EXCLUSIVE: Hiphop & Books Founder Interviewed about Street-Lit Controversy

Do Hip-Hop Lovers Read? The Street-Lit Controversy Inside-Out

 by Terra Little (author of Running from Mercy & Where There's Smoke)

http://terralittle.blogspot.com

I'm woman enough to admit that I'm ambivalent where Urban Fiction/Street-lit is concerned, so I'm not about to get into my thoughts on the topic. What I do take issue with, though, is the slightly generalized assertion that most, though certainly not all, Black folks are eating up whatever the genre produces faster than writers can crank it out. There is no new overall craze for Urban Fiction and I believe the sudden jump in Black book sales is due to the fact that the genre attracts people who hadn't previously included reading for pleasure as part of their list of hobbies. Not that these people couldn't read, they just, for whatever reason, weren't. Perhaps, the long-awaited ability to identify with characters' life circumstances was what sparked interest, who knows? Whatever the reason(s), there's this big jump in sales and I think that's because of additional book buyers, not existing ones who've switched preferences.

There are books out there to suit all tastes and preferences, and I just hope that continues to be the case. Hint, hint.

"At least they're reading," is what a lot of folks say when the topic of Urban Fiction comes up, and there just may be some merit to this viewpoint. After all, it's, to some extent, a viewpoint that is shared by Conversations Book Club Founder, Cyrus A. Webb.

Not only do Webb's book club interests span four states, but the chapters often host successful author book signings and facilitate meetings of the minds between readers and writers from all over. However, if you know Webb, you know he's very modest about the club's success and far-reaching effects. But get him to talking about the Hip-Hop Lovers Read initiative and some of the modesty slips away and, understandably, excitement takes over.

I recently had occasion to have a meeting of the minds with Webb regarding the Hip-Hop Lovers Read initiative and, being the "Rhona Barrett of the Blog-Zine Scene", you know I had to put it out there for you. Specifically, I wanted to compare some of the information I've come across about Urban Fiction/Street-lit to his vision for Hip-Hop Lovers Read.

Here's what Webb had to say...

Read the interview here: http://terralittle.blogspot.com/2008/07/do-hip-hop-lovers-read-street-lit.html