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 Forty
Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete
by William C. Rhoden -Crown (July 11, 2006)/Trade Paper- $13.95
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From Jackie Robinson to Muhammad Ali and Arthur Ashe, African
American athletes have been at the center of modern culture, their on-the-field
heroics admired and stratospheric earnings envied. But for all their money,
fame, and achievement, says New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden,
black athletes still find themselves on the periphery of true power in the
multibillion-dollar industry their talent built.
Provocative and controversial, Rhoden’s $40 Million Slaves weaves a
compelling narrative of black athletes in the United States, from the plantation
to their beginnings in nineteenth-century boxing rings and at the first Kentucky
Derby to the history-making accomplishments of notable figures such as Jesse
Owens, Althea Gibson, and Willie Mays. Rhoden makes the cogent argument that
black athletes’ “evolution” has merely been a journey from literal
plantations—where sports were introduced as diversions to quell revolutionary
stirrings—to today’s figurative ones, in the form of collegiate and professional
sports programs. Weaving in his own experiences growing up on Chicago’s South
Side, playing college football for an all-black university, and his decades as a
sportswriter, Rhoden contends that black athletes’ exercise of true power is as
limited today as when masters forced their slaves to race and fight. The primary
difference is, today’s shackles are often of their own making.
Every advance made by black athletes, Rhoden explains, has been met with a
knee-jerk backlash—one example being Major League Baseball’s integration of the
sport, which stripped the black-controlled Negro League of its talent and left
it to founder. He details the “conveyor belt” that brings kids from inner cities
and small towns to big-time programs, where they’re cut off from their roots and
exploited by team owners, sports agents, and the media. He also sets his sights
on athletes like Michael Jordan, who he says have abdicated their responsibility
to the community with an apathy that borders on treason.
Sweeping and meticulously detailed, $40 Million Slaves is an eye-opening
exploration of a metaphor we only thought we knew.
GUEST BOOK
 From
Behind the Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race, and the Underclass by a
Prison Inmate by Mansfield B. Frazier -Paragon House Publishers; 1st ed
edition (May 1995)/Hard Cover- $12.95
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This collection of brief essays by a black
man doing time for credit-card fraud at a minimum-security prison in Kentucky
includes savvy cautionary observations. Frazier recognizes his own shortcomings
mainly, a lack of discipline but realizes how prison has become inevitable for
many blacks of the underclass. He proposes "Children's Camps" to mold ghetto
kids into "responsible citizens" and thus break the cycle of teenage motherhood
the engine which drives the twin runaway trains of poverty and violent crime."
Similarly, he proposes "Childfare" to require pregnant women on welfare to
receive proper prenatal care and attend childcare classes. He supports drug
decriminalization, noting resonantly that there will be no serious debate on the
topic until white youths are "mowed down" as black and Latino youths now are.
Boot camps that teach discipline but don't educate young felons will never help,
he adds. Too often, Frazier observes, conferences on crime ignore the views of
criminals. This book argues that we should listen. From Publishers Weekly
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc
Written by a prison inmate, this collection of short essays
on prisons and the larger society argues that the soaring rates of crime and
incarceration have less to do with individual choice than with an American
culture that in fact exerts great pressure to create crime--and the
resulting punishment. His political views often sound radical, although by the
end of a particular essay, Frazier's ideas seem at least worthy of further
consideration, if not outright adoption. The descriptions of prison life are
intelligent and forceful. Frazier, the criminal, is sympathetic, never whining
about his life and the decisions he's made. In the end, a more positive book
than one might expect. From Booklist Brian McCombie
 Come
On People: On the Path from Victims to Victors by Bill Cosby (Author), Alvin
F. Poussaint (Author) -Thomas Nelson; 1 edition (October 9, 2007)/Hard Cover-
$25.99
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Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint have a powerful message for
families and communities as they lay out their visions for strengthening
America, or for that matter the world. They address the crises of people who are
stuck because of feelings of low self-esteem, abandonment, anger, fearfulness,
sadness, and feelings of being used, undefended and unprotected. These feelings
often impede their ability to move forward. The authors aim to help empower
people make the daunting transition from victims to victors. Come On,
People! is always engaging, and loaded with heart-piercing stories of the
problems facing many communities.
 Is
Bill Cosby Right?: Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost its Mind? by Michael
Eric Dyson -Basic Civitas Books (April 26, 2005)/Paper- $14.00
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The
acclaimed "hip-hop intellectual" exposes the raw nerve of class and generational
warfare in black America with this provocative defense of impoverished African
Americans
Nothing exposed the class and generational divide in black America more starkly
than Bill Cosby's now-infamous assault on the black poor when he received an
NAACP award in the spring of 2004. The comedian-cum-social critic lamented the
lack of parenting, poor academic performance, sexual promiscuity, and criminal
behavior among what he called the "knuckleheads" of the African-American
community. Even more surprising than his comments, however, was the fact that
his audience laughed and applauded.
Best-selling writer, preacher, and scholar Michael Eric Dyson uses the Cosby
brouhaha as a window on a growing cultural divide within the African-American
community. According to Dyson, the "Afristocracy" -lawyers, physicians,
intellectuals, bankers, civil rights leaders, entertainers, and other
professionals-looks with disdain upon the black poor who make up the "Ghettocracy"
-single mothers on welfare, the married, single, and working poor, the
incarcerated, and a battalion of impoverished children. Dyson explains why the
black middle class has joined mainstream America to blame the poor for their
troubles, rather than tackling the systemic injustices that shape their lives.
He exposes the flawed logic of Cosby's diatribe and offers a principled defense
of the wrongly maligned black citizens at the bottom of the social totem pole.
Displaying the critical prowess that has made him the nation's preeminent
spokesman for the hip-hop generation, Dyson challenges us all-black and white-to
confront the social problems that the civil rights movement failed to solve.
GUEST BOOK
 The
Vixen Diaries by Karrine Steffans -Grand Central Publishing (September 25,
2007)/Hard Cover- $24.99
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This titillating exposé chronicles the personal and professional
adventures of this tabloid-laden socialite, dispelling some rumors, while
confirming others. Diaries unveils the heavily shrouded Hollywood backrooms and
its coveted secrets. Offering her ardent fans answers to burning questions and
presenting lessons learned, this book will surely not disappoint.
Karrine Steffans continues to dish out juicy gossip and the much sought after
details of her star studded lifestyle and the celebrity men that helped her get
where she needed to be.
Karrine draws you in to get an up-close and personal look at the Hollywood life
of fast money and sex; all the things that make for a great movie. She discusses
her interactions with people after the release of Confessions of a Video Vixen
and how she copes with it all.
 Game
Over: The Rise and Transformation of a Harlem Hustler by Azie Faison -Atria
(August 7, 2007)/Trade Paper- $15.00
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A cautionary tale about the life of former kingpin Azie Faison,
who has become the fabric of street legend Faison was a ninth grade dropout who
earned more than $100,000 a week selling cocaine in Harlem, New York, during the
peak of America's "War on Drugs" between 1983 and 1990. Faison, along with two
partners, was an urban prince with cars, jewels, and people -- in awe of this
million-dollar phenomenon -- at his feet. His legacy has been praised by
hip-hop's top names in their lyrics, and his life was the basis for the urban
cult classic film Paid in Full starring Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris, and rapper
Cam'ron and produced by Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Films.
In Game Over, Azie brings forth a powerful memoir of New York's perilous drug
underworld and music industry, with an intellect and wisdom to empower and
challenge the street culture he knows so very well.
 Pimpology:
The 48 Laws of the Game by Pimpin' Ken & Karen Hunter -Simon Spotlight
Entertainment (July 24, 2007)/Hard Cover- $20.00
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The pimp has reached nearly mythical status. We are fascinated
by the question of how a guy from the ghetto with no startup capital and no
credit -- nothing but the words out of his mouth -- comes not only to have a
stable of sexy women who consider him "their man," but to drive a Rolls, sport
diamonds, and wear custom suits and alligator shoes from Italy.
His secret is to follow the "unwritten rules of the game" -- a
set of regulations handed down orally from older, wiser macks -- which give him
superhuman powers of charm, psychological manipulation, and persuasion.
In Pimpology, star of the documentaries Pimps Up, Ho's Down and American Pimp
and Annual Players Ball Mack of the Year winner Ken Ivy pulls a square's coat on
the unwritten rules that took him from the ghetto streets to the executive
suites. Ken's lessons will serve any person in any interaction: Whether at work,
in relationships, or among friends, somebody's got to be on top. To be the one
with the upper hand, you've got to have good game, and good game starts with
knowing the rules.
If you want the money, power, and respect you dream of, you can't just "pimp
your ride," you need to pimp your whole life. And unless you've seen Ray Charles
leading Stevie Wonder somewhere, you need Ken's guidelines to do it. They'll
reach out and touch you like AT&T and bring good things to life like GE. Then
you can be the boss with the hot sauce who gets it all like Monty Hall.
 Have
You Met Miss Jones?: The Life and Loves of Radio's Most Controversial Diva
by Tarsha Jones -One World/Ballantine (July 10, 2007)/Hard Cover- $21.95
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“Even though I’ve tried to wear glass slippers, somebody has
deliberately knocked them off my feet. Because of that, I have walked the earth
emotionally barefoot, and expressed my lack of self-esteem and rage in ways that
clouded my judgment. I was a participant in a lot of drama. Didn’t mean to be .
. . it was never my intention.”
So confesses Tarsha Jones, host of New York’s popular radio show Miss Jones in
the Morning. “Jonesy,” as she’s known to her fans, captivates millions of Hot 97
listeners with her daily dish on hip-hop and rap celebrity. But within these
pages are the juicy scandals that even this no-holds-barred DJ has kept off the
airwaves. For the first time, Jones reveals everything–from candid stories of
her early singing career under Doug E. Fresh’s wing (and between his sheets) to
a wild affair with Busta Rhymes; from bitter feuds with Wendy Williams and shock
jocks Star and Buc Wild to friendships with Patti LaBelle and Isaac Hayes; from
collaborations with Fat Joe and Big Pun all the way to catfights with Christina
Milian and Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles. Jones lets it all hang out and
doesn’t tiptoe around anyone’s feelings–including her own.
Beginning with her volatile upbringing as the child of alcoholic parents and the
target of bullying peers, Jones takes us on a journey of self-exploration,
recounting how she survived abusive relationships, twisted coworkers, and
backstabbing bosses to ultimately rise through the radio ranks and make it to
the top of her game. But more than just a tell-all tale, this inspirational
memoir is a testament to the struggles of a black woman trying to succeed in a
white male-dominated industry, where the sharks never stop circling no matter
how much you achieve. For those who love steamy entertainment gossip, admire
coming-of-age chronicles of resilience, or just like to see emperors (and
moguls) without clothes, so to speak, the pages will fly. Even devoted listeners
who think they already know radio’s rowdiest diva will have to ask themselves .
. . Have You Met Miss Jones?
 Dear
G-Spot: Straight Talk About Sex and Love by Zane -Atria (July 10, 2007)/Hard
Cover- $25.00
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The hugely popular erotica author Zane gets right to the point:
This is a book about fucking. This is a book about love, she warns in the
aggressively defensive introduction (Do not start protests at your local library
to ban me from the shelves) to this collection of letters she has received from
the lost and confused in need of sexual advice. The chapters in her first
nonfiction book are grouped around such useful topics as virginity/young love,
sexual addiction, oral sex, dissatisfied lovers/lack of sex drive and how to
make love to a woman. Zane writes with grim humor and uses explicit, slangy
language that obviously resonates with her audience of younger, sexually active
women. She encourages wild, no-holes-barred sex, but presents hot, monogamous
unions as her goal. Dump him and find a man to respect you is her response to
the women who complain of being exploited or cheated on by their lovers. Despite
the out-there language, Zane's advice is sympathetic and sensitive on every area
of sexual confusion and difficulty. (July) Correction: The pub month for
Norman Pearlstine's Off the Record (Reviews, Apr. 30) is June.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All
rights reserved.
 Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to
Achieve Happiness and Success by Russell Simmons -Gotham (April 24,
2007)/Hard Cover- $25.00
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Since rising out of the New York City streets over 25 years ago,
Russell Simmons has helped create such ground breaking ventures as Def Jam
Records, Phat Farm and Def Comedy Jam, in the process becoming known the world
over as "The CEO of Hip Hop." Russell might have helped introduce hip-hop to the
world, but he credits his success to his belief in a strong set of principles-or
laws--which he shares for the first time in this book. In 12 straight forward
steps, Russell reveals a path towards success that can be followed not only by
those looking to duplicate his professional success, but anyone struggling to
realize their dreams.
Indeed, those solely looking for advice on how to build up their bank accounts
at the expense of personal integrity should probably look elsewhere. That’s
because these laws stem from the belief that all success, be it professional or
personal, comes from a connection with your higher self. Using examples from his
own experiences and observations, Russell demonstrates how tapping into that
connection will allow you to get your mind right, find the motivation to start
instead of stall, surround yourself with the right people, appreciate the power
of hard work and understand the power of karma.
But most importantly, this book will demonstrate how it’s impossible to receive
any sort of lasting success from the world without giving something of
lasting value to the world first. That’s a practice that is reflected in
Russell’s own work as a mentor and philanthropist and one that he promotes as
being fundamental to empowerment and success on every level.
Blending business insight, universal spiritual truths and an inspired sense of
purpose DO YOU! crosses the lines of age, race and background with wisdom
that will lift you up and motivate you to pursue your vision.
 Reposition
Yourself: Living Life Without Limits by T.D. Jakes -Atria; 1st Atria Books
Hardcover Ed edition (May 8, 2007)/Hard Cover- $24.00
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Jakes takes the biblical definition of faith--the substance of
things not yet realized--and adds that without some effort, faith becomes
nothing more than a belief in magic. Although he admonishes the trend toward
prosperity preaching that equates economic well-being with blessedness, Jakes
reinforces the connection between faith, good works, and responsibility. And
citing biblical verses and observations by successful people--Liberian president
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and athlete Deion Sanders, among others--Jakes offers
sound advice on how to put faith into action. He begins by insisting on a hard
self-examination and takes aim at what he considers the major barrier to
success: self-imposed limitations that result from a lack of spiritual faith.
Jakes applies scripture across a wide range of personal challenges, including
finding a mate and achieving financial success. For those who have already
achieved a measure of success, Jakes cautions against complacency and arrogance.
At whatever level of achievement, Jakes urges readers to learn to open
themselves to giving and receiving blessings. Recalling his own rocky road to
success from a childhood of poverty to the head of one of the nation's largest
religious enterprises, Jakes makes clear how he was compelled to reposition
himself to grow spiritually and materially. Jakes continues to deliver a message
of hope and inspiration. Vanessa Bush Copyright © American Library
Association. All rights reserved
 Alex
Haley: The Man Who Traced America's Roots -Reader's Digest/Trade
Paper & CD- $17.95
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Special Anniversary Edition and FREE DVD! A brand new collection
of Alex Haley’s inspiring stories, with special comments by Colin Powell, Halle
Berry, B.B. King, Vernon Jordan, Leslie Uggams, and many others. Includes a FREE
30-minute never-before-seen documentary DVD (limited time offer).
 Believe
to Achieve: See the Invisible, Do the Impossible by Howard White, Phil
Knight (Foreword) -Atria Books/Beyond Words; Reprint edition (February 6,
2007)/Trade Paper- $14.95
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Sometimes we need a hand to help us get to the gifts locked
inside us. Believe to Achieve is that helping hand, daring readers of all ages
to reach for their most cherished dream and giving them the tools to get there.
Author Howard "H" White tells us extraordinary people are simply ordinary people
on fire with desire -- and he knows. As Nike, Inc.'s liaison for athletes such
as Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, "H" has had plenty of experience with
superstars. But he did not start there. He has known extraordinary people his
whole life, from his family and friends to his coaches and teachers. All along
the way, Howard has met people who have opened his eyes to his own abilities,
and he has spent his life doing the same for others.
Full of behind-the-scenes moments with favorite athletes as well as funny
anecdotes, Believe to Achieve is an exuberant collection of wisdom that will
help you recognize the potential in yourself and see the path to success. It is
a handbook for all people who have a goal they do not know how to reach or who
want to help others discover their gifts.
As Howard says, you can never tell what people are capable of just by looking at
them -- even you.
 Ghettonation:
A Journey Into the Land of Bling and Home of the Shameless by Cora Daniels
-Doubleday (March 20, 2007)/Hard Cover- $23.95
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From the Introduction:
ghet-to n. (Merriam-Webster dictionary) Italian, from Venetian
dialect ghèto island where Jews were forced to live; literally, foundry (located
on the island), from ghetàr, to cast; from Latin jactare to throw
1: a quarter of a city in which Jews were formerly required to live
2: a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially
because of social, legal, or economic pressure
3a: an isolated group <a geriatric ghetto> b: a situation that resembles a
ghetto especially in conferring inferior status or limiting opportunity <stuck
in daytime TV’s ghetto>
ghet-to adj. (twenty-first-century everyday parlance)
1a: behavior that makes you want to say “Huh?” b: actions that seem to go
against basic home training and common sense
2: used to describe something with inferior status or limited opportunity.
Usually used with “so.” <That’s so ghetto> ; <He’s so ghetto>
3: a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially
because of social, legal, or economic pressure.
4: common misusage: authentic, Black, keepin’ it real
As current and all-consuming as “ghetto” is in these days of gold teeth, weaves
(blond and red), Pepsi-filled baby bottles, and babymamas, ghetto has a long
history. The original ghetto was in the Jewish quarter of Venice, a Catholic
city. Before it became the Jewish quarter, this area contained an iron foundry
or ghèto, hence the name. These days, ghetto no longer refers to where you live,
but to how you live. It is a mindset, and not limited to a class or a race. Some
things are worth repeating: ghetto is not limited to a class or a race. Ghetto
is found in the heart of the nation’s inner cities as well as the heart of the
nation’s most cherished suburbs; among those too young to understand (we hope)
and those old enough to know better; in little white houses, and all the way to
the White House; in corporate corridors, Ivy League havens, and, of course,
Hollywood. More devastating, ghetto is also packaged in the form of music, TV,
books, and movies, and then sold around the world. Bottom line: ghetto is
contagious, and no one is immune, no matter how much we like to suck our teeth
and shake our heads at what we think is only happening someplace else…
From an award-winning journalist and cultural commentator comes a provocative
examination of the impact of “ghetto” mores, attitudes, and lifestyles on urban
communities and American culture in general.
Cora Daniels takes on one of the most explosive issues in our country today in
this thoughtful critique of America’s embrace of a ghetto persona that demeans
women, devalues education, celebrates the worst African American stereotypes,
and contributes to the destruction of civil peace. Her investigation exposes the
central role of corporate America in exploiting the idea of ghetto-ness as a hip
cultural idiom, despite its disturbing ramifications, as a means of making
money. She showcases Black rappers raised in privileged families who have taken
on the ghetto persona and sold millions of albums, and non-Black celebrities,
such as Paris Hilton, who have adopted ghetto attitudes and styles in pursuit of
attention and notoriety. She explores, as well, her own relationship to the
ghetto and the ways in which she is both part of and outside the Ghettonation.
Infused with humor and entertaining asides—including lists of events and people
that the author nominates for the Ghetto Hall of Fame, and a short section
written entirely in ghetto slang—Ghettonation is a timely and engrossing report
on a controversial social phenomenon. Like Bill Cosby’s infamous, much-discussed
comments about the problems within the Black community today, it is sure to
trigger widespread interest and heated debate.
About the Author Cora Daniels is an award-winning journalist. Her
work has been published in Fortune, the New York Times, Essence, O: The Oprah
Magazine, USA Today, Heart & Soul, FSB: Fortune Small Business, and Savoy. She
has also been a staff writer at Fortune and an editor at Working Mother, and she
is currently a contributing writer for Essence. Daniels has served as a
commentator on CNN, CNBC, BET, NPR, ABC News, and Charlie Rose. As an author
Daniels has been called “dynamic,” “perceptive,” and “a powerful voice from the
younger generation.” Her first book, Black Power Inc., was dubbed “thought
provoking” by the Washington Post and “a must read” by Black Issues Book Review.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and daughter.
 Mr.
Untouchable: My Crimes and Punishments by Leroy "Nicky" Barnes (Author), Tom
Folsom (Author) -Rugged Land (March 6, 2007)/Hard Cover- $24.95
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From inside the Federal Witness Protection
Program, the "Black Godfather" chronicles the 1970s New York City underworld and
the most devastating urban crime wave in history.
1962 LEROY "NICKY" BARNES walks out of Green Haven State Prison. There are an
estimated 153,000 heroin abusers in the United States.
1977 Two million junkies score $100 million worth of Barnes's smack a year.
Sporting flashy suits, riding in a Citroën with a Maserati engine and
satisfying a wife while pleasuring a harem of mistresses, Barnes presides over a
staggering multinational dealership that pushes dope and launders money with the
efficiency of a Fortune 500 company. Despite President Nixon's creation of the
Drug Enforcement Administration and New York State's adoption of the no
tolerance Rockefeller drug laws, Barnes's operation seems impregnable.
How does a small-time hustler and heroin addict end up on the cover of the New
York Times Magazine as MR. UNTOUCHABLE, the one gangster the Feds can't touch?
And how is the future Mayor of New York City Rudolf Giuliani involved? With
Machiavellian pragmatism matched with biblical fury, Barnes lays bare his life's
remarkable trajectory--a rise, fall and resurrection defined by brutality,
brotherhood and betrayal.
About the Author LEROY "NICKY" BARNES is the most famous black syndicated
drug lord in history. Convicted of narcotics conspiracy in 1977 by the nation's
first anonymous jury. Released in 1998 with a recommendation for parole from
U.S. attorney Rudolph Giuliani in his file, Barnes's landmark cooperation with
the U.S. Government served to indict over fifty major drug traffickers. An
inspiration for a hit song ("Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown"), a slew of films (Live and
Let Die, New Jack City and Pulp Fiction) and a generation of hip-hop artists, he
is currently in the Federal Witness Protection Program.
TOM FOLSOM is a producer and director of documentary films. His work has
appeared on A&E, MSNBC and Showtime. He lives in New York City.
 The
Covenant In Action by Tavis Smiley (Introduction) -Smiley Books (January 18,
2007)/Trade Paper- $10.00
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The Covenant in Action was developed to
continue the inspirational spirit of the Covenant With Black America and to
empower people to take effective action to achieve THE Covenant goals. The
information, tools, and ideas presented in The Covenant in Action will enable
and inspire people to become agents of change in their respective communities
and to become partners in a larger Covenant movement.
The Covenant in Action is organized into three parts: (1) stories about the
projects and actions that everyday people have undertaken over the past year
that were inspired by the Covenant With Black America; (2) motivational essays
from young Black activists who are on the ground impacting their environments;
and (3) a toolkit outlining steps you can take to organize, connect, and act.
The toolkit contains not only traditional action strategies, but includes
innovative approaches to organizing and community building that will result in
stronger, more bonded communities that are reflective of their history and past
experiences. The Covenant With Black America was only the first step. The
Covenant in Action toolkit will prime and prepare individuals and communities to
actually move the Covenant book into action.
About the Author: With his late-night television talk show, Tavis Smiley, on
PBS, and his radio show The Tavis Smiley Show from NPR, Smiley was the first
American ever to simultaneously host signature talk shows on both PBS and
National Public Radio. Smiley’s television program is the first show in the
history of PBS to be broadcast from the West Coast. The Tavis Smiley Show on
public radio is currently distributed by PRI, Public Radio International. He can
also be heard weekdays on his nationally syndicated commentary, The Smiley
Report. Additionally, Tavis offers political commentary on the nationally
syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Tavis has authored several, inspiring books of personal narratives about love,
loss, and faith by African Americans from all walks of life. He’s also the
founder of the Tavis Smiley Foundation.
GUEST BOOK
 The
Covenant with Black America by Tavis Smiley (Editor) -Third World Press
(January 1, 2006)/Trade Paper- $12.00
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Six years' worth of symposiums come together
in this rich collection of essays that plot a course for African Americans,
explaining how individuals and households can make changes that will immediately
improve their circumstances in areas ranging from health and education to crime
reduction and financial well-being. Addressing these pressing concerns are
contributors Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. surgeon general; Wade Henderson,
executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; Angela Glover
Blackwell, founder of the research think tank PolicyLink; and Cornell West,
professor of Religion at Princeton University. Each chapter outlines one key
issue and provides a list of resources, suggestions for action, and a checklist
for what concerned citizens can do to keep their communities progressing
socially, politically, and economically. Though the African American community
faces devastating social disparities—in which more than 8 million people live in
poverty—this celebration of possibility, hope, and strength will help leaders
and citizens keep Black America moving forward.
About the Author Tavis Smiley is the author of eight books,
including Doing What's Right, Hard Left, How to Make Black America Better, and
Keeping the Faith. He hosts an eponymous talk and interview show on PBS stations
and his radio program, The Tavis Smiley Show, is syndicated by Public Radio
International. As the host of BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley, he was a three-time
winner of the NAACP Image Award. He lives in Los Angeles.
GUEST BOOK
 LL
Cool J's Platinum Workout: Sculpt Your Best Body Ever with Hollywood's Fittest
Star by LL Cool J, Dave Honig, Jeff O'Connell -Rodale Books (December 12,
2006)/Hard Cover- $27.95
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LL didn't always have a diesel body--he chiseled it the
old-fashioned way, with hard work and discipline. Here he shares the secrets of
his transformation in a uniquely creative, yet no-nonsense regimen--enlivened
with humor and sheer force of personality--that will inspire readers to enjoy
working out as never before, while building a body they never thought possible.
The book offers four levels of fitness, from Bronze to Platinum, including: - a
4-week beginner's program that takes inches off the waist and boosts energy - a
5-week program for intermediates that increases strength while maintaining
muscular and cardiovascular endurance - an advanced 9-week program that turns
the body into a muscle-building and fat-burning machine - complete with 6-pack
abs and as much energy as LL Cool J - the hardcore 3-week fat-torching program
LL used for the "Control Myself" video - a new level in ripped-to-the-bone
fitness and sex appeal - a special 4-week "Diamond" program for women seeking to
shape up fast for the summer or upcoming event meal plans and recipes that fuel
workouts while burning fat with food .
"I’m used to pushing it
to the outer limits when recording new joints, but losing body fat to shape
up isn’t an exercise in extremes; it’s a matter of balance. Do too much or
too little of one thing and you may not lose body fat as quickly as you
expect. To achieve the best results, practice the discipline of moderation.
If you’re not seeing the results you want, consider that the reason may be
one of the following, and use my personal quick fix to correct the problem
in short order."
1.
You’re adding muscle mass faster than you’re losing body fat.
This is a best-case
scenario -- your program is working, but you just aren’t recognizing it. If
the scales are giving you bad news, it could be because you’re increasing
your muscle mass faster than you’re losing body fat. Muscle mass is heavier
than body fat, and when your body starts to make this shift, it adds muscle
mass more quickly than it sheds body fat.
LL’s quick fix: All you need in
this case is an attitude adjustment. Use your mirror, pay attention to how
your clothes are fitting, and take the compliments you receive to heart.
They’re all much better gauges of your success than a number on a scale. If
everything seems to be pointing to success except the needle, ignore it.
2.
You’re eating too much.
If you’re committing
this sin, you probably know it without my telling you more about it. If
you’re going to lose body fat, you have to be in a calorie deficit. There’s
a limit to how many calories you can burn by exercising each day, so you
have to limit caloric intake to make sure you’re in a deficit.
LL’s quick fix: One thing you may
have noticed when you started this program is that your appetite increased.
Channel that into opportunity: Emphasize healthy low-calorie foods such as
vegetables and lean protein sources so that you can still consume a large
volume of food without stuffing yourself full of unwanted calories. Satiety
(that satisfied feeling from eating) can be achieved with fewer calories
when you eat crunchy, low-calorie foods such as vegetables.
3.
You’re not eating enough.
“Enough” in this case may mean that you’re not eating enough calories,
you’re not eating often enough, or both. If you habitually eat only a large
meal or two a day, you may be undereating. Strangely, this can allow
calories to be stored as body fat. When you eat a large quantity of food in
a sitting and then neglect to eat for hours on end, your body tends to hoard
the calories it doesn’t need from these infrequent meals as body fat.
LL’s quick fix: To find success,
eat fewer calories in a sitting, and eat more frequently. This may mean
actually increasing the total number of calories you consume a day, but your
body will be more inclined to burn them than to store them as body fat.
Strive to take in up to six meals a day, distributing the number of calories
you consume fairly equally from one meal to the next.
4.
You’re not training enough.
If you’re following the program as I’ve laid it out, you’re training enough.
The only suggestion I can offer is to train with more intensity. If you’re
not keeping up, but you’re doing what you can, then just keep going at your
pace. Your results will come. On the other hand, if you’re skipping workouts
because you’re busy or because you don’t feel like it, you’re just not going
to achieve results that are as impressive as you want.
LL’s quick fix: The first thing
you have to realize is that you do have time to work out. Get in 15 minutes
here and there each day. Make the commitment. That’s when you’ll see real
results.
5.
You’re training too much.
This may be a shocker, but training too much, too hard, or both can
undermine progress. Keep in mind that the workouts themselves tear down your
body. You make progress and grow after training, during recovery.
LL’s quick fix: If you are
overtraining (see “Don’t [Over]Train in Vain” on page 190 for more on this),
you may need to back off on your training volume or frequency. You should
limit weight training to about 4 days a week, and you should include at
least 1 -- if not 2 -- full rest days each week.
6.
You’re not performing enough cardio.
When you’re weight training, you’re jacking up your metabolic rate by
encouraging calorie burning and adding muscle mass. Cardiovascular training
(walking, jogging, running, or using any of the gym machines such as
treadmills, bicycles, or stairclimbers) is also important for burning
calories and ultimately for burning body fat.
LL’s quick fix: Make sure that
you perform as much cardio as the program prescribes.
7.
You’re performing too much cardio.
Many people think they
can climb onto a treadmill and just keep moving until their body is perfect.
That’s not the case. Performing an excess of cardio (either in intensity,
frequency, or duration) can take your body over the edge into a state of
overtraining, and it can burn muscle mass rather than body fat. Either way,
your cardio actually can end up working against your goal of shedding body
fat and adding lean muscle mass. LL’s
quick fix: If you think this is the case, cut back on your cardio
somewhat -- either the length of sessions, the frequency, the intensity, or
a combination of these variables.
8.
You’re eating too many carbs.
If you consume a high percentage of your calories from carbohydrates, you
may be impeding your ability to shed body fat -- and you may not be
encouraging enough muscle growth if you’re simultaneously not eating enough
protein. Carbs, especially sugary or starchy carbs, can make you feel
sluggish and negatively affect your blood sugar. They can also encourage you
to store body fat. LL’s quick fix:
To avoid this problem, cut back on carbs in general, relying more on
slow-burning sources such as oatmeal, brown rice, and yams, which have a
less negative impact on your blood sugar levels. Particularly avoid
consuming sugary and starchy carbs by themselves. These include sodas,
pasta, white bread, and candy.
9.
You’re not eating enough carbs (before and after you work out).
Nutrition is complex and
specific to each individual. You need to cut back on sugary carbs in
general, but you want to include them before and after your workouts, when
they will help drive nutrients into your cells. Pre- and post-workout, they
deliver nutrients to your muscles, stimulated by your workouts, rather than
to your body-fat stores. LL’s quick fix:
Consume as many as 50 grams of simple carbs in the half hour both before and
after you work out. (Check labels to see how large of a portion this equates
to.)
Reprinted from: LL Cool J's Platinum
Workout by LL Cool J and Dave Honig with Jeff O'Connell.
Copyright © 2007 by James Todd Smith. (December 2006;$27.95US/$34.95CAN;
9781594866081) Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098.
Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling
at (800) 848-4735.
Author
LL Cool J is a three-time
Grammy-winning rapper, television and movie actor, and bestselling author.
With 11 consecutive platinum albums, he is considered one of a select few
artists who brought rap and hip-hop culture from the underground to the
mainstream. He previously authored the best-selling
I Make My Own Rules. He lives on
Long Island, New York.
Dave
"Scooter" Honig
is a noted expert in boxing conditioning and has worked with champion
athletes and celebrities for many years. He lives in New York City.
Jeff
O'Connell
is an executive writer for Men's Health
magazine and recently coauthored
The PowerFood Nutrition Plan. He
divides his time between New York City and Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
GUEST BOOK
 It's
No Secret: From Nas to Jay-Z, from Seduction to Scandal--a Hip-Hop Helen of Troy
Tells All by Carmen Bryan -VH-1 (November 28, 2006)/Hard Cover- $24.95
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Carmen
Bryan is no stranger to the rap world. Not only did she work at Def Jam and
Capitol Records but she shares a daughter with hip-hop superstar Nas -- a
relationship made extremely public through Nas's celebrity status, rap lyrics,
and the ever-present media. Now, in It's No Secret, a strong, resilient Carmen
bares all, telling her side of the story and leaving no detail unturned -- with
the true candor and raw emotion of someone who has been there, done that, and
survived.
From a clandestine relationship with Nas's biggest rival, Jay-Z, that stirred up
the biggest feud in hip-hop history, to seeing her reputation in tatters and a
once loving relationship with Nas fall apart, Carmen depicts her trying journey
to become the strong woman and mother she is today. After years of turmoil that
included drugs, sex, greed, and violence -- and abandoning what she had always
prized above all, her freedom -- Carmen took a stand, focusing on herself. After
years of pursuit by the media, Carmen sets the record straight in It's No Secret
-- and has no regrets.
GUEST BOOK
 We
Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Light in a Time of Darkness by Alice
Walker -New Press (November 30, 2006)/Hard Cover- $23.95
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A beautifully packaged book of spiritual ruminations with a
progressive political edge, from the incomparable Pulitzer Prize-winner—a woman
who has devoted her life to befriending the earth.
From the Introduction: "In fact, the happiness that imbues this kind of
(impersonal) friendship, whether for an individual or a country, or an act, is
like an inner light, a compass we might steer by as we set out across the
lengthening darkness. It comes from the simple belief that what one is feeling
and doing is right. That it is right to protect rather than terrorize others;
right to feed people rather than withhold food (and medicine); right to want the
freedom and joyful existence of all human kind. Right to want this freedom and
joy for all creatures that exist already, or that might come into existence.
Existence, we are now learning, is not finished! It is a happiness that
comes from honoring the peace or the possibility of peace that lives within
one's own heart. A deep knowing that we are the earth—our separation from Earth
perhaps our greatest illusion—and that we stand, with gratitude and love, by our
planetary Self.
Author of the perennially bestselling novel The Color Purple, Alice
Walker has long been a force for sanity in a chaotic world. In We Are the
Ones We Have Been Waiting For she draws on her deep spiritual grounding, her
political conviction and experience, and her literary gifts to offer a series of
meditations filled with wisdom, hope, encouragement, and, at times, serenity to
a world in need of all these things. The perfect gift for Alice Walker fans and
anyone who longs for peace, on earth and within, this lovely volume will be
embraced for its wise insights and mature compassion.
GUEST BOOK
 Skinny
Cooks Can't Be Trusted: In the Kitchen with Mo'nique by Mo'nique Imes
Jackson, Sherri McGee McCovey -Amistad (October 31, 2006)Hard Cover- $26.95
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From the cover of Essence to the stage at the Apollo, from
reruns of her hit show The Parkers to her reality program Mo'Nique's F.A.T.
Chance, Mo'Nique exults in the joys of being a large woman. Here, she explores
the great love of her life—food. But this isn't food South Beach diet style.
This is food with flavor, from chocolate and cream to sugar and butter and
everything in between.
In Skinny Cooks Can't Be Trusted, Mo'Nique's fondest food memories (like her
mama's stuffed fish that blew up in the oven but made it to the table anyway)
are accompanied by cooking tips (when in doubt, taste it to make sure), food
strategies (gather everything in one place so you don't tire yourself out runnin'
around the kitchen), and "what to wear if you're gonna go there" (because if
done right, good food can lead to good lovin'!).
GUEST BOOK
 The
Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama
-Crown (October 17, 2006)/Hard Cover- $25.00
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“A government that truly represents these Americans–that truly serves these
Americans–will require a different kind of politics. That politics will need to
reflect our lives as they are actually lived. It won’t be pre-packaged, ready to
pull off the shelf. It will have to be constructed from the best of our
traditions and will have to account for the darker aspects of our past. We will
need to understand just how we got to this place, this land of warring factions
and tribal hatreds. And we’ll need to remind ourselves, despite all our
differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that
will not break.”
–from The Audacity of Hope
In July 2004, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with
an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in
particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the
discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been
guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Senator Obama called “the
audacity of hope.”
Now, in The Audacity of Hope, Senator Obama calls for a different brand
of politics–a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by
the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a
politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart
of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces–from the
fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the
media–that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with
surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator,
seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own
deepening religious commitment.
At the heart of this book is Senator Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond
our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic
insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the
body politic, and the transnational threats–from terrorism to pandemic–that
gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a
democracy–where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his
stories about family, friends, members of the Senate, even the president, is a
vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political
consensus.
A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and
above all a student of history and human nature, Senator Obama has written a
book of transforming power. Only by returning to the principles that gave birth
to our Constitution, he says, can Americans repair a political process that is
broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously
out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there,
he writes–“waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.”
GUEST BOOK
 The
Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner -Amistad; Film Tie-in Ed edition
(October 24, 2006)/Trade Paper- $14.95
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A triumphant, modern-day Horatio Alger story—based on the life
that inspired the major motion picture—The Pursuit of Happyness is a memoir that
will have you rooting for the underdog as it stirs you to pursue your own
dreams.
Abandoned by his own father and left to the vicious rage of a mean-spirited and
abusive stepfather, Chris Gardner made a vow that no matter what happened in his
life, he'd be a committed father figure to his children. Yet even the most well
intentioned would have been excused for breaking that vow if confronted by the
challenges that Gardner faced, circumstances that left him and his toddler son
homeless, living on the streets of San Francisco. But rather than give up his
son, Gardner continued to pursue his dream of becoming a successful
stockbroker—despite having neither Wall Street experience nor even a college
degree. Now a successful broker and the founder of Gardner Rich & Company, a
multimillion-dollar brokerage firm, Gardner epitomizes what it takes to claim
the American Dream, even when others would doubt you.
About the Author: Chris Gardner is the chief executive officer of
Gardner Rich & Company, a multimillion-dollar brokerage with offices in New
York, Chicago, and San Francisco. An avid philanthropist and motivational
speaker, Gardner is committed to many organizations -- particularly those
related to education -- and was recently the recipient of the Father of the Year
Award from the National Fatherhood Initiative. A Milwaukee native, Gardner has
two children and resides in Chicago and New York.
GUEST BOOK
 Celebrations:
Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou -Random House (October 24,
2006)/Hard Cover- $16.95
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Grace, dignity, and eloquence have long been hallmarks of Maya
Angelou’s poetry. Her measured verses have stirred our souls, energized our
minds, and healed our hearts. Whether offering hope in the darkest of nights or
expressing sincere joy at the extraordinariness of the everyday, Maya Angelou
has served as our common voice.
Celebrations is a collection of timely and timeless poems that are an
integral part of the global fabric. Several works have become nearly as iconic
as Angelou herself: the inspiring “On the Pulse of Morning,” read at President
William Jefferson Clinton’s 1993 inauguration; the heartening “Amazing Peace,”
presented at the 2005 lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the White
House; “A Brave and Startling Truth,” which marked the fiftieth anniversary of
the United Nations; and “Mother,” which beautifully honors the first woman in
our lives. Angelou writes of celebrations public and private, a bar mitzvah wish
to her nephew, a birthday greeting to Oprah Winfrey, and a memorial tribute to
the late Luther Vandross and Barry White.
More than a writer, Angelou is a chronicler of history, an advocate for peace,
and a champion for the planet, as well as a patriot, a mentor, and a friend. To
be shared and cherished, the wisdom and poetry of Maya Angelou proves there is
always cause for celebration.
GUEST BOOK
 What
I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America by Tavis Smiley
-Doubleday (October 10, 2006)/Hard Cover- $23.95
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“I Have a Dream,” Dr. King intoned. In English class, we were
just starting to learn about similes and metaphors and figures of speech. Those
concepts weren’t immediately clear to me as Dr. King talked about “symbolic
shadow,” but …I understood the power of symbolic language.
Over the next several weeks, I spent hours studying that one speech…King’s
speeches touched me so deeply and profoundly that, for reasons I couldn’t
explain, I found myself crying. I wasn’t sure what those tears represented:
maybe his words touched the pain and hurt and humiliation I was still feeling;
maybe my tears stemmed from the new confidence and purpose his words gave me.
Maybe I felt an empathy with my people whose history of suffering and survival
was coming alive to me for the first time. In part, they reflected my pride in
the courageous brilliance of a leader outspoken in conveying our purpose and
passion.
I see now that King influenced me on several levels: First, he showed me that
words have meaning—they aren’t arbitrary—and words are powerful. He showed me
that words can carry the force of love. He also showed me that one man can make
a difference. He himself had made that difference….Despite evidence to the
contrary, King believed that things would get better. Every day that I read his
words, they moved me like a powerful sermon. They changed my life and emboldened
my ambition.
—From What I Know For Sure
From the man who catapulted The Covenant with Black America to number one on
the New York Times bestseller list comes a searing memoir of poverty, ambition,
pain, and atonement. Celebrated talk-show host Tavis Smiley describes growing up
in an all-white rural community in Indiana and the impact it had on his life.
Tavis Smiley grew up in a family of thirteen in a small trailer in Indiana,
where money was scarce and the sight of other black faces even scarcer. One of
only a few African American kids in his high school, he grew up feeling like an
outsider because of the color of his skin, his Pentecostal religious beliefs,
and his family’s economic circumstances. It was the love and support of his
family that sustained him. But that trust and support was shattered when his
father, in a moment of rage, beat him with an electrical cord, sending him to
the hospital. Tavis was placed in foster care for a time, and it took him years
to bridge the emotional chasm between him and his parents.
Nothing, however, could quench Tavis’s fierce inner drive to succeed. His
remarkable speaking ability made him an oratorical champion in Indiana and
offered him a pathway to a different world. Determined to fight for the underdog
and for African American rights, he entered the political arena, moving to Los
Angeles to work in Mayor Tom Bradley’s administration. Later, he embarked on his
career as a radio commentator, discovering that it was an ideal way to influence
public discourse on the issues of the day. Now with his own show on PBS, he
remains committed to bettering the lives of all Americans; he’s especially
acclaimed for his work on behalf of people of color and the underprivileged.
An honest, deeply moving self-portrait of one of America’s most popular media
figures, What I Know for Sure should appeal to readers everywhere.
GUEST BOOK
 Confessions
of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans, Karen Hunter -Amistad/Trade Paper-
$14.95
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Glass vases filled with marbles crashed all around us as he
began tossing linens from the bed. As the marbles scattered, we laughed in
unison ... I remember the exact moment that I first laid on my back for him ...
My legs were wrapped around his waist and just before his body was to merge with
mine, I noticed his upper right chest. On it was a tattoo with the words "Pain
is Love."
Confessions of a Video Vixen is the widely anticipated memoir of
Karrine Steffans, the once sought-after sexy siren who appeared in the music
videos of multiplatinum hip-hop artists such as Jay-Z, R. Kelly, and LL Cool J.
A top-paid video dancer, Karrine transitioned to film when acclaimed director F.
Gary Gray picked her to costar in his film A Man Apart, starring Vin Diesel. But
the movie and music video sets, swanky Miami and New York restaurants, and
trysts with the celebrities featured in the pages of People and In Touch
magazines only skims the surface of Karrine's life.
This memoir -- part tell all, part cautionary tale -- shows how Karrinne came to
be the confidante of so many, why she kept their secrets, and how she found
herself in Hollywood after a life marked by physical abuse, rape, and drugs --
all before she was twenty-six. By sharing her emotionally charged story, she
hopes to shed light on an otherwise romanticized industry.
GUEST BOOK
 The
Kebra Negast: The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom and Faith from Ethiopia and
Jamaica by Ziggy Marley (Introduction), Gerald Hausman (Editor) -St.
Martin's Press; 1st ed edition (November 1997)/Hard Cover- $19.95
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Folklorist and author Hausman has combined ten years of informal
study in Jamaica, the 1922 version of "The Queen of Sheba and Her Only Son
Menyelek" (translated by E.A. Wallis Budge), the Koran, the King James Bible,
and the words of reggae great Bob Marley into a new version of the Kebra Negast
("the glory of the Kings"). This "lost bible," the core of Rastafarian wisdom
and faith, has survived through oral tradition in many Caribbean nations, even
though it has been banned because of its African glory themes. Hausman
effectively puts the Kebra Negast into the words of the Rastafarian community,
presenting the core, that "we must learn to live by the laws of compassion
rather than judgment", through anecdotes from the author's travels in the Rasta
community. A recommended introduction to the Kebra Negast.?L. Kriz, West Des
Moines Lib., Iowa Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
GUEST BOOK
 Notorious C. O. P.: The True Story of the NYPD
Hip-hop Cop Who Cracks the Cases of Tupac, Biggie, And Jam Master Jay by
Derrick Parker, Matt Diehl -St. Martin's Press (August 8, 2006)/Hard Cover-
$24.95
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The stories are as infamous as the artists who tell them. With
their boasts of drugs, extortion and even murder, in today's world rappers need
rap sheets before they can even hope to have a platinum record. So with all this
grandstanding about their criminal nature, why haven't more hip-hop artists been
busted for the crimes that they brag of, and why haven't high profile crimes
replete with witnesses and media coverage ever been solved? Derrick Parker knows
why. A veteran of the NYPD, Parker served as the lead detective in the Rap
Intelligence Unit, the first special force devoted to hip-hop crime. For over
twenty years he served on the force, covering the hip-hop beat and uncovering
the truth behind some of music's most notorious crimes. But in the midst of
politics and internal strife, Parkers efforts to close the cases were stymied by
the NYPD. Notorious C.O. P. will be the Serpico of the new millennium, exposing
the flaws in the NYPD that have rendered them unable to adequately deal with the
threat of hip-hop crime. From cops working part-time for the artists they are
supposed to be pursuing, to their lack of understanding of gang culture and drug
warfare, which has left not only these widely publicized murders unsolved, but
has allowed notorious gang leaders to go un-prosecuted for decades. Filled with
photos, documents, interviews, and anecdotes, Notorious C. O. P. will be the
most extensive and authoritative book ever written on hip-hop crime, exposing
the facts behind the legends and the foibles of the NYPD that have left them
unresolved to this day.
GUEST BOOK
 Redemption:
The Last Battle of the Civil War by Nicholas Lemann -Farrar, Straus and
Giroux (September 5, 2006)/Hard Cover- $24.00
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A century after Appomattox, the civil rights movement won full
citizenship for black Americans in the South. It should not have been necessary:
by 1870 those rights were set in the Constitution. This is the story of the
terrorist campaign that took them away.
Nicholas Lemann opens his extraordinary new book with a riveting account of the
horrific events of Easter 1873 in Colfax, Louisiana, where a white militia of
Confederate veterans-turned-vigilantes attacked the black community there and
massacred hundreds of people in a gruesome killing spree. This was the start of
an insurgency that changed the course of American history: for the next few
years white Southern Democrats waged a campaign of political terrorism aiming to
overturn the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and challenge President Grant’s
support for the emergent structures of black political power. The remorseless
strategy of well-financed “White Line” organizations was to create chaos and
keep blacks from voting out of fear for their lives and livelihoods. Redemption
is the first book to describe in uncompromising detail this organized racial
violence, which reached its apogee in Mississippi in 1875.
Lemann bases his devastating account on a wealth of military records,
congressional investigations, memoirs, press reports, and the invaluable papers
of Adelbert Ames, the war hero from Maine who was Mississippi’s governor at the
time. When Ames pleaded with Grant for federal troops who could thwart the white
terrorists violently disrupting Republican political activities, Grant wavered,
and the result was a bloody, corrupt election in which Mississippi was
“redeemed”—that is, returned to white control.
Redemption makes clear that this is what led to the death of Reconstruction—and
of the rights encoded in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. We are still
living with the consequences.
GUEST BOOK
 Coretta:
The Story of Coretta Scott King Commemorative Edition by Octavia Vivian
-Fortress Press; Commemorative edition (June 30, 2006)/Trade Paper- $10.00
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In this first biography of Coretta Scott King, written by her friend Octavia
Vivian, the reader meets a determined young girl who grew up in Alabama and
worked her way through Antioch College only to discover that she was not allowed
to teach in the white schools in Ohio. She pursued a musical career in Boston,
where she met Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 brought Dr. King and his wife into national
prominence. Since then the nation has seen the beauty and composure of Coretta
Scott King as she has continued to speak and act on behalf of civil rights.
First published in 1970 by Fortress Press, this commemorative edition has been
thoroughly updated, includes a black and white photo gallery, and is full of
warmth and human interest, telling the story of Coretta Scott King from her
childhood to her death in February 2006.
About the Author: Octavia Vivian has worked extensively in the Civil
Rights Movement and was a life-long friend of Coretta Scott King. Her husband,
C.T. Vivian, was a former member of Dr. King's executive staff. She lives in
Atlanta, Georgia.
GUEST BOOK
 M.A.C.K.
Tactics: The Science of Seduction Meets the Art of Hostage Negotiation
(Paperback)
by Christopher Curtis, Rob Wiser -Chamberlain Bros. (September 27, 2005)/Trade
Paper- $15.95
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Inside every man is a Mack waiting to emerge. M.A.C.K.
Tactics arms men with the confidence, knowledge, and skills they need to
conquer the dating game and succeed with women on a whole new level. Hip and
humorous, and covering everything from fashion to passion, M.A.C.K. Tactics
is a complete crash course in self-improvement and self-discovery.
Armed with this arsenal of strategies and techniques, any guy-regardless of age
or background-can immediately begin interacting with women with more confidence
and success. Co-written by a former Hostage Negotiator, M.A.C.K. Tactics
shows you in detail how the principles of hostage negotiation can be applied to
the dating game. Now, for the first time, these strategies have been translated
for use in meeting and succeeding with women. Whether you've been hitting the
occasional home run or are stuck in a slump, M.A.C.K. Tactics will take
your game to a place you n |
