Dia de la Etnia Parade – Colon, Panama
Celebrating Black History in Panama
July 11th, 2010Still We Rise
July 8th, 2010No words necessary…listen:
BET showcases The Black Lesbian and Gay Community
June 28th, 2010I was pleasantly surprised to see that BET delved into a subject that many in our community would prefer to pretend doesn’t exist. This photo spread features black lesbian and gay people across multiple entertainment industries. There is also some interesting content at the bottom of the page that discusses films, dispatches a few myths and also highlights those that have been known to support the gay community. Be sure to check this out.
I often wonder at the intense outrage and simmering anger that some people have for this community. Where does it come from? The easy answer might be the Bible. But since I don’t see the same angry fervor exhibited about other so-called wrongs like murder, abuse, sex outside of marriage or adultery, I think it goes deeper than that. I’ve have some thoughts on this – insecurity, lingering questions about one’s own sexuality, maybe or perhaps a host of other reasons. I have yet to come up with a suitable theory – stay tuned.
It takes unbelievable courage to “come out”. To do so is to risk being shunned by those you love, reviled and hated by those who don’t even know you. As a heterosexual person, my sexuality is assumed, and it isn’t something I have to talk about or defend. I cannot imagine living a life where I am unable to say who I am, so I applaud those who are able to do so, while also recognizing there isn’t a requirement that they do.
I’m glad to see an organization that IMHO has done little to promote positive, inclusive images of black people take a step in this direction. Now if they could work on intelligent programming…
Promoting African Literature
June 25th, 2010
One of my favorite things to do is to discover a new author – particularly one from another part of the world. There is so much to be gained from understanding other cultures – a lesson that I don’t think is stressed enough in the U.S.
I recently met (at least virtually) a gentlemen by the name of Nana Fredua-Agyeman. Nana is a Ghanaian poet and the blogger behind ImageNations. His blog is dedicated to promoting literature by people of African descent. Born in Suhum in the Eastern Region of Ghana, Nana has been writing poetry since 1998.
Initially started as a place to post some of his own writings, the blog quickly morphed into a site that posts reviews, a few event listings and gives us a little glimpse into Ghana’s literary scene. Nana has covered authors from across the continent. I’ve already added quite a few books to my reading list, so be sure to check him out.
In Search of the Truth – Being Black in Cuba
June 10th, 2010
By some estimates, black people make up over 60% of the Cuban population. Unfortunately, like some of their African descended brethren elsewhere, they appear to live in less than favorable conditions, and are targets of the police.
Today at Ivan Garcia’s blog La Carpeta De Iván, from Havana, Cuba, he talks about what it is to be black in Cuba. He posts a very sobering statistic – of Cuba’s approximate 100,000 prisoners, nearly 88% are mestizo (mixed European and Indian ancestry) or black. If we assume for a moment that these numbers are accurate (and I’m not suggesting they are), what does this say about life for black Cubans?
Living and Thinking On the Outside
June 7th, 2010
I read a quote by Mark Twain again recently,
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
At this, I did pause…and reflect. And realized that the truth is, I rarely agree with the majority – a fact that has been consistent throughout my life.
I read more while my childhood friends spent more time watching tv. I liked sports – boxing and football, like my father – something a little girl wasn’t supposed to be drawn to. I was smart – a geek before the term was invented, but tough. I chose to study computer science at a time where few blacks, let alone women, chose to do the same (thanks to whoever that was that visited my school from the black data processing association). I quit my job and started a business, when all my years of training indicated that I should work for someone else for the rest of my life and be happy for the gold watch when I turned 70. I decided to write – science fiction & fantasy, a genre where not many who looked like me had ventured (thanks Octavia, et. al). I dreamed of Africa when some black people hold their heads in shame at mention of the continent.
Sometimes I feel isolated – too different for all but a select few that “get me”. I hold back often, doling out bits of myself like a socially tentative newborn, testing to see how much of “me” someone can take. In this manner, I have far more acquaintances than true friends, but this is the path I’ve chosen, and I don’t regret it.
What troubles me though, is how many people unquestioningly side with the majority. It is this tendency that has led to some of the world’s worst atrocities, skewed or tainted historical untruths and a seemingly pervasive stifling of creativity. I once challenged my nephew to stop and think when he found himself beginning to utter the words, …all people, everybody, or the like. What all people think have proven to be wrong far too often to get caught in this trap.
I’m not saying that there aren’t time when the majority may be right. But it is dangerous, if not irresponsible, to accept anything without question. We have the ability to think critically, use it, you may find yourself joining me – living on the outside. It’s not a bad place to be.
Eritrean Exile Reunited with Family
June 3rd, 2010
Much is not reported about the tiny Northeast African country of Eritrea. Bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and The Red Sea on the eastern coastline, this is a place of contrasts. Influence of Italian invaders are evident in the architecture, and the population is almost equally split between the Tigrinya and the Tigre, with a few other groups mixed in. Islam and Christianity are the primary religions.
From a friend there, I’ve heard about the beauty of the land and its people, but this is a place, like many others, not without its challenges. Government oppression is one of them. I recently read about Aaron Berhane, a newspaper editor who had to flee the country because his paper dared to criticize the government. He left behind a wife and 3 children when he escaped to Sudan and finally made his way to Canada.
They kept in touch via coded conversations as his wife was under constant surveillance and harassment. With the help of Massey college, where Berhane earned a fellowship and other organizations, his family was able to join him – they endured an eight year separation. Read the full story here.
I felt the need to share this story because without exposure, and the ensuing dialogue, this type of thing can continue unchecked. As a species, we must come to understand that leading my silencing your critics is not leadership at all. It takes a certain strength to examine one’s failings and to decide to correct them. A strength I am sad to say far too many don’t possess.
In that case, it takes a people – united, to incite change.
On Being Black in Russia
May 27th, 2010Came across this video and thought I’d share. Sheds some light on the black experience in Russia:
Using Film to Help Children in Brazil’s Slums
May 21st, 2010
Directors
When I discovered my own African ancestry, my research into the history of the slave trade took me to new places. Among the things that I learned is that the majority of African slaves were taken to the Caribbean and South America – the most, to Brazil. As you might expect, the plight of black Brazilians reflects some of the same challenges faced in America and elsewhere – poverty, lack of education, oppression.
A few months ago, the things I’d read about became more clear when I saw the movie, City of God. The depiction of this Brazilian favela (slum in Portuguese), Cidade de Deus, was sadly reminiscent of tales of America’s ghettos. If you haven’t seen this movie, rent it now.
Art, in the form of the written word, music, paintings, and film, has long told the story of the human condition. In Brazil, the project, 5 X Favela, teaches children about the movie business. Their first feature film, “5X Favela: Now by ourselves” featuring 5 short films, 20 minutes each, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
In order to participate in the film production, 229 participants were given a small allowance to allow them to apprentice. They attended workshops on screenplay writing, direction, photography, art, and post-production. From the original 229, 84 were selected to be a part of he film crew.
Considering the state of black film in America, perhaps we can take a cue from our Brazilian brothers and sisters and start grooming the next generation of storytellers.
African Workers in Italy
May 17th, 2010Came across this Youtube video that shows the living conditions of African migrants living and working in Italy. I couldn’t hear the sound, but this is one of those instances where the picture tells the story. I wonder whether these conditions are better than what the migrants left behind…
