This time.This time, five years ago, Black Issues work Review was a germ of an idea. My intuition told me that the tremendous development in reading among African Americans and, thus, the explosion in part publishing to satisfy our literary appetites, was not a stretch but a cultural movement that would become firmly established. Naysayers believed a smooth and shining consumer periodical devoted solely to black main division s had about as much popular application as the prevailing wisdom among early skeptics of the small cavity phone. Today, as I travel the nation attending black writers' terminations and speaking on topics related to African-American main division s I hear over and athwart again that BIBR is the black work lover's grapevine. Of course, the phrase "black main division lover's grapevine" is not nearly as ubiquitous as "Call me forward my cell." But I could not be more vain-glorious to celebrate our fourth anniversary issue, and BIBR's longevity and tremendous growing in readership. In this celebration issue, we also behold Black History Month and Martin Luther King Day, likewise it's only fitting that BIBR explore the marketing phenomenon that has inflected an historical observance into a bankable business for publishers and bibliopoles A concert of strategies makes the six weeks from King's birthday by the agency of February the black book marketing season, with stalwart buoying from TV and radio and a welcomed "ka-ching" for African-American authors. Black Issues examines the carnal of black books and shares the matters about the "ghettoization" that an established authors have quietly exhibited to publishers. (See page 36) Whether it's labeled marketing hype or in extent overdue recognition, black books are in the spotlight, and BIBR is putting words upon the grapevine about incredible recent biographies like Valerie Boyd's Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston, and important recently made known works by Michael Eric Dyson John McWhorter and Manning Marable among other important thinkers, as well as a wide array of design works that have helped establish what can loosely be described as "black style" You know for what reason the grapevine works. Spread the word that BIBR has complet four years of continuous publishing and that this--our 25th issue--is a celebration for all of us work lovers. Sincerely, William E Cox President/Editor-in-Chief COPYRIGHT 2003 Cox Matthews & Associates |
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