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    On My Brother's Shoulders: An African American Anthology and Tribute to People of Color
    On My Brother's Shoulders: An African American Anthology and Tribute to People of Color
    On My Brother's Shoulders: An African American Anthology and Tribute to People of Color
    Ebook131 pages46 minutes

    On My Brother's Shoulders: An African American Anthology and Tribute to People of Color

    By E. Willa Simpson

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    "In this insightful and enlightening book, E. Willa Simpson takes readers on a journey through the African American experience. Her version of history as retold in poetic terms is a refreshing tribute to countless African American leaders. Through her honesty, courage and the unique critical dialogue reflected through interviews with key civil rights leaders including Angela Davis, Michael Eric Dyson, Mamie Till Mobley and Howard Bingham (producer of motion picture film Ali), combined with thought provoking verses; Simpson's work promises to leave readers pondering just how deeply African Americans were affected by their shackled enslavement, psychological impact of lynchings and tumultuous history in the United States. Simpson senses the worth involved in honoring the lives of those who contributed unselfishly to the struggle for justice and equality. Her book is definitely a must read!
    "The Hollywood Film and Entertainment Review"


    "On My Brother's Shoulder's" is the single most important book for African Americans today. It pays tribute to those who came before us and laid down their lives so that future generations would be able to have better and continue to sing a triumphant song. Simpson's book presents a timeless journey through the early civil rights movement as portrayed through the skillful retelling of the brutal lynching of Emmett Till a fourteen year old youth who was accused of having wolf whistled at a white woman. Through Simpson's thoughtful examination of the ideology behind lynching noted filmmaker, historian and poet; E. Willa Simpson pays tribute to countless African American legends including Emmett Till, Angela Davis, Michael Eric Dyson, Medgar Evers, Ida B. Wells and more.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateJan 3, 2014
    ISBN9781418428877
    On My Brother's Shoulders: An African American Anthology and Tribute to People of Color
    Author

    E. Willa Simpson

    E. Willa Simpson is a longtime advocate for civil rights and justice; formerly residing on the local advisory committee of the “Tavis Smiley” Foundation. Simpson’s many accomplishments include film and television production, in addition to several publishing credits receiving national acclaim. Simpson made her directorial debut with a documentary entitled “The Lynching Tree” featuring political activist Angela Davis; and is currently working on several upcoming literary and theatrical projects.

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      Book preview

      On My Brother's Shoulders - E. Willa Simpson

      On My Brother’s Shoulders

      An African American Anthology and Tribute to People of Color

      image001.jpg

      Poetry Written By: E. Willa Simpson

      Story Edited By: E. Willa Simpson

      An amazingly poetic tribute to countless African American legends; featuring an intimate running dialogue with Angela Davis, Michael Eric Dyson, and Howard Bingham: producer of major Motion Picture film Ali, as they share their unique experiences with critical moments in history; including the brutal lynching of Emmett Till, a fourteen year old African American youth that would serve as precursor to the early civil rights movement.

      38798.png

      AuthorHouse™ LLC

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.authorhouse.com

      Phone: 1-800-839-8640

      © 2014 E. Willa Simpson. All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the book’s editor and legal copyright owner of the anthology in its entirety, as a collective literary work.

      The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      This book is based on the academic (theoretical) examination of lynching. It is intended to help explain this social phenomena and to open up critical dialogue on the issue and the many meanings held by the term itself; by dissecting the ideology behind lynching along with the physical and psychological scars held by many African Americans as a direct result of generations of enslavement in the United States and the deaths of several key martyrs.

      Published by AuthorHouse 12/20/2013

      ISBN: 978-1-4184-2886-0 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4184-2887-7 (e)

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

      and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Dedicated To

      Introduction

      Evolution Of Lynching

      Strange Fruit

      Revolution

      The Big Compromise

      The Lynching Tree

      Merciless

      Un-Justice

      The Funeral

      In My Solitude

      Rwanda Boy

      Lonely Heart

      A Silent Friend

      The Struggle

      Footsteps

      Remembering Billie

      Billie’s Midnight Jam

      The Trumpet Player

      Swing Low

      Statistics Say

      Freedom Ride

      I Am Moved

      Dearest Corretta

      Congressional Propaganda

      Essences Of Blackness

      For Our Beloved Makaveli:

      Remembering Tupac

      Wake Up

      Heavy

      Young Little Emmett Till

      For Mama’s Little Baby…

      Aunt Rhoda Dale

      If My Labour Be In Vain

      Remembering My Brother

      And When I Think Of Sunrises…

      For Mama

      For Dad:

      For Stevie Wonder…

      Many Special Thanks To:

      Rex Simpson Remembered…

      About The Author

      DEDICATED TO

      My beloved little brother Rex, whom I will truly miss.

      My loving parents who took the time to instill a great and solemn confidence within.

      Sister Betty Shabazz and Minister Malcolm X for their unselfish contributions to the struggle.

      Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Corretta Scott King for their unwavering commitment to non-violent change.

      Dr. Maya Angelou for having the courage to sing.

      Sojourner Truth for the strength that she passed down throughout generations and generations of Black women.

      Harriet Tubman whose will we can never forget.

      Oprah Winfrey for overcoming all of the odds and setting the standard for a new Black woman.

      The great Billie Holiday who sang long before I ever knew the blues.

      Paul Robeson for demonstrating that we can be successful at whatsoever we choose to do with our lives, so long as it’s a good thing.

      Bill and Camille Cosby for having the strong convictions and courage of heart to stand up to a nation.

      Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis for exemplifying the lingering strength of the African bonds in marriage.

      Angela Davis for being exactly and precisely who you are.

      Congresswoman Maxine Waters for being willing to stand up for justice in every high and low place.

      Myrlie Evers Williams who refused to give up.

      Mamie Till Mobley for having the courage to take on the problems of this world.

      Afeni Shakur for having the strength of heart to see your son’s dream into a reality.

      Professor Collins and Saul Lankster for acting as an inspirational catalyst for change.

      Amiri whose love and support transformed my spirit and helped to shape me into the woman that I am today. I am a better person for just having known you and experienced your love.

      Jenny for being an inspiration and a miracle to others all at the same time. You too have a great story to tell!

      Malcolm Ali for being a friend, lifelong companion and representing the positive image of an African American father.

      Harun for making a way out of no way for me. Thanks for all of your support!

      John, Michelle, Carol and Rex whose love and support will get me through the most difficult of years.

      My beloved little daughter who greatly changed my life when she entered into this world. You have truly blessed my life in so many ways that I could never have possibly imagined. If I don’t live to see another day, my life has been worth

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