American Book Awards Dec. 28, 2008

Frank Wilderson, my former colleague and a brilliant man gave props to the freedom fighters whose shoulders he stands at the American Book Festival Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008 at Anna's Jazz Island. His award winning book, Incognegro:A Memoir of Exile & Apartheid, on South End Press, is a memoir of coming of age in the South African Freedom Movement. He, like so many others gave props to Ishmael Reed for his inspiration and encouragement and to both he and California poet laureate Al Young, for founding the Before Columbus Foundation, which sponsors the American Book Awards. I don't think I have ever known anyone personally who has received this great honor.

I have included photos of other winners and friends in the audience, like American book awardee, C.S. Giscombe, for his collection of poetry, "Prairie Style" (2008).