Sources:

http://notinmyfamily.com/bio.htm

http://notinmyfamily.com/overview.html

Gil L. Robertson IV is not your average journalist. In the world of media and public relations marketing, he wears many hats. As a leading media consultant, Robertson is an entrepreneur, journalist and lecturer with the vision to develop academic curriculum and learning tools necessary to stimulate growth in mass media-related vocations. Most recently he's added authorship to his repertoire.

Robertson, who received a B.A. in Political Science from Cal State Los Angeles, also serves as CEO and Founder of the 10-year old national syndicated Arts & Lifestyle column, The Robertson Treatment. The column appears in 30 newspapers across the country boasting a national readership in excess of 2 million. Mr. Robertson's byline has also appeared in a long list of publications that includes Essence, Billboard, The Source, the Los Angeles Times and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

As a featured expert, Robertson has appeared on National Public Radio, CNN, the Tavis Smiley Show, BET and E Entertainment. He is a member of the National Press Club, The Los Angeles Press Club, The National Association of Black Journalists, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Science, The National Academy of Television Arts and Science, The Motion Picture Academy, NABJ's Arts & Entertainment Task Force, The Association of African American Publicists and The New Leaders.

In 2003 Robertson co-founded the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), a body of the nations leading African American film critics. That same year he also established the Robertson Treatments Writer's Workshop an annual journalism initiative held at the Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta, GA.

Robertson's step-by-step guide, Writing As A Tool of Empowerment offerz readers the tools on how to succeed in the media marketplace. Additionally, he's been a frequent contributor to The African American Almanac (Gale Press) and also contributed to the anthology Souls of My Brothers (Plume).

Not in My Family is his first book for Agate. For more information on Robertson, visit - www.robertsontreatment.com

Not in My Family
Edited by Gil Robertson

Much has been made of the statistics surrounding African Americans and HIV/AIDS; however, somehow the human face of this disease still eludes our community. Like many situations confronting the African American community, dialogue about this disease has failed to include meaningful communication with those directly involved.

Not in My Family began as an opportunity for my brother and I to share our family's experiences in living with him through his journey with HIV/AIDS, however, it soon evolved into a vehicle that explores a wide cross-section of ideas, values and beliefs.

Not In My Family Music CD

Many of the contributors to this book are famous, but most are not, however, with every essay they all demonstrate their commitment to the community; offering invaluable insights on the joys, pains, triumphs, fears and love that people living with HIV/AIDS and their families deal with everyday. Not in My Family is the resulting effort. It is a patchwork of essays that forms a quilt of expressions by individuals who have chosen to come out of the shadows to bare their fears, isolation and pain of living in the age of AIDS.

Not in My Family is revealing and sometimes shocking, but the sentiments expressed very clearly related how HIV/AIDS has reshaped lifestyles and attitudes within our community. Not in My Family will provide lessons in courage and pearls of wisdom and inspiration. It will also present an opportunity for families both immediate and extended--to gain the courage to move forward with their lives, dealing openly and honestly about their feelings for each other in sickness and health.

Watching someone you love die is a very difficult thing. To witness a loved ones transition with HIV/AIDS is even more so because this disease creates an environment that leaves many families with few resources or options for support. Underneath such pressure, some families can fall apart.

Fortunately, Not In My Family demonstrates that our community recognizes the need to face this scourge head on. This book will have long term and far reaching impact on our community and will raise awareness to sectors of our community who need it the most.

My hope is that Not in My Family will offer a forum of expression for discovery and healing. It is a wake up call for the black community and larger society to realize that HIV/AIDS is not something we can run away from. It's a reality that we must face, deal with and conquer. AIDS is not only in my family? it's in all of ours!

- Gil L. Robertson IV