Retaliation made the Top Ten!

Congratulations to all the authors who write great books for young adults and a huge thank you to the YALSA division of ALA---the young adult librarians who believe in promoting and supporting young adult authors.

http://http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/quickpicks/09topten.cfm

Black on Black Violence: 5 Reasons & 5 Solutions

Yesterday the news out of Florida reported that there was a mass shooting in the Liberty City area of Miami. According to the reports, a man pulled out a gun and sprayed it into a crowd of people who were watching a game of craps being played. "Why did this happen?," people in the community are asking themselves. Why--in this predominantly black community--has this kind of violence become the norm?

Here's 5 reasons.

1. People in the community are frustrated with a lack of jobs, poverty, etc. which leads to committing violence acts.

2. People in the community are uneducated (don't know how to win in this society) and thus feel powerless over their situations which leads to committing violent acts.

3. Lack of positive, educated male figures in the home who are making it in the society results in no direction for the black male.

4. Repeated negative imaging of black males in the media leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy for some.

5. Families are making too many excuses for their children and allowing their children to get away with too much. This lack of discipline gives the children the wrong idea that a lack of self control is okay when it's not. Lack of self control leads to violent acts being committed.

Here's 5 solutions.

1. Learn a trade. Go to trade school. Plumbing, computer science, electrician, etc. These are jobs that remain in demand in our society. These jobs offer steady wages and can lift families out of poverty.

2. Graduate from high school. Go to college. Education puts an end to poverty. Learn about what you need to do to provide for your family. Education is your ticket out of America's ghettos.

3. If you're a black man, be a man. Mentor a young boy- POSITIVELY. If you are making it out here, talk to your sister's kid, or your niece's son about life. Allow a male relative who doesn't have a positive role model to hang out with you. Save his life by showing him a better way.

4. Shut off the TV. Cut off the Radio. Do not read magazines or newspapers that are constantly telling you that the black man is a menace. Read books, and listen to radio that is going to uplift you. Books by Na'eem Akbar and Haki Mahubuti are necessary reading for black males who want to change the projection of their future.

5.Do not condone slack behavior by your kid. If he is being a bully at school, put him in check. If he is doing things that aren't right, talk to him about what living right is. Just because your male child knows right from wrong doesn't mean he's a punk. When you allow your child to do the wrong things as a kid, you are guaranteeing he's going to do the wrong things as an adult. Man up or Sista Up and stand up for your child today.


And overall, as a people we need to do better in talking to our kids, being there, and being an example of how to live your life. If you are selling yourself short, you can believe your child will too. How can we ask our kids to be better children, if we will not be better parents? You know what the right things are. Get off drugs! Stop being an absentee father. Stop bringing a bunch of different dudes in front of your kids. Stop spending more time at the hair salon instead of doing homework with your kids.

When people wonder why violence is a problem I think violence took over when education stopped being the main focus. People are so excited about President Barack Obama. President Barack is an educated man. He came from a broken home, but he got his education. And people still wonder what difference does an education make? Education is the difference between your child growing up to become a murderer or the next president of the United States. Who is your child gonna be?

To read the article that inspired this blogpost, click below:

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/871201.html

YALSA Quick Picks 2009

Hello there,
In late 2008, my book Retaliation was nominated as a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. During the 2009 YALSA Quick Picks Conference,January 24 - 26th, 2009 my book will be discussed. These discussions will decide if my book actually makes the final cut that goes out to librarians across the country. It is my prayer and hope that my book makes this prestigious list. I'm asking everyone who has read Retaliation or who is reading this blog to send a prayer up for Retaliation during January 24 - 26th.

My independent press, Rolling Hills, published Retaliation. And we are committed to sharing real life stories with young people. So, again, it is an honor for me to be able to do what I do and get this kind of recognition. I don't take it lightly.

Peace and blessings,
Yasmin Shiraz

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Be safe! Do the things this year that you only dreamt about last year.
Peace,
Yasmin