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Xlibris Releases a Dramatic Novel About Racism

RICHMOND, Calif., July 21, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- No matter how much society changes, there will always be racial tension, bias and hidden agendas hounding black folk. A dramatic tale of racism and historical prejudice is coming to provoke your thoughts as Xlibris releases The Corporate Plantation, the new novel that goes beyond the barriers of history, written by Mary Ellen Jones.

The Corporate Plantation intertwines two parallel stories. It compares the working conditions of the early slave plantations of the 1800's for African-Americans with the contemporary corporate working conditions of the African-Americans in the 20th century. Readers will be introduced to Mollie, a fifteen-year old slave living on the largest cotton plantation in the state of Mississippi who aspires to improve her condition, especially after being raped twice by her plantation master. She continues to plan her escape to move up in life just as her granddaughter Mary Katherine does in the twentieth century on her job at the corporation. But the group of middle managers makes a secret pact to keep Mary Katherine from aspiring to move up in life.

Behind the tales is the illusion that slavery or cruel plantation life for African-Americans has run its course. In reality however, it has just morphed, changed its appearance and its address. It has moved from the cotton plantation to "the corporate plantation". The old southern plantations have moved into reinforced steel, concrete, glass and marble structures. The two stories converge and dramatically illustrate how little conditions have changed through the ages. An exciting and compelling conclusion awaits readers.

Deep from the core, The Corporate Plantation emphasizes that white middle managers, unbeknownst to senior management, have unilaterally undermined the corporation's mission statement to uphold and abide by the Equal Employment Opportunity laws for all employees in the modern world, while dealing with realism and racial tensions of the Old South. Geared towards mature readers, this novel supports the call for equality not only in the business world but in society in general. To purchase a copy of Mary Ellen Jones' The Corporate Plantation, be sure to visit Xlibris.com, Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com or visit your local bookstore today!

About the Author

Mary Ellen Jones is an African-American, a corporate survivor. After twenty-two years of corporate service, she escaped, "The Corporate Plantation." Mary Ellen has been married for thirty-seven years and is the mother of two daughters. Presently, she is a part time elementary school teacher and resides with her husband in Richmond, California. She earned her B.A. degree in Health Services Administration from Saint Mary's College of Moraga, CA and worked in the health care field for over nineteen years. Her short story, Dignity: Yesterday, Today and Always was published in Aging Magazine. Additionally, the short story was printed twice by a major medical care program in northern California. The health care provider has a membership of about two million members.

          The Corporate Plantation -- by Mary Ellen Jones
                      The Struggle Continues
          Trade Paperback; $21.99; 284 pages; 1-4134-8224-4;
          Cloth Hardback; $31.99; 284 pages; 1-4134-8225-2

To request a complimentary paperback review copy, contact the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 472. Tearsheets may be sent by regular or electronic mail to Marketing Services. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x.876.

Xlibris books can be purchased in any major bookstore, or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders or Xlibris. For more information, contact Xlibris at (888) 795-4274 or on the web at www.Xlibris.com.

CONTACT:  Xlibris
          Marketing Services
          (888) 795-4274 x. 472
          MarketingServices@Xlibris.com