Black Light Project

My Journey as an Authorpreneur

9/15/2018

SD Voyager sharing my story
of sharing our stories.

It is an honor to be featured in SD Voyager's Inspiring Stories series and to be able to share my journey as an Authorpreneur carving out my own path. Everyone's journey is different, but hopefully I shared something in my journey that you can relate to or learn from that will help make your journey a little easier or a little smoother.

Being an author is a journey. Being a Black male author from Inglewood, CA where you don't meet to many other authors who can guide you on that journey has made it that much more adventurous. And like everyone else's, my story has had its up's and down's, conflicts, and plots twists; and I have definitely met some interesting characters along the way. But in the end, I'm eternally grateful to be on this journey and I hope my story inspires others as so many others have inspired me.

You can check out the full article here or click the image below.

And if you have any family or friends in your life aspiring to be an author or writer of any sort, please share this with them as they continue on their journey to share our stories.

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We've Made It Into 5 Black-Owned Bookstores Across the Country!!!

9/1/2018

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My journey as an Authorpreneur has been full of many ups and downs, and twists and turns, and blessings and burns. But today, I want to take time to stop and celebrate some wins.

The ideas and concepts that flow through my book "Wanna Hide Something From a N*gga, Put It In a Book"continue to grow and be shared!

We've now made it into 5 Black-Owned Bookstores:
- 3 in California and 2 in Georgia
We're celebrating and sharing Black history and Black excellence in our communities with every book that is shared.
And ANY and EVERYBODY can be a part of that growth and sharing.

Check and see if any of these bookstores are near you, grab a copy of the book (to keep or share), and check out what else they have in there. They ALL offer great books and so much more to offer and share with the community.

These are the 5 bookstores we've partnered with so far. Take some time and check them out if any of them are near you!

Black Dot Cultural Center & Bookstore
6984 Main St.
Lithonia, GA 30058

Juice-C-Juice Books & More (Smiley’s Bookstore)
940 E. Dominguez St.
Carson, CA 90746

Nubian Books
1540 Southlake Pkwy, Suite 7A
Morrow, GA 30260

Simply Wholesome
4508 Slauson Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90043

Zahra’s Books n Things
900 N. La Brea Ave
Inglewood, CA 90302

Check them all out individually at our Bookstore Homes.

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My book “Wanna Hide Something From a N*gga, Put It In a Book” has made it into its FIRST BOOKSTORE!!!

3/26/2018

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“I’m a Black man that is proud to be Black, and I want to help the Black community, but I love all mankind.” - Common (Actor, Activist, and Hip Hop Artist)

"Wanna Hide Something From a Ngga, Put It In a Book"*

I packed this book with so much information that people wanna hide, and my goal and plan is to share my book with the world.

With that being said, it is with absolute great pleasure and excitement that I’m able to announce that my book “Wanna Hide Something From a N*gga, Put It In a Book” made it into its first bookstore!

Juice-C-Juice (affectionately also known as Smiley’s Bookstore) has been serving our community since 1993, and still stands as an excellent place to feed both your mind and your body. Stop by and try some of the fresh and delicious fruit and veggie juices, non-dairy smoothies, salads, gifts, books, and more.

So if you’re in Carson, CA or anywhere even remotely close to Carson, do yourself a favor and stop by Juice-C-Juice Books & More!

I added their address below, and make sure you check out their website at gotjuices.com.

940 E. Dominguez St. Suite K
Carson, CA 90746
(310) 324-8444

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The Impact of Black Panther

2/17/2018

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It’s Black Panther weekend! If you haven’t already seen it, do yourself a favor, and run to the movie theaters! Now! Stop reading and go now! (Or at least plan to go whenever you’re free this weekend, because in all honestly it was an amazing movie with great acting, writing, directing, costumes, and all around imagery.)

And just so that we’re clear, this post will include absolutely zero spoiler alerts. (I’m trying to give y’all time to go see it lol.) But I will talk about the impact that Black Panther has had and has the potential to have. It’s enormous!

So let’s start with the timing of this movie. It’s Black History Month! And what better time to have a movie like this and with cast full of gifted Black actors portrayed in this manner.

What’s even better though is the fact that the weekend of the release of Marvel’s Black Panther coincides with Dr. Huey P. Newton’s birthday. On February 17, 1942 Dr. Huey P. Newton, cofounder of the Black Panther Party, was born. He would’ve been 76 years old today.

Still, in regards to the movie, the impact on our communities simply cannot be overstated. This isn’t the first Black superhero, but it is the most recent one with a movie like this coming out. And isn’t that reason enough for us to be excited?

And along with having such a talented majority Black cast, we also have a gifted Black writer and director named Ryan Coogler directing the film.

The impact it can have on the kids growing up seeing these images of Black people with super abilities and seeing these Black actors on the big screens getting the support of the Black community cannot be measured. Children are seeing the massive turnout and reviews for this film at a young age and has the potential to inspire their future in ways unimaginable. And for the little children in all of us adults, it’s dope to see a film like this finally being brought to the big screen that represent us in a brilliant and beautiful light. Basically, its great to see such great representation of us.

The Black Panther Party also had quite an impact on our communities as well. Dr. Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale were cofounders of the Black Panther Party. These Blacks Panthers continued to instill a sense of pride for our history and ancestry while enforce self-defense against any threat.
Besides focusing on the preservation of our communities through self-defense when necessary, the Black Panther Party helped support the community in other ways as well. The biggest ways that impact our communities then, and now, are the Free Breakfast for Children Programs and the WIC Program still at work in our communities today.
And that’s just some of the impact of Black Panther.
Happy Black History Month!
(Go see the movie!)

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It Always Starts with a Dream

1/15/2018

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"I have a dream today." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today we celebrated the life, love, and legacy of a dreamer named ...
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King had a dream of freedom, hope, and equality for all. He had a dream for his children and his children’s children. Dr. King refused to be satisfied with how people were being mistreated in the world, so he dedicated his life to speaking that dream into existence.
It all started with a dream, but he followed his dreams with action.
Dr. King showed commitment to that dream through his love in the nonviolent movement for the advancement of the Black community. Despite what dangers he and his family faced, he chose love over hate time and time again. He knew the solution we needed had to have love in it.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
His life and his love have outlasted him and still impacts our world today. What he did inspired so many others to action. That legacy is the reason we celebrate today!
He understood that progress takes action, but it ALWAYS starts with a dream.

Happy MLK Day! The day of the dreamer!

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What's Happening with the NFL (N*ggas For Lease)?

11/7/2017

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"Most people don't want to change. They're comfortable and set in their ways. But in order to change, you have to be able to agitate people at times. And I think that's something that's very necessary for us to improve as a country."
- Colin Kaepernick

Over the weekend Colin Kaepernick celebrated his 30th birthday! At 30 years old Kaepernick is a young, talented, has a great arm, and he’s a leader.

Basically, you need to understand that he is not unemployed because he is not capable. Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed by teams and team owners because he decided to demonstrate a peaceful protest and take a knee during the national anthem. I haven’t been watching the NFL this season in efforts to not support a league that doesn’t support a cause that has always been about justice for all, especially for people of color. But like any other season, I’m sure there’s teams in the NFL that absolutely suck and could use a better quarterback. And Kaepernick could be that better quarterback … if he wasn’t being blackballed for stepping out of line.

Even with him not in the league, several NFL players have continued what Kaepernick started and take a knee during the national anthem of each and every game. It shows that the injustices in America that Kaepernick originally took a knee for are still not being rectified. The crimes committed in America are still not being punished equally. Justice is still not being served. And these players are peacefully bringing awareness to it and asking that America keep us her end of the deal with liberty and justice for all.

Despite all of this, Bob McNair, the owner of the Houston Texans, didn't appreciate the peaceful protesting. He likely saw it as bad for business that was actively causing unwanted attention. McNair, again an owner of a NFL team, decided to voice his opinion on the matter and said, "We can't have the inmates running the prison."

And this is after Donald Trump, the current "president" (and I use this term loosely) of America, called these peaceful American protesters "sons of b*tches!”

Donald Sterling (previous owner of the Los Angeles Clippers) made his comments about Blacks and he was blackballed and forced out of their league. So far, the most that has happened and been pushed by the NFL commissioner and other owners is Bob McNair had to be forced to even apologize. But it seems to me that the NFL isn’t as socially advanced as the NBA (National Basketball Association).

Still, the true problem is not just the fact that Bob McNair made those comments. Will all this going on; with Kaepernick being blackballed; with the comments about the “inmates” by a NFL team owner; with the comments by Trump; the true problem here is what Michael Bennett (DE for Seattle Seahawks) pointed out in a prior interview, “We’re check getters, not check writers.”

McNair, a NFL check writer, reportedly wrote another check and donated $1M to Donald Trump’s inaugural committee. So, again, first these NFL players and protesters were “sons of b*tches,” and now they’re “inmates.” This is their mindset and how the people currently in power in America view the men who decided to take a peaceful approach and bring more awareness to the injustice systems in America. Instead of truly working towards remedying these corrupt systems, they’re showing their true colors.

But this is what happens when we're the check getters, not the check writers.

These team owners are the check writers. These other owners and check writers need to understand that either he stays and they're condoning his comments and beliefs, or they ostracize him and push him out because of them. Nonetheless, these check writers are the owners of this "prison" and Kaepernick was causing more trouble than the other inmates. And that mentality right there is exactly why Colin Kaepernick has continued to be blackballed by the NFL. Yet they can continue to do it because they’re the check writers; they’re the owners.

In that prior interview with Michael Bennett, his brother, Martellus Bennett (TE for the Green Bay Packers) said that the NFL really stands for “niggers for lease.” And he couldn’t be any more accurate in his assessment. Players are added, traded, and dropped at the drop of a dime.

But the thing about all of this is these check writers would have no checks to write if the players do not play for their teams and their league. If Black players alone do not play, the league would fall. If Black players alone created a new league, some would argue that new league would compete with the NFL for viewers instantly. Prime example, during the 2016 season, not one white player was a featured runner on any of the league’s 32 teams. But because they’re the check writers, they have the power to bring down whoever they want and can continue to blackball Kaepernick, and whoever else they choose.

This is America, and America only understands one thing: money. And one of, if not the, best way to generate money is through ownership.

So what would happen if we were the owners?
What would happen if we started our own leagues?
What would happen if we collectively focused on building our own?
What would happen if we were the check writers, and not just the check getters?

- D. Haynes The Author

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The "N Word"

9/23/2017

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Last weekend I attended the Black Family Conference at Tomorrow Aeronautical Museum in Compton, CA.  First and foremost, let’s acknowledge how there’s an aeronautical museum right in Compton that can help our children learn more about aerospace and aviation in our own backyard.

The conference itself was really good too.  There was a nice turnout, family activities, dialogue and discussion around resistance.  Like my preference conference, I had the opportunity to connect with the people in the community, have some great conversations that was eye-opening for all parties, and I was able to sell and share my book.  All and all, it was a great day.

With that being said, there was a unique situation I found myself in at this conference.  Some random lady, possibly just an event attendee, was invited on stage to reenact what they would do in certain situations of social injustice that many of us face.  While she was up there, however, I guess she felt so moved by the scenario that she decided to expand on her feelings and express how she thinks that not only should other races not use the "n word," but no one should be using the “n word” including Black people.  I tried to give her the benefit of doubt that maybe she meant it for everybody there that day. Until I realized she had contorted her neck to look squarely in my direction, and I couldn't help but smile back at her lol.

I also felt like she was speaking at me, not to me, because I may have had a nice size poster with my titled plastered on there.

Wanna Hide Something From a N*gga, Put It In a Book 

It may have made her feel some type of way. But even back when I was still writing the book I knew that everybody wasn't going to be a fan of my title. That much was a given. Easy call.

But that's why I had to write it!

I knew that I had stumbled onto a title that would make people feel a certain type of way. And how you feel about the title is more a reflection of you than it is of me, or even the title itself.

This woman never took the time to actually come to speak with me about the title, about the "n word" and it's use in this context, or about the historical significance of it all. She got up, exposed her closed-mindedness, went to grab her things at her table, and left.

My goal with this book and the purpose of its title truly is to make you feel a certain type of uneasiness and possibly discomfort. I want us to address those issues with the "n word" and its historical significance and its present use in popular culture. Speaking with people at these events allows for that dialogue and has changed my own view on the "n word", but it requires an open-mind and communication to make that happen.

So feel a certain type of way about it, but be open to discussion. How are we ever going to move as a collective community if we can't even have a discussion around the division caused by the "n word" in our own communities.

- D. Haynes The Author

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First Book Festival EVER ... It was dope!

8/31/2017

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Earlier this month I had the opportunity to participate in the Leimert Park Village Book Fair.

It was dope!

Growing up in L.A., I've always known Leimert Park as a center of African American art and culture. It was an honor and pleasure to connect with my city like I did. We laughed at my title; we talked about big topics in my book like African American history and Black business; we ...; y'all ate all of my candy lol.

It was dope!

I'm thankful as I've sold a good amount of books since I self-published in April; and I sold some at the book festival too. But this was one of those days when I really felt like people grasped the understanding of the book. They were able to thumb through the book and ask me anything; and they definitely asked me any and everything. It was an experience like my book release.

It was dope!

This book is still new, but the feedback and love that I've received has been overwhelming. I'm steady working to keep sharing this book and I can't wait for you to see what else I have planned.

It'll be dope!

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August 28th

8/28/2017

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August 28th is the anniversary of so many different, yet important, times in African American history, and American history in general.

August 28, 1833 - Slavery was abolished in the United Kingdom, which impacted America's abolition of slavery.

August 28, 1955 - Emmett Till (a 14-year-old boy who was falsely accused) was brutally murdered by three white men.

August 28, 1963 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his unforgettable "I Have A Dream" speech during the March on Washington.

August 28, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans changing it forever.

And August 28, 2008 - Barack Obama accepted the democratic nomination for president.

Today, August 28, 2017, is a day to remember and reflect on these monumental times in history. The effects of Emmett Till, Dr. King, and Barack Obama can never be forgotten.

But trust me, these are not the events that will often be brought up in history classes. Therefore it's our job to continue to share our history.

In my book I address this lack of our history in our history classes. But even more important, I give you our history in that same book. It's up to you to find out about our history, and then it's up to you to share.

And I hope you do share it. There's plenty of people who need to know it.

- D. Haynes The Author

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Black Light Project

7/19/2017

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I've started to print my logo all over the place! I've got hats, shirts, polos, and its even my phone case. The one on my phone case is just the logo by itself, no words. And people are still loving it! Which is super dope.

But then they ask, "What is it?"

I let them know about my publishing company, Black Light Project Publishing, and the overall idea of Black Light Project.

At this point I feel the need to thoroughly explain it for everybody. So ... this is Black Light Project:

"Like a black light, The Black Light Project is on a mission to shed light on and uncover the issues in the issues in our communities that "they" wanna hide. My team and I uncover and address the things holding our communities back. Then we build the community up by educating and spreading knowledge. As we continue to grow we will continue to share and shed light on different people, projects, and purposes."

That, in a nutshell, is the plan and idea of Black Light Project. And what's dope about the logo, in my opinion at least, is if you focus on the starting point and follow through, you'll be able to ...

"Watch this Idea Grow"

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My Journey as an Authorpreneur

SD Voyager sharing my story
of sharing our stories.

We've Made It Into 5 Black-Owned Bookstores Across the Country!!!

My book “Wanna Hide Something From a N*gga, Put It In a Book” has made it into its FIRST BOOKSTORE!!!

"Wanna Hide Something From a Ngga, Put It In a Book"*

The Impact of Black Panther

It Always Starts with a Dream

What's Happening with the NFL (N*ggas For Lease)?

The "N Word"

First Book Festival EVER ... It was dope!

August 28th

Black Light Project

The Author

Categories

Archives

NAVIGATION

COMMUNITY

newsletter

SD Voyager sharing my storyof sharing our stories.

"Wanna Hide Something From a N*gga, Put It In a Book"

The Author

Categories

Archives

NAVIGATION

COMMUNITY

newsletter

SD Voyager sharing my story
of sharing our stories.

"Wanna Hide Something From a Ngga, Put It In a Book"*