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California Writers Collective hosts first Empowerment Luncheon

A day for authors and creative entrepreneurs.

Emeryville, California June 30, 2009 - The California Writers Collective (CWC) hosts first Empowerment Luncheon at the Courtyard by Marriott in Emeryville, California Saturday, July 25 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The luncheon is a partnership between the CWC and Universal Press & Productions.

No ordinary luncheon, participants learn from published authors and industry professionals throughout the day. Creative writing, poetry, short stories, screenwriting, media and marketing are just some of the topics covered. Participants should come prepared to get full, not only from the enjoyable entrée but also from the overflow of solid information. Other topics on the agenda include: turning your passion into profit, clothing line and accessory success.

Speakers scheduled to empower attendees are: Van Waller, Vincent Alexandria, Chandra Adams, Anna Christian and CWC Facilitators. Local vendors will be on-site to provide samples, resources, support and advice to aspiring writers and all creative entrepreneurs. Success binders are just one of the resources every participant receives. This promises to be an active day that will set attendees on track for making their creative ideas and writing goals a reality!

Tickets are only $25.00 and available online through Universal Press & Productions. There is a discounted ticket of $18.00 available for all CWC and Writers Resource Center (WRC) members. Visit today to pick up your ticket: www.universalpandp.com.

About the California Writers Collective and Universal Press & Productions

The California Writers Collective was formed in 2005 as a network of authors from Northern and Southern California. The CWC, as part of its mission, aims to improve awareness of the tools and resources available to anyone interested in becoming a published author via workshops, literary events and seminars.

Universal Press & Productions is a Northern California small press publisher. We produce books, products and events with an objective to be helpful, inspirational and informative. We create information that empowers our readers to go into their daily life and make changes, improve their lifestyle, live safely, eat out enjoyably, learn a new skill or start a business. When individuals get serious about walking in the direction of their dreams, our products and events are there to help them make it happen.

Contact CWC facilitators, Denise Spiller (ms.spiller@universalpandp.com) or Charles Chatmon (cwcollective@gmail.com) for more information on the CWC and other writing workshops or events. Visit the California Writers Collective online at www.californiawriterscollective.com.

It’s a tradition here on the blog around every Fourth of July to bring up Frederick Douglass. Because for one, he’s not mentioned much in conversation anymore especially from the political party he dedicated himself to, but whose descendants seem ashamed to reference whenever they pull out ‘the party of Lincoln’ card. In previous posts, I’ve commented on his famous July 5, 1852 speech where he condemned the holiday while at the same time explaining why for those in the audience at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York, it had a special significance for them, but not for Negroes still under captivity such as Mr. Douglass had been.

But one must understand the context where Mr. Douglass came from. He didn’t make these spirited comments for lack of knowledge, quite the contrary. He was born into a country that treated him more like property than a man. Eventually he became the great orator, author, and activist we know him to be today in the 21st Century. Before he could accomplish so much, he found out that even in acquiring knowledge by reading thanks to his co-owner Sophia Auld, who committed an unlawful act by teaching him how to read. From this, Mr. Douglass’s mind expanded as mentioned by Wikipedia:

As Douglass learned and began to read newspapers, political materials, and books of every description, he was exposed to a new realm of thought that led him to question and then condemn the institution of slavery. In later years, Douglass credited The Columbian Orator, which he discovered at about age twelve, with clarifying and defining his views on freedom and human rights.

More on this from another website (sorry, I don’t know where I borrowed this from)

Frederick asked his mistress to teach him to read and she readily consented. He soon learned the alphabet and a few simple words. Sophia Auld was very excited about Fredericks progress and told her husband what she had done. Hugh Auld became furious at this because it was unlawful to teach a slave to read. Hugh Auld believed that if a slave knew how to read and write that it would make him unfit for a slave. A slave that could read and write would no longer obey his master without question or thought, or even worse could forge papers that said he was free and thus escape to a northern state where slavery was outlawed. Hugh Auld then instructed Sophia to stop the lessons at once!

Frederick learned from Hugh Auld's outburst that if learning how to read and write was his pathway to freedom, then gaining this knowledge was to become his goal. Frederick gained command of the alphabet on his own and made friends with poor white children he met on errands and used them as teachers. He paid for his reading lessons with pieces of bread. At home Frederick read parts of books and newspapers when he could, but he had to constantly be on guard against his mistress. Sophia Auld screamed whenever she caught Frederick reading. Sophia Auld's attitude toward Frederick had changed, she no longer regarded him as any other child, but as a piece of property. However, Frederick gradually learned to read and write. With a little money he had earned doing errands, he bought a copy of The Columbian Orator, a collection of speeches and essays dealing with liberty, democracy, and courage.

Frederick was greatly affected by the speeches on freedom in The Columbian Orator, and so began reading local newspapers and began to learn about abolitionists. Not quite 13 years old but enlightened with new ideas that both tormented and inspired him.

There’s more that I could drag out right now, but I wanted to present to you what this means and why it’s so important for our young people to understand what Mr. Douglass accomplished at a young age. In a way, Sophia Auld should be congratulated for teaching a young man like Mr. Douglass how to read and where it not for the unjust law not permitting a Negro to read, she may not have changed her view of the young slave, but ‘the law is the law’ as our conservative friends would tout, even in 2009.

Reading sprang forth knowledge, which Mr. Douglass quickly absorbed by his lessons with Ms. Auld and what he read. The fact he took advantage of his thirst for learning served him well with the right material, which shaped his opinions of the world, slavery and the concept of justice for years. Reading also birthed new ideas in Mr. Douglass that he put to good use later in his life. For example, he joined the liberal – I mean, Abolitionist movement, he created media to help promote their cause against slavery. The North Star, Frederick Douglass Weekly, Frederick Douglass' Paper, Douglass' Monthly and New National Era are prime examples.

So here we are in 2009 A.D., and while we should appreciate and honor the life of Mr. Douglass, so many of our youth aren’t following in his footsteps, and instead of a sham, it would be a shame if they blow the greatest of opportunities, even with the first Black President of the United States. Although Mr. Obama accomplished many things, Mr. Douglass set the pace, the standard, which all men who wear this flesh, should follow.

Here is a man who craved knowledge as a young man, who wanted more. He understood the key to freedom was education. Sometimes, we throw that word around but to Mr. Douglass, it was more than that. It was a way of life; a status of proving the slave can elevate above his condition and be free. Reading allowed him to free his mind and entertain new thoughts and ideas and – Mr. Auld would hate this – question whenever injustice springs forth. The life of Frederick Douglass serves as an inspiration to those who appreciate the effort and struggle he made to insure equality for all. To the Mr. Aulds of the world, he is the living personification of their fear.

Who will we listen to then? Frederick Douglass, who was born a slave but through the unlawful act of reading, was able to achieve many things that benefited all? Had he not been able to read, he wouldn’t have said this:

“I didn't know I was a slave until I found out I couldn't do the things I wanted.”

Or should we heed the warnings of Mr. Auld who insisted, again:

if a slave knew how to read and write that it would make him unfit for a slave.

if a slave learned to read, he would become dissatisfied with his condition and desire freedom.

When our conservative friends mention ‘freedom isn’t free’, they’re right to an extent. It takes work to break out of bondage. Mr. Douglass took the first step and I pray whether our kids live in environments they don’t deserve, or in places were they should take advantage and go far in the world, they learn from him and grow. No, they must.

Otherwise, the Mr. Aulds of the new millennium would have their fears abated, and that again, would be a huge shame.

Call me old fashioned or old school, but it’s not too often I end up questioning the newest, freshest word in the English vocabulary. That being said, I’m scratching my head at the new school version of a very old popular word. Back in the day (around January 2009), we used to throw this term around, Backstabber. Now the cool new version is a word I have a slight problem with. You’ve heard about it right? The term ‘Friendamy’? What in the blue Hades is that? (smile)

According to the Urban Dictionary, Friendamy means:

A person who you treat and whom treats you as a friend but if they are given a chance would "cut your throat" or get one over on you/put themselves first if it would benifit themselves, or they would gain an advantage over you. Similar to an enemy.

Hmm, okay. But doesn’t it sound a bit like a person described by the O’Jays in this manner back in 1972?

(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)

Since smiling is a sign the back stabber is up to no good, what does the group Undisputed Truth has to say about a person like this? (a year before the O’Jays’s song, 1971)

“Smiling faces sometimes...they don't tell the truth...smiling faces sometimes tell lies”

And hmm, how does the Urban Dictionary define a backstabber?

Backstabber- Some one that you have grown to be really close friends with, but then they go and go behind your back and betray you.

Sounds like a Friendamy doesn’t it?

Look, I’m not trying to ruin anyone from using new versions of tried and true words of the past. My point is, wouldn’t be easier to call someone who may have your best interests at heart but who turns on you a back stabber instead? I think a person who betrays your trust would fit that description rather than a Friendamy. Think about it, if that person puts up a phony front to gain your trust then does a complete 360 on you when you least expect it, isn’t really your friend to begin with, right?

Who knows how long Friendamy will remain in the public consciousness or if Backstabber will remain in the dictionary. One thing’s for sure, this new generation of the 21st Century certain has some interesting words, don’t they? I’m still waiting to see what is the term for ‘sandwich’ next so I can go to Subway and drop science on the employees there. Oh snap; no one has used ‘drop science’ in twenty years. See what I mean about terms coming and going in our culture?

Besides, I can’t see the music group War sing “Why can’t we be friendamies?” anytime soon.

As a side note, I hope the Urban slang is truly from the hood and not some made up jambalaya of words from guys and gals who live in the suburbs. Sorry for saying this, but this old guy has been there and saw that in the 1990’s with the ‘Hip Hop Dictionary’.

Anyway, I’m not being a hater; I’m a complainer (big smile)

Backstabber or Friendamy? You decide!

I woke up this morning reading and watching the news that Shaquille O’Neal had been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Phoenix Suns, and later on, Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets to the Orlando Magic, and so on. It was also the day of the NBA Draft and I’m sure it would have been the big story of the day….

But life often reminds us the biggest stories are for those who leave us either when it’s their time, or too soon such as Farrah Fawcett and…Michael Jackson.

It’s hard typing both names out. You expected Ms. Fawcett’s passing. As a public, we knew of her illness and although we wished the best for her, it was only a matter of time before her battle was lost. However for Michael, none of us knew. I’m still numb over the news on this surreal day. Surreal because while cameras focused on the death of these two entertainment icons, life also reminded us…it still goes on.

At around 6:44 P.M, Pacific coast time, ESPN covering the draft, mentioned the death of Michael Jackson only after Shaquille O’Neal gave his condolences before being asked about his new team. This wasn’t the same when in 1980 during a Monday Night Football game between the Dolphins and Patriots (which ironically was shown on ABC, also owned by the Walt Disney company which ESPN is a part of) when Howard Cosell, the commentator at the time gave a brief mention to the death of John Lennon while play continued. Surreal as that might have been, it left no doubt while sports is supposed to transcend across racial and class lines, it cannot erase reality, although it allows us to have a momentary respite.

The unrest of 1992 reveals that unreal experience while tensions burned all over the city in the aftermath of the Rodney King trial, the Lakers had a game that night at the Forum. After the game that the Lakers won, traffic was redirected away from the flashpoint. You knew then reality returned from the two-hour escape of a basketball game. It was a bit of a relief the draft was on today, to take my mind off the passing of Michael and Ms. Fawcett, but after the analysis had concluded of players chosen by their new teams, local and cable news played on with the grim news of the day.

When we click on our favorite webpages tonight or read the newspapers still in existence, the draft and subsequent trades will be on the sports pages, but it will not take away this special day, a day of mourning.

My website, CharlesLChatmon.com is now updated with more options to buy copies of The Depths of My Soul and The Voices of South Central, videos and an updated bio. (The link is on the upper right hand corner as well)

If you're stopping by, be sure to leave some love in the guestbook.

Take care.