The book Fair was quite interesting,
on a number of levels.
One of the most interesting things I saw was the Conversation between
Howard Zinn and Walter Mosley
http://authors.aalbc.com/howard_zinn.htm
The full interview is available on C-Span2 Book TV |
WNYC - News - Harlem Book Fair
http://www.wnyc.org/go.py?r=http%3A//www.wnyc.org/news/articles/82611
Article and interviews recorded by Siddhartha Mitter
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Congressman Charles B. Rangel and AALBC.com Founder Troy Johnson
71 other photos taken during the Harlem Book Fair
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=hgeq7si.6hu8pkau&x=1&y=sek9so
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The following blog entry describes the street fair
itself.
http://ferentz.typepad.com/thenightshiftchronicles/2007/07/harlem-book-fai.html
"One moment you're staring at a car emblazoned with the title "The
Black Man's Guide on How to Cheat on Your Woman" and the next moment
you're whirling around and saying to a friend, "that's Amiri Baraka,"
exuding the innocence of neophyte even though you've encountered the
legendary author and activist on a number of occasions."
Troy's Comments
I must have walked right past the the author of the Blog Post. I walked
right by Amiri Baraka. I said “hello” he acknowledged me (I don’t know
him personally) I did not take a photo as I have a bunch of photos taken
at many previous encounters. I did run into the “emblazoned” van. I took
a photo of the van. Not so much because I’ve never seen a van so
adorned. I just found the subject matter of “how to cheat on you woman”
remarkable.
The author of the how to book was nearby and asked “…don’t you want to
take a photo of the author…” Which I did:
It might seem obvious, but how one feels about the Harlem Book Fair is
really in the eyes of the beholder. I know people who were disgusted and
other your were very happy and they are all reasonable in their
assessments.
One common comment was the lack of “literary” work or rather
non-ghetto/urban/street/hiphop books. The Blogger referenced about
touched upon this in the post.
There is perhaps no better metaphor for how the self
published/urban/street authors are crowding out the main stream
publisher's on book store shelves ,than what I saw on the street this
past Saturday.
I know several people who simply could not find a book they wanted to
read at the book fair. However I also observed many people who were
seemed quite excited about the offerings.
As a vendor, during the Harlem Book Fair, for several years (I did not
vend the last two years); I have noticed how some people would be
excited to see my John A Williams titles and would buy 1 or 2. However
the last year I exhibited I spent more time explaining to folk, who John
A. Williams is. No one cared very much and my sales of his titles
reflect this.
Yeah, the quality of Harlem Book Fair experience is truly in the eye of
the beholder...
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Cynique
The smorgasbord of black books out there on the table provides
something for everyone. What causes "indigestion" is that hungry new
customers have an appetite for rib-tips and french fries and strawberry
pop, instead of filet mighon and potatoes au gratin and Chardonney. But
cream rises to the top. The tide has turned in the black book business,
and fortunately the same tide that goes out, comes back in.
Troy
In this case, the Cadillacs cost the same as the Buicks and
people aree still buying the Buicks.
LOL. True, true, Troy-Troy. That's the difference between you and
me. While I'm about metaphors, you're about money.
Cynique
LOL. True, true, Troy-Troy. That's the difference between you
and me. While I'm about metaphors, you're about money.
Schakspir
SHIT! Screwed up again. I was actually at the fair on
Saturday and not only did I NOT have my book, I didn't get to see Walter
Mosely, Howard Zinn OR Amiri Baraka! I guess I was so tired after
walking around in the heat and noise and confusion of Harlem....
Urban_scribe
How did I miss that van? Guess I was too busy trying to get a
coconut "icee".
Great pix, btw. I had to register to view them, but at least I
didn't have to wait for them to send me a confirmation email. Soon as
you register you can look at the photos right away. Very nice pictures.
I took some pictures with my phone, but they didn't come out too good
because of all the sunlight.
Schakspir, give yourself ten lashes for me! |
Shakes, you also missed my riveting panel on book reviews. Honestly
I found it to be a very interesting panel. I also learned a lot from the
audience and other partcipants.
Much of the discussion focused on fee based book reviews. The audience
(reader) is completely oblivious to the whole process and really don’t
care. What they are about are book reviews they can trust.
Pictured from left to right
Max Rodriguez, founder of QBR the Black Book Review and
co-founder of the Harlem Book Fair, Ron Kavanaugh, founder
Mosaicbooks.com, Troy Johnson, founder AALBC.com, Shunda Leigh,
founder Booking Matter Magazine and Gilda Celestin founder
Belletristic Press. |
| 157 photos from James Lisbon, Founder of Awareness
Magazine.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=hw3u91y.ccsbd58m&x=1&y=7obf5m
Side Note: Coincidentally, Ron Kavanuagh, James Lisbon and I all
graduation from the same high school (Brooklyn Technical High School).
We were all three at the same time. Ron and I were in the same
graduating class (we did not know each other then.
Funny How James and I got the same Charlie Rangel shot. I did not see
James at all that day. |
| Nom_de_plume
LOL @ the guide on how to cheat on a black woman. GITdafukouttaheah!
I like HBF, but the selection did leave a lot to be desired...won't keep
me from supporting it though.
Troy
Nom_de_plume, we should continue to support the fair. Perhaps our
support should take different forms, perhaps it should be in the form of
more active involvement.
Desipte the selection leaving a lot to be desired why do you like the
HBF?
Nom_de_plume
What's not to love about beautiful black folks coming together to share
their love of reading? That's it for me! I also enjoy the panels and the
vendors that sell things other than books. |
Here is a link to photos that my man Ron posted on Flickr he does
not require logging in to see them and he editted to shot down quite a
bit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mosaicbooks/sets/72157601035749231/
Ron also made a few Blog Posts as well:
http://mosaicbooks.blogspot.com/
Nom_de_plume, I have to admit it was a very attractive crowd I enjoyed
being in the mix. |
Off the Page, a radio show about books also on WBAI in New
York. Hosted by Esther Armah.
This is an hour long program but really good and including a probing
interview with Harlem Book Fair co-founder Max Rodriguez.
http://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/070705_120001gmr.MP3
Esther Armah
http://authors.aalbc.com/esther_armah.htm |
The Book TV web site has been
redesigned. CSpan recorded all of the panel discussions
that took place in the Schomburg.
Max Rodriquez, QBR and co-fiunder of the Harlem Book
Fair.
Troy Johnson (circled) with camera in hand.
The memoir panel on includes Dominic Carter (http://authors.aalbc.com/dominic_carter.htm).
Dominic self-published his memoir.
It also includes June Cross (http://aalbc.com/authors/june_cross.htm)
who is the secret daughter of a "white groupie".
The videos may be found here:
http://booktv.org |
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I just listened to the Memoir and Remembrances: Making Way Out of
No Way panel. It was really very good all of the panelists did a
good job of explaining their books and they all sound interesting.
Even the Q&A was decent -- no one launched into a diatribe or gave
commercials.
The author of Game Over: The Rise and Transformation of a Harlem
Hustler, Agyei Tyehimba. Was quite interesting too.
 Game Over: The Rise and Transformation of a Harlem Hustler
http://authors.aalbc.com/agyei_tyehimba.htm
This book explores the New York City drug game during the Ronald Reagan
years, the forces that led so many urban youth to enter the drug game,
the lavish lifestyles of Azie and his partners, and the personal
tragedies that confronted them all. Readers will learn about the massive
corruption of law enforcement and their complicity in urban drug
trafficking. Readers will also learn about how Azie turned his life
around, creating a documentary and motion picture about his life to
steer youth away from his former path. This is a must read for high
school students, parents, college students, social critics, Hip Hop
enthusiasts and professionals in all walks of life. Agyei Tyehimba
recently appeared at the 2007 Harlem Book Fair on a panel discussing his
book.
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Bookgirl
Wow Troy. Much thanks to you, my brother! You have given us enough info
here to make me feel like I actually did get to the HBF. Now I don't
feel so bad about missing it this year. Being right here in Newark gives
me no excuse not to be there each year. LOL
See ya next year; I am running a bus ride from Newark to the HBF.
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Harlem Book Fair Book Fair After Party at Minton's Playhouse
Sponsored by Harlem World Magazine
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