You have to be kidding me. I read this about three times as if it were going to change. It is unbelievable, well not really because we are talking about honoring an African American woman who has her own business, that we are still viewed in the American eye as African Americans who shall not succeed. Why? It's because they are in fear of us. We are the talent. We invented success with our creativity and skills since way back when. So with RFT publishing such a racial, demeaning, despicable, asinine article, it should be no surprise.

This article should be posted on every door front to show RFTs ignorance in publishing such a retarded piece. People can see their disgrace and decide to never again support such a company.

A public apology is not even enough to repair the damage that has been done. RFT YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK...GOODBYE!

Truly unbelievable. Such a complete disgrace and truly in poor taste. If this is how you write up the BEST of St. Louis, I truly would hate to see what you say about the WORST of St. Louis. This has truly reflected poorly on such a wonderful city. This is the SHOW ME STATE correct? Then please show us, how you are going to correct this problem. Remove this link and issue a public apology. I can just about bet no other write up is this bad.

I'd just like to know what you were thinking. That's all.

Whoever wrote this derogatory and inflammatory article should visit RFT's archives and read "THE ALL-AMERICAN MINSTREL SHOW...The black-and-white facts of the once-popular, now-reviled entertainment form." Someone needs to be fired.

I had to read this over a few times to make sure my eyes were not fooling me. I cannot believe that the RFT displayed just blatant racism. The language used is not indicative of African American literature. It's stereotypical and racist. I will never pick up another copy of your newspaper. It's a shame that in 2009, with an African American president no less, that such buffoonery still exists. SHAME ON YOU RIVERFRONT TIMES. I hope a lawsuit of some kind is brought forth.

The establishment owner cites her personal "duty to share the benefits of reading and writing" with others as her primary motivation for managing a bookstore. What is the RFT's motivation besides simutaneously recognizing and insulting her business in this contrived category?

In addition, a wide range of dialects and speech patterns are utilized intentionally in literature to capture the essence of various communities and relate to various audiences. Exactly what message did the RFT intend to convey by selecting this style to honor an organization encouraging community literacy?

I used to be really into James Joyce. Now all I read is hood lit.

It's written in the style of urban fiction. But there were no black writers sitting around the editorial table the day the categories were assigned, and there are no black in-house writers at the RFT. I think it's beyond poor taste and that it was a mistake to write it (author) and publish it (editorial). It's an embarrassment.

The only thing that would make this more offensive is if you wrote it in blackface makeup.

Did you read this RFT feature story, published in April? "Lit Up: Keisha Ervin's gritty tales of the St. Louis streets have made her one of the nation's hottest purveyors of urban fiction" http://bit.ly/GC1Ii

the intention of this list is to celebrate this city, not offend it. we're asking you why, RFT? you should be ashamed

is this a joke? save this for the evening whirl.

Holy antithesis of post-race America batman!

Are you fucking serious? What kind of minstrel show write-up is this? RFT, RFT. What's happened to you?