A COMPELLING NEW VOICE: A MOM, AUTHOR, EDUCATOR & STORYTELLER
MEET ANNI REINKING—Every day, headlines tell us that race is a dangerous flashpoint in American neighborhoods. Sometimes, the news can overwhelm us. That’s not something Dr. Anni Reinking can let happen on her watch—as the white mother of a black son, as an educator of university students and as a researcher about the challenges faced by diverse American families.
The fact is: Diversity is our future. Anni has lived with this truth on a daily basis since 2009, when she gave birth to her son Ahmad. Both as a researcher and educator—and as a Mom—she has had to cope with America’s life-and-death friction over racial diversity.
As research shows, millions of new interracial families are forming every year. By 2040, America’s “majority” will be our “minorities.” While there are many important new books emerging each year focused on these issues—Publishers Weekly magazine highlighted Anni’s new book, Not Just Black and White, as unique and especially important. Now, a chorus of other writers and activists are saying the same thing.
Please, read our Cover Story to find out about this book that more and more people are discussing nationwide. Learn how you can start a discussion where you live—and even consider inviting Anni to speak. Share this hopeful news with friends.
.
.
DISCUSS DIVERSITY IN 2019
WE CAN HELP WITH A FREE SAMPLE—Millions of Americans are discussing gender diversity and sexual orientation in 2019. For example, members of the United Methodist church nationwide have identified this issue as a year-long, global conversation. We want to help! Our publishing house is proud of the high praise we’ve received for publishing a pair of guidebooks with Michigan State University School of Journalism. Those books are called: 100 Questions and Answers about Gender Identity and 100 Questions and Answers about Sexual Orientation.
MSU’s Joe Grimm, the head of the educational project that has published this groundbreaking series of books, is offering to send a free sample set of these two new volumes on gender and sexuality to community leaders hoping to organize a discussion group. The trademark of this MSU book series is: We’re answering the questions everybody’s asking but nobody’s answering. Sample copies could prompt others in your community to order these books—and share this accurate, helpful information on these urgent issues.
So, if you are a librarian, preacher, teacher, book-club coordinator—or any other kind of community leader planning to spark a discussion—please contact us [email protected]
UPDATE—This is the second week we are extending this special offer. Last week, we heard from groups from the West Coast, the East Coast, the South and the Midwest. Joe tells us he still has a few sets of these books he can send to a few more groups. Please, email us now.
.
.
News about Our Authors
‘SADIE’ ON IOWA PUBLIC RADIO—Sadie the dog’s best friend Penny received an e-tablet as a gift and as soon as she logged on to the internet, their friendship began to suffer. Sadie Sees Trouble is a colorful children’s book that explores the balance of screen time and real life. Public radio program Idaho Matters speaks to the book’s author, Linda Jarkey, about turning a didactic message into entertaining children’s literature.
JOE GRIMM WINS MICHIGAN AWARD—The Library of Michigan just announced its prestigious list of Michigan Notable Books for 2019. On that list was Joe Grimm’s new Faygo Book, a colorful history of a company that has forged a bond with metro-Detroit and its residents for more than a century. Here’s the complete listing of Michigan Notable Books.
LUCILLE SIDER’S STORY GOING GLOBAL—The roots of the Baptist Global News Service stretch back through almost two centuries of independent reporting for readers around the world. Veteran journalist Jeff Brumley profiled author Lucille Sider about her new memoir Light Shines in the Darkness—My Healing Journey through Sexual Abuse and Depression. Jeff’s story begins: “Lucille F. Sider is an ordained minister called to bring healing to others even as she carried dark, painful secrets inside her for decades.” Please, read Jeff’s excellent profile and share this news with friends.
.
.
PRAYERS FOR UNITY
A CENTURY-OLD TRADITION—Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton reports this week on the global Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is more than 100 years old this year. Starting on Friday, January 18, this year—Stephanie has the links to detailed resources for worship and reflection provided by the World Council of Churches as well as the Vatican.
For quick reference, you can easily find Stephanie’s master calendar by going to—www.InterfaithHolidays.com
.
.
Make Google Work for You!
HOW TO SET UP A GOOGLE ALERT—If you’ve never set up a Google Alert, then you may be surprised how easy it is to start one—or to change or even cancel an Alert if you don’t care for the results. This week in our Front Edge Publishing column, marketing expert Susan Stitt walks us through the process step by step. Establishing these Alerts can open windows into the world that automatically greet you each day with news about authors, books or important topics that matter to you. Even if you’re not an author, learning how to set up Alerts can keep you up to date on the latest news and save you hours of web searching.
.
.
Click this movie still to read Ed’s review.
FAITH & FILM: Ed McNulty
ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.
Among Ed’s free reviews and columns are:
- ON THE BASIS OF SEX—Ed gives this new biopic 5 out of 5 stars and urges readers to go see this story of Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s early life.
-
AT ETERNITY’S GATE—This film “provides us with a wonderful exploration of art and the world—as seen through the eyes of a sensitive genius who hugely influenced us all to see the world as full of the beauty and the holiness of the divine.” (5 stars) Ed also reminds us that we could reach back to 1991 for Robert Altman’s fascinating Vincent and Theo—about the artist’s relationship with his brother. - VICE—”If you are among the growing number of political junkies, you will enjoy this film, one that would make a suitable companion for a double-feature starting with Oliver Stone’s 2008 satirical movie about Pres. George W. Bush, called W,” Ed writes about this film, giving it 4.5 stars.
- MARY QUEEN OF SCOTTS—And speaking of politics—long ago and far away in this case—Ed gives 4 stars to this latest tale of the classic conflict between queens.
- MARY POPPINS—Ed has a lot of good things to say about the new version of the classic tale! However, Ed gives this version only 4 out of 5 stars, because: “The songs are all serviceable, pleasant to hear as the characters sing them, but they do not fly out of the theater with you.”
- WELCOME TO MARWEN—Steve Carell co-stars in the previous film, Beautiful Boy, as well as this unusual film—based on a true story—about an artist who suffers a severe trauma and winds up retreating into a world of “make believe” figures. (4.5 stars)
- BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY—Ed gives the new biopic about Freddie Mercury and Queen 4 stars.
- THE MULE—Yet another true story is brought to the big screen starring Clint Eastwood as an elderly man who gets involved with a drug cartel. (4 stars)
- BACKS AGAINST THE WALL—Start watching your upcoming PBS listings in January for this wonderful documentary about Howard Thurman. In addition to this early column by Ed McNulty, praising the film, ReadTheSpirit magazine will continue to update readers about the debut of this movie. Care to learn more about this giant in interreligous peacemaking? We already have our own Interfaith Peacemakers profile of Thurman in our magazine.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
