THE COVENANT WITH BLACK AMERICA CLIMBS TO #1 ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Tavis Smiley Invites Public to Host Nationwide "Covenant" Celebrations

LOS ANGELES (April 14, 2006) – Spurred by Black radio and word of mouth, the Covenant with Black America, a collection of essays by African Americans that examines issues such as education, health care and judicial disparities through facts and suggestions for action, is the #1 nonfiction, paperback book in America (New York Times Book Review, April 23, 2006).

With an introduction by media personality Tavis Smiley, this is the fifth week that the book has appeared on the list. Smiley spearheaded The Covenant project and edited the text.

"I wish I could personally reach out and touch everyone who made this historic moment possible," said Smiley. "I am humbled by the outpouring of well wishes this project has received yet proud to stand in this space knowing that Black Americans are not asleep at the wheel as some might suggest."

"Black America has spoken and the message is, 'We care about the state of our families, access to education, jobs and health care.' This text provides the research and background on how to improve Black America," Smiley added. "Now we look forward to the conversations from readers and the actions they will take to implement positive change."

The Covenant, published by Third World Press, Inc., the nation’s oldest independent African American book publisher, is also the first non-fiction book by a Black publisher to reach and top the best-seller list. Third World Press, Inc. receives all proceeds from this text. The book debuted in the #6 spot in the Times’ March 26 edition following its February release.

To celebrate and continue the book’s dialogue, Smiley is inviting the public to join in hosting thousands of book parties nationwide from Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21 as part of a Covenant Conversation & Celebration Weekend.

"To coin a popular phrase, 'It's a party with a purpose,'" he said. "From across the country, we have already received notes, cards and emails from individuals, churches and groups who have organized forums, book club events and workshops around The Covenant. This weekend celebration is an opportunity for everyone who cares about this movement and moment in history to mark this achievement together."

The first 1,000 party hosts to send Smiley an invitation to their celebration will receive a special Covenant gift pack. One lucky party host will have Smiley and Princeton University professor Cornel West as their guests. West is a contributing essayist to The Covenant.

In March, Smiley, West and other book contributors conducted town hall meetings in churches around the country as part of The Covenant tour. A second of leg of the tour will visit new cities in May and June. They include Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Harlem (New York), Cleveland and Detroit. The tour has already been to Houston, St. Louis, Brooklyn (New York), Atlanta, Memphis, Los Angeles, Oakland, Miami, Washington, DC and Baltimore.

The Covenant with Black America is a national plan of action to address the primary concerns of African Americans today -- from health to housing, from crime to criminal justice, from education to economic parity. The 254-page book is divided into 10 core chapters outlining key issues.