F.F. Fiore Celebrates Black History Month With MURRAN

Scottsdale, Arizona

"If we don't initiate the young, they will burn down the village to feel the heat."

F.F. Fiore's critically acclaimed novel "Murran" which means 'warrior' in the Maasai language, is indeed the perfect read for Black History Month. Each year beginning on February 1, an entire month of events is planned nationwide honoring the history and contributions of African-Americans. The 2015 theme is "A Century of Black Life, and Culture." Author F.F. Fiore hopes "Murran" starts a movement leading young African-Americans back toward that proud Black History and Culture.

Critics rave about the style and theme of "Murran". Terry Irving, the Emmy-winning journalist, producer (ABC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC) and author says it best.

"MURRAN held my attention. The writing was strong and the message clear. This book is not really about race in my opinion; it's about where, what and how you grow up. It's about that moment when you realize you need to find something extra if you want to be a man. I loved it. The gang descriptions were great, and the whole book felt very real to me."

Fiore adds his motivation to the culture theme. "I wanted the book "Murran" to show that I felt Black America once had a true unique culture that was abandoned in the mid 20th century for what is now claimed to be the African-American culture today. African-Americans had a unique Black culture. It was called the Black Renaissance and it took place in the early part of the 20th century. A Renaissance steeped in values and a culture unique to Blacks. The music, literature, way of life and culture of that period were a big draw to the 'swells' in Manhattan ... Drawing well-to-do individuals to Harlem at night to enjoy and revel in it."

A majority of Fiore's research of this era of Black culture for "Murran" was based on the book "Black Lies, White Lies" by Tony Brown. Brown attacks white racism, black self-victimization, and the whole concept of integration, which he feels has been disastrous for blacks and the country as a whole. Fiore gathered from his probing that the core fabric of the African-American community was torn apart when middle-class Blacks moved away from the core neighborhoods leaving it open to devastation and drugs. Fiore said that he experienced some of the tearing apart as a youth while going to night school at CCNY in Harlem.

Fiore feels the story of "Murran" led him to the African-American culture and it also gave him the vehicle to pursue an alienation theme for the book. Fiore states that if any ethnic group in our country has been alienated the most, it's the Africa-Americans because of the manner that they arrived to America.

"When asked what tribe are you from of an African-American," Fiore says, "there is no answer." "But almost every other ethnic and European culture in our society can point to a 'tribe' they came from."

Fiore believes that his book "Murran" allows for the opportunity to open discussions and also perhaps provide a way for the threatened culture of the African Maasai tribe - a proud and brave culture with a strong rite of passage for their youth - to be introduced and hopefully embraced by today's African-Americans who seem to want to live a true African culture. And, maybe some of the traits of Black Renaissance could return to inner cities and an improvement of opportunities for Black youth could happen.

Black History Month began in 1926 as part of an initiative by writer and educator Dr. Carter G. Woodson who launched Negro History Week in 1926.Woodson proclaimed that Negro History Week should always occur in the second week of February -between the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Since 1976, every American president has proclaimed February as Black History Month. Today, other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom also devote an entire month to celebrating black history.

About F. F. Fiore
Frank Fiore, a bestselling author of non-fiction books, has also penned 5-star rated stirring thrillers and action/adventures. During his college years, Frank co-founded, wrote, and edited the New Times newspaper, now a multi-state operation, which recently purchased The Village Voice.

His writing hooks you from the start and continues to draw you into the plot till the end. Always exploring new genres, "Murran" is his first urban crime drama with an added coming-of-age twist.

Frank has designed and taught courses and seminars on the future of society, technology, and business. Frank has a B.A. in Liberal Arts and General Systems Theory from Stockton State College and a Masters Degree in Education at the University of Phoenix. He currently lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona, with his wife Lynne and their dogs named Sebastian - a big Newfoundland, and Duffy - a little Scotty.

Synopsis "Murran"

Trey wanted to belong. He wanted respect. He wanted to be a man.

With his father dead and his mother a drug addict, Trey and his sister Nichelle are forced to go live with their grandmother in Brooklyn. Surrounded by inner-city crime and conflicting ideologies, Trey seeks security and recognition by becoming a member of a small street crew.

When he's framed for a crime and facing prison, Trey flees to a Maasai village in Kenya with his English teacher and mentor, Mr. Jackson. Though initially repulsed by the Maasai customs, Trey slowly comes to value their traditions and morals. As he goes through the Maasai warriors' rite of passage becoming one of their own, he learns what Black African culture is truly about. Only after confronting lions, disapproving Maasai elders, and his own fears does Trey begin to understand that men are made and not born.

Honest and unafraid, Murran is a tale of a young African-American teen coming of age amidst the pitfalls and threats of 1980s Brooklyn. What he learns along the way could possibly lead his community toward a cultural revival.

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