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February 9, 2016

Harriet Ann Jacobs – Our Self-Published Ancestor

By now many people are familiar with Harriet Jacobs, the African American writer who escaped slavery in 1842 after hiding in an attic above her grandmothers home for seven years. Harriet’s testimony was one of the many inspirations for the first book in my Stella Trilogy. Stella, like Harriet, was born a slave but did… Continue reading

General Topics

#TuesdayShares, african american, authors, black, blog, freedom, google, Harriet Jacobs, Historical Authors, history, indie authors, self-publishing, slavery, wordpress, writing
February 2, 2016

Francis Johnson Webb

Francis Johnson Webb, newspaper editor, is the second published African American novelist. He was born free on March 21, 1828, in Philadelphia to Louisa Burr and Francis Webb. His father, Francis Webb, served as founding member of the Philadelphia distribution agent for Freedom’s Journal*, the first black newspaper in the nation. Freedom’s Journal was the… Continue reading

General Topics

african american, black, Black History Month, black publishers, black writers, blog, Francis Johnson Webb, Freedom’s Journal, general, google, pbs, publishing, wordpress, writing
February 1, 2016

Phillis Wheatley

Alrighty then, let’s get started. Of course, those who know me, even slightly, know that I’m a “365 day a year black history frantic”, but I love black history month because its the time of year where black people’s minds are the most open and willing to be in tuned with back history and that,… Continue reading

Articles, General Topics

#MondayBlogs, african american, black, black history, Black History Month, blog, first black poet, google, pbs, Phillis Wheatley, poet, wordpress, writing
January 27, 2016

Writer’s Quote Wednesday – Bernice McFadden

Good Morning Lovelies and welcome back to another segment of Writer’s Quote Wednesday as hosted by Colleen of Silver Threading. This week I am quoting from Bernice McFadden: “I write to breathe life back into memory and to remind African Americans of our rich and textured history.” – Bernice McFadden I had to reread this… Continue reading

Articles, Quotes N Notes

#WWWblogs, african american, ancestry, authors, Bernice McFadden, black, google, history, memory, silver threading, weekly, wordpress, writers, writers quote wednesday, writing
January 14, 2016

Brown Skin

Mississippi lips Lousiana tongue West African shaped nose Skin kissed by the sun Israelite Culture American Captive Egyptian Color russet brown seal dark puce blue black eastern man blue black woman symbols of authority over her head natural beauty no longer dead hair like sisal rope braided coiled nappy strong prayer hands that crack open… Continue reading

Poetry

#ThankfulThursday, african american, beauty, black, google, history, natural, pbs, poems, poetic justice, poetry, spoken word, wordpress
January 11, 2016

“You Just Need To Be White To Win”: Thai Ad Pulled Of Model In Blackface

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#MondayBlogs, african american, black, blog, blogger, blogging, general, google, history, social media, truth, wordpress, writing
January 6, 2016

Gabrielle Gorman’s “Dear America”: When You Don’t Love the Skin You’re In

Originally posted on (not) Mixed (up): On December 8th, I attended the 2015 My Hero Awards, in order to watch my dear friend Kayla Briet win the Emerging Artist Award for her work in film, music and technology. While Kayla’s work always mesmerizes me, another award recipient named Gabrielle Gorman brought me and many others to… Continue reading

Articles, General Topics

#ThankfulThursday, #WWWblogs, african american, black, black america, google, identity, mixed race, racial, reblog, reblogs, self-love, wordpress

About Me

My name is Yecheilyah (e-see-li-yah), and my work confronts historical erasure and advocates for a more inclusive understanding of Black history. Through book reviews and poetry contests, I uncover and preserve the rich, often underrepresented stories of African Americans.