Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Giving Up the Weed

Actor and rapper J Rock of Big Brovas fame has been smoking marijuana for 14 years and is desperate to give up.

This blog has moved to:

http://ancestralhealing.blogspot.com/2006/02/giving-up-weed_20.html

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Black History Films

100 Black Men of London are holding several film screenings including:
  • Black History Films on Wednesday 15th February
  • The Marcus Garvey Story on Saturday 18th February
  • The Olaudah Equiano Story on Saturday March 4th

For more details, click here.

See also: Black History: AntiSlavery Resources

Cross-Community Forum + Rendezvous of Victory

Keywords: Black Film, Black History, African Caribbean UK

Friday, February 10, 2006

BLACK ENTERPRISE ANNOUNCES LIST OF 50 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS

By Delroy Constantine-Simms

Two Chairwomen and 11 CEOs Highlight List, But Playing Field Still Not Level

In February's Black Enterprise, "The 50 Most Powerful Women in Business." Featured are Starcom MediaVest Group CEO Renetta McCann; Verizon Senior VP Jerri DeVard; and BET Chairwoman, President and CEO Debra L. Lee.

BLACK ENTERPRISE (BE) President & CEO Earl "Butch" Graves Jr. has announced the publication's list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business, as featured in the magazine's February 2006 cover story. The list includes two chairwomen, 11 CEOs and 13 presidents, representing the top echelon of women in business. The final tally was culled from hundreds of potential candidates across numerous industries-including the finance, food/beverage, media, entertainment, communications, and government sectors. The final 50 have authority over budgets totaling billions of dollars and control subsidiaries, divisions, or departments that affect the fiscal health and direction of their businesses. They range from senior managers of multinational corporations to founders of some of the nation's largest black-owned businesses.


While the complete list totals 50 women - the largest number to appear on similar lists compiled by BE in 1991 and 1997 - there remains a lack of African American women in the C-suite. Despite the progress women executives have made, recent data finds that an abysmal 1.1% of black female executives reach corporate officer or top-earner status (Source: Catalyst, 2005). "While we're glad to see our list nearly double since 1991, the fact that there remain few African American women in the C-suite shows that corporate America can do much more to help close the gaps," said Graves. "The powerful women on our list, including cover subjects Jerri DeVard, Renetta McCann, and Debra L. Lee, clearly demonstrate that American businesses need contributions from a diverse group to remain a vital, competitive force in the global economy."

About the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business List:

Over a six-month period, editors from BE reviewed biographies, resumés, and conducted interviews with hundreds of potential candidates. All candidates were judged based on the following criteria: the extent to which her clout inside the company has a direct impact on revenues, profitability, product development, and brand position; the scope of her career; her ability to influence the direction of major corporations, nonprofits, and institutions through board membership; her unfettered access to the CEO, top management, and corporate board; and her industry-wide reputation. Women who hold positions in diversity, human resources, legal affairs, corporate communications, and other staff management areas were not eligible.

Delroy Constantine-Simms Think Doctor Psychology Assessments

Tel: 44 (0) 870 1619825Cell: 44 (0) 7946 836 305

SERVICES OFFERED
1)Diversity and Equality Training
2)Cultural and Organizational Climate Auditing/Surveys
3)Diversity Management Surveys
4)Work Place Investigations (Harassment and Bullying)
5)Psychometric Testing
6)Personality Profiling



Copyright 2006 Delroy Constantine-Simms
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Download Black Success Stories today: www.black-success.com

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Black Progress: The Best Kept Secret in America

Actually, although I am glad to see this progress happening, it is no more than we deserve - Zhana

By Delroy Constantine-Simms

Over the 1990s, there was a 30 percent decline in the black poverty rate, and, in 2000, the black poverty rate reached its lowest point ever recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau. Along with the decline in the numbers of blacks in poverty, there were significant increases in the numbers of blacks in the middle and upper classes. For example, between 1994 and 2004, the number of black households earning $100,000 or more a year tripled.

The decline in black poverty and the growth of the black middle class has been missed by many. The black legal scholar Derrick Bell, for example, claims that today there is a large racial underclass and precious few blacks in the middle and upper classes. The important black public intellectual, Henry Louis Gates Jr., argues, The 60's generation now seems to be presiding over the permanent entrenchment of a vast black underclass.

The current issue of the Thora Institute's Black Directions report on The Size and Politics of the Black Middle Class shows conclusively that the assertions by Bell and Gates are false. Although black public intellectuals are repeatedly claiming that there is a crisis of bad values and behaviors in black America, there is little evidence to support these claims.

In addition to the positive news about black poverty and the black middle class, the current issue of Black Directions discusses other positive developments in black America around out-of-wedlock births, teenage pregnancy and crime over the 1990s that have been missed by the black pundits.

Contact
www.thorainstitute.com

Delroy Constantine-Simms Think Doctor Psychology Assessments

Tel: 44 (0) 870 1619825 Cell: 44 (0) 7946 836 305

SERVICES OFFERED

1)Diversity and Equality Training
2)Cultural and Organizational Climate Auditing/Surveys
3)Diversity Management Surveys
4)Work Place Investigations (Harassment and Bullying)
5)Psychometric Testing
6)Personality Profiling



Copyright 2006 Delroy Constantine-Simms
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Download Black Success Stories today: www.black-success.com

Thursday, January 26, 2006

African Americans above the Norm

Great advice from African Americans at the top of their occupations. This article aboout survivors of corporate America gives suggestions on how to survive and thrive within an organisation and thus is of interest to anyone - not just those wishing to join the corporate world.

Click here to read it.

See also:

Black Success Stories.

www.black-success.com

Sell Black Success Stories.

http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/sell-black-success-stories.html

Success in Black America


http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/success-in-black-america.html

Key words: African American, corporate America, Black Success Stories, careers, business





Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Martin Luther King + Black History Links

Here is an article about Martin Luther King and living your dreams: http://upscalebrothers.com/article_read.asp?id=28

Here is a new site that celebrates Black history:

Black History Pages
http://www.black-history-pages.org.uk/

Here is an article about Celebrating Black Heroes and Sheroes:
http://www.redbridgereview.co.uk/bhp/html/zhana.html

Friday, January 06, 2006

The Blood - The Artist and the Legacy of Enslavement and Emancipation


Enslavement has affected people of African heritage emotionally and psychologically. What are the implications of this for our artistic and creative expression?

We will be holding this event to examine the relationship between Black/African Diasporic history and the arts at
Yaa Asantewa Arts Centre.

Saturday 29th April 2006.

This event will include:


  • Speakers
  • Panel discussion
  • Film
  • Poetry/Spoken Word
  • Music

For more info, click here.

To read the poem The Blood, click here.

Funded by the Arts Council of England.

See also: 2007 Commemoration, The Roots of the Atlantic Slave Trade

Keywords: Black Arts, Black History, Enslavement, Emancipation, 2007 Commemoration


Wednesday, December 28, 2005

The African American Apprentice

Donald Trump Hires African-American Randal Pinkett as the Next Apprentice

BY DELROY CONSTANTINE-SIMMS

Seasoned entrepreneur and new reality-TV star trumps the competition for the Donald's Trump's latest gigA lifelong entrepreneur, Randall Pinkett, at just 34, has gone from running nickel lemonade stands to a multimillion-dollar consulting firm,
BCT Partners, a multi-million dollar management, technology and policy consulting firm based in Newark, N.J., that works with corporations, government agencies, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Pinkett discussed his decision to apply for NBC's The Apprentice, and shared some success stories and advice.

To read this interview, visit:
http://www.blacksuccess1.com/randalpinkett.htm

Click here to read an article about success in Black America.

Or visit:

http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/success-in-black-america.html

Keywords: Black Success Stories, African American, The Apprentice

Monday, December 19, 2005

NVC – How to Get our Needs Met


Many of us think “I shouldn’t use hurtful language” because “nice people don’t say or think these things”. Some of us may even think, “I am a bad person because I say/think these things”.

Marshall Rosenberg, the creator of Creative Communication/NVC, says, and I truly believe, that everything we do is done in order to try to get our needs met.

Everything anybody does is done in order to try to get their needs met. Or, to use Marshall’s definition of “needs”, everything we do and everything anybody does, is done in order to connect with life.

The problem is that the strategies people use to get their needs met are often not life-affirming.


To read more about NVC, visit: Nonviolent Communication. For workshops for Black parents, visit Improving Communication.

To order your copy, visit: Nonviolent Communication.

To read about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), visit: http://ancestralhealing.blogspot.com/

For lots more information about life-affirming methods to help you ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS and TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE, order Success Strategies for Black People.

If you are beating yourself up, giving yourself a hard time, or not achieving your goals, you need this book.

For ongoing support and advice, join Nurture Success - for ALL people of African heritage.

Click here to read more about Creative Communication.

See also NVC vs. Anger Management and Self-Love, Self-Respect.




Monday, December 12, 2005

Kwanzaa Listings

I am going to be listing Kwanzaas here. I will keep updating this list, so please come back!

If you want to find out more about Kwanzaa, click on the "Ancestral Energies" link on the left.

* * * * *

This year is our 10th Anniversary of hosting Kwanzaa!

AUAF’s 2005 Kwanzaa Celebration

LONDON

Monday 26th December (Umoja)

5 p.m. to 11 p.m,
African Caribbean Cultural Centre,
9 Clarendon Road, London N.8
(junction of Wightman Road and Turnpike Lane)
Nearest tube Turnpike Lane (Piccadilly Line).
Buses: 144A, 41, W2.

Bristol

Wednesday 28th December (Ujima)
Malcolm X, Centre, 141 City Rd, St Pauls, Bristol BS2
3:00pm.

Info: 0117 951 6836/07747 462 404

Birmingham
Thursday 29th December (Kujichagulia)

12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
47-50 Hockley Hill
Birmingham B18 5AR
(0121) 554 2747

Wolverhampton
Friday 30th December (Nia)
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Dunstall Hill Community Centre
Dunstall Ave.
Wolverhaptom
Whitmore, REANF
(07956) 447 576

Manchester
Sunday 1st January 2006 (Imani)
4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
West Indian Centre
74 Carmoor Rd.
Manchester M13 0FB
(07988) 20918

* * * * *


« COMING SOON « COMING SOON « COMING SOON « COMING SOON «

The BIGGEST Kwanzaa in the UK:

Alkebu-Lan Kwanzaa
Tues 27th December ‘05
3pm-10pm
@
York Hall, Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, London E2

Admission: FREE (Contributions welcome)

Info: 020 8539 2154 / 07957 376 328 / soulforce@yahoo.co.uk

* * * * *

Da Chillout Spot Kwanza Special…
Saturday 07/01/06 @ The Nub

Excellent performances in Poetry and Songs

Great Food and excellent music

Beautiful people with positive vibes

Only £5

More Info:
www.thenub.org.uk/chillOut00.htm

www.ticketweb.co.uk

* * * * *


Books make an excellent gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa for all the family. We have loads of books about Kwanzaa, inspiration and spirituality.

For more details,
click here or visit:http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/black-books-for-xmas-and-kwanzaa.html

Keywords: Kwanzaa, gifts, Black books







Monday, December 05, 2005

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is one of the best-loved African American poets and writers. Her autobiographies have inspired millions of readers.

“Still I Rise” is one of my favourite poems of hers.

Still I Rise


You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise

I rise
I rise.

To buy poetry books by Maya Angelou,
click here.


See also, Black Books.

http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/black-books-for-xmas-and-kwanzaa.html

Keywords: Maya Angelou, Poetry, African American, Xmas, Kwanzaa, Gifts, Black Books

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Healing and Transformation through Using EFT

I have recently discovered Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a technique which is meant to help with healing or eliminating a wide range of physical and psychoemotional difficulties. This blog has moved to http://ancestralhealing.blogspot.com/

For details of more techniques for emotional, physical and financial healing, send an e-mail to: info@blacksuccess1.com




Friday, November 25, 2005

Racial Equality + Education

Educationalists call for racial equality to be part of the education system.

Racial equality should become part of the curriculum in schools or universities, in order for the race relation policy to become effective, say Ofsted.

Click here for details.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Black Books for Xmas and Kwanzaa

Books make an excellent gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa for all the family.

We have inspirational books such as
My Soul Is a Witness.

http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/my-soul-is-witness.html

We also have lots of poetry for you to enjoy and to share with your loved ones. We have poetry by some of the best-loved African American authors including Alice Walker, Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes. Click here to visit the shop now.

We have books about Kwanzaa if you or your family want to learn more about this traditional African American festival.
Click here to order.

See also:

Langston Hughes

http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/poetry-of-langston-hughes.html

Dreaming Me http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/dreaming-me.html

Alice Walker http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/12/alice-walker.html

Maya Angelou http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/12/maya-angelou.html

Black Success Stories is also a brilliant gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa. Click here to download your copy now. www.black-success.com

For Kwanzaa listings, click here or visit http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/12/kwanzaa-listings.html

Keywords: African American poetry, Langston Hughes, Xmas, Kwanzaa, Gifts, Black Success Stories


HIV Rates Decreasing

Some countries in Africa and the Caribbean are among the worst-hit by HIV and AIDS. The fact that a large percentage of the population may be living in desperate poverty only adds to the suffering. Areas in wealthy Western countries, such as South London, which have large African populations are also affected.


The U.N. says that HIV infection rates are starting to decrease consistently in some countries for the first time, indicating that prevention programs set up over the last five years are finally yielding results. Click here to read the story.

Keywords: HIV, AIDS, Africa, Caribbean

The Poetry of Langston Hughes

THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS

I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world older than
the flow of
human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to
sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids
above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe
Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its
muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Langston Hughes

Langston was one of the poets in the forefront of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and '30s.

Get a free copy of an e-book of Langston Hughes poetry when you order your copy of Black Success Stories. An excellent gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa.

Click here to order your copy today.

See also Black Books

Keywords: African American poetry, Langston Hughes, Xmas, Kwanzaa, Black Success Stories, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou





Dreaming Me

Dreaming Me: From Baptist to Buddhist, One Woman's Spiritual Journey
by Jan Willis

We are starting to get more and more books written about Buddhism from an African American perspective. This is one of the first and best. Jan Willis speaks about growing up in a town which was regularly terrorised by the Ku Klux Klan, and how she found herself and took charge of her life. Click here to order your copy.

We have lots of Black books including books about Kwanzaa, inspiration, spirituality and poetry. Click here for details, or visit http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2005/11/black-books-for-xmas-and-kwanzaa.html.

Here is an article on Ancestral Energies with lots of Kwanzaa links.

Keywords: Gifts, Xmas, Kwanzaa, gifts, African American, Black books, Inspiration, Buddhism

My Soul Is a Witness

My Soul is a Witness : African-American Women's Spirituality
by Gloria Wade-Gayles


This is a wonderful collection of essays, poetry and a few novel extracts from writers such as Toni Morrison, Toni Cade Bambara and Alice Walker. I highly recommend it. This would make a beautiful gift for Xmas or Kwanzaa. Click here to order your copy.

Black Success Stories would also make a lovely gift.

We have lots of Black books in store. Click here for details of more inspirational books.

See also Black Books.

Here is an article on Ancestral Energies with lots of Kwanzaa links.

Keywords: Gifts, Xmas, Kwanzaa, African American, Black books, Inspiration, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison

Sunday, November 20, 2005

NVC vs Anger Management


Young Black men in Britain are disproportionately likely to experience unemployment, involvement with crime, imprisonment and admission to mental health institutions. They often experience a sense of alienation and anger, partly as a result of the pressures on them and partly as a contributory factor. Thus, the situation can become a vicious cycle.

Men are often taught to resolve their issues, not by communication, but through using their fists or other forms of violence.

Marshall Rosenberg, the creator of NVC, says that anger management is like a fire alarm. Someone keeps setting fires and the fire alarm keeps going off. So the person says, "I must sort out that fire alarm". That's anger management.

NVC is more to do with stopping the fires from being started.

In NVC, we sometimes say that anger is like an iceberg - the anger is the 10% of the iceberg we can see above the water line. The 90% below the water line consists of pain, fear and unmet needs. When we deal with these, the anger goes.

I think Creative Communication/NVC can be very beneficial for young African Caribbean men because of the pressures they face in dealing with schols, unemployment, family, the police, etc. NVC is very effective at helping us to process emotional pain, fear, guilt and shame.

It can also be very beneficial for parents and teachers.

To find out more about Creative Communication/NVC, click here.

For NVC trainings and resources within Britain, click here.

Internationally outside of Britain, visit the Center for Nonviolent Communication.

See also Self-Love, Self-Respect and Connecting with Feelings and Needs

Black Success Stories explores issues affecting young Black men in Britain today, including education, politics, self-awareness and positive cultural reinforcement. Click here to order your copy of Black Success Stories.



Sunday, November 13, 2005

Success in Black America

Success in Black America is an interesting article. The writer asks, do you have to achieve the level of success of Oprah Winfrey to be successful? And argues, "there are different levels of success". I could not agree more. We all achieve successes in our lives and we need to be more aware of this, and celebrate our successes.

David Neita's new film emphasises the importance of celebrating the contributions of people of African heritage - not just well-known people, but everyone. Click here to read about his Massive Respect film and watch the video.

Click here to read an article on Celebrating Black Heroes and Sheroes.

To read books by and about Oprah Winfrey, the Queen of personal development, click here.

To visit Oprah's site, click here.

Keywords: Black Success Stories, Black Heroes and Sheroes, Oprah Winfrey