Book’s release comes in time for Black History Month. The largest commercial book publishing company has released the first and one of the largest anthologies by Black writers. Edited by Debra J. Dickerson and Gerald Early, the Best African American Essays 2009 edition finds authors including Walter Mosley, Jamaica Kincaid, Mark Anthony Neal and Jill Nelson addressing a wide array of subjects. Their writings are collected from such major publications as The New Yorker and National Geographic. Topics range from the Iraq War to lesbian dating and the plight of the Jena 6 high school students in Louisiana. A piece titled “One Nation…Under God?” written by then-Sen. Barack Obama also appears. Other perspectives examine a post-election Obama’s impact on Black culture and society.

Rapper remains in Florida custody

DMX has been denied bond and the ability to return to his home in Arizona, angering a judge with his reported profanity. The rapper, who’s been held in Miami-Dade County on a bench warrant arrest since Aug. 12, hoped to get bond Tuesday. But Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Schwartz upheld X’s no-bond status, citing the fact that the rapper faces drug charges in Florida. X appeared via video monitor before reportedly stating under his breath “I ain’t going back to no f***ing jail” as he heard the judge’s decision. Schwartz told DMX that he heard the obscenity, as the rapper walked away from a podium. The judge warned a lawyer representing the 37-year-old performer and film star. He’s expected to remain in custody until October. 

Brother of R&B singer explains fainting spell

The man who is shown in Web footage singing dutifully as his brother lay passed out on an Australia concert stage says neither member of the R&B duo was under the influence. K-Ci and JoJo, who recently performed without their Jodeci band mates, are shown crooning live when JoJo walks toward the back of the stage and abruptly crumbles to the floor, loudly dropping his microphone. A stagehand walks out and picks up the mic, ignoring JoJo on the floor as audience members express shock. K-Ci has taken to the airwaves to explain that JoJo suffered an epileptic seizure, and that rumors about the duo’s drug addiction are false. Footage shows JoJo regaining consciousness on his own after about a minute, eventually getting to his feet and waving to the crowd before he’s helped off the stage. K-Ci says JoJo is feeling much better.

“Run’s House” stars write about parental success. Take Back Your Family, a book written by Rev. Run, formerly of rap group Run-DMC, and his wife Justine Simmons is a hit. The self-help guide has reached No. 15 on the New York Times best-selling hard-cover advice list. The book features principles applied within the family whose lives are shown weekly on MTV’s hit reality show “Run’s House.” Take Back Your Family is the first book jointly written by Rev. Run and his wife.

The alleged victim is about to release a new tell-all book

There’s about to be a new chapter in the saga of the Black-college student who accused three White Duke Lacrosse players of rape two years ago. Crystal Mangum, whose claims were discredited in a high-profile, racially volatile charge, announced plans to release a tell-all book about the entire episode. For more on the book, go to BET.com/News.