Beverly Johnson

About me:

POETIC, HISTORICAL POEM AT THE END OF THIS SECTION~A MUST READ~
Beverly Black Johnson is the founder of Gumbo for the Soul Publications. Our series anthologies focuses on humanitarian issues relating to education, adoption, health and everything in between effecting our community.
Our publications:
Book #1~
"Gumbo for The Soul: The Recipe For Literacy in the Black Community" Bookcover ©1990 "With Honors" by Synthia SAINT JAMES Foreword by Heather Covington, author of Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature and NAACP Image Award Nominee. "Gumbo for the Soul" dares to call it like it is. This serving of Gumbo is a must-read for every parent, teacher, mentor and all who believe it is important that our children can read and comprehend the English language." -- Tavis Smiley, Author, Television and Radio Host "GUMBO FOR THE SOUL tells African-Americans exactly what the recipe for a good life is. . . it is inspirational, uplifting, and recommended for people of all ages, colors and aspirations. " - Alice Holman, RAWSISTAZ.com Rawsistaz Reviewer rates Gumbo 5 out of 5 Gumbo for the Soul was created by Beverly Black Johnson, to heighten awareness of the growing high school drop-out rate in the Black community. A portion of the proceeds from this anthology will go towards funding the Gumbo for the Soul Scholarship Program. Gumbo for The Soul conveys accounts of educational, occupational and personal experiences dealing with adversity, obstacles, perseverance and determination eloquently portrayed in the form of poetry, personal stories, quotes & reflections. These pages are penned by Essence bestsellers, first time writers, professionals from all walks of life, laypersons, parents, teachers and students.
Book#2
“Here’s Our Child, Where’s The Village?” conveys that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish as happy, thriving and free spirited people regardless of race and the displacement factors governing their lives. The question isn’t “Here’s Our Child, Where’s The Village?” The question is whose village will you be? ~Beverly Black Johnson “We must bear each others burdens. Though the village has been replaced by concrete and Roe v. Wade, there remains innocent children deserving of love and a safe haven. They may be parentless, but they are not Godless…” ~Bruce George, Co-Founder of Def Poetry Jam "Connecting kids to permanency is paramount.” ~Stacia C. Hammond- Executive Director/Founder Adoption Support & Consultation Services of Florida, Inc. (ASCS) ~Book cover art: Grandmother Spirit© Synthia SAINT JAMES’ ~Foreword: Tee C. Royal-founder of RAWSISTAZ Literary Group
Book #3
Due October 2009
Women of Honor
Inspired by the co-founder of Def Poetry Jam, visionary, Bruce George.
Foreworded by Synthia SAINT JAMES
An anthology honoring women and supporting the fight against breast cancer. Compiled by Beverly Black Johnson
Cover design, Sisters of Courage ©Synthia SAINT JAMES
Edited by Eve's Literary Service
Media rep: PR et Cetera, Inc.
Synthia SAINT JAMES was recently commissioned by the Susan G. Komen Foundation to create Circle of Promise.
We are so honored to have Ms. SAINT JAMES' input and to support such a worthy cause that has such a tremendous impact on our community.
20% of the books' proceeds to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Sponsorship opportunities are available on the website and in our series publications.
Visit www.gumboforthesoul.com
You can email Beverly Black Johnson at gumboforthesoul@yahoo.com
Gumbo for the Soul

I am a savory blend of many things
originally born an African,
an extension of those beaten, stripped,
and in 1619 brought here on a Dutch slave ship.
Torn from the bosom of the motherland,
ostracized and renamed American.
I am a savory blend of the free blacks that fought with the Minutemen
In the initial Revolutionary War,
My people bare the battle scars.
A savory blend of Benjamin Banneker,
with a blessed pen created the first Almanac,
that took more than a notion.
Like Richard Allen who in 1794,
founded the Bethel African Methodist Church
personifying spiritual God fearing women and men.
By God and faith,
my destiny is predetermined.
Take 1829, when David Walker created a pamphlet,
An Appeal to the Colored People of the World,
at the time, this work, was the first of its kind.
Or in the same year the creation of the first National Negro Convention.
I am a savory blend of all I’ve mentioned.
I am a savory blend of the men and women that took over the slave ship,
Amistad, and won their freedom,
now our freedom, sometimes taken for granted. I am a savory blend of Sojourner Truth,
Harriet Tubman and strong black women,
like Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune and Barbara Jordan...
Blended with Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne,
gifted to sing and those that pressed towards the mark
like Susan L. Taylor and Coretta Scott King.
Spirited to succeed like Madam C.J. Walker and Oprah Winfrey
just to name a few,
poetically influenced like Maya Angelou.
A blend of the time between 1922 and 1929,
the Harlem Renaissance.
A blend of strong men, like James Stone,
the first black to enlist to fight for the Union
and Edward G. Walker and Charles L. Mitchell, who, in 1866,
sat on the American Legislature of Massachusetts.
I am a savory blend of many more men from the late 18 and 1900’s,
Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Carter G. Woodson, A. Philip Randolph and Jesse Owens.
Their great achievements are no mystery,
products of our heritage that made history.
I’m predisposed to greatness
hell bent on makin’ it.
A savory blend of many firsts
from men like Jackie Robinson, Ralph J. Bunche,
Thomas Bradley, Kenneth Gibson and Maynard H. Jackson.
Then we all know of the many men who gave their lives fightin, marching, preachin’,
Malcom X and Martin, were always teachin’
while some still carry the torch like Al Sharpton, Barack Obama and Jesse L. Jackson.
There are too many to mention of our heritage that comprise this beautiful blend
and there are some of which don’t bear the same color of our skin.
But they too contributed to that of which we benefited.
All that I am goes back to them,
the heroes of the past and the torchbearers of the present.
I am a savory blend of many things,
a protégé of my Aunt Catherine with Bigmama’s soul stirred in.
I won’t stop til I win.
And then I’ll start something back up again,
like Gumbo for The Soul, supporting education.
I am a savory blend of generations,
those that came before,
and the ones followin’.

Beverly Black Johnson www.gumboforthesoul.com

~Gumbo for the Soul Publications~ www.gumboforthesoul.com Proverbs10:14 Wise people treasure knowledge,but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.