I attended a recent literary event at the Ezell Hester Community Center in Boynton Beach. Several authors made their way there to be available to readers. A few had an opportunity to read from their works to an engaged audience. It was a great networking event and gave me the chance to meet other authors from South Florida and one from as far away as Texas.

The dissappointing thing was the often repeated complaint from the authors that readers in Southeast Florida don't support the African American literary community. This was news to me, although quite honestly this was my first real Florida event.

However, the proclamations of the authors was borne out by the fact that attendance at the event was dismal, to be polite. I can count the number of readers who showed up.

I know from my own research there are few, if any, book clubs in SE Florida.

Literary Diva Rhonda Swan, who also attended the event, has a blog in the Palm Beach Post advising what's hot and what's not on the AA Literary Scene. This is a big deal, but I don't see a lot of people responding to her very informative column. My question persists:

South and Southeast Florida African American reading community - Where are you?

So I open the floor to you - If you have thoughts, suggestions or comments on what type of literary event could bring you out of the living room, the office, the bedroom or bathroom and into a forum to meet and exchange ideas with our AA authors, please send me an email and tell me (1) Who would you go out of your daily routine to see? (2) Where would you go to see this author(s)? (3) What do you expect/want to happen while you are there? (4) And any other suggestions you care to make would be greatly appreciated.

  Email moreen@rmoreenclarke.com

In this month’s Moreen’s Insights I share with you an enlightenment which I gained from an author at the event. One of those things that should make you think - much like it made me stop and ponder. I hope you'll take a few moments to read The Middle Passage.

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