The Top Publishing Company

Is time speeding up?! It sure seems like it. It feels like just last week that we released our first edition and it’s already time for the next one. Have you been waiting in anticipation? Wait no longer! Here are the updates for The Top Publishing Company this month.

New: Straight From The Top!

And we’re off! (said in the voice of a horse racing commentator with a New York accent) We have a brand new media page hosting all the interviews and media streaming in on the company. Come feel the buzz! This Sunday, October 18th, you do not want to miss the launch of our new series! “Getting To Know The Author” will be featuring an interview with Vizier at a great kick off to the series. The details are on the picture above. Be sure to save the date and adjust for your time zone! We look forward to having you chime in. Vizier’s book pre-sale package is only available for another 2 months. “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today” - Benjamin Franklin. Reserve your pre-sale package now! In other news, we are beginning to test the music publishing aspect of the business out earlier than we imagined. Though we maintain as of this year we will not be pursuing the aspect with public submissions, there is an album in preparation for the holidays. Stay tuned!

Introducing The Gods!

Did you catch the banner of strong, black and beautiful Egyptian gods bordering the magazine this month?! Let’s give them a proper introduction. Below are the attributes that make each of these egyptian gods worth their weight in gold.

Publishing Company Merchandise & Social Media Accounts

Take a quick jump over and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Also be sure to grab a souvenir from our merchandise page today. Supporting black owned businesses never felt so good! It’s also a great way to let a friend know that you’re thinking about them. Send them a Magic Mug, and you will be on their mind with every sip! New products added once a week!

Luminescent Dolphin Productions

“Hey there Stardust!” This is the choice greeting used in the “Mogul In The Making” Reality Show, live streamed on IGTV with exclusive perks and content hosted on Patreon. We are a week into filming and we must say, reality TV is as intrusive as it seems. Equating for the all of the filming elements with sound, continuity, post schedules and content creation on top of an already full plate is a massive undertaking. We thought it would connect all of the project we are involved with to one central source and take away from the workload. Maybe it will become more intuitive the more we get into the flow or as we bring collaborators on board and delegate some of the responsibility. It feels like a worthwhile venture, just one that requires constant attention. In fact, it might be more beneficial to think of it as an infant, given our love of all things baby related. That could be the ‘mother’s milk’ that enriches this babe, into a strong and mature heir.

We Bless The Rains Down In Africa

The tickets are purchased and the plans are in motion for our first trip to the motherland. In December of this year, Luminescent Dolphin will embark on a journey to film the creation process of The Birth Resort in a documentary film format. The concept for The Birth Resort has been at least 8 years in the making and it seems we have finally found a match for the first place we can physically call home in West Africa with either Sierra Leone or Ghana. Whether the prospect proves fruitful or ends up being merely an exploration, this trip is generating excitement for us on many levels. Acting as the consultant for The Birth Resort has also come to an end for our company, as it spreads its wings and begins to form into its own separate entity. This month, our website has been going through major reconstruction. The release of our new website in the next few weeks will include the presentation of the landing page for The Birth Resort; a virtual home for its many resources contributing to pregnancy journeys worldwide.

The Beginning Of A New Era!

When presenting our self as a brand to the world, there are many aspects one manages in the pursuit of a solid brand perception. Though the ownness is multifaceted on a variety of elements like customer relation ratings and brand value implementation, ones logo is usually the first introduction to their audience and the market at large. In this regard, we are proud to present the new logo for Luminescent Dolphin. Created in collaboration with Cody Sky Photography, this new addition to our brand culture is a symbolic representation of our mission as a company to reveal the essence of the human spirit. All in all, we are overjoyed with the end result. On the heels of this new addition, the coming weeks will be populated with the announcement of new partnerships being built to directly support and uplight the african diasporic community.

Speaking of new, it is our absolute pleasure to share a new holiday release coming to a speaker near you! We are working on a Christmas album that will be ready for audio consumption this holiday season. Hilarious, touching and clever is the vibe for this album spectacular and it will be an album you will want to share with everyone in your reach, Trust us!

As expected and in humble gratitude, the children’s animated series F Street Kidz has been officially over funded on Kickstarter. We extend a gracious and energetic thank you to those who showed their support in monetary donations. The next few months will be filled with formatting the pilot and bringing it through full production. We are beyond excited to be working on this project and we plan to keep you informed on all the exciting updates as they come through.

Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

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Luminescent Dolphin is seeking fiscal sponsorship with a spiritual center. If you or an organization you know of is open to the opportunity, please reach out at Mail@TheTopPublishing.com.

A Different Perspective

By Lisa Nicole

A Hard Look at Our Community 

I am writing to you not as a therapist, but as a friend so to speak. As we continue to live in a state of unrest, it forces us to think about hard truths. Truths that don’t always make us feel comfortable, but are necessary to review and evaluate from time to time. The Black community has experienced many forms of oppression each taking a new shape and method. What we consistently know is that the Black community is a unique group, hence its origin in the United States and the systems in place designed to continue to oppress it. 

During these times of civil unrest, we have had quite the lens on the Black community. However, amongst those under the lens, there is an entire separate experience of unrest that is being fed into even in these extremely trying times. Questions regarding who is considered to be Black, what lives are truly valuable, and who deserves protection have all been the cause of many arguments along with friendship and familial divides. This brings us to an issue that seems to always remain in question: Just who is determining blackness and what measurement tool is being used?

As a community we still have issues with colorism, accepting our LGBTQ+ kin, and relationships outside of “Black love.” But why are we still struggling? What keeps us from accepting each other and becoming a true collective? The answer is quite simple. No one wants to be the target of oppression. You can see that in marginalized groups, there is some form of sub-marginalization; some form of hierarchy that gets established so that someone can come out on top. Whether it be skin lightness or darkness, the use of religion as a weapon, or who you love, there is always an unwritten set of requirements to determine whether or not someone is considered to be Black or Black enough. 

The pure existence of this hierarchy makes sense in terms of individuals trying to find their footing in a role of power in a world that often denies it to them. However what we tend to ignore is just how much pain exists for this hierarchy to be created in the first place. Think of this concept like a victim of bullying looking to focus their aggression to cope with their experience.  Oftentimes the target of their anger is someone who has even less power, helping to give them what they believe to be a power boost. This creates a false sense of community that portrays one image to the outside and a rather dark image in the inside. 

Even the term community is used rather loosely because depending on who is using the term defines just who is included. Folks may not be ready to have the conversation about who are the default members of the community and who always gets left behind. Folks may not even realize that the social currency they distribute is based on generations upon generations of hate that was taught, just like in the homes of the oppressors. Folks may not be ready to assume responsibility for their perpetuation of hate and oppression in their community. It’s time to start. It’s actually something that has been needed for so many decades, but the time truly is now to take the lens and put it on ourselves and determine our own levels of toxicity. 

What folks have to realize is that even when you are oppressed, you can still do damage. You can still want rights, justice, and safety yet want it denied for someone else. At the end of the day, to the eyes of an enemy, it’s all Black to them. The intricacies of the movies you grew up on, or the types of cooking dishes your grandmother used, and where you shopped for back-to-school clothes doesn’t matter to them. It only matters to us. It is not to say that these unwritten rules haven’t brought people together, sharing similar experiences of childhood. People bond over the joys and sorrows of what it means to “grow up Black.” But we still need to question the weight that is put on these unwritten rules and checklists. They become so heavy, that they allow us to cast anyone out on a whim without question. 

Do these rules ever change? Are there exceptions to the rules? Do all pockets of the community get to participate in the creation and implementation of these rules? We can assert that the answer is no to all of these questions which is a part of the larger issue. Black is Black. We have spent enough time trying to dismiss those who we do not feel belong. There is too much at stake to spend time on belittling individuals in our community. We all need each other. It is time to do some major healing and self realization about what actually goes on in our community. 

Where do we even begin to heal? The first step...recognize that healing is needed; recognizing healing is not weak and should not have a negative connotation. Next we need to be open to criticism and feedback. We have to be able to hear the dark side of the inner workings of our community. We can’t get angry, push back, and refuse to grow. We can get frustrated, but keep our ears and minds open. We need to hear the cries of our family, friends, and neighbors so that we can better understand the lived realities of others even when we think we are aware and understand. We can’t tell others how to think or how we think we make them feel. It needs to be an honest discussion. A real discussion. Only then can we start to make strides to identify existing gaps and strengthen the community where it needs it the most. 

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Lisa Nicole

Social sciences has always been my interest even before I knew the discipline existed. I earned my undergraduate degree in Anthropology, took a gap year, and then completed a graduate program in Public Health. I often find myself being a cultural broker and being a go-to person when it comes to questions that would normally be labeled as a sensitive topic. I have always found that these teachable moments have really helped others get a glimpse into a life very different from their own. 

Tribute to A Star Gone Supernova

Honoring Our Forever King: T’Challa!

When the phenomenon of a supernova occurs, it takes a few million years for the star to die, less than a quarter of a second for its core to collapse, a few hours for the shockwave to reach the surface of the star, a few months to brighten, and then just few years to fade away. Of course, to a star in space with an life expectancy of 10 billion years, that is a short amount of time. Chadwick Boseman was a radiant sun in our entertainment universe that burned bright to the very end. For the past 4 years we have witnessed his supernova before our eyes, not knowing it until the light was out.

An Impact Written In The Stars

Since his diagnosis of stage III colon cancer in 2016, Chadwick Boseman rewarded us all with his talents in Marshall, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, 21 Bridges, Da 5 Bloods, and a film set to premiere on Netflix sometime in 2020, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. It's impossible to deny that Chadwick left a lasting impact on Hollywood and the world itself. Black Panther was the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film centered on a Black hero, and it broke barriers when it became the first comic book film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. His impact, coined as the ‘Boseman effect’, has shown a tremendous impression on black culture and specifically young boys in the development of positive self identity as black young men. It continues now in his death with a targeted focus on Black people (men in particular) and colon cancer. He spent years, and certainly the last few months, selflessly helping young cancer patients without revealing his own condition.

⁣Personal Connection

As a child, we were cast into the role of young simba on Disney’s first Broadway tour of The Lion King. The impact of being cast in that role continues to shape us in ways that we never knew it could. One of the most valued and surprising impacts from participating in the show is the family connection of people we have met after leaving the show from casts all over the world. One of the many people we connected with years after leaving the production was Kevin Boseman, Chadwick’s brother. Though we personally never met Chadwick, he is considered part of our extended family in that way. Similar to his late brother, Kevin is a captivating and awe inspiring performer that has had a flourishing career in live theater and dance. As a former Alvin Ailey soloist, an avid Broadway performer, his impact in the entertainment industry is one we can trust and champion as the torch is passed to carry the Boseman legacy.

To the Boseman Family: “We do not know what you are going through. That is your experience, as Chadwick’s family that we can never understand. What we do know is Love leaves a memory no one can steal, that is true for us all. Kevin, may the narrative we heard for so many years be a guiding light for the family, He lives in you! May that provide strength when you feel weak.” -Alexander Free Garland

The Top Publishing Company

Since our open in July of this year, we are off to a fruitful and stable start. Not only are we presenting a second literary work in the form of this magazine, we signed 3 new authors seeking publishing representation in the last two months. We have another half a dozen waiting for approval, and a documentary film being shot this winter and released at in the Spring of 2021. For two brothers who seemingly knew nothing about establishing or running a publishing company, in the midst of the solemn passing of the family patriarch to whom this company is championing, we have done pretty well. As a family, we faithfully advance in the belief that our grandfather is watching with pride.

Getting To Know The Author

A thrilling new publishing company feature coming to a screen near you is our very own livestream series. Hosting on a familiar platform to us all, these interviews will provide insight into the latest release with The Top Publishing as well as the opportunity to ask questions of your own. Set up in a ‘21 Questions’ format, this series will be a must see for new features to come. Save the date: October 18th, 2020.

Publishing Company Merchandise & New Social Media Accounts

Did you notice? We have a Facebook and Twitter account. Brand new! Be sure to follow us so you don’t miss any updates that are released in between the monthly magazine issues. We also have publishing company merchandise rolling out this month. Its a very exciting time! Show support for black owned businesses by purchasing swag for you and a friend. We will have mugs, T-shirts, face masks and so many other gems to obtain. Merchandise release is set for September 20th, 2020.

Luminescent Dolphin Productions

Two years ago, we created our first website following the divine guidance of a being we refer to as a cosmic life partner, Sundeep Morrison. Little did we understand how that decision would be the beginning of a journey to founding Luminescent Dolphin, our very own multi-media production & consulting company. Coming up on a year in business next month, we are the responsible consulting partner for 3 black owned businesses, the operating director for a black owned dance company and have produced at least a half a dozen productions, events & explorations. Though the outbreak of COVID-19 did drastically impact the work and financial flow, we have pivoted successfully and live to tell the tale. Allow us to share some of the highlights.

B. Dunn Movement Dance & Theatre Company

Identifying with pronouns We/Us/Our rather than the traditional He/Him/His, for the expressed purpose of honoring the ancestors who we succeed and to be a reminder that we are all one, Alexander has been a part of the B. Dunn Movement family since it was founded 5+ years ago. Recently promoted as the Consulting Director of Operations and Marketing for the company and fulfilling the role of Development Assistant to the Artistic Director, Brigette Dunn-Korpela, we have been an integral part of the dance companies success when it comes to providing a firm foundation for support. Along with the revamp of the B. Dunn Movement website, some of the current projects we are championing are as follows. B. Dunn Movement Dance and Theatre Company is proud to be 1 of 3 Los Angeles based artist recipients of the 2020-2021 Culture Hub LA Residency. During the residency, B. Dunn Movement will develop ECHO: Immersive Experience (EIE). EIE is a collection of modular vignettes that weave together the narrative of the kidnapping and enslavement of tens of millions of African bodies during the TransAtlantic Slave Trade using live performance combined with AR/VR technologies. Fiscally sponsored by The Dance Resource Center, your financial support of B. Dunn Movement is tax deductible. Connect with B. Dunn Movement on Patreon to get access to exclusive content and make a direct monthly impact to the company and our work.

Booked as a Professional Voiceover Actor for F Street Kidz

“Hey! Hey! Hey! It’s Fat Albert!” Though all may know the reference, few may remember the show, “Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids” from the 1970’s. F Street Kidz is a highly entertaining, family-oriented, quality animation of youth coming of age.  A cross between the classic Fat Albert series and a more culturally and ethnically diverse Wonder Years tv show. The creator/writer of this series is Rory Pullens and we was once my elementary school theater teacher. For decades, he has played an integral part in arts education and entertainment by serving as the former Los Angeles Executive Director of Arts Education and CEO of the Duke Ellington Arts School in Washington D.C. A two-time Emmy Award producer/writer nominee, Rory is committed to ensuring that young minority artists are provided opportunities and exposure so that their creative voices are heard.

We have the distinct honor of being one of the many familiar voices on this exciting new animated series! F Street Kidz provides its audience with socially relevant messages and insight into youth experiences growing up in the throwback era of ethnically changing communities that were inhabited by Black, Caucasian, Asian, and Latino/x kids. Each character-building episode is a blend of humor, family, community adventure, music, and fashion -  an artful blend of entertainment and education, into what Rory calls “edutainment.” This series is in the last stages of a Kickstarter campaign and your support is enthusiastically encouraged. Share, Post, and Donate today to be on the ground floor of a one of the next movements in animation, education and entertainment.

The Lifestyle Show We Have All Been Waiting For Arrives In October 2020

For years, we have been asked to be a personality on reality TV and was even offered a reality show of our own on a number of occasions. Though some of the offers were highly appealing because of the suggested status, platform, fame and money, opportunities presented in the reality TV sphere weren’t a style of entertain we were ever interested in contributing to or even watching for the matter. With the wide broadcasting of the current climate in America as well as the world at large, through many different forms of immoral intentions and seemingly apathetic hoards of communities, we have reconsidered the role that reality TV plays in our social structure. There is so much content being consumed that is empty and null of importance and value, so we have chosen to get in the game called reality TV and infuse some much needed soul in it.

Leaving no area of conversation unexplored, we aim to not only put our life in a magnifying glass to be an example, (not necessarily the right or wrong one) for people to see another way to process trauma, life, relationship, failure, success, love, apathy, tradition, spirituality and evolution. This next month is being spent streamlining the technical process with our team and then we are live. It is new territory and it does feel strange to go against a part of our urge to protect ourself from the rest of the world. But whose to say we need protection in the first place? Maybe the idea of needing protection is the very thing that gives us this experience of separation. Let’s find out together!

Looking Through Our Box Of Treasures

Believe it or not, the above updates are only the tip of the iceberg. Before next months issue if the magazine, we will be sure to post the new ventures, press, opportunities to engage and partnerships that are brewing. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Luminescent Dolphin is seeking fiscal sponsorship. If you or someone you know has an opening, please reach out at Mail@TheTopPublishing.com.