Black books, African heritage books, mind/body/spirit, The Ancestral Energies Blog by Zhana, author of Success Strategies for Black People and Black Success Stories. African diasporic healing, health and wellness, and success.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Kwanzaa 2015 Celebrations
I also have background information on the origins and meaning of Kwanzaa. Enjoy!
Please share this with your networks.
Happy Kwanzaa!
Tuesday, December 08, 2015
The Real “Ferguson Effect”
Laquan McDonald |
Many young Black people believe they will die before they reach the age of 21.
We need to equip our young people - and adults - with the skills to be able to transform violent situations. NVC (Nonviolent Communication) is transformative. We need to be focusing on solutions.
For more about NVC, click here for my interview with Ike Lasater, author of From Conflict to Connection.
And this article about NVC.
Plus click here for books about NVC.
Check out the original article: This is the real “Ferguson effect”: Black death, white “safety” & the growing hopelessness among young people of color.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
The Argument-Free Marriage
Greetings, all. I just saw this great article, The Argument-Free Marriage. It links to the above video with Fawn Weaver.
What she is saying is very similar to what we do with NVC, but in NVC we would say, first connect with your own feelings and needs, then connect with the other person's and only then express your feelings and needs.
If you connect with the other person's feelings and needs, they are much more likely to be open to yours. This works in all different kinds of relationships, not just marriages.
Anyway, this is a great video. Enjoy!
Please share this with your networks and please leave a comment below.
Click here for more about NVC.
Monday, November 09, 2015
African History: Invasion 1897
My blog post, a review of the film Invasion 1897, was published on Africa on the Blog some time ago. Click here to read it.
You have probably heard of the Benin bronzes - artefacts which were stolen from Africa and added to collections around the world. Some of the Benin bronzes are on display in the British Museum.
The Benin bronzes contain the record of a people and its history and culture.
Invasion 1897 portrays the invasion and colonisation of Benin in West Africa in 1897. Benin was known for being a very advanced civilisation with its own unique culture. It is now part of Nigeria.
Click here to read my blog post. Please leave a comment on my blog, and please share this with your networks. Thanks.
For more about the devastating long-term effects of European colonisation on African countries, see: Black People in the First World War.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
8 Ways To Get POSITIVE Results
Derrick Hayes |
This blog post is part of the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2015.
(P) is for Pause. When you see something that is not right or in your best interests, stop before you proceed. Take a break and collect your thoughts so you can take the right actions. Always remember to pause for the cause.
(O) is for Own. When you own your own business. As an entrepreneur, it gives you more of an incentive to go to work. As an employee, you get taxed without having the benefits of being a sole proprietor where you can receive takes breaks .As a homeowner, you get takes breaks that you don’t get as a renter.
(S) is for Stay. One way to stay positive is to stay who you are. If you are already positive, remember to stay humble. Stay alert so that you will stay out of trouble.
(I) is for Include. When you plan an activity, invite other positive people to be a part of your event. The group can feed off each other. When one is in doubt another can help them out.
(T) is for Think. Keep grinning and winning by thinking like a winner and not a beginner. When situations come up again, think about how you made it through the last time.
(I) is for Improve. Analyze your life before others do. Take a class or even ask someone how you can get better. Seeing growth is a great way to look forward to a bright future.
(V) is for View. When others look for the worst in others, look for the best things that they bring to the table. See how you can turn negative into positive instead of keeping negative situations negative.
(E) is for Expect. Expect things to be positive in your life. When you hope for the best, things work out better for you. Keep expecting and protecting your dream to come true.
Each day, strive to be POSITIVE where you Pause, Own, Stay, Include, Think, Improve, View and Expect great results.
Friday, October 23, 2015
One Heart, One Cry
This blog post is part of the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.
Do not cry out for vengeance or justice.
Neither exist in this world of appearance.
Listen and understand
we are all nothing and everything
we are all one pulsing breathing heart.
Our blood flows like rivers to a
sea of violence we’ve created
with our thoughts, words
and actions strike like
axes destroying ancient trees.
Do not think yours is the only heart broken.
Do not think yours are the only eyes
blinded by tears that cannot stop
watching the life light fade from your child’s body.
No monopoly on grief exists.
No black privilege on pain
or Gazan Syrian or Israeli.
Who wrote a poem for the Nigerian girls
kidnapped and forced to be suicide bombers
for a shadow entity
given free reign by African and Western
governments.
I hear the sound of oil rigs and blasting of mines
Africa continues to be raped
and Gazans remain expendable pawns in
the ongoing power struggle between the West and
the Arabs who failed to achieve unity
an English man named Lawrence
fought for 100 years ago.
And here in the USA have we forgotten
the history of the police, always the servants
of the wealthy status quo?
Remember, police beat the heads of white
union organizers and imprison white people
seeking equality, justice, and peace.
Even theatre was called Communist when
ignorant elected “public servants” so decreed.
Police violence is inflicted with
hateful malice on black, brown,
red, and yellow people.
Know your history to create a new path.
We have an obligation to transform the world.
Time to create new stories.
We must unite with everyone’s
heart broken by grief from violence.
Our hearts are huge enough to forgive and to comfort.
Our minds vast potential holds solutions
to end bigotry, hatred, envy, greed,
pride, and ignorance.
This is a 21st century non-violent battle cry.
Let it begin now with our light
of courageous, caring consciousness.
For more poetry by Skywalker, see: http://
For more about her work, see: http://skywalkerpayne.com
Thursday, October 22, 2015
8 Books about NVC
For more about Success Strategies, check out my Black Success audios.
See also: War on the Black Community?
Click here for more books about NVC. Many of these are featured in the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.
If you have not read these, you need to add them to your reading list. Learn how you can connect with your own feelings and needs - and those of others - to bring about positive change.
Enjoy!
Please share this post with your networks.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Black Lives Matter - Is There an Age Gap?
Rev. Barbara Reynolds |
This blog is part of the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2015.
As I am sure you know, the Black Lives Matter Movement was born as a response to the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and other Black people for whose deaths no one has been convicted. Some older African Americans, such as Rev. Barbara Reynolds, question their methods. Latara Jones talks about the need for us to communicate across generations, and respect each other's experience and wisdom.
How can older and younger activists work together? How can we take responsibiity for the violence in our homes and families? Listen below.
Please share this with your networks, and please leave your comments below.
Click here for practical ways to move from conflict to connection.
Click here for more blogs from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Conversation with Karen Carrington and Reverend Sauls
Pastor Kelvin Sauls |
Can nonviolence offer us real solutions?
I recently spoke with Karen Carrington of Black Women for Positive Change, and Rev. Kelvin Sauls, Pastor of Holman United Methodist Church, Los Angeles, CA about the Week for Nonviolence 2015. You can hear our conversation below.
Rev. Sauls is originally from South Africa, where he experienced life under apartheid.
The Week for Nonviolence 2015 will be held October 17th-23rd. Please join us to help change the culture of violence worldwide.
Click here to listen to it.
Click here for the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.
Monday, August 17, 2015
War on the Black Community?
Militarised Police - Does This Reassure You? |
The Sowetan – Jumping the Border for Water
The Sowetan - Jumping the Border for Water |
Please share this with your networks. Thanks.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Global Networking for Black Business Owners
Click here to download More Black Success Volume 10, which includes interviews and articles by Black entrepreneurs and business experts on both sides of the pond including Melinda Emerson, Twitter's SmallBizLady. .
I am an African American woman based in London, and I meet people from all over the world. Many of us are facing similar difficulties and challenges. We have a shared history as African people and we have a great deal we can learn from each other.
In my More Black Success free ebooks and the What U Need to Know radio show which I used to co-present, our emphasis is on networking internationally as people of African heritage.
Click here for some of my Black Success audios, to help you build your business.
Historically, Black people have been taught to hate and mistrust each other as a way of controlling us. We need to overcome these barriers. We are all African people.
We are much stronger and more effective when we work together, for our common interests as African people.
Click here for a great way to grow your business globally.
Click here to listen to a short audio recap on African Networking.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Harriet: A Choreopoem
Check out this the short film based on an excerpt from my choreopoem, "Harriet", which depicts an imaginary meeting between Harriet Jacobs and Harriet Tubman. You can watch it above.
Plus "Harriet" is now available from the British Library. This is the audio recording of the full-length choreopoem; above is a video directed by Keely Augustus, based on a short clip.
Plus check out Soul Survivors: Slave Narratives by Women.
Please leave your comments below, and please share this with your networks. Thanks.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Cancer Journals Part 2
Gratitude - Cancer Journals |
Cancer Journal 6: What Are Angels? - I've been doing a lot of work with angels and I am finding this highly beneficial - even though I'm not sure what angels even are.
Cancer Journal 7: EFT for Releasing Fear - In addition to anger, I've been experiencing a lot of fear. Enormous, overwhelming fear. I am sure this is natural under the circumstances. And I have effective ways of dealing with it.
Cancer Journal 8: A Healing Process - I am an Angry Black Woman. What effect does this have on my health?
Cancer Journal 9: Managing the Pain - Or Not - I had a complete hysterectomy at the end of May. I just could not believe the amount of pain I was in afterwards.
Cancer Journal 10: Gratitude, Our Healing - Gratitude can be an incredibly strong experience.
Click here for more Cancer Journals.
590 Black Deaths in Police Custody
Marcia Rigg Protest about the Death of Sean Rigg, London |
These are just some of the many reasons why I am hosting the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2015.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Protecting Our Communities
Injustice Film on Deaths in Police Custody |
Listen below to my blog on Protecting Our Communities.
One of the challenges we are facing at present is the killing of Black people by the police and the authorities.
This is just one of the reasons why I wrote What They Don't Want Us to Know along with some of my other books. We need to find effective methods to address these problems.
Protecting Our Communities
See also: We Need Solutions that Work.
Check out The Root on deaths in police custody: Ronald Singleton
Monday, July 13, 2015
Your Silence Will Not Protect You
Alice Walker |
And remember what Audre Lorde said: "Your silence will not protect you. My silence will not protect me".
Our stories have been buried, distorted and misrepresented for too long. We need to know our history and we need to share it. It's time to tell the truth.
If you haven't done so yet, click here to download Why We Need to Heal now. Make sure your share this with your networks. And please leave your comments below.
Monday, June 29, 2015
First Day of Wimbledon
Serena Williams, Wimbledon Champion |
Let's celebrate these two amazing, powerful, strong and beautiful sistas who have broken so many boundaries and will ALWAYS be champions!
Monday, June 22, 2015
New Review of What They Don't Want Us to Know.
What They Don't Want Us to Know |
I wrote What They Don't Want Us to Know several years ago and I recently updated it. There is an urgency to this work, as more and more Black people are being killed by the police and the authorities (and, it seems, any random white person). Plus there are many other ongoing issues which affect our communities. For more about this, click here to download Why We Need to Heal, which is a free download. Our communities need practical, effective solutions.
Plus click here for your free sample chapter on Achieving Success.
Here's the review:
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Cancer Journals
The Cancer Journals |
Please leave your comments on my blog posts. Thanks. I have listed the first few blog posts below.
You may also be interested in this one: Why Are So Many of Our People Dying?
Cancer Journals
Cancer Journals
Cancer Journal 2: My Diagnosis
Cancer Journal 3: Shopping for Green Candles. Green is the colour of compassion, the colour of the heart, and the colour of health, growth and renewal.
Cancer Journal 4: Brain Freeze. What happens when you receive a cancer diagnosis?
Cancer Journal 5: An Angry Life. Black women have plenty to be angry about, But what are some of the health consequences of carrying a lot of anger?
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
Legendary Icon Anastacia
Brazilian icon Anastacia Escrava |
Check out this great blog post for more information.
Just one more reason Why We Need to Heal.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey on the Importance of History
Marcus Garvey |
To quote Malcolm X, History is a people's memory, and without a memory, man is demoted to the lower animals.
We have been fed many lies and distortions about our history in order to make us forget who we are. Our history has been marginalised, ignored and buried. It us up to us to dig it up, uncover it and share it.
Check out some of my recent Black history/African history blogs:
To find out about how Martin Luther Kind and Malcolm X influenced sci-fi movies, check out The Black History of the X-Men.
African History Film: Invasion 1897 - this links to some of my other African history blogs.
Please share these with your networks. And if you like my blog posts, please leave a comment. Thanks.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
The Black History of X-Men
Wesley Snipes as Blade |
How has Black history influenced science fiction and sci-fi movies? Listen below. (Scroll down.)
Listen below for more.
Click here for my Invasion 1897 blog.
Click here for my blog about Healing Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome.
Click here for The Black Blogger as Modern Griot.
Click here for Nurture Success Events.
It is so important that we share this information. Please share this with your networks.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Why Conflicts Don't Get Resolved
Why Conflicts Don't Get Resolved |
Saturday, January 17, 2015
MLK's "Lost" Newcastle Speech
MLK at Newcastle University |
He was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Civil Law by the university.
Recently, a rare film of the speech was discovered in the university's archives and was broadcast by the BBC. Click here to view the footage and read the text of his speech. Click here for some of the reactions of African Americans who recently heard this speech for the first time.
See also: MLK: Black Is Beautiful.
MLK: Black Is Beautiful
In Why We Need to Identify as Black, I argued that black is the most powerful colour in existence.
Martin Luther King said it and it still is true - Black is beautiful.
Please leave your comments below.
Thursday, January 08, 2015
Je Suis Charlie
Parliamentary members and staff Je Suis Charlie |
Actually, we have. Those of us who are committed to nonviolence appear to be in the minority, but that has to change or else the whole species is at risk of extinction. I mean this very seriously.
Nonviolent Communication gives us skills to relate to, and interact with, each other in a way that addresses everybody's needs. We can connect and communicate from the heart, and from our commitment to life, to life force energy.
I am leading an NVC session on Monday. I hope you will join us. Click here for more details.
I have blogged a lot about NVC on this blog and this one, so please search for more info.
Peace be with you.
Wednesday, January 07, 2015
Chris Rock Divorce
I'm deeply saddened to hear that Chris Rock has filed for divorce from his wife of 19 years. I'm sure you are, too.
What makes a relationship work?
Hollywood may have taken its toll on the marriage. Chris Rock compared marriage to shooting himself in the head. He also said that he had to bury his own personality once he got married.
A relationship, or any communication, works when both sides hear and respect each other's feelings and needs. NVC gives us the skills to do this.
Marshall Rosenberg, author of Nonviolent Communication, has referred to NVC as "making life more wonderful".
Whether you are single, in a couple, married, a parent - whatever your situation - you can use Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to transform your relationships. I will be leading a session in London on the 12th of January. Click here for more info. I hope you will join us.
Wishing you a wonderful 2015!
Tuesday, January 06, 2015
How to Transform Your Relationships
If you have read Success Strategies or my articles, blogs and ebooks, you know I am passionate about Nonviolent Communication. We can transform our relationships and our communication using NVC.
Whether you are single, in a couple, a parent, an employee, an employer, or a business owner, you can use NVC to make your life more wonderful.
I am delighted and privileged to be leading a session of the NVC Meetup group in London on Monday the 12th of January. Click here for details. I hope you can join us.
For more about how to use NVC to transform your relationships, click here for my ebook What They Don't Want Us to Know. Click here for Affirmations for Parents.