Wake the F Up and Unite

because she feels like she's more of a movement. Appeared at Malik Books and we hosted a story time and she read about three books um black Girl Magically, she read Black as a Rainbow and the kids shouted and clapped and we're excited while she was reading this book. And so I had the pleasure after the story time to interview her about, you know, her career and the movement that she creating and the inspiration and the energy that she brings forth in her artistry. So I'm gonna

feature that interview on this episode. So I have a segment with Niela. Also have a segment where I interviewed this young lady who's very talentant and she's a singer. Mom writes for her and the young lady Sky has her own YouTube channel which she has her music videos of featured, and she's a young youth. And I'm gonna fee you that conversation interview I had with the whole family. We had the mom who's the writer, we had the singer, which is Guy, and then her younger sister plays the flute.

So I'm gonna feature that on this episode. And I'm also going to talk about an important historical figure whom has big who was larger than life and has made an impact and he's someone that even Michael Max revered and the author, historian and journal Jay Roger. I'm gonna talk about his legacy and his works. I have a special guest here at my Leak Books and you know I got to get a few words from Nie Long

I got it correct. Well, Hey, hey, you know you, like you said, you're you're not a rapper, you a movement and so I just want you to tell my audience here. I'm Leak Books, bookshelf from the Lease Bookshare bringing the world together with books coaching community. Um, you know all about your artistry all about your mission, all about your movement. Right. Well, you know, I am any Long and I am a female rapper, and you know I am quite different from your average female rapper as

far as the way I present myself. Um. Actually, today with the children, we were talking a lot about authenticity and being yourself, regardless of what's trending, regardless of what's in you just being yourself and you don't care. Um, I feel like being yourself is a superpower, and I feel like, um, the music industry is in need of a balance. You know. Back in the day, we used to be able to listen to Lauren Hill and Little Kim and we loved it, you know, but now it's

a little oversaturated with one type of mood. And I feel like, especially when it comes to Black women, we're the most dynamic creatures on this planet. So the fact that you're only showing us one mood, one type of woman in the mainstream is ludicrous. You know, we're so we're so multifaceted. So I just feel like bringing in that balance, bringing in, you know, just a little bit of a change, I just feel like that would be

positive for all of us. Well, you're unique, you you're very unique, and I think that you know, in music or any type of art, you know, what makes you stand out is uniqueness. And so um, it's refreshing to see clean, to see elevated, and to see a woman holders so high and with self esteem and you know, you're doing your thing and we wanted you to blow up because it's a market out there. We don't always have to just accept one style in one way. So what's the future for you now? Um, the future is

to keep elevating, you know. I know, as an independent artist, sometimes it's difficult to watch people take these elevators up, but when you have the goal of just just being yourself, you don't mind taking them stairs. And I'm gonna continue to do that. I'm gonna continue to grow and grind and you know, just get this different type of message out there. And I appreciate people like you who are out here doing so much for just black culture in

general in a positive light. And That's what I'm trying to do. To be honest, I'm trying to be like you, let's put some positivity and greatness into the black culture that you know kinda has been hijacked from us. You know what I'm saying, and you have some new work. I think new new album just been released, right, tell us about that the title and you're about your new alum, thank you. Um, I just dropped anomalous, which you know, honestly, the word anomalous, you got to break that down. It

actually means, you know, standing aside being different. Um, you know, being on contrary to what the normous. So you know I naturally stand for that. And um, we just dropped that. We just dropped the Week Got Him Like music video, which has been doing amazing. As far as the feedback, I'm really appreciative, especially because I am artist who don't have a big congomerant behind me to promote it and put it here and put it there. But the people are the ones who are backing it, and it's just

been really amazing. Um, it's been amazing feedback and I'm really proud. And like I said, we're just about bringing something different to this game. And you touched a lot of people. You touched big Boy, you touched the young lady that plays on Blacklish and I forgot her name. Yeah yeah, And um, you know it's been shocking. Like some of the people that I admire from you know, Will Smith, Diddy, Ericaba do. The list goes on who have supported me. Uh so that has been really beautiful.

And yeah, we just continue to to strive and you know, just reach as many people as we can. Well, our doors here link books is available and we pre you came through in this story time and we've had a nice selection. We had a lot of kids. You came out that you read three books, took time out of your busy day, you know another another like got to get the children what they want, Yeah, what they want

because children for our future. Doors is always open. You know, you want to come in and shoot some videos for some of footage talking about that. The fact that I've never been here in a place filled with black excellence, it's just crazy to me. But this is the place to be in. Yeah, say less, You're gonna see a lot more of us here because this is amazing and if you have not been here, you need to come out period. Come out the Leak Books. You heard it

from Kneel the Leak's bookshelf. Appreciate you spend a little time out of your day to share with us a few words about your career and about your style. Thank you, the pleasure is all mine, and thank you for everything you do. Seriously, appreciate, appreciate. Wake the f up in your night. That's right, Wake the f up and your night. Unity is more powerful than an atomic bomb. Nine of the problems that are plaguing underserved communities, Black communities, Brown

communities is because of lack of unity. Wake the f up and unite. If you want to see real change, would then come together, pull your money together, pull your resources together, pull your intellect together. Wait the f up and unite, because unity is more powerful than an atomic bomb. We got a lot of issues in the community and more added every day. Like I just heard some crazy stuff. People debating on whether men can get pregnant. Now that

is madness. We know scientifically that that is impossible. Men cannot get pregnant, and anyone trying to convince you of anything like that is a bunch of b s. Wake the f up and your nite. Stop allowing people to drive these best points across and cause nothing but confusion. Men cannot get pregnant, that's absurd for you would even think that way. But all over the news social media, this is what was posted all last week. But getting back to. My main point is wake the f up

and your nite listen. We got a lot of problems, but it ain't gonna be solved unless you have unity. We need unity, We need to come together, We need to pull out money, we need to stand strong, we need to move as one, and we need to have our own agenda. You got to have a certain amount of knowledge to be considered woke. Let me say that again. You got to have a certain amount of knowledge to

be considered woke. Otherwise you had a frozen state. If you don't have thirty two degrees of knowledge, you are frozen. Anything that's under thirty two degrees becomes a solid state and becomes frozen. You want to get thought out, you want to wake up. Well, let's get the thirty degrees and higher. We need to wait the f up and come together. Unity is more powerful than in the Tommy Bomb. I just think that, you know, That's what's on my

mind and heart right now. That's what I was just sitting here thinking how it would be so wonderful, so amazing, so incredible if we had unity in the hood. Unity in the hood was solved nine of the problems that are being complained about every single day. We need to stand up in your night. That's what we need to do. We're not short on education, we're not short on money,

we're not short on resources. But what we are, what we are short on, is just coming together for the greater good to create a generation of change and move in a way did it bring about a reality of peace, of reciprocity, of justice, liberation, freedom. So wake the f up and unite And that's my message for this episode. Scottie Shanklin, I'm gonna interview for Melik's Bookshelf bringing the

world together with books, culture and community. You're a young artist singer and you got a YouTube channel and I just want you to tell my audience about your singing, your video channel, and anything else you would like to add. UM. My YouTube channel is about UM making people happy and understanding what my music is about. And I love my people and I just want them to be happy UM with my music and like be happy with my music.

So so your your music then is age appropriate so of course UM, and the lyrics are written by your mother, yep okay, and the songs are fun, high energy, positive affirmations. What else you like to add? Um? It gives people um entertained and it's very uplifting and wonderful, wonderful. Um, what what what got you into music? Um? When I was eighteen months old? Um, when we're in the car and um, John Legend started playing and I just started like singing random words from the song, and um, I

really liked singing the song. So that's how I became what I became right now? Okay, So John Lugon inspired you, and you've been singing every since? Yes? Wow? Wow? Well, um, your mom is writing these songs. Are you new to writing? Actually, I've been doing this since I was like sixteen myself. You're singing in writing? Yes okay. And so you performed also, yes I did. Okay, but now you didn't pass it on to you your baby and she picked it up

right away like mother like daughter. Yes, yes, she really loves it. Okay. And so we have a new YouTube channel, what is it called sky Shanklin and with some of the titles and your songs joy blinging it all this be someone someone, did you say, bringing it or blinging it? Blinging it? Okay? Yeah, tell me about the blinging it. It's about um, two people meeting and it's like the whole story of how they met, and I'm like showing off my jewelry and stuff. But um, overall the song

is about how the two people met and stuff. We do like blame you know. Um, that's part of our livestown because we're rich and famous and we like to find the things in this world. So, you know, diamonds and glitter and shiny and moving objects. We love. What I really like about blinging it is it's a very decent way for them for the I G and some of the other technology to be introduced, and it's in

it's in a decent and very nice manner. So, uh, the kids are introduced in a very compassionate manner um where they're like texting and it's it's very very age appropriate. Wonderful, wonderful. Now you have a younger daughter here, Um, are you interested in singing? M m no, I like it came from the heart. Now you heard that, MoMA. No. How do you do? What do you do? What do you like? I do? Music? Okay? Musician, flute okay, okay, So you

play an instrument, yes, tell us all about that. Um. Sometimes if you play the keys and the music you do a song. Do you um write your own music? She um, She plays the flute. She her newest song that she's working on is Havana. Okay, okay, Well that's wonderful, wonderful. We have a family of artists, I should I should say, because you know music, creativity, writing, singing, playing in musical instruments, all of these things. You know, very talented. I see,

and UM. I felt blessed to have you on Leak's bookshelf um and and exposing my audience to you know, your creativity. And I really appreciate this. I know I put you on the spot. I find it that's the best way to UM get the genuineness of a person. So I want to thank you for coming on my podcast, and we really appreciate you. Thank you, thank you so much for having us. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Some men are extraordinary and they are bigger and larger

than life. Well, I'm gonna introduce you to to an unsung hero whom probably most people are not aware of, but his impact, as far as impact in Black America has, it is just great and enormous, and we should never forget someone who's contributed to UM the rise and culture and elevation of Black America. He devoted his whole life too bringing forth actual facts about Black people, both in

world history and in America. And some of his great works that he's written our books called Africans Gift to America, World's Great Men of Color, Sex and Race, one hundred amazing Facts about the Negro from Superman to Man. Let me introduce you to this author. Journalists and historian J. A. Rogers. Write that name down, J A. Rogers. This is a man who's contributed to the rise and in the education

of Black people. I can't speak enough I know when I started Malague books, these are the type of books that I had on my shelf. These were the hard to find, the gems, the self published books that I had on my shelf. They contributed to the transformation of a nation. J Rodgers devoted his entire life to finding the facts about the historic value of black people. He wanted to dispel that myth that only black people's history started with slavery. He wanted to dispel that myth that

we didn't achieve anything in world history. Now, he was a person that was writing these books between nineteen twenty and I believe nineteen sixty six is when I believe he made his transition. So J. Rodgers never saw the magnitude and impact that his books were going to make and evolved into a movement. His books have woken up a generation. Even Malcolm X back in the sixties used to talk about J. Rogers because J. A. Rogers did the research. He used to write for the Pittsburgh Corrier

back in the day. This was a black newspaper. This guy devoted his entire life to finding to write books to show the great achievements of black people. After's Great Gift to America, It's just a wonderful book, World's Great Men of Color, Volume one and two. That's when I read about how Beethoven was black, and everybody know Beethoven, I believe was the composer and writer that impacted the world of classical music. He inspired so many composers after him,

even to this day in the twenty first century. So if you're looking for a series of good books that give a different perspective on the history and culture of black people, well my suggestions you can start with J. Rogers because he will open up a whole new world of history and facts that would change your view and look at the world and the people in the world,

and certainly black people totally different. Jay Rogers. It's not really available in all bookstores, but bookstores like Molik Books you can find J. Rogers and of course you can find J. Rogers Books on on our website Molik books dot com. So hey, go out and pick up some copies of J. Rogers. He has a tremendous amount of body of work that I know you will enjoy. I hope you enjoy this book suggestion. Sometimes I do a book review, sometimes I do a book suggestion. So pick

up a copy of J. Rogers Books today. Thanks for listening to Melik's Bookshelf, where topics on the shelf, our books, culture and community. Be sure to subscribe and leave me a review. Check out my Instagram at Milik Books. See you next time.