Posts tagged "African American"

INTERRACIAL INTIMACY: Why Black & White Dating and Marriage Are So Hot – Interracial Marriages Forming at Unprecedented Rates

Interracial dating is gaining fast acceptance and popularity on the Internet, where there are literally dozens of Web sites dedicated to interracial dating, marriages and families… As Ted, a white guy dating an African American girl says, “I fell for her because she’s so beautiful. And the sexual tension is incredible!”

A recent Gallup Poll concludes: “Most Americans Approve of Interracial Marriages!”

*

“In just a few years, crowning with the election of President Obama, Interracial dating and marriage have become the hot new trend,” says Winnie of WUVING.com

*

The hottest new dating site is InterracialCupid.com – Interracial dating site for black and white singles seeking love, dating and marriage, who say proudly, “If you’re looking for an interracial dating experience, InterracialCupid.com is the place to be. Browse through our interracial personals and bond with interracial singles looking for an exciting friendship or a prospective life partner.”

There are thousands of single men and women from the U.S. and Canada who are registered members and who already have posted personal ads which you can browse by creating your free account. And not to mention all of the interracial couples who have met on this interracial dating site and created success stories of their own.

At InterracialCupid.com, you can read their success stories.

*

By 2008, the Associated Press, in an report called Interracial Marriages Flourishing!, was able to report: “The charisma king of the 2008 presidential field. The world’s best golfer. The captain of the New York Yankees. Besides superstardom, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter have another common bond: Each is the child of an interracial marriage.”

Many prominent blacks — including Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, civil rights leader Julian Bond and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun — have married whites. Well-known whites who have married blacks include former Defense Secretary William Cohen and actor Robert DeNiro.

Opinion polls show overwhelming popular support, especially among younger people, for interracial marriage.

*

In many cases, interracial families embody a mix of nationalities as well as races. Michelle Cadeau, born in Sweden, and her husband, James, born in Haiti, are raising their two sons as Americans in racially diverse West Orange, N.J., while teaching them about all three cultures.

“I think the children of families like ours will be able to make a difference in the world, and do things we weren’t able to do,” Michelle Cadeau said.

“It’s really important to put all their cultures together, to be aware of their roots, so they grow up not just as Swedish or Haitian or American, but as global citizens.”

Kerry Ann Rockquemore, professor of African-American studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, is the daughter of a black father and white mother, and says she is asked almost daily how she identifies herself.

*

The Canadian Press, in a 2008 report titled Interracial Marriages Forming at Unprecedented Rates, said: “Four decades after Hollywood’s first interracial kiss in ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ shocked mainstream America, Canada’s multicultural society is increasingly showing signs that love is colour blind.

“Since Sidney Poitier’s landmark smooch, Hollywood continued the tradition of big-screen portrayals of interracial romances. Kevin Costner hooked up with Whitney Houston in ‘The Bodyguard’ and Spike Lee brought together a black man and white woman in the more gritty ‘Jungle Fever.’

“Images of real-life interracial couples such as Halle Berry and Montreal model Gabriel Aubry, as well as Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond rarely provoke a mention of their mixed-race makeup. The latest census figures released Wednesday by Statistics Canada show that, on this side of the border, mixed unions are forming at unprecedented rates.”

A report released by University of Lethbridge sociologist Reginald Bibby shows that 92 per cent of Canadians are in favour of such interracial unions. “Many sociologists view interracial marriage as the best barometer of racial and cultural integration in a society,” Bibby says.

“Intermarriage translates into the fact that people are clearly relating to each other socially, to the point where they’re getting married,” he says. “There’s an obvious social and biological blending going on, so the barriers are broken down at that point.”

And — It’s been my privilege to be of help in creating WUVING.com, a new dating site that already has access to thousands of men and women looking for lasting relationships. To my knowledge, WUVING.com is the first online dating site to take its direction in content and procedure from a professional psycholgist and marriage counselor.

*

*

WUVING.com is loaded with tips and articles from the top experts in relationships. Among them, are Michael Webb of OPRAH SHOW fame, whose articles have appeared in over 50 magazines such as Redbook and Woman’s World. And Kara Oh, selling author of MARRIAGE MADE EASY and has appeared on CBS News and FOX News and in magazines like Cosmopolitan and Woman’s World.

And the people you can immediately reach are “men and women found locally and worldwide.”

What WUVING.com has done is specialize in individual needs of people looking for real love and romance. You can meet people in our military, singles, people of all sizes and races — in other words — real people! Check out http://www.wuving.com

*

*

-Kate Falken

INTERRACIAL INTIMACY: Why Black & White Dating and Marriage Are So Hot – Interracial Marriages Forming at Unprecedented Rates

Interracial dating is gaining fast acceptance and popularity on the Internet, where there are literally dozens of Web sites dedicated to interracial dating, marriages and families… As Ted, a white guy dating an African American girl says, “I fell for her because she’s so beautiful. And the sexual tension is incredible!”

A recent Gallup Poll concludes: “Most Americans Approve of Interracial Marriages!”

*

“In just a few years, crowning with the election of President Obama, Interracial dating and marriage have become the hot new trend,” says Winnie of WUVING.com

*

The hottest new dating site is InterracialCupid.com – Interracial dating site for black and white singles seeking love, dating and marriage, who say proudly, “If you’re looking for an interracial dating experience, InterracialCupid.com is the place to be. Browse through our interracial personals and bond with interracial singles looking for an exciting friendship or a prospective life partner.”

There are thousands of single men and women from the U.S. and Canada who are registered members and who already have posted personal ads which you can browse by creating your free account. And not to mention all of the interracial couples who have met on this interracial dating site and created success stories of their own.

At InterracialCupid.com, you can read their success stories.

*

By 2008, the Associated Press, in an report called Interracial Marriages Flourishing!, was able to report: “The charisma king of the 2008 presidential field. The world’s best golfer. The captain of the New York Yankees. Besides superstardom, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter have another common bond: Each is the child of an interracial marriage.”

Many prominent blacks — including Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, civil rights leader Julian Bond and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun — have married whites. Well-known whites who have married blacks include former Defense Secretary William Cohen and actor Robert DeNiro.

Opinion polls show overwhelming popular support, especially among younger people, for interracial marriage.

*

In many cases, interracial families embody a mix of nationalities as well as races. Michelle Cadeau, born in Sweden, and her husband, James, born in Haiti, are raising their two sons as Americans in racially diverse West Orange, N.J., while teaching them about all three cultures.

“I think the children of families like ours will be able to make a difference in the world, and do things we weren’t able to do,” Michelle Cadeau said.

“It’s really important to put all their cultures together, to be aware of their roots, so they grow up not just as Swedish or Haitian or American, but as global citizens.”

Kerry Ann Rockquemore, professor of African-American studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, is the daughter of a black father and white mother, and says she is asked almost daily how she identifies herself.

*

The Canadian Press, in a 2008 report titled Interracial Marriages Forming at Unprecedented Rates, said: “Four decades after Hollywood’s first interracial kiss in ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ shocked mainstream America, Canada’s multicultural society is increasingly showing signs that love is colour blind.

“Since Sidney Poitier’s landmark smooch, Hollywood continued the tradition of big-screen portrayals of interracial romances. Kevin Costner hooked up with Whitney Houston in ‘The Bodyguard’ and Spike Lee brought together a black man and white woman in the more gritty ‘Jungle Fever.’

“Images of real-life interracial couples such as Halle Berry and Montreal model Gabriel Aubry, as well as Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond rarely provoke a mention of their mixed-race makeup. The latest census figures released Wednesday by Statistics Canada show that, on this side of the border, mixed unions are forming at unprecedented rates.”

A report released by University of Lethbridge sociologist Reginald Bibby shows that 92 per cent of Canadians are in favour of such interracial unions. “Many sociologists view interracial marriage as the best barometer of racial and cultural integration in a society,” Bibby says.

“Intermarriage translates into the fact that people are clearly relating to each other socially, to the point where they’re getting married,” he says. “There’s an obvious social and biological blending going on, so the barriers are broken down at that point.”

And — It’s been my privilege to be of help in creating WUVING.com, a new dating site that already has access to thousands of men and women looking for lasting relationships. To my knowledge, WUVING.com is the first online dating site to take its direction in content and procedure from a professional psycholgist and marriage counselor.

*

*

WUVING.com is loaded with tips and articles from the top experts in relationships. Among them, are Michael Webb of OPRAH SHOW fame, whose articles have appeared in over 50 magazines such as Redbook and Woman’s World. And Kara Oh, selling author of MARRIAGE MADE EASY and has appeared on CBS News and FOX News and in magazines like Cosmopolitan and Woman’s World.

And the people you can immediately reach are “men and women found locally and worldwide.”

What WUVING.com has done is specialize in individual needs of people looking for real love and romance. You can meet people in our military, singles, people of all sizes and races — in other words — real people! Check out http://www.wuving.com

*

*

-Kate Falken

Barack Wins, One Proud Black Man’s Thoughts

Barack wins, the feelings of one black man by George Cook www.letstalkhonestly.com 11/06/08

On Tuesday November 4, 2008 Barack Obama won the presidential election to become the 44th President of the United States. This was a great day for my family. It so moved me that I haven’t been able to sleep for two days and am still trying to come to grips with the Barack Obama victory.

Everything is like a blur and I am just starting to realize on November 6 that we have a black president. Even now in my slightly delirious state I keep waiting for some reporter on Fox News to start screaming about a voter discrepancy somewhere. Most likely Alaska.

I knew I had to write something but I was just too emotional or exhausted. Probably a combination of both. That and a few celebratory Heinekens.

Election Day was very special for me and besides the 3 hour wait to vote ( which will become six hours as I age and tell the story of how I walked in six inches of snow with no shoes to vote for Obama 30 years from now ) it was a beautiful day.

Early on I drove 3 elderly African American women who were all over 75 years old to the polls. They were acting like little school girls giggling and smiling. I almost said, “Don’t make me pull this car over.”

But it hit me that as happy as I was that I could not really appreciate what they felt. At only forty I have not faced real overt racism. But they had, They lived through Jim Crow and segregation. They saw America’s ugly side.

Their joy was really one of “We have overcome” and I knew they really appreciated and understood what was happening in their lifetime.

That made me think of my daughter who will in her lifetime think it’s normal for a black man to be president and hopefully one day will see a woman attain the highest office in the land. Now when I tell my daughter she can be president I wont be talking out one side of my mouth.

All these thoughts brought a few tears to my eyes. That’s a big deal for me since I can only remember crying three times in my adult life. Those three being when my great grandmother died, when my daughter was born, and when the Giants lost the Super Bowl in 2000.

I want to close by returning to those three old women I drove to the polls. Now everyone who has ever been in an old black persons home knows along with plastic covers on the furniture there are pictures of three people you will always see on the wall.

Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, and John F. Kennedy.

Now they can add one more…………..

George L. Cook III www.letstalkhonestly.com

Barack Wins, One Proud Black Man’s Thoughts

Barack wins, the feelings of one black man by George Cook www.letstalkhonestly.com 11/06/08

On Tuesday November 4, 2008 Barack Obama won the presidential election to become the 44th President of the United States. This was a great day for my family. It so moved me that I haven’t been able to sleep for two days and am still trying to come to grips with the Barack Obama victory.

Everything is like a blur and I am just starting to realize on November 6 that we have a black president. Even now in my slightly delirious state I keep waiting for some reporter on Fox News to start screaming about a voter discrepancy somewhere. Most likely Alaska.

I knew I had to write something but I was just too emotional or exhausted. Probably a combination of both. That and a few celebratory Heinekens.

Election Day was very special for me and besides the 3 hour wait to vote ( which will become six hours as I age and tell the story of how I walked in six inches of snow with no shoes to vote for Obama 30 years from now ) it was a beautiful day.

Early on I drove 3 elderly African American women who were all over 75 years old to the polls. They were acting like little school girls giggling and smiling. I almost said, “Don’t make me pull this car over.”

But it hit me that as happy as I was that I could not really appreciate what they felt. At only forty I have not faced real overt racism. But they had, They lived through Jim Crow and segregation. They saw America’s ugly side.

Their joy was really one of “We have overcome” and I knew they really appreciated and understood what was happening in their lifetime.

That made me think of my daughter who will in her lifetime think it’s normal for a black man to be president and hopefully one day will see a woman attain the highest office in the land. Now when I tell my daughter she can be president I wont be talking out one side of my mouth.

All these thoughts brought a few tears to my eyes. That’s a big deal for me since I can only remember crying three times in my adult life. Those three being when my great grandmother died, when my daughter was born, and when the Giants lost the Super Bowl in 2000.

I want to close by returning to those three old women I drove to the polls. Now everyone who has ever been in an old black persons home knows along with plastic covers on the furniture there are pictures of three people you will always see on the wall.

Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, and John F. Kennedy.

Now they can add one more…………..

George L. Cook III www.letstalkhonestly.com

Barack Wins, One Proud Black Man’s Thoughts

Barack wins, the feelings of one black man by George Cook www.letstalkhonestly.com 11/06/08

On Tuesday November 4, 2008 Barack Obama won the presidential election to become the 44th President of the United States. This was a great day for my family. It so moved me that I haven’t been able to sleep for two days and am still trying to come to grips with the Barack Obama victory.

Everything is like a blur and I am just starting to realize on November 6 that we have a black president. Even now in my slightly delirious state I keep waiting for some reporter on Fox News to start screaming about a voter discrepancy somewhere. Most likely Alaska.

I knew I had to write something but I was just too emotional or exhausted. Probably a combination of both. That and a few celebratory Heinekens.

Election Day was very special for me and besides the 3 hour wait to vote ( which will become six hours as I age and tell the story of how I walked in six inches of snow with no shoes to vote for Obama 30 years from now ) it was a beautiful day.

Early on I drove 3 elderly African American women who were all over 75 years old to the polls. They were acting like little school girls giggling and smiling. I almost said, “Don’t make me pull this car over.”

But it hit me that as happy as I was that I could not really appreciate what they felt. At only forty I have not faced real overt racism. But they had, They lived through Jim Crow and segregation. They saw America’s ugly side.

Their joy was really one of “We have overcome” and I knew they really appreciated and understood what was happening in their lifetime.

That made me think of my daughter who will in her lifetime think it’s normal for a black man to be president and hopefully one day will see a woman attain the highest office in the land. Now when I tell my daughter she can be president I wont be talking out one side of my mouth.

All these thoughts brought a few tears to my eyes. That’s a big deal for me since I can only remember crying three times in my adult life. Those three being when my great grandmother died, when my daughter was born, and when the Giants lost the Super Bowl in 2000.

I want to close by returning to those three old women I drove to the polls. Now everyone who has ever been in an old black persons home knows along with plastic covers on the furniture there are pictures of three people you will always see on the wall.

Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, and John F. Kennedy.

Now they can add one more…………..

George L. Cook III www.letstalkhonestly.com

INTERRACIAL INTIMACY: Why Black & White Dating and Marriage Are So Hot – Interracial Marriages Forming at Unprecedented Rates

Interracial dating is gaining fast acceptance and popularity on the Internet, where there are literally dozens of Web sites dedicated to interracial dating, marriages and families… As Ted, a white guy dating an African American girl says, “I fell for her because she’s so beautiful. And the sexual tension is incredible!”

A recent Gallup Poll concludes: “Most Americans Approve of Interracial Marriages!”

*

“In just a few years, crowning with the election of President Obama, Interracial dating and marriage have become the hot new trend,” says Winnie of WUVING.com

*

The hottest new dating site is InterracialCupid.com – Interracial dating site for black and white singles seeking love, dating and marriage, who say proudly, “If you’re looking for an interracial dating experience, InterracialCupid.com is the place to be. Browse through our interracial personals and bond with interracial singles looking for an exciting friendship or a prospective life partner.”

There are thousands of single men and women from the U.S. and Canada who are registered members and who already have posted personal ads which you can browse by creating your free account. And not to mention all of the interracial couples who have met on this interracial dating site and created success stories of their own.

At InterracialCupid.com, you can read their success stories.

*

By 2008, the Associated Press, in an report called Interracial Marriages Flourishing!, was able to report: “The charisma king of the 2008 presidential field. The world’s best golfer. The captain of the New York Yankees. Besides superstardom, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter have another common bond: Each is the child of an interracial marriage.”

Many prominent blacks — including Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, civil rights leader Julian Bond and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun — have married whites. Well-known whites who have married blacks include former Defense Secretary William Cohen and actor Robert DeNiro.

Opinion polls show overwhelming popular support, especially among younger people, for interracial marriage.

*

In many cases, interracial families embody a mix of nationalities as well as races. Michelle Cadeau, born in Sweden, and her husband, James, born in Haiti, are raising their two sons as Americans in racially diverse West Orange, N.J., while teaching them about all three cultures.

“I think the children of families like ours will be able to make a difference in the world, and do things we weren’t able to do,” Michelle Cadeau said.

“It’s really important to put all their cultures together, to be aware of their roots, so they grow up not just as Swedish or Haitian or American, but as global citizens.”

Kerry Ann Rockquemore, professor of African-American studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, is the daughter of a black father and white mother, and says she is asked almost daily how she identifies herself.

*

The Canadian Press, in a 2008 report titled Interracial Marriages Forming at Unprecedented Rates, said: “Four decades after Hollywood’s first interracial kiss in ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ shocked mainstream America, Canada’s multicultural society is increasingly showing signs that love is colour blind.

“Since Sidney Poitier’s landmark smooch, Hollywood continued the tradition of big-screen portrayals of interracial romances. Kevin Costner hooked up with Whitney Houston in ‘The Bodyguard’ and Spike Lee brought together a black man and white woman in the more gritty ‘Jungle Fever.’

“Images of real-life interracial couples such as Halle Berry and Montreal model Gabriel Aubry, as well as Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond rarely provoke a mention of their mixed-race makeup. The latest census figures released Wednesday by Statistics Canada show that, on this side of the border, mixed unions are forming at unprecedented rates.”

A report released by University of Lethbridge sociologist Reginald Bibby shows that 92 per cent of Canadians are in favour of such interracial unions. “Many sociologists view interracial marriage as the best barometer of racial and cultural integration in a society,” Bibby says.

“Intermarriage translates into the fact that people are clearly relating to each other socially, to the point where they’re getting married,” he says. “There’s an obvious social and biological blending going on, so the barriers are broken down at that point.”

And — It’s been my privilege to be of help in creating WUVING.com, a new dating site that already has access to thousands of men and women looking for lasting relationships. To my knowledge, WUVING.com is the first online dating site to take its direction in content and procedure from a professional psycholgist and marriage counselor.

*

*

WUVING.com is loaded with tips and articles from the top experts in relationships. Among them, are Michael Webb of OPRAH SHOW fame, whose articles have appeared in over 50 magazines such as Redbook and Woman’s World. And Kara Oh, selling author of MARRIAGE MADE EASY and has appeared on CBS News and FOX News and in magazines like Cosmopolitan and Woman’s World.

And the people you can immediately reach are “men and women found locally and worldwide.”

What WUVING.com has done is specialize in individual needs of people looking for real love and romance. You can meet people in our military, singles, people of all sizes and races — in other words — real people! Check out http://www.wuving.com

*

*

-Kate Falken

“black Kids Don’t Read” Last Words Before Retail Graveyard

Certain principles of life and business never change. Like with the law of gravity, for example, its just plain better to know how it works even if youre not sure why.

I was reminded of this last week when the mens fashion clothing trade magazine Daily News Record (DNR) ran a story (Retail Graveyard, October 29) about a guy named Peter Divietro in Sloatsburg, N.Y., who annually for Halloween decorates his front yard with tombstones to commemorate dead retail stores.

That in turn reminded me of a failed chain of hip-hop clothing stores in Chicago called The Lark. Do you remember The Lark?

The owner was Lenny Rothschild. I met him on a sales visit at his suburban Chicago office one summer day in 2003 while my company was still making Black Fives throwback jerseys for wholesale distribution to stores. The Lark was an important account because it commanded the urban fashion retail market in Chicago.

FLYING HIGH; WITH AN UPSCALE APPROACH TO MERCHANDISING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE LARK SOARS IN CHICAGOS URBAN MARKET, read a headline in DNR earlier that year. As Lenny Rothschild pilots his silver Mercedes-Benz coupe around Chicago, his love for the city is obvious, is how that article began (DNR, February 10, 2003).

If you wanted your goods in Chicago, you had to sell Lenny. All the biggest streetwear brands loved him, and Lenny was the gatekeeper who could make or break small, upcoming apparel brands like Black Fives. And he knew it.

Lenny was smart, and he wanted people to know it. His Harvard diploma hung prominently on the wall. Lenny delighted in explaining how to introduce new merchandise to coincide with welfare check and tax refund arrival dates, to maximize sales to his most faithful customer base, low-income inner-city residents. His stores were concentrated in those areas.

I showed and pitched my unique, attractive, high-quality, economically priced jerseys and matching fitted hats. Lenny looked them over and shrugged, and asked me how I expected anyone to know about the history of these Black Fives teams and players. I showed him some big press clippings and also explained that each jersey comes with its own informative hang tag, reminiscent of a collectible vintage basketball card, with images on one side and history text on the other. I handed him one of the cards.

This wont matter because black kids dont read, said Lenny.

Today, when I think of the immutable principles that work in life and in business, I think of two of them that applied to Lenny that day. One is that how you do anything is how you do everything. The other is that what you focus on expands. The trick is that these principles work the same whether in the negative or in the positive realm.

Lenny gave me an $8,000 order that afternoon. I shipped it, but what he didnt realize is that his loyal customers had already begun a quiet revolt. Instead of buying $300 retro jerseys like the kind The Lark was selling, his clientele had flipped the script, now buying plain white tee shirts to make the same fashion statement at three for $10. It was the revenge of the lowly urban consumer. It happened across the country. It was swift and it was bloody. Many urban retailers didnt make it.

Within two weeks, Lenny returned his Black Fives order unopened.

Whenever I shopped at The Lark, customer service didnt exist. Young African American employees were distant and resentful, usually the sign of low wages, cheap thinking, and lack of appreciation by management.

Not to pick on Lenny, because he wasnt alone in this approach to the so-called loyal inner-city consumer, but didnt you have that experience too, nearly everywhere you shopped?

By 2005, The Lark lay buried in the retail graveyard. AFTER THE LARK: MORE HIP, NO HOP; CLOSING HIS HIP-HOP APPAREL CHAIN, RETAILER OPENS ESSEX5, DEVOTED TO PREMIUM DENIM, SPORTSWEAR, read the DNR headline this time. The Lark is grounded, the article began. Lenny Rothschild has closed all 10 of The Lark stores he owned and operated, making the once-high-flying hip-hop apparel specialty chain a thing of the past (DNR, December 19, 2005).

What Ill always remember about The Lark are Lenny Rothschilds famous (last) words: black kids dont read.

The principles of life and business always work the same. Beliefs do become reality. Thoughts lead to feelings lead to actions lead to results. This works both ways, in this case to the advantage of the consumer and to the dismay of the retailer. Lenny couldve avoided it all if there had been any books like T. Harv Ekers brilliant Secrets of the Millionaire Mind available for him to read at the time. But there werent. And he didnt.

Thus, the Larks tombstone might have the epitaph, Gee, I guess black kids read after all.

Was Lenny right? Or do all kids read less? Or is it only online reading they do? Or something else? Whats your opinion?

African American Authors: Promote and Sell Your Self-Published Black Book

Self-publishing is the hottest trend in books, as it provides creative thinkers turned authors with a fast and easy way to get their work on the market. With the added option of “print on demand”, and desktop publishing and design software, the initial cost to get your book out can be very minimal.
Self-publishing is also the most profitable since you get to keep all the profits for yourself. IF you are committed to the work it is going to take to sell your books that is.
One of the most difficult challenges a self-published author faces is getting their book into the hands of people that will appreciate it enough to pay their hard earned money. I recall reading an article on the self-publishing industry that reported the average number of self-published books sold per author is about 100 copies!
With that horrifying number in mind, you need to roll up your sleeves and prepare to launch a focused marketing and promotion program that will have you doing at least 3 things per day every day for the next 6 months to promote your book. Remember, no one can dream your dream but you, and ultimately, you are the only one responsible for the success or failure of your book.
Start by arming yourself with as much knowledge on the subject as possible. Check out these books and websites on marketing and promoting for self-published authors:
THE SELF-PUBLISHING MANUAL by Dan Poynter is I think hands down, the best promotional book and guide to successful self-publishing for a first time author. It is easy to read and understand, and organized in a fashion that make it a valuable reference as you go through the writing and publishing process.
GUERILLA MARKETING FOR WRITERS by Jay Conrad Levinson is another easy to follow guide with more than 100 ideas for marketing and promoting your book. There are like a zillion Guerilla Marketing books covering a wide range of markets.
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING by Tom & Marilyn Ross guides authors through the entire self-publishing process from writing the first word to wildly creative ways to market the finished product.
1001 WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BOOK by John Kremer is top notch. John Kremer is a legend in the book marketing field. But there are SO many ideas presented this 3″ thick book that I found it to be somewhat overwhelming. His websites are much easier to go through for people that are A.D.D. like me!
Leveraging the power and global reach of the Internet is the next step you must take.
Every author needs a web page. Do you have one set up for your book or books yet? This site will serve as the foundation of your marketing campaign and is a step you cannot afford to skip. Your website will be used as a vehicle to promote both yourself and your work 24 hours per day. It will also display or link to book reviews, to provide the media and press with an avenue for contacting you for interviews, and will of course help you sell your product.
Your website does not have to be fancy and expensive. As a matter of fact, it is better if it’s rather non-dynamic. You want the key focus to be on your book and YOU, not your fancy FLASH intro.
After that, you need to get your book reviewed. There are mainstream book reviewers, and there are many niche market reviewers as well. Check out John Kremer’s list of newspaper reviewers at BookMarket.Com.
Authors of Black books have many options available.
When seeking reviews, be prepared to send out a copy of your book along with a headshot photograph, author contact information, and information on where your book can be purchased. This is when you would mention your wonderful new website! Here is a list of Black book reviewers and sites:
QBR The Black Book Review
QBR is a reliable source for what is current in Black books. QBR also produces the Harlem Book Fair, the largest African American book Fair nationally, held annually in New York City.
Felicia Pride’s Black Books Blog – More Than Words
Felicia reviews and blogs about Black books on AOL’s Black Voices channel.
African American Literature Book Club (AALBC)
The largest site on the web focusing on Black books.
The RawSistaz
This group of ladies provides casual reviews of a wide variety of books, all written by African American authors.
Let’s Talk Honestly with George Cook
George provides free interviews with Black authors which are posted as pod casts each week on this popular website.
The Black Issues Book Review
This the only nationally distributed magazine devoted exclusively to covering the latest news and reviews on black books.
Now you have a published book and a couple of great reviews. It’s time to contact Black bookstores in your area. Go visit them with your book in hand, introduce yourself, and ask if they will either carry your book or allow you to have a book signing in their store.
Book retailers usually receive a rather large discount from the cover price (as much as 60%). Since each independent retailer has its own sales agreement and terms, all I can tell you is to be sure to read each carefully.
Make sure the terms regarding book returns, payment dates, and merchandise delivery are spelled out clearly and to your satisfaction before signing on the dotted line.
Writing, researching and editing your book is certainly a lot of hard work, but that is just the beginning. All that work pales in comparison to the long hours and the effort you must put into getting your name out there and your book noticed every single day until you reach your sales and financial goals.
I cannot describe with words the deep sense of satisfaction one gets when you open up a package from your publisher and find the first copy of a real book that has your name on it. And selling thousands of those books is certain validation that what you have to say has value and is important to others.
Get busy making it happen!

My Black Urban Vertical: African-Americans and Web 2.0

Submit the words “Blacks,” or “African Americans,” in combination with “Long Tail” to the Google or Yahoo search engine, and discover quickly how finding the most relevant topical information sometimes can be elusive even for the Internet savvy. One might reasonably conclude that although African Americans represent 12% of the U.S. population, or 38 million individuals, they are nevertheless often a long-tail play when it comes to online search. “Long tail” is a reference to a phrase coined by writer Chris Anderson in his October 2004 article of the same title in Wired Magazine. The hotly debated premise of Anderson’s article is that the Internet has lowered the costs of distribution to the point that it now makes sense for merchants to address the pent up demand of niche groups for better tailored goods and services.
Supply and Demand or Heads and Tails?
Most would agree it is relatively easy to search by Black or African-American in general and find rich content. However, try searching “Black owned restaurants in Chicago” for example and you are likely to be largely disappointed or even worse misled. Given that there are 22 million African Americans online, it begs the question why topical search about them has not advanced past its present state? My Black Networks, LLC (MBN), a social media network company based in Austin, TX, believes there are three primary forces at play.
? First, although recent studies suggest the digital divide between black and white households has closed, MBN states the relatively late adoption by blacks may explain the historical neglect to create the kinds of centralized taxonomies characteristic of Web 1.0. “Incentive to distribute content will naturally be lower if a sufficiently large and accessible audience to receive it does not exist” states Elbert McQuiller, co-founder of MBN. However, MBN concedes that the convergence of the development of Web 2.0 applications such as blogging software, the commoditization of PC’s, the wide spread availability Web-enabled cell phones, and the emergence of the first African American major party nominee for President have resulted in a recent and substantial narrowing of the digital divide.
? Secondly, MBN believes the lack of advertising targeting African Americans is also partially to blame. According to a Nielsen study published in January 2008, overall advertising spend targeting African Americans reached $2.3 billion during the 12 months between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007. This figure, however, represents less than 1% of total U.S. advertising dollars. MBN maintains that the relative allocation gap in online media is even greater. This places African American publishers and content at a competitive disadvantage. Mr. McQuiller states “The availability of content is partially dependent upon the ability of publishers to monetize their sites and advertising revenue continues to be part of the dominant business model.”
? Finally, search engines rely primarily on key words to interpret data. Although progress continues to be made in terms of more nuanced, semantics search, the algorithms driving search engines continue to give greater weight to word matching and literal or denotative meaning. Publishers who desire to target the African-American market must optimize their sites in ways that increase their likelihood of discovery. For example, the website of a “Black-owned restaurant” will probably need to include keywords or tags that identify it as such, if the goal is to be easily discovered by someone searching for those types of restaurants.
Vertical Branding Meets Vertical Search
MBN is launching its portal site www.myblacknetworks.com in an effort to address the fragmented state of the data that it believes is culturally salient to its target markets. MBN describes itself as an ecosystem of informational websites targeting unique segments of the African, African-American and Caribbean community or the African Diaspora. MBN begins its quest by launching The MyBlack? Urban Vertical. The first phase of the launch includes unique websites for 20 cities with large African-American populations. Each site includes the MyBlack? brand and offers relevant national and local news, a Black-owned business directory, small business resource center, a wealth-building section, an events section, as well as special interest areas for lifestyle, health and romance. Each city site is accessible from the portal and is also connected to a shared social networking platform. MBN eventually expects to expand to include over 200 major cities around the globe including major urban centers in the U.S., Africa, Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. The portal site will include links to such destinations as myblackchicago.com, myblacklagos.com, myblackriodejaneiro.com, myblacktoronto.com, myblackkingston.com, and myblackparis.com.
MBN’s objective is to facilitate vertical search by its target markets by employing vertical branding of relevant content. In the near future MBN hopes to partner with a vertical search engine or create its own. MBN believes that the opportunity for social networking among the African Diaspora is ripe given the current and projected growth in internet-enabled mobile devices in its emerging online markets and believes that MyBlack? can be a dominant player in the space. When asked what MBN intends to do after reorganizing the Web, Mr. McQuiller shrugs and replies “Watch the tail wag the dog.”