In a recent interview, Rhett discusses the book's development, its main themes and insights; its writing, editing, and publishing. Here's part one.
Q: What sets “From the Front Porches” apart from other books that will be written about the Obama campaign and victory?
wr: First, “From the Front Porches” is not a book about the campaign. It's not about politics; it doesn't follow the campaign trail. “From the Front Porches” is a book about the American legacy. It records the open converation America conducted and draws historic parallels. The free e-book celebrates Obama's election, viewing it “from a Charleston porch.” The book is unique; its views, voice, and history from Charleston make it original.
Q: Since the election, everyone seems to have developed products to capitalize on Barack's success. There are tee shirts, mugs, plates, and biographies for sale. Why is your e-book free?
wr: First, as a history teller, I wanted to craft a quality, first class book. Then I wanted the book to be widely available to folk everywhere. I wanted the book to have high value and long reach.
Secondly, I didn't want income “differences” to prevent people from connecting to Barack's victory. I didn't want the celebration of Barack's victory to be a decision in the market place. Freedom means we have an unimpeded choice. This e-book allows everyone to preserve the moment in their hearts and memories. People of all backgrounds, incomes, ages, genders, ethnic groups, and parties may consider the election's historic terms.
The e-book is a gift that celebrates the expanded possiblities of the American dream. To paraphrase Barack's victory speech, “America is a place where all things are possible, the dream of our founders is alive in our time; an answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled, that we are the United States of America.” That's the essence of the book.
Q: Why an e-book?
wr: The book has over 100 photo pages. Many of the photos are from Barack's own photostream, including Jackson. Several appeared on the front pages of the nation's newspapers. There are over 100,000 photos of Barack online; many of the best photos were shot by community photographers in different cities and towns, at different times, and were available only for non-commerical use. I came to realize as editor that these photos were more candid and intimate. They preserved the excitement of his rallies. They framed Barack'sdevotion to his family and Michelle. These photos are a one-of-kind look at Barack through the images the eyes of an incredibly diverse community of American photographers.
Printing color is expensive; “as is,” the book would cost forty-seven dollars! Hard copies have to be shipped and stored. They can be lost, damaged, dog-eared, and be affected in tens of ways. A digital e-book, in PDF, preserves the photos and text, broadens public acess, and eliminates distribution, storage, marketing, and retail costs! Digital web publishing is innovative; lulu.com is experienced and reputable. Their site puts the book before a national and global audience.
You can download it now. It's only available by using the direct access code, http://www.lulu.com/content/5282127. Share it with others. Give it as a gift. This special, commemorative edition, “From the Front Porches of Charleston:” The Election of Barack Obama is free.
(Part two of the interview tomorrow.)
"From the Front Porches of Charleston:" The Election of Barack Obama is a free, special edition e-book published by lulu.com and now available for download. The free commemorative e-book offers reflections and insights on Barack Obama's election, using Charleston's historical connections to the American Presidency, going back before George Washington. "From the Front Porches of Charleston" contains over 100 pages of photos, many from Barack Obama's photostream. Several appeared on the front pages of the nation's newspapers announcing his victory. The photos include international groups supporting Barack, a collection of posters, rallies across the country, a charleston section, and intimate looks at Barack's open love for his wife, Michelle, and his devotion to his family.
The book is free! Use this direct acess link to preview the book or download the free special edition http://www.lulu.com/content/5233419. This free commemorative e-book is truly a comprehensive record of Barack Obama's history making campaign! Enjoy it!
Good news!
"From the Front Porches of Charleston:" The Election of Barack Obama as President, a special edition commemorative free e-book, celebrating Barack Obama's election as President has been published by lulu.com The book's essay features campaign e-mails from Texas, Kentucky, and Alaska, insights from Charleston civil war diaries, and stories and reactions from around the nation.
"From the Front Porches of Charleston" also contains an 80 page historic collection of photographs, many from Barack Obama's own photostream. The high quality photographs, preserved in digital format, capture the intimate excitement of the campaign, the devotion of Barack to his family, and his open love for his wife Michelle. SC photographs are included and show Barack with John Kerry at the College of Charleston.
The voice of action calls for reflection. Campaigns are for votes. To win votes, a campaign must touch hearts and minds. South Carolina's early primary make it an importnat state. South Carolina's history makes it a model for action hope and change.
Help us reflect on how victory can be achieved in South Carolina, by using mewthods that touch and gather people based on common interests to put aside their fears and doubts?
Please offer your insgihts and experiences, so we might develop resources and methods from the broader base. then we can adapt these ideas to the specifics of South Carolina.
As people observe my Obama,08 button, they respond positively. Yet they often offer resons for why their support is not firm. I need to know more about the Senator's stands on the issues, they say. I am concerned about his inexperience, they say. I am almost there, they say. I like him, they say.
It is ironic that the candiate who fires thier passions, who has positions that attract their interest, whose personality and demeanor inspires a new sense of hope, is used to open a back door, a way of exiting and changing their potential support.
The Senator's support is wide--but is it deep? Will it withstand the tough, hard muscle of both Democratic and Republican opponents? Will it overcome the issue of race--the elephant in the room?
Can we as supporters work to build a house that can withstand the attacks and doubts of the Senator's opponents?
How do we deepen support for Barack Obma?
AT present, many of the most powerful black elected officials, both at national and state level, are silent about Senator Obama's run for President.
Why?
It is important to "hear" within the silence and to understand the long history of black politics on national and state stages since reconstruction. Traditionally, those elected have entered the system, and advanced by playing by the system's rules. This involved tradel-offs, mutual support, behind the scenes, unannounced promises, and not infrequently, pay-offs and patronge.
This same system formed the neo-colonial system that dominated Africa's politics for years after independence.
Senator Obama bid as an outsider threatens to unravel the promises and structural power of the old system--his elelction potentially takes away their spoils.
These officials should be the leading voices for a new democracy, one driven by merit and work rather than power and priviledge. Speak out, black elelcted officials. Tell the people where you stand.
Or shall we speculate why you are still, in these critical times, silent?
