Category Archives: Black History

Black History Month Author Series: Sharon Flake

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I came across one of Sharon Flake‘s book The Skin I’m In (written when I was a senior in high school) while working the Scholastic Book Fair several years ago, and I’ve been enthralled with her since. What made this book even more special is the fact that Mr. Houseful read it years ago while tutoring at a local school and shared with me his love for the characters and the ability to relate to what was going on within the story.

The Skin I’m In

She writes about the gritty reality of being a young person in current times, and yes, her characters are usually strong black young people trying to find their purpose in the world just like we all did at some point of time in our lives.

Imagine my surprise when I saw a new book of hers that debuted at our fair. The title is Pinned, and it follows two young children with handicaps of their own. One is visible, the other is not since it’s a learning disability.

Featured

Since I love this author so much, I’ve purchased the book above to give away to one of my readers. It’s stated to be best for children aged 10-14, but I do believe that any adult could learn a thing or two from it, and strong 9 year old readers could grasp some concepts as well. Enter only the mandatory portion, or enter all for an even better chance at getting this book in your mailbox!

Enter below and Happy Reading!

(for a complete list of her books and info on how to contact Ms. Flake, click her name above)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Macy’s Celebrates Gordon Parks

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On Valentine’s Day, I had the pleasure of heading down to Macy’s on State Street (I’m still having a hard time not calling it Marshall Field’s, but it’s the Chicago in me – I still love the store) and participating in a Black History Series that is spanning the nation. Macy’s along with special guests are coming together to honor Gordon Parks and his contribution to the arts in the African American community. Chicago was honored to sit with Dr. Carol Adams, Eriq La Salle, Tar, Munson Steed and  for the evening.  The entire presentation was wonderful, and I must say that the panelists were very thought provoking.
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A couple of the books that were available for purchase after the event. DSC_1458 Such a beautifully powerful image of Gordon Parks. DSC_1456 What’s an event without being able to give something away? From February 1st through February 28th, visit macys.com/celebrate to enter for a chance to win a trip for two to The American Black Film Festival in Miami, courtesy of American Airlines, a $1000 Macy’s shopping spree and Gordon Parks: Collected Works, a five-volume set of his photography. DSC_1441Introducing us to our panelists for the evening.
DSC_1449Dr. Carol Adams, President and CEO of Dusable Museum of African American History
DSC_1440 With Munson Steed, Founder and CEO of Rolling Out Media Co, and DSC_1447 Terrence A. Reese (Tar) and Eric La Salle DSC_1459 DSC_1451Mr. La Salle was gracious enough to sign autographs for fans of his.

The conversation was enlightening and I can leave you with a few tidbits from the evening:

Everyone needs to watch The Learning Tree, Lead Belly, Shaft (the entire franchise) and Half Past Autumn.

Shaft was NOT a blaxploitation film

Gordon Parks took the fact that he wanted to photograph things and it took him on a journey of authorship and filmmaker.

Gordon Parks is definitely the epitome of a modern day Renaissance Man. All of his talents became the weapons that he used to better his chances of succeeding in this world.

On the point of succeeding, we don’t need anyone’s permission to do so.

The way that Gordon Parks photographed his people, was not in a vein of selling them out to others. It was simply to show the black population in all of their varying states. From regal, to domestic. From the love that parents had for their child no matter how much money was in their bank accounts.

Black films are hard to come by from black directors. We’re still in the world of having others tell our story for us, because Hollywood is not allowing us to do it ourselves.

Thoughts?

I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy’s and Gordon Parks . All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Black History Month Author Series: Faith Ringgold

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Faith Ringgold

Born: October 8, 1930 (age 82), New York City
Awards: Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators, Jane Addams Chldren’s Book Awards for Picture Book
Nominations: Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators, Jane Addams Chldren’s Book Awards for Picture Book
One of my favorite books to read to the cellist when he was younger was Tar Beach by Ms. Ringgold. The colorful illustrations as Cassie flies over her city of Harlem in the late 1930′s really captivated ME. Every now and again, I’ll catch the cellist reading the book to the ladybug and the twizzlers, and it makes me smile.
Tar Beach
You can almost automatically tell a book illustrated by Ringgold, which are often based on quilts of her grandmother.
Have you read any of Ms. Ringgold’s books? I think you should! Here is a complete list of those she’s penned and illustrated with others.
Tar Beach,
Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky
We Flew Over The Bridge: Memoirs of Faith Ringgold
Talking To Faith Ringgold, by Faith Ringgold, Linda Freeman and Nancy Roucher
7 Passages To A Flight, an artist’s book
Bonjour Lonnie
My Dream of Martin Luther King
The Invisible Princess
If a Bus Could Talk
Counting to Tar Beach
Cassie’s Colorful Day
Cassie’s Word Quilt
O Holy Night: Christmas with the Boys Choir of Harlem
The Three Witches by Zora Neale Hurston illustrated by Faith Ringgold
Bronzeville Boys and Girls (poetry) by Gwendolyn Brooks illustrated by Faith Ringgold
What Will You Do for Peace? Impact of 9/11 on New York City Youth, InterRelations Collaborative

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Macy’s Honors Gordon Parks

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Macy’s, The Gordon Parks Foundation & The American Black Film Festival Celebrate The 1OOTH Birthday of Gordon Parks!

Celebrate the life of Gordon Parks by viewing iconic images in our photographic art installation featuring some of his most beloved works, such as American Gothic, Washington D.C. 1942 during the month of February! Join us “In Conversation” with a collection of special guests to discuss Gordon Parks’ influence on film and the future of African-American cinema.

2/14 – Chicago, IL
Macy’s on State Street
Level 7, 5:30 pm

Special Guest: actor Lamman Rucker

* RSVP for this event at 800-329-8667

2/16 – Chicago, IL
Macy’s State Street
*Kids’ Department, Level 5, 2pm

Children’s “Design Your Own Book” event

*Impulse Department, Level 3

Soul Jam style dance party

*RSVP for these events at 800-329-8667

Mrs. Houseful will be in attendance on Valentine’s Day! Come through and learn more about this iconic contributor to black photography and film. If you need extra urging, this young man will be in attendance:

#boom

Black History Month Author Series: Walter Mosley

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Walter Mosley

If you have never heard of this gentleman, but have viewed the movie Devil In A Blue Dress and enjoyed it, then he should be one of your favorites. Easy Rawlins worked his way into the libraries of many through a page turning series by this author.

Born January 12, 1952, Mosley has been weaving great crime fiction for nearly thirty years.

While you may ONLY be familiar with Devil In a Blue Dress, you should start at the beginning of the series and work your way through. Especially since this author began writing at the age of 34 (two years older than I am now!) and has written every single day since then. The passion and commitment that goes into being a GREAT author is one not appreciated by too many.

While I still take a stance against eReaders of sorts, check out, download, or buy one of his books, and I am sure you’ll be hooked.

Black History Month Author Series: Sherri Smith

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Sherri Smith

Born in Chicago, IL (HOLLA) but raised all over the nation, Sherri is best known in MY life as the author of Fly Girl my son’s generations version of Imitation of Life.

Ida Mae is a young lady wanting to enter the WASP program during WWII. However,being a black woman doesn’t open many doors for her and she is forced to “pass” for a white woman. The book deals with so many aspects of being black, that you’re left an emotional ball at the end.

I can also attest that this book flies (see what I did there?) off the shelves during our book fairs each time we have had one.

Pick it up. Start a conversation with your tween. It may open some HUGE conversational doors for you all.

Promise.

Other books that Ms. Smith has written are:

Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet

Sparrow

Lucy the Giant

and

Orleans
(due for release 3/7/13)

Black History Month Author Series: Jacqueline Woodson

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Jacqueline Woodson

Residing in Brooklyn, NY, Woodson has penned several books for children across the age scale. Often times writing from things that have touched her heart personally, or just wondering how a story would play out in general, she has something for each level of child in your household to enjoy.

Check out some of the titles before, and put them on hold at your local library. You’ll enjoy them!

Author of books for Preschoolers, Middle Schoolers, and Young Adults.

Picture Books

Each Kindness

Pecan Baby Pie

Coming on Home Soon

We Had A Picnic This Sunday Past

The Other Side

Sweet, Sweet Memory

Our Gracie Aunt

Visiting Day

Show Way

Middle School Titles

Between Madison and Palmetto

Maizon at Blue Hill

Lasts Summer with Maizon

Locomotion

Feathers

Peace Locomotion

After Tupac and D Foster

Young Adult Titles

Beneath a Meth Moon

Hush

Behind You

If You Come Softly

Miracle’s Boys

From the Notebooks of Melanie Sun

I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This

Lena

The House You Pass on The Way

The Dear One

Black History Month: Author Series

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Hey, Black Child

Hey Black Child
Do you know who you are
Who you really are
Do you know you can be
What you want to be
If you try to be
What you can be

Hey Black Child
Do you know where you are going
Where you’re really going
Do you know you can learn
What you want to learn
If you try to learn
What you can learn

Hey Black Child
Do you know you are strong
I mean really strong
Do you know you can do
What you want to do
If you try to do
What you can do

Hey Black Child
Be what you can be
Learn what you must learn
Do what you can do
And tomorrow your nation
Will be what you what it to be

~ Countee Cullen

While this poem applies to ANY child, it seems that so many of our black children are having their lives taken from them earlier and earlier. As a resident of the city of Chicago, it pains me to have to read about, or hear about another black child in the prime of their YOUTH gunned down on the streets.

If more people poured into the lives of our children in general, we would get better output from them.

What say ye?

Please join our Houseful as we celebrate the efforts of all things literary this month. From friends, and family to poet laureates, we’re celebrating the authors of Black History. We’ll also share (hopefully) some words that they took with them when they thought that their lives weren’t as promising as they became.

Black History Month: Tiny Power

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*photo courtesy of couchfiresports.com

Raven-Symone Christina Pearson

Granted, this little one may not be so little anymore, but I am sure that she captured all of our hearts as three year old Olivia on the Cosby Show.

It’s amazing that she was able to snag a coveted spot on one of the best known sitcoms in my lifetime. Mr. Cosby loved her so they created a position for her and she made magic from there.

She is now a very grown up 26 year old who is moving and shaking on her own terms. With job titles such as actor, singer, songwriter, producer, comedian, AND model under her belt, she is still making waves in the celeb world.

Do you remember when Raven first came on the scene?

Do you have a three year old in your midst that acts a little like Olivia did way back in the day? *looks over at the ladybug*

Black History Month: Musical Series – James Lenox

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This week, we continue our black history month series, with those black American’s who were talented in their musical fields.

This particular person holds a special place in my heart, as he was my pastor for 8 years before he passed away. Many of you may not know him by face – unless you are active in the COGIC denomination, however, you will know him by one song:

“I Won’t Complain”

Pastor James Edward Lenox

July 4, 1931 – August 4,2001

If you have no idea what song I’m talking about – here’s a video of it. Enjoy and have a blessed day.