Today’s kinté Links
There is a Google version of Kindezi
Kindezi: The Kongo Art of Babysitting is one of a few African-centered books on Google Books. This book along with Facing Mount Kenya is a key, solution-oriented, African books in my collection. This interest of mine implies that I was a natural-born African but quickly became a Negro, which make me Black—and now I’m trying to get back to my African-centered indigenous roots. There is a way to play a DJ remix of Western technology and ancient African family practice (government). There is a way to live with highly technical solutions without a military, patriarchal, polluting mentality. So, umm… two books are not going to be enough to reach my lofty goals but that does not mean surrendering to the status quo.
“My House” by Nikki Giovanni
“My House” by Nikki Giovanni is another one of the many, many poems not featured here in the kinté space because the urgent priority is just not there. The crude way to express this is that, simply, Nikki Giovanni does not need any extra help to promote her poem “My House” on the Web. It is just a matter of performing a search for this poem and you can see almost 10,000 references! Case closed.
“My House” entered my life through reading 1980’s Like It Is. Not surprisingly I can’t find this book on the Internet (so far). A picture of Nikki Giovanni in the book is in my collection. More on this later…
“African community radio station bans Black History Month”
blackbritain.co.uk: “African community radio station, Voice of Africa Radio, has opted out of these month’s black history celebrations, as a display of protest at the attempts to condense at least 2000 years of rich African history and culture into just 31 days.”
A display of protest is a bit to garish for what’s been going on in the kinté space in 1998. Apart from an ironically popular entry called “Ostracizing Remarks about Being Ostracized,” no one ever took the time to inquire about the fine detail of why a history month for Black people is not celebrated in the kinté space.
My ultra-ultra-orthodox conservative stance actually questions the use of imperial Roman month names—let alone the fabrication of a Black history month. Such protest simply passes along redundant information to the converted and annoys many Negroes and too many Black people who have no problem saying the word “August” to indicate the time for next summer’s African liberation meeting.
Comments
brian, 2007-10-18 18:27:25
I feel you on the Black History Month topic. And even feel you on the names, but we gotta give ourselves a break, while of course continually challenging each other, simultaneously. I appreciate a lot your challenge with the Roman calendar! That's definitely what's up. But also must say you gotta give yourself a break too. After all, your blog entries use those Roman calendar names. But here's to moving in the right direction, together.
rasx(), 2007-10-18 18:55:47
Me speaking strictly means "no one" (on the Internet) would understand me. That's more ostracism than even me can stand! The use of quotes in this Blog indicate a word that "they" say and that "we" need to question (or just stop saying completely).
My 'ultra-ultra orthodox conservative stance' is a position that me alone can hold for only short periods. When Black communities center upon a systematic, holistic purification regimen that includes removing the impurities of imperial language/consciousness then we can really get moving... In case you are familiar with the Ausar Auset society they are the most "realistic" attempt known to me... but they are deliberately and hopelessly trapped in English.
brian, 2007-10-20 00:59:14
Me alone can hold for only short periods... i appreciate that recognition.
That's exactly how I feel, or rather have had to realize is okay for me to feel that way.
Because before realizing that I can't do it alone I used to beat my own ass over trying to accomplish that on the power of my own will.
Which is why these real world spaces are so important for me (us). We (I) need help to (make) keep me right.