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) 

On Writing, Measurements of productivity, Success, Growth and Sustainable Development

This post may be considered to be not well organized but really its a summary of all I need to say right now right before I move on into a new phase of my life fueled by a renewed energy & passion.  

Writing: 

The Lunatic by Anthny C Winkler (1987) 

Two days ago I was at the SALISES 50-50 at the Jamaica Pegasus and I was having a really interesting conversation with another young aspiring writer  and she told of a story she heard of Anthony C.  Winkler. She said Winkler when explaining his writing process shared that he woke up early each  day and devoted time to writing. He simply documented his ideas it did not matter if the material would be used or not but it deemed important to actually write. This is something aim to adopt. So for here on I will attempt to write a blog spot every other day. I always have ideas and things to share but I have been simply lazy. So I will take up an hour earlier and simply write. I have two short story fiction prose that are incomplete and I want to complete those stories. I have a deadline of October 24 for my deadline to produce those 2 stories. I also want to set time out to read more. I have a list of books that offers analysis of the internal and external  factors that influence  Caribbean socio-economic, cultural and political narratives. In order to clear through the chaos of mind and order my work I must read more. I must write more. I want to write true authentic honest and open stories about the Jamaican consciousness to infuse the histories I know and share the vibrant energies that I experience each and every day.    

Measurements of Productivity 

I need to set clear timelines and schedules and to mark my accomplishments. Thus far I feel that I have not given my energy to producing meaningful work that is tangible and so I am now drafting schedules to organize my work and set clear realistic goals. 

Success 

I do not believe there are formulas for success or that there are standard instruments to measure success for me my success will be determined when I truly happy when I am content with my health and fitness; saving;  investment and security; the creation of wealth

and building strong relationships with my family and friends. These are areas that I need to work on.  

Growth and Development 

As the excitement of the Jamaica 50 party and the 2012 London Olympics I think it is time for serious reflection and deliberations on the strategies necessary to move forward and attain sustainable development. 

Personally, I have been reflecting on my own growth and development, one where I am and where I am going. In 2008 I received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy from the University of the West Indies, Mona. This broad generalist study has enabled me to work within several areas from media to ethnographic research. However I need to know more. I applied and was accepted to the Centre for Development Environment and Policy (CeDEP) International Programmes to do a MSc. in Sustainable Development with focus on poverty reduction and rural development.  I seek to acquire knowledge in sustainable development best practices and most importantly the correct application application of these principles to build Caribbean rural communities. 

Change and Challenges

“What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.” -Buddha


I am in a transitioning phase and this quote expresses exactly where I am. 
I have been thinking about what I want and doing a lot of what I would do this if...


And now its time to start doing. 


In terms of  writing literary work I wrote a story in May and sent it in to Small Axe journal   I entered their Literary Competition so I can't share it here. But it felt good to write something and complete a piece and to actual share it and have it critiqued. I am looking forward to the outcome of that. 


I am also writing something else but the idea keeps shifting I have been writing since December 31 2010 I want to complete it and share it with you by the end of this September. 


This is a challenge to myself I have publicly stated what I am doing and my intention and so it is up to me to deliver on my commitments.   


I also want or rather I will at the end of September create a separate space/blog to share my stories and other forms of creative expressions as they come to me. 


Tomorrow I am back to being a Researcher and I happy and grateful for that. I enjoyed my three month stint in broadcast journalism but news writing is simply not for me. 


So my challenge to myself is to complete and share my story by the end of September and to complete my  academic research paper "Positioning Grandy Nanny as a Proponent of Black Power" by December 2011. 


And Happy Emancipation Day!

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.