heavy. 

This week, I would like to reflect on the experiences of African peoples, both in Brazil and the United States. Being here in Salvador has already been a trasformative experience for me as an African American women. Seeing the obvious differences and striking similarities between the stories of our ancestors and the current struggles faced in both countries forces me to form a greater appreciation for the collective struggle of the African Diaspora. In effect, I have been struck by the idea that very easily my ancestors could have been sent to different ports and I could’ve been born with a different name and language. Similarly, both of our ancestors were brought in as slaves, treated like property in a Euro-centric nation. Then once given freedom, they were asked to co-exist with their encaptors as if the past had never happened. Now today, we both live in societies dramatically changed by the past although many people refuse to acknowledge this truth. In both the United States and here in Brazil its evident that the socioeconomic opportunites of Black people are substially different than there white counterparts due to disparities in wealth and property ownership. Additionally, our lectures are beginning to allude to how pervasive racism was in Brazillian culture, a force I’m sure still is a factor, if not a determinant in the country. This similar narrative of coming from Africa, being enslaved, and then struggling to compete economically while also fighting for respect and the preservation of culture has been the story for Blacks in both nations. Listening to the lecture yesterday on the history of carnaval and the musical/political movement shows how afro-Brazillians have engaged in many of the same struggles that afro-Americans fought. Even more interesting, these struggles seemed to occur around the same time.

What seems strikingly different is the response of afro-Brazillians and Afro-Americans to our histories. While in the United States we struggle to maintain cultural memory, here, the entire state of Bahia is nationally known for being a center for afro-Brazillian culture, religion and tradition. On the opposite end, it seems that Afro-Americans have been successful in promoting revolutionary movements to change the conditions in which we exist or demand repiration. Although the Ile Aiye and Olodum do an excellent job of instilling pride in one’s African roots - I have yet to learn of a political movement that engaged the afro-Brazilian community to organize around change beyond the slave era. I look forward to learning more about these similarities and differences as this knowledge truely is allowing me to learn more about myself. 

As I procrastinate, groan and complain about finishing 7.5 more pages of writing - I sit in my big, empty apartment with a giant coffee mug full of tea - music blasting Amos Lee in my beautiful room. I left all doors in the house ajar, from the bedroom, to the balcony, to the front door… because I like the air and idea of openness. I can hear birds chirping even now at 7 PM in my quiet Jewish neighborhood. And I think of home blessed I am, because of how blessed I am to be in college. The idea that that’s ending soon gives me even more motivation to really appreciate the exercise of articulating my thoughts. I could be so many other places: pregnant, dead, living at home, homeless, in high school still…whatever. No, I’m the student body president at UCLA — the most sought after school in the country. 

And if that wasn’t enough.. I pull out a photograph of my grandmother. The woman whose words always seem to make me cry, even if its just a “Good Morning.” And I remember her sacrifice. Her prayers for us on countless nights, her hustle for our livelihood - my livelihood. And I remember the stories that she refuses to tell of how, as a smart teenager on a Mississippi farm she begged her father to send her to a university. 

But for reasons I couldn’t even appreciate, he said no. And I recall how I’m always so amazed at how honestly BRILLIANT my grandmother. Not just wise, but tactical and logistical and rational. Things you cannot always expect a Southern belle to be. And I think that instead of getting the only thing I can imagine her ever asking for, her father made her stay in Mississippi and raise her 9 brothers and sisters, and then her own five children and then her own 9 grand-children (with not much break in between) and now other people’s children to supplement her Social Security check. And I get a little angry… not at my great-grandfather, but at time. Time, which granted me the privilege to complain about writing papers my grandmother should’ve wrote. And I recall that I am a Carter - and my life’s dream is to turn the women and men of my lineage into the superheroes that they rightfully deserve to be recognized as and show them to the world. And then I get teary-eyed over a Facebook note, shut up and write my paper.

-Womanfesto 

by Jill Scott

Clearly I am not some lump of flesh squeezed into tight jeans ..
I am active brain
And lip smacking peach deep
Sometimes too aggressive in its honesty
And heart sweet
That loves wholly and completely
Whom ever it may choose

I am not gonna lie and pacify
I am arms to hold
I am lips to speak
I am a “G”

Strong legs that stroll off the 33 bus
Or out of a money green Phantom comfortably
Knees that bend to pray
Clean from Ajax washings
Hair that is thick and soft
Thighs that betwixt
An all amazing grand prize

I am eyes that sing
Smile that brightens
Touch that rings
And supplies euphoric release
I am a Grand Dame Queen Beast

I am warm
I am peace
From the roads of Botswana from 23rd Street
From the inside third eye
Ever watching this wicked wicked system of things
I do see

I am friend to pen
And a lover of strong women
A diamond to men
I am curious and interested like children
I welcome the wise to teach
Appreciator of my culture
Thick not just from bone dense and eat

I have a rhythm in my ways
And a practice in my seek
And yes, I do crave the rhythm of my space
With a man that rejoices in God’s Grace

With faith I do hear to listen
Two hands that fist
When forced pushes to shove
And your ego won’t submit

And I am gifted
I am all of this
And indeed the shit

Clearly I am not just an ass 

In no particular order .. . 

(1) BlackFound - Supporting the work or expand the scope of organizations like the 21st Century Foundation and the National Black United Fund. There must be a source for black dollars and the activity of cooperative economics. The recommendation for these organizations are larger name recognition and social enterprise.

(2) Black Thought - An online web platform for the creation and development of solutions to issues facing the African diaspora. See openideo.com

(3) Progressive Party - The establishment of a legitimate 3rd US political force that will represent the voice of a multi-racial, mixed income, anti-discrimination, common-sense, progressive, inclusive, and solution-oriented electorate to challenge the existing “2 sided” (but really one sided) discourse and direction of this country. 

(4) Research on policy, psychological, environmental, and social barriers that prevent the mobility of low-income black communities.

(5) Nonprofit that works to empower black youth to take over the American political process by demanding democracy in its truest form and organizes to create community-directed solutions to our needs.

(6) A pro-black, anti-post-racial, revolutionary movement making use of the influence of conscious black celebrities as spokespeople. Giving voice to our communities needs via currently untapped or underutilized community resources. 

(7) Organize the faith based community to recognize their responsibility through Christ to be invested in social justice. Help to reestablish the church as a vital part of the black community and regain its relevance as a social force. 

(8) Train my offspring to be an army of self-advocates and lovers of people because of their relationship with God. Watch them grow old in a country that can be shaped by their hands and see them lacking only what they have not yet desired. 

(9) Continue to learn and grow and love and expand. Never lose my optimism and continuously be inspired by the power of God and the potential of people. 

(10) Write a play on the place of the black elite in the movement for change. 

i’m exhausted. 

i ended the day with questions and optimism… a sense that i got where we’re going. as the day went on, i just felt tired. and unsupported -

1. its going to be important to keep a life outside of Coro

2. its going to be important to stay healthy

3. this is not going to be an affirming project - goals are important, and maybe even metrics in order to be self-affirming

4. i don’t enjoy the public embarrassment of others as a method of teaching 

5. i try to figure things out 

6. will i pitch my weight? ? 

7. that’s too many days away!! 

8. the group is cool .