Awesome New Video! “What If Times” by Shinobi Ninja

Posted on March 19, 2018 by

This video is from a new acquaintance I met online and I think it’s fabulous!  Check it out!

Advertisements
Posted in Black Culture (African American), Black History (African American), Black Women (African American) | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Podcast Interview Tomorrow, March 19: Author Raynetta Manees

Posted on March 18, 2018 by

This is an invitation to my radio Podcast interview that will be tomorrow March 19 at 1 o’clock.  PODCAST ADDRESS:   https://worshipradiodetroit.com/glamour-shoppe-talk/

MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:  amazon.com/author/raynettamanees

Hope you can join us!

Posted in Black Authors (African American), Black Culture (African American), Black History (African American), Black Romance Novels (African American), Books- Writing, Famous People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In Homage to “Black Panther”- The PantherPuff Girls!

Posted on March 8, 2018 by

The Pantherpuff Girls are here for ! We must see, respect & honor the different kinds of strength that women possess. Give a voice to women around the world and take the pledge for ’s : Art:

Posted in Black Authors (African American), Black Culture (African American), Black History (African American), Black Women (African American), Famous People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Black History In My Novels Part V “All For Love: The SuperStar”

Posted on February 28, 2018 by

Happy Black History Month!  Although I write fiction I incorporate factual Black History into my books.  Throughout this month I have been posting excerpts from my novels that reference Black history.  This is the last and fifth installment, an excerpt from my most recent romance novel, which was a finalist for the 2017 Emma Award for the Best Contemporary Romance of the year,  All For Love: The SuperStar.

“As soon as Mate reached the top of the terrace steps, the orchestra began to play the “Triumphal March” from the opera “Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi.  

This was my amazing Angela’s homage to Black History for our wedding; her backdrop as she walked down the aisle.  In “Aida” the star and central character of the opera is a Nubian princess, and the role was famously sung by opera great, Leontyne Price.”

Posted in Black Culture (African American), Black History (African American), Black Romance Novels (African American), Books- Writing, Famous People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Black History In My Novels Part IV “Fantasy”

Posted on February 27, 2018 by

Happy Black History Month!  Although I write fiction, I incorporate factual Black History into my books, and throughout this month I will be posting excerpts from my novels that reference Black history.    This is the fourth installment, an excerpt from my classic romance novel FANTASY.

Click picture to purchase!

Click picture to purchase!

 This excerpt is truly personal because it is based on an incident that really happened to me.  I am an avid cruiser, and this happened to me as I boarded a cruise ship several years ago:

“Sameerah stopped for a moment to show her ticket to the waiting steward, then continued up the gangplank to the cruise ship.  A fortyish woman in a blue uniform was greeting passengers.

“Hello!” the woman said brightly to a group of women boarding together.

“Good Afternoon!  Welcome aboard the Fantasy!” the woman said to the couple directly in front of Sameerah.

The woman’s eyes shifted in anticipation of warmly welcoming the next passenger.  Then her gaze focused on Sameerah.  The woman looked confused for a moment, then looked right through Sameerah, not saying a word.

The light-hearted holiday mood that was just beginning to build for Sameerah crashed in flames.  The woman’s gaze and silence said more clearly than words, “What are you doing here?”

Oh, no, Sameerah thought, hurt, angry, and indignant, all at the same time.  Do I have to deal with this crap even here?  Well, Missy Anne, I have as much right to be on this ship as anyone.  And I’ll be damned if I let you get away with ignoring me!

Sameerah stepped to her and fixed the woman with her brightest, phoniest smile.  “Hello!  How are you today?” she called to the woman in the most syrupy, artificial, nice-nasty tone she could muster.  The woman really looked at her then, giving Sameerah the uncertain, frightened gaze of an animal trapped in a corner.

Yeah, girlfriend, Sameerah thought with satisfaction.  We both know what time it is.  You know you were deliberately slighting me, and now you know I know you were deliberately slighting me.  As she continued into the ship, Sameerah chuckled to herself as the woman greeted the passengers boarding behind her, but with quite a bit less gushing gaiety than before.

Maybe you’ll think before you pull that crap again, Sameerah thought as she made a mental note to file a complaint about this heifer with the cruise director.”

 

Posted in Black Culture (African American), Black History (African American), Black Romance Novels (African American), Books- Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Black History In My Novels Part III “Wishing On A Star”

Posted on February 18, 2018 by

Happy Black History Month!  Although I write fiction, I incorporate factual Black History into my books, and throughout this month I will be posting excerpts from my novels that reference Black history.    This is the third installment, an excerpt from my classic romance novel WISHING ON A STAR:

“You should talk—Woodrow.”

“Would that it was that simple–no pun intended.  At least there was a President named Woodrow.  My name’s not Woodrow, Shay.”

“It’s not?  Well, what is it?”

Woody looked at her self-consciously for a beat before saying softly, “It’s Woodington.”

“It’s what?”

“It’s ‘Woodington’, Shay.”

Shay paused a moment before asking, “Uh…How did you wind up with a name like Woodington?”

He smiled resignedly, “Wait; it gets worse.”  He stood, and drew himself up to his full height, “My full legal name is Woodington James Hollister–the third.  So you see how I got it.  I inherited it.”

Shay blinked, “Good Lord.”

“Woodington was my great-grandmother’s maiden name, and her father was born a slave.  He was one of the first post-slavery Blacks to get an education, and he became a teacher.”  Wood paused a moment, remembering.

“I’m sure you know that during slavery it was illegal for Blacks to learn to read,” he continued.  “Anyone who taught a slave to read was severely punished.  So my ancestor spent his life teaching other Black people how to read.  However, even though slavery had by then technically ended, he was caught teaching—and lost his life because of it.”

Shay looked up at Woody, spellbound by this tale.

“He had no sons.  Understandably, my multi-grandma, his daughter, was proud of him and didn’t want his name to die with him,  so she named my grandfather Woodington.”

“What a sad—and beautiful—story.  It’s a name you should be proud to bear.”

“It’s a mouthful.  When I was a kid, I got teased, and sure got into enough fights because of it.  But when I got old enough to understand…  Yes, I am proud of it.”

Posted in Black Authors (African American), Black Culture (African American), Black History (African American), Black Romance Novels (African American), Black Women (African American), Books- Writing, Famous People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

#BlackHistoryMonth – A Conversation: #MayaAngelou & #DaveChappelle

Posted on February 10, 2018 by

A fantastic conversation between two geniuses.  They are discussing, among other things, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. And in addition to the depth of the content of what they are each saying, what knocks me out is the obvious respect each has for the other.  They are 45 years apart in age, but Chappelle listens to and respects Ms. Angelou’s wisdom of experience, and she listens to and appreciates him and his viewpoint from a more recent era.   In a way, Chappell is a product of the things Ms. Angelou’s generation fought so hard for.  It’s like he is gaining knowledge on the processes that produced him, and she is learning about some of the fruits of her efforts.

 

Posted in Black Authors (African American), Black Culture (African American), Black History (African American), Black Women (African American), Books- Writing, Famous People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment