tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90690938736783531842024-03-17T23:04:02.637-04:00AYA Educational InstituteWhat's going on @ AYA Educational InstituteWekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-77287867780116417042023-04-15T12:58:00.001-04:002023-04-15T12:58:46.708-04:00Richmond Melanin Healing Science Mbongi April 22nd 11-2pm<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lMuHpqc_800/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/lMuHpqc_800" frameborder="0"></iframe>Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-77554835076505902532021-04-28T23:18:00.001-04:002021-04-28T23:18:39.473-04:00OWN YOUR LEARNING (ft. iPad Pro Note Taking - GoodNotes)<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/br0jghA4JEw" frameborder="0"></iframe>Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-45279746985391511272021-04-19T08:56:00.001-04:002021-04-19T08:56:54.565-04:00Araminta Harriet Tubman and Injected Racial Scripts: MSO Excerpt!<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/ck478uRdwvM" frameborder="0"></iframe>Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-36694344223946603212021-03-26T12:21:00.001-04:002021-03-26T12:21:46.332-04:00We are enough! WHB www.ayaed.com/whdc<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rxLzgVUbRU8/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/rxLzgVUbRU8" frameborder="0"></iframe>Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-60522822417279643272020-07-13T08:43:00.001-04:002020-07-13T08:43:27.808-04:00The Truth About the Confederacy in the United States (FULL Version)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QOPGpE-sXh0" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
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Well worth watching.<br /><br />
<br />Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-56040206750804882682020-06-30T12:41:00.000-04:002020-06-30T12:41:27.836-04:00Masking The Truth?<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font size="6">Important! What kind of mask are you wearing?</font></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ma0xtQjB9x4/XvslBzOmpJI/AAAAAAABbU8/aVNYm-gTh58TnBHaBICw4bMpzAMAtgydQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/got%2Bmasks.jpg" /></div>"If work requires you to wear a mask, OSHA requires that your employer verifies you are receiving a minimum of 19.5% oxygen level by law!"
<br />Here’s more mask info from a poster “Jim” in response to an <a href="https://thevaccinereaction.org/2020/06/four-potential-consequences-of-wearing-face-masks-we-need-to-be-wary-of/">article re: face masks:</a> “ I don’t really know WHY OSHA hasn’t come forward and stopped the nonsense BUT wanna cover kinds of masks:</div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>• N95 masks and masks with exhale ports</b></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>• Surgical masks</b></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>• Filter or cloth masks</b></span>
</div><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay so upon further inspection OSHA says some masks are okay and not okay in certain situations.</div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re working with fumes and aerosol chemicals and you give your employees the wrong masks and they get sick you can be sued.</div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><font color="#0f9d58">• N95 masks: </font></b><font color="#1c1e21">are designed for </font><b style="color: #1c1e21;">CONTAMINATED</b><font color="#1c1e21"> environments. That means when you exhale through N95 the design is that you are exhaling into contamination. The exhale from N95 masks are vented to breathe straight out without filtration. They don’t filter the air on the way out. They don’t need to.</font></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Conclusion:</b> if you’re in Stewart’s and the guy with COVID has N95 mask his COVID breath is unfiltered being exhaled into Stewart’s (because it was designed for already contaminated environments, it’s not filtering your air on the way out)</div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font color="#0f9d58"><b>• Surgical Mask</b>:</font><span style="color: #1c1e21;"> these masks were designed and approved for STERILE environments. The amount of particles and contaminants in the outside and indoor environments where people are CLOGG these masks very Very quickly. The moisture from your breath combined with the clogged mask renders it “useless” IF you come in contact with COVID and your mask traps it You become a walking virus dispenser. Every time you put your mask on you are breathing the germs from EVERYWHERE you went. They should be changed or thrown out every “20-30 minutes in a non-sterile environment”</span></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="color: #0f9d58;">• </b><b><font color="#0f9d58">Cloth masks</font><font color="#1c1e21">: </font></b><font color="#1c1e21">today three people pointed to their masks as the walked by me entering Lowe’s. They said “ya gotta wear your mask BRO,” I said very clearly “those masks don’t work bro, in fact, they MAKE you sicker” the “pshh’d” me.
</font></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">By now hopefully, you all know CLOTH masks do not filter anything. You mean the American flag one my aunt made? Yes. The one with sunflowers that looks so cute? Yes. The bandanna, the cut-up t-shirt, the scarf ALL of them offer NO FILTERING whatsoever.
As you exhale you are ridding your lungs of contaminants and carbon dioxide. Cloth masks trap this carbon dioxide the best. It actually risks health. The moisture caught in these masks can become mildew ridden overnight. Dry coughing, enhanced allergies, sore throat are all symptoms of a micro-mold in your mask.
</div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Summary: </div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">N95 blows the virus into the air from a contaminated person.</div></span></li><li><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The surgical mask is not designed for the outside world and will not filter the virus upon inhaling through it. Its filtration works on the exhale. (Like a vacuum bag it only works one way)</div></span></li><li><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cloth masks are WORSE than none!!!!</div></span></li></ul></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If your mask gives you security, wear it, just know it is a false sense of security.
</span></div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">==============================</div><div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="color: #1c1e21; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If work requires you to wear a mask, OSHA requires that your employer verifies you are receiving a minimum of 19.5% oxygen level by law! <br /><br />Are your oxygen levels being monitored while at work? Are you experiencing dizziness and headaches? <br /><br />This is a written law NOT a recommendation! <br /><br />I guarantee if employees started citing law and demanding their employers follow the law then the masks would go away!”<br /><br />---<br />Original posts plus more: </div></span>Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-21961686250458634972020-03-24T12:20:00.001-04:002020-03-24T12:20:46.635-04:00AYA Responds to COVID-19<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-nYIC-d7sq4?clip=&clipt=EAAYAA%3D%3D" width="480"></iframe>Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-8135924589421398102020-02-06T14:46:00.000-05:002020-02-06T15:22:24.052-05:00I Love AYA - FREE Black History Month Curriculum Installment: We're a Winner Lesson w/ Curtis Mayfield<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fljkc" data-offset-key="5eep9-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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Parents, teachers, students here's another FREE AYA Educational Institute installment for your BHM curriculum stash.</div>
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Often overlooked as part of Black history and BHM education are our people's organizations and movements. Too often this month is filled with instruction about “The first Black to do this, and the first one to do that." In addition to being too "prove-it-to-white-people focused, it is also too focused on individuals.
Today we take a different path. Using our call and response tradition, we focus on the impact of our people's movements had on music, and in turn the effect of our music to invigorate the Black Power movements in its various forms.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">O</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ur lesson started with "We're a Winner" by Curtis Mayfield. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: Not only does Curtis Mayfield encourage and affirm Black people he also exhorts the required level of commitment needed to win. </span><br />
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"Listen to find the strongest commitment statement that Curtis sought to seed in us." </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">They listened. Some guessed. “He’s telling us to keep on pushing.” One student noted. Another said, “He’s reminding us that we can move up because we’re winners.” </span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"True," I said. "Still, to win takes commitment. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What line communicates the strong commitment needed if we’re to be winners?</span></span><br />
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They listened again.
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Nada. Nothing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ok, I said, “I’m going to play this one line and you tell me what you think it means.”</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Curtis sings: “I don’t mind leavin’ here to show the world we have no fear, cause we’re a winner.”</span></span></div>
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Student: “Oh, he means "leavin’ here" like being willing to die for what he believes in,” one 11th grader reasoned. (<b style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sidebar for Language Arts educators: It's a great time to talk about the power and the weakness of metaphors.)
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: “Yes, that’s exactly what he is saying.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This led to three key questions: At that time what were we fighting for, fighting against and willing to die for?</span></span></div>
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I loved the discussion and learning how much the students knew and were misinformed by the media.
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer: We boiled it down to these three things.</span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For: Justice / Opportunity</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Against: Injustice and racial oppression</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To die for: Freedom from that oppression, justice, and self-determination
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, back to the discussion of the level of commitment need to achieve such victory. </span><br />
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Addressing the Fear Myth:
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BHM Public Broadcasting and miseducation have stoked the myth that "standing up to fight oppression will get you killed while keeping quiet or "going along to get along" will keep you safe." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I asked: Have you ever heard of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, or Sandra Bland? </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After reminding some and teaching others, I asked: Did Tamir Rice's activism contribute to his death? </span></span></div>
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“No,” they said.
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You're right! “It was the same in 1968,” I added, “and we decided that the best way to keep our families and our people safe and moving ahead was to fight oppression - even it meant risking our status, our jobs, our lives. Some are still living and most died a natural death."
Question: "What happens when your enemy senses that your commitment to winning or to your goal is weak? </div>
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They got it!</span><br />
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Paradox & Allusion:</span></b><br />
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<span data-offset-key="cjv84-0-0" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ys1zEg85z4w/XjxoEEMmkuI/AAAAAAABYKE/HoW9xILQbikWUenMLX4ZipXrHHkDDx4EwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/paradox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ys1zEg85z4w/XjxoEEMmkuI/AAAAAAABYKE/HoW9xILQbikWUenMLX4ZipXrHHkDDx4EwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/paradox.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="f9vkv-0-0" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Here’s another key line from the song. <i>“Now that the blessed day has come, and I don’t care where you come from, we’re just gonna move on up.” </i></span></div>
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Me: What’s the blessed day that had come? </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was he referring to us having already achieved the goals, having arrived, defeated racist oppression? Had we already “moved up?” </span></span><br />
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“No,” they said
</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: So, what’s the blessing? What’s has “come” to celebrate?
</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As they struggled, I smiled to myself and thought but never said, “this is a wonderful way to teach literary allusion. This is an allusion to an idea, not a person or place. The idea is expressed in AYA’s slogan: </span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Fighting is Winning.</i></b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Curtis was claiming victory because our people were demonstrating that we willing to die to win. Remember this was 1968. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Black people were rioting in over 110 cities. Sparked by April 4th death of Martin Luther King, injustice and racist oppression were the causes. For Curtis, that we had reached that level of commitment, was the blessed day that meant victory was imminent.
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When I came back from my reflection the students were still stumped at the paradox:
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"How can he say that the blessed day has come and we had not achieved victory, yet? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I said, “Put that in the oven, we’ll come back to this later.” </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, lets’ go to an African cultural strength known as </span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"call and response.</b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I say Hey, you say Ho. </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">They joined in:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Call and Response: Is it just a musical thing?</b></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dv8i9-0-0" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Curtis, through his song, was calling us to a deeper commitment, and with it - promising us victory. No doubt, <b><i>“We’re A Winner”</i></b> touched many Black people -including me – and enlarged the Black Power movement.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="apl1v-0-0" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question: Was his call to us really his response to a call from the masses? </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zusRu3Y7H6s/XjxqU1Mvh3I/AAAAAAABYKY/V1ebF23HTrU24IReIFK1yp-C52_0gUAmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/newark.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="600" height="135" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zusRu3Y7H6s/XjxqU1Mvh3I/AAAAAAABYKY/V1ebF23HTrU24IReIFK1yp-C52_0gUAmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/newark.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be continued </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We'll also contrast Mayfield’s 1964 </span><a href="https://youtu.be/RrHl7BNgYpM">“Keep on Pushin”</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> with his 1968 “We A Winner,” and when we examine another movement song from the same year by a man named “Brown.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please use the lesson as you see fit. Credit AYA Educational Institute when you can. The most important thing is that you use it. Please let's move away from individualism under the guise of hero, shero worship. Let's locate our great contributions and contributors in the center of the families, people, and culture that nurtured them and called them. It doesn't diminish their response. If you can read between the lines, you'll see. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VoVcoI9UYBM/XjxsJpBopQI/AAAAAAABYKk/SAuGpznl2mckEUr9mEz2xTjSDqRFe8J8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/john%2Bhenrik%2Bclark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="270" height="137" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VoVcoI9UYBM/XjxsJpBopQI/AAAAAAABYKk/SAuGpznl2mckEUr9mEz2xTjSDqRFe8J8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/john%2Bhenrik%2Bclark.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. John Henrik Clarke told us to </span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"study what we need"</i></b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and to </span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"teach us to become responsible handlers of power."
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It shouldn't take much for you to see how many writing, reading, viewing, discussion, debates, and artistic spin-offs can come from this brief lesson from AYA. </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You don't have to be "certified" by our enemies or their systems and definitions. If it moves, you. move. If you are inspired to use it in any form, please share that with us.
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-27IAXGvpWwM/XjxssEtC33I/AAAAAAABYKs/GAvFy-Nt5nc5BM_xIMt5ohR049qGO6oLACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/CurtisMayfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="800" height="103" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-27IAXGvpWwM/XjxssEtC33I/AAAAAAABYKs/GAvFy-Nt5nc5BM_xIMt5ohR049qGO6oLACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/CurtisMayfield.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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Enjoy. Recommit. Win.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Excerpt from upcoming publication: How to Teach About Oppression w/o Oppressing our Children and Youth. </span></span></div>
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Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-49201058046769781982020-02-01T21:55:00.002-05:002020-02-01T21:55:42.449-05:002020 Community Warrior-Healer-Builder Love Honoree: Mama Nobantu Ankoanda<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jjyVQPJBmk/XjY4vrdf5HI/AAAAAAABYDE/p8a7lmd52VIgsc2x-DQ10ka6cGsWKCl_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mama%2Bnabantu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="514" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jjyVQPJBmk/XjY4vrdf5HI/AAAAAAABYDE/p8a7lmd52VIgsc2x-DQ10ka6cGsWKCl_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mama%2Bnabantu.jpg" width="214" /></a>We are proud to announce the 2020 Black Love Day Community Warrior-Healer-Builder Love Honorees. In this oppressive environment to fight, heal, and build are revolutionary acts.</div>
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One of the three Community Warrior-Healer-Builder Love honorees is <b><i>Mama Nobantu Ankoanda</i></b></div>
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Before you can say “lets,” Mama Nobantu is in the van saying, “C’mon, let’s go.” Before you can say, “I need…” Nobantu has opened her house, extended her hand and her heart.</div>
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She’s a Warrior-Healer-Building Mama!</div>
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Her children grew up knowing that their mother belonged to our community. Mama Nobantu Ankoanda is an educator, teacher, former principal and founder of Afrikan centered community-based institutions in Palo Alto, California and in the Atlanta, GA Metro area. Mama Ankoanda is also Dr. Mama Nobantu. She holds a doctoral degree in Education, a Master of Arts degrees in Elementary Education and a BA in Social work. She’s earned this Black Community Warrior-Healer-Builder award because she’s been spreading love and revolutionary fever in our community since she was a student in 1968 when she became a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika.</div>
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Join us on Thursday, Feb. 13th, 7 pm</div>
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She participated in and studied the Poor People’s Campaign in Washington, D.C. and in ’69 traveled and studied Afrikan History and Culture in Accra, Ghana It was at the University of Accra where she received a certificate in Afrikan History and Culture. We’ll be here all day if we try to list all the building-love she’s spread over our community. However, a few more demand to be mentioned now. She founded or co-founded these schools: Shule Ya Taifa, Shule Nyansa Sua, Shule Mandela Academy and the School of Wisdom and Knowledge College Preparatory Academy. Nobantu is not a has-been-educator - living in the past. Afrikan-centered educational institutions like CIBI, AYA, Kilombo, and others lean on her knowledge and her work.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-faO192p095k/XjY3czMM01I/AAAAAAABYC8/ADV2CwdR_JAlt52C8fSZtG0E06Wnf9awACEwYBhgL/s1600/AfiyaWekesaBLD%2BFlyers%2B2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-faO192p095k/XjY3czMM01I/AAAAAAABYC8/ADV2CwdR_JAlt52C8fSZtG0E06Wnf9awACEwYBhgL/s320/AfiyaWekesaBLD%2BFlyers%2B2020.jpg" width="320" /></a>In 2006, Mama Nobantu moved to Decatur, GA to be closer to two of her daughters and most of her grandchildren. While in Northern California, she co‐founded Sisters of Tomorrow (SOT)- a grassroots rite-of-passage program for young sisters, and she now serves as an Elder for the Atlanta Chapter. She also serves on the Elder Council for African Community Centers.</div>
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She brought her Collard Greens Cultural Festival (CCCF) and her famous Collard Green Ice Cream to the Metro. Both have found a home in Lithonia, GA. While Atlanta celebrates its 11th CCCF, East Palo Alto, CA will be celebrating its 21st. Nobantu is untiring. She’s a Warrior-Healer-Building Mama.</div>
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Join us on Thursday to celebrate her long and her latest efforts to strengthen our community to victory. She has and continues to show her love for us; let’s love her back! Feb. 13th, 7 pm at the </div>
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Sigma Zeta Incorporated building on 2526 Delowe Dr. in Atlanta.</div>
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<br />Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-85034977971129717902020-02-01T21:47:00.004-05:002020-02-01T21:47:46.858-05:00Higher and Higher! 2020 Black Love - Warrior-Healer-Builder Honoree: Rashid Nuri<br />
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AYA Educational Institute is proud to announce the 2020 Black Love Day Community Warrior-Healer-Builder Honoree, <b><i>Baba/ Brother K. Rashid Nuri</i></b>– a food revolutionary.<br />
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Rashid, in his new book <b>G<i>rowing Out Loud</i>,</b> asks a powerful question: “What is more revolutionary than a seed? Once planted, the seed bursts through clay, sand, rock, concrete – whatever to fulfill the purpose imprinted in its DNA.” Rashid doesn’t just plant seeds; he is a seed - breaking through. This see has been nurtured by the Jamaican Maroons flowing through is veins, by the African, Asian, and Latin American liberation movements of the 60s, and more. We can eat better because of him. Attend this Black Love celebration. Feb. 13th 7pm.<br />
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Higher and Higher...<br />
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The beginning of a Huffington Post article on Baba Rashid begins<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vizLk9xZtXk/XjY3V-03ZWI/AAAAAAABYCo/3zJn122FbUAeoyXd06VRqZjzUz0VXU5ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/rashid%2Bnuri%2Bphoto%2Bbook.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vizLk9xZtXk/XjY3V-03ZWI/AAAAAAABYCo/3zJn122FbUAeoyXd06VRqZjzUz0VXU5ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/rashid%2Bnuri%2Bphoto%2Bbook.png" width="207" /></a>“The older man steps out of a gray Chrysler Grand Voyager. He wears a tan fisherman’s cap and a brown tee topped with a plaid work shirt. People chat as they fill baskets with carrots, chard, kale, collards, lettuce, onions, cabbage, and mustard. The man briskly moves from person to person, hearing the day’s news or making sure the necessary tasks are completed. He stoops to take a quick check of the soil. Feels it run through his hands.”<br />
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“I’m reminded of a Sterling Brown’s <b><i>After Winter</i></b>:<br />
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He snuggles his fingers<br />
In the blacker loam<br />
The lean months are done with<br />
The fat to come.<br />
His eyes are set<br />
On a brushwood-fire<br />
But his heart is soaring<br />
Higher and higher.<br />
Though he stands ragged<br />
An old scarecrow,<br />
This is the way<br />
His swift thoughts go,<br />
“Butter beans fo’ Clara<br />
Sugar Corn fo’ Grace<br />
An’ fo’ de little feller<br />
Runnin ‘ space.<br />
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Rashid’s heart is soaring higher and higher, and we are Clara, Grace, and De’ Little Fella.<br />
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His snuggling fingers helped to create, nurture and ultimately pass on Truly Living Well (TLW) Center for Natural Urban Agriculture. From a backyard plot in Riverdale to small farms on Harbin, then Washington Road, to Good Shepherd Farm, then to Wheat Street in downtown Atlanta, and finally to Collegetown, TLW fed thousands, employed hundreds, and became a model and inspiration for Urban Agriculture locally, nationally, and internationally.<br />
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TLW uses food production as a plate on which to create a culture of self-sufficiency, health, and wellness in our community. For Rashid, it’s much more than that. Rashid has turned over the reins of TLW to continue his revolutionary journey.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-faO192p095k/XjY3czMM01I/AAAAAAABYCw/vZd8766wE1kMLK50fLrWIQSLjdivmGUqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/AfiyaWekesaBLD%2BFlyers%2B2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-faO192p095k/XjY3czMM01I/AAAAAAABYCw/vZd8766wE1kMLK50fLrWIQSLjdivmGUqACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AfiyaWekesaBLD%2BFlyers%2B2020.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Lean months are done with - the fat to come.<br />
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Patience, daily work, and long vision are the virtues of the builder. Precisely because they are involved in the day-to-day work along with others, the “why” can get lost. Rashid will not let it. He wants to stop the destructiveness of Big Agriculture with the transformative power of the local food economy to sustain community vitality. We want to help him. We want to lift him.<br />
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Simba Simbi: Holding up that which holds us up. Join us on Feb. 13th.<br />
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2526 Delowe Dr. East Point, GA 30344<br />
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Wekesa O. MadzimoyoWekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-85254138914388372842020-02-01T21:37:00.001-05:002020-02-01T21:40:11.183-05:00Black Love Day 2020 Community Warrior-Healer-Builder Honoree - Derrick Boazman!<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="irgj" data-offset-key="3m1am-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our third Black Community Warrior-Healer-Builder honoree is my friend and brother - Derrick “Too Much Truth” Boazman. </span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="8560f-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Personally, I don’t know of a man that loves the Black community more than Brother Derrick Boazman. His love is strong; it’s wide; it’s deep. It’s deeper than his years – flowing to him from his mother and father and from those in our struggle who came before. He’s a native Atlantan born and reared on Atlanta’s Southside – where he still resides. I start his warrior-tribute by talking about his love because it is his love for us that fuels his fight for us – especially for “the least of these.” His love for us as an extension of the love family and community showered upon him is exactly what makes him the consummate warrior-healer-builder?
Join us to Simba Simbi: Hold up those who hold us up! Thursday, Feb. 13th 7pm for our 8th annual Black Love Day Dinner Celebration.
As swift as is his sword at our enemy’s throats is his compassion and giving to those in need. Some warriors-in-training may shout at this racist system – “speaking truth to power.” Brother Bozeman is a seasoned warrior of many battles over many years. He was elected to the Atlanta City Council in 1997; then again in 2001. He doesn’t just speak truth to power he organizes us for battle to remove people from power over us. For AYA, Warrior means actively challenging people, policies, and practices that oppress and aggress upon our people. Derrick: he’s been jailed challenging injustice too many to count. While for some, going to jail is their claim to fame; for Derrick, that’s just a measure of his commitment and willingness to lead by example, to put his life and career on the line. His claim to fame is winning! He’s a man of action. He’s as philosophical and spiritual as Revered Martin Luther King and as “by any means necessary” as Malcolm X.
Boazman is President and CEO of Facilitation Strategies, Inc. He’s a political science graduate from the historic Morris Brown College. He’s a Civil Rights movement organizer who has not traded his pedigree for laurels. Times are too perilous for that. While he’s expanded his reach nationally and internationally, he’s never left his community.
Every day his WAOK radio program “Too Much Truth” is both a voice and a vehicle for the people. Many know him in many ways. I know him best as a man among men and the Convener of Let Us Make Man – Black men dedicated to working together across various lines to lift Black men and our community from the cradle to the grave. His awards are too long to recite here. He wouldn’t want me to mention them anyway. He’d want you to know what good-fight for our people you can get into today.
If you want to know that, and if you want this brother to feel your love for his demonstrated love, join us on Feb 13th for our 8th annual Black Love Day Dinner Celebration.
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Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-556309613924245572019-12-16T13:28:00.001-05:002019-12-16T13:28:56.082-05:00AYA @ The Black Family Summit<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Thanks to sister <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100001637649965&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARA-u0Ff_eVPw3k2DAbxJGT2KCOs_Oae4WCU9Zr6wunTz46hf2MW2lYgFOZNUuwMQrYqSmH7sBpShpm0%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/debra.watkins.313?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARA-u0Ff_eVPw3k2DAbxJGT2KCOs_Oae4WCU9Zr6wunTz46hf2MW2lYgFOZNUuwMQrYqSmH7sBpShpm0&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAv2FeuBf6vdeAiZHQ83keA9tHX4o5QrtdD0u7gth20oDN_ip16ZQ9zQ_nDpBzjXU6Cnj0CD48fIPu5ADdz5_yUa_LzA156s4q-vqVn0QIbxKAfW7q8b1nKo9mo03M7iDdmHByeTwX97xdlQPERHr1OUkWILgVoqkxatTyStj5f0sBM4rUI1G4ZgiQ7GnGyXT5WQuKyd2OJxiYhcQ" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Debra Watkins">Debra Watkins</a> and Baba Leonard Dunstan, AYA Educational Institute was in the house @ the Powerful Black Family Summit Retreat this weekend in Baltimore. <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fibw21.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3M4ulbOUK0R56sod7_kXbaLYac3ORhYVKlsZFqxc6e9_AeYyZ_KQBBISA&h=AT1xm1qLzE5RZfpgs9H_ACn0MbpS8OU2aEc_zFzh3_NsKwu9y4QrJDpm6_BaWLUBm8PCYkzJetolcINvz2TNm3NVzEPQhEMLlH0FGNuLrFgyH_TRLhDuST63XJMmXU4RB0CxpRg8NJzqTa0bN0g2Y2mFjmHBmHptQjTGmRUUpfKgq4kTqC2iChDZGeWKJLQDvQ_VXjqw_03ccBnBlAdO3mj14KWFlozgyEIxTbtPqXwWizw4iwjzZaEycIIcLeeU4VJT1udJUVnN-f8UcC7kALHKlg2w58mQFqgRBgzmodh2X7UbxoNAKezbxQLNVnyW3PhsAquZXMzeIaVa9-ao2-OxRemVENprPKafx90WDAA2MfFLYT8bjV3zqlOUzG6Ed9K4z8SSasaRz8F-qxn4JlLzomJtW2dMJtM1UeByH5zDxuHdEdlSXDdf8hRgdCuCIpQKJLtnAuFdY3VXFqL5v2hWPQ" href="https://ibw21.org/?fbclid=IwAR3M4ulbOUK0R56sod7_kXbaLYac3ORhYVKlsZFqxc6e9_AeYyZ_KQBBISA" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://ibw21.org/</a></div>
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It was Blacktastic. I love being with folks who be getting things done!</div>
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Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-22392059128794091532019-12-11T20:49:00.003-05:002019-12-11T21:42:34.256-05:00The Tubman Story and Black Mental Health (Narrative Therapy?)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1IP_LLDjPY/XfGX7MFwX-I/AAAAAAABW5k/a4yTmyRHRNo0HEeHSiIAsVHSAxVkz7tlgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/hard%2Bharriet%2Btubman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="194" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1IP_LLDjPY/XfGX7MFwX-I/AAAAAAABW5k/a4yTmyRHRNo0HEeHSiIAsVHSAxVkz7tlgCPcBGAYYCw/s200/hard%2Bharriet%2Btubman.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
AYA's Harriet Tubman <a href="http://www.ayaed.com/tubman">journey </a>continues with another specialty class: <b><i>The Tubman Story and Black Mental Health. </i></b><br />
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Wekesa Madzimoyo teaches parents, social workers, mental health professionals, and others interested in our mental health how to use story and particularly the Harriet Tubman Warrior-Healer-Builder Story to facilitate our mental healing in this online class.<br />
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When: Saturday, Dec. 14th 11:30am-1:30pm Eastern<br />
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<a href="http://www.ayanetwork.com/macform/view.php?id=67068">Register Now!</a><br />
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<b>The Araminta WHB Harriet Tubman Story for Healers and Helpers: <i>Controlling The Narrative; Controlling Our Future</i></b></div>
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<b>She led us out of physical bondage (slavery); maybe her true story can lead us out of psycho-social bondage as well.</b></div>
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<b>Features:</b></div>
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*Discovering Araminta Harriet Tubman - the storyteller</div>
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*Countering Injected Racials Scripts which warp her story and our stories</div>
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*Shaping the intersection of our people's narratives and our personal stories for our success </div>
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This two-hour training session will use Tubman's story to examine both the power of personal narratives and our people's narratives to create success, failure or both.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJTYcLB4Epc/XfGZZyv0W0I/AAAAAAABW5w/Ec6Q_FluI4scf2p3BdEd8vNaUKGNc2PiACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/moses%2Btaught%2Ball%2Bthe%2Bways%2Bof%2Begypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="960" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJTYcLB4Epc/XfGZZyv0W0I/AAAAAAABW5w/Ec6Q_FluI4scf2p3BdEd8vNaUKGNc2PiACPcBGAYYCw/s320/moses%2Btaught%2Ball%2Bthe%2Bways%2Bof%2Begypt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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African people were the first storytellers. We knew story's powerful force to create or destroy. We used it effectively by telling new-born naming stories (naming ceremonies) and by telling family stories, then Djali (griot) stories about the history of our village or our people and the afterlife.</div>
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Today, Black people have become more consumers and repeaters of other's stories - alien stories. The chains of captivity were heavy and brutal. They constrained us - restricted our movement. But captivity was costly and stimulated our acute resistance. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIKq14aDXcA/XfGZzzfoC5I/AAAAAAABW54/JgcaNDUcSr8fV8BnhFXfVK_2WYc-U6twwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/slavery_hands_chain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="425" height="132" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIKq14aDXcA/XfGZzzfoC5I/AAAAAAABW54/JgcaNDUcSr8fV8BnhFXfVK_2WYc-U6twwCPcBGAYYCw/s200/slavery_hands_chain.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The real goal was to break our spirits and to alienate us from our people's stories, making us ripe for alien stories to take hold. These dangerous stories injected into our consciousness do much more than constrain us.</div>
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They guide us to: </div>
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<li>Live other people's stories</li>
<li>Extract meaning from our lives based on their values, visions, and fears</li>
<li>Evaluate our lives and success based on how well our lives and our stories serve their interests</li>
<li>To create broken stories of our own lives and our people's lives</li>
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What's worse? When we become aware that these alien stories don't serve us - when they hurt us - the memory (story) of the brutality - induces us to blame ourselves. As Dr. Amos N. Wilson would say - <i><b>"It's a very slick system."</b></i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1YpZocXkyj0/XfGaGl1KagI/AAAAAAABW6A/BNXEcmdsbSEWJdtscgNN3VufUc44Z9xBwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/harriet%2Btubman%2Bstanding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="575" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1YpZocXkyj0/XfGaGl1KagI/AAAAAAABW6A/BNXEcmdsbSEWJdtscgNN3VufUc44Z9xBwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/harriet%2Btubman%2Bstanding.jpg" width="191" /></a><b>What is this got to do with Araminta Harriet Tubman? </b></div>
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Tubman, the storyteller, is often overlooked. We marvel at her bravery and revolutionary action and rightly so! We often miss that the story precedes the revolution (change). Through stories, she became the authority in her life and over her life. Can we take a page from her book to become the storyteller that she was?</div>
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Scholarly and popular stories about Harriet - including the recent movie - inject harmful racial scripts. You will learn how to counter these scripts to tell a more authentic and compelling story of our heroine and ourselves. The corrected story inspires and instructs us to "do Araminta.</div>
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<b>Narrative Therapy:</b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WcPdDJpCupI/XfGcDGKMDGI/AAAAAAABW6M/56sXsFIg6GMKBVGIXj8FsDVDHATV4P1bgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/ayi-kwei-armah-the-healers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="191" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WcPdDJpCupI/XfGcDGKMDGI/AAAAAAABW6M/56sXsFIg6GMKBVGIXj8FsDVDHATV4P1bgCPcBGAYYCw/s200/ayi-kwei-armah-the-healers.jpg" width="127" /></a>While narrative therapy is an established field of personality psychology, clinicians often ignore the damaging or uplifting effect of African peoples' narratives that we carry. </div>
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Our people's stories shape family narratives, which in turn shape our personal narratives and personal power. Too often personality therapy alone is too puny to help us heal the wounds of oppression. </div>
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Let us - the healers - control the narratives and prepare us to change the world!</div>
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<a href="http://www.ayanetwork.com/macform/view.php?id=67068" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">Register Now!</a></div>
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Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-68614987871044913512019-11-09T08:27:00.001-05:002019-11-09T08:27:55.482-05:00She Rescued Us; Now It's Our Turn<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oeavpLKjciU" width="459"></iframe>Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-60166183470532472342019-06-10T09:23:00.001-04:002019-06-10T09:23:42.027-04:00What Happened to All the Black Farmers? | NBC Left Field<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q-VWIZIL4ag" width="480"></iframe>Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-46343299998992459492019-06-03T10:08:00.000-04:002019-06-03T10:08:09.013-04:00Celebrate, Cry or Both?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">CNN Reports: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/15/us/west-point-largest-graduating-class-of-black-women-trnd/index.html">West Point is about to graduate its largest class of black women</a></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Should we celebrate or cry, or do both? To handle any obstacle course is an achievement, make no mistake. I love and celebrate powerful sisters. And West Point is not just an obstacle course, it's a military education and indoctrination institution. Are we to assume that they've been imbued with the proclivity and skill to defend our community or attack our enemies? Are we to ignore the initiatory nature that instills identification with and allegiance to those who oppress us?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I asked this in a post on Memorial Day when my family was celebration soldiers and former soldiers in my family - thanking them for their service in the military without an expectation of any service to defend and or lead our family or community against attacks on our community. It's difficult to raise because we applaud their courage, tenacity, intelligence, perseverance and more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our celebration forces us - like the ostrich - to bury our heads in the sand ignoring that those who oppress us - who shoot us in the streets have just certified them "worthy" of service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it like being so hungry and weary that we celebrate eating a meal prepared by our enemies and hoping that they've not poisoned us or hoping that the nourishment we get will allow us to counter the poison they've placed in the meal?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Have we just given up the ghost? Has our resistance morphed into retreat morphed into surrender?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This isn't just a question for the Black graduates - female and male - of West Point, it's relevant to us all as we celebrate our youth "graduating" from educational institutions not designed specifically to lift and defend our people.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SWIgu2qpIHQ/XPUpcqf4r-I/AAAAAAABRsU/3i39asLkCzUIZQZYIG1oLN4LnDqjUZ38ACLcBGAs/s1600/Dora-Milaje.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1600" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SWIgu2qpIHQ/XPUpcqf4r-I/AAAAAAABRsU/3i39asLkCzUIZQZYIG1oLN4LnDqjUZ38ACLcBGAs/s320/Dora-Milaje.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another commentator before me was inspired to post a picture of Okoye - leader of the Dora Milaje from the fictional Wakanda as an affirmation of the announcement. Hmm?<br /><br />Are we to assume that West Point has prepared the warriors-sister (and brothers) to battle for us? Does the FBI train the Dora Milaje to defend Wakanda to the death? Maybe our fictional victories are enough? Are we to allow that to be part of their purpose - to help us vicariously feel powerful while we surrender our power - our culture and our youth?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is no criticism of these women, it is of us - the elders. For my part, I apologize for I have failed them. I've not created and implemented an educational and socialization, and reward program that counters the indoctrination of West Point, or UNC, or SMU or any of the White-serving institutions. I must apologize for underestimating the tenacity of racism and placing them in harm's way at 5 and 6 years old. I must apologize for conflating the need to be certified to earn the income needed to care for their and our families with "service" to our community's highest aspirations and needs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a Black cultural sheath that allowed many Black soldiers from the Civil War to the Vietnam war to stay clothed in their "right" Black minds and to use their training, resources, and opportunity to defend our communities like Tulsa, Bogalusa, Watts, Newark, Rosewood, New Orleans, etc. That cultural sheath is so torn and tattered, that it isn't even a good ornament to that past, and certainly offers no protection to our youth who we entice to endure everything for the oppressor's validation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was and is our responsibility - those who know better - to repair this cultural sheath. Otherwise, such celebrations - that fills our bellies and lifts our spirits - will at the same time be our last meals. Worst - for abandoning our responsibility and our youth, the last thing we'll get to see them executing the kill order issued by their superiors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm crying, and each tear waters a renewed commitment to do the difficult work ahead of us to restore our people to our traditional greatness</span></div>
Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-19102760831093197832019-05-28T10:35:00.003-04:002019-05-29T07:19:26.610-04:00What 100 years old looks like! Celebrating Aunt Mary Lee Geddie - Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past weekend, I celebrated 100 years (1919 to 2019) of living as an African in America. </div>
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Enjoy this and look for more stories that have been spawned by this visit.</div>
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<br />Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-73091441522912166912019-05-03T17:39:00.000-04:002019-05-06T01:38:23.876-04:00Crisis: Black Teen Suicide! Are their actions mirroring our lives and leadership?<div id="header_inner" style="background-color: white; border-style: none; width: 590px;">
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Crisis: Black Teen Suicide!</h1>
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Question: Are their deaths reflecting our lives and our leadership?</h1>
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In response to the Congressional Black Caucus recognizing the crisis of Black youth suicide, my friend Monica Utsey (Sankofa Home School Collective in DC) called for us to get involved! (<a href="http://bit.ly/2WmmNIr" style="color: #0260b7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Black Cacus</a>)</div>
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Here's my response:</div>
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Monica, keep tellin' us. Keep reminding us that we are the answer, that meaningfulness comes from our relationships to each other - real relationships. Dr. Amos N. Wilson reminds us that life is most meaningful and powerful when we have stories that create an expanded past and an expanded and meaningful future. He also said that the alienation that leads to such suicide isn't an accident. Two Wilson quotes: "We are alienated so serve aliens," and alienation is the handmaiden of oppression."</div>
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Our children are reflecting our alienation and our broken stories. Far too many of us show them the empty and meaningless pursuits. They are rejecting them.</div>
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For life stories to have meaning and power for our youth the stories must extend from the past through the present and extend into the future. Expanded and meaningful pasts and futures are required for a powerful present! Since the future is not here, they will feed off of the stories about the future that we carry and project! We're not a broken people, we just have broken stories.</div>
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Last chance to sign up for May 11th class!</div>
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<a href="http://www.ayaed.com/hbs" style="color: #0260b7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Learn More / Register</a><br /><a href="https://ayaeducation.blogspot.comm/2019/04/aya-storytelling-class-habs-healing.html" style="color: #0260b7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Short Video Intro:</a><br />Please share!</div>
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We can fix our stories, heal our people and address this crisis. While I applaud the Black Caucus for repeating and amplifying the alarm, if we allow or wait for a governmental (outside-in) intervention, the crisis will intensify or be used to introduce further alienation and misdirection. Some of that is already present in the article.</div>
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In the 21st century, our mentalities and identity are manipulated neurologically via three strategies. Drug strategies and laser-gene strategies are newest and are cutting edge (more on that another time). However, by far the oldest and most pervasive are the communicative (verbal and nonverbal) strategies that manipulate us and them. Luckily, this is also where we can intervene most.</div>
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How? By what we model, what we say and the stories that we tell about our people, about the family and about their past, present and the future. Family, don't let this opportunity past. Please don't throw up your hands and beg or even allow others to try to "fix' this.</div>
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Governmental support can follow us, but not the other way around. In ways too numerous to detail here, this government is responsible for the broken stories and resulting suicides in the first place.</h2>
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<a href="http://www.ayaed.com/hbs" style="color: #0260b7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Learn More / Register</a><br /><a href="https://ayaeducation.blogspot.comm/2019/04/aya-storytelling-class-habs-healing.html" style="color: #0260b7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Short Video Intro:</a></div>
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Monica, I love your call for US to be part of the solution. I'll push it further - we ARE the solution. Our children and youth are rejecting the stories we are living and the ones we tell about the past and the future of our people, our family and their roles in it. We need to change those stories.</div>
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If there was ever a call for us to heal oppression's wounds, this is it. One option is for us to use the ancient Afrikan art of storytelling - intentional, adaptive and powerful. We need storytelling and story-living that heals alienation and replaces those broken stories that tell them that life is not worth living, that the opposition is too much, that we and they are not enough, that failure is imminent and that this precious life is worthless.</div>
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Unfortunately, telling them that they are good enough and life is worth living, etc. isn't good enough! It hasn't worked.</div>
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We'll have to allow the emotion of the story to deliver the moral and the lesson. We'll have to allow the characters of the stories to give them identity and eyes through which they can see a bright future. What's amazing is that these characters will not be Black Panther or Luke Cage (though they have their place). They'll be you and Uncle Hervey, Great Grandma Mary Lee, Aunt Rosie, Granddaddy Simmons, Papa and brother Rashid that you went to high school with.</div>
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I know. I know. Seems impossible and unlikely. That's part of the problem we don't know how to tell our stories of our lives in ways that are FULL OF MEANING, PURPOSE, DIRECTION.</div>
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So our youth feed on alien death stories.</div>
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Want to change this? Come learn how to be a part of the solution and how to take back this ancient tool that we've relinquished.</div>
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Last chance to sign up for May 11th class!</div>
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<a href="http://www.ayaed.com/hbs" style="color: #0260b7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Learn More / Register</a><br /><a href="https://ayaeducation.blogspot.comm/2019/04/aya-storytelling-class-habs-healing.html" style="color: #0260b7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Short Video Intro:</a></div>
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Please share!</div>
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<strong>Warrior, Healer, Builder,</strong><br /><em>*Wekesa Madzimoyo</em></div>
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Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-54558607187563471542019-04-10T21:33:00.000-04:002019-04-10T21:33:41.818-04:00Wekesa On The Road In Search of Family-Lore!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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www.ayaed.com/hbs</div>
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Family-Lore Project Course: </div>
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Celebrating Family by Healing Alienation & Healing Broken Stories</div>
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<br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light", HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">Family, Please join me for this family-changing course. I will personally</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">teach each session online-live via Zoom Conference</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Dates:</span></b></div>
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Sat. April: 13 Orientation (<b>free to the public</b>)</div>
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Sat. April 20th (official start)</div>
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Sat. May: 11, 25</div>
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June: 8th FLP Conference</div>
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Sat. June 22nd, June 29th</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Time:</b></span></div>
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When: Saturdays mornings</div>
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10:30am -12:30pm Eastern</div>
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April, May & June 2019 </div>
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This three-month course with personal coaching from me is usually $499. </div>
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I’ve discounted the registration fee to only $239. That’s less than $39.83 per class. </div>
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Monthly payment options are available.</div>
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<b>Why Discounted?</b></div>
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• I’m trying to get it in before my hectic summer travel schedule starts. </div>
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•This Family-Lore and Storytelling From the Inside-Out has made a powerful, difference in my life and want others to experience that power as well.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>Bonuses:</b></div>
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In addition to the course itself, your tuition includes registration to our annual Family-Lore Project conference in Atlanta, an online portal for storing, sorting, sharing your discoveries, and your own private social media intranet for community and support between classes.</div>
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<b>Register or learn more...</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.ayaed.com/hbs" style="color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light", HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;">www.ayaed.com/hbs</a></b></div>
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<br />Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-67597203424467789952019-04-05T16:26:00.001-04:002019-04-09T18:24:15.019-04:00HABS - Class. More on Healing Broken Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Register here: www.ayaed.com/hbs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
www.ayaed.com/hbs</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Family-Lore Project Course: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Celebrating Family by Healing Alienation & Healing Broken Stories</div>
<br />
<br />
Family, Please join me for this family-changing course. I will personally<br />
teach each session online-live via Zoom Conference<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dates:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. April: 13 Orientation (<b>free to the public</b>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. April 20th (official start)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. May: 11, 25</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
June: 8th FLP Conference</div>
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Sat. June 22nd, June 29th</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Time:</b></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When: Saturdays mornings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
10:30am -12:30pm Eastern</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
April, May & June 2019 </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
This three-month course with personal coaching from me is usually $499. </div>
<div>
I’ve discounted the registration fee to only $239. That’s less than $39.83 per class. </div>
<div>
Monthly payment options are available.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Why Discounted?</b></div>
<div>
• I’m trying to get it in before my hectic summer travel schedule starts. </div>
<div>
•This Family-Lore and Storytelling From the Inside-Out has made a powerful, difference in my life and want others to experience that power as well.</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Bonuses:</b></div>
<div>
In addition to the course itself, your tuition includes registration to our annual Family-Lore Project conference in Atlanta, an online portal for storing, sorting, sharing your discoveries, and your own private social media intranet for community and support between classes.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>Register or learn more...</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><a href="http://www.ayaed.com/hbs">www.ayaed.com/hbs</a></b></div>
</div>
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<br />Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-39695635477256537482019-04-05T16:10:00.001-04:002019-04-09T18:23:55.057-04:00AYA Storytelling Class | HABS Healing Alienation and Broken Stories<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HiRVYmkYreE" width="459"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
www.ayaed.com/hbs</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Family-Lore Project Course: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Celebrating Family by Healing Alienation & Healing Broken Stories</div>
<br />
<br />
Family, Please join me for this family-changing course. I will personally<br />
teach each session online-live via Zoom Conference<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dates:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. April: 13 Orientation (<b>free to the public</b>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. April 20th (official start)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. May: 11, 25</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
June: 8th FLP Conference</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. June 22nd, June 29th</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Time:</b></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When: Saturdays mornings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
10:30am -12:30pm Eastern</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
April, May & June 2019 </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
This three-month course with personal coaching from me is usually $499. </div>
<div>
I’ve discounted the registration fee to only $239. That’s less than $39.83 per class. </div>
<div>
Monthly payment options are available.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Why Discounted?</b></div>
<div>
• I’m trying to get it in before my hectic summer travel schedule starts. </div>
<div>
•This Family-Lore and Storytelling From the Inside-Out has made a powerful, difference in my life and want others to experience that power as well.</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Bonuses:</b></div>
<div>
In addition to the course itself, your tuition includes registration to our annual Family-Lore Project conference in Atlanta, an online portal for storing, sorting, sharing your discoveries, and your own private social media intranet for community and support between classes.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>Register or learn more...</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><a href="http://www.ayaed.com/hbs">www.ayaed.com/hbs</a></b></div>
</div>
</div>
Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-65345366050426453522019-03-30T09:05:00.001-04:002019-04-09T18:23:34.387-04:00HABS: Celebrating Black Families by Healing Alienation and Healing Broke...<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L7O7r9esZX0" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
www.ayaed.com/hbs</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Family-Lore Project Course: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Celebrating Family by Healing Alienation & Healing Broken Stories</div>
<br />
<br />
Family, Please join me for this family-changing course. I will personally<br />
teach each session online-live via Zoom Conference<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dates:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. April: 13 Orientation (<b>free to the public</b>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. April 20th (official start)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. May: 11, 25</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
June: 8th FLP Conference</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sat. June 22nd, June 29th</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Time:</b></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When: Saturdays mornings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
10:30am -12:30pm Eastern</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
April, May & June 2019 </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
This three-month course with personal coaching from me is usually $499. </div>
<div>
I’ve discounted the registration fee to only $239. That’s less than $39.83 per class. </div>
<div>
Monthly payment options are available.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Why Discounted?</b></div>
<div>
• I’m trying to get it in before my hectic summer travel schedule starts. </div>
<div>
•This Family-Lore and Storytelling From the Inside-Out has made a powerful, difference in my life and want others to experience that power as well.</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Bonuses:</b></div>
<div>
In addition to the course itself, your tuition includes registration to our annual Family-Lore Project conference in Atlanta, an online portal for storing, sorting, sharing your discoveries, and your own private social media intranet for community and support between classes.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Register or learn more...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.ayaed.com/hbs">www.ayaed.com/hbs</a></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-46262074994741322072019-03-15T22:20:00.003-04:002019-03-15T22:20:51.044-04:00Happy Birthday, Didn't Make it Easy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zBbSbM-ZLuo/XIxa5Liy1tI/AAAAAAABQeQ/Lh67_G1hVvUqJpXNpa9K5o0GZsdtMj2YACLcBGAs/s1600/tuessia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="386" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zBbSbM-ZLuo/XIxa5Liy1tI/AAAAAAABQeQ/Lh67_G1hVvUqJpXNpa9K5o0GZsdtMj2YACLcBGAs/s200/tuessia.jpg" width="80" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know that I didn't make it easy. I lived with my father and my other mother on alternate years. I was young and all I wanted was for my father and my mother - Maggie - to get back together. Now, here was this other woman, Tuessia, standing in the way. This woman who also shared the same birthday as my mom, I would one day also call mom.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But not so fast, to rush it would do her and injustice. It takes a strong woman to love through a child's wish that she wasn't there.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't ever remember being mean, but I had to have been something. If she were here to tell it, that "something" would morph into "a handful" and then some!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Still, she loved my Dad and that was enough to start. As the years passed, it became</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lV9PKJtVD88/XIxbEtMxUMI/AAAAAAABQeU/7UPowhioFa4t8sWtV-j1qD6g287T7BrVACLcBGAs/s1600/dad%2Band%2Btuessia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lV9PKJtVD88/XIxbEtMxUMI/AAAAAAABQeU/7UPowhioFa4t8sWtV-j1qD6g287T7BrVACLcBGAs/s200/dad%2Band%2Btuessia.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> clear to me that Maggie's and Cornell's separation was of their own making - and in many ways, was a blessing. My mother had never asked me to fight any battles for her anyway. Slowly, I began to let my guard down; stopped comparing her to my other mom, and started to appreciate some of her magic, some of her love, some of her story and her strength.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37EzkoxfxCc/XIxcN7SZ_wI/AAAAAAABQek/UWsuAfXYVbMikWu9M_mkYBVx_rt3Qh23QCLcBGAs/s1600/sheridena%2Bmallonese%2Bavery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37EzkoxfxCc/XIxcN7SZ_wI/AAAAAAABQek/UWsuAfXYVbMikWu9M_mkYBVx_rt3Qh23QCLcBGAs/s200/sheridena%2Bmallonese%2Bavery.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">My sister Sheridena (<a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100010611618593&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARBrx9OTOkxLYNq8PrmYYI2YbkGDQje2T2Tdzlx6mjxDU2WP--HzJ1CkMLerft4BLcamKOgjVqCbTago%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/sheridena.williams?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R-R&eid=ARBrx9OTOkxLYNq8PrmYYI2YbkGDQje2T2Tdzlx6mjxDU2WP--HzJ1CkMLerft4BLcamKOgjVqCbTago&fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Mallonese Avery</a>) helped. Loving my brother Randy helped. Mr. Avery - her father - became a grandfather to me. That helped. By the time my sister, <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100001898288535&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARAjiSI3vpSPJE7a0L1oAeZcfwvZbUswWq075-8xsRGQSoiJWlgljf4ODtR10gEWplrSjfHxGJSW6gKW%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.lias?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R-R&eid=ARAjiSI3vpSPJE7a0L1oAeZcfwvZbUswWq075-8xsRGQSoiJWlgljf4ODtR10gEWplrSjfHxGJSW6gKW&fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Ingrid Lias</a> came, it was a wrap. I had two mothers - both different and both loved me. My mother had remarried too and my sisters Susan (<a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1365902853&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARCmGOwaWkI8B4RNBVHPcnHC86C9TzIgcNZ0r6IzO0hYMf8xF-XUnVzHcKBsU0FLZfuwzw_PGhx3wKR8%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/susanrena.geddie?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R-R&eid=ARCmGOwaWkI8B4RNBVHPcnHC86C9TzIgcNZ0r6IzO0hYMf8xF-XUnVzHcKBsU0FLZfuwzw_PGhx3wKR8&fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Susan Soulay</a>), Vonzella (<a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=840569206&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARD7uhEnrHIZy7suMK0aiiO52oDYgAmYQpW-RX03UPFQHWrdHK28SkD4CDSizbvkSCRGSkRiFijlilT4%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/vonzella.wrightbrown?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R-R&eid=ARD7uhEnrHIZy7suMK0aiiO52oDYgAmYQpW-RX03UPFQHWrdHK28SkD4CDSizbvkSCRGSkRiFijlilT4&fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Vonzella Brown</a>) and Angie (<a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1467253880&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARBiyexhWZA3M6qZwHmDW2nWIcnMlIzxolpL00Nt-dzoEN5QxqjWni-G9ovGgxzKnKf0m7_JofWWnrSb%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/angie.wrighttucker?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R-R&eid=ARBiyexhWZA3M6qZwHmDW2nWIcnMlIzxolpL00Nt-dzoEN5QxqjWni-G9ovGgxzKnKf0m7_JofWWnrSb&fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Angie Wright-Tucker</a>) had come on the scene. In true African tradition, we were all brothers and sisters. No steps. No halves. We all had become family.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the beginning, everything ran through dad, now we were beginning to find our own relationship. Plus I was beginning to see that my dad was a handful. I was glad that she loved him.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6b9okGHw44s/XIxcUDcoznI/AAAAAAABQes/g15oQ-SXP-QWvlzqM1UMURVq7d0YPmTiwCLcBGAs/s1600/family%2Btuessia%2Brandy%2Bingrid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6b9okGHw44s/XIxcUDcoznI/AAAAAAABQes/g15oQ-SXP-QWvlzqM1UMURVq7d0YPmTiwCLcBGAs/s320/family%2Btuessia%2Brandy%2Bingrid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama Tuessia, Rev. Randy Geddie and Ingrid Lias</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By the time I was 15 and working as a photographer at the Savoy Supper Club, both couples were seated together at the same table enjoying themselves. Strange to some; natural for us. I was happy too.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">Still, it would be years before I could call her "mom." During my younger contentious years, she had instructed me to call her "Ms. Tuessia." It was respectful but distant. It's like our growing closeness had to crawl over a "Ms. Tuessia" fence. I had long wanted to give that up and one day I risked that she didn't want or need it either.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On a long drive from Montgomery, AL to Fayetteville, NC, I decided that I'd ask her the question that I'd wanted to ask, but just hadn't. In the car with me was my son, Ayinde. Tears streamed down my face when he was asleep. His mother had recently separated from me, and when I would look at him, I'd see myself many years before. Funny how things come around.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now was the time.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I rolled the car into our driveway at 511 Dean Street, she and I embraced. It was really good to see her and I couldn't wait to find the right time. When we finally got to a quiet place alone, I started with a little nervous chit-chat, then asked, "can I call you "mom?" Her smile told me that I was right - she had wanted that fence down as much as I did. Our eyes watered. We hugged again this time for a long time and though she's now passed to the other side, she has not stopped huggin' me since that day.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you, Mom. Happy Birthday.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-voPD4EojL0Y/XIxcN2tcM2I/AAAAAAABQeo/VYzMCnzY9RABNHHTaKAS3h4lTful5e8NgCLcBGAs/s1600/4tGoFkdT_400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-voPD4EojL0Y/XIxcN2tcM2I/AAAAAAABQeo/VYzMCnzY9RABNHHTaKAS3h4lTful5e8NgCLcBGAs/s200/4tGoFkdT_400x400.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-8738038191392825942019-03-15T22:03:00.002-04:002019-03-15T22:21:41.096-04:00Happy Birthday, Don't Tell Yourself "No!"<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_18jc" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 6px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3P-LnaY-WAY/XIxVgtDeUkI/AAAAAAABQds/MApghBy5cCQHTH8PugjC_10FTgQ7NxHrACLcBGAs/s1600/mom%2Bsmile%2Bthat%2Bchased%2Bour%2Bfears%2Baway%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3P-LnaY-WAY/XIxVgtDeUkI/AAAAAAABQds/MApghBy5cCQHTH8PugjC_10FTgQ7NxHrACLcBGAs/s200/mom%2Bsmile%2Bthat%2Bchased%2Bour%2Bfears%2Baway%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="157" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
In the early days, her life was my life. I was her "Christmas baby," and she taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to. I love myself because she loved me - unconditionally. She taught me to love life and to go get it. <i>"Son, don't tell yourself, "'no."</i> At least give them a chance to say that."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Years ago I wrote the words below as an invitation to my mother's celebration of life ceremony held in Fayetteville, NC, they are even more appropriate now as we call to her spirit:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie and Cornell</td></tr>
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<i>"Even now her smile, her light, her love continues to shine.<br />As this year comes to a close let us remember the beauty of the eyes that taught us to see. Remember the smile that warmed us and chased our fears away. Remember the love that she showed. The love that taught us to love."</i></div>
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Today, March 15th is the birthday of both of my mothers - both of whom have passed to the spirit realm, yet remain with me daily. That's right, my father blessed me with two wonderful mothers born on the same day - Maggie Tucker Wright (featured here) and Tuessia Avery Geddie. I'll place some pictures of Mama Tuessia in another post later today.</div>
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For those of you who were touched by "Mag," "Aunt Mag," "Evangelist Maggie Tucker" join me in celebrating her life's walk by commenting below and sharing any thoughts and especially any stories of how she touched you or how you remember her.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma Hettie Tucker</td></tr>
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She got her white hair honest - as the old folks would say.<br />
Included in this collection are pictures of Great Grandma Maggie - her namesake - and Grandma Hettie. Mom's sweetness and her white hair descended from those women. </div>
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The door to her home and her heart was always open. Now, you had to climb over a few things to get there, but once seated, you knew you were home.</div>
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Also included in this picture set are the two wonderful fathers she gave to me - Cornell Geddie and Garrie Wright. These two men and my mother's brothers shaped the foundation of my manhood. It was they who told me that I was a man - not my age. There is a story for another day.</div>
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<b>Brooklyn: A Snippet From The Early Days</b></div>
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There is one picture from her days in Brooklyn, NY (Thanks to <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100027266496179&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARAV8bldApVkz2plobqRR0GiZu9IJsYI_THFqJb-vODzkQZAlBh7k1K4BoTmPR6M88nEz8ybIo3SOVwR%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/douglas.tucker.5686?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAV8bldApVkz2plobqRR0GiZu9IJsYI_THFqJb-vODzkQZAlBh7k1K4BoTmPR6M88nEz8ybIo3SOVwR&fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Douglas Tucker</a>). Memories from that period flood my brain. There she is standing behind the counter serving franks (not "hot dogs") in Uncle Johnny's restaurant. There's Aunt Rosey at Wednesday night prayer meeting. Nobody could pray as long, and as loud as Aunt Rosey! Then there was Gates Ave - just above the storefront church was Elder Pelser was the pastor. We moved to Reid Ave, then Schenck, then Sachman. Memories...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom in Brooklyn</td></tr>
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While her number would "hit" occasionally, and the card games and gambling weekends did provide excitement and some relief, life for us was no crystal staircase or silver spoon.</div>
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Somehow she and the family made it sweet - anyway. I remember while engaging in the family tradition of tussling, Donald Jr. or <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100034159162181&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARBvwYVDTnXdhjA06PwVzVQpW-S5cdJwU3apUCI89RxaN0T4zYs3Oh-rf12vSaJrxLMPXcKcX8ypGh-a%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/oscar.tucker.587?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARBvwYVDTnXdhjA06PwVzVQpW-S5cdJwU3apUCI89RxaN0T4zYs3Oh-rf12vSaJrxLMPXcKcX8ypGh-a&fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Oscar Tucker</a> would knock me down, she was the first to say "get up, and get back in there." While I never could win - Donald Jr. was bigger, and Oscar was quicker and stronger than both of us put together - her exhortations to keep fighting reflected her decision about how to live life - bumps, bruises and all - and her belief that I could win.</div>
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In the face of all of the things life threw at her, and at the family, doubt would creep into my mind, She would see it in my eyes, my countenance, or hear it in my tone. She'd put her arms around me, squeeze me tightly with a little shake at the tightest point and issue her constant refrain: " C'mon, we're gonna make it."</div>
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So deeply did she instill that in me, that much later when I could recognize a hint of doubt dancing in the corner of her mouth, my response was automatic: "C'mon, mom, we're gonna make it."</div>
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Love you, Mom. Happy Birthday!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Daddy Garrie Wright</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Grandma, Maggie. <br />
My mother's namesake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and my sisters, (L-R) Angelina,<br />
Vonzella, Susan.</td></tr>
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Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9069093873678353184.post-57846327574056268762019-02-17T02:14:00.001-05:002019-02-17T09:12:28.731-05:00Jo - From The Other Side of the River<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="77hsh" data-offset-key="ekcd4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span data-offset-key="ekcd4-0-0"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks, again, Jo (Josephine Bowens Lewis) for answering the call once more. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was talking to my grandson, Addae, tonight. He's somewhat afraid to "try on" some options to discover why he sometimes gets door-slamming angry with little apparent provocation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He's been reluctant to try on some key WHB options designed to clear emotional substitutions - mad for sad, or mad for scared, etc. I pulled up this picture of you and took him back to one of our conversation at your home in Chapel Hill, NC. It was the one where I was afraid of being authentic with you, for fear that you'd "get into my head," that you'd be able to manipulate me or know more about me than I knew myself. Remember? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You were ten years my senior. I'd seen your work with groups and individuals as a therapist, advisor, counselor, etc. I had respect for your skills - both professional and personal, those that you acquired from your studies at the South East Institute and those that you caught from your mother and your father and his operating as a Bishop of the United Holiness Church of America in which both my mother and my grandfather were ministers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With you, the knowledge was integrated so smoothly that no one knew from which tributary the intuition or wisdom flowed. They all seem to flow from you - or maybe through you. Either way, it never seemed a struggle. It was natural. Your flow was easy and powerful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was scared and didn't even know it. You sensed the conflict between the part of me that wanted to have an honest conversation - no pretense, no covers - just flowing and my verbal hedges, avoiding phrases and guarded body language. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You put words to my fears, "</span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Do you think, I can read your mind or something?"</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> you asked. My eyes, my countenance or maybe my denial confirmed your suspicions. Without laughter or ridicule, you reassured me like I tried to reassure my grandson: </span><br />
<i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></i><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">"You are the only one who knows your thoughts or can know your thoughts. I can guess, and they are from my experience. They may be right or wrong guesses, but you are the only one who can really know what you think, what feel, what you did and what you will do."</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I believed you and began to tell the truth about what I thought, what I wanted, what I liked and didn't without a million calculations about what you would think about it and, ultimately about me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Something in the way you reassured me went beyond the message that I could trust me; you were saying that you trusted me, and trusted yourself to take care of you - with me. More than giving words to my fears, you kissed them, like a mother reassuring a child with a gentle kiss on the forehead. Even now - more than 40 years later - all I can say is damn! The freedom was incredible. My self-discovery accelerated and has yet to stop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It wouldn't be the last time that you encouraged me to trust myself, to remind me that I didn't need to construct an artificial psychic/emotional wall to protect me. It would be years before I would discover and name "not trusting myself" a part of "injected oppression." It would be years before I discovered how many layers deep it was planted, the corners of my stories where it hid, and the various ways it would rear up from its edifice of fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Somehow, whenever it showed up - erecting yet another wall of pseudo-protection - your words "you can trust yourself" would help me dissolve it. In the face of your reassurance, solid stone turned into millions of fragments - getting smaller and smaller, then disappearing. In its place, I stood - authentic me - trusting that I was enough and trusting that whatever I chose to think or do would be good and would be the best thing for me.
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From that place, I've made masterpieces and I've made a mess, alternately applauding and growing from both. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jo, even though you're on the other side of the river, I know you hear me and feel me - as I hear and feel you. Medase, I pray that my voice and your part in nurturing it will touch my grandson such that he grows increasingly to trust himself enough to find the authentic power that he is.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">M</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">edase, and good night.
An entry from my upcoming book:
Moyo Musings (Due out in the fall of 2019).
This piece is in the section entitled "Through me." </span></span></div>
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Wekesa Madzimoyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07845052107288790440noreply@blogger.com0