Griffin Speaks
EVERYONE SHOULD WRITE A BOOK
So many people die without writing a book. Many people die without reading a book. Why `are they afraid to write about their life experiences? Why are we afraid to write? I suppose many people simply believe that they cannot write. My take is, if I can understand what you are saying then that is good enough! To hell with the critics! Just start writing.
If you write one page a day, you will have 365 pages in one year. That would be more than enough pages for a book. I certainly plan to write several books before I meet my maker. Remember the person that writes the book will have the last word!
If you are dead, they can almost say anything about you! So you need to have your book written to tell your side of the story.
What will I say about Dr. A.G. Gaston, Louis Willie, Kirk Balton, Arthur Shores,
and many others? For one thing I will always speak the truth. I will write about men that I admire and men that I despise! I will call it like I see it.
A couple of years ago I received a call from Gwen Boyd, the manager of Roots and Wings Book Store. She informed me that she had an author visiting the city for a book signing and the author was an old friend of mine. When she told me the author's name, I nearly fell out of my chair. It was an old high school and college friend that I had not heard from in over twenty years. It was none other than the legendary David J. Dent.
David is a professor of journalism at New York University. He writes for many publications. He has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, Essence, Emerge, The Christian Science Monitor, Vibe, Playboy, and Newsday. David is a contributing correspondent for Black Entertainment Television News, has also been an on air television reporter in Nashville and Greensboro, North Carolina.
David use to ride the school bus that I drove when I was attending Garner Senior High. David wrote the book, IN SEARCH OF BLACK AMERICA. It is available on line at both amazon and barnes and noble.com and at cushcity.com an African American online bookseller. You can also call 1 888 866 6631.
David's book is a landmark work that views the lives of African Americans throughout the United States. The book is a result of his five year odyssey, which took him and his tape recorder to upscale art galleries, schools, bowling alleys, formal balls, college campuses, fishing trips, mansions, summer homes, etc.
After speaking with Gwen Boyd, I rushed to Roots and Wings to purchase the book. I then called David and invited him to stay in my home when he arrived. I read the book and it was wonderful.
To my surprise, David had written an entire page about me. My favorite page out of 413 pages is page "284". I was amazed at how well David could write about events that occurred so long ago. I was overwhelmed with the nice things that he said about me. Sometimes you never know the impression you leave on people.
Well pick up that pen and start writing your book. It is the best way to achieve immortality. Let your descendants know what your thoughts were when you walked the face of the earth. Books can inspire people. Books can change the world. You can write a book!
