Battle Cry: The Awakening

"Battle Cry: The Awakening" is a novel that targets Young Adults interested in Science Fiction and fantasy based Urban Tales. It retells the experiences of six African American girls growing up in a public housing project during the political/historical period from the 1950's through the 1960's in New York City. The story tells the youth's experiences during 4 critical periods of social upheaval.


Maiea thought, "It is ancient blood that runs through my African veins, the blood of the first humans, and the parents of the human species... The blood of the warriors who made sure humans survived and that ancient blood boiled with a warrior's fierce resolve to end the domination of racist demons that hindered the planet's development.  And then I pulled the trigger ....Circumstance made me who and what I am...."


Maiea and her posse are on a path of discovery, fulfilling a long time African prophesy. They are protected by angels and ancestors from an ancient planet along with advanced Africans who warn them that they must complete the first phase of struggle on this planet, in order for Homo-sapiens to survive. Maiea and her friends, grounded in the African American Christian church and traditional African religion, do battle with all the forces that stand against African and African American freedom. They develop paranormal powers to help them win. In the end Maiea and her friends turn into real freedom fighters. In addition to this historical battle for the planet, as youth, they face the typical battles of students of the time- bullying, stealing, racism, sex, love and gangs.


My name is Maisha Lynn Washington. I am a second generation New Yorker born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn. I graduated from Howard University and I am First Generation College in my family. I am a widow and a proud parent of a daughter who has become our family's second generation college graduate. I love the solitude of an empty beach and find comfort by the ocean: my favorite spot on the planet. I read, swim and play all sorts of games for fun. I am an experienced education administrator, program designer/developer with 30+ years of professional academic service in both the non-profit and public sector. I have a wealth of teaching experience on all levels of education: 10 years on the university level and 15 years 7-12 grades. I have 13 years of administrative experience: 6 years as an elementary school principal, 5 years as a middle school and high school principal and 2 years of system-wide administration overseeing the professional training of administrators and teachers in 23 middle schools.  


 I have a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Arts in African Studies/African and African American history. In addition, I have more than 50 hours in graduate level Education courses, Earth & Space Science and Archaeology. I am featured on the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum website as a scholar/master teacher in Archaeology. http://anacostia.si.edu/online_Academy/academy.htm

 

I am a first time novelist. I wrote this book because I had a desire to inspire, educate and spark critical thinking in young adults. I used all my experience as an urban dweller, educator, earth and space scientist and archaeology/historian to create this story. This book is the first of a trilogy. The second, "Battle Cry: Liberation", will chronicle the struggle of Africans from fall 1967 through 1994. "Battle Cry: Unification" will cover 1994 through 2058. This book will explain all the forces at play in the global economy and the move made toward the unification of business and industry on every continent. It will clarify the African prophesy and the role earth must play in it.  


This is a trilogy that will take the reader to the year 2058.


Keywords: Science, Fantasy, Female, Political, Thriller, Adventure, Mystery, Action, History, Paranormal, African American