I urge anyone who hasn`t to visit the Motherland. Any part of Africa you choose to explore will bring you closer to something within you you couldn`t have found without the experience. A very literal, analytical sister myself, before my visit, I never subscribed to the term "African American". Thinking it was just trendy, I was cool w/ being a Black American. After a few days of "Welcome home, my sister," beautiful smiles mirroring mine w/ a single gap in the middle, feelings of deja vu, etc., a sista is definitely AFRICAN AMERICAN. Then again, we have to be aware too that there are white Africans. Makes sense but sometimes not until you really think about it. So to be African American doesn`t necessarily communicate one of color. White folks been over there since the 1800s, so honestly, they have a heritage there too...dubious as it may be. Just a thought.
And my personal use of the term Nig%&*...it never sounded so ugly till I heard it coarse thru the lovely accent of an African rapper. YUK!! The mother in me wanted to wash his mouth out w/ soap. Still...it was a mirror to myself. I kept thinking, "Could you walk up to a Zulu or Xhosa Warrior dripping fresh sweat & blood, exhausted but still standing tall after slaying Dutchmen & the Brittish in battle for their ancestors` land & say `Whassup my nig%&*?`" HELL NAH!! A headchecker for me. You may not see a need to remove it from your vocab, but I`m humbled to say I try to keep mine checked. Just a thought.
During our visit to S. Africa, my daughter & I toured Capetown & its Peninsula, Soweto, Pilanesburg, Johannesburg, Bakunbung, Sun City & Pretoria, a big deal for a ghetto girl from the S. Bronx. More than a chance to see some of the most breathtaking natural sights I`ve ever seen, closer than I wanted to be to some dangerous animals, the most beautiful Black folks I never knew existed there & some of the most enchanting/intoxicating music I`ve ever heard (ALL the music in S. Africa is FUNKY)...it was a chance to witness the realness of the plight of some of our brothers & sisters abroad. Plus you hear Luther, Marvin, Whitney, all our folks, playin on the radios over there too. Home away from home, for real, man. God, how I wish I could go often as I want.
No doubt there are hardships here in the U.S....all over the world for that argument. But my heart holds a special, entitled place for Black folks & our heritage, so that`s the subject of this commentary & this BP page. So now I urge you to consider the the working poor,needy women, elderly & children in S. Africa, specifically Capetown, Johannesburg & the community of Langa. Common education & healthcare we take for granted, some of these people need & can`t afford.
Many of you know AIDS & TB are RAMPANT. Believe it or not, some people w/ TB who get medicine for it from the health department delay taking their meds to prevent its total cure because the health department provides aid to their families during their infirmity. So if they get better, the funding stops. A crazy reality, baby, but it`s painfully real.
There`s an incredible will to learn amongst the young people who`ll read almost anything to further educate themselves. No wonder they SOAR academically when given a chance to be educated in the U.S. I never knew before my visit that African history books tell the children lies about their heritage & heros just like American books. It`s folks over there mad as hell about that too. I thought because they`re in Africa, surely they know the deal. Oppression is a thorough thief, my loves. Think of all the books that decorate our homes or serve as table legs that a young person would love to glean its knowledge...
So I solicit the willing hearts of the CONSCIOUS Black Family who may happen across this page to please donate any useful goods you may have that can be of good use to our families across the Atlantic. Examples of such are:Clothing, household goods, BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS, especially BOOKS. Please examine goods to be sure of reasonable wear & condition to offer as gifts & if necessary, lightlywash any clothing as necessary. I`m shipping goods often as I can afford. The postage can be expensive even by boat. If you`d like to ship things yourself, I`m happy to share the addresses. If you can donate funds, I`ll share the account #`s as well.
Yes, there`s need for funds as well & I do have organization account numbers to donate money to. However, I do know "us" & we tend to get suspicious w/ donated money. No doubt we have good reason to w/ the crooks infesting the gifts of the givers. However, once we decide it "might be tricky", then we relieve ourselves of answering the call to help...right? So that`s why I ask only that you search your hearts, your closets, basements & garages & be willing to give stuff you`re not using & will throw away or give away anyway. Give only what your heart & conscience say to give.
Please plan a trip soon as you can to Africa, anywhere in Africa, to see its Mighty Magnificence for yourself. What an absolutely GLORIOUS, BEAUTIFUL place, mountains EVERYWHERE w/ heartstopping sunsets.
After being escorted on a tour of Robben Island where Nelson Mandela & other political prisoners were jailed along w/ murderers, rapists & thieves checked my head on forgiveness & the will for good within the human spirit & how these brothers, in spite of unspeakable cruelties,indignities & oppression continue to be soldiers against evil & hatred. Those brothers were encouraged & were obedient to not return the violence to their brothers who were raping them, beating them out of ignorance but to continue to try to school them, educate them & keep the goal of Freedom in the forefront. It was heavy, man. Difficult to even tell you now...
...BUT there are community issues within the depths of the cities & various outskirts that are a different kind of struggle than that which we know here, whole neighborhoods using the same water faucet & outhouse-type restroom facilities. There are those who remain in states of impoverished desititution as their lives have yet to benefit from the new system of government since Apartheid was abolished. Yet these are communities of people who are still working citizens trying to "come up" on their own in spite of the odds w/ only a small, slowly growing percentage making it out of ghastly lifestyles.
Life & humility sometimes shows us that we are our brothers` keeper. Remember, you`re blessed to be a blessing. May God continue to bless you & may your hearts live in the sunshine. I love "Us", man, fa sho. Walk good.
