Ione is the author of Pride of Family, Four Generations of American Women of Color Summit Books, 1991, Paperback, Avon Books, 1993. Pride of Family is a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and on The New York Public Library 's list of 25 Books to Remember . Her memoir was inspired by the 1868 diary of her great grandmother, Frances Anne Rollin, author of both the earliest known diary written by a black southern woman and the first full length biography by an African American. Ione is also the playwright and director of the play Njinga the Queen King; The Return of a Warrior, which premiered at Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival in December of 1993. She has been a frequent contributor to The Village Voice, The Christian Science Monitor, Ms., Essence, Vogue, Oggi and numerous other publications. Her journals were published by Ballantine in Private Pages: American Women's Diaries, 1830s -1970s. She travels extensively, giving readings and lectures and presenting workshops that focus on myth and memory, heritage and dreams.
Listening in Dreams; A Compendium of Sound Dreams, Meditations And Rituals for Deep Dreamers plus This is a Dream! A Handbook for Deep Dreamers
by Ione
.
Purchase by PayPal from the Deep Listening Catalog or download, print, complete and mail in this order form.
Pride of Family; Four Generations of American Women of Color
Born into a highly accomplished family, �Ione knew more of the men - who were well known statesmen, abolitionists and actors- �than she did of the comparatively elusive and secretive women. This book traces the process of the author's self discovery during her long search for answers about their history .
Her search is sparked by the discovery of the 1868 diary of her great grandmother, Frances Anne Rollin. �In its frail pages, Ione discovers a highly educated woman, a writer and a feminist, who becomes the mentor she has sorely needed. ��Rollin's diary is the earliest known diary by a Southern black woman, and Rollin's book, The Life and Times of Martin R. Delany was the first full length biography by a black person in the United States.
This accomplished woman becomes the beacon that sees Ione through the veils of history. �The author, a mother with young children, enters into the unfamiliar world of historical research in order to piece together this true to life mystery story of international dimensions. �Armed with bits and pieces of information, in the times just before the internet revolution, she follows leads that take her to �France, Saint Domingue, Charleston, S.C. and the Sea Islands, Philadelphia, Washington, Saratoga Springs, NY and Boston.
The threads of this amazing family's literary and political fortunes begin to unfold in 12th century France �and wind their way through the 18th century coasts of Africa and the Island of San Domingue (present day Haiti ) to the United States of the 19th and 20th Centuries. ��The French Revolution, the American Civil War and the Reconstruction Era irrevocably mold the fates of Ione's ancestors.
The result of Ione's journey through the centuries is a book of deep feeling that portrays the intimate worlds of fascinating women and men who will live long in the reader's imagination.
"Remarkable...Engrossing.... Ione has made an important contribution to both the literature of race and the literature of women in America." Susan Wood, Washington Post Book World.
"Wonderful...Astonishing...A remarkable, beautifully written memoir" Maggie Scarf, The New York Times Book Review
"Written with a beautiful, shattering honesty...shies away from nothing." Anne Harding, The Gannett Chain
"With her great-grandmother's diary as the key, Ione has succeeded brilliantly in unlocking the truth behind all her family's women. It is a proud legacy to share with the reader and to pass along to her own children." Julie Michaels, The Boston Globe.
Njinga
the Queen King; The Return of a Warrior
by Ione
Premiere, Brooklyn Academy of Music
-Next Wave Festival, December 1993
" ...Spectacular drumming and dancing...Njinga proves its own lesson- that the voices of the ancestors are still strong." Jon Parales, NY Times
" It was superb. At the end I was crying for the sheer power of it." Cynthia Poten, Delaware River Keeper
" Njinga is a triumphant model for multi-cultural production. Ione has created a dramatic space which not only forces you to believe in magic, but even for persons not so disposed,- actually casts a magic spell, enrapturing the audience to feel the presence of very ancient and future souls. " Raphael Mostel, composer and writer
"I was moved by what I saw. The performances were exciting and the production left the audience full of good music, good dance and good food for thought." Barbara Scales, Director, Latitude 45, Artists' Promotion
"It was simply impressive. I felt like home," Lubangi Muniania, Museum for African Art
"Thank you for bringing so much joy to so many." Joe Mellilo, Brooklyn Academy of Music
Piramida Negra; Selected Poems
(1973-1991)
by Ione
Live Letters Press 1991
in
Spirits of the Passage;
The Transatlantic Slave Trade in the Seventeenth Century
by Ione/ Madeleine Burnside, Cornel West, Rosemarie
Robotham (Editor)
Simon & Schuster 1997
Night Train to Aswan
by Ione
Neteru Editions 1998
IONE is available for readings, workshops, lectures and presentations
For Information and bookings please
contact:
The Pauline Oliveros Foundation
PO Box 1956
Kingston, NY 12401-1956
914-338-5984
914-338-5986 Fax
EMS: Internet [email protected]
