May 1, 2006
I'M BAAAAAAAACK!
Much to say, but very busy, so I'll condense it:
(Working backwards)
Sunday, April 30, 2006- Save Darfur Campaign and Rally: It was tremendous and I am glad I attended. It was on the Mall in Washington, DC, in front of the Capitol. Thousands were there. It was supposed to go from 2pm to 4:30 pm but it lasted until about 5:30 or 5:45 pm. It was great to be in the swing of things again. When I have the chance I will install Human Rights Watch material for those who couldn't make it. I was a bit surprised that more African Americans didn't know, understand or turn out. There were several notables there: Elie Weisel, author of Night, spoke, as well as Tom Lantos who is a Holocaust survivior, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, David Rubinstein, Nancy Pelosi, Russell Simmons (I missed him), Manute Bol (the basketball player from the Sudan), Kwiesi Mfume (Congressman, NAACP Head and Baltimore talk show host [The Bottom Line], as well as Reverend Al Sharpton, my representative in Congress Chris Van Hollen-D, New Jersey's Mayor the first state to divest from holdings in the Sudan, Reverend Walter Fauntroy, and actor Don Cheadle of the movie Hotel Rwanda couldn't make it but sent word to us, and of course, actor George Clooney and his father Nick, a journalist, spoke about their visit of Sudan-Darfur.
I first learned of the plight, in depth, a few years back, upon reading an article in African World, a community newspaper. I read about Mende Nazer and her upcoming book, Slave. So, I set out to find this book, and upon reading the back and the inner cover, I read the whole book before I left the store! I was riveted. Couldn't put it down! When I completed the book, (which is told in a vivid and straightforward manner, similar to Elie Weisel's Night), I left wondering how I' d read the actual account of a modern-day "slave" in 2004! I couldn't deny it yet it was hard to imagine! Her details start from age 12 when they came and burned her village and took her and other children away. It was horrifying to read. Oh I'd heard about Sudan before and more recently and specifically the Darfur region, and I remember listening to a man in 1995, speaking at my church about the horrors he suffered in Rwanda, and his eventual escape. My daughter had told me that Oprah did a show on the coming rally, but alas, I missed it. I don't always get to watch everything or hear it all, but I did manage to catch some of Radio One's Joe Madison, who works tirelessly on this and many other human rights issues. I understand from the rally yesterday that he is on his way back to Sudan, with his wife, as we speak. I am glad George Clooney lent his image (name/face recognition/star power) to this worthy cause, b/c the crowd really went crazy when he got up to speak, along with others. There are some African Americans who are not totally aware of how bad things are in the region, and that the violence is spilling over into Chad (Central African nation). Also, today is supposed to be the day that food supplies are cut or not able to be sent. TODAY! If U want to get involved (and why wouldn't U?) go to www.SaveDarfur.org and see the petition. Someone said that there were problems here that need to be dealt with. Does that mean we shouldn't help our brothers and sisters anywhere else in the world? Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. BTW, I loved this musical group called Nile River. There also were many college and high school students in attendance and it was positive all the way, as there was every race and religion represented and it is all to save lives. I highly recommend Mende Nazer's book, again, Slave. I know that Barnes and Noble carries it. Written with the help of Damien Lewis, publisher Virago United Kingdom. Miss Nazer escaped and the book is worth reading just to see how she got away. When I think of her, I also think of another African woman, whom I shall never forget: Sandra Laing. Starting off her life as a well-to-do, White Afrikaner, she began to darken and her hair to curl around prepubescence and was eventually classified as "coloured" by the apartheid government of South Africa. She was summarily expelled from school and ostracized at her family's church and neighborhood and eventually the government "displaced" her. I often think of them both as if I knew them, although we are oceans apart. Also I think of Kola Boouf who is part Sudanese. She shoots straight from the hip!
Anyways, check it out....
* After that, everything else seems light fare...
While we are on the subject of African women, America's Next Top Model has a bevy of Black aspiring models on UPN. One in particular, Nnenah was an educated, regal, intelligent, well-spoken, poised lady. I am sorry to see her go. She brought class to the show. She reminds me of another African icon, the beautiful Iman. Nnenah will go on to greater success as a scientist!
To each her/her own.
I also thought the Asian lady, Gina was a pretty face, but she let people kick her around and intimidate her. She was too nice!
Also, Joanie (a White gurrl with soul) and Furhonda whom I believe has a future in comedy are great. Danielle is beautiful and I think she'll make it to the top 3!
I know that some think ANTM is bogus and trivial, but one good thing about Tyra and this show is that all the ladies who have ever dreamed of modelling and set out to do so and ended up decieved or put in dangerous situations leading nowhere, have a chance to learn the ropes in a more legit way. Know what I mean? Also, every woman needs to feel beautiful. I am serious !
*April 19, 2006-Emancipation Week in Washington, DC-to honor the emancipation of slaves in the Nation's Capital. It was interesting, with happenings all over the city, but The Zoo????
*This was from April 19th or 20th, something like that...I just heard on AUNews that made me giggle...Diva Mary J. Blige was asked about her jewelry as being excessive. (?)She replied that "her God" told her to bling and He believes in 'bling'. To each his/her own. God Created bling,
right? Anyway, she looks beautiful... Historically, jewels were a woman's wealth. Jewels represented who she was, her marital and financial status and could be sold were she to become a widow or be abandoned, theoretically.
*My child and I have been compiling a list of female celebs who are just fine with the way they are without going to be carved up. Here it is, thus far:
Queen Latifah Paris Hilton Diana Ross Barbra Streisand Oprah
Cathryn Manheim Halle Berry Mary J. Blige Venus & Serena Pink
Sheryl Lee Ralph Beyonce' Cicely Tyson Alfre Woodard Sophia Loren
Beverly Johnson Lena Horne Jennifer Aniston Naomi Campbell Alek Wek
Donna Summer Gabrielle Union Iyanla Van Zant Cathy Hughes Jada PinkettSmith
JLo Missy Elliott Liya Kebede Susan Sarandon Elizabeth Taylor
Chaka Khan Angela Davis India Arie Brandy Norwood Maya Angelou
Much to say, but very busy, so I'll condense it:
(Working backwards)
Sunday, April 30, 2006- Save Darfur Campaign and Rally: It was tremendous and I am glad I attended. It was on the Mall in Washington, DC, in front of the Capitol. Thousands were there. It was supposed to go from 2pm to 4:30 pm but it lasted until about 5:30 or 5:45 pm. It was great to be in the swing of things again. When I have the chance I will install Human Rights Watch material for those who couldn't make it. I was a bit surprised that more African Americans didn't know, understand or turn out. There were several notables there: Elie Weisel, author of Night, spoke, as well as Tom Lantos who is a Holocaust survivior, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, David Rubinstein, Nancy Pelosi, Russell Simmons (I missed him), Manute Bol (the basketball player from the Sudan), Kwiesi Mfume (Congressman, NAACP Head and Baltimore talk show host [The Bottom Line], as well as Reverend Al Sharpton, my representative in Congress Chris Van Hollen-D, New Jersey's Mayor the first state to divest from holdings in the Sudan, Reverend Walter Fauntroy, and actor Don Cheadle of the movie Hotel Rwanda couldn't make it but sent word to us, and of course, actor George Clooney and his father Nick, a journalist, spoke about their visit of Sudan-Darfur.
I first learned of the plight, in depth, a few years back, upon reading an article in African World, a community newspaper. I read about Mende Nazer and her upcoming book, Slave. So, I set out to find this book, and upon reading the back and the inner cover, I read the whole book before I left the store! I was riveted. Couldn't put it down! When I completed the book, (which is told in a vivid and straightforward manner, similar to Elie Weisel's Night), I left wondering how I' d read the actual account of a modern-day "slave" in 2004! I couldn't deny it yet it was hard to imagine! Her details start from age 12 when they came and burned her village and took her and other children away. It was horrifying to read. Oh I'd heard about Sudan before and more recently and specifically the Darfur region, and I remember listening to a man in 1995, speaking at my church about the horrors he suffered in Rwanda, and his eventual escape. My daughter had told me that Oprah did a show on the coming rally, but alas, I missed it. I don't always get to watch everything or hear it all, but I did manage to catch some of Radio One's Joe Madison, who works tirelessly on this and many other human rights issues. I understand from the rally yesterday that he is on his way back to Sudan, with his wife, as we speak. I am glad George Clooney lent his image (name/face recognition/star power) to this worthy cause, b/c the crowd really went crazy when he got up to speak, along with others. There are some African Americans who are not totally aware of how bad things are in the region, and that the violence is spilling over into Chad (Central African nation). Also, today is supposed to be the day that food supplies are cut or not able to be sent. TODAY! If U want to get involved (and why wouldn't U?) go to www.SaveDarfur.org and see the petition. Someone said that there were problems here that need to be dealt with. Does that mean we shouldn't help our brothers and sisters anywhere else in the world? Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. BTW, I loved this musical group called Nile River. There also were many college and high school students in attendance and it was positive all the way, as there was every race and religion represented and it is all to save lives. I highly recommend Mende Nazer's book, again, Slave. I know that Barnes and Noble carries it. Written with the help of Damien Lewis, publisher Virago United Kingdom. Miss Nazer escaped and the book is worth reading just to see how she got away. When I think of her, I also think of another African woman, whom I shall never forget: Sandra Laing. Starting off her life as a well-to-do, White Afrikaner, she began to darken and her hair to curl around prepubescence and was eventually classified as "coloured" by the apartheid government of South Africa. She was summarily expelled from school and ostracized at her family's church and neighborhood and eventually the government "displaced" her. I often think of them both as if I knew them, although we are oceans apart. Also I think of Kola Boouf who is part Sudanese. She shoots straight from the hip!
Anyways, check it out....
* After that, everything else seems light fare...
While we are on the subject of African women, America's Next Top Model has a bevy of Black aspiring models on UPN. One in particular, Nnenah was an educated, regal, intelligent, well-spoken, poised lady. I am sorry to see her go. She brought class to the show. She reminds me of another African icon, the beautiful Iman. Nnenah will go on to greater success as a scientist!
To each her/her own.
I also thought the Asian lady, Gina was a pretty face, but she let people kick her around and intimidate her. She was too nice!
Also, Joanie (a White gurrl with soul) and Furhonda whom I believe has a future in comedy are great. Danielle is beautiful and I think she'll make it to the top 3!
I know that some think ANTM is bogus and trivial, but one good thing about Tyra and this show is that all the ladies who have ever dreamed of modelling and set out to do so and ended up decieved or put in dangerous situations leading nowhere, have a chance to learn the ropes in a more legit way. Know what I mean? Also, every woman needs to feel beautiful. I am serious !
*April 19, 2006-Emancipation Week in Washington, DC-to honor the emancipation of slaves in the Nation's Capital. It was interesting, with happenings all over the city, but The Zoo????
*This was from April 19th or 20th, something like that...I just heard on AUNews that made me giggle...Diva Mary J. Blige was asked about her jewelry as being excessive. (?)She replied that "her God" told her to bling and He believes in 'bling'. To each his/her own. God Created bling,
right? Anyway, she looks beautiful... Historically, jewels were a woman's wealth. Jewels represented who she was, her marital and financial status and could be sold were she to become a widow or be abandoned, theoretically.
*My child and I have been compiling a list of female celebs who are just fine with the way they are without going to be carved up. Here it is, thus far:
Queen Latifah Paris Hilton Diana Ross Barbra Streisand Oprah
Cathryn Manheim Halle Berry Mary J. Blige Venus & Serena Pink
Sheryl Lee Ralph Beyonce' Cicely Tyson Alfre Woodard Sophia Loren
Beverly Johnson Lena Horne Jennifer Aniston Naomi Campbell Alek Wek
Donna Summer Gabrielle Union Iyanla Van Zant Cathy Hughes Jada PinkettSmith
JLo Missy Elliott Liya Kebede Susan Sarandon Elizabeth Taylor
Chaka Khan Angela Davis India Arie Brandy Norwood Maya Angelou
posted by Constance at 11:23 AM
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