As a result of collaborating with me, leaders, visionaries, creatives and game changers unleash the power of their voice in order to empower humanity.
My dream work date — collaborating with Mr. George E. Johnson, founder of Johnson Products Company, on his memoir, tentatively titled “Follow the Golden Rule: Afro Sheen, Soul Train, Wall Street, and the Making of The Johnson Products Company,” publication date Jan 2025. As one who grew up using his products, I feel especially blessed to sit at the feet of this amazing, 96-year-old gentleman, who led the first Black-owned company to be publicly traded on a major stock exchange. The gorgeous location? Outside Palm Springs, California.
An empowering young readers edition of We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders, the memoir by Women’s March coorganizer and activist Linda Sarsour that’s “equal parts inspiring, emotional, and informative” (Kirkus Reviews).
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2022
A School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Book of 2022
On January 21, 2017, Linda Sarsour stood in the National Mall to deliver a speech that would go down in history. A crowd of over 470,000 people gathered in Washington, DC, to advocate for legislation, policy, and the protection of women’s rights—with Linda, a Muslim American activist from Brooklyn, leading the charge, unapologetic and unafraid.
In this middle grade edition of We Are Not Here to be Bystanders, Linda shares the memories that shaped her into the activist she is today, and how these pivotal moments in her life led her to being an organizer in one of the largest single-day protests in US history. From the Brooklyn bodega her father owned to the streets of Washington, DC, Linda’s story as a daughter of Palestinian immigrants is a moving portrayal of what it means to find your voice in your youth and use it for the good of others as an adult.
Fantasia Barrino Taylor—American Idol, Grammy-winning vocalist, and chart-topping singer—and her husband businessman Kendall Taylor were both successful and living in their purpose when they met and married three weeks later. Their marriage has had its ups and downs, but the one thing that has sustained them through all of it is the practice of taking off their crowns—the accolades, their egos, the things the world tells you matter—and serving each other within the home. It doesn’t matter who you are in the world—you need to humble yourself and serve your partner in order to put your marriage, your family, and your faith first.
Seven years later, after facing a host of real-world challenges—from marital stress to professional and financial pressures, to their high-risk pregnancy and the premature birth of their daughter—Fantasia and Kendall’s marriage has become a beacon of hope and love as they have opened up about their lives in their weekly ‘Taylor Talks’ broadcast. Now, in their first book together, Fantasia and Kendall dish about their shared experiences and struggles, opening up about the challenges and triumphs they’ve faced together and how they have come out stronger for them. They also share stories about how they've made their relationship work against all odds and why they try to always treat each other like royalty.
In their trademark no-nonsense, real-talk style, they discuss topics that affect all relationships, including the importance of submitting to one another, handling conflict, clearing the lines of communication, keeping the romance alive, navigating the challenges of blended family, and how to maintain healthy relationships when you haven’t seen them modeled before.
Insightful, wise, and grounded in faith, Fantasia and Kendall’s story offers hope and encouragement and gives straight-up advice about making your relationships last.
Part memoir, part call to action, this young readers’ edition dives into the inspiring life of the late U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings—from childhood through his time as chairman of the House Oversight Committee—and his tireless fight for justice. Elijah’s story comes complete with a full-color insert of photographs from the congressman’s life.
Growing up as the child of former sharecroppers in a segregated Baltimore, Elijah Cummings saw firsthand how injustice could run rampant, even in a democracy that promises fairness and equality. But with a strong support system and fiery self-discipline, Elijah utilized the momentum of the civil rights movement to overcome the obstacles of poverty and racism to effect change at a time when our country so badly needed it.
In We’re Better Than This, readers will learn not only that we must be and do better than our oppressors but that it is our shared responsibility as a nation to keep our democracy intact because it is the only way to pursue freedom, justice, and equality for all.
"Represents the wholeness of the legacy of a politician who aimed to humanize politics." — Kirkus Reviews
One of the worst acts of racial violence in American history took place in 1921, when a white mob numbering in the thousands decimated the thriving Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Sensitively adapted for young readers, The Burning recreates Greenwood at the height of its prosperity, explores the currents of hatred, racism, and mistrust between its Black residents and Tulsa's white population, narrates events leading up to and including Greenwood's devastation, and documents the subsequent silence that surrounded this tragedy. Delving into history that's long been pushed aside, this is the true story of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre, with updates that connect the historical significance of the massacre to the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America.
A 2022 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Award winner.
“Eye-opening and immersive…. essential antiracist reading.” School Library Journal
A 2021 Publishers Weekly Black History Month pick!
This inspirational picture book reveals what is was like for a young black mother of three to navigate the difficult world of the 1950s and 60s and to succeed in an unwelcoming industry to become one of the now legendary "hidden figures" of NASA computing and space research. Johnson''s own empowering narrative is complemented by the recollections of her two daughters about their mother''s work and insights about how she illuminated their paths, including one daughter''s fight for civil rights and another''s journey to become a NASA mathematician herself.
The narrative gracefully weaves together Johnson''s personal story, her influence on her daughters'' formative years, her and her daughters'' fight for civil rights, and her lasting impact on NASA and space exploration. Filled with personal reflections, exclusive family archival photos, and striking illustrations, readers will be immersed in this deeply personal portrayal of female empowerment, women in STEM, and the breaking down of race barriers across generations. Historical notes, photo/illustration notes, and a time line put the story into historical and modern-day context.
The inspirational tale of Johnson's perseverance is both intimate and global, showcasing the drive of each generation to push one step further than the last. With its evocative family album-style format and novel approach to storytelling, One Step Further is sure to inspire the next generation of rising stars.
T.D. Jakes’ He-Motions meets The Art of War in this accessible guidebook to help today’s man navigate and thrive in these unpredictable times.
Rev. Dr. Alyn E. Waller, pastor of the mega-church Enon Tabernacle, shares wisdom from his ministry and longtime martial arts experience to inspire and offer moral guidance to navigate the complex challenges today’s men face in daily life.
Where do I fit in the job market and will I ever feel financially secure? How can I lead my family without being a chauvinist or blocking my partner from living fully and expressing her gifts? How do I deal with the fact that my partner makes more money—or has a better job, or owns the home we live in, or is more educated—than I am?
These are but a few of the questions that Waller has heard over and over again as he’s counseled thousands of men, many of whom seek a new set of skills to thrive in modern society. Dramatic shifts in our nation’s cultural, economic, social, and political landscape have upended their lives, leaving them feeling betrayed and lost.
In this eye-opening and inspirational book, Waller draws from his Christian teachings and the lessons he’s learned from martial arts and extreme adventures to offer men innovative strategies to help them fight today’s challenges in ways that affirm their manhood. He offers ten crucial and accessible life tenets such as: prioritize the immediate threat then handle first things first; conserve your resources; and you can survive fear and pain. Code of the Righteous Warrior empowers us to live our best life and rise above any difficulties we may face.
Reaching for the Moon (Simon & Schuster, 2019) with NASA data analyst Katherine Johnson, whose story was made famous in the bestselling book and Oscar nominated film Hidden Figures. I cannot tell you what an honor it was to be invited to assist Mrs. Johnson and her amazing daughters, Joylette and Kathy, to pen her book. Wow!
A Parents’ Choice GOLD Award® winner
A 2019 Kirkus Reviews Best of Children’s Books selection
“This rich volume is a national treasure.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Captivating, informative, and inspiring…Easy to follow and hard to put down.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.
As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. In school she quickly skipped ahead several grades and was soon studying complex equations with the support of a professor who saw great promise in her. But ability and opportunity did not always go hand in hand. As an African American and a girl growing up in an era of brutal racism and sexism, Katherine faced daily challenges. Still, she lived her life with her father’s words in mind: “You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you.”
In the early 1950s, Katherine was thrilled to join the organization that would become NASA. She worked on many of NASA’s biggest projects including the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the moon.
Katherine Johnson’s story was made famous in the bestselling book and Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. Now in Reaching for the Moon she tells her own story for the first time, in a lively autobiography that will inspire young readers everywhere.
Actress and activist Skai Jackson shares her lessons on life and her rise to stardom in this vibrant memoir about self-acceptance, girl empowerment, and the classy clapback.
Starred Kirkus Review: “Truly delivers what the subtitle promises.”
Actress and activist Skai Jackson is a star! Her rise to fame started on the popular Disney Channel shows Bunk'd and Jessie. Her cool sense of style led her to create her own fashion line. And her success has made her a major influencer, with millions of followers on Instagram, who isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in.
But being a teen celebrity isn't always glamorous. For the first time, Skai discusses the negative experiences that sometimes come with living in the spotlight--the insecurities about her appearance, the challenges of separating her real personality from her TV roles, and the bullying she's faced both personally and professionally. She knows firsthand the struggles tweens and teens face today, and she has found her calling as an antibullying activist, known as the queen of the classy clapback.
Skai is a positive force and a role model for inspiring change and embracing differences in others. Her story will encourage girls and boys alike to believe in themselves and to have the courage to reach for the sky and follow their dreams.
In November and December of 2014, I had the pleasure of writing a memoir with Mo'ne Davis for children ages 8-12.
Everyone knows Mo'ne for being a whiz on the mound; she's also a great point guard. More importantly, she is an academic high achiever. Since she arrived there, Mo'ne has been on the honor roll at a very demanding school.
In addition to inspiring girls and boys -- and even grown women and men -- with her fiery fastball and steely nerves, Mo'ne embodies the promise of low-income children -- kids who many of us overlook or even disparage -- when they have the same resources and opportunities as other children. And caring adults in the village that helps to raise them -- people like her baseball, basketball and soccer coach Steve Bandura, at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in South Philadelphia, who has coached Mo'ne since she was seven.
I pray that Mo'ne's story not only encourages children of all backgrounds -- and particularly girls -- to fulfill their potential, but also that it inspires adults who have access to opportunity to invest in inner-city children to give them a chance to share their gifts and talents with the world.
An unprecedented guide to helping black boys achieve success at every stage of their lives—at home, at school, and in the world.
Winner, 2015 NAACP Image Award for Instructional Literature
Black boys face a daunting array of challenges—and the surprising fact is that those challenges appear regardless of how wealthy or poor their parents are. All black boys must confront and surmount the “achievement gap”: a divide that shows up in our sons’ test scores, but also in their social and emotional development, their physical well-being, and their outlook on life. As children, our sons score as high on cognitive tests as their peers, but at some point in their young lives, the gap emerges. Why?
This is the question Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson sought to answer when their own son, Idris, began struggling in a new school. As they filmed their son’s experiences for their award-winning documentary American Promise,they also set out to discover the reasons for Idris’s struggles, struggles he shared with black boys everywhere. Their investigation led them to meet an array of researchers who had not only identified the reasons for the gap, but had come up with practical, innovative solutions to close it. In Promises Kept, they explain
• How to influence your son’s brain before he’s even born
• How to create a home environment that’s structured, supportive, and stimulating
• How to tell the difference between authoritarian and authoritative discipline—and why it matters
• How to create an educational program for your son that matches his needs
• How to prepare him for explicit and implicit racism in school and in the wider world
• How to help your child develop resilience, self-discipline, emotional intelligence, and a positive outlook that will last a lifetime
Filled with innovative research, practical strategies, and the voices of parents and children who are grappling with these issues first-hand, Promises Kept is a groundbreaking, critically important guide for every parent and caregiver of black boys. It will challenge your assumptions, give desperately needed advice, and inspire you to do all that you can to make sure your child isn’t lost in the gap.
Winner, 2013 NAACP Image Award for Instructional Literature
Health First! connects the dots through every stage of the life cycle—from adolescence through maturity. It addresses Black women’s most pressing health concerns—ranging from informative and reassuring conversations with experts on heart disease, reproductive health, and HIV to the crucial facts about the most urgent medical conditions that Black women face. Grounded in vital research, as well as the realities of Black women’s lives, the focus is on prevention, awareness, and action, across generations and circumstances, presented in an authoritative, yet reassuring personal voice. In an age of uncertainty, Health First! provides the invaluable tools and insights that Black women need to re-prioritize their lives and establish new traditions of self-love and well-being.
Detox diets are making news as the quickest, easiest way to shed pounds, boost your energy, and get yourself on a wellness track. Popular in the 1970s, cleansing fasts are again all the rage among celebrities like Gisele Bundchen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Stella McCartney, and Madonna.
One of the key advocates of the health benefits of cleansing detoxes is Roni DeLuz, ND, a licensed naturopathic and health practitioner at Martha′s Vineyard Holistic Retreat, part of the renowned Martha′s Vineyard Inn. The idea behind DeLuz′s new detox plan is the belief that the foods we eat (along with the coffee, tea, and alcohol we drink and the air we breathe) contain harmful and toxic substances that accumulate in our bodies and need to be removed in some way. In 21 Pounds in 21 Days, DeLuz offers three different detox programs, including the original and most effective 21-day "MasterFast," which promises a 21-pound weight loss in just three weeks and focuses on detoxification through antioxidants, fasting, stress reduction, and lifestyle changes. Also included in the book are:
∗maintenance plans
∗dozens of easy, delicious recipes
∗real-life tips
∗an extensive glossary of terms
∗a guide to supplements
Meals consist of supplement-laden drinks, herbal teas, thick, delicious vegetable purees, and "live" juices, along with nutritional supplements, vitamins, and enzymes designed to keep the body′s systems stable and its cells nourished while harmful toxins are flushed out. 21 Pounds in 21 Days isn′t just for those looking to lose weight; everyone can benefit from this revolutionary detox diet that results in a clean, refreshed system that functions at its best.
Courtney B. Vance met Angela Bassett….
They ran for years as friends in the same small circles. They had some hits, but mostly misses with other partners, and they shared one spectacularly dreadful first date together. And then, Courtney and Angela connected.
Experience the up-close-and-personal, real-life love story of this inspirational African-American celebrity couple. Learn how they navigate the fickle tides of fame, while keeping their relationship fresh and true. See how they've carved a meaningful life together in spite of humble beginnings, family tragedy and the ups and downs of stardom with love, faith and determination.
Venus and Serena Williams have something to say. But it isn’t all about tennis. It’s about life and how to play it.
These superstars and super sisters share their secrets in this straight-talking smart guide. Speaking candidly about their personal experiences, the sisters give you the inside scoop on:
• What it takes to rise and stay on top.
• Who watches their backs when the pressure is on.
• How they spend—and save—their money.
• Dating—their real deal on romance.
• Book smarts—keeping grades up and study stress down.
• Loving the skin you’re in.
This book offers solid advice for getting an advantage in every game you play.
In this remarkable memoir, Lisa Price shares the extraordinary story of how she went from bankruptcy to successful entrepreneur—grossing more than two million a year while working from her very own Brooklyn home. Intoxicated by fragrance and scent even as a child, Lisa was famous among her friends for always smelling good. She never imagined that the oils she enjoyed mixing up for her own pleasure would give way to the hugely popular “Carol’s Daughter,” a luxurious, all-natural line of bath and beauty products.
How did a young black woman in financial straits, unable to get a business loan and deeply in debt, churn out a multi-million dollar enterprise? With $100 in cash, her own kitchen, and the simple notion that people should follow their hearts (which Lisa did by following her nose!) But first Lisa had to face down her demons—her fears about money, low self-esteem, and a history of failed relationships. But as she tackled each problem, her confidence soared and her business was unstoppable. She met her husband and business partner, began a family, and bought a large, beautiful space in her Brooklyn neighborhood to sell her products—favorites like Honey Pudding, Mango Body Butter, and Jamaican Punch that stars such as Halle Berry, Erykah Badu, Maya Angelou, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Rosie Perez buy religiously.
In Success Never Smelled So Sweet, Lisa Price charts her amazing journey in lively, down-to-earth stories about her childhood growing up in Brooklyn and the often unexpected “accidents” in the kitchen that led to her bestselling scents. From the early cultivation of her sensory gift through cooking with her Trinidadian grandmother to her painful years in a rigid school system where she was berated by teachers and bullied by kids, Lisa speaks tenderly and wisely about the subtle ways in which life can guide us to our inner truth—even as it throws out difficult obstacles along the way.
For any woman who has ever longed to leave the nine-to-five grind and work successfully from home, Lisa Price’s story is a must-read. Filled with inspiring anecdotes, life advice from her own mother, Carol, and the recipes for some of her best-loved products, Success Never Smelled So Sweet is a book to read by candlelight while soaking in a silky rose-milk bath.
In her ob-gyn practice, Dr. Hilda Hutcherson has seen women of all ages who have questions about sex. Now, in this down-to-earth book, she answers those questions and more as she addresses every sexual matter that has an impact on the lives of women.
Combining up-to-date medical science with good old-fashioned girl talk, Dr. Hutcherson discusses sex in a lively tone that’s as educational as it is engaging. With facts on female (and male) anatomy, aphrodisiacs, fantasy, orgasm, birth control, and more, she shows how to overcome sexual problems — and achieve sensational sensual experiences.
Your mother may not have known what to tell you about sex, but Dr. Hutcherson will give you a real, honest education on sex and sexuality. And with a special chapter on talking to your daughter, you can pass your wisdom on to the next generation.
Designed to address the major health issues facing African-Americans, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, Lighten Up: The HealthQuest 30-Day Weight-Loss Program uses a three-part approach -- nutrition, fitness, and body-mind-spirit awareness -- to provide a sensible plan for permanent weight loss, without sacrificing the foods folks love. Lighten Up is an eye-opening look at the relationship between African-Americans' chronic health issues and their ancestral diet, and it examines soul food (notoriously high in fat, sodium, and cholesterol) and the role it plays in the African-American community.
The nutrition component of the plan includes five comprehensive food pyramids as well as instructions on how to adapt them to individual diets. The program is also bolstered by "Think It Through" and "For Your Spirit" exercises, using affirmations, meditations, and self-reflection to empower the reader. Finally, more than thirty delicious, low-fat, low-sodium adaptations of favorite African-American dishes are provided, along with two weeks of menus and meal and exercise planners. Lighten Up is a true path to permanent weight loss for African-Americans.