July 17, 2005
by Stephen Wicks
BlackBusinessList.Com Co-Owner

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Popular Savannah author Michael Porter has published a new book entitled "Villages, Ghosts, Lovers...And Red Rice."  The book is being received very well and is being compared by some to the book "Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil."

Villages, Ghosts, Lovers...And Red Rice is a hauntingly delightful true-life story of one African-American family living in Savannah, Georgia, from 1963 to 2000.  As the plot unfolds, it reveals how this extraordinary family played a pivotal role in the lives of so many different people regardless of race, gender or sexual preference. Both dramatic and, at times, twistingly humorous, it is a fascinating tapestry of root working, controversial interracial relationships, an eccentric dognapper, a piano teachers relationship with a wealthy antique dealer who holds dark secrets, and other equally interesting events and personalities.

BlackBusinessList.Com recently sat down with Mr. Porter to discuss his new book and his career.  The interview was conducted at a Starbucks coffee shop in Savannah.  As I arrived a little late I noticed Mr. Porter sitting at one of the tables busily writing something on a sheet of paper.  Since Mr. Porter also moonlights as a columnist for the Savannah Herald, a local black owned newspaper, I wondered if he was writing something for that column or perhaps he was writing a chapter of a new book.  As I approached the table he put the paper neatly away in a folder and I never asked.

Mr. Porter greeted me with the same greeting that I have been getting for the last 13 years since I've known him, "Hello good brother!"  His greeting is warm and sincere.  He makes you feel good to be in his space.  After the formalities were over we began to talk about his early years in Savannah.

Mr. Porter was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia.  He spent his early years growing up in Yamacraw Village.  After a few moves his family settled on the westside of the city and he graduated from Beach High School in 1975.

He attended Savannah State College (now Savannah State University) and decided to major in middle school education.  At the time he was at Savannah State they were going through the period where they exchanged programs with Armstrong Atlantic State University.  Since he was an education major he had to technically complete his degree at Armstrong.  He was not pleased.  Having spent some time at the college myself I can understand his affinity for Savannah State.  There is a pride that one feels in attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU.)

After his undergraduate degree, Mr. Porter went on to receive his Masters in counseling.  He also is a licensed counselor with the state of Georgia.  In his practice, he gives counseling to juvenile sex offenders, sexual abuse victims, families, married couples, and children in crisis.  He is often referred his clients by the Department of Family and Children Services, the Mel Blount Youth Home in Vidalia, Lutheran Ministries Services, and other individuals and organizations charged with assisting troubled youth.

Villages, Ghosts, Lovers...And Red Rice is not Mr. Porter's first book.  He has also written Kill Them Before They Grow: The Misdiagnosis of African American Boys in America's Classrooms and The Conspiracy to Destroy Black Women.  He also is well known for his "straight from the hip" articles published weekly in the Savannah Herald.

Mr. Porter's love and concern for his African American family is evident in everything that he does.  During the interview Mr. Porter discussed some of the prevailing problems that he comes across time and time again in his practice.  He says that part of the problem is that America's youth is being "oversexualized."  He explained the concept of "age compression."  He described it as being the phenomenon of advertisers attempting to sell younger consumers products that are designed for much older people.  You can see this in the fashion industry.  Many young girls are walking around in clothing that have the upper part of their buttocks showing.  The clothing is becoming more and more sexualized.  This may seem unimportant to some parents but to Mr. Porter it rears it's ugly head in the attitudes and mindsets of our youth.  He tries to get children to see how they have been targeted for manipulation by the advertisers.  As he says, "People won't change until they question what they believe."

Even though the discussion was to be primarily about his latest book, you can't keep him from discussing his passion, which is helping to change the negative mindsets of some of our people.  In fact the conversation changed to politics when we were joined by Jay Jones in the coffee house.  Jay is a Savannah native who is making waves across the country as a stage actor.  He told us of how he is gaining ground in the industry and about his next performance at the National Black Theater Festival coming up in August.

After Jay left we got back to business.  Mr. Porter discussed what inspired him to write his latest book.  He said that he was speaking with his grandmother one day and was mesmerized by the stories that she was telling him.  He said to himself, "You know people need to know about this."  He thought that it would make a good book.

With chapters such as, "The Mayor's Brown Sugar," and "Yamacraw," the book is an entertaining and provocative read.  All of the customer reviews that I've found on the book have been favorable.  It is a book worth adding to your reading list.  Savannah's own, Michael Porter is continuing his mission of enlightening us via his powerful words.  Spread the news!

To purchase Villages, Ghosts, Lovers...And Red Rice

Purchase Online at Amazon.Com
or order a copy from your favorite local book store.

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