Novel Prophesied Current Racial Tensions
This PR announces the re-release of a novel published in 1992, which supposed the creation of separate states for whites and blacks in the U.S.
New York, NY, August 18, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Are We 'Slippin' Into Darkness'?
Novel Prophesied Current Racial Tensions
Coincidental to heated racial arguments across the country, author Kiley Blackman has reissued her controversial novel, Slippin' Into Darkness, which explores the fictional possibility of separate states for whites and blacks in the U.S.
This novel was originally published in 1992 by the prestigious Kayode Press, publishers of the groundbreaking novel The Spook Who Sat by the Door. "I had the idea during a period of racial unrest in the in the 80's, and wrote it as a short story. My agent at Paul Reynolds suggested novelizing it, and it pretty much wrote itself," Blackman remembers. Some amazing coincidences arose after publication: the character of the U.S. President was named 'Stephen Clinton Smith' - ".a name I completely drew out of the air, way prior to Bill's ascent!" And the black protagonist, Secretary of State Julian Ramsey, who engineers the separation of blacks and whites by state, is described as a 'young, charismatic, dynamic and persuasive speech maker - much the same way President Obama is described. "It's even quite a coincidence that I reissued it just as the newest round of racial furor hit the fan. I'd been planning this for months."
The novel's tag line is: "Toward the end of the Twenty First century, the United States was on the verge of collapse. Crime and unemployment were widespread, and people were scared. Some blamed the upper class; some blamed the labor unions; some blamed an unresponsive government; and as usual, blacks and whites blamed each other." The novel outlines how a by-state separation might be engineered, and focuses on the effect this has on one interracial married couple, when the division becomes mandatory.
Blackman's 'back story' is quite unique as well: she is a NYS Court Officer and understands the visceral difficulties raised by the recent Sgt.Crowley/ Prof.Gates arrest controversy; and she is a white, Jewish woman who sings in the choir at a black Baptist church. "I've always 'straddled' the racial fence, always been a black-white girl, a white, Jewish racial hybrid," Blackman reflects. "My black friends jokingly say 'Kiley, you're not black you know,' when I get Baptized or call them chil'." She thinks it's serendipitous that the novel is being reissued now. "I had planned to reissue the novel a while ago when Kayode went under, because I felt racial tension would never be resolved and the book would always be topical - but I did really think that, with the election of Barack Obama, everybody was now 'getting along' and singing 'Kumbaya' together. Well, surprise! The 'question of race' ain't going away." Blackman herself has no position on such a split, but speculates upon its’ possible popularity. "When I wrote it it was a concept that many people might embrace; nothing has changed." A screenplay is being shopped as well. Miramax wanted it, but it fell through. "I think it would make an awesome movie," Blackman says immodestly.
Contact: Julie Serenson (914) 924-0708 julieserensonltd@juno.com
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Novel Prophesied Current Racial Tensions
Coincidental to heated racial arguments across the country, author Kiley Blackman has reissued her controversial novel, Slippin' Into Darkness, which explores the fictional possibility of separate states for whites and blacks in the U.S.
This novel was originally published in 1992 by the prestigious Kayode Press, publishers of the groundbreaking novel The Spook Who Sat by the Door. "I had the idea during a period of racial unrest in the in the 80's, and wrote it as a short story. My agent at Paul Reynolds suggested novelizing it, and it pretty much wrote itself," Blackman remembers. Some amazing coincidences arose after publication: the character of the U.S. President was named 'Stephen Clinton Smith' - ".a name I completely drew out of the air, way prior to Bill's ascent!" And the black protagonist, Secretary of State Julian Ramsey, who engineers the separation of blacks and whites by state, is described as a 'young, charismatic, dynamic and persuasive speech maker - much the same way President Obama is described. "It's even quite a coincidence that I reissued it just as the newest round of racial furor hit the fan. I'd been planning this for months."
The novel's tag line is: "Toward the end of the Twenty First century, the United States was on the verge of collapse. Crime and unemployment were widespread, and people were scared. Some blamed the upper class; some blamed the labor unions; some blamed an unresponsive government; and as usual, blacks and whites blamed each other." The novel outlines how a by-state separation might be engineered, and focuses on the effect this has on one interracial married couple, when the division becomes mandatory.
Blackman's 'back story' is quite unique as well: she is a NYS Court Officer and understands the visceral difficulties raised by the recent Sgt.Crowley/ Prof.Gates arrest controversy; and she is a white, Jewish woman who sings in the choir at a black Baptist church. "I've always 'straddled' the racial fence, always been a black-white girl, a white, Jewish racial hybrid," Blackman reflects. "My black friends jokingly say 'Kiley, you're not black you know,' when I get Baptized or call them chil'." She thinks it's serendipitous that the novel is being reissued now. "I had planned to reissue the novel a while ago when Kayode went under, because I felt racial tension would never be resolved and the book would always be topical - but I did really think that, with the election of Barack Obama, everybody was now 'getting along' and singing 'Kumbaya' together. Well, surprise! The 'question of race' ain't going away." Blackman herself has no position on such a split, but speculates upon its’ possible popularity. "When I wrote it it was a concept that many people might embrace; nothing has changed." A screenplay is being shopped as well. Miramax wanted it, but it fell through. "I think it would make an awesome movie," Blackman says immodestly.
Contact: Julie Serenson (914) 924-0708 julieserensonltd@juno.com
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Julie Serenson
914-924-0708
kileyblackman.com
Julie Serenson
914-924-0708
kileyblackman.com
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