Because of the controversy surrounding the release of Crystal Gail Mangum's new book, "The Last Dance for Grace," No Warning Shots Fired.com asked publisher, Vincent Clark to respond to these questions.
NWSF: Why did you decide to publish the book ?
Clark: I decided the publish the book because the longer I worked with Crystal, the more I knew she needed a way to express herself. A lot of people showed up in Durham claiming to want to help her but most were looking to make a quick buck. They wanted Crystal to sell her rights for a movie or do a TV interview on one of the network shows.
From the time I started working with her, we were concentrating on getting her to graduate, put food on the table and take care of the kids. When she finally had enough for a book, the few publishers it was pitched to either declined or just didn't respond at all. I decided that the book needed to come out so I started my own publishing company. That fit right into what I wanted to do anyway. I was already doing documentary films and working on getting people's story out.
A lot of people who are criticizing me for publishing the book don't know anything about my motives. I have worked on a number of stories behind the scenes and it is unlikely anyone would have known who I was had it not been for the nature of this case. However, I stand by my reason for publishing this book. It is an important story but not for the reasons many people think.
It really is a story about forgiveness, redemption and atonement. Those concepts are the pillars of the three major religions most of us profess to follow. Even if you aren't religious, we should have the capacity to view issues from a place of reason. Most people haven't been reasonable about this case.
NWSF: What is Ms. Mangum's purpose for writing the book ?
Clark: Crystal wrote the book as a personal catharsis and as a way to help people. She has always written poetry and kept a journal. She was writing about what was going on to try and help her move forward. She had no intention on sharing most of this with the wider word. Some of the revelations are tough to make. The book makes you uncomfortable reading it and stays with you a long time. It is because it is almost like transferring all of the hurt and disappointment form Crystal's life into your body and soul. It make it hard for you to go to sleep for days.
I've been working with her for close to two years and her story is very powerful. I'm glad she did decide to write it. I believe every teenager and young adult woman should read it. Men should too but they have to have an open heart and mind. Crystal says she wants to help people. Well, I think she is going to help a lot of young women not make some very serious mistakes.
NWSF: What reaction have you gotten from people in Durham and around the country ?
Clark: Of course we have gotten a lot of negative stuff. Some of it even threatening. That is a shame. Only a few people have seen the manuscript and the one's who have recognize that it is not a hit piece on Duke or any of the boys. It is a very well reasoned look into how cases like this turn into spectacle. It is as much a critique of the media and attitudes as anything else. Right now, we are running about 50%/50% when it comes to support and criticism. The only problem for me is that the people who are against it are very scary people. I'm not personally afraid but I do fear for Crystal and her family. It is really ashamed that people can't think rationally.
NWSF: As a long time resident of the Triangle and a social and political commentator , do you believe that the book has the power to divide this community or has this community ever truly been united?
Clark: There is no reason for this book to divide the community. When people read it, they we see immediately that it strikes a balance and is very conciliatory. Look, I believe the people with the loudest mouth get the attention. I don't necessarily believe that what we have heard so far from the flame throwers is the true feeling of the community. The people in Durham and throughout North Carolina are much smarter and thoughtful than people think. I want to believe after people read this, the prevailing thought will be that this was the beginning of the end to all of the rhetoric and division. I believe that because nobody ever stepped up to provide a counter narrative to the one that had emerged, that is what lead to division and confusion. This will hopefully correct some of that.
NWSF: Please share your views about Freedom of the press in regards to the book.
Clark: Well, I have to tell you that despite what everyone say about America being so in favor of freedom of speech, you would not know it based on some if the things I hear. There have been three other books published about the Duke case. Not a single one of them met with protest. From the time I expressed interest in even doing this project, there have been attempts to block it and intimidate me. I can only assume those people are proud Americans just like me and don't believe in the denial of any of our constitutionally guaranteed rights. Had we not had a free press in this country, I don't think we would be out of slavery yet. Those people, black and white, who could get the message out about how horrible slavery was, help turn public opinion.
I think that why China and Russia are having such a difficult time hanging on to their fragile democracies. They like the capitalism part and all the stuff. They just haven't figured out the other part about the people being free to express themselves. I think because of Russia's unwillingness to support a free press, they will regress for a while. We should learn a lesson from that. I could never in a million years imagine leading an effort to block free speech rights. By blocking speech, you also block enlightenment. Sometimes, you have to hear and read words that you don't agree with. It causes you to think and make improvements. It is especially called for in this case.The exception to what I just said is that if you are evil, have bad intentions, stupid or just plain intellectually dishonest; speaking freely can insight people to harm others. I am none of those things.
I have worked for two decades now trying to challenge people to think for the betterment of us all. There is no reason we can't all co-exist in this country and on the this planet. We see what denying civil rights does to people. Whether it is in Zimbabwe, Russia, China, Chile or the United States, denying basic human rights makes you a hypocrite without moral authority. Countries like that eventually fade away. I'd like for America to stay around a little longer.
NWSF: Any closing words ?
One last thing... Take the time to reach out to someone that is suffering. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his last speech told the parable of the Good Samaritan. He was trying to explain why he came to Memphis to help the garbage workers. He called what he was doing "dangerous unselfishness". It is when you put yourself in harms way to protect someone who is defenseless and maybe you don't even know them. That is what we are really called to do by the higher power. Help those who are truly in need and defenseless. That is what I saw in the story and why I sought out Crystal. She was the one person who had been striped of her humanity and really needed a helping hand. We all need to practice more of that type of kindness.
Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283
info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Showing posts with label accuser. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accuser. Show all posts
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Getting to Know the Know Bookstore
Getting to Know the Know Bookstore:
Store to host Crystal Gail Mangum
Paul Scott
The Know Bookstore has been a vital part of Durham's African American community for over 20 years and has been a favorite stop off point for out of town connoisseurs of Afrocentric books. However, because reading and black folks are seen as oxymoronic by the mainstream and since there are no reports of Saturday night stabbings at the establishment , the Know Bookstore has gone virtually unnoticed by white America.
That is until it was recently announced that Crystal Gail Mangum, aka "The Duke Accuser" will unveil her book "the Last Dance for Grace" at the store on Thursday, October 23rd at a 10AM press conference.
In an exclusive interview with owner, Bruce Bridges, affectionately known in Durham's black community as "Brotha Bruce," No Warning Shots Fired.com wanted to know why with all the scandal surrounding Crystal Mangum, would he hold her book debut, there?
"The Know Bookstore is a place where the Durham community can come to express their points of view where the major chains may shut them out," says Bridges.
That's true. As someone who has frequented "The Know" on a regular basis since 1991, I have been exposed to many different perspectives from visiting lecturers that I would not have gotten at one of those fancy bookstores in the mall. Also, although I attended a historically black college, North Carolina Central University, the bulk of my cultural awareness did not come from sitting in a classroom but by grabbing my usual ring side seat at the Know Bookstore at the popular Thursday night lecture series during the 1990's
Over the years the Know has been visited by such nationally renowned folks such as Andrew Young, civil rights leader and former Atlanta mayor, Susan Taylor, founder of Essence Magazine and Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan, one of the pioneers of African-centered study. Also, Crystal Mangum will not be the first controversial voice raised at the Know Bookstore, as guests have included Black Power activists such as the late Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael) and Jamil Al -Amin (formerly H. Rap Brown.)
According to Bridges, the vision for the bookstore started with a lecture series at North Carolina Central University during the summer of 1981 which was later moved to St. Joseph's AME Church in 1982. Feeling that the cultural message needed to reach a larger audience such as the elderly and handicapped who could not venture out to the lectures, later in 1982, Bridges brought his "Cultural Awareness Seminar" to the airwaves via WDUR AM. The success of the radio broadcast created a market for Afrocentric reading and the Know Bookstore was established in 1982 on Dillard St in downtown Durham later in 1982. The store moved to its current location on Fayetteville St. in 1991.
What has endeared the store to the hearts of members of Durham's African American community has not only been its Afrocentric resources but the activism that has originated at the Know. As a young activist in the early 90's, I remember spreading information about my activities and posting fliers at the Know, something that Brotha Bruce will quickly point out that I would probably not have been able to do at a Barnes and Nobles. Matter of fact the first time that the world heard about my crusade against the malt liquor industry for targeting black youth came courtesy of the Cultural Awareness Seminar.
Also, other activists such as Minister Curtis E. Gatewood, former president of the Durham NAACP, who gained national attention for his "Boycott Against Santa's Cost" a campaign against wasteful holiday spending in the mid 90's , have done a lot of community organizing around the bookstore.
Although, there were many black bookstores around the country in the 90's, in 2008, the Know is the last of a dying breed, as many Afrocentric bookstores have been forced to close their doors over the last decade.
So what has enabled the Know to keep its head above water.
According to Bridges, it's because the Know prides itself in being more than just a bookstore.
Besides the community events that the store still sponsors, it also features The Know Restaurant where you can get a slammin' fish sandwich, side order of veggies, a big piece of potato pie and wash it down with a tall glass of freshly squeezed lemonade. I got to tell you though, if you want anything containing swine, you have to go somewhere else. Also the restaurant has Jazz Nights every Friday for those wanting to cool out after a hard week's work.
So what is the future of the Know and the few remaining African-centred bookstores and radio programs across the country ?
Empowering black people through education. Or to borrow from Brotha Bruce's book; to aid us in "recapturing the African mind.'
Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Store to host Crystal Gail Mangum
Paul Scott
The Know Bookstore has been a vital part of Durham's African American community for over 20 years and has been a favorite stop off point for out of town connoisseurs of Afrocentric books. However, because reading and black folks are seen as oxymoronic by the mainstream and since there are no reports of Saturday night stabbings at the establishment , the Know Bookstore has gone virtually unnoticed by white America.
That is until it was recently announced that Crystal Gail Mangum, aka "The Duke Accuser" will unveil her book "the Last Dance for Grace" at the store on Thursday, October 23rd at a 10AM press conference.
In an exclusive interview with owner, Bruce Bridges, affectionately known in Durham's black community as "Brotha Bruce," No Warning Shots Fired.com wanted to know why with all the scandal surrounding Crystal Mangum, would he hold her book debut, there?
"The Know Bookstore is a place where the Durham community can come to express their points of view where the major chains may shut them out," says Bridges.
That's true. As someone who has frequented "The Know" on a regular basis since 1991, I have been exposed to many different perspectives from visiting lecturers that I would not have gotten at one of those fancy bookstores in the mall. Also, although I attended a historically black college, North Carolina Central University, the bulk of my cultural awareness did not come from sitting in a classroom but by grabbing my usual ring side seat at the Know Bookstore at the popular Thursday night lecture series during the 1990's
Over the years the Know has been visited by such nationally renowned folks such as Andrew Young, civil rights leader and former Atlanta mayor, Susan Taylor, founder of Essence Magazine and Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan, one of the pioneers of African-centered study. Also, Crystal Mangum will not be the first controversial voice raised at the Know Bookstore, as guests have included Black Power activists such as the late Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael) and Jamil Al -Amin (formerly H. Rap Brown.)
According to Bridges, the vision for the bookstore started with a lecture series at North Carolina Central University during the summer of 1981 which was later moved to St. Joseph's AME Church in 1982. Feeling that the cultural message needed to reach a larger audience such as the elderly and handicapped who could not venture out to the lectures, later in 1982, Bridges brought his "Cultural Awareness Seminar" to the airwaves via WDUR AM. The success of the radio broadcast created a market for Afrocentric reading and the Know Bookstore was established in 1982 on Dillard St in downtown Durham later in 1982. The store moved to its current location on Fayetteville St. in 1991.
What has endeared the store to the hearts of members of Durham's African American community has not only been its Afrocentric resources but the activism that has originated at the Know. As a young activist in the early 90's, I remember spreading information about my activities and posting fliers at the Know, something that Brotha Bruce will quickly point out that I would probably not have been able to do at a Barnes and Nobles. Matter of fact the first time that the world heard about my crusade against the malt liquor industry for targeting black youth came courtesy of the Cultural Awareness Seminar.
Also, other activists such as Minister Curtis E. Gatewood, former president of the Durham NAACP, who gained national attention for his "Boycott Against Santa's Cost" a campaign against wasteful holiday spending in the mid 90's , have done a lot of community organizing around the bookstore.
Although, there were many black bookstores around the country in the 90's, in 2008, the Know is the last of a dying breed, as many Afrocentric bookstores have been forced to close their doors over the last decade.
So what has enabled the Know to keep its head above water.
According to Bridges, it's because the Know prides itself in being more than just a bookstore.
Besides the community events that the store still sponsors, it also features The Know Restaurant where you can get a slammin' fish sandwich, side order of veggies, a big piece of potato pie and wash it down with a tall glass of freshly squeezed lemonade. I got to tell you though, if you want anything containing swine, you have to go somewhere else. Also the restaurant has Jazz Nights every Friday for those wanting to cool out after a hard week's work.
So what is the future of the Know and the few remaining African-centred bookstores and radio programs across the country ?
Empowering black people through education. Or to borrow from Brotha Bruce's book; to aid us in "recapturing the African mind.'
Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
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