The Breathtaking Courage of Harriet Tubman

As I have said previously, Harriet Tubman has always been an inspiration for me, from the time my mother first told me about her when I was a little girl.  

The above film gives us a glimpse of how amazing and remarkable she was.  

For wisdom from Harriet Tubman, go here for Geniuses of Transformation:  Wisdom from Harriet Tubman, and go here to see my short film, Harriet.  Her courage was truly breathtaking. 

For more uplifting and inspiring quotes, go here to download Treasures of the Geniuses of Transformation.  

Go here for more Black history blog posts. 

What do you find inspiring about Harriet Tubman?  Please leave your comments below and please share this with your networks.  Thanks. 

Escaping from Domestic Violence

Mercy Makinde was married in Nigeria at 17 to a man older than her own father.  She eventually managed to escape from her abusive marriage.  Mercy then founded her charity, The Amazing Amazon Initiative, which helps other women in similar situations to build new lives. 

Go here for my conversation with Mercy. 

Go here for readings from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.  

Go here for NVC resources.  

Go here for more from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2021.  

Spare the Rod, Love the Child

Naimah Latif

In today's blog post, Naimah Latif, Executive Producer of The Female Solution worldwide radio and TV network and the ON AIR worldwide radio and TV network, talks about her response to violence towards children.  I found this post very moving.  Go here to watch it.   

This is a very controversial subject.  How do you feel about violence against children? Do you "spare the rod"?  Or do you think this will "spoil the child"?  Please leave your comments below and please share this with your networks.  Thanks.  

Go here for more about how to parent using Nonviolent Communication (NVC) with Affirmations for Parents.  

 

 

Go here for readings from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.  

Go here for NVC resources.  

Go here for more from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2021. 

 

 

Chicago Officer Seen Manhandling Black Woman Faces 24 Misconduct Allegations

You have probably seen this story before, from Your Black World.  Chicago Officer Seen Manhandling Black Woman Faces 24 Misconduct Allegations.

This is the take on the same story from the Atlanta Black Star:  Should Not Be Policing the Streets.  

The long and the short of it is this:  A white, male police officer has been filmed manhandling Nikkita Brown, a Black woman,  late at night while she was walking her dog.  

The officer has not been named, but has been put on administrative leave.  As stated in the headline above, this is by no means the first such incident involving this officer. 

This is so disgusting.  And if you ever wanted to know why I hold the annual Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence, this is a clear example.  

We must learn to speak to each other and listen to each other with respect and empathy.  Empathy can prevent this kind of incident from occurring - when we have the skills.  

Plus check this out:  You about to Lose Yo Job.  This always tickles me. 

Go here for more blog posts from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2021.  

Go here for readings from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.  

Go here for NVC resources.  

What practical methods can you suggest for preventing violent incidents?  Please comment below and please share this post with your networks.  

 

Zhana in Conversation with Lama Rangdrol

Lama Rangdrol is one of just a handful of Black/African American Tibetan lamas.  In his film, Festival Cancelled due to  Heavy Rain (see below), he speaks about growing up in the 'hood during the 1960s, where as a young Black man he was hunted, and  his pilgrimage to Cambodia, where, at Angkor Wat, he found ancient African images that remain undamaged.  

The tiny Buddhist country of Cambodia was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War - a war in which the front line was called "Soulville" because there were so many young Black men fighting there. 

I was very privileged to speak with Lama Rangdrol, and he explained more here.  

Lama Rangdrol and his friends in the U.S., young Black men and women, faced a long list of seemingly insurmountable problems in what he terms the "urban killing zone".  He managed to escape; his friends all ended up dead or incarcerated.

Go here to watch Lama Rangdrol's film Festival Cancelled due to  Heavy Rain. 

What are your thoughts?  How long have young Black men been hunted by the police?  And why?  Please leave your answers below and please share this with your networks.  Thanks.  

Go here for readings from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.  

Go here for NVC resources.  

Go here for more from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2021.  

 

 

 

 

 

Some Recent Anniversaries

Olaseni Lewis

Recently, we have reached some crucial and tragic anniversaries:  

100 Years Since the Destruction of Black Wall Street.  

66 Years Since the Murder of Emmett Till.  July would have marked his 80th birthday.  

Meanwhile, this horrific roll call continues:  

 

Deaths of Olaseni Lewis and Sean Rigg.  Olaseni died in the UK in 2010, the same way as George Floyd, begging police officers to let him breathe.  Sean Rigg also died in London, in 2008.  

Go here for my show in which we asked:  Do Black Lives Really Matter? 

28 years since the death of Joy Gardner in London, UK.  

And these deaths keeps rolling on, on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Cressida Dick, Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police, states that "no one is above the law".  Really?  Really, Cressida? 

According to Wikipedia, Cressida Dick held senior roles in the force's diversity directorate, in anti-gang and anti-gun crime operations, and in counterterrorism operations before becoming Commissioner.  She was a Met Police officer at the time of the death of Joy Gardner.  The documentary-maker Ken Fero called for her resignation with regard to the death of Joy Gardner. 

We live in a world in which MP Dawn Butler was racially profiled and stopped by the police because they thought her car was registered outside London (which has yet to be made a criminal offence).   

We live in a world in which a Black mother states that it is "not hunting season" on Black people (again - really?).  

Last year (2020), a Metropolitan Police Officer was the subject of a criminal investigation after kneeling on Marcus Coutain's neck during a stop-and-search operation.  The officer will not face charges, nor will he face disciplinary action.  

Yet, as reported in the Guardian,  Cressida Dick has said that the Met has transformed and is no longer institutionally racist.  (Say it with me:  really, Cressida?  Really????)

We need to realise and understand that this is not just a problem in the U.S.  This is not just an American problem.  Black deaths in police custody are happening all over the world.  Black men, women and children are dying in police custody and those responsible are not facing justice.  

We MUST find solutions.  Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is one such solution.  

I have blogged about this issue many times, and I shall continue to do so.  Our communities need to be armed with the skills of NVC, which can help to PREVENT these types of crimes.  

Go her for more Black history blogs.  

Go here for Zhana's conversation with Ken Fero, the director of Injustice. 

Go here for Nonviolence and NVC Resources.  

What do you think is a possible solution?  Please comment below and please share.  Thanks.  

Go here for my show in which we asked:  Do Black Lives Really Matter?  

 

Success Strategies with Zhana: Do Black Lives Really Matter?

Joy Gardner

On my most recent show (see link below), we discussed the fact that Sarah Everard, a young white woman, was murdered by a serving police officer, a member of the Metropolitan Police.  His killer was recently sentenced to life imprisonment, which is an increase of his original 20-year sentence.  

Earlier this year, a vigil for Sarah was broken up by the police in a very heavy-handed way.  People, particularly women, are justifiably angered and appalled and Harriet Harmon MP has called for Cressida Dick's resignation. 

It's 28 years since Joy Gardner died in the custody of police and immigration officers.  But those involved in her death have never been prosecuted.  And nobody has held a vigil for Joy.  The documentary-maker Ken Fero called for Cressida Dick's resignation over the death of Joy Gardner.  Go here for my conversation with Ken. 

One rule for us, another rule for them. We discussed this on my recent show, Success Strategies with Zhana:  Do Black Lives Really Matter?  

PLUS:  

Go here for Black history blogs.  

Go here for African history blogs.  

This month marks the 10th anniversary of Black Cinema Club and they are showing loads of films to celebrate.  Go here for a list of the  film screenings this month.  

Do you believe Black lives really matter?  Please comment below and please share this blog with your networks.  Thanks.