Black Books

very informative , and very real .with bibical scriptures to backup these claims.but most of all it is true ,and common sense.why would africa be inhabited by caucasion ,and how could cleopatra be exotic and caucasion.especially the very hot and dry climate.caucasion skin is much to thin made for colder climates.it is an exellent research on the history of african race in the bible and lets people see that they were around then and will continue to be

I encountered this book years ago in the University Hills Library in Austin, Texas. Burned by my involvement with my previous church and ministry, I had become disillusioned, distraught and lacking in faith. Atheism, before the current popular tomes advocating a departure from all faiths, appealed to me. This literally turned my head and halted me in my tracks. I checked it out - 3 times - before purchasing it on Amazon.

This is a wellspring that allows one to hold his/her head up as we see (now) played out in American politics the onslaught against African Americans by forces on the left and right that do not know the contributions Africans have made not only to world culture but to the most significant spiritual expression in Western civilization. Current events find European Americans still ignorant of the complex Homiletics of the African Diaspora and its spiritual entities. "Black Liberation Theology" is something now discovered on Fox News and sound bites on You Tube the complete philosophy of Senator Obama's former pastor. It is a willful ignorance born of arrogance and hegemony from the previous "peculiar institution" formerly known as slavery that would birth such a tradition.

"Our people perish due to a lack of [self] knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) And the knowledge should be shared, discussed and preached. It should be used to build us up as a people; to "set the captives free." (Luke 4:18)

[...]: "About 10.4% of the entire African-American male population in the United States aged 25 to 29 was incarcerated, by far the largest racial or ethnic group--by comparison, 2.4% of Hispanic men and 1.2% of white men in that same age group were incarcerated. According to a report by the Justice Policy Institute in 2002, the number of black men in prison has grown to five times the rate it was twenty years ago. Today, more African-American men are in jail than in college. In 2000 there were 791,600 black men in prison and 603,032 enrolled in college. In 1980, there were 143,000 black men in prison and 463,700 enrolled in college." Too many of our men are in prison because they are unaware who they are, and thus misbehave.

I heartily recommend this book as enthusiastically as I did years ago when it stopped me literally in my tracks.

This review is entitled "Confirmation" because it serves to confirm or ratify what, intuitively, I have felt for as long as I can recall. Having been raised in a strongly religious family, I have been exposed to various versions of the Holy Bible, all of which tended to depict and illustrate all personalities with white faces. Given that all of the accounts in the Bible took place on the continent of Africa, prior to the arrival of any significant numbers of Europeans, it was very difficult for me to accept that none of the major figures in the Bible was Black, yet that is what is portrayed. Although I felt that something was "wrong with this picture", I had no way to refute it, and in fact, was reluctant to voice it among some of my own friends and elders who would have deemed such thoughts as sacrilegious, or worse. It still bothered me, nonetheless. As my educational experiences progressed, I had increasing difficulty reconciling what was thrust upon me by the media, those omnipresent Bible illustrations, TV Evangelists, and others who perpetuated the same notion that all of the personalities in the Bible were white. I began to research on my own, and with the advent of the Internet, other avenues were opened to me. I have read a number of other treatises and writings by other distinguished Black religious scholars on the issue of the Black presence in the Bible, all of which enlightened me, and at the same time gave me a deep sense of "connection" with those Biblical personalities, as well as a sense of pride. On the other hand, it also aroused in me a sense of anger and frustration, as it confirmed to me that religious history, just as history in general, has been manipulated, twisted, distorted, and violated for the very sinister and express purpose of discrediting a People and robbing them of a very rich heritage and perpetuating a myth of so-called "superiority". This book should be mandatory reading, not just for Blacks, but for whites, as well, who have themselves been, in the words of Carter G. Woodson, "miseducated". I applaud Dr. Johnson and his colleagues, who are making an invaluable contribution to the telling of OUR history, as too often the euphamism that history is simply "his story" as it pertains to Blacks, is validated over and over. My record will reflect that I have ordered multiple copies of this book in the past, and am at this writing ordering several more copies. They make great gifts, and I can't imagine a better gift than the gift of truth.

Presenting the original language of the first humans , the locale and identity of these humans has long been shelved . This book should be in the educational systems of every educational institution in this country as well as international educational systems.

I liked this first book a lot.
Besides the way how he explain some of the vodou basics, he do not duel to deep in it like to cause confusion to the reader, and as a woman is interesting to see the point of view of man on sensuality ;)

There is a lot of good information about Obeah in this book.
Even though extreme embellishment has to take place because it is a work of fiction, you'll find more useful information in this book and in the following ones by P. Daniels than in any other books made available on the market.

In my opinion,the ABIA books were most awesome,real thrillers!
I'd like a copy of the next book.

tishax

I received a signed copy from the author himself. I have read it more than once. In my opinion it is an excellent book and I highly recommend it to other readers.

I love this book. It spoke to me as if I were talking to my sister. I first checked this book out of the library, but after reading it, I know it is the first book I want in my home entrepreneur library.

The book is written in a very nurturing style, has exercise pages for self reflection and motivates you to keep going despite obstacles.

Small enough to be read during break or while waiting for an appoinment.It has a bio of women from the past who over came odds and succeeded. A must have for your libary.

Fran Harris has done an excellent job of isolating the essential requirements of starting a business. From how to develop a business plan to how to conduct yourself professionally in various social settings, she puts it all out there. I have met Fran and she is a truly dynamic young woman. She is confident, intelligent and knowledgable and it shows in this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is serious about starting a 'successful' business. Fran believes and lives what she writes and there is nothing like first hand experience.

This book was absolutely the best. I have read several books on starting your business and/or consulting and never has one inspired me to the next level. This book spoke to the soul of the African-American women in me who has grown weary of Corporate America. Before I read this book I only wished that someone of Fran Harris's abiltiy could mentor me one on one. Little did I know this book could do just that. As I read I felt as if Fran was right in front of me guiding my way!! GOOD JOB FRAN!!!! The book was trully and will always serve as my inspiration and reminder that it can be done!

Across Time: Mystery of the Great Sphinx by author O.J. Harp III is a refreshing surprise. It tells the daunting tale of a group of people who bravely travel back and forth through time in an effort to discover their true identities, correct some mistakes of the past and reinforce some timeless principles into their present existence.

Dr. John Steel, a Clinical Psychologist and recent Ph.D. graduate is happy with his present life. He still, however, has no memory of his childhood since he, as a pre-teen, mysteriously found himself by the Potomac River with nothing and no one to validate his existence. Deep down inside he knows that something is very different about him - a difference that goes way beyond just his childhood.

As the story unfolds, Dr. Steele slowly unlocks the keys to his past, unveiling a destiny unlike anything he could have ever imagined. Other main characters include Mutshat Ma'at, a police cadet and the long-lost love of Dr. Steele, Dr. Christopher Jones - a minister and philanthropist (with a past of his own) and students Eddie Richardson and Victor Carter, of the I Have a Dream Charter School.

Unbeknownst to this special group of people, they will all soon be caught up in a battle stemming from their past lives as Nubian warriors and Kemetic royalty from Ancient Egypt who are being pursued by an ancient tribe, the Anu and an evil, legendary Pharaoh who is seeking world domination for all ages to come. The help of some psychic practitioners, human geneticists and super-intelligent robots are enlisted along the way as these valiant trailblazers transcend the barriers of space and time, defying even the laws of gravity. When all is said and done, lost identities are discovered, true love is found, lessons of justice, morality and truth are learned and, best of all, good triumphs over evil.

This book is a great read and is by no means for the faint of heart. A lot of historical, scientific and even paranormal information is covered in this novel, and I found the supplementary sections, i.e., the fact, prologue and glossary sections of great and necessary value.

It can be enjoyed by all readers, regardless of age. Some parts cater to a younger audience, making it relatable in today's language while at the same time fostering a desire to learn more about history including prehistoric times, Egyptology and slavery.

For the more mature audience, it offers a different, more spontaneous reading experience. It speaks to the adult mindset through themes of romance, the discussion of art and travel and by dealing with sociopolitical and religious subjects such as cloning and reincarnation. I personally identified with the emphasis placed on the beauty, power and mystery of the Black race.

What I expected to be a dull, long and drawn-out history lesson actually turned out to be a virtual adventure. The author combined history, science and psychology and then cleverly blended in the imaginative elements of time travel, magic, wizardry and extreme science fiction in order to create this whirlwind tale of past, present and future ideas. A roller-coaster ride full of twists, turns, loops and tunnels, this novel goes beyond entertaining with enough substance to satisfy even the most ambitious thrill-seeker.

Across Time: Mystery of the Great Sphinx would be a great addition to the list of required reading for high schools and colleges across the nation. I recommend it highly and give it 5 stars.

Reviewed by Devalyn M. Kirkman for "WAF Book Reviews"
WAF Book Reviewer[...]

O. J. HARP, III, in a most intellectually imaginative way, takes the mind of his patients, the characters, on a spiritual and subconscious voyage into the past based on ancient pre-Egyptian history. In doing so, HARP brilliantly tells two stories simultaneously.

First, HARP guides the reader in the spiritual, mythical, magical, subconscious realm of ACROSS TIME through the specialized techniques of the character Dr. John Steele, an African-American psychologist. The second story runs parallel to that as the voyage continues in the carnal realm with the characters in the story unknowingly transporting the Kemots and the Anu and the Heka and other mythical, sci-fi characters from early Egyptian history in their dreams. In order to help bring closure to what is a battle of the pre-Egyptian ancestral spirits, Dr. Steele teaches his patients to overcome their fearful nightmares or end their disturbing, re-occurring dreams through age-regression techniques. Understanding they all have key roles in ACROSS TIME, the patients learn to look around their dreams for clues, messages, and supporting details. This allows the characters to become active in their dreams which is a genius element of the story and subconscious. They are also empowered. Certainly, readers will be dreaming differently after reading this exceptional mastermind story. Awesome!

With brief historical accounts at the outset of the story, the reader is benefited to understand and learn enough about prehistoric Egyptian ancestors to see the significance of the characters in the carnal story over time. The plot unfolds in a sci-fi way to recreate unfinished business of love and power, good and evil, and wisdom and destiny. The characters develop to perform their pre-assigned roles of the past for the future. You will meet Mutshat Ma'at, the beautiful patient/lover of psychologist Dr. John Steele. Ma'at suffers from memory loss and unknowingly holds the ultimate key to her civilization's pre-existence. Then Harp delights readers with some unique boys who have a talented legacy of their own. They are at-risk youths charged with great insight and power and full of humor to move the story along nicely. Dr. Steele must prepare them for their rightful inheritance in the future ancient spiritual civilization. Though a bit hurried, this story is awesomely tied together to accomplish that. It is told very well in simple language, appropriate for varying levels of literacy and that is what makes this book especially perfect for the reader who likes to think and learn critically, consciously and subconsciously.

Reviewed by Swaggie Coleman
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

"Rich with history and imagination, a perfect blend of fact and fiction. Across Time: Mystery of the Great Sphinx will educate, empower and inspire readers of all ages."

"This amazing novel will take readers on a journey through time exploring the beginnings of ancient Africa. Presenting a culture that is filled with historical detail, creatively merging the past with the present and demonstrating what the future may hold."

"O. J. Harp III has created a powerful read that will forge a deep appreciation of African culture while delivering great messages of strength, determination and pride."

In Across Time, O. J. Harp has carved a picture of ancient Egypt that began before history was written. This adventurous story starts out with Imhotep, Mutshat Maat,and the brothers Bekele, and Paki sailing down the Azure Sea . The travelers encounter a Supercroc and from that point on their journey sails uphill. Imhotep uses an ancient relic to save the group from certain death. Use of this relic thrusts them forward in time. Most of the time travelers are left without memories of whom they are, and they must assume present day lives. Bekele becomes Dr. Steele, a Psychologist who works with people that have memory problems. Dr. Steele also becomes a counselor at a school for troubled students, who also have memory problems. The school has reported mysterious sightings of shadow people appearing and frightening the students. The police are called in when a teacher and student disappear. Officer Mutshat Maat is instantly attracted to Dr. Steel as he is to she; they feel as though they have always known each other.

A team of psychics is called in to exercise the spirits. To unwind after the problem is seemingly solved, Dr. Steele decides to take a Bermuda cruise and take along some of his patients that have memory problems. While on the cruise the shadow people reappear and when a mummy is being shown the Shadow people steal the Mummy and passengers disappear.

I enjoyed reading this book as I enjoy stories about time travel. This story took many twists and turns and at times became a bit confusing. It has a huge cast of characters and this was awkward for this reader. However the author provides a nice glossary for those not familiar with Egyptian history. My copy of this book was an uncorrected proof but this did not stop my enjoyment of the book. I really hope that this becomes a series because I will read everyone of them.

Reviewed by Margaret Ball
APOOO BookClub

I received this order on time and in excellent condition. I will do business with again.

"The African American Odyssey" just got better with the release of the 3rd edition. Updated accounts, in-depth coverage, a broadened focus (the American West, and beyond America), and the wonderfully helpful enclosed CD which allows for additional research, all make this a comprehensive volume for any and all students of African American history.

The blending of the famous and the unknown, men and women, North and South, slave and free, provides for a tapestry that weaves together both the terror and the triumph of the African American experience which enabled them to move beyond the suffering to a place of healing hope. The faith-basis for so much of the African American triumph could have been covered more comprehensively, though it is more than hinted at in the original sources covered.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction .

An effective book, which the young new generation of African Americans can really gain their sense of knowledge from.

"The African American Odyssey" just got better with the release of the 3rd edition. Updated accounts, in-depth coverage, a broadened focus (the American West, and beyond America), and the wonderfully helpful enclosed CD which allows for additional research, all make this a comprehensive volume for any and all students of African American history.

The blending of the famous and the unknown, men and women, North and South, slave and free, provides for a tapestry that weaves together both the terror and the triumph of the African American experience which enabled them to move beyond the suffering to a place of healing hope. The faith-basis for so much of the African American triumph could have been covered more comprehensively, though it is more than hinted at in the original sources covered.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.

It depends what you are looking for.
I was looking for African folktales and stories, just to enjoy little different mood by reading them. I was looking a book with lot of different kind of stories together.
It was exactly what I was expecting. Very good compact collection.
If you enjoy an indian legends and stories, other nations legends then this is a good way to get an taste of african tales.
You will enjoy it.
It is a promise;)

I have yet to encounter one of the Pantheon folklore series that was not a good read. This is no exception. My regret is that they have not published more and that some of their folklore books seem out of print. I enjoyed this book and I am happy to recommend it. I knew little of African folklore before reading this book. I plan to look into the subject more.

Great tales that help to bring the African storyteller experience home, help teach issues of morality, introduce some of the animal life, paint the lifestyle of women as well as men, and provide the usual creation myths etc. one is accustomed to finding in a book of myths. Explanations to the set of tales, and each section of tales is provided by the author, along with why he believes them to be of importance. I enjoyed them thoroughly because he invites you into his experience.

This book gives a great representation of folktales from all parts of Africa. These tales highlight the variety of the people and societies on the continent, helping to correct the notion of Africa being one big country. While stylistically consistent, the themese touched in the book speak of sophistication. From epics to simple "lesson" tales, Mr. Abrahams has done a great job laying out the stories. His introduction is also superb, though for some reason two stories he mentions in his introduction are not to be found in the book itself. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for the "real folk," and not simply beddy time stories (though some stories here could be used for that too!)

These prayers will feed and nurture your soul and at an unusual (and sometimes uncomfortable) depth. Purchase this book for yourself or for someone else whom you love. It is the gift of spirit and spirit-care. Be prepared to be moved, and moved deeply.

i got this book a few years back&it touched me.the prayers&Poems really touched me alot.Desmond TuTu is a Great Human Being.This Man has touched many lives.i have enjoyed this book since day one.

This book is just beautiful. It is a wonderful collection of prayers and poetry. The very first one entitled An African Canticle is worth the price alone.

In "The African Prayer Book," Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town has assembled a series of prayers on such topics as adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication and daily life; ranging from authors who wrote their prayers in antiquity, and those living in modern times. Although the primary focus is Christian, prayers from other faith traditions are included.

This book is exquisite, to see and touch as well as to read, and the prayers are beautiful. Archbishop Tutu prefaces each chapter with a meditation on the topic: those alone are well worth owning the book. A wonderful collection.

Very nice book. Borrowed it from the library and was able to read and understand the book. I plan on renewing the book so I can read over some parts again.

I found this book a very quick read, but incredibly insightful especially with regards to the reasons behind the traditions described. It delves into the consciousness in a personal yet impartial way, which I appreciated.

I wanted to learn something about the traditional beliefs of the Akan people so I ordered this book. It was very readable and very informative. What interested me the most was that the author used structures developed by Fowler and Erikson. Since these two are foundational in the study of western faith and personality development, I felt right at home, even though the destination of the book was halfway around the globe. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a "first book" about this subject.

This book is written by an African who was educated in the US -- rec'd his PhD from Emory U. This is real look at real life in Ghana among the Ashanti and their view of life and death. This book is the result of Dr. Donkor's research for his PhD. This text is suitable for classroom and research purposes or for those who would like to find about their African roots.

ok. Maybe I'm biased since I am a direct descendant of many of the African/FPOC families listed in the book. However, what Dr. Hall has done for Louisiana genealogy research is nothing short of miraculous.

I purchased this book several years ago in Natchitoches, LA while in college and have consulted it and Dr. Hall's online database faithfully since then. It has been instrumental in my being able to trace my direct and indirect family lines back into 17th century France and Western Africa.

I think this book is an absolute must for those who have a real interest in gaining insight into the Louisiana "peculiar institution" or who desire a good, solid, and well-researched social commentary and genealogical database.

This book corrects the many lies that racist white Louisianians and their Creole of color sympathizers have been telling about the origins of all things Louisiana for decades. It reclaims Louisiana for the Africans, who were brought there as chattle property to build the buildings, cultivate the land, blacksmith the iron and ultimately create the culture.

As a descendant of Colonial Louisiana Africans, this book was the first to tell me that I am a descendant of the Bamana of Mali. It is one of the only books I have come across to describe in detail, the battles of Louisiana maroon leader Saint Juan Malo. It is one of the first to tell it like it is concerning the true relationship of the French and Africans of this bastard french colony & address the underlying factors of why it became an Afro-creole colony more so than anything else. Basically this book tells the unadulterated truth backed by facts. It doesn't, like so many other books about Louisiana, get caught up in the romance of the Creoles of color and there obsession with their white fathers. Instead it tells the story of their Senegambian mothers. And shows how the culture of these Africans is the foundation of what is now considered Louisiana Creole culture.

This book is a breath of fresh air to some one like myself who loathes the hundreds of books written about Louisiana that describes it as " a mixture of French, Spanish, and Indian cultures". Always omitting the fact of African influence due to the legacy of white supremacy inherent in the telling of US history. In most other books on the subject, Africans are merely slaves. In this book we are shown for what we are, the foundation of the culture. It will most definitely be a textbook in any course I teach on the subject.

I had to read this book for a seminar class and was fascinated by it. It documents in much detail the history of colonial Louisiana putting West Africans squarely in the middle of that development. Midlo Hall uses sources from three countries, France, Spain and colonial Britain to document the African presence in Louisiana. She spends some time on the fact that most of the Africans brought to Louisiana were from the Senegambia region of West Africa. Consequently, the Africans brought with them their way of life and were able to exercise much of it in Louisiana. She notes the difference in French/Spanish colonization and the contribution of African language, food and cultural practices in Louisiana. It is well worth reading for it is a history book quite well written that would appeal to the general public. It is entertaining as well as informative.

Check out the front page article in the July 30 Sunday New York Times, headlined "Anonymous Louisiana Slaves Regain Identity," to fully appreciate the significance of the historical research embodied in this book.

I'm pleased to see that academia is now starting to look to subcultural doings as they happen, instead of invoking the fond nostalgia that the Beatniks inspired. The ability to digest and deconstruct the events that take place in this otherworldly space is much to be commended, and I think that by doing so the authors of these various articles may be tapping in to something most of their colleagues shy away from. The articles themselves are intriguing and scholarly, but never lose sight of their subject. I would love to see more editions of this book as the event (and the world around it - the context) changes and grows!

in these pages? Read this book and you will. Tho the author comments that this book was a composite of many different burning an festivals, te undercurrent feels strangely like one which puts you there in the middle of things.

There are a few details which, if you've been there, are a little flaky, and the book gets off to kind of a slow start (ergo the 4 stars) but as you bury yourself in this read (and it's one read that, if you're at all a burner, you will end up burying yourself in) you will be amazed... engrossed... wind blown... with a lot of little surprises thrown in that you don't expect, even all the way at the end.

There is another thing, tho... if you've never been to Black Rock City, and wonder what all the hubbub is about, ad you want to know if that ticket's worth it... and what it's getting you into... this book will give you a fairly good idea. Of course, your experience is your own... but, like I said in the beginning... read this, and you can almost smell the playa dust in these pages...

Critical writing up to any academic standards fused with a joy in language and topic. Wonderful! It will make your mind spin with ideas, and what could be better than that!

Prior to reading this excellent sophisticated introduction to Burning Man, I had dismissed this event as shamanism and tantra for amateurs. However, these well written, knowledgeable, and at times quite learned articles, have convinced me that Burning Man allows for the creation of authentic rituals that are rife with both transformative and aesthetic epiphanies. Moreover, it appears that Burning Man has largely not yet been" recouped" (to the use Guy Debord's term) by bourgeois capitualist society, and thereby succeeds where its predecessors, the Surrealists and Situationists, left off. Next year, instead of visiting the Himalayas or Mongolia for my taste of the (w)holy other, I will just go to Burning Man.