Manifesting a Dream – Tuesday, October 19, 2021
I learned this morning that General Colin Powell had passed away.
This took me back to the Summer of 1995 when I self-published my first book (1st edition).
I received so much criticism for using a picture of myself as the book cover. “You ain’t supposed to do that”. “That’s egotistical”. “How dare you?” “You are a nobody.” “Who does that?”
You see, in those days, after more than a year of rejections from at least ten publishers, I chose to self-publish. It was too expensive for me to have someone design a book cover, so the easiest route for me was a picture of myself.
I ignored my critics, just happy that I had birthed a childhood dream of being an Author, a published writer!
Then on October 11, 1995, BT Books* proudly displayed my book, Songs in the Night, alongside Colin Powell’s book My American Journey which had been released the month prior. Guess what? His book cover featured a picture of himself.
What an honor!
Though his circle of influence and his ethnos was far greater than mine and though I never met him in person, I was in a league that few had dared to go on that day.
I dared to manifest my dreams! Despite the obstacles and criticisms, I did not give up.
For me, it was historical. I was so grateful to Joseph Guyton the manager of BT Books who had the insight to display our books together. Imagine, Harlem and Brooklyn were well represented that day. Brooklyn in da house!
That was 26 years ago. In honor of General Colin Powell, I dedicate my poem “The ABCs of A Particular Man”.
Songs in the Night is a collection of poems and reflections from everyday life.
*BT Books was a bookstore located on the 2nd floor of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, currently known as Hudson Booksellers.
The PABT was where I worked for almost 13 years. PABT was the busiest bus terminal in the world, on the busiest street in the world in New York’s Times Square.
Oh the stories I could tell!
