Reclaim and Represent

If You Ban Heritage History - Ban American History Also

2010-05-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Arizona Gov Brewer signed HB 2281 into law, a bill that prohibits schools from teaching classes designed to teach students of color about their heritage and history because such classes promote resentment and encourage students to want to “overthrow” the U.S. government. Such classes, the bill says, advocate ethnic solidarity instead of treating students as individual people. Irregardless of this law - it is clear that Arizona shows not value in understanding the diversity of the people that make up the United States.

Well, everyone that allows this bill to stand as is, is forgetting that American History classes do the very SAME thing. In fact, they teach us that Europeans were the "blessed" people and that Native Americans were savages. They neglect to mention how so much land was stolen from the Native Americans by these same people. They taught us that the colonists that were slave holders were "building a nation" without stating that the nation was built on the backs of indentured African people. Biased news reporting continues to depict the slaves, negros, blacks, african americans, etc., as well as other "minorities, as people of lesser value, lesser significance, lesser importance., etc. (In fact, the true minority is the white male - and it is high time we get the definition changed to depict this! But - that's for a later blog.)

All people of color should come forward to fight to outlaw ALL history classes - if this Arizonan law stands. History teaching could continue to be an elective. It certainly is critical to your personal development, and we, the people, should develop and maintain an awareness of our history. But, history serves very little value in your professional development, except that history that is critical to your field of study.

You Wrote It. Now, Get Your Book Sold

2010-04-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

All Self-Published or soon to be published. I have been selling books since 1992. My children's bookstore is now open in Philadelphia - Color Book Gallery, so, definitely get in touch with me about placing your book in my store and coming for an author visit.

However, every author should go to our national conference - BookExpo America. May 25-27, 2010 at Jacob Javit Center, NY, NY. It is a must to get yourself in front of booksellers from around the country. If you are a children's author, you need to get permission use the list of children's book sellers from the Association of Booksellers for Children or other sources that have booksellers broken down by our specialty. Then mail, contact, send post cards, email, send samples, bookmarks, etc. If you go to BEA, bring material and pass it out as you bump into the many booksellers in the exhibit hall aisles, workshops, etc. If you can't make the national event, every region has an event. You can find info on the national trade association website. - American Bookseller Association

This year for the first time they have added a day long conference - just for you - the self-published. It is Monday May 24th. I give a workshop for authors covering all of the same information and more - but it is not online yet. Hopefully, this bit of information will get you going. You have to think beyond your home town or I would never know about your book! Otherwise, you need to be at every event you can, get written up in publications and blogs (especially Publishers Weekly), get interviewed, etc, For booksellers, we need to have access to your book. That does not mean through Amazon or your self-publishing company, it means through the wholesaler/distributors. If you are distributing your book yourself, we need low minimums and returnable terms or preferably consignments.

Good luck!

We Can All Graduate!

2010-04-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

Those following the news heard that the American Council on Education issued a report which reveals that black men are graduating from college at a rate which lags significantly behind other ethnic groups. Black males were found to have a graduation rate of 35 percent. This compares with rates of 59 percent, 46 percent and 45 percent for white males, hispanic males and black women, respectively. I suspect this is very little change from previous reports. We can continue to speculate on the reasons for this, but frankly, our rates will improve at college when they improve in the early grades.

Literacy is key. We must start reading to our children as early as possible - even in the womb. They must be reading as early as possible - as a baby - even if they are just looking at pages and having you read to them. We, the parents, elders, relatives, friends, and community must expose our children to as much education as possible - that could be just describing what is going on, why it is happening, the history behind it, who invented it (probably a black person), how much it cost, how to earn money to get it, how other successful black people got where they are, etc.

Read everything you can get your hands on - especially the local Black newspaper, go to the library, pick up a book in the thrift store, flea market, or book store, etc. Learn to love to read for the knowledge that you gain from it. Pass these same traits on to your children - after all - YOU are their first TEACHER. At that point, they will be able to learn anything, do anything - including excelling or passing their classes - from K through 12 and thus on to college - if that is their pursuit.

Deborah, Hampton University

Influence is Ours - IF We Use It

2010-03-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Some are celebrating, others are protesting. But why? Someone got a contract, others didn't. Someone got off of the charge, others didn't. Someone got the job. Others didn't. The list goes on and on. But the others are often times African Americans. There are many resources that will account to the significance that the African Americans have in numbers and buying power. Unfortunately, it is not used to influence the outcome. Perhaps, we don't know that we could have made a difference.

Even though we have been told this numerous times and the March on Washington verified it, the Obama election was the ultimate example of how we can influence the outcome. We can boycott anything like we did in the past. If you are here in Philly, the Rev Leon Sullivan taught us all how boycotting can make a difference. In fact, Philly, just like every other government, is facing a budget shortfall. Philly lives off of tourism dollars and is also trying to encourgage people to move back to the city. What if the upcoming conferences decided to boycott our city, what if people decided this was not a safe or fair place to live or to operate a business. Boycotting could make a difference.

Consider some of the many ways that we can use our numbers and dollars in a more strategic way to influence the outcome of a decision being made in your city, your job, or other arena.

Influence is ours - IF we use it.

Deborah

Mom & Dad Got Me Reading

2010-03-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

If you had the same experiences that I had growing up, you would love reading also. We had a library fit for kings, or at least kings on our Philly neighborhood block. Mom & Dad searched thrift stores, collected from others discards and brought from farmers markets in New Jersey any children's books or encyclopedias that they could find. They had us in the Nicetown/Tioga Library every week for some reason or the other. They also read every little thing that came their way or crossed their path. To this day, their house still has a collection of every Black History Month article published by the Philadelphia Tribune or any other publication they got. I followed their habit and also collect african american history material, articles, books, etc from my travels nationwide.

We read a newspaper every day. It could be the Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington or Philadelphia Business Journal, Scoop, Germantown Chronicle, Washington Afro-American and all kinds of magazines. I love books and have a children's bookstore, however, my collection of books grows slowly. I still believe in libraries. In fact, I fought to save my current branch Wadsworth Library in Philadelphia. It's good to see that there were so many other book lovers and people who like to read. Without reading, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Get To It: Tips to Open a Bookstore, Gift Shop or Specialty Boutique

2009-05-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

I've been busy relocating this past year and checking out the business climate here in Philadelphia, PA. Even in a down economy, it's a great place to start a business.

Check out my seminar:
Get To It: Tips to Open a Bookstore, Gift Shop or Specialty Boutique
Jun 3, 2009, 7PM - 9PM, $35.00
Mt. Airy Video Library, 7141 Germantown Ave, Phila, PA 19119

Register online at dhexretailseminar.eventbrite.com or visit my website at www.dhexenterprises.com/calendarofevents.html

What Happened to Neighborhood Stores

2008-01-19T11:21:00.000-08:00

Between 1950 and 1980, the corner shops sold groceries, did dry cleaning, was barber & beauty salons, laundromats and restaurants. Someone in the neighborhood worked on houses, fixed cars, planned weddings, and sold fish dinners. The children sold cookies, lemonade, newspapers, did shoe shines, etc. All of these things kept the money within our community and prepared the next generation to do the same. What happened? Well here are some thoughts: it was easier for someone else to do it, we lost belief in the ability to do for ourselves, and we lost our opportunities when they were staring us straight in the face.

We have been complaining for some time now about store owners disrespecting us in our own communities and being displaced when there is urban renewal. But, this does not have to continue. Consider trying just a few things to reclaim those corner stores:

Start a side business or just take that existing hussle and grow it. Who knows, your sales may require you to go into a store front or office.
If you stay home-based, make sure you are taking advantage of those additional tax deductions.
No business ideas? Consider a multi-level marketing way to start. There are so many options now
Take advantage of the FREE business training offered by the government and non-profits. I have used these services for many years. Find your local Small Business Development Center- as a start.
Have your children be creative and earn the spending money for things they want. Instead of buying them that designer jacket, tennis shoe or electronic gadget, they can buy it themselves and develop some business skills at the same time. Need some ideas, look up the local Kidpreneur program or get your local business community to start one.
Buy your house instead of renting. The market has slowed down, what a perfect time to see if you can own something for the same amount as your rent payment.
Let's maintain our strength in the community. Communities must recycle. Put off gentrification, as much as possible.
Buy the building that you currently run your business out of. No-one can displace you, in fact, if you or your business needs a break, you can rent to someone else. I am moving to Philly shortly from DC and am surprised at the opportunities to purchase there.

I say, reclaim those corner stores! What do you think?

Was there a book under the tree? Knowledge is Power

2008-01-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

If you've shared a book with a child, you know the joy and excitement this small but meaningful act can bring. Did you keep that in mind when selecting your Holiday gifts? If not, start the new year out right, buy a book, visit a library, or share one from your bookshelves with a child. Children who are read to at home have a higher success rate in school, Children who read frequently develop stronger reading skills, Reading together helps grow the bond between family members.

According to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statisstics, the Black community is still lagging behing when it comes to reading: White, non-Hispanic students had higher scores in 2005 than their Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic peers at grades 4, 8, and 12. There were no changes in these gaps from 1992 to 2005 at grades 4, 8, and 12. This has got to change.

Our ancestors built pyramids and invented almost everything. Perhaps it was easier to excel then because positive role models were everywhere and excellence was not only a necessity, it was expected. We can duplicate that environment today. Read, read, read!

The local black press has loads of information on positive contributions in the community. Sit down and read the papers with your child. In addition, there are now thousands of exciting multicultural children's books and history books to choose from. Although Black brick and mortar book stores are becoming extinct, bookstores online and offline are still the source for your broadest selections. There is bound to be some that your child would love and will also interest and inform you. Read, read, read!