Happy Kwanzaa, everybody.
Kwanzaa is a festival which is observed from December 26 through January 1. This is a time for people of African heritage to focus on traditional African values including family, community responsibility, creativity and faith. The word Kwanzaa means "first fruits" in Swahili.
Celebrating Kwanzaa helps us to build our self-esteem and confidence. To read more, see Kwanzaa - Celebrating Traditional African Values.
Click here for listings of Kwanzaa events. I've got events all over the UK, as well as Paris and the U.S.A.
Click here for books about Kwanzaa and lots more. Click here in the UK.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Day of Blogging for Justice against Taser Torture
I did not blog on the Day of Justice this time because I feel all blogged-out about this issue. I want to focus more on solutions rather than dwelling on the problem.
Having said that, I fully support my fellow AfroSpear members in their continued work around this issue. Their blogging around this issue is highly important in raising awareness and mobilising and galvanising for action. Unfortunately, we will probably have to keep having these Days of Justice until real change occurs.
I am a Buddhist. I am against all violence on principle. I am also aware that it is perfectly possible (although often not easy) to find nonviolent means to end conflicts. Where there's a will, there's a way. To read more of my thoughts about this, see my previous blog: Ending the Violence through a Creative Response.
See also: Healing Our Communities.
Some of the blogs of note on this most recent Day of Blogging for Justice include:
So when will the cops start using tasers in Beverly Hills?
Tasering of another 10-year-old Black Women in Europe: Stop Taser Torture
Purple Zoe: Ban Taser Torture Eddie Griffin: Stop Taser Torture
Lots more are listed at AAPP's blog Stop Taser Torture.
Check them out and add your voice if you would like to - this is an ongoing issue.
Having said that, I fully support my fellow AfroSpear members in their continued work around this issue. Their blogging around this issue is highly important in raising awareness and mobilising and galvanising for action. Unfortunately, we will probably have to keep having these Days of Justice until real change occurs.
I am a Buddhist. I am against all violence on principle. I am also aware that it is perfectly possible (although often not easy) to find nonviolent means to end conflicts. Where there's a will, there's a way. To read more of my thoughts about this, see my previous blog: Ending the Violence through a Creative Response.
See also: Healing Our Communities.
Some of the blogs of note on this most recent Day of Blogging for Justice include:
So when will the cops start using tasers in Beverly Hills?
Tasering of another 10-year-old Black Women in Europe: Stop Taser Torture
Purple Zoe: Ban Taser Torture Eddie Griffin: Stop Taser Torture
Lots more are listed at AAPP's blog Stop Taser Torture.
Check them out and add your voice if you would like to - this is an ongoing issue.
Small Island
As I'm sure you know, tonight, the BBC is screening the first part of A Small Island, the beautiful, lyrical piece based on the novel by Andrea Levy. I was privileged to view this when Brother Tony screened it at the Imperial War Museum during Black History Month. He will be screening it again next year, when the producer will be present. I urge you to watch it either on TV or at the museum, or preferably both.
Click here for the next Black history events with Tony Warner. He holds them every month - not just in October!
Click here for loads of books about Black history and Black achievers.
Black Victims of the Germans and the Nazis from 1904 Onwards
I attended another excellent Black history presentation with Tony Warner at the Imperial War Museum yesterday.
Black Victims of the Nazis traced the history of the atrocities committed by the German military and settlers in Namibia from 1904 onwards.
One important point which Brother Tony emphasised is that the atrocities committed by the Germans against African people set the stage for the Holocaust and significantly influenced postwar events.
In order for us to heal ourselves, our families, our communities and our world, we need to know our history. See also: The Importance of History.
For future events with Tony Warner, see London Black History Walks.
See also: Small Island.
In my book Black Success Stories Volume 1, I interviewed Len Garrison, founder of the Black Cultural Archives in South London. He describes how, when Black people in the 1970s started offering to donate their artefacts to museums, they were told "We are not collecting this type of material". So, off his own bat and without any funding or training in this area, he set up the Black Cultural Archives.
Click here for more information and to buy Black Success Stories.
For more books about Black history and Black achievers, go to African American Holiday Shopping.
Black Victims of the Nazis traced the history of the atrocities committed by the German military and settlers in Namibia from 1904 onwards.
One important point which Brother Tony emphasised is that the atrocities committed by the Germans against African people set the stage for the Holocaust and significantly influenced postwar events.
In order for us to heal ourselves, our families, our communities and our world, we need to know our history. See also: The Importance of History.
For future events with Tony Warner, see London Black History Walks.
See also: Small Island.
In my book Black Success Stories Volume 1, I interviewed Len Garrison, founder of the Black Cultural Archives in South London. He describes how, when Black people in the 1970s started offering to donate their artefacts to museums, they were told "We are not collecting this type of material". So, off his own bat and without any funding or training in this area, he set up the Black Cultural Archives.
Click here for more information and to buy Black Success Stories.
For more books about Black history and Black achievers, go to African American Holiday Shopping.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
1st of December, Rosa Parks
On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white person. Her reason? "I'm tired". So began a revolution.
Click here to read more.
Click here for details.
Every day, ordinary people do extraordinary things.
Click here for loads of books on Black history and Black achievers.
See also: The Importance of History.
Click here to read more.
Click here for details.
Every day, ordinary people do extraordinary things.
Click here for loads of books on Black history and Black achievers.
See also: The Importance of History.
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