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"Once the shepherd has spoken, it's down to the sheep to obey."
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PANTHER NEWSLETTER started out as a hobby and has become a global phenomenon. Launched November 22 2009, with a vision to highlight local talent; within three months of its launch, PANTHER NEWSLETTER caught the eye of the global internet community and has grown from strength to strength.
LONG MAY IT CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND GROW STRONGER!!
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Welcome to your special BLACK HISTORY MONTH issue of PANTHER NEWSLETTER.
PANTHER NEWSLETTER provides news, updates, current affairs, history and what's happening across the global community.
Check out its associated sites: PANTHER NEWSLETTER, your on line cultural review.
Mother site SAMUDA SIMTH PUBLICATIONS, featuring: CULTURE CORNER ARCHIVES. Read some of the best ARTICLES first published in PANTHER NEWSLETTER.
Also check out the articles written by the editor at HUBPAGES BY NORMSKI, and if you prefer, you can follow all of this on FACEBOOK, TWITTER and PINTEREST.
So less chat, more edutainment.
ENJOY!
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EGYPTIAN BELLY DANCE AND/OR ZUMBA FITNESS
with CHLOE REDMOND
For more details of her classes, check out Chloe's website here...
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All your Balloon decorations for Parties, Weddings and Corporate Events
Check out CANDY BUBBLES @ www.candybubbles.co.uk
or call: 0790 480 4419 - 0121 250 4466
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GROUND BREAKING NOVEL BAD FRIDAY IS 30 YEARS OF AGE!!!
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ISBN: 9780901241603
Format: Hardback
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First published in 1982 (Trinity Arts; Birmingham), short-listed for the Young Observer Fiction Prize the same year and republished in 1985 by New Beacon Books; London/Port of Spain, BAD FRIDAY is the ground breaking novel, written by the UK's first black British born novelist Norman Samuda Smith. Set in the mid 1970s, BAD FRIDAY follows the fortunes of Delroy Bell, a young black school-leaver and his friends. The prospects for them look grim. Will Delroy realise his dream and become a professional basketball player; or will he end up hustling and gambling on the streets like his cousin Peter says? BAD FRIDAY tells how each are searching for a future, an identity and respect they feel was denied their parents; and the predicament in which Faye, young and pregnant finds herself - anxious about the possible rejection of her family and the baby's father. A compelling page turning novel and exceptionally well written.
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"Bad Friday is the first novel to come out of the black British working class experience; and it confronts in an artistic form, the life of black youth in Britain today." John La Rose, New Beacon Books (1985)
Norman Samuda Smith with John La Rose @ the Bad Friday book launch; Finsbury Park, London: April 1985
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"I read Bad Friday before I met Norman and felt it was good then: a novel about school leavers set in inner-city Small Heath Birmingham (UK) among the Afro-Caribbean community in the 1970s. It uses the dialogue of the community skilfully to tell an affecting story. What's amazing (to me) about it is the author's youth when he wrote it. He was in his early twenties, but he shows a mastery of narrative..." Alan Beard, goodreads (January, 2001)
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Buy a copy here…
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An Interview with Norman Samuda-Smith: The UK’s First Ever Black Published Novelist
BY TALISHA JOHNSON - OCTOBER 15 2012
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Scene Birmingham had the pleasure of interviewing Birmingham born writer Norman Samuda-Smith who made history in 1982 for being the first Black British-born novelist to be published in the UK. He discovered his passion for writing at 10 years of age and has continued in writing and publishing more of his work; his novel Bad Friday, which made history, was also short-listed for the Young Observer Fiction Prize; read his interview with me here...
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BOOKS WORTH READING
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Ten Black British Poets from the West Midlands
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INTERESTING READING
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The Third Musketeer
'The Black Count,' by Tom Reiss
by LEO DAMROSCH
Published September 14, 2012
In the 1790s, the son of an aristocratic white father and a black slave woman became a charismatic French general who for a time rivalled Napoleon himself, and afterward languished in a Italian dungeon. His story inspired the novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," written by his son, Alexandre Dumas, who also drew upon his father's adventures in "The Three Musketeers." Posterity remembers this son as Dumas pere, to distinguish him from Alexandre Dumas fils, also a writer, whose novel "La Dame aux Camellias" was the source of Verdi's "La Traviata." But the general was the first of the three Alexandres (he preferred to be known as Alex), and in "The Black Count," Tom Reiss, the author of "The Orientalist," has recovered this fascinating story with a richly imaginative biography; article continued here...
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Recent riots in Greece and Spain over their respected government's austerity measures affirms the feeling that the everyday populous of Europe are not happy. They are losing their patience and can't take any more spending cuts which is affecting mainly the poor and needy. Meanwhile, Europe's leaders go around in circles and end up with no solutions. In December 2011, editor 'Normski' Samuda Smith wrote an article about this subject with a biblical twist in PANTHER NEWSLETTER, which has gone on to become the most popular read piece in the on line cultural review during 2012. If you haven't read it yet, here's your chance to read Normski's article now; THE AGE OF IRON AND CLAY; here...
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JENNIECE ANDERSON
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WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE BY BROTHA CHAZ WALKER
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Check out Mama Ife's food for thought blog. Where she feeds you with common sense and old school wisdom for our time; here...
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HEAR MY PRAYER
by
OAKLAND INTERFAITH GOSPEL CHOIR
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Under the direction of the visionary Terrance Kelly, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir has developed into one of gospel's premier ensembles. The release of the choir's album, October 4 2011 "Hear My Prayer," is only the fifth in its 25-year history. It is a cause for celebration among lovers of great gospel music everywhere!
During my recent trip to California (September 2012), to visit family and friends, I had the pleasure meeting Terrance Kelly. He being a good friend of my cousin Michael and his Fiancé Nicolia who both live in Oakland, Terrance invited us to his home on a beautiful Sunday morning where he cooked up a proper US deep south breakfast. A Great guy, inspiring conversation, with forever positive energy.
For all lovers of gospel music, the choir's CD "Hear My Prayer" is available on their website
You can listen to the tracks of the album here... - and if their vibes sweet you - you can buy a copy here...
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HOLY & HORNY
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Touring the West Midlands Autumn 2012
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY TONYA BOLTON
DIRECTED BY JON TREVOR
"A long time in the making and finally on tour"
Birmingham's multifaceted and multi-talented Tonya Bolton enthrals you with her one woman show. Let her take you on a journey taken by many, but one that is rarely shared so honestly in the public domain.
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TOUR DATES
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September 29 2012 - The Public, West Bromwich (Performance) - 0121 533 7161 - www.thepublic.com.
October 13 2012 - MAC, Birmingham (Performance) - 0121 446 3232 - www.macarts.co.uk
October 25 2012 - Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton (Performance) - plus Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton (Empowerment Day for Women) - 01902 321 321 - www.arena.wlv.ac.uk
CATCH A PREVIEW OF HER SHOW...
KETCH THE FEEDBACK
Want to know more about Tonya? Check out her website
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AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED
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AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED
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TRULY MAJESTIC
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SPOKEN WORD
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THE DUB LISTINGS SITE IS NOW LAUNCHED
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If you promote Dub/Roots/Reggae/Revival/Bashment/Dancehall events; just register as a promoter and post your events on the site here... You can also buy/sell event tickets direct from the event listings via: http://www.I-Want-Tickets.com
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For more interesting and inspiring websites check out the COOL LINKS list on the side bar.
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AVAILABLE SOON @
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SAMUDA SMITH DESIGNS SHOP
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BAD FRIDAY ON CANVAS
The original pencil drawing
by author Norman Samuda Smith (April, 1982). It became the original cover design for his ground
breaking novel Bad Friday and is now available on canvas. View more of his designs here...
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...and finally, every one's favourite...
Presents...
TRIBUTE TO OUR S/HEROES VOLUME II
TRIBUTE TO OUR S/HEROES VOLUME II
“If you have no confidence in self, you are twice
defeated in the race of life.”
Marcus Garvey
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Here ends your special BLACK HISTORY MONTH issue.
PANTHER NEWSLETTER (Echo) will return soon.
Until then, remember...
"It is only when man becomes master of his fate - able to determine his destiny - that he can be free from fears and inferiority"
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I
- July 2, 1963 -
Here ends your special BLACK HISTORY MONTH issue.
PANTHER NEWSLETTER (Echo) will return soon.
Until then, remember...
"It is only when man becomes master of his fate - able to determine his destiny - that he can be free from fears and inferiority"
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I
- July 2, 1963 -
"EVERYTING BLESS"
