For More Information
Contact: sugaree@freedomvoices.org
Sugaree Rising www.sugareerising.com.

February 1, 2012--San Francisco, CA  Freedom Voices announces this week the acquisition of publishing rights for Sugaree Rising, Bay Area author, journalist, and political columnist J. Douglas Allen-Taylor's first novel.

A publication date has not yet been set, but is expected sometime in late 2012.

Set in the South Carolina coastal area Lowcountry in the late Depression years, Sugaree Rising is the story of community resistance to a massive community relocation forced by a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)-style dam building and rural electrification project. The novel also details the struggles of a unique group of Lowcountry African-American people-commonly known as "the Gullah"-to maintain a religion and culture largely based in their ancestral African homeland.

Allen-Taylor's novel is loosely based upon the Santee Cooper Project, the 1930's era initiative that carved out two major lakes in the heart of South Carolina, brought electrification to scores of rural communities, but in the process dislocated more than 900 families, most of them African-American.

Piri Thomas was born in New York City in 1928 and died in his home in El Cerrito Califronia on October 17, 2011.  He was 83 and died surrounded by his children and his wife Suzanne Dod Thomas. Piri was Freedom Voices eldest poet and a mentor to many of us. He had a passionate, personal, and spiritual presence which healed  and educated. He remained committed to doing readings and workshops in prisons, in the Tenderloin and in many, many communities until his health gave out a few years ago.If you wish to post a tribute to Piri pleease use the comment form below.Memorial services arrangements are pending and we will announce them here.

As an international best-selling author, with Down These Mean Streets, still in print well after 40 years, Piri influenced millions. In 2006, we were honored when he chose Freedom Voices to bring out a new edition of his wonderful collection of short stories, Stories From El Barrio with five new stories.

The oldest of seven children,he grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he became involved with gangs and drugs. After seven years in prison he returned to his old neighborhood as a youth worker. His first book, Down These Mean Streets, now considered a classic, was followed by Savior Savior Hold My Hand and Seven Long Times. He is the author of a play, The Golden Streets, and numerous articles, many of which have appeared in the New York Times Magazine. He has been the subject of three award-winning documentary films, the latest of which is Every Child Is Born a Poet. He also created two CDs of poetry with music, which feature first rate salsa musicians from NY and the San Francisco Bay Area.

We will miss him--but we will still feel his "flows". The energy he gave to the world is still circulating and in our hearts we can see and feel his mischevous grin.  He was a man who had suffered hard times and good times--but he loved and enjoyed life and shared that joy with us.

We love you Piri!

He was the first poet published by Freedom Voices (in 1989) and his book, Man Offbeat, is still in print.

Rhett Stuart grew up on the James River in Virginia with dreams of becoming a singer. In the 50's he studied journalism in Europe and music in New York. In 1960 he came to California where he sang baritone in a show at the Pasadena Playhouse. A Tenderloin District and San Francisco resident for many years, Stuart performed and read at diverse venues in the Bay Area including: the San Francisco Press Club, the 509 Cultural Center, Intersection for the Arts, Small Press Traffic, KPFA radio, and cafes, libraries, and senior centers. He was an active member of the San Francisco writing community and before his death lived in the Hayes valley neighborhood.

A memorial service for Rhett was held on January 9th, at Hospitality House. You can view the photo gallery at http://freedomvoices.org/new/rhettphotos

If you knew Rhett and would like to post a picture or comment please send email to following address rhettmemorial@freedomvoices.org, You can read the comments so far posted by clicking the comment link below. An obituary appeared in the S.F. Chronicle November 15, 2009.