conversation must be had about how next to proceed.


I have written about my advocacy for increased awareness in a positive light about the option of Adoption. The quandary of abortion is a theme addressed in my first novel Patches of Grey and a central issue of my second - Matters of Convenience. I personally did not need to see a billboard to be stirred into thought on this subject. But perhaps some people did. Yesterday on Twitter I wrote "You can rarely convince anyone of anything if you start off by insulting them". At most you can prod them, probably into outrage at your audacity rather than into problem resolution mode. So I cannot say of the billboard as if running for office that I approve of this message, because in fact I do not approve of the offensive way in which it was presented. What I do wholeheartedly approve of is people declaring that enough is enough, taking accountability, and then doing something worthwhile about it.

The Case Against Book Segregation

In a record store there is no such thing as the White Jazz section, or the White anything else section for that matter. When I want to pick up an Eminem CD, heading to the Rap/Hip Hop section is all I need to do because there is no "Category Where Being White is the Exception Rather than the Rule" section. In the absence of Exception Rather than Rule sections I'd need to wade through a mostly melaninless sea to find Charley Pride on the Country music shelf. Somehow it works out fine and I walk out with the CD I was looking for. But at non-specialty bookstores, whiteness is always assumed to be the standard. They have made the decision to lump most titles by African American authors (Black authors really, since Black European, Black African and Black West Indian authors will be treated no differently) together. If you're a science fiction fan you'll find a sign indicating where the Sci-Fi titles are. But if you're a Black Sci-Fi fan, turn left and walk another five feet. What the heck is that all about? Why is the bookstore the lone remaining place where Jim Crow is still in effect? Black people marched and fought to eat in the same restaurants, go to the same public restrooms, take the same front row seats on the bus, attend the same schools, vote in the same elections. But when it comes to the bookstore suddenly we're back to separate and unequal treatment. Why? And why are more people not complaining about and trying to change this state of affairs? xxx
To read my full take on this matter which was written as a guest posting at The Sunday Book Review, CLICK HERE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~Sadly noteworthy news of the day: Borders has filed for bankruptcy"It has become increasingly clear that in light of the environment of curtailed customer spending, our ongoing discussions with publishers and other vendor related parties, and the company's lack of liquidity, Borders Group does not have the capital resources it needs to be a viable competitor and which are essential for it to move forward with its business strategy to reposition itself successfully for the long term." – Mike Edwards, President of Borders

As an author I'm personally not affected by the plight of Borders at this time as they do not carry my novel Patches of Grey. I decided to go with Amazon and Barnes & Nobles along with both brick & mortar and online independent booksellers when choosing homes for it. As a book buyer however I'm saddened by the closing of any store, especially such a major player as Borders. I truly hope bookstores big & small are not going the way of the dinosaur because rather than frequenting them, people instead are finding coffee shops in which to read off the screens of their electronic reading device of choice. But perhaps such a fate is inevitable. If so, we'll adapt as always. The most important thing is that no matter how we end up reading them, great stories continue to be written and distributed.

Readings for Black History Month and Beyond

I recently compiled a list of titles for FlashlightWorthyBooks.com that explore race relations in America from days of slavery to the modern era. Most deal with the complex relationship between African Americans and White Americans, with the exception of one that focuses on Japanese Americans struggling to be seen as simply American citizens. From the days of enforced servitude where the nature of a one sided power struggle was characterized by evil and blatant cruelty, to contemporary times where much has changed for the better yet problematic attitudes persist on all sides, the issues addressed by such literature are not simplistic. My goal therefore was to present a broad range of perspectives rather than one dominated by a particular outlook.

To check out what I had to say about each novel and perhaps decide to add some of them to your own reading list, CLICK HERE

What do YOU read?

The following was originally written as a series of tweets on Twitter. I routinely see numerous interesting observations and links to informative articles about the world of book publishing when I'm on there, but I also find plenty that troubles me. The latter is what inspired this series of mini soundbites bemoaning what publishers are opting to print, which of course is prompted first and foremost by what people are choosing to read. Once done with school and no longer in possession of a required reading list, we're on our own to decide what to fill our heads with. I like a little brain candy sometimes as much as the next person, but as we were warned as children, if you consume too much sugar while neglecting fruits and vegetables and other stuff critical for your development, inevitably important things will start to rot.



In recent days, understandably, I've seen various sarcastic shots taken over the fact that reality star Snooki has a Best Selling book out I joined in too, remarking on my sobering suspicion that there's likely more I can relate to in her book, regardless of what percentage of the writing she actually contributed to it, than the various vampire novels pubbed seemingly hourly.


Those following my tweet of thought probably think I have a major problem with vampire fiction. My sister, for example. But that's not the case. I believe ALL topics are fair game for literary examination.


In the vampire milieu I've enjoyed 2-3 Anne Rice titles & The Historian. Fine reading indeed.


What I take issue with is formulaic writing, cookie cutter books churned out like so many near identical widgets on an assembly line.


The appeal of such books to anyone over the age of 10 continues to elude me. At some point a mature person should demand more bang for their buck, no?


Some people crave a particular genre. Okay, c'est la vie. They don't know what they're missing by refusing to be more adventurous but...


Hopefully those who exclusively plunder a single category within a particular genre at least try to find whatever diversity may exist there.


But at what point is there simply nothing new to say about how cool vampires are? Surely the possibilities have been exhausted by now.


I can only conclude there are people so anti brain use that they basically read the same book over & over, the next version of it already pre-ordered.


Obviously those who churn this stuff out are out to make a buck, plain & simple. They require & expect no comparison to Faulkner.


I'm cool with capitalism & what it yields. Some enter the medical field to save lives, some for $. Some enter the law profession to fight for justice, some for $. Writing is no different.


There are authors who hope that their books will be assigned to your great great grandkids in school one day, others who are simply looking to make quick cash.


I have no beef with those who write from the wallet rather than heart. Where there is demand, someone will always take advantage & supply.


I suppose this means I have a problem with readers so unimaginative that they refuse to digest any more than one flavor of book. This practice simply astounds me. Could you eat the same thing everyday? Watch the same movie & nothing but? Listen to the same song to the exclusion of all others? Surely this would become maddening.


If nobody was affected by such singleness of purpose, no harm done I suppose. But there is an effect from such mindsets. Fresh, bold books by legitimately talented writers do not see the light of day because shelf space in what bookstores are still left standing is taken up by the 30th title in some insipid series.


So I funnel my frustration toward those who know not what they do, even though I firmly believe in freedom of choice, which includes the right to make bad choices.


I suppose I'm left with no option but to be peeved at God. Hopefully HE/SHE reads my tweets or this blog.


What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you wholeheartedly agree or vehemently oppose my opinion? Have at it. This space is very lonely without reader feedback.


If I've offended anyone for any reason, most likely I meant to. Sorry about that. This space is meant to express the truth as I see it, not to conform. Hope that doesn't mean we can't still be friends.~~~Here's my reading list: past, present & future. What do YOU read?



This is the sort of thing that happens in a world such as our very own when pseduo celebrities and trend followers are glorified at the expense of true storytellers. It's a sad day indeed when children learn that Snooki is a much bigger deal than Dr. Seuss.

A kinder, gentler Huck Finn - SMH

Today I learned about the upcoming publication of a new edition of 'Huckleberry Finn' that is to Drop 'N' Word. "Slave" will be used in its place throughout. Beyond moronic. What purpose is served besides pissing off Twain's ghost?

I am all for the choice of black people to cease & desist use of N-word just as I don't want to hear it from the mouths of Caucasians. But whitewashing history is as absurd as whitewashing the present.

Mark Twain wrote nigger (yeah, I said it) in his book a bunch of times for the same reason I did in mine. It's called REALISM. He wasn't writing Fantasy. What do you think slave owners called African Americans in those times? How do you think black people were treated? As if they weren't people at all, that's how. If we sugar coat our horrific past now we will convince future generations that it wasn't so bad. When you fail to properly highlight and condemn atrocities, you welcome the opportunity for repetition of history. I don't want my great great grandchildren to believe the Holocaust was a Summer picnic and slavery was a leisurely stroll through the park.

Removing the N-word from Huck Finn should get it removed it from many banned book lists, which is the strongest argument for editing. My alternate suggestion - Complain like hell & if necessary change schools if your kid attends one that refuses to respect Twain's masterpiece. I'd rather a book be banned and retain its power (curious enough minds will read it whether assigned in school or not) than rewritten to make it impotent.

Argument for removing N-word from Huck Finn is to make text less hurtful. It's SUPPOSED TO BE hurtful. You can't heal unless you first hurt. This nation needed the smack across the face that Huckleberry Finn provided. And you know what - It still does.

A young white man reading Huck Finn as written is able to see horror & unfairness of racism, it can help make him a better man. Why dilute that?

Huckleberry Finn is one of the works that influenced me to want to write about race in my fiction. Had I read a bastardized version I'm not sure if it has quite the same effect. I suspect not though.

I include Huckleberry Finn with Native Son, Invisible Man, Soul on Ice, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as the most powerful examinations & indictments of racism in literature. Despite my pseudo-defense of her, I'm not quite putting the wit and wisdom of Dr. Laura Schlessinger in that pantheon.

Political Correctness has got to be the greatest oxymoron of all time.

Literary censorship has its place. I was against Amazon carrying a how-to-be-a-better-Pedophile book & against shelving racist Tintin book in kid section. But The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn does not need to be censored. It needs to be celebrated for brilliance of narrative and potency of social commentary.

"Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot." - Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Author's Notice.

"You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth." - Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Opening lines of the book, Chapter 1.

"What's the use you learning to do right, when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?" - Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Chapter 16.

Books of 2010

Happy New Year! Hopefully 2011 will be a fantasic year for all of us. I didn't make resolutions for my plan is established and needs not be scribbled down on a piece of paper, soon to be misplaced along with my intent to follow through on most of the items. For me, 2011 will be about finishing typing up the first draft of my second novel Matters of Convenience, getting some editorial feedback while tightening it up in subsequent drafts, and once I've deemed it good to go, literary agents can expect to hear from me. I'll also have my thinking cap on this year to come up with an idea/outline for novel number three. And hopefully I'll be able to create more public awareness about novel number one - Patches of Grey. My hands will be more than full with literary goals, helping out with my wife's blossoming Etsy business however I can, and the general business of living my life and raising a daughter who is growing up far too quickly.

Something else I'd like to do in 2011 is get to my blog a bit more consistently, though I'm making no promises. Posting an entry in the first week of the year is a notable start, even if I had originally planned to post it before the ball dropped and the calendar moved. One of my favorite things about the end of each year are the lists that people put out, usually Best Of compliations. So I decided to compile my reviews of novels read in 2010. If I was one of those people capable or reading a book every few days, I would have happily presented you with the top ten. Since my pace is considerably slower than that, I'm providing the whole shebang. Note that I'm not a book blogger who is focussed only on new publications. You will find titles that just recently hit the shelves list mixed in with ones that have been around for awhile. Perhaps the reviews will steer you towards or away from some of these works, or you may simply enjoy reading what I had to say about them. As always, I love to hear from my readers so please don't be shy about leaving a comment. If you've read any of these novels let me know if you agree with what I had to say, or if you felt differently. In addition to my passion for both reading and writing, I also love to have discussions about books, to contemplate beyond the turning of the final page how they touched my life, and perhaps come to see them in a new light through the eyes of others.

Clicking on the name/author of each book will take you to the review I penned for it at GoodReads.com. Happy Reading!



Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnengut

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead

Dead Long Enough by James Hawes

American Pastoral by Philip Roth

That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo

A Swell-Looking Baby by Jim Thompson

Blind Man with a Pistol by Chester Himes

Night Fall by Nelson DeMille

New World Monkeys by Nancy Mauro

Rabbit at Rest by John Updike

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Reading of excerpt from Patches of Grey

After recording an excerpt from my novel which is a little under ten minutes long, I have a new found respect for anyone who has produced an entire audio book. It was no easy task, requiring multiple takes to get through without making any significant flubs. I finally completed a full take that is to my liking in the midnight hour. Hopefully you will enjoy it as well. Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think. If you like how this excerpt sounds, I'm confident that you'll love how the full story reads on the printed or electronic page. I suppose the next logical step is to videotape myself reading aloud, or perhaps I'm ready to take the plunge and perform a public reading at a bookstore. We'll see. For now, check it out by clicking on the link below or the beautiful picture above that was painted by my extraordinarily talented wife. The audio file of my novel excerpt reading is housed at eSnips.com.

[image error] Patches of Grey - ... Hosted by eSnips

roylpickering's Stuff

First Come First Serve - Thanksgiving Special

So here's the deal. Do you like to read great fiction? Are you a football fan? Will you be in the NY/NJ area on the 2010 edition of Turkey Day? Do you have a Paypal account? Would you be interested in attending the Thanksgiving Day game between the first place, hard knocking New York Jets and the star studded, never camera shy Cincinnati Bengals on the evening of November 25? If you've answered YES to these questions, all you need to do now is go to RoyPickering.net. The first person who does this and then proceeds to purchase a copy of my novel Patches of Grey (already a great deal at only $10) will receive a ticket to the football game as bonus prize. That's all there is to it. So what are you waiting for?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Also noteworthy: Available just in time for the holidaze travel season - Forever Travels - Short story collection that includes my tale Dear Google