Aberjhani

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Aberjhani (born Jeffery J. Lloyd[1] July 8, 1957,[2] in Savannah, Georgia) is an American historian, columnist, novelist, poet, artist, and editor. Although well known for his blog articles on literature and politics, he is perhaps best known as co-author of Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance and author of The River of Winged Dreams.[3] The encyclopedia won a Choice Academic Title Award in 2004.[4]

Early life and education

Aberjhani grew up in

Indianapolis, Indiana
.

Military service

He served a two-year tour of duty with the

Suffolk, England; and another two years with the USAF Reserves in Charleston, South Carolina. He studied Equal Opportunity and Human Relations Counseling at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute at Tyndall AFB, Florida.[5]

Literary career

The author took the name Aberjhani as an adult: he says that it came to him in a dream.[1] He continued writing while in the Air Force. He later served from 1994 until 2001 as co-editor of the Savannah Literary Journal. During the same period, he served as a literary reviewer for the Georgia Council for the Arts and held various position with the Poetry Society of Georgia, the oldest such literary organization in the state, and became well known as both a spoken word poet and published author.[6] His national debut came in 1997 with ESSENCE Magazine's publication of his cover story/essay "This Mother’s Son."[7] The magazine at the time commanded a circulation of 7 million readers. From 1999 to 2005 his poems appeared regularly in ESSENCE, making him one of the most well-known poets in the United States.[8]

Literary influences

Aberjhani has said in interviews that he has been influenced more by

Works as visual artist

The writer made his debut as a

Otis S. Johnson" (Aug 16, 2017). In 2018 he created the compositional art technique and subsequent body of work named after it called "Silk-Featherbrush Artstyle." His art is featured extensively in the book Dreams of the Immortal City Savannah and on the cover of Greeting Flannery O'Connor at the Back Door of My Mind.[12]

Accomplishments

Humanitarian causes

Aberjhani founded the online Creative Thinkers International community in September 2007 to support creative nonviolent conflict resolutions in the face of escalating warfare and terrorism following 9/11.

Eugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge be changed to one less racially inflammatory.[21] The author first addressed the issue the 2007 memoir
The American Poet Who Went Home Again.

Bibliography

History and memoir

Novel

Short fiction and poetry collections

He has self-published works about childhood experiences in Savannah in both prose and poetry as well as being published by different small and university presses.[23]

Online columnist

The Digital Clarity Group's

International Year for People of African Descent. His Notebook on Black History Month 2012 series covered historical and contemporary subjects including included Whitney Houston, Angela Davis, and Harry Belafonte.[citation needed
]

Articles and essays

Selected titles as editor

Notable Anthology Inclusions

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Thorne, Ben (18 July 1995). "Savannah poet born to dream" (PDF). Savannah morning news. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  2. . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. ^ Morekis, Jim. "All that Jazz: Local Author Aberjhani has Penned a History of the Harlem Renaissance," Connect Savannah 3, 20 (11 February 2004): Cover story.
  4. Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries
    ,
    Vol. 42, 2004: p. 768.
  5. . p. 367-383
  6. ^ Lynn Hamilton, "Success is Sweetest When It Has Suffered a Delay," Savannah Creative Loafing News Entertainment Weekly, Feb 21, 1998
  7. ^ ESSENCE Magazine, Nov 1997: story published with full-page photo of author as part of "The Many Ways of Looking at a Black Man" special edition. Included with profiles of: entrepreneur Sean Puffy Combs; singer Maxwell; writer Michel Marriott; political activist Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt; author John Edgar Weidman; and golfer Tiger Woods.
  8. ^ Poems by Aberjhani published in ESSENCE Magazine: "Lady on the Lake" Oct 2005; "Fulton Street/The Series" August 2005; "Botanical Gardens #2" and "In a Quiet Place on a Quiet Street" May 2005; "Star People," April 2005; "Coffee Morning Rhapsody" February 2004; "DarkMagusMilesAhead #7" January 2003; "The Light That Never Dies" December 2001; "Every Hour Henceforth" and "Family Reunion: Remembering the Ancestors" December 1999 End-of-the-Century Collector’s Edition.
  9. ^ Kinamore, Angela. "Interview with the Authors of the Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance," African Voices (Spring 2005): pp. 41-43.
  10. ^ Carter, Zakia. "Essentials: Must-Have Reference Books for Your Home Library," Black Issues Book Review (January 2006).
  11. ^ Goode, Vaughnette. "Writer Takes on Harlem Renaissance," Savannah Morning News, "Closeup" (21 March 2002): Cover story.
  12. ^ "Greeting Flannery OConnor At Fine Art America - Savannah, Ga - August 25th, 2020". fineartamerica.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  13. ^ Staff. "The Best of Savannah," Connect Savannah 5, 34 (17 May 2006) p. 12
  14. ^ Staff. "Savannah Author Inducted Into Red Room Hall of Fame" Archived 2015-01-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Savannah Tribune, 4 November 2009, p. 3
  15. ^ Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait, "Aberjhani: Poet, Writer, Historian and VIP Dot", In the News, August 31, 2011
  16. ^ Aberjhani, Let’s Fix It 7 Steps to Help Replace Legislated Fear with Informed Compassion (Oct 2014)
  17. ^ Poetry Life and Times An Interview with Author-Poet Aberjhani March 2015
  18. ^ Red Room News Blog, In Aftermath of 9/11 Community Exercises Creative Options, Sept 10, 2012
  19. ^ Aberjhani, "Honoring the History that Peace Makes," Bright Skylark Literary Productions, March 26, 2013
  20. ^ Creative Flexibility and Annihilated Lives Archived 2014-10-25 at the Wayback Machine Aug 28, 2014
  21. Connect Savannah
    (13 April 2016)
  22. , 0966235665
  23. ^ Richardson, Vanessa. "The Joys and Perils of Authorship," African-American Authors Goodreads interview feature, 20 February 2009.
  24. ^ Farmer, Steven. "Cyber City: Locals Release CD-ROM Guide to Savannah," Creative Loafing 3 (1996): 1, 4. , Vol 3, Oct 5, 1996, cover story.
  25. ^ Hamilton, Lynn. After Midnight. Creative Loafing. (Dec 29, 1998): Vol 5, No. 40, cover story

References

  • Allen, Patrick (2011). Literary Savannah. Trinity University Press. July. . p. 277-279, p. 281.
  • Scott, Dee (2010). "Interview with Aberjhani." Authors on the Rise, February.
  • Staff. "Savannah Author Inducted Into Red Room Hall of Fame", The Savannah Tribune, 4 November 2009, p. 3.
  • Nhojj (2008). "Singer Nhojj Interviews Aberjhani." MySpace Entertainment Profile. 13 October 2008.
  • Harris, Marlive (2008). "Grits.com Interview with Aberjhani and Luther E. Vann," Grits.com, September 2008.
  • Sickler, Linda (2008)."ELEMENTAL, At Last" review of ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love.CONNECT SAVANNAH, 4 June cover story.
  • Weickgenant, Joel (2008). "Words and Paint," Savannah News Press, 12 Jan. Arts Magazine cover story.
  • Barfield, Randall (2007). "Interview with Aberjhani." POETRY LIFE AND TIMES eZine, July.
  • Gusby, Kim (2003). "Interview with Aberjhani." Coastal Morning Sunrise on WTOC, Savannah, GA. October 2003.

External links