The Trouble with Publishing: Publisher's Weekly Afro Pick Cover

So I was talking to an author friend today and she recommended I read the current Publisher's Weekly. The issue speaks mostly about African American publishing. However, I couldn't get past the article for looking at the book cover. What the Frank -N- Beans?

Althouth Calvin Reed has apologized for the cover. Here I still can't fathom who thought this cover complimented African American people? Or maybe I can't fathom that this is what publishing think of us? Is this why we have to climb a mountain and cross a hill to get a publishing deal? Will this madness be the reason why more publishers will direct black writers to going the self-pub route through their self-pub entities instead of giving them a decent read thru?

Help a sister out here. What the Frank-N-Beans?

Trailer Park Tuesday: The Voices of Christmas

Happy Tuesday. Today are Trailer Park Tuesday spotlight is Nikki Grimes "The Voices of Christmas" (Zondervan, 2009.) This children's book shares the Christmas story through the voices of those who witnessed the Messiah's birth.

Please leave comments either here or via Twitter and Facebook how do you feel about this trailer. Is it effective? Does it help you decide whether you want to buy the book? What does it not say that you need to know?