March 2009 | blackfilm.com | Family Affair: What it Means to be African American Today- An Interview with Gil Robertson

March 2009

Family Affair: What it Means to be African American Today- An Interview with Gil Robertson

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Family Affair: What it Means to be African American Today
An Interview with Gil Robertson
by Correspondent Raegan Burden

March 23, 2009

Veteran lifestyle journalist/editor and African American Film Critics Association Vice-President Gil Robertson is back with a new anthology that explores “identity” within the African American community in the new millennium. His new book, Family Affair: What It Means to Be African American Today —the follow up to his bestselling 2006 anthology Not in My Family: AIDS in the African American Community cleaves thought the physical, social, political and historical characteristics that have come to define the African-American community and offers up a multitude of perspectives on how to embrace a more positive future. Through personal stories and essays by contributors representing various elements of the black community, the book delves into an identity that's been thrown off course due to a number of external and internal factors.

Family Affair is divided into five sections representing the key features that influence the African American identity: Family, Culture, Relationships, Community and Self. Each section features religious leaders, institutional leaders, elected officials, and celebrities from the worlds of music, film and broadcasting – as well as plenty of ordinary people with extraordinary stories. Family Affair offers revelations and insights on topics that the majority of African American only talk about in secret. The goal: to stimulate dialogue that supports reflection, healing and understanding.

The book features a plethora of notable African Americans including film actors Laz Alonso, Tasha Smith, Hattie Winston, Victoria Rowell, Malcolm Jamal Warner, supermodel Beverly Johnson, Dancing with the Stars orchestra and composer Harold Wheeler and media mogul Cathy Hughes.

In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Robertson address his second book and what his motivations were for it.

You've created yet another relevant, engaging piece as a follow-up to your best-selling anthology, Not in My Family.

What was the inspiration for Family Affair?

Gil Robertson: Like all of my books Family Affair provides a platform for readers to gain a better understanding of themselves and their place in the world. This book focuses on identity for African Americans, which I felt was a compelling subject because of the history of pain, hardship and controversy attached to our experiences in American life. My goal for Family Affair is to help Americans of all background to gain a clearer sense of the Black experience in this country through essay that present a very transparent discussion of the various issues and circumstances that have shaped who we are as a people. This book is also a device for Black our issues on with our voice instead of others.

How did you decide which voices you wanted to include?
Gil Robertson: I sought out people who were passionate about the themes and topics put forth for this discussion. After the initial call for submissions, I went with authors with whom I felt confident could deliver a unique perspective to the subject matter. I also selected submissions from essayist whose opinions about key issues represented divergent points of views.

The book is divided into 5 categories - Family, Culture, Relationships, Self, and Community. Why did you decide to group the book in this manner?

Gil Robertson: The chapters in Family Affair are in fact talking points that represent the foundation of a culture. My goal for this book is to open Pandora’s Box by taking on themes and issues that are at the very center of identity politics. My key motivation for compiling this project is to stimulate dialogue that will create change in our lives.

Family Affair is both a celebration of achievement and acknowlegement of challenges as it relates to African-Americans. What are your personal joys and pains about the state of Black America?
Gil Robertson: I love black people; the spirit and vitality of who we are and why. I find our existence to be literally intoxicating. I have a great appreciation for being a Black American and passionately embrace the tremendous values it brings to my life. However, with that said as a group we still fall short in terms of the respect and support that we show towards each other. The disrespect and abuse that we heap upon each other is a greater sin than any damage that’s been done to us by another race.

You're an accomplished A&E journalist, having traveled all over the world. What are the perspectives that you hear about Black America as you're abroad? Does it match your personal experiences and ideas?

Gil Robertson: My experiences overseas have really been a mix-bag. On one level the people that I’ve encountered overseas have a great deal of respect for how many African Americans have overcome our painful history, and I have also seen a curiosity that stems from ignorance and misinformation about who we are…

With the recent election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, how do feel it will impact the African-American community? Positive or Negative.
Gil Robertson: I think President Barack Obama is going to be a positive force in American life, especially for African Americans. His presidency underscores the fact that we are all equal, and if we put forth the effort can aspire and accomplish great things.

Family Affair is a multi-pronged media effort, with companion TV and music projects. Could you elaborate?

Gil Robertson: Yes, I have been very fortunate to find partners who support my vision with regards to the themes and messages featured in my literary works. As a story teller my goal is to create multi-media platforms for my projects. The fact of the matter is everyone is not a reader, so if you want to touch those people’s lives, you have to go where they are at, which is another reason why I’ve developed multi-media formats to compliment my literary properties. These projects certain create extra work, but in the long run it’s worth the effort to see your work reaching a larger audience.

What is the message that you hope readers, of all nationalities, will receive from Family Affair?

Gil Robertson: I hope that Family Affair allows readers to let go of the social and emotional baggage of our past. My goal is that the essays in this book will empower readers to find authenticity in their lives. For so long African Americans have been hampered with doubt that hinged on unresolved emotions associated with identity politics. Sadly many Americans of all colors and stripes share in this is a condition. Family Affair represents a 21st century idea that hopefully all can embrace. The themes and issues this book explores are universal and relatable to everyone. The book address questions that every American – black, white, red, yellow and brown have had to deal with at one time-- their identity and the value of that identity in society. Family Affair breaks through “issues” to reveal the commonality that we all share. We are all God’s children, and despite our differences, it’s beyond time that we accept that we are equal.

www.familyaffairbook.com

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