Author Interview Sheet

What is Manjani?

Manjani is a novel about a fierce young woman, named after an African dance (Mandiani), who wants nothing more than to be a revolutionary, but she doesn’t know how. So when she gets herself in trouble trying to be a revolutionary, she ends up at a Black Nationalist military school for training. However, when she gets there, things are not as she had imagined, and as everything falls apart and her comrades turn against her, she must decide if she still wants to be there.

What inspired you to write this book? Is it autobiographical?

No, although I do draw from certain environments, experiences, or conversations I’ve had or been told about. First, I must say, I wrote this book to fill the need for stories about today’s black souljahs because there are so many of them out there, but they’re not adequately represented in our books. They’re always the strangely militant side character in a novel; never the hero or star! And I just know what it’s like to want to make a change, without realizing that it requires discipline, political study and hard work that oftentimes involves other people, which can be difficult. So I wrote Manjani to recognize the millions who rock the red, black, and green or red, yellow, and green for their people.

This book sends some strong messages, even criticism, about the structure of today’s Movement—in particular, the nature of Black Nationalists. Are you a Black Nationalist?

I’m for my people—make no mistake, and I do support the Black Nationalist Movement, because it is a strategy designed to heal our people. However, I don’t support some ways it manifests, which I wrote about in the book, and it is not the only movement I support—it’s the one I’m most familiar with. And I couldn’t continue to be a part of it without pointing out some critical flaws, which to me are contradictory to our unity and success. But the strength of Black Nationalism, like many other ideologies is the education it provides, the empowerment it seeks to employ, and the bond it elicits if it is maintained.

Sexuality is a theme in this work. Is this a protest book? Are you a lesbian trying to come out?

I am protesting the way we treat each other in the name of freedom; the way we operate on false assumptions, and the way we are disorganized. As far as coming out, I don’t deny that I enjoy all facets of my sexuality, but more important than that are the themes of the book like finding your unique place in the struggle, utilizing your individual talents to make a difference, and like I said before, coming together despite our differences, and being more organized.

What do you hope to achieve with this book?

I hope it will help people see that we cannot reach the levels of power we want to achieve through selective unity. And that people must make change the way they were born to make it, rather than the way they think looks cool. And I want people who love their people to have a story to love, that offers entertainment, food for thought, and great conversation. This is how I make change.