Archive for the ‘politics’ Category

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Recalling History, Reframing Haiti

January 21, 2010

I spotted this quote on the Web. I found it interesting that Mr. Wendell, a well-off Harvard man of the 1800s would say this about Haiti. It seems so ultra, ultra-progressive. Nonetheless, here’s my attempt at changing the conversation. God if you’re listening, how about a moratorium on natural disasters for us (meaning black people, or any people) for a little while. Many of us are still grieving Katrina…

“Some doubt the courage of the Negro.Go to Haiti and stand on those fifty thousand graves of the best soldiers France ever had, and ask them what they think of the Negro’s sword.”

-Phillips Wendell
Address on Toussaint L’Ouverture, referring to theWar of Haitian Independence, 1804.

Posted in Haiti, politics, quotables | Leave a Comment »

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Remember Maya Angelou before Celebrity?

December 27, 2009

I came across this interview with Maya Angelou from the 1980s, and it occurred to me that this is the woman whose voice and words I fell in love with. I read her autobiographies and world literally opened up to me. I don’t hear this person speak when I see her interviewed these days. Granted, she’s much older now and probably feels very secure in her contributions that she doesn’t need to posture as anything. It just bothers me that so many of my friends don’t know her beyond reading her poem at President Clinton’s inauguration. What a Renaissance Woman she is! Acting, directing, dancing, traveling, writing, etc.

How strange is celebrity: it’s a double-edged sword because most artists want to be able to live off of their art and often celebrity affords that. It’s a Catch-22.

Here’s the interview.

Posted in Africa, Culture, interview, poets and writers, politics | 1 Comment »

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Obama’s Speech on Unemployment

December 8, 2009

In October, I left my job or I was fired. My position was terminated. However you slice it my future was uncertain. Surprisingly, I was clear-sighted through it all. I remember it was the tail-end of October. The trees were shedding much like the big and small companies around the nation. I was grateful that payday was the following week so that November’s rent wouldn’t be a concern. As a child, I moved around often. Being jobless didn’t scare me as much as having to telephone my landlord and explain what I had hoped to be a private moment of shame.

As soon as I collected my things from my office to begin my new life as a twenty-five year old with more time on my hands than I ever had in a long time, several questions popped in my head. What will I do about health insurance? What if my five year old gets sick? What if I get sick? What if I didn’t find anything? Did I have the stamina to go through the whole process of applying for unemployment or worst, social services?

As President Obama gears up for his speech on unemployment, here are some items I’d like to see included in the discussion:

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Posted in news, personal essays, politics | Leave a Comment »