$14
Forty wide-ranging essays and commentaries broadcast on NPR’s The Tavis Smiley Show, News and Notes, Tell Me More and other broadcast and print print media. Includes updates on what made the news after a piece aired, and the challenging and sometimes poignant response from listeners.
Forged by the fires of the 60s Black Arts and Civil Rights movements, S. Pearl’s powerful Old School voice translates fluidly across the generations and continues to resonate fiercely … Her historical insights, wit and vision are clearly reflected in timely pieces like “Hair Hysteria,” “Immigration Schizophrenia,” “Memo to the President-Elect” and “Step-up Dads.”
–Daphne Muse, Writer, Social Commentator and Poet
“S. Pearl’s written words stay with you, her singular style and penetrating perspectives on topics that hit close to home.”
–Tony Cox, Professor of Journalism and former NPR host
“With humor, style and raw emotions S. Pearl has a cornucopia of social commentary and poetic gems that touch the soul and the senses.”
–Charles Reese, Editor, James Baldwin: A Soul On Fire
“Brilliantly perceptive and so wickedly funny that it’s truly a joy to read!”
–Dorothy Randall-Gray, author, Soul Between The Lines
from “A Visit with Rosa Parks”
Mrs. Parks was so gracious and showed great interest in the children. She took their books and began to look at them. Opening one, she turned to the page about her life and took time to silently read a passage. Her brow furrowed. Then she took the pen and began to cross out lines. Our mouths dropped. My godchildren looked from one to another in stark amazement. She was crossing out stuff in their books! And with an ink pen!
from “Where Did Aunt Juanita Go?”
As she lunges at me a few defense classes from another decade kick into my brain and I raise my arms, cross locking them at the wrists to defend my head as she brings all her strength down, pummeling me. And her strength is amazing, almost overwhelming. Struggling hard to hold my defensive block I breathe the deep breath we practice together in yoga, breathe, will the fear out of my eyes and step into her chasm.
from “Becoming AWARE: The Radical White Identity”
I first became aware of the organization when another group’s flyer caught my attention. It said, simply, “White Privilege Conference.” Now that title, without any identifiers, can send some Black folks’ blood pressure right off the chart. While investigating this audacity on the web I stumbled into AWARE, and their acronym ID allowed me to calm down & breathe — The Alliance of White Anti-Racists Everywhere. It was “anti-racist skill building” in their blurb that made me curious enough to spend a Saturday afternoon with them.
THE EVENING NEWS
Cover and book design by Beverly Hawkins Hall
PO Box 75796 Los Angeles, CA 90075
ISBN: 978-0-936068-24-4 Current Events & Memoir / History / African-American