Display of books by Aberjhani and magazines featuring work by him at the WW Law Branch Library in Savannah, GA (USA). (Image graphic for Bright Skylark Literary Productions)
A recipient of numerous awards for works in multiple literary and media genres, author-artist Aberjhani was born at home on the west side of Savannah, Georgia (USA) near the edge of the city’s celebrated Historic District (one of the largest in America) and within walking distance of the Savannah River.
Less than a mile away stands the childhood home of literary icon Flannery O’Connor. The equally iconic Conrad Aiken rests at peace roughly 3.5 miles away in Bonaventure Cemetery, and the Carnegie Branch Library ––founded just as the Harlem Renaissance got started–– sits about a mile away.
The library has been recognized as an important intellectual refuge for the Pulitzer Prize-winning James Alan McPherson during his childhood and it served that same purpose for Aberjhani while he was growing up. Fittingly enough, it currently houses his Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance and The Wisdom of W.E.B. Du Bois.
Some might debate whether Charles Perry is most notable as an author (Portrait of a Young Man Drowning), or as an actor with strong ties to the Harlem Renaissance, but all sources thus far indicate he was born in Savannah. Therefore, whether or not he has been officially recognized as such, his birth in the city does make him a notable part of its impressive literary history.
Moreover, Charles Perry’s link to the Harlem Renaissance support’s Aberjhani’s contention that Savannah has much stronger ties to the famous New York City-based movement than previously noted. For that reason it becomes less extraordinary when considering that the author established the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance proposal in 2011.
Less than a mile away stands the childhood home of literary icon Flannery O’Connor. The equally iconic Conrad Aiken rests at peace roughly 3.5 miles away in Bonaventure Cemetery, and the Carnegie Branch Library ––founded just as the Harlem Renaissance got started–– sits about a mile away.
The library has been recognized as an important intellectual refuge for the Pulitzer Prize-winning James Alan McPherson during his childhood and it served that same purpose for Aberjhani while he was growing up. Fittingly enough, it currently houses his Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance and The Wisdom of W.E.B. Du Bois.
Some might debate whether Charles Perry is most notable as an author (Portrait of a Young Man Drowning), or as an actor with strong ties to the Harlem Renaissance, but all sources thus far indicate he was born in Savannah. Therefore, whether or not he has been officially recognized as such, his birth in the city does make him a notable part of its impressive literary history.
Moreover, Charles Perry’s link to the Harlem Renaissance support’s Aberjhani’s contention that Savannah has much stronger ties to the famous New York City-based movement than previously noted. For that reason it becomes less extraordinary when considering that the author established the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance proposal in 2011.
Evolution of a Creative Literary Thinker
As powerful an impact as the above brilliant aspects of Savannah’s cultural history may have had on Aberjhani on one level or another, his development as an author and editor of history, literary fiction, poetry, essays, memoir, and journalism required much more than breathing the same air as heroes of the imagination.
A practitioner and advocate of lifelong learning, he graduated from Savannah State University’s Upward Program in 1975. He later went on to study journalism, creative writing, the American community, and organizational leadership at: Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida; Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota; Temple University in Philadelphia; the New College of California in San Francisco; and Charleston Univ in WV.
His time at each educational institution brought him into contact with individuals who encouraged and supported his literary development. Among them were Wendy Parrish at Macalester, Richard O’Connell at Temple, and Duncan McNaughton at New College. Each supplemented and helped to frame the voluminous intake of readings and studies the author did on his own.
In addition, Aberjhani has often credited his time as an editor and historian for the U.S. Air Force with providing him with his first experience as a professional writer. Later, while in the USAF Reserves, he participated in pioneering studies at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI, Central Florida) that paved the way for today’s multiculturalism and diversity in education initiatives.
A practitioner and advocate of lifelong learning, he graduated from Savannah State University’s Upward Program in 1975. He later went on to study journalism, creative writing, the American community, and organizational leadership at: Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida; Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota; Temple University in Philadelphia; the New College of California in San Francisco; and Charleston Univ in WV.
His time at each educational institution brought him into contact with individuals who encouraged and supported his literary development. Among them were Wendy Parrish at Macalester, Richard O’Connell at Temple, and Duncan McNaughton at New College. Each supplemented and helped to frame the voluminous intake of readings and studies the author did on his own.
In addition, Aberjhani has often credited his time as an editor and historian for the U.S. Air Force with providing him with his first experience as a professional writer. Later, while in the USAF Reserves, he participated in pioneering studies at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI, Central Florida) that paved the way for today’s multiculturalism and diversity in education initiatives.
The Author as Visual Artist
Works Recently Completed and in Progress
- These Black and Blue Red Zone Days -- NOW AVAILABLE!
- Black and Blue Letters from the Red Zone
- Carousel of Sustainable Compassion
Related Blogs and Websites
Striving to Make a Positive Difference
Aberjhani founded Creative Thinkers International as an online platform where a community of artists, writers, filmmakers, photographers, homemakers, poets, dreamers, and many others could promote their works in support of nonviolent conflict resolution. The community thrived from September 2007 until July 2015, with more than 700 members, when it went offline to begin a new planning phase for future operations.
As a member of PEN American Center and PEN International, he has advocated for freedom of expression through the written and spoken word on behalf of writers across the globe. Likewise, he signed the Charter for Compassion in 2013 and has championed its attempts to promote greater cooperation and cultural literacy between diverse demographic populations.
Through his National African-American Cultural Arts column, he has addressed some of the most controversial and pressing issues of the 21st century. These have ranged from Arab Spring and the life and death of Michael Jackson to the 2012 U.S. presidential election campaign, sweeping historic demographic shifts and their sociopolitical impact, the rebirth of the Civil Rights Movement via the Black Lives Matter campaign, and the battle for human rights throughout the Global Village.
© Bright Skylark Literary Productions 2015
As a member of PEN American Center and PEN International, he has advocated for freedom of expression through the written and spoken word on behalf of writers across the globe. Likewise, he signed the Charter for Compassion in 2013 and has championed its attempts to promote greater cooperation and cultural literacy between diverse demographic populations.
Through his National African-American Cultural Arts column, he has addressed some of the most controversial and pressing issues of the 21st century. These have ranged from Arab Spring and the life and death of Michael Jackson to the 2012 U.S. presidential election campaign, sweeping historic demographic shifts and their sociopolitical impact, the rebirth of the Civil Rights Movement via the Black Lives Matter campaign, and the battle for human rights throughout the Global Village.
© Bright Skylark Literary Productions 2015