Why Do I Have to Be a Black Author?

Back in 2005 I started working on my very first book (Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age).  The book was written for middle aged women, like myself, who were going through things like menopause, divorce and dating after 40, working for bosses young enough to be your children, etc.  I not only shared my own personal (humorous) experiences but I also did research to offer tips to women in order to help them navigate their own middle age journey.  The final stage was creating the cover.  I was trying to decide whether or not it should include my picture.  I wanted to have it there---probably more so for vanity than anything, but it was my first book and I wanted people to be able to put a book and a name with a face.

BUT then this happened...........

When I was putting the finishing touches on my first book, a person I highly respected (a white woman who was a colleague in the newsroom) told me to leave my picture off of the cover because I would get more sales.  She said if I put my picture on the cover, white women would think it was a book about black women and they wouldn't buy it.  I took her advice and the book went on to become an Amazon Best Seller.  I wonder, in hindsight, what would've happened if I ignored her and put my picture there.  (I actually wrote this in 2008 in response to a blog post on diversity written by my good "virtual" friend, Mitch Mitchell (@Mitch_M).  

Mitch recently reminded me of what I wrote back then and it got me to thinking about how systemic racism permeates every aspect of a black person's life.  Why do I have to be classified as a "black" author?  I'm just an author who HAPPENS to be black.  Am I not qualified to share my experiences about menopause as someone who went through it for several years?  Don't white women get divorced and try to get back out on the dating scene just like I did?  Haven't many of us been in real life work experiences where we find ourselves taking direction from someone who's 5-10 years younger? 

Systemic racism says I am ALWAYS labeled as Black first:  Black journalist, Black blogger, Black Motivational Speaker, Black Professional, Black woman, Black mother, Black grandmother, Black activist---BLACKLISTED!

Fast forward to 2017:  I published my 5th book (to the right on this page).  I didn't hesitate to put my face on the cover and I intentionally chose a white person as a counterpart.  Some people thought I did it to add so-called "value" to the book.  I did it to show that I was in control and I had the power to do so! Oh, and by the way, The Baby Boomer Millennial Divide: Making it Work at Work  also became a Best Seller on Amazon.

 

Move Over Baby Boomer Because The Millennials Are Here

You walk into your new-hire enrollment meeting to see a 50-year-old man fumbling with the computer and telling you to take a seat. It’s a scene you’ve been conditioned to seeing throughout your academic career. The instructor introduces himself and lets you know it will be six weeks before you actually start working and he is going to be your guide to learning the “new computer systems.” You instinctively roll your eyes and get your phone out. Without a tiniest effort you can find a YouTube video that will teach you everything this man knows about a “new computer system” in 30 minutes, not 6 weeks.

You take a deep breath as he hovers over the start button for the full display to come up as he moves over each option before landing on ‘programs’. Think about how you wanted to start meditating as he accidentally clicks away onto the screen and is about to have to restart this 5 minute ordeal. What is this guy going to “teach” you next? How to open Microsoft paint? I’ve been ignoring my middle school teacher for years playing with that. Maybe he’ll open your eyes to the world of Excel?! You finished your capstone class in college with advanced pivot tables and if this guy pivots too hard he’s going to break a hip.

Yes, a changing of the guard is taking place.  With all of their fanfare and glory over the years, baby boomers are reluctantly realizing a new generation has arrived and we are setting the tone for the workplace of the future.  We win, hands down, when it comes to technology, although we may lose out on those soft skills like actually talking to each other face-to-face. 

Baby boomers have been in the workplace and building relationships for years.  They may have worked for a Company longer than we’ve been alive. They are accustomed to making the high five and six-figure incomes and used to running “the show” their way.  You know what I’m talking about:  “It’s my way or the highway!” attitude.

But now with more than ten thousand boomers turning 65 and becoming eligible for retirement annually, it’s our turn to step up and take our rightful places in the workforce.   

You can read more in the new book: The Baby Boomer/Millennial Guide to Understanding Each Other in the Workplace.

Written by Chris Gure 

Whatever! happened to David Hartman?

He’s alive and well right here in Durham, NC! I ran into him and his wife this morning while getting my daily workout in at the Duke University cross country trail.

I was just starting my 2.8 mile trek and it looked as though they were finishing up. I immediately recognized Hartman even though he had on sunglasses. Some faces you just never forget and his was one I watched for many years when he was the co-host of Good Morning America.

He looked great and he was so charming! He was even gracious enough to stop and chat with me for a few moments. Of course I just had to tell him about my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age. He smiled as he told me he was beyond the baby boomer generation. He may be 72 but he doesn't look a day over 50! That’s when I turned my attention to his baby boomer wife and told her she would absolutely love my book. I wanted to give them a copy but I didn’t have any in the car.

Let this be a lesson to all authors: Carry your books EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

Hartman said he and he wife walked the trail often so I was bound to see them again. And you know I’ll be looking out.

This is what I am calling a “Thank God for menopause moment!” because menopause and its annoying symptoms have forced me to be much more conscientious of my physical health and that’s why I go to the trail and that’s how I was able to run into David Hartman.

"I'm Still Hot" Tour Part II

Upon leaving the Fox studio in High Point, I ran into a few showers but they didn’t last long.

With my daughter and grandson in tow, I headed down Highway 85 south. It actually turned out to be a beautiful day for a drive! I popped in The Secret CDs and filled my mind with positive thoughts and inspiration. About two hours later, we’re pulling into the Concord Mills Mall, just outside of Charlotte. This is one absolutely incredible place! I’ve been there three times and still don’t think I’ve been able to visit every store. There are over 200!!!

Now those who really know me will tell you I never meet a stranger. I’ll talk to anybody---anywhere---and that’s just what I did at the Mall. I passed out my business cards and let folks know I was going to be on the Fox Morning Show the next day. I believe you should never let a moment go by without networking. As a result of that networking, I met a woman named Linda Dvorak who is a member of eWomenNetwork We exchanged business cards and she invited me to an event she’s having on June 28 at the Speedway Club in South Concord, NC. I was truly impressed with this woman and I believe meeting her was NO coincidence.

After doing a little shopping, I figured it was time to check into the hotel and then head over to the book store where I was supposed to be doing a signing after my TV interview.

Well, this is where I met my first two challenges. The first room I was given only had one queen size bed. That wasn't going to work. The second room had no hot water. How they didn't know that is beyond me. But finally, they got it straightened out and all was well in room 2312.

Next....the people at the book store (Park Road Books) didn’t seem to have it all together for my signing. They had no promotion up for me---although there was promotion for every OTHER AUTHOR scheduled to sign during the week. I decided it would be in everyone's best interest for me to cancel. What they missed out on was a wonderful opportunity to get some FREE PUBLICITY on TV because you know I was going to mention the book signing and location. But it was THEIR LOSS. Now, this is one of those instances where I could’ve made some “assumptions” but I figured if this window was being closed---God was preparing to open up another one---and that He did!


Coming up next time: My new “last minute” book signing and the interview on Fox 18 in Charlotte.

"I'm Still Hot" Tour Part I

Last week I started the first phase of my "I'm still Hot...it just comes in Flashes now!" book tour. First stop, WGHP Fox 8 in High Point/Greensboro. I decided to take my daughter and grandson with me so they could experience what it was like to be "on the road." I have to say I probably learned more from it than they did.

At WGHP, I was interviewed by a young woman named Shannon--she looked young enough to be my daughter. I didn't think she understood the whole "menopause" thing but she did read my book and asked some VERY GOOD QUESTIONS during the interview. It appears the one book I sent got passed around to the women at the station because they all had a comment about something they read. Fortunately, I was able to wait until the camera stopped rolling before I had a "hot flash!"

My biggest thrill was getting to see a guy I worked with 20 years ago at WITN-TV (NBC Affiliate) in NC. His name is Bob Buckley and he was hired to do sports back then. He was always a friendly guy and I enjoyed his take on sports. Well, at WGHP, he is now a news anchor/reporter---a job he says he prefers---and he seems to be doing a wonderful job at it. As a matter of fact, he's the one who pushed for me to be interviewed at WGHP because it just so happened that he was filling in as an anchor for the morning show last week.

Bob and I reminisced about old times and connections. I learned, for the first time, that he went to school with Brad Pitt and Sheryl Crow and another former colleague of mine from ABC-11. The man has connections.

I left the interview feeling really good about it. My daughter even said she enjoyed it. From there I spoke at a luncheon of about 60 women. They laughed at my jokes and gave me a standing ovation at the end.

Next it's on to Charlotte, NC.

Wanna know what the rave is all about? Pick up a copy of "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age" on amazon.com and find out!

I'm Taking my Hot Flashes on Tour

This week I'm kicking off my summer book tour with "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age." Tagging along with me will be the seven dwarfs of menopause (and probably a few of their cousins) and some hot flashes. Now I want you to know they are UNIVITED GUESTS. I'd love to leave them at home with my husband but, just like me, he's had to endure them and, bless his heart, they've been harder on him sometimes than on me. So I'm packing them up and taking them with me.

On Wednesday, June 20th I'm making a guest appearance on the Fox8 Morning News Show. On Thursday, June 21, its on to Charlotte, NC where I will be a guest on Fox News Rising (Fox18). At noon, I will be doing a book signing at Park Roads Books, also in Charlotte.

Now it just so happens that Thursday, June 21---the first day of summer---is also my 50th birthday so I guess me and the dwarfs are all gonna be celebrating this new milestone together.

If you’d like to schedule me and my menopause crew for an interview, book signing or as a guest speaker, please contact me directly at 301-356-6280 or via email at bmahone@nc.rr.com