| Something I Said BOOKS | Minnesota publisher | | | | guiding principle for the enterprise. It's about |
| works to deflect "mis-education" Dwight Hobbes, | | | | putting the community first. "For thousands of |
| Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Anyone can talk | | | | years," he reflects, "Africans along the Nile River |
| community empowerment; Papyrus Publishing | | | | used the papyrus plant to make the world's first |
| walks the walk. The Twin Cities-based small press, | | | | paper, on which all sacred documents were |
| Black owned and operated, has as its mission to | | | | written upon. The papyrus stood as a symbol of |
| keep African American literature in front of | | | | prosperity. "We have thoughtfully selected the |
| readers. At the helm is Anura Si-Asar, an | | | | name Papyrus Publishing because we understand |
| unassuming 30-something brother with | | | | that our commitment to the community is to |
| crystal-clear focus. In the mid-1990s he and a | | | | reemerge and reconnect knowledge back to |
| handful of other professionals took a stand | | | | them." He adds, "Papyrus is a community |
| against what he calls "the impact of being | | | | publishing entity that emerged out of the |
| mis-educated in this country via the public schools, | | | | community's need to document and inscribe our |
| the media and some of our own institutions." The | | | | experiences upon the hearts of our future |
| vehicle: Papyrus Publishing, Inc. Its catalog lists | | | | generations to come, as our ancestors have |
| impressive offerings. Magnificent Dreams: An | | | | inscribed us with theirs on papyrus and on the |
| Autobiography of Colonel John E. Hazelwood is a | | | | walls of hundreds of miraculous buildings of ancient |
| memoir that serves as the family torch passing | | | | Egypt and Sudan." To be sure, Si-Asar has a |
| from generation to generation. Hazelwood speaks | | | | great deal more than good intentions going for |
| of his heritage beginning with his great | | | | Papyrus Publishing. Look at his credentials: He has |
| grandmother leaving a southern plantation for a | | | | been on the board of BEST Academy the past |
| better life in Ohio. John reminisces about his | | | | two years, worked with Harvest Preparatory |
| childhood, college education and the years it took | | | | School from 1991 to 1997 and taught in the |
| to go from ROTC to becoming a highly | | | | Minneapolis Public Schools' Project Kofi. |
| decorated, full-bird colonel in the U.S. Army. | | | | Accordingly, his program to counter propaganda |
| Shegitu Kiflom's My African Heritage tells the | | | | has an experienced backbone. Further, Si-Asar |
| story of a six year-old Ethiopian-Eritrean girl living | | | | has involved himself in the development of |
| in the U.S. Another product from Papyrus | | | | African children since 1988 at African American |
| Publishing is the Metu Neteru Card Set. It's deck | | | | Academy for Accelerated Learning (AAAL) in |
| of 40 cards marketed by Papyrus, copyrighted | | | | Minneapolis (1988, 1989) and started the college |
| by the International Khepran Institute to help | | | | youth development program Kijana through Inner |
| introduce students studying the language of | | | | City Youth League in St. Paul (1988-1990). He has |
| Kemet (Ancient Egypt) to the philosophy of life | | | | studied and worked with the likes of El-Kati, Katie |
| encoded by the hieroglyphics. The company's | | | | McWatt, Nathaniel A. Khaliq, Rose McGee, Mary K. |
| newest titles are Arthur McWatt's Crusaders for | | | | Boyd and Kwame McDonald. Through the |
| Justice (published in partnership with the St. Paul | | | | University of Minnesota, he has degrees in African |
| NAACP) and Mahmoud El-Kati's The Hiptionary: A | | | | African American studies (B.A.) and Special |
| Survey of African American Speech Patterns, a | | | | Education/Educational Psychology (M.Ed.), and he |
| crisp study of Black language in America. Si-Asar | | | | has studied with professors John Wright, Rose |
| takes a refreshing approach. Instead of authors | | | | Brewer, Frank Wilderson and Josie Johnson. |
| dictating to Papyrus Publishing how the end | | | | Si-Asar has attended the International Khepran |
| product will look from editing to book cover, he | | | | Institute and studied community and civilization |
| says, "Essentially it is a collaboration between | | | | building within African communities. Currently, he |
| writer and publisher." El-Kati appreciates the | | | | coordinates Imhotep Science Academy and the |
| relationship of mutual respect. "It feels good. It's | | | | Imhotep Science Fair programs of the |
| progressive, democractic, empowering," he says. | | | | Powderhorn Phillips Cultural Wellness Center. |
| Mahmoud El-Kati has taken a nod from | | | | Suffice to say, Anura Si-Asar is serious about |
| Gwendolyn Brooks. Just as Brooks rejected | | | | community empowerment and adept at applying |
| major publishers to work with Third World Press | | | | himself to that dedication. Papyrus Publishing Inc. is |
| in Chicago, El-Kati recently ducked a big-time | | | | at 7409 Edgewood Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, |
| house's offer in order to stay with Papyrus | | | | MN, 55428. |
| Publishing. This seamlessly dovetails with Si-Asar's | | | | |