Hello Friends and comrades: Back in 1979, when I was a prisoner at the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois (USA), I managed to put together a manuscript for a small booklet called Anarchism and the Black Revolution, and smuggled it past prison authorities. It was my 3rd attempt because every on every other occasion, it was seized when guards searched my cell, and I was either beaten or kept in solitary confinement. But, I saw it as an important attempt to steer the international Anarchist movement around discussions of building a more diverse movement, dealing with rising fascist and racist movements of the 1970's and early 1980's, and explaining the tenents of Anarchism to people of color who had never heard of it. It was my hope just to cause discussion of these matters, and also to express my frustrations with the Anarchist movement of that period's aversion to the Black liberation/anti-racist movements then unfolding, not only in the Southern USA, but in the country generally. Because of my frustration, I had dropped out of Anarchist organizing when I was released from prison in 1983. I was deeply hurt that no one had taken to heart the message of the book, and so began to do local anti-racist organizing in Tennessee. Somewhere along the line, a group of Anarchists joined with the efforts of our anti-police brutality group in Chattanooga, and I became friends and allies of them without even knowing this. They had never mentioned their beliefs in all the years of our association, until one day I mentioned how disillusioned I was about Anarchism, and they told me how many young people, prisoners, and activists had been moved by the small booklet, that it had been reproduced by hand xeroxing, and that many all over the world now agreed with me. They said people had been trying to connect with me for years. I was astounded to learn this, and through them I attended an Anarchist event in Philadelphia. Somehow, I was cajoled (or tricked) to speak, and the room was full of young people. They were asking for the book, but I did not have it, so friends at a small Anarchist press called Monkeywrench Press offered to publish it for free if I would write a new version. So I rushed back home and threw myself into doing a revised version, and they came out with 2,000 copies, which sold out within six months after I did a Northeastern college speaking tour. That was in 1994, and I had not worked on the book since. I had xeroxed thousands of copies and sold them all over the world, due to the demand for it everywhere I speak. I am always being asked when I would do a new version, on one occasion, the Wooden Shoe Bookstore offered to print a new copy, but I was not ready. I was under severe pressure from the state of Tennessee because of my years of activism, and went through a number of criminal trials right after the revised book was printed and released. I did not have writer's block, I was fighting for my life. It is only now I am living in Michigan, under different circumstances, have I found the desire to write again. Late last year, I submitted a book grant proposal to the Insitute for Anarchist Studies in New York City to help me re-write and publish a 3rd edition of Anarchism and the Black Revolution. I do not know if they will in fact give me the grant, but it will be for a small amount ($2,000) and this will not be enough for printing the book if I am forced to self-publish it. I also do not know if Anarchist publishing houses would be interested in publishing it, due to disagreements with me personally or disapproval of the book's central premise. Because I cannot depend on anyone to actually publish it, I am asking for the help of Anarchists who were influenced by the book, and would like to see a new edition. I would like for you to help me raise some of the thousands of dollars to a printing house after the manuscript is completed this Spring or early Summer. Here is what I would like you to do: 1. Hold benefit concerts, t-shirt sales, and other events. beg your friends and others for money 2. Print this notice in your newspaper, newsletter or online journal. 3. pre-order the book, it will have a list price of $12.95, and will be $10.00 for volume sales of 10 copies or more. If your or your collective send in hundreds or thousands of dollars, we will consider it a volume sale and in send a bunch of book off to you when printed. 4. Write letters to Anarchist publishing houses that you know of to buy copies. I cannot send copies for consignment just yet, need money to get started. In fact, your letters might even convince one of them to print the book, so all I have to do is write it. 5. Invite me to bookfairs all over the world to sell books and publicize the printing. This is very important to let people know about the new publishing of the book, as well as let them know for our need of money now and pre-order deal. I am sure other folks have their own ideas as to how to help, and believe me, I am very glad for your help. Please contact me at the address below: Lorenzo Komboa Ervin The Rest of the News P.O. Box 19962 Kalamazoo, MI. 49019-0962 komboa@yahoo.com, (or Komboa@hotmail.com, if that mailbox is full) END I have a treasured hand tied black binding and all,70's edition.This pamphlet is DY-NO-MYTE! An anarchist must have.
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mattd