Essence EIC: We Are ‘Absolutely’ Looking for New Writers

By Donya Blaze

For many writers, 41-year-old Essence is a dream publication. Long legacy of compelling features, excellent pay rate, prestige — but how the heck do you actually break in?

“The first thing you think about is what are Black women thinking about. What’s important to Black women? And that is really the crux of what we do at Essence, and therefore if you’re pitching us, that’s what you should be focused on too as a writer,” says editor-in-chiefConstance C.R. White.

And, although it isn’t easy to nail the mag’s voice, it is possible for newbies to score with the right pitch.

“Maya Angelou, Terry McMillan, Alice Walker, a lot of them got their start, had their early careers in Essence and are now writers that we turn to,” says White. “At the same time, we want the new Alice Walker. Who is the new Maya Angelou? They are in the pages of the magazine as well, and we’re looking for them.”

UMissouri Deletes Facebook Page with Anti-Gay Comments Over E. Patrick Johnson Visit

By Rod 2.0

University of Missouri administrators decided to delete an entire Facebook page after students' complaints about anti-gay comments. The Facebook page alerted students to this week's visiting performance by E. Patrick Johnson, the popular Black gay academic, author and performance artist. Johnson is the chair of the department of performance studies at Northwestern University.

The thread included at least one negative comment by an anti-gay Republican state legislator, reports The Missourian.

The presentations were titled "Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell Their Tales" and "In Search of Countess Vivian: Queerness and the Making of Southern History." The events were presented in conjunction with MU's Pride Month and co-sponsored in part by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Resource Center, among other campus groups and organizations.

"Some of the comments were offensive to Mizzou students and fans. Comments that violated our posting policy — those that contained profanity or personal attacks, for example — were removed swiftly. Those that did not, remained on the Facebook page for more than 24 hours," the message stated.

One such comment that sparked a heated response was from Missouri state Rep. Kathie Conway, R-St. Charles. "Really?? This is educational?," Conway wrote. "Just what is the percentage of the population that this could possibly apply? .0001%?" Conway could not be reached for comment.

Mizzou administrators say "many of the comments" violated the university's posting policy.

Administrators also add the page was thread was ultimately deleted because the event was over.

"Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell Their Tales" is a critically-acclaimed and commercially successful stage adaptation of the Johnson's oral history Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South. The one-man show has been staged across the country.

Zolra's Corner: The Good Things About Journaling

I spoke about this before, and since I have been feeling extremely creative for the past couple of days, this week felt like the best week to talk about this again.

One day, I began to remember my terrible childhood. Most things I can't even tell you in one blog post. If I had to tell you guys all at once, I will have to write a book about it instead of one blog post. The one thing that always cleared my head was journaling. There are some people that still call it diaries, but I call it a journal. When I was writing my feelings down, I was also drawing sketches in it. It was like writing my own book with pictures in it.

At the end of every night journaling, I felt strong enough to survive the next day. Because of it, I decided to share to you guys what are the good things about journaling. It's not just about writing a burn book. There's more to that.

Journaling came into our lives for many reasons. One way people journal is to help get rid of their depression. Sometimes, life brings us down in a way that we never felt before. We hold in so much sadness, the one decision we choose is writing. Once you start writing, you can feel your sadness going away as you continue to write one word at a time. Sometimes, you might start crying. Even if you do, keep on writing till you let everything out. Then once you finish writing that entry, I guarantee that you will feel a lot better. Even if the entry is long (probably five pages or more), the good thing about it is that you let everything out.

Another reason why people journal is to help get rid of anger. Holding anger inside is actually worse than holding in sadness. When it comes to holding anger, you don't know when you are going to let it out. You might even aim it to the wrong person. Journaling is considered a great way to relinquish your anger.

In some ways, writing about your daily life can be a part of journaling. Sometimes, you might wanna look back at your life to see how things have changed since then. That's an amazing way to do it. As long as it is used for good reasons only. In the movie Mean Girls, they created this thing called "The Burn Book". You don't want to create something like that.

If journaling is going to be a part of your life, make sure that you are using it for good reasons only. Turn negative into a positive. And remember to keep it to yourself. Unless you have friends that you know so well, you can trust them no matter what, I recommend you keep your journal to yourself.

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Giving Thanks to my hometown Richmond, VA""

Good A.A+W Wednesday,

The theme of this week is thanks giving, in honor of our holiday, and I'm looking forward to heading down to Richmond to spend time with my family.  What is about getting older that draws you closer to your family?  That thing that draws you back home?  

I remember as a teenager, wanting to get far away as possible from my family.  So far that my freshman year of college was lived in Syracuse, NY.  There was even a point where I didn't claim my Richmond roots 'cause I didn't want to be identified with the stigmas of the south.  Well, things come full circle, and with age comes wisdom, and

 I'm very proud and very thankful for my Southern roots and my hometown of Richmond, VA.  Still honoring D.C. as my second home, though this month is all about paying homage to Richmond, VA, my family, and the host of friends and neighbors who have helped shaped me to be the person I am today.  Every breath I take breaths Richmond, VA proudly.  My life may not have lined up the exact way I pictured it, I may have said some things and done some things way out of line, but I'm so thankful for my life.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  

What about you?  What are you thankful for?  Is it the simple things, like home and family, that keep you grounded and at peace?  Sit with your thoughts for a minute and be thankful.

Wishing you much light on this A.A+W Wednesday.

Thanks for reading on this 

A.A+Wsome Wednesday.  

More to follow next Wednesday.

Now tune into Torya and Her Notes on Ubuntu

and for up to date information on my works and my journey with FlagBoy

follow me at: www.corneliusjonesjr.com or facebook:  Cornelius Jones Jr.

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Aging, Dying, and Love"

Recently I paid a visit to my elderly and ailing Aunt, and for the first time in my life I honestly began to think of my life 50 years from now. How I would age and who would I share my elderly days with. This is something, if we live to see those 'Golden Years', will face. So let's face it with beauty and glory.

Today I share what transpired after visiting my Aunt Ruth:

“Visits are the Best Medicine” And I wondered just how he would handle her dying slowly right before his eyes. She – my aunt – no longer able to walk or fully feed herself on her own. He – my uncle – who reminds me more and more as he ages of my daddy. For him, that’s his woman. His Heart. His Blood. His Sweetheart. His Sweet 16. His Prom Date. His Miss Universe. His Gem. His Diamond. His Fire and Desire. His eyes still glowing as if today was the day he first laid eyes on her. As if today was the day he asked her for her hand in marriage. She’s his heart and he’s going to be there with her. That’s the beauty in Love. That’s the beauty in old age. That’s the beauty in growing old together. That’s the beauty of Love. And when he walked through the door, Oh she rose out of her slight state of dementia. Straightened her sluggish body in the wheelchair, the best she could. Propped her chin up high with a faint upward tilt to the left. She smiled the biggest smile today and balled her tiny and frail right hand into a fist, raised it high in the air like victory was won. Lips part, teeth exposed – “There’s my Joe!” Her Joe – Her Boxer. Her Man who is fighting for Her. “Visits are the best Medicine,” Uncle Joe said.

©2009Cornelius Jones Jr.

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Cornelius talks Fetish: Lip Language"

LIP LANGUAGE

Round, massive, proportions so full.

Dark browns, Purples, Reds – Brown top-Pink bottom, Pink top-Brown bottom,

Brown all over with a pink indention

The dip in the middle

The folds along the edges

The story it tells when it curves up in excitement,

Frowns down in disbelief or question.

When it purses and clenches together in agitation-expectation-stimulation.

When it relaxes in between thoughts,

Pause for a breath – bottom and top, part, defenses drop allowing room for help.

The catalogue is extensive-monumental.

Archived and preserved like history.

Ranging in many shapes and forms, the things they have in common is:

The fullness: the prominent unevenness, the plumpness, the ripeness, the sweetness, and the succulent alluring thickness, articulating the story of its greatness. ©2009 Cornelius Jones Jr.

FUTURE FANS,

My fetish: Lips….more specifically lips of African descent. They have so much culture, so much history. Lips are communicators and storytellers.

What’s your fetish? Does it speak to you?

James Baldwin - 85 Years

AWARD WINNING WRITER, POET, POLITICAL ACTIVIST JAMES BALDWIN WILL BE CELEBRATED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON THIS 85TH BIRTHDAY. HOSTED BY HARLEM’S NEW THEATRE COMPANY FAISON FIREHOUSE THEATRE

George Faison, Founder/Artistic Director of Harlem’s new Faison Firehouse Theater will present a Special Event celebrating the 85th birthday of one of America’s most celebrated author James Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin was born in Harlem in 1924 and is noted for his novels on sexual and personal identity, and sharp essays on civil rights struggles in the United States. He wrote 3 plays, a children’s story book and a book of short stories. He gained fame with his first novel GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN and other celebrated works include: Giovanni’s Room, The Fire Next Times, Notes on a Native Sun, Blues for Mr. Charlie and Nobody Knows My Name.



SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2009 AT 5:00 PM

THE FAISON FIREHOUSE THEATRE
6 HANCOCK PLACE
124TH STREET between Morningside &
St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem, 10027

Come celebrate with friends and family the wonderful history and, memories of Harlem’s own James Baldwin. Discover a man that encouraged us all.

IN ATTENDANCE
AMIRI BARAKA- PLAYWRIGHT/POET
SONIA SANCHEZ- AWARD- WINNING POET
GEORGE FAISON- TONY AWARD WINNING CHOREOGRAPHER
TREVOR BALDWIN- NEPHEW OF JAMES BALDWIN
HELEN BALDWIN- SISTER-IN LAW OF JAMES BALDWIN
ALEXA BIRDSONG- PROTÉGÉ
HERB BOYD- HISTORIAN & WRITER
ELEANOR TRAYLOR- CHAIR, ENGLISH DEPT. HOWARD UNIVERSITY
GENOVIS ALBRIGHT- MUSICIAN/SINGER

Seats are limited - Tickets are available in advance Box Office #: 212-665-7716