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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 4, 2016

Olaudah Equiano

At the age of forty-four Olaudah Equiano wrote and published his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa. Written by himself, he registered this writing at Stationer’s Hall, London, in 1789. More than two centuries later, his work was recognized not only as one of the first works written… Continue reading

General Topics

#ThankfulThursday, african american, authors, black authors, black history, Black History Month, blog, freedom, Gustavus Vassa, history, Olaudah Equiano, slavery, writing
February 3, 2016

Ann Lane Petry

I’ve actually ordered her book, which should be here pretty soon. African American writer Ann Lane Petry is said to showcase the range of the black and white experience in her novels, short stories, and other works. The Street, her most famous novel (the one I’m anticipating to show up with the mail man on… Continue reading

General Topics

#WWWblogs, amazon, Anne Petry, authors, black history, books, first, google, history, life, published, The Street, wordpress, writers
January 28, 2016

I’ll Carry It With Me

From the bowels of the deep south To the place of the rising sun She’ll stretch her roots to the ends of the Earth And her scent to the universe edge From the Nile To the Euphrates Her soul is Langston And has grown deep like the rivers On her bark Are the names whipped… Continue reading

Poetry

#ThankfulThursday, google, history, memory, pbs, poem, poetic justice, poetry, spoken word, Thursday, trees, wordpress
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 21, 2016

They Don’t Know Who They Are

There’s a rumor taking place among African Americans in America. A rumor that has always been there but that is now being echoed from the mouths of others. We heard it first from Raven-Symoné and then Whoopi Goldberg, and now Stacey Dash. Let us start by saying that The United States has been drunk off… Continue reading

Articles

#ThankfulThursday, african american, black history, blog, ethnicity, general, history, identity, nationality, Raven-Symone, Stacey Dash, Whoopi Goldberg, wordpress, 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

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 my literature and poetry, I uncover and preserve the rich, often underrepresented stories of African Americans. I also host an annual poetry contest.