WHEN I ASKED Sam
where the idea to bestow hi
awards came from, he aid,
"When I read about tho e
brave young men who caught
the person who allegedly
natched that lady's pur e:
Dalven Washington, Antonio
Larry, Ivory Ware and Clay
Vasser, 16, 17, 18 and
19-year -old, respectfully."
"Well," I said. "At least
your source is to be
commended. But tell me: who
are the Sam Award's first
recipient ?"
,., Sam said, "The good .goes'Io
Highland Park's Alzheimers
� sociation's support group. I
salute them, or should I say
the upport group leader, Judy
"Naasira" Bois on for the
wonderful job she i doing.
"In addition to we kly,
Wednesday support m etings,
6:30 un"til 8 p.m- at the
McGregor Library, 12244
Woodward Avenue, on
Saturday, July 13, the group
held its first 'summer picnic at
Palmer Park.
"The good, Wrote. The
good, good, goop, goes to the
Alzheimer's support group.
"THE BAD IS shared by
four outlets. The Greater
Detroit Resource Recovery,
the incinerator, Thorn Apple
Valley Frederick Division,
City Environmental, Inc: and
City Disposal systems, Inc.
"Those businesses are in the
Warren, St. Aubin Avenues and
Frederick and Ferry streets
abea. Two! the incinerator and
Apple Valley, which may not
be a slaughter house but surely
it is one big butcher shop.
According to area re idents, it
i responsible for that God
awful smell that careens
through the area like the
world's bigges stink bomb.
"Wrote! It is so terrible, all
but the tough, gasp for breath
when it hits them full force.
And those environmental and
disposal dodads, they,
according to area residents, are
responsible for the headaches
many are experiencing.
"When I explained that the
people living in the area didn't
have any clout, and that the
city, Apple Valley, the
Environmental and City
lsposal, who have invested
tg bucks in the area, didn't
re what peons had to say, he
ook his head.
"The ugly goes to Sears and
oebuck '5 Highland P rk
ore. Wrote. You are not
ing to believe thi but I went
to that store to purchase a
5 anniversary gift. I would
ve to pay 25 cents a sheet if
e clerk wrapped it in ti ue
it would no, get broke.
"So congratulation you
od, bad and ugly recipient.
ou deserve your award and
en some."
Writers Guiid
premieres an hology
by NATHANIEL SCOTT
HIOHLAND PARK-The Detroit
Btack Writers Guild premiered an
'anthology of short stores, Before I
Wake and Other Tales by Detroiters,
Sunday, July 14 at Monumental
Evangeli tic Baptist Church.
Approximately 25 to 30 people
attended the affair which premiered
an interesting anthology. The parse
turnout demonstrated the problems
Black wri ters and Black publishers
are laboring through.
For the mo t part, the anthology
addressed legitimate subjects;
demonstrating different authors' un­
derstanding of their subject matter.
However, I would be remiss is I
aid the anthology didn't have its
glitches; phrases and passage that
illustrated the writers ignorance of
the process of writing. But after all,
we are talking about a guild
membership's writing; about a group
struggling with insufficient funding
and almost no support from the so­
called literary "astute."
YET THE ANTHOLOG Y,
whichstares in its foreword, "The
Black Writers Guild was founded in
1983 as a non-profit organization for
the specific purpose of increasing
literacy awareness and to encourage
inner-city residents (young and old)
to write ... , "is an important contribu­
tion to the genre of Black writing.
To review this anthology from the
standpoint of "the Chicago school of
thought,". or any of the Anglo­
Saxon's points of view, would do it a
grave disservice because ever since
the first "slave narratives" hit the
open market, the Black genre of writ- '
ing has struggled through literary
prejudice.
Peggy A. Moore's "The En­
counter" addresses drugs and how
Blacks and whites are destroying our
neighborhoods; Lafayette King's
"Winter Reprieve" talk about
loneliness and how a woman, Mattie,
copes.
The anthology has its problems;
mostly improper punctuation and the
slipping fn and out of Black usage of
colloquial language and so-called
"proper English. II
Perhaps those who may criticize
this anthology-those whose
academic training allows them to sl t
from perched thrones-will remem­
ber that the reason the Black Writers
Ouild is a fledging guild, in pursuit
of literary excellence, is' that
knowhow fails ID find its way to the
guild's door.
Barber Hunter begins her piece
"Images" with this poem.
Have you chosen to close the
curtains
On the windows
of life,
So you wont be able to see
your reflection in the glass?
Then
Come with me
Part the curtains
Ever 0 lightly
Your reflection will not appear
ani y the images
of your mind
will dance
before your eyes.
THE QUALITY of the guild'
membership writing can get better;
will get better. But if you were able
r
HIGHLAND PARK
HART PLAZA - Fiesta
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Poli h Festival (Aug 9-11) -
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(Aug 23-25). (224-1184).
-AFRICA ER CA HIS-
TORy' 301 Fred rick
Do ,0 ro (833- 800).
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Open onday-Frid ,9-5 on
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(871-1667) ..
CLASS REUNION
to struggle your way through What
Every Black Man Should Know
About The Black Woman, you can
damn well read Before I Wake and
Other Tales by Detrolters.
The book i fair; important. And I
certainly hope that those who con­
tributed to the anthOlogy will
, learn. .. and grow.
The anthology and the guild'
other publications can be purchased
at the guild, 5601 W. Warren Avenue
or other outlets. For additional infor­
mation please call (313) 897-2551.
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