They're THE BLACKWOODS, an ultra famous Black Hollywood dynasty. Everyone seems to know the intimate details of their lives, fed by the insatiable and unscrupulous paparazzi. From matriarch Blossom who managed to attain star status at a time when Blacks were mostly excluded from show biz to great grands Hollis, Ardith, and Prentice who all live in the spotlight even though only Ardith has gone into the family business they've been able to keep very few secrets...
...But one is a biggie. Blossom, a dedicated professional, has raised her only son, Abraham, with the help of her mother and younger sister. She has never revealed the name of his biological father...
...until Abraham and the fam find out in a letter she'd left orders to be delivered after her death. By then the father, Michael, is dead. But there's a whole living clan for the Blackwoods to try to merge with. And it's not gonna be easy...
...especially since it's not the only drama the family is having to deal with.
Brandy Colbert's The Blackwoods gives readers an up close and personal look at a family defined by both power and vulnerability in the age of social media.
While The Blackwoods is a work of fiction, Colbert has done her due diligence, thoroughly researching the lives of the Black entertainment pioneers.
"It was an immense joy to write The Blackwoods. I don't know if I'll ever be able to summarize all the ways in which I am moved by the power of visual storytelling, but I believe this book is a start. It is my ode to Black Hollywood, and I am honored to share it with you."
On a purrrsonal note, I attended the Women's March in Orono on Saturday. Despite the frigid weather with a biting wind chill there were hundreds of people and a few canine companions. Most of the time we stood on both sides of a bridge holding signs, chanting, and waving at the drivers who honked their horns in solidarity. I was proud to be surrounded by so much enthusiasm and determination. It's going to be a long haul.
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated and the organizers who gave us the chance to make a statement.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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