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.  

 

 

 

 

Six-Year-Old Girl Arrested

This six-year-old was arrested, taken out of her classroom and led away in handcuffs.

I have a lot to say about this.

First of all, I have blogged more about outrages against our Black children, and other children, here.

And here.

And here.  

My work is about solutions.  See below for solutions.  But right now, I need to vent.  I am just so upset.

Have you heard about the Black children who have committed suicide because of bullying?  And the mom who was banned from the school her daughter attends, because she she confronted her daughter's bullies?

And now this story.

One of the questions in my mind is:  What was going through this police officer's mind?  What was he thinking about when he went into the classroom, put handcuffs on this little girl, led her out of the building and put her in a police car?  What on earth was he thinking about?

He is a grown-ass man, arresting a six-year-old.  What is wrong with him? 

Also, who ordered a six-year-old to be arrested?  On what grounds?

Do these people even realise that they are part of a racist narrative?  Because this is the kind of thing that has been going on since slavery.  And in South Africa, remember in Soweto, they SHOT loads of children who were protesting against apartheid.

So what are these people thinking?

I am going to be blogging more about this soon.  But in the meantime, if you want some information about solutions, including Nonviolent Communication (NVC) which can  PREVENT this kind of thing from happening, go here for some NVC resources.

Please share this and please comment below. 

Children and Knife Crime

Knives Taken from Schoolchildren

Let's talk about solutions.  

In the news today, we learn about the increase in children bringing weapons into school, particularly knives.  

This is in the news now, but it is something I have been very concerned about for some time.  I am particularly concerned about violence within Black communities, but this is something that affects ALL communities.  Listen below for more.  



Click here for my interview with Ike Lasater.  

Click here for more blogs from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.  

Click here for blogs about how violence affects Black communities. 

Click here for Success Strategies for Black People.  

New Review of What They Don't Want Us to Know.

What They Don't Want Us to Know

I have just received a new review of my ebook, What They Don't Want Us to Know.  You can read it below. 

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: 

There are those in life that have a special calling, a calling that beckons us to seek out ways to enrich and improve their lives so that they may do the same for others. People such as this, with this burning desire in life, often find themselves in roles such as mentors, gurus, teachers, educators, and even parents. I myself am a parent and I have learned (be it the hard way) that in order for me to be able to be the best mother, the best sister, the best friend, the best daughter, and the best me I could be will require that I work towards improving myself in every aspect of my being.

We all want to have it all, but why does it seem so elusive and hard to obtain? Maybe it is because our whole lives, we have been living under the illusion that the key to our happiness lies in some external source, when in all actuality genuine, undying happiness sprouts forth from within.

What They Don’tWant Us to Know is a book that addresses those components of the lives of Black people - people of African heritage - that are most important in pursuing the best you. The chapters on Gratitude, Mindfulness, and Manifestation are only a few of the many nuggets of wisdom lent in this book that you can implement into your journey toward self-discovery. Learning how to release negative blockages, limiting beliefs, and fears were lessons I found to be highly beneficial to my overall wellbeing.

All of the information granted in this well-written, comprehensive guide will lead Black readers down a path towards lasting joy, peace, abundance, and prosperity in ways that are easy to implement into the busiest of lifestyles. I enjoyed the thoroughness of Zhana’s writing and the way she conveys a message of this complexity and proportion in an engaging and entertaining manner. Excellent read and I highly recommend this book to people of African heritage who strive to make positive change today for a better future tomorrow - for ourselves, for our families, for our communities and for humanity!

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! 

How to Transform Your Relationships

It's such a shame to hear that Chris Rock has filed for divorce.  It seems to have been have been a long time coming. 

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.

Why I Am Committed to Nonviolence

Listen below for my short audio on why I am committed to nonviolence.  

We must protect ourselves and our children.  We must end the violence.   

I wrote about Nonviolent Communication, NVC, in Success Strategies for Black People and in my new ebook, Affirmations for Parents.  

Click here for more information about the International Week for Nonviolence, 16th-23rd August 2014.  

Click here for details of the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence and how you can submit your blog.  

We can end the violence, we can save lives.  It's up to you, it's up to me.  It's up to us. 

More Books Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Zhana21 on BlogTalkRadio

Teen Murdered His Parents

I am sure you are shocked by this story.  I don't know what happened in this family, but it seems clear that there was a serious breakdown.  16-year-old Vincent Parket murdered his parents. 

Teen Murdered Parents for Taking Away His iPod

When we see an appalling story like this, we need to think about what we can learn from this.  If we don't listen to our children, the results can be tragic.  They are rarely this tragic.  But we MUST help young people - and parents - to find nonviolent solutions. 

I talk about nonviolent solutions in my new ebook, Affirmations for Parents.  

See also:  Which Children Are Most Likely to Bring Weapons to School? 

Why Focus on History?

It was lovely to see several young people at the Black History Studies event the other night, "Slavery Is Not Our History".   More about this event soon. 

One young man asked the important question (and I am paraphrasing):  given the pressures on young people today, what is the point of focusing on history? 

As you can imagine, there was a lot to say about this. 

Mark Simpson of BHS referred to Sankofa:  in order to move forwards, you have to look backwards.  In order to know where we are going, we need to know where we have been. 

Charmaine Simpson, also of BHS, pointed out that many of the issues we face today originated in the enslavement of our ancestors.

I talked about the importance of identity.  Without knowledge of our history and of who we are, it is easy for us to become confused.  

Click here for more Black history events.  

Click here for even more Black history events, with Black History Studies and London Black History Walks. These events are held year-round. 

It is vital that you share this information with young people and parents. 

And always, always Remember Your Greatness.  

Resources for Black Parents

Free online activities for children, crafts, make a kinara, African recipes, plus books and resources for parents - get all this and more from the new Black Holiday Gifts Guide 2009. Click here to download it now.

Positive Cultural Reinforcement for African American Parents

How do African American people shop for gifts?

Probably the same way everyone else does.

But on top of all the other considerations, African American people often want to find gifts which are culturally relevant for us and our children.

Christmas and Kwanzaa provide excellent opportunities for positive cultural reinforcement.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

Click here for my free guide to Black holiday gifts.

Barack Obama: African American Success Story

Barack Obama is one of the most important African American successful role models in history.

People all over the world are still celebrating Barack Obama's election victory. Of course, for African American people, this success has particular significance.

What can African American people learn from his success?

To read the rest of this article, click here.