Hey book lovers! The 2019 African American Read-In takes place at Miami Dade College’s North Campus tomorrow, February 4. The goal is to make literacy, education, and community a significant part of Black History Month.

This year’s African American Read-In presenter is Glory Edim author of Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves.

This event is open to high school and college students, as well as, local community members. RSVP here. 

If You go:

African American Read-In
Monday, February 4, 2019 @ 10:00 am
Miami Dade College North Campus
11380 NW 27th Ave, Miami, FL 33167 

Miami, FL—On Saturday, March 29, Miami’s heat will sizzle when The Links, Incorporated, Greater Miami Chapter host its 2014 ‘Scandalicious Affair’ Book and Author Luncheon. The luncheon will feature acclaimed author and crisis management expert Judy Smith, who is best known for being co-executive producer and the inspiration behind the popular ABC television series Scandal.

“The Greater Miami Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is excited to welcome Ms. Smith to Miami as this year’s Book and Author Luncheon headliner,” said chapter president Rene Beal. “Guests will not only get to hear from a dynamic author, but they will also be supporting scholarships and educational, civic and inter-cultural programming.”

Smith is the founder and CEO of the crisis management firm, Smith & Company, makes a living by helping to fix the lives of high-powered individuals when personal disaster strikes. Some of Smith & Company’s most notable clients have included Monica Lewinsky, Wesley Snipes and Michael Vick. Her experiences with some of the stickiest situations faced by high-profile politicians and celebrities were the inspiration behind her phenomenally popular tv show, Scandal.

The luncheon will feature Smith reading excerpts from her latest book, Good Self, Bad Self: How to Bounce Back from a Personal Crisis (2012), luncheon and raffle. Good Self, Bad Self promises to give readers insight into the mind of the ultimate “fixer” and help you learn how to manage personal crisis.

The 2014 ‘Scandalicious Affair’ begins at 11:30 a.m. at Jungle Island, Treetop Ballroom, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132. Tickets are $125 and include an autographed copy of the book. Tickets may be purchased online at www.greatermiamilinksinc.org. For additional information, contact Rene Beal, Greater Miami Chapter President, at 305-951-2749.

“I’m looking forward to hearing what a white Jewish man found so significant in our African-American history that we miss.” - Rev. Dr. R. Joaquin Willis

Author Samuel G. Freedman to speak on the season in black college football that transformed the sport and changed the course of civil rights in America.

The ways football coaches at two historically black colleges changed the Civil Rights movement will be the topic when Professor Samuel G. Freedman talks about his book “Breaking the Line: The Season in Black College Football That Transformed the Sport and Changed the Course of Civil Rights” at the Church of the Open Door, 6001 NW 8th Ave, Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

“Breaking the Line” is Freedman’s second book on an African-American theme.

“Upon This Rock: The Miracles of a Black Church,” the first, profiles the Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood and his work as pastor of Saint Paul Community Baptist Church in the troubled East New York section of Brooklyn.

“I’m looking forward to hearing what a white Jewish man found so significant in our African-American history that we miss,” said Rev. Dr. R. Joaquin Willis, Church of the Open Door’s spiritual leader.

“Breaking the Line” tells the stories of two legendary football coaches and rivals — Eddie Robinson, at the pinnacle of his hall of fame career at Grambling College in northern Louisiana, and Alonzo S. “Jake” Gaither, nearing the end of his illustrious reign at Florida A&M in Tallahassee — who commanded two of the most storied teams black college football history..

It recounts how Robinson prepared the talented quarterback James Harris to be the first black starting quarterback in the National Football League. And, how Gaither, in turn, moved the white education establishment to sanction the first game in the South pitting black and white colleges against one another.

The 1969 sold-out game between FAMU and the University of Tampa drew 45,000spectators and was the largest integrated gathering in the South to date.

Breaking the Line” climaxes in December, 1967, at the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami, pitting Grambling’s Robinson against Gaither of FAMU in what was deemed the national championship for HBCUs.

Freedman is an award-winning author, journalist, and educator. A former New York Times reporter, he currently writes the paper’s “On Religion” column. He is a journalism professor and is the author of six previous book, two others on ethnic subjects.

 “Jew vs. Jew,” winner of the National Jewish Book Award, examines the American Jewish community’s internal schisms, divisions invisible to many outsiders.

“The Inheritance,” looks at the evolution of white ethnic Americans from Roosevelt Democrats to Reagan Republicans and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

For more information, call the Church of the Open Door at (305) 759-0373.

PHOTO:   Sara Barrett

In 1949, Captain Frank C. Martin developed the Richmond Heights Community for black World War II servicemen and their families. Their legacy lives on in our community today with the celebration of the 65th Anniversary of Richmond Heights with a book about the history of the community and other events. The community will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of Richmond Jr./Middle School 

Friday, December 27, 2013

"The Heights Got Talent"

7:00 P.M.

$10.00

Richmond Jr./Middle School

15015 SW 103rd Avenue

Miami, FL 33176

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Richmond Field Day

10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

FREE

Richmond Jr./Middle School

15015 SW 103rd Avenue

Miami, FL 33176

Brick Dedication

2:00 p.m

Open to the Public

Richmond Jr./Middle School

15015 SW 103rd Avenue

Miami, FL 33176

Help commemorate the school’s 50^th anniversary by purchasing a brick. 

"Meet The Authors"

1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Richmond Jr./Middle School

15015 SW 103rd Avenue

Miami, FL 33176

An afternoon with the authors and original community residents. See original documents and more. 

Celebration Banquet

Richmond Heights Founders and Richmond Jr./Middle School's 50th Reunion

7:30.p.m.

$65.00 per person

Mistress of Ceremony, Traci Cloyd, News Director

WHQT, Hot 105 FM Radio

The Elk's Lodge No. 948

10301 Sunset Drive

Miami, FL 33176

For more information contact Patricia Harper Garrett, Event Coordinator at 305 519-8995.

My nephew-son, Adrian Jules, just published his first book, The Truth: A Man's Perspective on Relationships and Women. This book release was a bit of a surprise because he only recently relocated back to LA as he continues to follow his passion.

I confess I didn't want AJ to leave South Florida but he needs to express his immense talent and who am I to try to prevent him from doing that? I also respect and support his drive when he is on his grind. As his auntie-mom, I just want to make sure he's living comfortably while he's living --- not his dream, but his plan. 

This book forced me to readjust my perspective on AJ. He is indeed a wise young man who will always land on his feet because he's smart like that. Regardless of his age and life experiences, he will always be my nephew-son and I'm sure that I along with his other "aunts" and "mothers" in the village will remind him of that every chance we get. 

Now, back to my review. Nephew-son or not, this is my objective review.

First of all, I really like the messages shared in this book. It is informative, insightful and helpful for men and women. AJ's journey to maturity sprinkled with advice is an interesting read. On the other hand, the graphic description of his sexual escapades were very difficult for me to read. I actually skipped over some of them. Lord, have mercy, he's my nephew-son; I really don't need to know that much detail about his life. The auntie-mom in me actually clutched my pearls as I read the book but the businesswoman in me says leave it in, nephew-son, because sex sells. I'll say an extra prayer for myself for thinking that let alone writing that but it's the truth.

It would be a mischaracterization to refer to this as a relationship advice book because it's more than that. It is autobiographical and I'm sure cathartic as it also touches on very sensitive issues such as being the product of rape and growing up as a fatherless son. I wanted to read more, in detail, about how that toxic introduction to the world affected his relationships with women and men. I also recognize that I do not represent the target audience for this book and this current formula probably works for the younger generation. 

I felt AJ's pain as he described his various heartaches and disappointments with women as well as his best friend. He also reminds us that men are not the heartless dogs that women think they are but often rather a manifestation of their reaction to the emotional hurt in their lives.

Kudos to Adrian for writing this book and being brave enough to share his vulnerability and most personal experiences with the world. I recommend this book to my young friends. My older friends, consider yourself warned, as I was. Currently this book is only available digitally. Buy it. 

- vb

Bishop Darryl Coleman of Shake Up Evangelistic Ministries recently met with counselors from five area elementary schools familiar with the church's community outreach and assistance. During that meeting Bishop Coleman was deeply saddened by the desperate need for books for the children at these schools.

He is asking the community to donate children’s books for distribution to these schools. If you don't have children but know people who do, or can purchase a book or two, he would be deeply grateful as would the school counselors and most of all the children.

The books can be dropped off at the church or you can call them for pick up. You can also visit the church's website at www.shakeupministries.org to make a monetary donation. ALL monies donated will be used to purchase books for the children at the select schools.

Help Bishop Coleman and the Shake Up Evangelistic Ministries family invest in our children by meeting this need of our schools.

Children’s Books Donations
Monday – Saturday
3:30pm – 5:30pm
Now through March 30, 2013
Shake Up Evangelistic Ministries
1389 NW 54^th Street
Miami, FL  33142

South Florida based author, Geoffrey Philp and his daughter, Christina Philp, have published a new children’s E-book, The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby.

Set in the island of Jamaica, The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby is the story about Joe and Myriam Lumley, who find a baby in a Dutch pot on their doorstep. Without hesitating, the Lumleys take the child, whom they name Eleanor, into their home. But little do they know, Attaberra, Queen of the Zemis, who has watched over the island since it rose out of the sea, has been watching their every move. The Queen has also made a prediction about the child. Will her prediction come true?

"I love working with Christina” said Philp. "From the time she was in kindergarten, Christina and I have been creating Christmas cards, and The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby is the third book that we've worked on together. She's a gifted artist and I am lucky that she has collaborated with me on so many projects."

"The themes of family, hope, and redemption run through the book," said Philp. "It's what the Christmas story is all about."

Author Geoffrey Philp and daughter Christina Philp

Related articles

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Pose with "Dem Babies" for Christmas

Why I'll Never Write a Cookbook, or I'm a Really Good Cook Except for the Fires

Happy Kwanzaa! Day One: Umoja - Unity

Kwanzaa kicks off 7-day celebration

The 29th edition of the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering, Miami Book Fair International, presented by The Center for Literature and Theatre @ Miami Dade College (MDC), will take place November 11 – 18, 2012, at Miami Dade MDC’s Wolfson Campus, 300 NE Second Ave., in downtown Miami. The always-popular Street Fair runs Friday through Sunday, November 16 – 18, with more than 200 exhibitors from around the country in a festive atmosphere.

Dr. Sonjia Kenya is the author of Sex in South Beach and a weekly column in the Miami Sunpost. I think it would be accurate to describe her as this generation’s Dr. Ruth. She enjoys talking about sex and that transcends the pages of the book. As a matter of fact, her book doesn’t seem like a book but more like a conversation with a friend. I don’t think Dr. Sonjia left any stone unturned through the various conversations with friends and strangers she eagerly shares throughout the book.

Dr. Sonjia

This book is great for women and men with questions about sex and relationships. It’s straight talk --- very straight talk. If you’re embarrassed to talk about sex or relay your desires to your partner, this is the book for you. Even if you're not embarrassed to discuss sex, this is the book for you. As, Dr. Sonjia indicates, it’s not an instruction manual. There are, however, quite a few descriptions of situations and explanations of physical responses from which one may glean useful knowledge.

While the book is a fun read, it’s also sprinkled with statistics and facts without becoming a snoozer. I have never met Dr. Sonjia in person but she seems to be a really cool person who is also confident and smart --- one would have to be able to strike up conversations and basically interview total strangers. Oh, my.

Rating:

Buy this book? Yes. (For adults only.)