Marcus Johnson ‘Author Favorites’ and Why Black Books Matter

Marcus Johnson is an independent Billboard-ranked musician and NAACP Image Award-nominated jazz keyboardist and pianist. Also, the CEO and Founder of FLO Brands, LLC and more recently FLO Wine, LLC, Marcus has combined an eminently successful musical career with his love of wine by marrying the two in a unique endeavor.

A professor as well, teaching business at Howard University, Johnson looks for ways to impart his wisdom onto the next generation of entrepreneurs and influencers. With that in mind, Marcus wrote the book For the Love ofa collection of essays containing personal advice, practical strategies, and techniques that will inspire you to discover your purpose, pursue your passion, and stay the course in spite of perceived challenges.

We sat down with Marcus in preparation for his May 13th event at Jirani Coffeehouse to discuss not only favorite books but also why he felt #BlackBooksMatter.



Marcus Johnson Author Favorites List

Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley
ONE OF TIME’S TEN MOST IMPORTANT NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Raised in Lansing, Michigan, Malcolm Little journeyed on a road to fame as astonishing as it was unpredictable. Drifting from childhood poverty to petty crime, Malcolm found himself in jail. It was there that he came into contact with the teachings of a little-known Black Muslim leader renamed Elijah Muhammad. The newly renamed Malcolm X devoted himself body and soul to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and the world of Islam, becoming the Nations foremost spokesman. When his conscience forced him to break with Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity to reach African Americans across the country with an inspiring message of pride, power, and self-determination.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X defines American culture and the African-American struggle for social and economic equality that has now become a battle for survival. Malcolm s fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American Dream, and the inherent racism in a society that denies its non-white citizens the opportunity to dream gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time.

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington
Some chroniclers have called black history from 1881 to 1915 ‘The Age of Booker T. Washington’ and the label is apt, for he was without question the most prominent spokesman for his race during the post-Reconstruction period. Many of his contemporaries deemed him a savior — the one man who could bring concrete improvement to the lives of African-Americans while also promoting racial harmony.

Others, particularly black intellectuals, called him a traitor to his race, asserting that his accommodationist position not only contributed to black disenfranchisement and de Jure segregation but, in the words of W. E. B. Du Bois, ‘practically accepts the alleged inferiority of blacks.’ But however one judge’s Booker T. Washington, his vast influence is inescapable, and his autobiography, “Up From Slavery,” winner of the National Book Award, is essential reading for anyone seeking insight into the black experience in the early 20th century.

In “Up From Slavery,” Washington does not dwell on his relatively brief period of enslavement, focusing instead on his struggle to rise above it. For a more balanced look at the experience of slavery itself, this special Collector’s Edition includes excerpts from the slave narratives of five less-well-known black writers, offering perspective and background to Washington’s story. The text is further enhanced by a rich mix of archival material from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Think and Grow Rich has been called the “Granddaddy of All Motivational Literature.” It was the first book to boldly ask, “What makes a winner?”

Here are money-making secets that can change your life. Inspired by Andrew Carnegie’s magic formula for success, this book will teach you the secrets that will bring you a fortune. It will show you not only what to do but how to do it. Once you learn and apply the simple, basic techniques revealed here, you will have mastered the secret of true and lasting success. And you may have whatever you want in life.

Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success by Napoleon Hill
“[Outwitting the Devil] provides the keys for each of us to outwit the Devil in our own lives” and chart a course for success” —Sharon Lechter, co-author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Using his legendary ability to get to the root of human potential, Napoleon Hill digs deep to reveal how fear, procrastination, anger, and jealousy prevent us from realizing our personal goals. This long-suppressed parable, once considered too controversial to publish, was written by Hill in 1938 following the publication of his classic bestseller, Think and Grow Rich.Annotated and edited for a contemporary audience by Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Three Feet from Gold co-author Sharon Lechter, this book is profound, powerful, resonant, and rich with insight.”

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen Covey
In his first major work since The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven R. Covey presents a practical and philosophical guide to solving the problems–large and small, mundane and extraordinary–that confront all families and strong communities. By offering revealing anecdotes about ordinary people as well as helpful suggestions about changing everyday behavior, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families shows how and why to have family meetings, the importance of keeping promises, how to balance individual and family needs, and how to move from dependence to interdependence. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families is an invaluable guidebook to the welfare of families everywhere.

Don’t forget to get your tickets for our May 13th event, An Evening with Marcus Johnson. Come out to kick off Mother’s Day Weekend or just kick back with a music performance, author talk, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and wine. Click here to learn more about the event.

About MahoganyBooks 242 Articles
MahoganyBooks is an online bookstore that believes in social entrepreneurship. We take a leadership role in the African American community promoting reading, writing, and cultural awareness as tools to improve communities as well as enrich the lives of motivated individuals.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*