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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Carleen Brice is a 21st century Georgia Douglas Johnson. And I’m delighted to help support her efforts to promote black authors.
Johnson
A brief explanation: Born in the 1880s, Georgia Douglas Johnson was an African-American poet and writer during the New Negro Renaissance. Her most important role, however, was that of mentor, patron, and friend of the literary arts – or as one bio describes her, “a creative woman of her time.” She is famously known in Washington, D.C. for hosting “Saturday Nighters” for black writers and intellectuals to discuss current events and encourage one another in their artistic endeavors. For over a decade, her home was a safe space for figures such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jean Toomer.
That Carleen Brice is a superb writer goes without saying, but I like to think of her blog White Readers Meets Black Authors (as well as Susan’s Color Online) as the “Saturday Nighters” of our generation. Carleen is always a gracious host, giving and enthusiastic with praise, and open to every genre and style. Fellow authors and bloggers gather at her virtual weekly salons to debate controversial issues and celebrate new books for all readers. I’m honored to count her among one of this blog’s regular visitors.
Brice
With that in mind, I’d like to encourage you to support Carleen’s efforts at her “I ♥ Black Authors” Cafe Press Store! These mugs, bags, t-shirts, stickers and more are a real treat for any admirer of black literature. And if you follow my lead and link to the store on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter account, then you can also enter to win a copy of Stephen Carter’s Jericho’s Fall t-shirt and a free I ♥ Black Authors coffee mug. I’ve already order my own t-shirt from the store, but that mug would be just perfect for my morning coffee….
Carleen’s excellent novel, Orange Mint & Honey, is in the process of being made into a movie for Lifetime, so make sure you get to know her and her latest book, Children of the Waters, before she moves from Denver to Hollywood!
And while we’re talking about hearts…
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The Heart of A Woman
by Georgia Douglas Johnson
The heart of a woman goes forth with the dawn,
As a lone bird, soft winging, so restlessly on,
Afar o’er life’s turrets and vales does it roam
In the wake of those echoes the heart calls home.
The heart of a woman falls back with the night,
And enters some alien cage in its plight,
And tries to forget it has dreamed of the stars
While it breaks, breaks, breaks on the sheltering bars.
(1922)
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Posted by carleen on August 11, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Honored, touched, educated (sad to say I didn’t know Georgia Douglas Johnson), humbled, moved and grateful.
Posted by Claudia on August 11, 2009 at 10:02 AM
You are very welcome! (Hopefully the post title didn’t embarrass you too much….)
Posted by Zetta Elliott on August 11, 2009 at 10:23 AM
I’m so glad you didn’t call her a “midwife” like they used to for Jessie Fauset…she’s tireless–amazing! My mom’s gonna flip about the Lifetime movie…
Posted by susan on August 11, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Can’t wait for the movie. Gonna get me a mug and in the meantime come by Color Online and read the latest praise for Children of the Waters.
Posted by Wilhelmina Jenkins on August 11, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Wonderful post! I love the analogy between the salons of the past and Carleen’s blogs. She is a wonderful host, holding the door open for all to enter, making everyone comfortable with her intelligence and humor. And anyone who has not yet sat down with Carleen’s books is missing a real treat.
Posted by theprisonerswife on August 11, 2009 at 6:02 PM
I love Carleen’s novels as well. Orange Mint & Honey was simply wonderful, and her 2nd novel, Children of the Waters, show she isn’t afraid to tackle tough issues (and make them relatable to us all).
the shirts are GENIUS! i’m getting one ASAP.
btw: Check out my review of Carleen Brice’s latest novel, “Children of the Waters” on Color Online (http://bit.ly/qZ5Dx)
Posted by Claudia on August 11, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Thanks for stopping by, Prisoner’s Wife! I’m so used to chatting with you on Twitter and it is such a pleasure to read your writing. (Now, I have to be honest, Children of the Waters is still on my TBR pile, so I had to scan your review with one eye closed.)
Posted by theprisonerswife on August 11, 2009 at 10:25 PM
LOL, i didn’t give anything away, so you could’ve read the whole thing. i try not to give away endings/too much info when writing a review. but you’re gonna love it. you should put it on top of the pile for sure.
Posted by carleen on August 14, 2009 at 6:27 PM
This is quite the lovefest! Thanks y’all!
Posted by Lost & Found: Snow Day « The Bottom of Heaven on February 19, 2010 at 9:13 AM
[...] THIS: The film, “Sins of the Mother,” based on Carleen Brice’s novel, Orange Mint and Honey, will air this Sunday, February 21, at 8 p.m. ET on the Lifetime [...]