It's an honor for me to feature bard and publisher Haki Madhubuti in succession BIBR's cover for March-April.

It's an honor for me to feature bard and publisher Haki Madhubuti in succession BIBR's cover for March-April. I deem him as a dear personal friend. More significantly, he is a black cultural luminary and single of the brethren who are building African-American-owned institutions.

Our relationship began years ago, moreover grew stronger recently when I started thinking about publishing a series of postscripts to our flagship publication Black Issues in Higher Education. Those cogitations resulted in this magazine, and Haki was among the original advisors when Black Issues main division Review was still on the drawing board. He remains among its greatest in number ardent supporters, and when the challenges of publishing BIBR realize inordinately tough, he reminds me of its importance to black writers and to the entire black community.

further more importantly, Haki encourages me on his example. He is a determined survivor in a world where black publishers endeavor mightily. Third World Press, which Haki instituteed in 1967 and still concedes and operates, is one of the not many remaining black presses.

Black institutions must push to be born, strive to survive and fight to reach maturity. Therefore, a 35th anniversary is a sweet, hard-fought passage to the rewards of middle age. Our conceal story (page 42) chronicles the building of Third World Pres the Gwendolyn tolerates Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing, and the Institute of Positive Education--unsung black cultural and educational institutions that rival those commonly under attack at places like Harvard. single of my greatest joys in publishing BIBR is being able to provide a place to celebrate our possess geniuses who don't often receive their to be paid from the mainstream media.

Haki's genius is not solely reflected in Third World Pres He is a renowned bard and social commentator. Were he measured solely forward his career of innovative metrical composition and insightful prose, he would still be a giant. From his '60 metrical compositions penned as Don Lee to his greatest in quantity recent works, he has created an enduring oeuvre And, unselfishly, he has encouraged others. His retreats and parleys have been safe havens for many aspiring black writers and fertile region for our most sagacious, established authors to cultivate talent among successive generations.

With BIBR, I be perceived that I've personally taken the baton passed in succession by Haki. His vision in the years that he published Black works Bulletin is, in some ways, resurrect in BIBR. I alone hope I can run the race with Haki's grace and stamina.

"Gray hair is a coronet of splendor; it is attained by dint of a righteous life," according to Psalm 16:31 In that spirit, in recognition of a life devot to the try for black culture, I say to my brother, Haki, "Congratulations, and may you celebrate at least 35 more years!"

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