Happily Divorced And After

John Jennings discusses the challenge of transforming the beloved classic into a best-selling graphic novel.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA— For graphic novelist and illustrator John Jennings, transforming Octavia E. Butler’s classic “Kindred” into a graphic novel was both physically and emotionally draining.

Jennings, a professor of media and cultural studies at the University of California, Riverside, created the adaptation with fellow scholar, graphic novelist, and longtime collaborator Damian Duffy for Abrams ComicArts.

Published in January 2017, “Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation” debuted at No.1 on the New York Time’s Best Sellers list for hardcover graphic books and has received wide acclaim, garnering a Bram Stoker Award among other honors. Now, it is a finalist for this year’sEisner Awards for best adaptation from another medium.

Jennings, who provided the illustrations for the 240-page book, called the 11-month process “a small miracle.” The work took a physical toll — Jennings injured his shoulder while working on the illustrations — but also an emotional one.

Originally published in 1979, Butler’s story focuses on Dana, an African American woman who is transported to a pre-Civil War-era Maryland plantation, returning numerous times to help her white ancestor Rufus whenever he finds himself in grave danger. Trapped in the past, she experiences firsthand the harrowing cruelty inflicted on her own enslaved ancestors and later, herself.

Turning Butler’s book into a graphic novel presented Jennings and Duffy with several unique challenges, from figuring out how to truncate Butler’s seminal work while doing it justice, to the many aesthetic considerations involved in converting prose to a highly visual medium.

“You can’t go word-for-word with a comic book adaptation because they handle storytelling differently,” Jennings said. “We actually had less pages to tell the same story. Octavia was a masterful writer, but even with the terseness of her words, we still had hundreds of words that had to be cut and instead shown. That’s the thing in comics books; you need to show, don’t tell.”

To depict the time periods, Jennings played with the book’s color schemes, muting the present day and making the past full-color.

“Normally when you’re doing flashback stories, the current day is vibrant and in color and the past is kind of sepia-toned, but we wanted to do something different,” Jennings said. “We wanted to play around with the fact that in the book, Octavia talks about how vibrant and how real the past was, and how bright and harsh it is, so we decided to do the opposite.”

For the scenes in the present, Jennings drew inspiration for the color tones from an unlikely place.

“I actually sampled some of the colors from bruises and blood. The idea is that it’s her blood relationship to Rufus that continues to pull her back. It’s about family ties. That red is actually the color of what scabbed-over blood looks like.”

In Butler’s novel, time travel is more supernatural than scientific. To achieve this transition in the graphic novel, a subtle breakdown of the borders of the panels occurs. The lines become fractured and frenetic as Dana is pulled back and disappear completely when she finds herself on the other side of time.

Jennings found the experience of immersing himself so deeply in slavery especially difficult, noting he is a descendent of slaves in the South.

“I was crying physically onto the pages that I was drawing, because it’s so powerful, and so prescient, and so meaningful still today in the middle of the Black Lives Matter era. How do you get across visually the feeling of this book? My drawings were really manic, and energetic, and they make people uncomfortable.”

Despite the arduous process of creating the graphic novel, Jennings found the experience hugely rewarding, and it served as his first foray into mainstream work.

“These are things that really effect black people in America still, the wages of slavery which I think our country is still paying, and you can see how that presents itself in our current political climate,” Jennings said.

In graphic novel form, “Kindred” is offering new audiences a chance to experience Butler’s thought-provoking work.

“Some people who have never read comic books before have picked up ‘Kindred,’ Jennings said. “A lot of the time, it’s the first sci-fi or speculative story people have read, because sci-fi is still dealing with representation issues with people of color.”

Jennings will be at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego, participating in several panels and attending the Eisner Awards ceremony on July 20. Known as the “Oscars” of the comic book industry, the awards are named for the pioneering comics creator and graphic novelist Will Eisner. Jennings previously received an Eisner for his scholarly work, “The Blacker the Ink,” but the nomination for “Kindred” marks the first time he has been nominated for his graphic novel work as an artist.

“It’s a huge honor, especially to represent Octavia Butler’s legacy,” Jennings said of the author, who died in 2006. “I’m so glad we are a part of getting people to read her work and push her into the future. I’m hoping that if she’s out there somewhere looking at us, that she’s happy with what we’ve done, and we want to continue celebrating her.”

A softcover adaptation of “Kindred” is due at the end of July, and the adaptation will also be translated to Spanish, French, and Swedish, with those editions released in the fall.

John Jennings at Comic-Con

Jennings will be participating in five panels during Comic-Con International: San Diego. In addition to the various panels, he will also be attending the post-con offsite event, AfroFuturism Lounge, which he helped organize. Catch Jennings at the following panels and events:

Friday, July 20

• Comics Arts Conference #7: Intersectional Identity in Box of Bones
  1-2 p.m., Room 26AB
• In-booth signing with John Jennings at Abrams Booth No. 1216
  3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Diversity and Inclusivity from the Perspective of Libraries/Publishing/Authors in the Industry
  5:30-6:30 p.m., Room 8

Saturday, July 21

• Comics Are for Everyone . . . Aren’t They?
  10-11 a.m., Room 4
• Adapting Folklore, History, and Myth in Comics
  2-3 p.m., Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library
• Abrams ComicArts: Reaching Every Reader: New Trends in Graphic Novels for Adults and Kids
  4-5 p.m., Room 28DE
• In-booth signing Abrams Booth No. 1216
  5:30-6:30 p.m.

Friday, July 20 – Saturday, July 21

• The AfroFuturism Lounge
  7-11 p.m., The Broker’s Building Gallery

Inland Affiliate Hosts Breakfast Wednesday Dedicated to Empowering, Supporting Community

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA —- Susan G. Komen IE is hosted a special breakfast on Wednesday, August 1 at Dignity Health St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino to educate, empower and mobilize the African-American community in the fight against breast cancer. 

The breakfast was part of a broader statewide program known as the Susan G. Komen Circle of Promise Initiative that focuses on addressing breast cancer disparities among African-American women by educating the community and providing better access to care. The statewide program is made possible in part by a grant from the Anthem Blue Cross, Foundation, LLC. Proceeds from the breakfast help fund education, screenings, diagnostics, treatment, patient navigation and research to help find cures for breast cancers. 

“All women and men, regardless of race, ethnicity, place of residence or socioeconomic status, should be empowered to take personal action and access appropriate breast health services. However, many African American women still face barriers to screening, diagnosis and treatment services,” said Jill Eaton, Susan G. Komen Inland Empire executive director. “The Circle of Promise initiative will make a significant impact on the lives of women in the Inland region, across the state, and ultimately, save lives.”  

Gains from the war on breast cancer have sidestepped African-American women. Prior to 1980, African-American and white women faced nearly identical mortality rates of approximately 33 deaths per 100,000. But today, African-American women are 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.

In fact, these women are between 40 to 70 percent more likely to have a late-stage diagnosis, are more likely to be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, and are also more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age. 

For women without health coverage, the burden is even greater – uninsured women have a 30 to 50 percent increased risk of dying from breast cancer than those with insurance. 

In San Bernardino County, there is a mounting crisis in the lack of quality and affordable breast health care services. There has been a dramatic decline in the number of surgeons, oncologists and primary care physicians available to serve African-American women, regardless of their insurance status. 

The breakfast at St. Bernardine Medical Center, Matich Conference Center, featured speeches by:

Dr. Margaret Hill, a member of the San Bernardino City Unified District Board of Trustees who will share her own story of battling breast cancer;

Michelle Melancon, a certified oncology nurse and accredited oncology nurse navigator who recently was honored by Dignity Health St. Bernardine Medical Center for her work as a breast cancer navigator

Dr. Krissa Smith, director of research programs for the Komen Research Programs Department

Follow the Susan G. Komen Inland Empire affiliate on Facebook Susan G. Komen Inland Empire and or Twitter. 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Superintendent Ted Alejandre was

Superintendent Ted Alejandre

unanimously chosen as president-elect in 2019 for the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA).

Alejandre, who was elected to his second term as San Bernardino County superintendent in June, will serve as president-elect beginning Jan. 1, 2019. In 2020, he will serve as president of the organization, which includes the 58 county superintendents throughout California. CCSESA’s mission is to strengthen the service and leadership capabilities of the state’s county superintendents in support of students, schools, districts and communities.

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the president-elect of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association,” Alejandre said. “I look forward to the leadership position and helping support the terrific work being accomplished at the state level by CCSESA.”

As president-elect of CCSESA, Alejandre will serve on the group’s executive committee for three years. Currently, Alejandre serves as the Region 10 chair for the organization.

For more information about CCSESA, visit the organization’s website a www.ccsesa.org.

By Dania DeRamon, CCAEJ Communications Intern

Mariana Lopez

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—— Canvassing in the scorching heat, knocking door-to-door, talking to residents to get pledge cards, and testifying during public hearings. Sounds extensive, doesn’t it? These sorts of actions are typical for local volunteer, Mariana Lopez.

A recent 23-year-old graduate from the University of California at Irvine, Lopez triple-majored in international studies, sociology, and political science. She’s been a resident of Rubidoux for the majority of her life–a community she says she “wouldn’t leave at all.”

“You can empower and uplift your community when you truly understand the issues affecting people.”

Because of Lopez’s efforts, industry led efforts like Proposition 70 (Cap and Trade Vote Amendment) are being defeated at the ballot box. She was also CCAEJ’s top signature getter in our efforts to repeal Proposition 13. Lopez obtained 55 signatures, more than twice the number volunteers were asked to get.

CCAEJ Civic Engagement Director Italia Garcia notes that Lopez took “a lot of self-initiative” in the process, going above and beyond to attain signatures.

“Mariana really stands out among volunteers because she has great leadership skills and work ethics,” Garcia explains. “She really cares about making a change in her community.”

Civic engagement has always been an important aspect of Lopez’s life. She began volunteering at St. John’s Church, supporting her father’s weekly food pantry program. Interacting with others in the community, especially those from low-income backgrounds, motivated Lopez to dedicate herself to making a difference. While studying abroad in Barcelona, she organized students for a Sisters/Women’s march–where she became truly passionate for “advocating and uplifting everyone’s voices, especially those of women.”

“If you’re truly passionate about what it is you are supporting, I think that will be reflected when you’re communicating with people,” Lopez says about her experiences.

Shortly after returning from Barcelona, Lopez learned about a controversial incident at Rubidoux High School, in which various teachers made derogatory comments about students who chose to participate in the ‘Day Without Immigrants’ protest.

“I was so mad that teachers we looked up to could make racist comments and mock those who participated,” she said about the incident at her alma mater.

With the help of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Lopez learned how to “mobilize the community” in a manner that was non-violent, yet direct.

Through phone banking, Lopez contacted community members–urging them to attend and testify at public hearings to demand action against the teachers. Lopez also testified at one of these hearings, an experience she admitted was frightening for her.

“[My siblings and I] had a close relationship with one of those teachers…so for me it was really scary to go out and testify…but that didn’t hold me back,” she recalls.

In fact, Lopez is now helping lead an effort to bring further resources to undocumented students. The goal, she explained, is to have DREAM Resource Centers at all three Jurupa Unified School District high schools.

“To me, I know that the little action I’m taking will hopefully impact or motivate others to volunteer or help out in the community,” said Lopez. “It’s like voting. If you truly want to see a change within your community, go out and do something. Be relentless about it.”  

Gylbert Eusebio, 16, Lake Elsinore, with Brandon Carlson of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, picks out some school supplies before going to the clothing section of the store.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—LOMA LINDA, CA— More than 30 Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital patients and their siblings were each given $200 to purchase school supplies, new clothes and healthcare items. Each child was accompanied by a law enforcement officer from the community during the bi-annual Shop with A Cop event on July 29.

The event, organized by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association, was designed for families who don’t have the time or resources to prepare for the back-to-school demands.

“It gives parents of patients one less thing to worry about,” said Mike Tulisiak, the association’s events director. “It also shows the kids that officers are there to help and protect them.”

This is the first year the Shop with a Cop event has included siblings, in addition to the patients.

“This is a chance for us to get the supplies we need to start the next chapter in our lives. It’s something I didn’t expect, but something I’m so glad I get to be a part of,” said patient Gylbert Eusebio, 16, from Lake Elsinore. Eusebio shopped with Brandon Carlson of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.

Carlson said he loves the program because it gives the children the school supplies they need so when they go back to school, they feel prepared. “I hope it gives them confidence in a time when their lives are unsure.”

By Naomi K. Bonman

The Swansons (Photo credit: Ricardo H. Photography)

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— A true artist creates music that can cross over into any dynamic. The Swansons have been selling out shows across the coast performing hit songs from their latest album, “Country This”, capturing the likes of fans from all demographics.

The husband and wife duo are an Alternative County Rock-Pop band founded by Joe and Angie Finley. They released their third album entitled, “Country This” which is a 14-song record featuring songs such as, “Let’s Talk” and “Where Did Everybody Go.”

The duo will be receiving an award for “Outstanding County Duo” in Las Vegas on November 7. Check out the interview session below:

Naomi: Can you guys give the readers a brief bio of who you guys are, etc?

The Swansons are an alternative country rock husband wife duo, Joe and Angie Finley.  

We have been making a big splash by performing at the hottest venues all over Southern California for the past 5 years.  Along with some performances in Nashville TN & Chicago IL. 

Joe writes All the songs and we send it to our producer Bill Watson (Nashville Trax)  in Nashville TN for production.  We are so blessed to have the best musicians in Nashville playing on our albums. (Jim Riley~ Drums Rascal Flatts, Bill Watson~ Bass, Brent Mason on Guitar, Jenee Fleenor~ Fiddle Blake Shelton Band, Steve King~ Keyboards formerly on tour with Keith Urban, Michael Douchette~ Harmonica zztop)

When you listen to The Swansons music, you’ll experience something you’ve never heard before in country music.  We guarantee that you be dancing & singing along.  And when you see us in concert, you can expect an incredible live performance with abundance of love & positive energy!!

You guys recently had a big show last month. How was that? How was the crowd?

We performed on Friday, July 6 at The Study in Hollywood. It was our first time performing there and it is a beautiful venue. We have never seen anything quite like it as it is set up like a library with hundreds of books all over the walls. The sound was great, and the audience was very receptive and enthusiastic. We made and met a lot of new fans!!! 

You also recently released your third album, “Country This”. For those of us who have not heard of it, what can we except?

‘Country This’ is country music with a NEW Flavor. It’s a little bit country and a little bit rock n roll. You can expect a variety of songs with strong lyrical content intended to move our listening audience in a positive way. The combination of our voices combined with inspired material and brilliant Nashville musicians resulted in an extremely original country record.

What other projects are guys working on?

Besides continuing to promote ‘Country This’, performing live concerts and releasing new music videos as much as possible. We have been working on our follow up album to ‘Country This’ which is untitled and our 4^th album to date.  The music is done and in June we travelled to Nashville to lay down our vocals.   We have 12 new songs recorded so far and are working on a couple of new additions. We are planning another trip to Nashville before summers end to completely finish production and prepare it’s release.  We are hoping to release the beginning of 2019!

What inspired you guys to get into music?

We inspire each other, and that inspiration has carried on in to our music. We feel blessed to be able to express our love for one another and this world through our gift of music. We literally owe this entire experience to God. That faith has inspired us to take the leap and trust that we will sooner or later achieve our musical goals.

Who are some of the artist that you have opened for and or shared the stage with?

• Wayne Newton
• Berlin
• The Motels
• Pato Banton
• XEB (3rd Eye Blind)
• Missing Persons
• Malo
• The Dan Band
• Live Dead Riders 69 (some original members of the Grateful Dead)
• Stan Bush
• Robert Tepper

Where could our readers find your calendar of events?

The Swanson Music Website Tour Page and The Swansons Music Event Page.

Stay Connected

Website | Facebook | Twitter (Angie) | Twitter (Joe) | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | Reverbnation

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— She ain’t fat ya’ll, just a little thick! Porscha Dillard is an aspiring model with a lot of drive and ambition.  

Stepping into the world of modeling with only a few years of experience, she’s definitely making a name for herself. Ms. Dillard possess a natural beauty which shines through her photos. Her uniqueness allows the relationship between her and the photographers to create magic. This is just a sneak peek of my girl, ‘Porscha Dillard’ the model. Wait for it! L’s!!!!!!!!!! 

Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace J. Allen

LeBron James’ gift to the children of Akron, Ohio is a template for what wealthy folk can do to help America benefit from the potential that is unlocked when our children are supported in their quest for excellence!  Educating children in grade school and guaranteeing their college tuition/education is really a gift to America.  It also lifts our vision beyond the typical distractions that haunt Black Americans and empowers our children with education and hero images that look like them! 

I encourage other affluent people who are concerned with America’s mistreatment of the Black descendants of the enslaved Africans who built the wealth of America; to replace protest with pro-activism!

I have supported the NFL Players kneeling in protest of police shootings of Black People and would support the protest now, were it not for King James’ royal proclamation and commitment. His action has set a new standard for activism by prosperous people.

I suggest that the NFL players who really want to make a difference, redirect their energy from protesting during the National Anthem to pro-action with their paychecks! Affluent Black men dedicating money towards educating our less fortunate will make a powerful impact. Affluent Black men supporting businesses that create job opportunities for our disenfranchised will make a powerful impact!

Kneeling has made a powerful noise that has not only been compromised by haters, but also threatens the income of those who choose to kneel in protest.  I suggest that we encourage our concerned NFL players to protect their source of income by rejecting protest and to demonstrate pro-action by investing in strengthening the Black Family and community. Stay Woke!    

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—ANAHEIM, CA— More than 4,500 students from 48 Anaheim elementary schools participated in the second year of Happiest Class on Earth. The program, which will run over a 10-year period, encourages sixth-graders to give back to their schools and communities by completing a service project, earning tickets to visit the Disneyland Resort as a class.

Through their participation in the program this year, students collected cans of food, planted trees and recycled bottles, just to name a few of their efforts.

Assistant Principal Suzanne Nichols from Thomas Edison Elementary School noted, “Because of the hard work and dedication of the students through Happiest Class on Earth, many people have been positively impacted by the community service!”

Thomas Burrell, President of BFAA, will be the “EMPIRE TALKS BACK” (ETB) guest this Sunday. ETB, hosted by Wallace Allen, WssNews Publisher, is broadcast each Sunday at 10:00 AM on KCAA 1050-AM, 102.3 FM and 106.5 FM.  ETB streams live video via http://www.kcaaradio.com

By Tom Charlier, Commercial Appeal

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— Black farmers, whose numbers already have dwindled precipitously over the past century, face new hardships after suffering poor crop yields last year because they were sold “fake” soybean seeds, an association alleges in a lawsuit.

Leaders of the Memphis-based Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association have filed a class-action lawsuit against Stine Seed, the nation’s largest independent seed-producer, accusing the Adel, Iowa, firm of targeting African-Americans for sales of defective seeds.

The suit alleges that black farmers who attended the 67th Annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis last year bought more than $100,000 worth of “certified” seeds. But the lawsuit alleges the seeds were switched for inferior ones at a warehouse near Sledge, Miss.

Stine, in a statement, strongly denied the allegations and said it would mount a vigorous defense against the “meritless” lawsuit.

The lawsuit is the latest action by the BFAA, which also has represented some of the African-American farmers claiming widespread discriminatory practices by the Department of Agriculture.

Following an initial class-action lawsuit against the USDA, nearly 16,000 growers had collected settlements totaling $1.06 billion by 2011. Congress has appropriated $1.2 billion to pay for a second wave of settlements.

You may hear more about this case on Sunday, August 5 as Thomas Burrell, President of BFAA, discusses the lawsuit on ‘Empire Talks Back’ with Wallace Allen at 10 a.m. on KCAA 1050-AM, 02.3 FM and 106.5 FM. Listen onine at www.kcaaradio.com.