#blackreadersmatter

[sistahscifi]

We REALLY appreciate all the responses, shares, and engagement with yesterday's #Kwanzaa2022 post! Today is day two of Sistah Scifi 's celebration of #Kwanzaa! HABARI GANI?!? Today's response is KUJICHAGULIA: Self-Determination; To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. Fun fact, KUJICHAGULIA is Vice President's Kamala Harris (@kamalaharris) favorite Kwanzaa principle. We selected DESTROYER OF LIGHT by @jennifermariebrissett as a representation of KUJICHAGULIA. In the book, a young Black woman steps into her power to create a better world. DESTROYER OF LIGHT has been described as The @thematrixmovie meets an Afrofuturistic retelling of Persephone set in a science fiction underworld of aliens, refugees, and genetic engineering. "[A] dark, poetic tale of struggling human colonists and ambiguously motivated aliens on a distant planet. Brissett uses the alien setting to explore contemporary issues, including racism, the complexities of allyship, and the trauma experienced by child soldiers. The author’s updated take on a classic myth is both clever and entertaining...Richly developed and profound." — @kirkus_reviews Starred Review “Compelling.... This is a book about monsters and saviors – and how thin the line can be between the two. It’s about power and colonialism; mother and daughters; the cost of safety.... Brissett has built a story that the 21st century needs, while never forgetting its roots in the Afrofuturism of a previous generation.”—@locusmagazine "Destroyer of Light offers readers an opportunity to make their own interpretations and find their own truth". - @denofgeek Sharing is caring! Please spread the word on @Facebook, @Instagram, @Twitter and/or @Tiktok, and tag @SistahScifi! #Habarigani #sistahscifi #Kwanzaa #KUJICHAGULIA #BlackOwnedBookStore #BookstoresofInstagram #BlackReadersMatter First image reposted from @kamalaharris From lighting the Kinara's red, black, and green candles to spending time with my loved ones, our Kwanzaa celebrations are some of my favorite memories. Wishing you a safe and happy Kwanzaa. (at Sistah Scifi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmrGDXFrMXC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thefreeblackwomanslibrary]

Good morning!!

Just want to say thank you to everyone who supports and appreciates this project and page!! Thank you for your likes, comments, DMs and all the good and loving energy you send my way. Thank you so much for all the awesome books by Black women you send me, drop off and trade in. Thank you so much to the folks who come to the library each month and engage with the material and many activities being offered. Thank you to those who have started TFBWL branches in your area. Thank you especially to the patrons who give funds towards the growth and sustainability of this project every month through Patreon, I would not be able to keep this going without your financial contributions!! Recently I attempted to get funding from an organization that claims to give money to public practice social engagement community building type projects, multiple people told me to apply for the big money they were offering not just cause they know I needed it, but also cause they felt TFBWL was a perfect fit, but guess what!! they said this work does not have enough social impact and that I need to be doing more to get their dollars. 🤔

Their response gave me pause, because I thought of all of you and the hundreds of people who come to the library every month, the Black girl bookworms who spend the entire day at the library, the educators who create curriculum and reading lists based on the library’s collection, the Black women who feel excited and affirmed when they see over a thousand books written by people who look like them about things they care about, the writers who feel inspired and open, the elders who lift me up and praise my efforts, the folks who come in looking for a very specific book and always always find it, all of those who tell me they feel liberated, creative and joyful just being in the space. This all feels good and impactful to me, so I had to let go of their opinion that I’m not doing enough and just continue on, focus on what feels good and just be thankful. I am filled with gratitude. 🖤

[sistahscifi]

The Memory Librarian debuting on the New York Times Best Sellers List is history in the making. 98% of authors on the best sellers lists are White* In the 50 years between 1970 and 2020, less than ten speculative fiction titles by Black and Indigenous authors made the New York Times Best Sellers List** As a participant in @brit @beselfmade pitch competition in December, Sistah Scifi crystalized the vision is to double that number in the next ten years. The success of The Memory Librarian is proof that we - as a community - can do that!!! * From Redlining Culture: A Data History of Racial Inequality and Postwar Fiction by Richard Sean So #RichardSeanSo and Just How White Is the Book Industry? By Richard Sean So in the New York Times December 11, 2020 ** @IsisAsare manually culled this data by reviewing weekly New York Times Best Sellers List on @Wikipedia. If you have a better data point, please let us know!! Reposted from @janellemonae Um wow. “The Memory Librarian” made the #NYTbestsellers list! With this being my first time in the literary world I am very humbled. I wanted to say THANK YOU to every single fandroid who found #TheMemoryLibrarian, who read or listened, who attended the tour, who posted or wrote about this labor of love. None of this kinda stuff happens without your support. It's been such an honor to create with my community of collaborators familyyyyyy @alayadj, @weredawgz, @eve.ewing, @yodelnyc, @shereereneethomas. 🥹 Thank you to @harpervoyagerus for believing in our IMAGINATIONS and the collection of stories I was passionate about putting out. To the booksellers and librarians for making THE MEMORY LIBRARIAN available to readers, THANK YOU. You are NOT forgotten. And to my communities I hold close and constantly rep, you know who you are, I love you. This one’s for you! If you haven’t gotten your copy come join us🙏🏾🤖🤍 #NYTbestseller #afrofuturism #scifi #DirtyComputer #JanelleMonae #BlackAuthorsMatter #BlackWritersMatter #BlackReadersMatter #SistahScifi // @wondaland @monaedroid @harpercollins @free_kgd @nytimes https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc5WpjdrXJN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sistahscifi]

Sistah Scifi is proud to be one of the official bookstore partners of Black Readers Conference @blackreaderscon 2022!!! The event will take place October 29th to the 30th. Speakers include @jlseegarsauthor, @robertjr561, and @mbalia1!!!! Attendees can choose to purchase a book with ticket and can select one of the following: - Girl on Fire by @aliciakeys - Naomi by @brianmbendis and @davidf.walker - Signed Burned Down, Rise Up by @v_e_tirado - Stella's Stellar Hair by @yeseniadraws - Skin of the Sea by @natasha_bowen_ Link in bio: @sistahscifi // Black Readers Conference A 2-day virtual conference to empower & convene a community of black readers (book clubs, bloggers, podcasters, BookTubers & Bookstagrammers, etc) through various avenues of literature & social events. Why is there a Black Readers Conference? In 2021, Mocha Girls Read @mochagirlsread celebrated its 10th anniversary and they wanted to do something special. They were planning on having a cruise but then COVID hit and that changed their plans completely. To do something special for their anniversary Mocha Girls Read teamed up with Black Men Read @blackmenread and Kelly Lycurgus to host a virtual conference called the Black Readers Conference. This annual conference is a continuation of this celebration: a celebration of community, Black readership, and of course books! FOLLOW Black Readers Conference: Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackReadersCon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackReadersCon TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackreaderscon #SistahScifi #BlackReadersCon #BlackownedBookstore #BlackBookstagram #BlackReadersCon #blackreadersmatter #kwamembalia (at Sistah Scifi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjVd_FCraEE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[scribesandvibes]

#turnupabook / #blackreadersmatter #Repost @theunitedbookclub ・・・ Let me add some more useful #books 📚 -#UnitedBlackBooks #RecommendedReads / #ReadingList below: ・・・ The science & the myth of melanin by T. Owens Moore, Ph. D. ・・・ Vitamins & minerals from A-Z with ethnic-consciousness by Jewel Pookrum, MD., MFS. ・・・ The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors by Dr Frances Cress Welsing Yurugu by Marimba Ani ・・・ The miseducation of the negro by Carter G Woodson ・・・ The came before Columbus by Ivan Van Setima ・・・ Blueprint for black power by Amos N Wilson ・・・ The sacred woman by Queen Afua ・・・ The autobiography of Malcolm X as narrated to Alex Haley ・・・ How Europe underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney ・・・ Black skin white masks by Frantz Fanon ・・・ The spirit of intimacy by Sobonfu some ・・・ African holistic health by Dr Llaila o Afrika ・・・ Nutricide by Dr Llaila o Afrika ・・・ Handbook for raising black children, A comprehensive holistic guide by Dr Llaila o Afrika ・・・ The African origin of civilisation by Cheikh Anta Diop ・・・ The destruction of black civilisation by Chancellor Williams ・・・ Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo ・・・ Two thousand seasons by Ayi Kwei Armah ・・・ Staying power by Peter Fryer ・・・ The Indian Slave trade by Alan Gallay ・・・ The legacy of Arab-Islam in Africa by John Alembillah Azumah ・・・ Behold a pale horse by Milton William Cooper ・・・ Medical Apartheid by Harriet A Washington ・・・ The new Jim Crow: mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by Michelle Alexander ・・・ The Star of deep beginning by Charles Finch, MD. ・・・ A HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS SLAVERY IN GHANA From the 15th to the 19th Century by Akosua Adoma Perbi ・・・ 100 Amazing Facts About The Negro: With Complete Proof: The 2017 Edition Celebrating Black Excellence A Tribute To J. A. Rogers by Axsal Johnson https://www.instagram.com/p/BwzldSIhccg/?igshid=1qwl6hdicy4f3

[scribesandvibes]

#blackwritersmatter / #blackreadersmatter #Repost @aaabookfest ・・・ This is already happening! Let’s keep up the good work! Tag a black author or lit organization that is doing good work in your community! Repost via @kidslitcrusade #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerslife #read #write ・・・ #vibewise: #TURNUPABOOK / #litstoryfest / #scribesandvibes / #authorshour https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp-ZFmHlNB1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bikmv9m4as0z

[scribesandvibes]

Let's Make Reading The Gold Standard, circa 2014

#LETSMAKEREADINGTHEGOLDSTANDARD circa 2014 ・・・ A few days ago; a woman approached me at the library stating she was happy to see me. I'm thinking to myself "have I met this lady? where do I know her from?" woman: I know you don't know me; I'm just an old lady from New Orleans, but I am happy to see you! me: [being kind] I am happy to see you too! woman: I need you to help me with something. me: [thinking I wonder where she's going with this help after being so happy to see me and I never met her] How may I help you? woman: I need you to help me understand something. I look at you and I see you may be able to help me reach my grandsons. me: I don't know about that. What kind of help are you seeking? woman: What inspires you to read? me: #Erudition! woman: What is that?! me: Acquiring knowledge from books. woman: I like that! Can you spell it! me: Sure! I'll write it down for you. Look it up, when you get the chance. woman: You know it's truly a blessing seeing you. me: I don't know about that. You're far too kind. woman: I almost wanted to cry when I saw you. You don't know what it means to an old woman like me to see a black male working at the library. me: Thank you! That means a lot to me. This job was on my bucket list. woman: [looks surprised] Smiles; then states "what inspired you to work at a library?" me: You may not understand. Although, I enjoy reading books, to me; every time I read a book, every time I come to the library or a bookstore I'm paying homage to those who dared to read. I salute those who sacrificed for my right to read. I remember the time when people were killed for reading, I silently tell myself knowledge is power. woman: I wish more young people thought like that. I try to get my grandsons to understand, to be ignorant is to enslave yourself. me: I don't know when ignorance became popular. In any country, in any period of time, there has and will be knowledge to be acquired. woman: I'm glad I met you. [she told me her name] me: I'm glad I met you too. [I told her my name] woman: So when are you going to speak to young black men about the power of reading? me: [smiled] I don't know about that. Time teaches everyone. For some it's too late, for some it's better late than never. woman: My heart tells me you are able to do more than you imagine. Don't forget this encounter. You are an inspiration, go out and inspire. -Stevie #librarydiaries / #blackreadersmatter | #scribesandvibes #turnupabook #booksubscriptionboxclubs COMING SOON Stay tuned: http://www.scribesandvibes.com/books-and-more

[scribesandvibes]

Let's make #reading #thegoldstandard! #KNOWLEDGEISKING; #TURNUPABOOK, the message is loud and clear. #readingisthenewsexy Need #DiverseBooks? #BOOKSCOMEINALLCOLORS at #scribesandvibes, because #representationmatters. Join us for a celebration of #diversity and #inclusiveness through the lens of #literature as we commence to fulfill the need for diverse #books. The @scribesandvibes #literaryarts movement will be launching TURN UP A BOOK #BOOKSUBSCRIPTIONBOX CLUBS 1. to help African-American men, women, and children see themselves in books, 2. to offer #readersadvisory to #reluctantreaders, and 3. to raise funds for #literacy programs. Stay tuned: #letsmakereadingthegoldstandard, #thecrownofwisdom is #buriedinabook. ^Stevie #blackreadersmatter ・・・ #vibewise: Special thanks to @denimandsupplyfly for supporting the TURN UP A BOOK #tshirtfundraiser.