Lessons from Marcus Garvey: Lesson 2 Self-Reliance

"CHANCE has never yet satisfied the hopes of a suffering people. Action, self-reliance, the vision of self and the future have been the only means by which the oppressed have seen and realized the light of their own freedom. "- Marcus Garvey  

Source: The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, Or Africa for Africans 
                    Compiled by Amy Jacques Garvey
                    First published in 1923 
                    http://www.jpanafrican.com/ebooks/eBook%20Phil%20and%20Opinions.pdf

Reading List September 2012

In my last post I mentioned that I wanted to write more and in so doing I needed to read for. In a bid to actual DO what I say I want to and to accomplish my objectives I have made a reading list for September.  I want to read 4 books in the upcoming month.  

1. Rex Nettleford's Mirror Mirror: Identity, Race and Protest in Jamaica (1998 edition originally published in 1970)
2. George L. Beckford's Persistent Poverty: Underdevelopment of Plantation Societies in the Third World (1999 edition orginally published in 1972)
3. David M. Fetterman's Ethnography Step by Step (2010 edition) 
4. Octavia Butler's Kindred  (2009 edition) 

FREEING OUR MINDS EMANCIPATION DAY 2012

Toni Morrison and I

On Wednesday January 18, Clutch Magazine posted the article "4 Books You Should Reread"  by Danielle Pointdujour. The list included Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and it struck me as odd that I had never read this novel. 


At the time of reading Pointdujour's article, I was reading Morrison's Songs of Solomon, and I was in awe of Morrison's skill, her use of the language.  There was a music to the narrative and this was infused with African mythology and rhythmic movement as the tale charted the journey of the main character "Milkman" from his dislike and fear of his father and his disconnection from his ancestral roots to self-discovery and courage.   


After reading Songs and I made the decision to read The Bluest Eye.  The Bluest Eye is Morrison's first novel and it is the story of a young black girl, Pecola Breedlove who is described as ugly and who in internalizing the belief that she is indeed ugly; dreams, prays and wishes for blue eyes to the point of madness.  


The novel is essentially from the point of view of Claudia MacTeer, and is presented by Claudia as a child who is Pecola's contemporary and school mate, and Claudia as an adult reflecting on life in Lorain, Ohio (United States of America) during the years following the Great Depression.  However, there are  distinct moments where the narrator is the omnipresent third-person narrator.  


The Bluest Eye broke my heart and I cried for all the Black girls past, present and future who have, who are and who will be made to feel ugly because of the rich ebony of of their skin. 


I had borrowed Songs and The Bluest Eye and then Kingston Bookshop had its annual Yard Sale and I am blessed to have purchased a copy of  The Bluest Eye. 


Presently I am re-visiting Beloved. I read Beloved as part of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Literatures In English, Prose Level 1. I loved the story and knew the lives of Sethe, Denver, Baby Suggs, the Garner men inside-out. In re-reading this tale I am now in far better position to appreciate the physical, psychological, emotional, sexual and metaphysical effects of slavery from which the story rests upon and seeks to confront. 

Toni Morrison

                                                             

                                  

After reading these three novels by Morrison I am truly inspired to write. I need to tell the stories I know, while creating the book I would want to read and infusing the histories I have have learnt.  


In this Black History Month 2012, I want to thank Toni Morrison for writing, teaching, inspiring  and creating. 

Desmond Tutu ‘God is not a Christian’

 I saw this interesting piece on New African Magazine homepage and decided to share it with you. I am in complete agreement with his sentiments. Christianity is a fairly new religious and life philosophy while the presence of and the belief in a Supreme Element (of whatever name, shape, size, colour or race) has been intrinsic in human civilization and cosmic realities. So I invite you to read the excerpt below and then discuss. Is God a Christian?

New African Magazine Homepage
“God is clearly not a Christian. His concern is for all his children. To claim God exclusively for Christians is to make God too small and in a real sense is blasphemous. God is bigger than Christians and cares for more than Christians only,” writes Archbishop Desmond Tutu in his new book, God Is Not A Christian, a collection of some of his speeches, sermons, lectures, letters, and exchanges from the past three decades. Below is an excerpt from the book.

Most Christians believe that they get their mandate for exclusivist claims from the Bible. Jesus does say that no one can come to the Father except through him, and in Acts we hear it proclaimed that there is no other name under heaven that is given for salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Those passages seem to be categorical enough to make all debate superfluous. But is this all that the Bible says, with nothing, as it were, on the side of inclusiveness and universality, and does the exclusivist case seem reasonable in the light of human history and development? 

The Most Reverend Doctor Desmond Mpilo Tutu (born 7 October 1931) is a South African activist and Christian cleric who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. He was the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town., South Africa, and primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (now the Anglican Church of Southern Africa).

Archbishop Tutu has been active in the defense of human rights and uses his high profile to campaign for the oppressed. He has campaigned to fight AIDS, tuberculosis,  homophobia, transphobia, poverty and racism. Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in 1986, the Ghandi Peace Prize in 2005, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Tutu has also compiled several books of his speeches and sayings.

Haiti: Culture A Vehicle for Reconstruction

From UNESCO, just sharing. Enjoy!
Comment and Discuss: Does cultural heritage or intangible heritage stimulate sustainable economic development in Africa and the African Diaspora?

Interregional Philosophical Dialogue between Africa and the Americas – “Africa and its Diaspora”

Interregional Philosophical Dialogue between Africa and the Americas – “Africa and its Diaspora”

The conference will bring together philosophers from throughout Africa, its diasporas, and the Americas to address contemporary challenges. 
It is organized in the framework of the celebration of the International Year for People of African Descent (2011) proclaimed by the UN General Assembly at its 64th session and benefits from ISESCO’s financial support.

The dialogue between philosophers from Africa and the Americas – North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean – around the theme “Africa and its Diaspora” is founded on a strong conviction: the very rich intercultural exchanges between the regions have given birth to a quintessence of intellectual wealth. Such wealth is embodied by the very valuable and insightful philosophical and theoretical debates on the meaning of “African Philosophy”, “African-American Philosophy” and “Caribbean/Latin Philosophy”. 

For further information visit UNESCO Cultural Events Calendar

ENvasa Media and Publications: In Search of My Black Aesthetic

I do have a rather small concern when it comes to Black Aesthetics, I am of African descent and all people around are predominantly of African descent and yet the literature that has been presented to me through life have not been those that have celebrated Black Aesthetics. I am convinced that most of the people that I am close to (my friends and family) are indeed beautiful. I know that I am beautiful I am one of the most beautiful people on Earth. And yet... How do I describe my beauty? How do I explain fully what I see in the mirror and see in others? I think the answer lies in the way I will bring forth my characters. Before I seek to bring them forth from my mind I must look deeply at myself AND I must describe bit by bit the beauty I see in me. I have only read a small section of books by Black people, this is not my fault but in going forward I must make it a part of my life to read about myself and the people that I look like and those that look like me. I find that in my own life I think of people, particularly shades of brown in turns of food or candy or some sweetness, there is dark chocolate, milk chocolate, caramel, honey and yet that seems inadequate maybe should use word yes I should use another phrase those words are good they are what comes naturally they also can be and will be worked on. Black Aesthetics exist in degrees and variations there is a mixture and smooth combination that always creates a unique beauty and once I master the ability to relate the beauty that I see and feel with words I shall be truly grateful.

Project of Great Hope and the Ngambe-Tikar people of Cameroon

Project of Great Hope is based on TechCeFaCos’ Humanitarian Program aimed at providing and making available basic human needs like water, food and shelter; as well children growth as the fountain of life and base for future generation.

It’s all became behind the aim of ‘Holidays for Hope’-giving lasting hope on a special day of December for homeless and underprivileged kids of all abilities…as we of TechCeFaCos NGO Cameroon together with Dreams for Kids US, we organized and undertaken a mission to Ngambe-Tikar where we came cross bunches of great needy people who needs our help! Our journey was not all that easy to before coming across this people.

The basic issues here from our observation and inquire was that of health and education! Health issues resulting from Polio, Schistosomiasis and Intestinal Helminthiasis (poor sanitation), Cholera (drinking water) and STDs (no sex education) infections are several, so lots of disable and high death rate in children. Illiteracy is still very high in this community, as 75% are primary school dropped outs due to lack/inefficient basic academy needs!

Our vision is to empower the young generation which is the tomorrow leaders through provision of basic needs good hygiene, education, shelter  and water. We are looking forward to uplift the community from the poverty level which will have great impact of the economy through motivating them by providing the basic needs.

You can assist the Ngamber-Tikar by making a donation or volunteering your time visit  the TecheFaCos NGO or the learn more about TecheCeFaCos NGO, the Ngambe-Tikar and Cameroon visit the Project of Great Hope Blog

Volunteering Show You Care

I am a United Nations Online Volunteer and I am encouraging others to do the same. For further information please visit UNV Online Volunteering.

I firmly believe that every community needs people willing to volunteer their time and share their talents to assist in the development of such communities. You need not have to give large donations or travel around the world to help. Volunteer your time, energy and share your talents to help improve the lives of our brothers and sisters the world over.

Spotlight on UN Millennium Development Goals

United Nations Development Goals

Beyond the news- Cote d' I voire

This is what  you have probably heard: 

Ivory Coast faces many hurdles to peace

The prolonged fall of Laurent Gbagbo continued Wednesday, casting a pall over Abidjan, a city that’s been ground to a halt by nearly a week of urban warfare.

Two efforts by forces loyal to the internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara to storm a bunker under the presidential palace where Gbagbo is reported to be hiding with his wife and family failed to dislodge the defiant former leader who refuses to step aside.

The crisis that has gripped Ivory Coast since its election in November has seen the resurgence of heavily armed militias and ethnic violence in a country already long divided between north and south. The economy is near collapse and both sides of the conflict have been accused of horrific human rights violations. Reports suggest both sides have armed notoriously hard-to-control militias and recruited civilian fighters and mercenaries. from The Toronto Star

AND THIS IS THE TRUTH BEHIND THE NEWS: 

New African Magazine

January 2008 archived edition

Focus

CFA How France lives off Francophone Africa via the CFA franc Professor Mamadou Koulibaly, Speaker of the Ivorian National Assembly and Professor of Economics, sheds light on the economic devastation caused to the African member states of the CFA (Communauté  Financière d’Afrique – [French Community of Africa]) zone through their continued link to the French currency – the Franc – in the past and today to the euro. In this informative interview with New African’s Ruth Tete and Soh Taadhieu, Professor Koulibaly does not mince his words as he calls for a total split and the creation of an independent currency free of colonial baggage. Question: Could you explain to our readers, what are the principle mechanisms of the CFA Franc Zone? Answer: The CFA franc region represents a state-controlled zone of cooperation with, interestingly, the levers of control based in Paris, from where the priority is the interests of France. The satellite states that are members of this zone are dispersed in West and Central Africa. The operational logic driving the functioning of this zone brings to mind a similarity with the way the Eastern European states were linked during the Cold War to the former Soviet bloc through the Warsaw Pact. The principals of monetary cooperation between France and the member states of the CFA zone were formulated in the 1960s in a colonial pact which was reviewed in the monetary cooperation convention of 23 November 1972 between the member states of the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC) (Bank of Central African States) and the French Republic on one hand, as well as in the cooperation agreement of 4 December 1973 between the member states of the Union Monétaire Ouest-Africaine (UMOA) (or the Monetary Union of West African States) and the French Republic on the other hand. Just before France conceded to African demands for independence in the 1960s, it carefully organised its former colonies in a system of compulsory solidarity which consisted of obliging the African states to put 65% of their foreign currency reserves into the French Treasury, b ased on the convertibility, at a rigid exchange rate of the CFA – a currency France had created for them.  Gbagbo opposes French Colonial Pact According to President Gbagbo’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Koffi Charlse (Ouattara has since sent his own UN ambassador to New York), “the core of the problem in Cote d’Ivoire is a conspiracy by the French government to use any means necessary to remove Gbagbo from power because they think he is dangerous and inimical to their interests in Francophone Africa. But Gbagbo will not allow the French to control and run Cote d’Ivoire on their own terms.” Now form an objective opinion.

Africa the Cradle of Mankind! Who then are the African Diaspora?

The film presents the diverse histories and heritages stemming from the global tragedy of the slave trade and slavery. Through the compilation of images, historical narration, and interviews with experts from all the continents, the film shows how African slaves and their descendants, in contrast to incorrect racial theories, helped shape the modern world. The film's main objective is to give a global vision of the different dimensions of this tragedy and raise crucial questions regarding its consequences in modern societies in order to come to terms with this collective memory

2011 International Year for People of African Descent

UN Declaration- 2011 International Year for People of African Descent

Introduction

On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year beginning on 1 January 2011 the International Year for People of African Descent. The Year aims at strengthening national action and regional and international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent. This includes their full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights, their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and the promotion of a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture.

Around 200 million people who identify themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent. In proclaiming this International Year, the international community is recognising that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

The main objective of the Year is to raise awareness of the challenges facing people of African descent. It is hoped that the Year will foster discussions that will generate proposals for solutions to tackle these challenges.