Note To My Sisters: True Dimes Travel

 

http://www.evasaidit.com/2012/09/note-to-my-sisters-true-dimes-travel/

By Eva

I’ve been thinking about this particular piece since I got back from Rome, Georgia Italy, in May.

It dawned on me that there are so many of my sisters out here carrying bags that were made in Italy, rocking shoes that were crafted in France, buying hair culled in India, and sporting diamonds mined in Africa…without ever having left their own country. In some cases, ever having left their state…city…or town.

–> Who told lil’ brown girls that their possessions should travel farther in this life than THEY should? <–

Because I’m writing this to tell you differently.

(And no, it’s not just lil’ brown girls, but I’m talking to YOU right now, because your face is my face among our peers.  I want to see all women expand their horizons, but lemme just talk to my sisters for a minute, okay? Ok.)

5 Questions With….. YEWANDE

1. After years of not recording, you are back with ‘Rebirth’. Of course, I have to ask, Why the hiatus and why the return?


I guess the easiest way to explain my hiatus is that I got sick of trying to play the music industry game by “their” rules – I’m Black so I can only sing R & B (No), I’m a woman so I have to play the role of the booty-shaking seductress (uhhhh…double no), I’m seen as an attractive woman so I can’t sing about anything of substance (do you really want me to go there…lol?).

I’d debuted at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, started opening for major recording artists like Black Eyed Peas, Sean Paul, Enrique Iglesias in 20,000 seat arenas and was literally walking red carpets with the who’s who of Hollywood based on my artistic merit. But it seemed like the closer I came to fulfilling my dream in the music industry, the deeper the compromise became. No one really talks about it (maybe ‘cause they’re playing the game), but it’s very real.

Is Obama King Leopold II Revisited

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-areopagitica-john-milton-wrote-let.html

By Torrance Stephens

In Areopagitica, John Milton wrote: “Let truth and falsehood grapple: whoever knew truth, put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?”

Black men: Already Dead in America

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-men-already-dead-in-america.html

by Torrance Stephens

“You are already dead to the world.” This was written by the Marquis de Sade in The 120 Days of Sodom and Other Writings . Unfortunately, via logic and real life occurrences, it is clear that this is consonant with the manner in which men of African descent are apprised in the United States. It is so bad that many of us do not even respect our own lives let alone the life, well-being and prosperity of another.

It should be obvious to the astute and free thinker, after all even prior to the founding fathers, the historical fact is that slavery had been a prominent feature of America almost two centuries before the founders took up the process of writing a constitution and that there had been few if any real efforts to end the ugly and barbaric practice according to, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay. Even with the constitution, the development and acceptance of the continuous tradition as to how European Americans perceived individuals form Africa, whether slave or free man has been consistent upon these shores ever since.

Black and Illiterate: We Can’t Read, But We sure Can Watch TV

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/03/black-and-illiterate-i-cant-read-but-i.html

By Torrance Stephens

Hypothetically, let us assume there is a young man who has just finished school, and he is attempting to decide where he will move on to for his personal professional development. In this process, he meets with several interesting entities, of which many offer him incentives to select their organization, for they see great talent and how he could add to their bottom line in being profitable. In some cases he is wined and dined and set up in expensive hotels with access to host who are female. In others he is given envelopes with money and in one case a backpack or briefcase filled with stacks of money. My question is what is this persons occupation and is it illegal?

A while back I wrote a piece describing the manner in which many African Americans do not take full advantage of social media. In addition I am frequently speaking out to bring attention to the fact that reading is slowly falling off among members in our community. Each time, I obtained vehement ridicule and slander for my assertions, especially when I assert that African Americans watch more television than they read; or that they use cell phones more than any other ethnic/racial population in the United States.

What Dubois and Woodson had to say about interracial hatred?

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-dubois-and-woodson-had-to-say.html

 By Torrance Stephens

“If you can control a man’s thinking, you don’t have to worry about his actions. If you can determine what a man thinks you do not have worry about what he will do. If you can make a man believe that he is inferior, you don’t have to compel him to seek an inferior status, he will do so without being told and if you can make a man believe that he is justly an outcast, you don’t have to order him to the back door, he will go to the back door on his own and if there is no back door, the very nature of the man will demand that you build one.”

The above statement was written by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born of slaves in Virginia he was self-taught and eventually obtained his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in History from Harvard, becoming the second African-American to receive this degree. Although he is the person who established Africa American history as a monthly celebration, he is best known for his ground breaking tractate: The Mis-Education of the Negro.

The book spoke of the American educational system, with special reference to its paralyzing impact on African Americans. Mis-education from his perspective was a tragedy, that relegated blacks to a brain-washed acceptance of the inferior role assigned to him whites. The book proffers a harsh critique on both criticizes the system, that eventually ends up with people and mis-educating others and even learning and spreading hate in terms of race by the miseducated.

Detroit Columnist Calls for Sterilants in Drinking Water to Reduce Number Of Poor Blacks

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/02/detroit-columnist-calls-for-sterilants.html

By Torrance Stephens

Slavery and extermination of the Jews, all events that have been started by European cultures seem to be retro-chic once again. However, it seems that this time the targets are the African American urban poor.

Recently, the Detroit News published a call to add contraceptives to the water supply, in an effort to limit the number of Africa Americans born based on the assumption that they will only become poor as well as a burden to society. In essence a state mandate to decide who should live and who should die.

The Editorial page editor Nolan Finley writes: “Since the national attention is on birth control, here’s my idea: If we want to fight poverty, reduce violent crime and bring down our embarrassing drop-out rate, we should swap contraceptives for fluoride in Michigan’s drinking water.“

Rapzilla.com Presents ‘King Kulture’ for a Cause

RAPZILLA.COM ANNOUNCES ‘KING KULTURE’ FOR A CAUSE

Rapzilla.com Announces ‘King Kulture’ for a Cause

The All-Star Compilation Album Gives Back to a School in Africa

Black Artist Creates “Ole Skool Ebony Art”

BLACK ARTIST USES INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES TO CREATE “OLE SKOOL EBONY ART”

– Timothy Giles has spent time in more than 30 countries in Africa, and is using his experiences to create unique artwork in the form of originals, prints and greeting cards. –

Timothy Giles, artist, author and entrepreneur

Nationwide(BlackNews.com) — Timothy “Tim” Giles grew up in Suffolk, Virginia where he chose to illustrate many of his life experiences through his art. Tim’s mother was his role model who always provided the best love, guidance and direction that any single parent household would want. His mother stressed two things to him when growing up; education and actualizing the hope of brothers and sisters who paved the way before him. Success, she told him, was as relevant as the work that you give back to the community. The quote that she instilled in all her children was “a closed fist can neither receive nor give.”

Tim often gives accolades to his mother because she has always been a very strong African American woman and an encouraging and supportive mother. His mother saw something very special in him, specifically in his love for drawing. To encourage him, she provided him with his first paint by numbers set which sparked his passion to pursue art! With no formal training, Tim is a self-taught artist.

Web Site Showcases Ancient African Fine Art

MYAMAZINROOTS.COM SHOWCASES FINE ART IMAGES OF ANCIENT AFRICAN KINGDOMS, EMPIRES AND CIVILIZATIONS

Nationwide(BlackNews.com) — New website, MyAmazinRoots.com, features fine art images of ancient Africa. The images debunk the stereotypical and racist views of Africa as a dark continent by showcasing Africa’s Ancient History through fine art.

The various paintings, drawing and illustrations have all been meticulously restored and enhanced over the past few years. Much of it has never been seen by most present day Africans and African Americans – yet Africa’s fine art and depictions of Africans in fine art has occupied space in some of the world’s most prominent museums abroad for centuries.

Obama Sends Troops to Another Oil Rich African Nation

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2011/10/obama-sends-troops-to-another-oil-rich.html

Is it just me, or is it strangely funny and coincidental that over the past decade everywhere we sent US troops in which we aided in the death; killing or assignation of a sovereign foreign head of state has been in an energy rich country with vast amounts of oil and/or natural gas. Saddam Hussein was in Iraq and he was hanged. Kaddafi was in Libyaand he was summarily executed. In Afghanistan, no telling how many tribal and regional leaders (since they historically never had a nation state with a central government) we have killed. And as I stated in each case they have what we need to paraphrase the great Biz Markie – Oil and natural gas. This tradition is continuing with the recent deployment of US service personnel to Uganda. Oil and Uganda? Yes.If you didn’t know Uganda is sitting on tons of oil. Oil exploration began in Uganda’s northwestern Lake Albert basin nearly a decade ago and according to estimates by the Energy Ministry, the African nation has over two billion barrels of oil. The British firm Tullow Oil operates three oil blocks in the region, and had sold off part of its stake to Total and China’s CNOOC. But the sale was halted following the allegations of bribery. Specifically that Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has been accused of receiving funds to lobby for oil production rights on behalf of the Italian oil firm ENI, which eventually lost its bid for exploration rights to British firm Tullow Oil. In addition, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa and Internal Affairs Minister Hilary Onek have also been accused of taking bribes from Tullow Oil worth over US$23 million and $8 million respectively.

As a result of these activities occurring over the past few weeks, it is ironic the Obama has decided to intervene with the rebels he claims are wrecking havoc in the region and fostering social unrest. Obama notified House Speaker John Boehner, of deploying the mostly Special Operations Forces, to central Africa with the first troops reportedly arriving in Uganda on last Wednesday.