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Here we are in the 21st century, an era of high-speed communication and round the clock news, and information about the genocide in Darfur and the millions of refugees left in its wake is a crisis we just don’t hear about. But NOT ON OUR WATCH is a book that I recommend all of us read to gain some valuable knowledge and true perspective as to what is really going on in Darfur, Sudan that our news media is not being up front with us about!

For the first time in US history, Secretary of State Colin Powell testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2004 that genocide was indeed being committed in Darfur by the Government of Sudan and the Janjuweed Militia. As Martin Shaw stated in his book, WHAT IS GENOCIDE?, “this was the first time a sovereign nation accused another sovereign nation of active genocide under the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.”

But as important as Powell’s testimony was, the Bush Administration simply referred it to the UN for follow up and sends large amounts of aid—but nothing more. The invasion of Iraq for weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and to win the war against terrorism is "the watch" the Bush Administration is interested in. To this day we know, with certainty, that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq as reported, and as far as terrorism goes, isn’t genocide just as important? You bet it is and that fact is what fueled Don Cheadle and John Prendergast to pen this empowering book which gives activists first-person accounts as to what has gone on in Darfur since Colin Powell’s testimony and a variety of paths we all can take to action.

After reading this novel and discovering that Zora Neale Hurston was the recipient of 2 Guggenheims, the author of 4 novels, 12 short stories, 12 essays, 2 musicals, and 2 black mythologies, I could not help wondering how this literary giant disappeared from us for nearly 3 decades. To my disappointment I learned that her disappearance was due to her peers (mainly Richard Wright) criticizing her openly and publicly for not writing about the so-called "serious social trends" of the time.

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This story told by each brother in alternating chapters is unique and well developed. Johnson's writing is so crisp and fresh that this 372 page novel will go by in a flash. I believe what I enjoyed most about this story is that it depicts black men in times of trouble committed to the women in their lives and to keeping their families together at all cost. Author Freddie Lee Johnson, III tells this story with the kind of humor and thoughtfulness that makes him a welcome new voice to the genre of contemporary African American literature!

http://www.thegritsbookclub.com/Reviews/Bittersweet.htm…

THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK is a charming book filled with humor, true friendship, love and feel-good romance. I commend author Parry Brown not only for writing an awesome story about a man who is obviously a good son, a wonderful brother, a true best friend and one hell-of-a-catch; but for writing a story about a black man who is a loving dedicated single parent. This was a fun book to read . . . and one that I would gladly read again and again!

http://www.thegritsbookclub.com/Reviews/ShirtOffHisBack…

Author J. D. Mason takes readers on Ruth's unforgettable journey to self-actualization through a riveting and sometimes tense plot filled with some very appealing and memorable characters. When asked what challenges she faced when creating this story, she will tell you, "I wanted Ruth Johnson to be a heroine. She had to be a woman who'd overcome some monumental odds and come out on top." Well, Ruth Johnson is an unforgettable heroine. This is a story I believe every woman should read . . . great debut novel!

http://www.thegritsbookclub.com/Reviews/AndOnTheEighthD…

Nikki Giovanni, often referred to by fans as the "Princess of Black Poetry," is back on the scene with another brilliant collection of poems titled, BLUES FOR ALL THE CHANGES . Anyone who knows music and about the Blues in general will find all the poems in this book to be in some way a lyrical and rhythmic statement not only about this radical poet's life, but about some of the best and worst moments in Black America.

http://www.thegritsbookclub.com/Reviews/BluesForAllTheC…