Telling Our Stories: Marjuan Canady, Author Of The Callaloo Book Series, Talks Diversifying Children’s Literature

Author and playwright Marjuan Canady, 29, has set out to address the desperate need for Black storytellers to produce narratives for our people. And most importantly, for our children, so that they can witness and learn more about their incredible history. A 2014 study by Cooperative Children’s Book Center also analyzed by Lee & Low Books reported that 37 percent of the U.S. population is made up of people of color… Yet only 10 percent of children’s books in the past 21 years have contained multi-cultural content. Canady’s Callaloo series addresses the disparity and allows this generation to take pride in where they come from and to love their Black and brown skin.

[Madamenoire]

Young Jeezy Relaunches Street Dreamz Foundation, Hosts Neighborhood Clean-Up In Atlanta’s District 4

Rapper Young Jeezy is having the best weekend, ever. Not only did he celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut album, TM 101, with a concert at the Fox Theatre, but he also relaunched his Street Dreamz Foundation. The Atlanta native arrived bright and early at 8 a.m. at Rosa L.Burney Park on Saturday (July 25) morning to kick off the relaunch with a community event aimed at giving back to his city. Jeezy’s first event was in the form of neighborhood clean-up of Atlanta’s District 4… Those living in the area had their streets swept clean of trash and debris. They also had their grass was cut and weeds removed free of charge.

[Madamenoire]

Surviving Members Of N.W.A Remember Eazy-E’s Contribution To Hip-Hop

Although the story of N.W.A has been approved by several varying parties ahead of Straight Outta Compton’s release, the hollowness of Eazy-E’s absence still isn’t an emotion to sweep under the rug. The founding member of N.W.A lost his life 20 years ago to complications with AIDS and has gone on to become a cultural symbol for gangsta rap. In a new video by HipHopDX, surviving group members Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray all explain how Eazy-E’s genius was the gel to make their rise to prominence such a swift one. “Eazy is the reason why this thing really worked,” Dr. Dre says in the video…

[HipHopWired]

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