Afro Book Club discussion
Announcements
>
Black History Month 2014
date
newest »
newest »
Any members read The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration? A friend just recommended it to me as one of my Black History Month reads Please share with us your views
I am currently re-reading Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Free ebook download here http://libcom.org/history/incidents-l...
Donald wrote: "Any members read The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration? A friend just recommended it to me as one of my Black History Month reads Please share with u..."
Beverly described his book as A MUST READ FOR ALL - so will read it this month too
I am reading Twelve Years a Slave and They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America - to start off Black History Month
Donald wrote: "I am currently re-reading Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Free ebook download here http://libcom.org/history/incidents-l...
[bookcover:Incidents in..."
Thank you
Black History Month - CanadaEach year, Canada Post develops special stamps to commemorate Black History Month in Canada. The 2014 stamps feature two communities of historic significance to black Canadians:
Africville was a small community located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, composed almost entirely of black residents. As the community developed, leaders struggled to access common municipal services, including education, water and policing. Conditions degraded, the area became known as a slum and, in 1964, the City of Halifax relocated 400 residents, destroying a community that had built a strong sense of historical continuity.
(Source: Canada Post)
Hogan’s Alley was the unoffcial name of a four-block-long dirt lane that formed the nucleus of Vancouver’s – first concentrated African-Canadian community. Though relatively small, the alley had a huge cultural impact, offering Vancouverites unique restaurants and a lively nightlife – filled with the sound of blues and jazz. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the community fell prey to construction of the Georgia Viaduct, but many stories of life in Hogan’s Alley have been preserved in local oral history.
(Source: Canada Post)
Here's the link to see the stamps (and other interesting info):
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/multicul...
Beverly wrote: "Black History Month - CanadaEach year, Canada Post develops special stamps to commemorate Black History Month in Canada. The 2014 stamps feature two communities of historic significance to black ..."
The United States Postal Service does something similar. This year they are celebrating Shirley Chisholm who authored Unbought And Unbossed. The stamp just became available today actually. I plan to purchase a book.
I agree with "The Warmth of Other Suns" comments. I would deem that required reading - if I had the authority to do so. Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy was an eye opening read. My spending habits changed forever when I read it two years ago. I posted a review of it on the blog. Anyone that's interested can find it here: http://readinghaspurpose.blogspot.com...
Shannon wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Black History Month - CanadaEach year, Canada Post develops special stamps to commemorate Black History Month in Canada. The 2014 stamps feature two communities of historic signif..."
Yes, too am purchasing the special stamp (US)(as I do every year).
Shannon wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Black History Month - CanadaEach year, Canada Post develops special stamps to commemorate Black History Month in Canada. The 2014 stamps feature two communities of historic signif..."
Yes, too am purchasing the special stamp (US)(as I do every year). :)
Beverly wrote: "Black History Month - CanadaEach year, Canada Post develops special stamps to commemorate Black History Month in Canada. The 2014 stamps feature two communities of historic significance to black ..."
Thank you for sharing this, Beverly. I'd forgotten that Canada Post commemorates BHM through its stamps. May stop by to see who they feature on their stamps this year.
Donald wrote: "Share with us your views on Black History Month1. What does Black History Month mean to you?
This is the month of the year in which I increase my reading of African diasporic literature. It's a time for me to celebrate my heritage and learn more about the people I share an ancestry with. I like to read both Black fiction and non-fiction.
2. What are you reading in Black History month?
I will be reading:Krik? Krak! - Edwidge Danticat, Notes of a Native Son- James Baldwin, Twelve Years a Slave- Solomon Northrup, Women of the Harlem Renaissance- Cheryl Hall, Feminist Theory: from Margin to Center- bell hooks, and Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society- Ifi Amadiume
3. What books would you recommend to other members a..."
The Autobiography of Malcolm X simply because he had an amazing impact of American civil rights but I don't think his achievements are praised enough. I was blown away when I read his auto. last year.
This is all very interestingI don't think it is celebrated that way in South Africa
I know Africa day is celebrated here in a big way ..
Perhaps other South Africans may inform us more on this.
It would be good to see the commemorative stamps -- Could we have some pics?
Stamps by the United States Postal Service can be found here http://www.stampnewsnow.com/uspsnewis...You will also find there a stamp for Ralph Ellison being released in March.
Hi Connor, Is Africa Day only celebrated in South Africa, or is it celebrated in other African countries too?
Here are a couple of links I found on Canada Post's website:
http://www.canadapost.ca/shop/all-new...
http://www.canadapost.ca/shop/black-h...
Some history of Black History Monthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hi...
Connor --> Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in America, is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States[1] and Canada[2] in February and the United Kingdom[3] in October.
Has anyone read A Dreadful Deceit: The Myth of Race from the Colonial Era to Obama's America -- I picked it up in the Chicago Tribune as literary pick for Black history monthhere http://www.chicagotribune.com/enterta...
"Historian Jacqueline Jones' smart, provocative new book arrived a little late in the holiday season to get the notice it deserved. So here's your chance to catch up on a persuasive, deeply researched, readable argument, from a MacArthur "genius" and history professor at the University of Texas, that a person's race is mostly a social fiction, an agreed-upon contrivance, a fundamental lie established by powerful people to keep themselves flush with affordable labor. Which sounds more academic than Jones' six compelling profiles, so intricately researched as to feel novelistic: Among her portraits is an enslaved African killed for refusing to work the fields, a 19th-century New England businesswoman deep in land disputes and a Booker T. Washington protege who founds a vocational college in the rural South. But my favorite was the story of the Civil War veteran who, though appearing white, is denied the chance to hold public office when a local judge arbitrarily decides the Union vet is black, mainly because other community leaders say he is black. Though she never quite acknowledges how a biological myth becomes real cultural identity, Jones gives a lot to chew on. Chances are, you've never read a book about race that puts "race" within quotation marks so frequently."
Rowena wrote: "Hi Connor, Is Africa Day only celebrated in South Africa, or is it celebrated in other African countries too?
Here are a couple of links I found on Canada Post's website:
http://www.canadapost...."
Thanks for the links Rowena and Shannon
It is celebrated all over Africa in May each year, it marks founding of (OA) African Union and meant to celebrate African unity. Each year it has a specific theme
Donald wrote: "Has anyone read A Dreadful Deceit: The Myth of Race from the Colonial Era to Obama's America -- I picked it up in the Chicago Tribune as literary pick for Black history monthhere ..."
No I have not read this book yet but it is on my tbr list.
I have read Jacqueline Jones before and have always found her books informative.
1. What does Black History Month mean to you?What BHM means to me has changed over the years. I was quite excited when BHM came about in the 1970s. It seemed everything was crammed into this month about black history and then forgotten for the rest of the year.
Back in the day (before ebooks/self-publishing/industry changes) Feb (BHM) was usually the time that traditional publishers would publish their releases by black authors. So, spent a lot of money in bookstores in Feb so I could grab the new releases. This is the month that the television would show BH shows so watched a lot of TV.
But over the years BH is more an every day event for me so my reading habits do not change but I do expect my bookclubs to chose a Feb BOM that is related to BH.For TV it is still the month that loads up on BH shows - so record a lot.
I appreciate a month to celebrate BH but I just wish that the all of the social events, school projects, museum events, community activities would be spread out over the year so BH is not just a Feb event.
2. What are you reading in Black History month?
As mentioned by reading habits really do not change.
I am currently reading Slavery's Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons.
A couple of other NF books that are high on my NF TBR list are:
The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Emancipation
The Bright Continent: Breaking Rules and Making Change in Modern Africa
Negroes and the Gun: The Black Tradition of Arms
A Dreadful Deceit: The Myth of Race from the Colonial Era to Obama's America
Pimping Fictions: African American Crime Literature and the Untold Story of Black Pulp Publishing
3. What books would you recommend to other members and why?
I just got finished reading Ebony and Ivy: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America's Universities by Craig Steven Wilder and have been recommending to others. This is really an impressive book which has two main objectives to make a difficult subject accessible and to provide a foundation for future scholarship.
Wilder argues in “Ebony & Ivy’’ that academic institutions were anything but “innocent or passive” on issues related to race and racism. Wilder demonstrates American colleges active participation in their contributions to a political, social and economic culture rooted in racism.
Black History Month means a lot to me. Its a time to reflect on how far we have come and how much work remains. I enjoy the celebration of the rich and diverse culture of those of African descent ( even though science now says the human race originated from Africa). I'm reading Black science fiction novels by Tananarive Due, Angela Davis (voices of resistance), Michelle Alexander (The new Jim Crow) and Malcolm X.
The Warmth of Other Suns Is an exceptional book and a rich, must-read! A few months ago, I attended an event at the Chicago Public Library with the author, Isabel Wilkerson. I was impressed by her graciousness and truth-telling. Hundreds of us wanted our books signed but we also wanted to share aspects of our family's migration stories with her and she acted as if she had all the time and energy to engage each person! Maybe she will be selected by Robert Shetterly for his project of "Americans Who tell The Truth". Wilkerson's years of dedicated research, conducting hundreds of oral histories, and riveting storytelling style has yielded a gift for the ages.
Rowena wrote: "Donald wrote: "Share with us your views on Black History Month1. What does Black History Month mean to you?
This is the month of the year in which I increase my reading of African diasporic lite..."
Great Article by Rowena .. "Its time to talk About Black Tudors"
http://mediadiversified.org/2014/02/1...
Discussing the book Blackamoores: Africans in Tudor England, their presence, status and origins
Gathering of Waters by Bernice Mcfaddden, is a wonderful Black History Month read. It features the tragedy of Emmett Till.
Donald wrote: "Rowena wrote: "Donald wrote: "Share with us your views on Black History Month1. What does Black History Month mean to you?
This is the month of the year in which I increase my reading of African..."
Thanks for sharing.
I have learned over the years that we have always had a presence all over the world.
I have a friend who is now doing research for a book on the African presence in Old India before the British.
On this day in history we mark Nina Simone's birthday and the fall of Malcolm X
NPR Books and Code Switch are winding down Black History Month in style: We've asked three of our favorite comic artists to illustrate something — a person, a poem, a play, a book, a song — that inspires them. is an award-winning illustrator who's worked for Image, Marvel and DC Comics. She's chosen Langston Hughes' great poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." And you can see Richardson's video, created from these panelshttp://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2...
That was great! Thanks for sharing, Beverly :)
Afro Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone (other topics)I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone (other topics)
The Autobiography of Malcolm X (other topics)
Gathering of Waters (other topics)
Blackamoores: Africans in Tudor England, Their Presence, Status and Origins (other topics)
More...
1. What does Black History Month mean to you?
2. What are you reading in Black History month?
3. What books would you recommend to other members?
Below are the books recommended by members in this discussion thread. Click on the book cover to read more