By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Rosie Milligan doesn’t have time to sit still.
She said it’s because “There is too much work to do.”
Best known as the founder of the popular Black Writers On Tour conference, Milligan is a multi-hyphenate who has put on the hat of entrepreneur, nurse, author, financial guru, estate planner, business and credit consultant and/or conference speaker — sometimes all in the same day.
“It’s a lot but I love what I do,” said Milligan, a shoot-from-the-hip straight talker. “We have to stop begging others. Our people need to focus on business. Jobs will never sustain us. No one else is doing this, so I’m doing it.”
Milligan, a native of Como, Mississippi, said every career or business she has been involved in has included helping other people accomplish what they wanted in life.
Her motto is, “Erase, No! — Step-Over, Can’t! — and Move Forward with Life!”
On this particular day, Mulligan is knee-deep in organizing the upcoming 2024 Black Writers on Tour’s 28th annual Book Conference, Business and Teach Expo, a face-to-face event, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27 at the Carson Community Center, 801 E. Carson St.
The free conference will feature 100 authors, 50 business vendors and free seminars throughout the day with topics for the general public, writers, aspiring writers and business owners. It aims to promote literacy awareness, to give exposure to African-American writers and to motivate and develop aspiring new authors.
Seminar highlights include, “Why Technology Rocks” and “AI (Artificial Intelligence) What it is and How You Can Use it for Personal and Business.”
Milligan, who at 78 describes herself as “an old car with low mileage,” has often said, “Literacy is everybody’s business. Who will tell our story?
“I’m serious when I say that,” said Milligan, the mother of three entrepreneurs — a doctor, a cosmetologist and a book & herb store owner. “As Black people, we have to tell our own story.”
In 1990, Milligan started a publishing company, Milligan Books, where she has published more than 250 new African-American authors and has helped 25 authors start their own publishing company. Her publishing company is, reportedly, the largest and fastest-growing publishing company owned by an African-American female in the nation.
In her decades as an author and entrepreneur, Milligan, who lectures nationally on economic empowerment, managing diversity in the workplace, and male/female relationships, has authored 15 books including, “Starting a Business Made Simple,” “Getting Out of Debt Made Simple,” “Creating a New You in Six Weeks Made Simple,” “Black America Faces Economic Crisis: Solutions Made Simple,” and “What You Need To Know Before Starting A Business.”
I recently caught up with Milligan to talk about her work and the upcoming Black Writers On Tour conference.
DD: Rosie Milligan, you are a multi-hyphenate. Who are you?
RM: I don’t know who I am. I’m called to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. I go when it’s indifferent to everybody else. I’m a true entrepreneur. I know what I’m supposed to do. I’m a starter.
DD: How do you balance everything you do?
RM: I don’t sit up and watch TV all day and night. When you spend your time wisely you can do many things and still have time for your family. We have to do more.
DD: Tell me about Black Writers on Tour.
RM: It’s been 28 years. I understand the power of literacy. I look at the price Black folks paid to learn to read and write. In 2024, a lot of our Black folks are illiterate. Back in the day, you had to learn to read and write and learn arithmetic. People judge our intellect by how we speak and how we write.
DD: After 28 years, is this what you envisioned for the Black Writers Tour?
RM: Yes, except I’ve added on to it. We have a children’s writing contest. When you read a child’s writing you will understand what’s going on with them. It will blow your mind.
A sixth-grade girl wrote, “I visit my grandmother and I go to church.” She said she was trying to figure out why the Holy Ghost never got on men.
I do the conference because no one is bringing in solutions. I added business and technology. If we don’t do for ourselves, we will be unemployed.
Literacy and business, plus technology change lives. Politicians should talk about business, not jobs. Build businesses that can hire employees and help with unemployment.
DD: Why did you launch the tour 28 years ago?
RM: I saw the bigger picture. I saw people signing bad contracts, not understanding anything. I saw where it was going. People listen to politicians, TV and folks at church. We sing ourselves into slavery. We have an excuse when things don’t work out. We can rationalize ourselves into the pit of hell. Some of the songs we sing should be outlawed.
DD: Why do we need a tour for Black writers?
RM: Black kids are in the ditch. They become the adults who are in the ditch. They can’t help the kids because they can’t read. If I take the “Black” off of the title of the conference, I’d get more sponsors. I’m not going to do that.
DD: Talk about the Children’s Contest.
RM: With the Children’s Contest, we give them a topic. This year they are writing on how they see the future. There are $200, $100 and $50 prizes. Everyone gets a certificate. What happens is we have them come to read from their work. If we can get children reading at an early age, it’s important. I want people to know that reading and writing are still paramount.
DD: What can writers get out of the tour?
RM: Information on literacy, technology and business. Education and business are the secret to our empowerment. That’s why we make admission free. I want them to come and buy books and enjoy reading. We have something called My Tech Academy where we teach computer skills and marketing and we introduce [artificial intelligence]. I want them to enjoy the workshops on AI, and find out that the power of technology rocks. We provide high-quality technology and business courses for corporations, startups and nonprofits. We offer live instruction, personalized coaching and on-demand content.
DD: What are your thoughts on AI?
RM: I love it. Number one, it saves you time, money and helps you focus, and teaches you how to collaborate.
DD: Why did you launch the publishing company Milligan Books in 1990? You’ve published more than 250 new African-American authors. You’ve helped 25 authors start their own publishing company. Why?
RM: I got tired of seeing Black folks dying with a manuscript under their mattress. I got tired of people begging white folks to publish their work. We don’t need white folks to tell us what to write. People will read and write when it’s something they can relate to.
DD: You believe in self-publishing?
RM: Yes, I do. Don’t use the word self-publishing. You are a publishing house.
DD: What does it feel like to have the largest and fastest-growing publishing company owned by a Black woman in the nation?
RM: I don’t think about it. I don’t work and look over my shoulder. I just do what God called me to do. I’m doing God’s work. I’m a modern-day Harriet Tubman.
DD: How long are you going to keep doing what you’re doing?
RM: I will never stop this. It’s my mission. Whatever God tells me to do – I’ll do it. People ask what I’m going to do next. Watch my flow.
For more information: See seminar topics/schedule at blackwritersontour.com.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
