Janet Cheatham Bell is an educator, recovering academic, author, and publishing entrepreneur. After teaching African American literature and composition at several universities, she became a curriculum consultant for ethnic studies. Beginning in 1978, she became an editor of high school literature textbooks, working to make them more inclusive. That experience in book publishing encouraged her to self-publish her first collection of Black quotations in 1986. By 2002, she had nine books of quotations on the market. In addition, she has published two memoirs, The Time and Place That Gave Me Life (2007) and Mixed Marriage (2018). She has also written two essay collections-Victory of the Spirit (2011) and Not All Poor People Are Black (2015). She considers her highest achievement to be that of her Emmy-winning comedian-filmmaker son, W. Kamau Bell, as well as her Hugo-winning, bestselling niece, N. K. Jemison, who both credit her for inspiring them to pursue their dreams. Now a grateful grandmother in her eighties, she is still writing and still taking risks.
“There is nothing like a timely, well-placed quote to make one’s writing, speaking, or presentations sparkle. And to find that perfect quote, there is no more convenient or easy-to-use source than Famous Black Quotations. . . . Highly recommended.” —The Black Collegian “Janet Cheatham Bell has extracted the best from the best and packed it all into one small but powerful space!” —Les Brown, motivational speaker “Everywhere I go all over this country, African American leaders are using Famous Black Quotations.” —Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., Pastor Emeritus, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago “Famous Black Quotations is a valuable resource.” —Susan L. Taylor, Editor-in-Chief, Essence 1981-2000 “[Famous Black Quotations] is an excellent and much-needed addition to the literature.” —Earl G. Graves (1935-2020), Editor/Publisher, Black Enterprise “I have been using my first copy of Famous Black Quotations since it came out in 1986. It is a wonderful collection and an extremely useful resource.” —Deborah Prothrow-Stith, M.D., dean and professor of medicine, Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine “An invaluable reference. . . . The book provides a saying of substance for a variety of occasions. Famous Black Quotations is truly a godsend.” —Judy Richardson, series associate producer, Eyes on the Prize; and coproducer, Malcolm X: Make It Plain “Famous Black Quotations is right here in my study; I use it all the time.” —Dennis Kimbro, Ph.D. co-author Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice “Janet Cheatham Bell is a pioneer in doing books of Black quotations.” —Henry Louis Gates Jr., host, Finding Your Roots; director, Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, Harvard University