To Create: Black Writers, Filmmakers, Storytellers, Artists, and Media-Makers Riff on Art, Careers, Life, and the Beautiful Mess in Between

by Felicia Pride

To Create is a collection of illuminating interviews with an eclectic set of black artists-including Harry Belafonte, Method Man, Nikki Giovanni, Edwidge Danticat, Edward P. Jones, Booker T. Mattison, and more-as conducted by the writer, entrepreneur, educator, and consultant Felicia Pride. This is an honest, inspiring series of conversations in which Pride and her fellow artists talk openly about the challenges and rewards of working creatively across a multitude of platforms.Over the course of dozens of frank discussions with writers, activists, and media creators, Pride elicits sincere firsthand perspectives on the struggle to find-or to create, if it's not there-a niche for one's voice in the media landscape. The personable and fluid interview style allows the artists to follow their threads of dialogue to unique, intimate revelations.The interviews transition smoothly between similar themes, touching on the do-it-yourself mentality of creating; practical musings on media careers; as well as theoretical discussions on art, legacy, and community. Additionally, many of the artists, musicians, and authors discuss finding career longevity through a multi-platform approach, the connection between the personal and political in art, and the ongoing conflict between art and commerce. This is one of the most candid and diversified interview collections within the African-American community, but it is also a stirring look into what it means to be a creator.

Genres: Art

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2012

About the author

Felicia Pride is a writer, literacy advocate, and hip-hop baby. Shes the author of the forthcoming books: The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hops Greatest Songs (Thunders Mouth Press, October 2007); Everybody Hates First Girlfriends (Simon & Schuster, September 2007), a chapter book in the book series based on the award-winning television show Everybody Hates Chris; and coauthor of the young adult anthology Hallway Diaries (Harlequin/Kimani Tru, September 2007).

Felicia is also the book blogger for AOL Black Voices book blog, More than Words, a frequent contributor to Publishers Weekly and the managing editor of Mosaic literary magazine. Shes also the founder of BackList (www.thebacklist.net), an organization dedicated to keeping books in style. Her writing about hip-hop, books, publishing, and pop culture has appeared in various publications including VIBE, PopMatters, and the Baltimore City Paper. As a literacy advocate, Felicia has been an invited speaker at various publishing and literary panels. She also conducts publishing workshops to empower emerging writers and serves on the board for the Literary Freedom Project. She has a M.A. in writing and publishing from Emerson College.

Visit her online at www.feliciapride.com. "