DFW Literary SoulFEST Guide 2012

September is National Literacy Month. In

celebration of National Literacy Month, Tex-

as Literacy Connection Corporation (TLC),

in collaboration with The Dock Bookshop

and Friends of Cobb Park, will host the 4th

Annual DFW Literary SoulFEST Saturday,

September 29, 2012. The event will be along

Cobb Park Drive West at the New Cobb

Park, one of the oldest and largest parks in

Fort Worth that was completely refurbished

in 2012, in which, Fort Worth Parks & Com-

munity Services Department dedicated $4

million to improvements.

The goal of this festival is to advocate,

promote, and celebrate literary arts and litera-

cy and bring community awareness to issues

concerning our youth, health, environment,

and economy as well as support the mission

of TLC - building reading skills and trans-

forming lives.

TLC is dedicated to creative and innova-

tive actions to promote literacy based on the

National Literacy Act of 1991 definition of

literacy: "an individual's ability to read, write

and speak in English and compute and solve

problems at levels of proficiency necessary to

function on the job and in society to achieve

one's goals and develop one's knowledge and

potential." DFW Literary SoulFEST brings

together the novice reader, authors, publish-

ers, poets, writers, artists, book clubs, avid

readers, scholars, families, students, educa-

tors, aspiring actors/actresses, organizations,

churches and businesses. From this collective

energy, we hope to cultivate new readers and

enlighten seasoned readers in the surrounding

communities.

This event was founded by Donya

Craddock, Donna Craddock and Dominique

Johnson, owners of The Dock Bookshop.

Why A Literary Celebration Octavia Butler was an American science

fiction writer, one of the best-known among

the few African-American women in the

field. In 1979, she published Kindred, a novel

that uses the science-fiction staple of time

travel to explore slavery in the United States.

The literary expression of African Americans

has always been a tale of life realities wheth-

er dealing with historical experiences in sci-

ence fiction or love in romance. Literary

works, like music, have become a tool that

reflects the African-American experience

from one generation to the next generation.

This legacy continues by us creating and/or

reclaiming and maintaining a literate envi-

ronment.

To understand and appreciate literacy is to

understand the African American literacy and

literary history beginning in Africa as cradle

of civilization and the birthplace of the writ-

ten word script that pre-dates our Latin-based

writing system of standard contemporary

English. Ancient Egypt along the Nile River

valley, the Nubian of the Eastern Sudan and

the Axumites of the Ethiopia highlands had

their own forms of writing. In the case of

Egypt (Kemet) hieroglyphics were in use by

3300BCE. (continued on page 2)

In this Guide: Why A Literary Celebration, 1-2

Event Highlights, 2

Literary Parade Grand Marshals, 3

Authors & Presentations, 4

Event Schedule, 5

Upcoming Events, 6

Businesses & Supporters, 7-8

The next major literary influence on the

African continent was in a script known as

ajami and abjab commonly referred to re-

spectfully as Yoruba or Arabic and Hebrew.

During the past 20 years ancient African

manuscripts were rediscovered in Timbuktu,

Mali. Over a million manuscripts were re-

cently rediscovered in Timbuktu, Mali and

about 20 million more in West Africa. These

manuscripts date back from 12th to 16th cen-

tury period. Prior to the rediscovery of these

manuscripts, people thought Africa had no

written tradition and that it was only oral

tradition according to the International Muse-

um of Muslim Cultures. Hence, prior to the

MAAFA or African enslavement there was a

great appreciation of the written word and

books was a very valuable commodity.

European languages such as French, Eng-

lish, and Portuguese begin to spread in the

fifteenth century in West Africa. During the

Transatlantic Slave Trade period, Olaudah

Equiano and Otta-bau Cugoano were en-

slaved Africans who learned to read and

write. They both gained their freedom in the

late eighteenth century and wrote books con-

demning the Atlantic slave trade.

During slavery legislators enacted a dra-

conian body of public laws, making two

forms of literacy punishable by law: mastery

of letters, and the mastery of the drum. These

two forms of literacy were related to the Afri-

can slave capacity to rebel. The Stono Rebel-

lion, the largest uprising of slaves in the colo-

nies, was related to Africans becoming lit-

erate prior to the literacy laws.

Now we come to celebrate two centuries of

writing in English by person of African de-

cent in the United States. We kickoff our

literacy celebration with the talking drum in

the DFW Literary SoulFEST parade.

Donya Craddock, 9/25/2009

DFW Literary SoulFEST Highlights

Why a Literary Celebration continued from page 1

Dallas / Fort Worth Literary SoulFEST Guide September 2012 page 2

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Council District

8 Councilwom-

an Kelly Allen

Gray

Kelly Allen Gray

was sworn in as

the District 8

Councilmember

July 10, 2012.

Community Ser-

vice is nothing

new to Allen Gray. She started early in her

District 8 neighborhood collecting money

door-to-door for the family of a neighbor

who had passed away. It was this early com-

munity service that gave Allen Gray her first

opportunity to walk District 8, learning her

neighbors and their needs.

Allen Gray, a graduate Polytechnic High

School and Texas A&M - Commerce, contin-

ued her service to the community she grew

up as the executive director of the United

Riverside Rebuilding Corporation, helping

her neighbors gain assistance in weatherizing

their homes, obtaining needed home repairs

and, in some cases, building their first homes.

Allen Gray served as President of the PTO

at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School for

four years and currently serves on the

school's board of directors. She also serves

on the board of Streams and Valleys, which

included the Riverside Trailhead Committee.

She has served on the boards of the North

Texas Housing Coalition and Neighborhood

Housing Services.

CHURCHIN - Church News Magazine

Owner, Michael

W. Jordan, Sr

Michael W. Jor-

dan, Sr. is a life-

long native of

Fort Worth, Texas

where he

graduated from

the historic I.M.

Terrell High

School and at-

tended both Okla-

homa City Southwestern College and Tarrant

County College in the

early 1970's.

He has been a businessman and church

musician for over 30 years and started, by

divine intervention, CHURCHIN' News

Magazine in 2006. Since then the magazine

has become the premier church news publica-

tion in Tarrant County as it serves the entire

church community. Mr. Jordan says he start-

ed the magazine to fulfill a longing desire to

show all the uninformed people that churches

are in indeed very

active with ministry

and answering the call

of serving their com-

munities both spiritu-

ally and physically

through various out-

reach efforts and min-

istry opportunities.

Mr. Jordan also

owns and operates

MW Jordan Publish-

ing, which is a service

and products business

specializing in full

service printing, ban-

ners and sign making.

He is a member of the

Minority Leaders &

Citizens Council of

Fort Worth, The Fort

Worth Southside Opti-

mist Club and serves

faithfully as musician

at Greater Saint Ste-

phen First Church

where Dr. M.A. Bell is

Pastor. Michael W.

Jordan is proud father of 2 children, Joyclyn

Blackshear and Michael Jordan, Jr. and 2

grandchildren, Jadalyn and Divinity.

ISIS Brantley (Mother, Business Owner,

Master Braider, Author, Lecturer, Trail-

blazer, Icon) & Grand Marshal for "The

300" symbolic of a small number making a

mighty impact.

Some may have come to know Isis as the

Dallas-bound woman

angry at TSA after

agents stopped and

searched her afro while

she went through securi-

ty at Atlanta's Hartsfield

-Jackson airport. Most

know Master natural

hair stylist, Isis Brant-

ley, as a vibrant spokes-

woman for black ances-

tral culture for over thirty years. An iconic

adorner and educator in the beauty industry,

Isis has maintained a presence in her commu-

nity, as well as established herself as a well-

known icon in the

struggle for cultural

identity for African

Americans, after her

decade long battle with

the State of Texas re-

garding anti-braiding

regulations.

In 1997 Isis was

arrested for braiding

hair without a license.

Although at the time, no laws in the state of

Texas required braiders to be licensed, many

in the community saw the arrest as an attempt

by the state to intimidate underground braid-

ers and subject them to the same require-

ments as cosmetologists. Isis, who was tar-

geted by the State because of her widespread

reputation as one of the best braiders in the

state, was not intimidated. A firm believer of

constitutional justice, Isis fought for what she

believed was a violation of her civil rights by

the state of Texas. Isis is single handedly

known nationwide as Naturally Isis, the guru

of Natural Hair Care. Stylist to many clients

across the country and including celebrity

soulstress Erykah Badu, Isis is deeply in-

volved in building and expanding her busi-

ness, with the promotion of her hair care

products appropriately donned, Sisters of

Isis , and upcoming release of three books:

Hair Once Sacred, Now Desecrated, Braid

Raid, and Olayinka's Magic Beaded Comb.

Grand Marshals for the 4th Annual 2012 DFW Literary Parade

MEET THE

2012 DFW

LITERARY

SOULFEST

AUTHORS

MEET Melody "AFI" Bell,

a GRIOT (gree-o); traveling storyteller, musician and poet. She touches thou-sands of children and adults with her heart felt talent. Melody uplifts the spirit of all people regard-less of age. Melody has a

gift that must be shared.

“Under the law of nature,

all men are born free, eve-

ry one comes into the

world with a right to his

own person, which in-

cludes the liberty of mov-

ing and using it at his own

will. This is what is called

personal liberty, and is

given him by the Author”

10:00-11:00 – Music 11:00a-12:00p Welcome Occasion Overview Recognitions

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES September 29, 2012

PROGRAM PARADE 10 am

Starting: Cobb Park at Glen Gardens & Berry Entrance

Route: Cobb Park Dr Ending: Stage area

Line Up Time: 9:00am Start Time: 10:00 am

Cost: Free

COACHES FOR LITERACY BASKETBALL

11:00-4:00p

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES BY The Suave Band

Dezyne Griot/Storyteller Melody Afi Bell

National Performance Poets Anthony Douglas and Be Wise

and other artists and musicians

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Children, Young Reader, Teen Books Face painting Storytelling

Written Wonders of the World Bingo

Boardgames Games and more

Occasion with an Introduction to the African American Lit-erary Traditions with Amin Ojouk

11:00a-12:00p Awards & Recognitions Grand Marshals Special Honor to Fort Worth Historian, Reby Cary Partners & Supporters Authors & Vendors

Celebrity Author Toya Carter

12:00-1:00p Author Runway Part 1 A Word to Parents, Educators & Students Written Wonders of the Word Author Kwan Entertainment

1:00-2:00p Author Runway Part 2 Books Beauty & Beyond Historical Analysis of Donald Goines Entertainment

2:00-3:00p Vendor Runway Part 1 Authors Sheila Lipsey & Pat Tucker Poetry in the Park

3:00-4:00p Vendor Runway Part 2 Entertainment Closing Remarks



UPCOMING EVENTS

Wed. Oct. 3—Presidential Debate Viewing Party, 8pm The Dock Bookshop.

Sat. Oct. 6—Pens and Pancakes Writers Brunch: What’s Your Next Step, 10a-12p The Dock

Sat, Oct. 6—Native Omaha in Texas, 12noon Lynn Creek Park inside Joe Pool Lake

Sat. Oct. 6—Fort Worth Conscious Movement 1st An-nual Blackout Networking Banquet, 7p Glen Garden Country Club 2916 Glen Garden Dr. Fort Worth 76119

Sat. Oct. 13—Candle-Making Workshop, 1-4p The Dock

Sat. Oct. 13—Zion Age of Aquarius Party featuring Poet-ry of TepRa, 8-11p

Sat. Oct. 20—Sankofa Caravan to Ancestors for more info contact NBUF 214-460-7672

Sat. Oct. 20—Texas Rose Festival, Tyler, TX

Sat. Oct. 27—Educators Appreciation, 11a-1p, The Dock

Sat. Nov. 3—2012 Nappiology Expo, 8a-7p, Hurst Con-ference Center

Fri. Nov. 23—Black Friday Event. 9a-12noon, The Dock

Sat. Nov. 24—Winter Wonderland of Reading, 12noon-2p, The Dock

BUY BOOKS


BUSINESSES &

LITERARY SUPPORTERS

Thanks to all the Organiza-

tions, Book Clubs, Businesses

who support Reading & Inde-

pendent Bookstores!!!

www.dallasgospelconnection.com


Naturally Isis

17290 Preston Road Suite 104

Dallas, Texas 75252

214-946-1460

Naturally Isis

2642 S. Beckley

Dallas, Texas 75224

214-329-3820

Website: [email protected]

Intelligent Bookmarkery—Visit us at www.book-inz.com

http://www.book-inz.com/

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DFW Literary SoulFEST Guide 2012

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