(Akiit.com) St. Louis, MO June 2007 — Author/ Freelance Writer Zekita Tucker brings you the new and more powerful revised edition of her highly controversial children’s book titled “Don’t Call Me N!gga”. This daring and critically honest book has kept both children and adults in amazement at the shockingly open display of emotions and the realistic language used by this books’ characters.

Already, “Don’t Call Me N!gga” has generated an enormous buzz across the country throughout many African American communities. Since its first publication in March 2006, “Don’t Call Me N!gga” has been featured by ABC World News on the very popular news site ABCnews.com, has made cover stories in African American newspapers and websites. Zekita Tucker has been interviewed by a Black Enterprise reporter for her courageous work on “Don’t Call Me N!gga” as well as the very popular The Ave. Magazine, and she has also been a guest on the Roland S. Martin Show, who is a CNN News commentator (Chicago) and The Intersection w/ Rebecca Roberts (DC).

Teaching your children about the affects of language is a great way to help them conquer some unforeseen battles in their lives. “Don’t Call Me Nigga” now published and reprinted by Zeniam Publications, written by Zekita and illustrated by Matthew Schultz, is a perfect tool for parents who want to combat the use of the ‘N’ word with their children but may not have other effective tools or resources. It is a perfect tool for children of all ages and is recommended for 8 years old and up.
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(Akiit.com) After working on the book for more than a decade, Haley was stuck — and desperate

I just love to get out in the ocean. You are really out there, thinking in ways you haven’t thought before. The best writing I ever possibly could do was after The Digest helped me go to Africa and Europe, and I was not known and I could just take my time and nobody was pressing me. God, I don’t know how long it took me. I was working slowly, slowly. When I had done all the research, nine years, working in between doing articles for other magazines, I was ready to write. I didn’t know where to go, didn’t know what to do. I knew I had a monumental task. And I got on a cargo ship. I went from Long Beach, California, completely around South America and back to Long Beach. It was 91 days.

There’s something about a ship. Usually I go out on freight ships, cargo ships. (I wouldn’t get caught on a liner. How can you write with 800 people dancing?) But the freight ships carry a maximum of 12 people, and they tend to be very quiet people.

I work my principal hours from about 10:30 at night until daybreak. The world is yours at that point. Most all the passengers are asleep.

I had written from the birth of Kunta Kinte through his capture. And I had got into the habit of talking to the character. I knew Kunta. I knew everything about Kunta. I knew what he was going to do. What he had done. Everything. And so I would talk to him. And I had become so attached to him that I knew now I had to put him in the slave ship and bring him across the ocean. That was the next part of the book. And I just really couldn’t quite bring myself to write that.
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Whatever She Wants, starring Vivica A. Fox, is the latest work in a growing genre

(Akiit.com) Not long ago, Vivica A. Fox and Morris Chestnut were among the top stars of a modestly successful movie subgenre — the all-black romantic comedy — that seems to have lost some of its luster.

Some of its best directors and stars have moved on to other types of films. Chestnut hasn’t been seen on screen in two years, and that was as a guest on the TV show Bones.

The black romantic comedy isn’t dead, however. It’s simply changed venues. Fox currently is touring in a play, Whatever She Wants, which opens in Houston May 1 at the Verizon Wireless Theater.

Co-starring Boris Kodjoe (Madea’s Family Reunion, Soul Food) and Richard Roundtree (Shaft), the play is scheduled to run through May 6.

Chestnut also is touring in his stage debut. His play, Love in the Nick of Tyme, launched its 11-city run in Houston in January.

They usually escape the notice of mainstream media and audiences, but the plays come through town like clockwork, every 30-45 days, except in the summer, sometimes selling out large venues. They’ve made millionaires of producers like Tyler Perry and Houston’s Je’Caryous Johnson, who wrote and directed Whatever She Wants.
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(Akiit.com) E! Online reports that Anika Noni Rose has signed on to provide the voice of the title character in the upcoming Disney animated feature The Frog Princess.

CNN previously announced that the Walt Disney Company will make history by introducing its first black princess in the animated fairy tale. Rose will voice the character of Maddy, the 19 year-old heroine of The Frog Princess. The film, which will take place in 1920s New Orleans, was described by Disney chief creative officer John Lasseter as “an American fairy tale.” “The film’s New Orleans setting and strong princess character give the film lots of excitement and texture,” stated Dick Cook, Walt Disney Studios Chairman.

Randy Newman (Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Cars) will write the score. Newman is also the composer/lyricist of the musical Faust.
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(Akiit.com) Lionsgate, the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, has forged two major partnerships in the faith-based entertainment genre, it was announced by Lionsgate President Steve Beeks.

The Company has reached a distribution agreement with publisher Thomas Nelson, Inc., making Thomas Nelson the exclusive distributor of Lionsgate product in the Christian retail market. The largest Christian publisher and the sixth largest overall publisher in the world, Thomas Nelson is expanding its DVD distribution business through the deal.

Lionsgate also has acquired the exclusive North American home entertainment distribution rights to three DVD documentaries based on the best-selling books by leading Christian non-fiction author Lee Strobel – THE CASE FOR CHRIST, THE CASE FOR A CREATOR, and THE CASE FOR FAITH.

Having sold more than eight million copies combined, the award-winning books have received extensive critical acclaim. Produced by Illustra Media, in association with Carmel Entertainment, the first documentary, THE CASE FOR CHRIST, will ship to retail in the third calendar quarter of 2007.

With these partnerships, Lionsgate looks to expand its overall industry leadership in the faith-based category and increase its presence in Christian retail.

THE CASE FOR CHRIST, which has sold over four million copies, will be the anchor of the company’s foray into this marketplace. Additionally, Lionsgate will utilize its relationship with Thomas Nelson to gain leverage for its existing library of product as well as upcoming inspirational theatrical titles such as CHURCH BOY, based on the true story of inspirational gospel music icon Kirk Franklin, and a feature adaptation of Thomas Kinkade’s painting THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE.

Lionsgate established a stronghold in the African-American faith-based market through its hugely successful partnership with Tyler Perry and the feature films DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN, MADEA’S FAMILY REUNION, and DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS.

“Lionsgate is making a concerted effort to expand its leadership in the faith-based category.

Making Lee Strobel’s THE CASE FOR CHRIST the first new title under the Thomas Nelson relationship is a very powerful statement to show our commitment,” said Beeks.

“Thomas Nelson has the best sales team in the industry, and they provide our faith-based product with unprecedented access to millions of proven Christian product buyers across the United States.”

“This is a strategic moment for Thomas Nelson and Lionsgate,” remarks Gary Davidson, senior vice president of Christian retail sales at Thomas Nelson. “We are very excited to partner with Lionsgate where we can offer quality family friendly and faith-based films to our Christian retail customers. Thomas Nelson and Christian retail share the belief that the DVD medium has huge potential for revenue and market share growth in the foreseeable future.”

“I’m thrilled to partner with Lionsgate and Thomas Nelson to expand my books into a visual market,” Strobel said. “Illustra and Carmel Entertainment produce extremely high-quality films, and both Thomas Nelson and Lionsgate have the expertise necessary to achieve widespread distribution of the DVDs.”

By Stacey Williams