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Antelope Valley Press, CA
July 15, 2004
RON SIDDLE/Valley Press
GETTING READY - Palmdale resident
Linda Hughes, a member of the International Black Writers and Artists
Los Angeles, is preparing for the 30th anniversary celebration of the
organization.
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Arts group fetes history
Anniversary celebration to honor black writers, artists
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on
Thursday, July 15, 2004.
By ALISHA SEMCHUCK
Valley Press Staff Writer
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Palmdale resident Linda Hughes labeled herself a
"closet artist."
"I went out and bought a nice big easel. It's in the garage right now."
But a collection of paintings and lithographs displayed throughout her home
reveal her affinity for art. Although she created a couple of the pieces,
she credited others for most of the African-themed artwork.
Currently Hughes finds herself elbow-deep in finalizing plans for the
30th anniversary celebration of International Black Writers and Artists,
scheduled between Aug. 12 and 14 at Exposition Park in downtown Los Angeles.
Hughes, an English-as-a-Second-Language teacher for the Antelope Valley
Union High School District and freelance writer, expects a sizable crowd to
attend the event. "We're hoping for 500 to 600 people (during) the three-day
period."
Although IBWA's founders in Los Angeles formed the organization in order
to promote black literature and art, Hughes pointed out the group "has never
been discriminatory, never been exclusive to blacks."
In fact, she said, "the most famous artist to come from our group is Tim
Ashkar. He's Lebanese. In addition to creating scenery for television shows
and motion pictures, the artist paints pictures with a religious slant, like
a scene with Adam and Eve, and another showing a choir of angels.
"He (often) uses Greek themes and classical themes, but the people are
always dark-skinned," Hughes said. "We try to appeal to people who are
interested in learning about black literature and arts. So it's not just for
us.
"But when it first started 30 years ago, there was a need," Hughes
explained. When the group formed in Los Angeles, founders named it the
Writers Improvement Charity and Social Club.
Back then, Hughes said, "African Americans were not published as much as
now." So the organization largely focused on educating members who sought
careers as writers and artists, essentially teaching them the ropes of the
publishing world. "A lot of it was about excellence - what you need to do to
make your work acceptable. Expression is extremely important, especially for
blacks - the craft of it and the art."
The organization also educated members in another way. It gave them role
models and mentors, informing them of blacks who had made it in the
publishing world, though the numbers were relatively small and not well
publicized at the time.
Hughes, who joined the group about four years after it formed, said she
learned about the poet Phillis Wheatley, who was born in 1753 in Africa and
sold into slavery at age 7 to a Boston family, where she cultivated her
writing skills. She also learned about Madame C. J. Walker, a self-made
millionaire, born in 1867. She entered the business world selling cosmetics
door-to-door, then developed a pomade for the hair of African-American
women. Sales took off and she amassed her fortune.
Hughes said she never even heard of these women during her years of
studies in public school. But in acknowledging the accomplishments of these
blacks, it gives others the hope that they too can succeed.
In fact, one workshop at the upcoming event is titled "Success Stories."
The two scheduled presenters, Hazel Clayton Harrison and Eric Jerome Dickey,
are examples of successful present-day writers. Hughes said they will
discuss the sacrifices and rewards of a writer's career, though each
followed a different path.
Hughes described Harrison as someone with a "moderate degree of success
as a writer. But, she's her own person. She has a family she enjoys."
Dickey, on the other hand, has a publicist who schedules his tours. "He
doesn't have much time of his own." He has produced about seven or eight
novels within seven years and been on the New York Times Bestseller List.
With experience in editing other people's work, Hughes feels ready to
take on the challenge of drafting her own book.
But first she must get through the IBWA celebration, which has kept her
and her daughter, Zerline Jennings, busy. But Hughes, 56, said, at this time
in her life, busy is good. It keeps her mind off sorrow. Her husband,
Douglas Howard Hughes, died about six months ago at 73.
"It was very sudden. He wasn't sick or anything," Hughes noted. "That's
one of the reasons I'm working on this conference as much as I can."
asemchuck@avpress.com
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