Focus On: African Americans in WWII

By 1945, more than 1.2 million African Americans had served bravely in every theater of World War II, while simultaneously struggling for their own civil rights. Although the US Armed Forces were officially segregated until 1948, World War II laid the foundation for post-war integration of the military.

One of our most recent exhibitions, Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in WWII, is a poignant retelling of the stories of the thousands of African Americans who rushed to enlist at the start of the war, intent on serving the country that treated them as second-class citizens. It discusses how hopes of equality inspired many to enlist, the discouraging reality of the segregated non-combat roles given to black recruits, and the continuing fight for “Double Victory” that laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.

Public Programming

Meet the Author

Thomas E. Simmons presents
The Man Called Brown Condor: The Forgotten History of an African American Fighter Pilot

Friday, February 12
5:00 p.m. Special exhibit open for viewing  |  6:00 p.m. Presentation and Q&A  |  7:00 p.m. Book signing
Louisiana Memorial Pavilion and Special Exhibit Gallery

In conjunction with Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in WWII, join author Thomas E. Simmons as he shares the story of John C. Robinson, often called the father of the Tuskegee Airmen. Before the presentation, spend time immersed in the special exhibit gallery learning about segregation, bravery, tough choices, and honor deferred through the stories of Tuskegee Airmen, Montford Point Marines, and the millions of African American men and women who fought on the battlefield and the home front during World War II. Mr. Simmons, a veteran and pilot, has authored several books about those involved in World War II, and none more compelling than The Man Called Brown Condor.

This program is free and open to the public but requires an RSVP. RSVP online now. For more information call 504-528-1944 x 229.

West Coast of Ireland will visit West Coast of U.S. by Jeanne Charters – Author of “Shanty Gold” – An Irish American Novel http://jeannecharters.com/west-coast-of-ireland-will-visit-west-coast-of-u-s/

Thomas E. Simmons, author of By Accident of Birth, will be speaking at the Authors and Characters luncheon Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at the Bay St. Louis-Hancock County Library.

For more information contact Mary M. Perkins, Public Affairs/Development Officer, Hancock County Library System, 312 Highway 90, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520  (228) 467-6836  Cell: (228) 332-0054  Fax: (228) 467-5503 www.hancocklibraries.info  mmperkins@hancock.lib.ms.us

   Pathways of the Heart book trailer

The Other Two-Fifths

The shadow of Abe Lincoln disappears in the catastrophic race riot shattering the Springfield, Illinois community in 1908.  Despite the model of a harmonious community, a labor strike in the mines pitted blacks against whites. A lone man seeking revenge seizes the moment, raging a war against the Carter family.  The cauldron of racial hatred leads to the destruction of two black communities, claiming seven lives.  Hollis Carter escapes.  He begins a journey of social justice; one that continues on in his children and grandchildren.

The Carter legacy becomes an organization, covert and lethal, in 1956 Chicago. The Amos family uses the organization to save a young black man from murder, as they fight injustices not tackled in courtrooms. It is this same organization that saves four black voter registration workers and a lone white freedom rider who fall into a deadly KKK ambush in 1969 Mississippi.

Amos Carter’s great-granddaughter and her husband, two survivors of the bloody Mississippi Voter Registration Drive, recall the pain and celebrate the victory during the historic inauguration of the first African-American president of the United States.

Joan Early developed a love of books while growing up in rural Mississippi. Reading was her prime entertainment throughout childhood. Later, she chronicled her family’s history in stories told by ethnically diverse ancestors and expressed her feelings through song lyrics and poetry.

Early’s professional writing career began in 2003 when her short story entry won first place in Ebony Magazine’s literary contest. She continued writing historical fiction and family sagas, but changed to contemporary romance. Her published works include: Sara’s Reward (New Concepts Publishing, 2007), Look Both Ways and Fireflies (Genesis Press, 2009), Oak Bluffs and Friends in Need (Genesis Press, 2010) and Separate Dreams (Genesis Press, 2011).  Joan’s first novel, Legacy (First Books, 2002) remains a favorite with book clubs, and was followed by: Night Sweats (New Concepts Publishing, 2012), A Tangled Web and Heartstrings (New Concepts Publishing, 2015).  She returns to her first love of historic fiction and family saga in The Other Two-Fifths. Joan and her husband live outside of Beaumont, Texas, where she continues writing, attends writer’s conferences, and enjoys entering literary contests.

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/joan-early/

Published by Argus Publishing www.a-argusbooks.com/ (release 2016)

Book Club Likes the Portrayal of the Female Characters in The Lies That Bind by Ed Protzel http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=8a8aa71e4b920613d70246196&id=52ab3bdbb3&e=c6aaad4b04

When Chicagoan, David Martin, moves to Eureka Springs with his step-daughter, he is escaping urban America and all its violence, as well as memories of his deceased wife. A marriage of convenience ended in tragedy and left him to raise a fifteen-year-old daughter whom he has only known for two years. Both father and daughter are testing foreign waters: new home, school and work. Neither expected it, but where there is a will, there is love in a small town.

Buy now at: Rogue Phoenix Press, Amazon, and  Barnes and Noble

EXCERPT

Although Havah’s older brothers, Mendel and David Cohen, perished at the beginning of Please Say Kaddish for Me, they are ever alive in her heart. Two very different personalities, Havah adored them both. Her memories of them are a constant thread throughout Please Say Kaddish for Me, From Silt and Ashes, and the imminent third novel in the trilogy, As One Must One Can.

Her eldest brother, Mendel, eight years her senior, wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps as a rabbi.

***

By the tender age of twelve, Havah had developed the attributes of a young woman. Despite her disappointed protests, her father agreed with her teacher that her Heder education should come to an end. The boys would never learn Holy writ with such a comely distraction.

Her brother Mendel became her lamed, her teacher. While she missed her classmates’ challenges, she enjoyed mornings with Mendel and flourished under his tutelage. A strict teacher, he never allowed her any leeway because of her gender or kinship.

~~Taken from From Silt and Ashes

***

David, who was two years younger than Mendel, was a gifted artist. In Please Say Kaddish for Me, Havah tells Shayndel that he could paint a flower so real that you would swear you could smell its fragrance.

David was the mischievous brother who mercilessly teased his little sister. She regrets that shortly before his murder, they had quarreled.

***

With a suppressed sigh she covered the braided loaves with clean towels and set them on the back of the stove to rise. “The last time I baked Hollah, I couldn’t put raisins in it because my brother David ate all of them. I wish I hadn’t gotten so mad. I said horrid things.”

“Were they the last words you spoke to him?” Fruma Ya’el unfolded a linen tablecloth snapping it so it billowed and dropped to cover the table.

“No.” Gathering the bowls and utensils, Havah hobbled to the sink. “I can still see him with Mama’s clean dish towel over his head, walking bent over. He sang all raspy like an old lady, too. ‘Little Bubbe Fuss Bucket. All astir over a raisin. A raisin. A shriveled little raisin. Oy, yoy, yoy.’”

She took a kettle of hot water from the stove and poured it over the dishes. “I could never stay mad at him. If only I’d known—”

Gittel grabbed a dish towel. “Would you have done anything differently?”

A soap bubble floated up from the water. Havah popped it with her finger. “No.”

~~Taken from Please Say Kaddish for Me

***

Each night of Hanukkah, Havah and her brothers took turns lighting the candles. Papa led the recitation of the blessings. To this day, when she heard distant thunder Havah swore it was Papa’s resonant voice chanting prayers in heaven.

One year, her brother David, then twelve, ate so many macaroons he spent half the night in the outhouse. The next morning, fourteen-year-old Mendel, always the teacher, seized the opportunity to expound on the evils of gluttony. David’s green-tinged cheeks flushed while six-year-old Havah giggled into her napkin.

~~Taken from As One Must One Can

Deon Doeks, author of The Road to Royalty, the story of King David told as never before, proudly holds copies of his novel.

Doeks was compelled to write this version of the Bible story to humanize and legitimize the man “God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ Yes, David was chosen to rule by The Creator of All, but he was also flesh and blood; had wants, desires and endured every emotional and physical discomfort and trial as we would.

Amid the unrest, a Greek trader chases prosperity as bronze gives way to the Iron Age. He befriends an idealistic young priest and teaches him the first forms of linear writing. Together the two men witness one of the most prolific adventures of the ancient world.

David is betrothed to the King Saul’s daughter, Michal, but their fairytale romance is tainted with blood and woven with deceit as her father manipulates circumstance. Exposed, their lives are threatened in a sequence of gripping events that plot the road they are made to endure before David is anointed to reign as Royalty

Love, Honor, Trust

In a world where the evil of a dynasty freely unleashes the wickedness of its king, love rises above circumstance, honor above deceit, and trust is the adrenalin that runs through this heroic tale of how a shepherd boy became a king.

Deon Doeks lives and writes in the Wilderness, South Africa.

Published by Argus Publishing 

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency https://loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/deon-doeks

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Listen to Writer’s Block’s interview with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency! http://latalkradio.com/content/writer-020416%20#audio_play