REFLECTION & REASON

Cleveland author Jameel Davis is not normal. I mean this in the most respectful, and endearing, and celebratory of ways. After reading his book " In Between These Sheets " (that I drove all the way to Cleveland, Ohio to pick up hot off the presses in the summer of 2019), it only reinforced my positive opinion of this brother. He is not normal...he's definitely outstanding. The thoughts, the wisdom, the insight, the honesty, the maturity, the social awareness...none of this is standard. The sheer volume that he is able to produce as a writer: also not normal. In the pages of this book, Jameel Davis touched on topics, themes, personal anecdotes, and a range of subjects that make him not only a significant contributor to the ongoing cultural dialogue surrounding these topics, but also a damn good writer. I know Jameel personally, so it's hard to not be impressed by this 30-year-old African-American young man. He's educated. He's kind. He's insightfu...

In what has become an annual tradition, Kya Publishing partnered with Cleveland's Elevated Waves Publishing to present a special Writing Workshop for the Toronto Public Library last week, in association with their Black History Month programming. Over the years, the workshop has evolved from discussing the idea of Urban Fiction, to providing information about Urban Fiction...and then with increased participation, we established a format of having a panel discussion followed by one-on-one author chats in the latest editions of the cultural writing workshop. One thing has been consistent, and that is our dedication to letting writers know about the importance of staying true to their authentic voices, and also honouring their personal experiences. Whether writing Urban Fiction, Black Narratives, or developing cultural writing projects, all writers have entered the environment and left with the same spirit: one of increased creativity. This year's workshop highlighted a pan...

History is constantly being documented year-round from various perspectives, voices, and parts of the world. As writers, we recognize the longevity of our work in print, whether it's online or in a library, we know that our words will last far beyond the moments they are created. As readers, we have looked to the words of our predecessors to learn from their environments, find out how they persevered through circumstances they were placed in, and we gain wisdom from their written knowledge and shared processes. Through fictional accounts, or non-fiction instruction, the words are powerful and lasting. As a group of Black writers, we thought it fitting to gather during Black History Month at the Toronto Public Library to reach out to our peers who are also crafting books and memoirs, poetry and other writings, and provide a space for us all to share the importance of writing cultural stories, and the importance of letting your personal experiences and perspectives shine thr...

If you could provide a young person in your community, a family member, or a peer with a handbook for life management and self-empowerment, I believe that you would be pleased by picking up " Cultivating Minds to Own Thyself " by Cleveland author Jameel Davis. It's hard to review the book without acknowledging the individual behind the words. And to acknowledge the writer is to confirm that he lives what he believes, he practices what he preaches, and he is a man of conviction. To witness the way Jameel Davis conducts his life and business, is to verify that his words of wisdom are genuine. " Cultivating Minds to Own Thyself " covers a range of topics from identity to the education system, retirement, relationships, and spirituality. There are questions and quotes, and there's even space for writing notes on the pages as well. Overall, the book can be viewed as a self-help guide to living a life of integrity and progress. The back cover copy states ...