Zetta Elliott's Blog, page 78
March 15, 2012
remix at the mall
R. Gregory Christie is an exceptional artist and a wonderful person—please take a moment to learn more about this exciting new project: a store/studio with a focus on kids, books, and art! You can learn about his fundraising efforts at Kickstarter . Here's a description of the project in Greg's own words:
After doing children's books for over fifteen years, I have decided to take my passion for history and culture to the next level.
I am opening up a bookstore and gift shop in Decatur, Georgia (inside of North Dekalb Mall). Although the lease is signed as of a few days ago, the store will officially open up in April. It will feature my children's books along with tangible handmade products for sale. It's my desire to make the space as appealing as the trendiest sneaker store, but instead of the newest gadget or latest $30,000 pair of sneakers, I want to have a heavy focus on books.
I will use this space as a live painting studio to work on children's books and canvases but I will also coordinate weekend workshops to be held right inside of the mall. Everything from quilt making to dj-ing , the focus is to make people of all ages appreciative of their inner artist and to give the many teens walking around the complex something to do.
Consider it a store, my own personal passion, and a community space. However, Georgia has quite an expensive process to open a small business. Although I have covered many of the costs, I'd like to make the space stunning. So I humbly reach out to you, hoping that you'll be willing to be a part of this as a well wisher, sponsor, or promoter.
Learn more about Kickstarter's all or nothing sponsorship.
Thanks in advance!R. Gregory Christie
March 12, 2012
THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE
I'll be presenting on March 29th in the Youth Program…
THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE HONORS NIKKI GIOVANNI, ISHMAEL REED,
DR. HOWARD DODSON AND NGŨGĨ WA THIONG'O
MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS, HONORARY CHAIR
The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, will host the Eleventh National Black Writers Conference (NBWC) on Thursday, March 29 through Sunday, April 1, 2012, on the college campus at 1650 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Centered around the theme "The Impact of Migration, Popular Culture, and the Natural Environment in the Literature of Black Writers," the 2012 Conference will honor literary and cultural icons Kenyan-born writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o; poet, novelist, essayist, and publisher Ishmael Reed; poet Nikki Giovanni; and Dr. Howard Dodson, former director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Hailed by best-selling author Walter Mosley as "the most significant gathering of Black writers in the country," the NBWC is the only gathering of its kind in North America. "Black writers and artists are natural cultural explorers and investigators," said Dr. Brenda M. Greene, Director of the National Black Writers Conference and Executive Director of the Center for Black Literature. "Their works reveal the importance of memory on our concepts of self and family; examine the impact of popular culture on our personal lives, belief systems, and traditions; and chronicle the effects of our actions on our natural environment. They use the power of words and the literary arts to stir our imaginations." Dr. Myrlie Evers-Williams, Honorary Chair of the Conference, reminds us that "Perhaps one of the most powerful things that we have as human beings is not only the spoken word, but the written word that lasts forever."
Black Writers Conference
Highlights of this year's Conference will include a poetry presentation by South African Poet Laureate Keorapetse Kgositsile; a conversation with author and broadcaster Tavis Smiley; and a roundtable discussion and critical response to Manning Marable's Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention with Haki Madhubuti, Herb Boyd, Ron Daniels, and Michael Simanga. This year's Conference will also devote a day to film screenings by Black filmmakers. "Films are our words in motion; every film begins with the written word. There are many films that are adapted from books to begin with, so to include them in the Conference is a natural and organic evolution," added Dr. Greene.
Since its inception in 1986, the National Black Writers Conference has consistently attracted a stellar roster of writers and scholars who have been featured in panel and roundtable discussions; youth and elder writers' workshops; talkshops on fiction, poetry and drama; film screenings; and author readings and book signings. Confirmed participants for 2012 NBWC four-day lineup include authors, poets, and publishers such as Haki Madhubuti, Sterling Plumpp, Tavis Smiley, Herb Boyd, Patricia Smith, Camille Dungy, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Nnedi Okorafor, Lita Hooper, the Rev. Conrad Tillard, William Jelani Cobb, Tony Medina, Maulana Karenga, Teju Cole, Bernice L. McFadden, Elizabeth Nunez, Karen Hunter, Sofia Quintero, Keli Goff, and Joan Morgan, among others.
Ishmael Reed, on speaking as to why we need to continue to present National Black Writers Conferences, recounts, "In 2009, I published a story that was translated from the first Alaskan language to become extinct in the previous year. This is what happens to a culture that loses to the inexorable forces of assimilation…. The National Black Writers Conference at Medgar Evers College is needed and is more than a gathering of scholars and writers; it is a meeting of resisters."
This year's Conference has received major funding from the National Endowment for the Arts; Con Edison, Barnes & Noble Inc., New-York Historical Society, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, New York Council for the Humanities, CUNY Office of Collaborative Programs, Office of the Provost, Medgar Evers College, CUNY, and Hachette Book Group.
For media credentials and/or to schedule interview requests, contact Joy Doss at East West PR, 646-489-4432, joy@eastwestpr.net. For further information about the National Black Writers Conference, for updates and pre-conference programs, call 718-804-8883 or visit the Conference website at http://www.nationalblackwritersconfer....
About the National Black Writers Conference
Sponsored by the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, the National Black Writers Conference (NBWC) provides emerging and established writers, literary scholars, critics, agents, publishers and booksellers, as well as the general public, with a forum to share the writing published by Black writers, discuss the trends and themes in Black literature, and identify the major issues and challenges faced by Black writers and those in the business of reading, publishing, and selling Black literature.
Initially inspired by the late John Oliver Killens, the Conference has been held at Medgar Evers College since 1986. John Oliver Killens was a writer-in-residence and professor at Medgar Evers College from 1981 to 1987. The first NBWC held at Medgar Evers College, a year before Killens's death on October 27, 1987, focused on the social responsibility of the Black writer. Each subsequent Conference was built on the previous one, attracting a national and international audience. The Conference is currently held biennially; on alternate years, literary symposia are held.
About the Center for Black Literature
Founded in 2003, and spearheaded by Dr. Brenda M. Greene, the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, was established to expand, broaden, and enrich the general public's knowledge and aesthetic appreciation of the value of black literature; to continue the tradition and legacy of the National Black Writers Conference; to serve as a voice, mecca, and resource for Black writers; and to study the literature of people from the African Diaspora. It is the only Center devoted to this in the country.
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March 7, 2012
remix
Yesterday was not my best teaching day. I try to let my students express themselves in class, and I try to listen patiently even when problematic ideas are coming out of their mouths. After all, the point is to figure out where they're starting from—what they know now so that we can try to move forward together. I'm usually ok if they disagree with me on something—so long as they can back it up. But when we're talking about sensitive issues (like homosexuality) I find I sometimes lose my patience. Yesterday was one of those days. I knew we had fifteen minutes left in class and I didn't want to "go there" when it was clear that this one particular student wasn't ready to reconsider her position. So I left her there and moved on. Didn't feel good about it, but I had another class to teach and a faculty film group to facilitate after that…and there will be opportunities later in the semester to revisit the subject. I got back to my office after the faculty group wrapped up and another student from that class had sent me this email:
Good afternoon Professor Elliot, I'm _____ from your noon class on Tuesday and Thursday and I just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying this class. I almost didn't sign up for it but I'm happy i did. You are a excellent professor and I'm really learning more in this class than my others. By the way this Isn't sucking up or anything I'm just showing that i have interest in your class.
Sounds like sucking up to me, but you know what? I really needed to hear that yesterday! Attendance in my morning class was down by about a third, and I couldn't help but wonder if students skipped class because they didn't want to talk about homosexuality. I need to do better. And I'll try, though this semester is proving to be much harder than I thought. On Monday I got this sweet email from a former student, which reminded me of the long-term impact great teaching can have:
I am SO happy to hear you are still teaching and showing some of the materials you used for us at MHC; I really cannot even begin to tell you how much your courses continue to help me. It is really crazy to see how so many students have never spoken about or taken any classes on race relations in the US or on Black studies/Black history at an education school like ____ of all places; so, I find myself longing for and appreciating the work we did in your courses at MHC all the time. I am using so many of the readings from both of your courses, particularly from the Black Studies Reader, Tricia Rose articles, and poems from Amiri Baraka to conduct a literature review on work regarding ethnic studies courses, hip hop collegians, and language (particularly signifying–to this day, the most fascinating thing I ever learned, so thank you!) Please stay in touch and let your students know just how incredibly fortunate they are to have you as their Professor. Best of luck with the launch of your new book!
So tomorrow I'll put on my new school marm dress and try to get it right. I did learn yesterday that I got a travel grant to help pay for my trip to France, so I'm going to focus on the positive and keep pressing on…
March 3, 2012
highlights
Thanks to everyone who came out today to celebrate the launch of Ship of Souls! My amazing friends and family members did all the work so that I could enjoy the moment, and the party was a success—I gave a talk in the theater, read from the book, three lucky raffle winners won books, and then we went into the multipurpose room for refreshments. I'm so grateful to everyone at the African Burial Ground National Monument for allowing us to hold our event at the site. As Ranger Cyrus Forman pointed out in his introduction, people have been leaving offerings at the burial ground since the 17th century, and Ship of Souls is simply the latest offering to the ancestors…
March 2, 2012
see you tomorrow!
They're forecasting rain tomorrow morning but sunshine by the afternoon—and temps approaching 60 degrees! I hope you'll spend part of your day with us at the African Burial Ground National Monument. The launch party for Ship of Souls will start at 1pm; I'll give a brief talk/reading at 1:30 and then we'll have some cake! We're going to have a raffle, too, so make sure you get your ticket when you arrive. And please note that the burial ground is a federal site so you'll have to pass through airport-style security. All the details are on our Facebook page. I hope to see you there!
My guest post is up at the Kindle blog. Thanks to everyone for believing in magic and believing in me!
February 29, 2012
planting a seed
Today I gave my last Black History Month presentation for the Brooklyn Public Library. An auditorium full of 8th graders! Each class was named for an ivy league college, and one boy from Dartmouth came up to talk to me afterward—he had developed a sequel for SoS! "What if the netherbeings pursue Nuru into her realm, and in order to fight back, Nuru turns D and Nyla and Keem into supernatural beings, too! Then, once the netherbeings are defeated, the three kids can return to their own world but they get to keep some of their supernatural abilities!" I urged Steven to write that story himself and he said, "But that's plagiarism." (love this kid) "Actually, it's called fan fiction, and it's ok to write about other people's characters so long as you take credit for writing it." A writer is born!
I was quite surprised when I got home last night and found that the AmazonEncore team had sent me a bonsai tree to celebrate the publication of SoS—I know very little about bonsai trees, but figured out that this one is a braided money tree from Central America! It even came with a gold dollar coin wrapped around the trunk…
Ship of Souls has gotten two more great reviews. Our first Canadian review is up at Amy Reads and Em at Love YA Lit had this to say:
At just 132 pages, Elliott does an impressive job creating a cast of complex and amiable characters, weaving in history, and conjuring up some magic like I've never seen before. I would gladly spend more time with D, Keem, and Nyla. Each are interesting, distinct characters, but even more so their chemistry and their growing camaraderie were enchanting. Elliott does a fabulous job of creating believable characters in realistic settings. In both of her urban fantasy novels, I've found myself intensely connected to the contemporary/realistic sections of the stories, before diving headfirst with the characters into the fantasy. In Ship of Souls, what starts off feeling like a contemporary fiction novel, eventually turns into an all-out fantasy adventure. The story is fast-paced, with short chapters and lots of action, making it a great choice for struggling readers or those craving a quick read that doesn't lack in quality and depth. While Ship of Souls is a bit more MG than YA, with it's complex character development, strong sense of place, beautifully imagined fantasy, and unique feel, it should find a home with many ages of reader.
Looking Ahead
Each year The Brotherhood/Sister Sol co-sponsors an educational panel that focuses on solutions to the educational crisis we face in New York City – and indeed throughout the nation. The inadequate level of education provided to the children of this nation who are most in need is the pre-eminent civil rights issue of our time. Each year our educational panel has been filled to capacity and each evening has been a truly powerful night that has moved from the normal platitudes and simplistic debate to real discussion.
On Tuesday, March 6th, at 7:30, we are co-sponsoring this important event with The Metropolitan Center for Urban Education at New York University.
This event is free – but you must register for what promises to be a rich conversation focused on results, solutions and big picture thinking:
The Metropolitan Center for Urban Education at New York University & The Brotherhood/Sister Sol present…
Looking Ahead: What is working in New York City for Educating Our Children?
Moderator:
William C. Rhoden, Columnist, The New York Times
Panelists:
Dr. Merryl H. Tisch, Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents
Dr. Pedro A. Noguera, Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education, New York University & Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education
Khary Lazarre-White, Esq., Executive Director & Co-Founder, The Brotherhood/Sister Sol
Zakiyah Ansari, Parent Organizer, Coalition for Educational Justice
Avram Barlowe, Teacher, Urban Academy Laboratory High School
…at New York University's Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South, 10th floor auditorium
You can register and get more information here: http://edpanel.eventbrite.com/
February 28, 2012
happy birthday, Ship of Souls!
Ship of Souls is my third book in four years and I just wanted to take a moment to welcome it into the world! Another friend sent me some kind words this morning, and Doret has posted her review over at The Happy Nappy Bookseller. I'm taking my three classes to the African Burial Ground today but will try to find a moment to do something celebratory in advance of our launch party this Saturday.
I've been reading Ship of Souls each evening, and I really love your work. I think your writing is important. You're creating these E. Nesbit type stories, with classical themes of fantasy creatures helping children. But then placing it in Brooklyn, creating a magical-feeling urban space, creating richly-developed kids from backgrounds that are so different from most published books. I really don't know why other publishers have not been snapping you up. I will admit to spotting a few things that I might have talked about as an editor (though not many) – and one day I do hope we manage to work together. But overall, it's a smooth, engaging and resonant read. I look forward to my reading time each night – for as long as I can stay awake. And look forward to seeing what happens!
February 27, 2012
that's what friends are for…
Today was definitely feeling like Monday—until I got home from the park and found this email from a writer/friend:
Dr. Zetta Elliott:
I read SHIP OF SOULS the day after you gave it to me. What an amazing piece of writing! Everything works in it; fantasy, fable, magic, spiritualism, honor, loyalty, friendship, belief and faith, all underpinned by African AMERICAN history, legend and legacy. You easily invite and lead the reader into this fantastic and freakishly beautiful world! I love what you have done with this story. I think you have truly found your voice. This book should be noted with an NAACP Image Award, and the Rosa Parks Award, for it is a very important book, not only for the younger readers, or African American readers, but for all readers of all ages.
I applaud you, my dear friend! Keep it going!
NOW I can face this day! I'm so blessed when it comes to my circle of friends, especially since so many of them are artists themselves. Praise from a fellow writer means a lot…
February 26, 2012
tune in!
Tonight I'll be a guest on The Gist of Freedom, a web radio show with a focus on African American history founded by Lesley Gist. Tune in or call in if you'd like to join the conversation.
Yesterday at the African Burial Ground National Monument we had a fantastic conversation with Ranger Cyrus Forman about Catherine Ferguson, a formerly enslaved woman who founded the first Sunday School in NYC and adopted more than 40 orphans, black and white, to save them from the streets; she also knew from experience the challenges faced by unwed mothers and so worked to save them from scorn. Ferguson lived just a few blocks from where I teach (Warren Street), and I can't wait for my students to find out about NY's rich history when we visit the AFBG as a class this week.
Tomorrow I meet with the PR department at my college; there's a banner on the BMCC website announcing the launch of Ship of Souls at the AFBG next Saturday. I'm ordering the cake today—stop by and have a slice!
