White Husband Kills His Black Wife

This is one of those horrible stories I am seeing more and more of these days.  I am adding this to my collection entitled, "Do Black Lives Really Matter?". 

A white man has been sentenced to 72 years for killing Jenean Chapman, his Black wife.  Go here to read more.  

 I hate these stories.  I hate reading them and I hate blogging about them.  But I do it for a reason - the violence has to stop.  And we have the powe to make it stop.  

Violence is preventable.  This is why I host the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence every year.  We can PREVENT violence.  We can PREVENT domestic violence.  And you can help.   

Go here for more about Nonviolent Communication (NVC).  

Go here  for my review of the book Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg.  

Go here for more from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2025.  

To be clear, the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence is open to EVERYONE who is committed to nonviolence and peace.  

You can make a difference.  We can all make a difference.  

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Please leave your comments below.  

 

 

Review of 369 Manifestation Journal for Black Women

 

I read this book out of curiosity. It looks great, it’s a good size, and I like the cover and the line drawings inside.  I like the way it has been produced.  Sometimes self=published books are not produced to a high standard, but this one has been.  

This is a workbook on using affirmations.  Each day, there is a new affirmation.  Each page has ample space for writing out your affirmations.

The author, Limitless Abundance, favours the 3-6-9 method of writing an affirmation three times in the morning, six times in the afternoon and nine times in the evening.  She states that this approach is based on numerology.

I know nothing about numerology and have no experience of using the 3-6-9 method so, who knows?  It might be highly effective.  I do know a lot about affirmations, though, and have written three books about them myself.  One thing I know is, they really work.  

The book contains beautiful affirmations - one for each day as well as monthly ones.  For example:

I AM A BROWN SKIN BEAUTY WHO KNOWS HER WORTH.

I POSSESS INNER BEAUTY, STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE.

I AM FREE TO CREATE THE LIFE I DESIRE TO LIVE.

I AM POWERFUL, MELANATED AND

CAPABLE OF RUNNING MY WORLD.

You will notice all of the affirmations are in the present tense, which is the way to do it. I wasn't too sure about the ones for turning around negativity, though.  I was always taught to stick to positive language when using affirmations.  

One problem I have with the book is that, as it is a low-content book, it does not go into any detail about working with affirmations.  In my experience, and that of the hundreds of students I have worked with, when we start to use affirmations or, indeed, make any move of positive progress towards a goal, we immediately become aware of what is getting in the way.  This often shows up as resistance. 

So, for example, we start thinking, “I don’t believe the affirmations”, “this isn’t going to work”, or something similar.  Or we find other things to do that stop us from doing our affirmations.  Or we just don’t want to use the process anymore.

It would be great if she went into this more, and gave us information on how to address this very common problem.  Actually, although it feels like a problem, it’s really just part of the process.

Another criticism I have is that the author doesn’t talk about the healing process.  She has a few affirmations about letting go of the past, but this often requires deeper work.

Many, perhaps most, people have been through trauma at some point in our lives.  Black people have experienced specific types of trauma, and our trauma is often inter-generational, meaning we pass it on from one generation to the next until we heal it  This book does not and cannot address this, and I think it is vital to do so if we are serious about manifesting what we want.

Final verdict: This is a lovely book which, although it has some limitations, may help you with your manifestation process.

Go here for my video:  What Are Affirmations?    

Please share/comment.  Thanks.  

 

Exiled to Poland for 28 Years

George Lee, Windrush Scandal Survivor

When George Lee approached MPs and the UK Home Office for help with his immigration status, they failed to assist him.  This was in 2018, when the Windrush scandal was emerging.  

Mr. Lee was among the thousands of British citizens from Africa and the Caribbean who had lived in Britain since childhood, but were misidentified as illegal immigrants after the Home Office destroyed their immigration documents.  Mr. Lee was working as a teacher in Poland at that time.  

Last November, he approached Desmond Jaddoo, a Windrush campaigner in Birmingham, who helped him to access the assistance he needed to return home.  He still has not received the pension payments which he was entitled to claim from the time he turned 65, eight years ago.  

Mr. Lee reckons there are many more people stuck in different countries who have not been able to return to Britain, and are largely unknown.  They continue to be ignored by the UK government unless they receive help from campaigners like Mr. Jaddoo, as the Home Office appears to be deaf to their pleas.  

Mr. Lee is now struggling to adjust to life in his home country, which he has not seen for nearly 30 years.  Go here to read more.   

 

 

Labour Search for Candidate for Diane Abbott's Seat

The Guardian reports that moves to find a successor to Diane Abbott in the parliamentary seat she has represented since 1987 are under way, prompting concern a decision has already been made regarding her membership of Labour before an investigation into her latest suspension has concluded.   Go here to read more.  

Diane Abbott was suspended from the Labour Party again over her remarks about racism.  

I expect she is considering joining Jeremy Corbyn's new party.  

As we all know, the racism and discrimination experienced by those of us who have Black and brown skins, i.e. those who are identifiable as Black, Asian or brown-skinned people,  is different from discrimination experienced by those who have white skin, including Irish people and some Jewish people.  

She was first elected to Pariament in 1987, before which time she had been a local councillor for many years.  After Tony Blair's "New Labour" election victory in 1997, she was considered to be one of "Blair's Babes".  

Ms. Abbott, the Mother of the House (longest-serving female MP), has been suspended for stating what is blatantly obvious.  

Go here to read more.  

Diane Abbott, the first Black woman ever to be elected to the House of Commons, is one of the achievers I interviewed in Black Success Stories.  

 

Is Russell T. Davies Woke?

Freema Agyeman

In this article, Russell T. Davies states that what others call diversity he calls an open door. 

The term "woke" originated from African American communities.  The meaning of "woke" is to treat groups of people and members of those groups - including African Americans - who have been oppressed, marginalised, exploited and disrespected with respect and equality of opportunity.  It is closely related to diversity and inclusion. 

I agree with Storm Huntley and Dr. Who actress Varada Sethu about this - woke can only be a good thing.  Why should wokeness be a problem?  It's only a problem for those who have a problem with diversity and inclusion.  

Lincoln, in his Gettysburg Address, described the U.S. as a nation "conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal".  The fact that he said this in the middle of a war which was essentially about slavery and abolition is a stark contrast to those words.  

 

 

Ncuti Gatwa

However, and I've said this before in various forums, anybody who is anti-woke is anti-Black, anti-women, anti-gay, anti-Latino and anti-any oppressed and/or marginalised group.  

So, is Russell T. Davies woke?  Let's look at his record.  

He wrote two brilliant dramas about gay life - Queer as Folk and, more recently, It's a Sin.  He, again brilliantly, revived Dr. Who and created two new spinoffs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.  

According to my (fading) memory, in Dr. Who, he put Black people in Dickensian London (they were there, but we very rarely see them), on the moon, in Victorian Scotland, and many other places including distant planets.  Lots of these episodes and series included Black/African Caribbean, Asian and gay characters.  Plus he gave us great storylines and great acting, which have not always been on offer from Dr. Who. 

David Tennant's Doctor had, at one time, a Black companion, Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones.  And, of course, we now have Ncuti Gatwa as a Black Doctor.  

Davies also gave us a Christmas episode featuring Kylie Minogue which was not woke, just fun.  

When Jodie Whittaker hit the headlines as the first female Doctor, this attracted a huge amount of disapproval and even outrage.  Why?  I understand the same thing happened when the brilliant (there's that word again) re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica featured a female pilot, Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck.  

That reaction is what is called "misogyny".  

Jodie Whittaker's previous role as a nurse impersonating a doctor in Trust Me was much more far-fetched.  

In case you were wondering, I am a huge sci-fi buff.  Always have been.  Deal with it.  

Woke is a good thing.  And yes, Russell T. Davies is woke.  

 

Activity Report on the Training Workshop in at Mtima Village (Malawi) on Gender-Based Violence

Workshop on Gender Violence in Malawi

When the Week of Nonviolence (now the Month of Nonviolence) first started, it was very focused on activities and events in the U.S.A.  I had to keep reminding us that violence happens everywhere, and that Black Women for Positive Change is a global movement. 

I am delighted that we are now receiving reports on activities during the Month of Nonviolence from further afield, including Nigeria and this one from Malawi.  Sisters, we stand united with our brothers in our commitment to nonviolence and peace.  

You may also be interested in this interview with Mercy Mekinde, a Nigerian woman who helps women escape from domestic violence.  

Harmony for Families and Communities have held a workshop in Malawi on gender-based violence.  

I will not reproduce the entire report here, but I have focused on some of the highlights.  You can request a copy of the full report from harmonyforfamiliesandcommuniti@gmail.com 

Brief Background

Harmony for Families and Communities (HFC) is a local Malawian organization based in Zomba and started operating in March 2021.

Harmony for Families and Communities supports various women, girls and child focused initiatives through a holistic approach that makes it able to cover different challenges that affect their development in the community. This approach identifies and addresses both mental and physical needs that are essential for a healthy future generation.

All projects and programs that HFC initiate are designed in a way that the direct beneficiaries are women, girls and children.  This is what is needed to bring about positive change.  

41 participants attended the workshop.  It was led by local officials.  

Event Key Highlights

Participants demonstrated increased understanding of the distinction between gender and sex, gender-based violence forms (physical, emotional, economic, negligence and psychological). 

Facilitators provided information on reporting procedures and mechanism such as the toll free numbers (116), support services like the One Stop Centre and legal recourse like the Protection Order, Whistle Blowing

Participants discussed cultural practices and societal attitudes that perpetuate gender-based violence such as women shielding their husbands, the silence culture and beliefs that men are the ones that are breadwinners. 

Participants discussed the dangers, implications and the legal framework of gender-based violence such as the Constitution of Malawi (Chapter 4), The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, The 50, 50 Campaign, The Child Protection Act, and The Penal Code among others.  

Community members identified local gender-based violence hotspots and pledged to establish a community watchdog committee.

Challenges and Lessons Learnt 

 Limited time for in depth discussions 

• Need for sustained follow up and support 

•  Importance of involving local leaders and traditional authority

For a copy of the full report, please contact Harmony for Families and Communities at harmonyforfamiliesandcommuniti@gmail.com 

 

Well done, sistas and brothas!  You should be very proud of the work you have done.  Keep up the good work!  

Go here for more from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2024. 

 

 

How the Holocaust Began

Shark Island Death Camp

I have just watched a BBC documentary called How the Holocaust Began, written and presented by James Bulgin, an historian at the Imperial War Museum.  Unfortunately, the link may not be live for much longer, so check it out while you can. 

The details of the killings of Jews and others in Eastern Europe, and the true extent of those killings, is only just beginning to emerge.  Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people were shot, their bodies thrown into trenches, after the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union.  This method of murdering peple ultimately proved unsustainable, as the people doing the killing started to experience mental health issues due to the stress involved.  The Nazis' goal was to wipe out all Jews in Europe. 

The work of those researching this history is vital.  Having said that, in the documentary, there was no mention of the fact that the first German death camp, known as "Shark Island", began operations around 1906 in Namibia, South West Africa.  It has been referred to as the blueprint for what the Nazis did later.  So it could be said that that was how the Holocaust began.. 

When uncovering history that has been buried, it is essential to tell the whole story, not just part of it.  

I learned about Shark Island from presentations at the Imperial War Museum by Tony Warner of London Black History Walks.  Go here to read my review of Brother Tony's first book, Black History Walks in London Volume 1.  

Go here for a report on the Shark Island extermination camp.  

The Holocaust is one huge example of why we must learn ways to get along together harmoniously, why we must learn to communicate nonviolently.  What is at stake is genocide.  What is at stake is the survival, or destruction, of our species. 

Go here for more from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2024.  

Riots in the UK - The Current Crisis

Rioting at a Hotel in Rotherham

We have been through one crisis after another over the past few years.  

Currently, riots are sweeping the UK.  They are linked with racism, Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment  promoted and spready by far-right groups. Hotels that house refugees and asylum seekers are being attacked and set on fire.  

In some cases, people from anti-racist groups are confronting the rioters. 

I recently posted about global conflict.  However, the violence has come home. This is very frightening for those of us living in the UK.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) has a vital part to play, although I personally think its main impact is more about prevention.  But it has been used effectively in situations of extreme violence.  

Go here for more about NVC.  

And go here for my FREE worksheet for parents.  Parents have a vital role to play in preventing and ending the violence. 

NVC is based on empathy, which is about listening.  

We need to understand the causes of the violence.  People are very angry and have been for years now.  Certain groups and certin politicians are whipping up the anger.  

Why are these people so angry?  Because they think they have not been listened to.  They think they have been ignored by the powers that be, and at last, the violence is exploding.  

We must have meaningful dialogue if we are going to put an end to the violence.  

Go here for The Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2024.