What is the news? I plan to ask and answer that question several times this week as I celebrate one of my favorite holidays, Kwanzaa!
On UMOJA (unity) I was seriously pondering over the concept of Black Unity and how it could ever possibly exist in America. Black folks have so many societal elements that divide us and keep us from coming together. It's almost like a high school full of cliques who hate each other for no real reasons. The light skinned people vs. the dark, the young vs. the old, the men vs. the women, the Deltas vs. the AKA's, the ballers vs. the broke, the uppity vs. the ghetto, the scholars vs. the ignorant and I could go on and on for miles with a list of reasons why we don't work together. The common denominator that SHOULD bring us all together is our AFRIKAN heritage, but many Black people in America are either ashamed of it or don't acknowledge it at all. It's a sad state of affairs... If we could begin to focus on the beautiful and deeply important common ground that we all stand upon we could begin to take the first step towards true unity.
That night I went to poetry at The Lyric Cafe in North Miami and it was a chill event. I did not perform because performing poets had to pay $5.00 for admission. I have a personal belief that prevents me from paying to perform anywhere. I know they got bills to pay and I respect that, that's why I paid $10.00 and enjoyed the show in the audience. I enjoyed being in the audience and one of the poets that stood out to me the most was Talia. She has got flava and her metaphors are quite clever. I will keep her on my radar. I went with one of my longtime besties Precious (P-Lo)Moore and it was sooooo good to hang with her again. We were inseparable in the late nineties.
Last night I went to a gathering to celebrate my favorite principle KUJICHAGULIA (self-determination). This principle is important to me because this is something that I will strive for every day of my life. I want to have a clear definition of who I am what I stand for and what I contribute to this world. This can only be done by me and for me and so I went to this event alone. It was held at the private residence of Dr. Wilie Myles and hosted by Kwame Afoh. The event was informative and we listened to people who are doing work in our communities to improve the lives of Black people and exchanged ideas in open dialogue. One of the groups present was N'COBRA. )National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America) Also, Prophet performed a poem that was clever and added slight humor to the usually very serious business of being a Black man. I was a little apprehensive about going at first because the email blast said it was at a private home, but I am so thankful I did just take a chance and go anyway. It was a good step for me in the process of owning my identity. Ya dig?
I'm going to a lecture tonight and then to the SOULCIAL!!! I am excited!
