“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
Martin Luther king Jr
**
Taken to stressing about everything, at the moment. Things that haven't even happened, things that have already happened, things I should perhaps worry about, but somehow forgot.. then worry about what on earth I forgot.. Then I was reminded of this quote
"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow.. it empties today of its strength"
Fart..seriously..it made little impact.
I'm probably a bit hormonal, bit tierd, bit fed up, bit angst.. and I haven't seen my mum in a few weeks either. Or my big bro.. and that's not on.
An odd sense of dissapointment over some things.. a little frustration at times, I'm still working through it (the feeling).. and at some point it will make sense, and perhaps even become a coherent readable, blogpost.
I did have a nice chat this evening though.. cleared the air a bit.. which means I basically got to talk as much as I want.
Ti's been an absolute star of late.
Thursday, 30 May 2013
Sunday, 26 May 2013
from the O.A.U to the African Union: 50th Anniversary
The Organisation of African Unity was formed 50 years ago, on 25 May 1963.
In 2002, it became known as the African Union.
Rooted in the ideology of Pan Afrcanism, the OAU sought African unity, and to bring together the two main fractions that had begun to emerge at that time between states. Two particular approaches to Pan Africanism led to two dominant yet opposing groupings.. One known as the Casablanca group which included Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Algeria... this group favored a more militant approach to Pan-Africanism, and the economic development of Africa was considered to be conceivable without the involvement of former colonial (western) powers or intervention, and the other, was known as the Brazaville group ( mainly Francophone countries) such as Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, and Senegal. The Brazaville group preferred a more gradual approach, and felt economic development should include working with former colonial (western)powers.
Despite emergent individual differences , the OAU concentrated its efforts on ending colonial rule in countries such as Zimbabwe(1980) and south Africa (1994)
A very patriarchal affair at the time
AU report on Rwandan genocide
In 2002, it became known as the African Union.
Rooted in the ideology of Pan Afrcanism, the OAU sought African unity, and to bring together the two main fractions that had begun to emerge at that time between states. Two particular approaches to Pan Africanism led to two dominant yet opposing groupings.. One known as the Casablanca group which included Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Algeria... this group favored a more militant approach to Pan-Africanism, and the economic development of Africa was considered to be conceivable without the involvement of former colonial (western) powers or intervention, and the other, was known as the Brazaville group ( mainly Francophone countries) such as Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, and Senegal. The Brazaville group preferred a more gradual approach, and felt economic development should include working with former colonial (western)powers.
Despite emergent individual differences , the OAU concentrated its efforts on ending colonial rule in countries such as Zimbabwe(1980) and south Africa (1994)
A very patriarchal affair at the time
AU report on Rwandan genocide
Saturday, 25 May 2013
The triple discrimination of black women.
This is a blog post. So before anyone shakes their head too hard, or asks.. where’s the research ... all I can say is.. errr..i'm kinda busy'...
No.. quite simply, I base it on empirical evidence, and phenomenological .
Basically, I see it, somebody told me, and I’ve experienced it.
Don’t believe me.. ?
Why?
Okay .. let me explain
Too often for my liking, I’m told of the frustration that some young black mothers face when dealing with issues to do with their children’s education.
The situations I am told of tend to reflect the negative common assumptions of women, who are black, who are young, and who happen to be mothers.
If they attend school functions alone, it may even be assumed that she is a single mother.. and not that her husband or partner is out working (but that’s another post)
Anyway, back to the point..I’m told stories of how some of these young women are often spoken to in quite a patronising manner, fobbed off when trying to vocalise their own concerns, and as a result may be left feeling powerless to do anything about it, as it would appear that very few people truly understand the phenomena, want to understand, but more importantly, act to do much about it.
If you add to the mix, unemployed mothers, or mothers on a low income, it’s quadruple. Add to that any judgement by family members, church members, or cultural attitudes... quintet.
Now that’s a lot of discrimination to deal with.
I was a young mum ( as time went on a single mum ) so I know when I hear some of these stories there is truth in them. .
Language.. lovely as it may be.. can also be used as a weapon, tone of voice, all those subtle little mannerisms, one uses over another to establish an understanding of where the'imagined' power lies. ( again.. another post)
My point is simple. It is entirely possible that young black women do face more discrimination especially in certain environments, and if they say something, it would appear the problem is theirs alone..or quite simply.. 'imagined'. They may feel safe telling others who may also have experience, or knowledge of it, but feel really uneasy sharing the experience with anyone else.
Why?. Because it’s hard to prove, uncomfortable to speak of, and uncomfortable to hear.
No.. quite simply, I base it on empirical evidence, and phenomenological .
Basically, I see it, somebody told me, and I’ve experienced it.
Don’t believe me.. ?
Why?
Okay .. let me explain
Too often for my liking, I’m told of the frustration that some young black mothers face when dealing with issues to do with their children’s education.
The situations I am told of tend to reflect the negative common assumptions of women, who are black, who are young, and who happen to be mothers.
If they attend school functions alone, it may even be assumed that she is a single mother.. and not that her husband or partner is out working (but that’s another post)
Anyway, back to the point..I’m told stories of how some of these young women are often spoken to in quite a patronising manner, fobbed off when trying to vocalise their own concerns, and as a result may be left feeling powerless to do anything about it, as it would appear that very few people truly understand the phenomena, want to understand, but more importantly, act to do much about it.
If you add to the mix, unemployed mothers, or mothers on a low income, it’s quadruple. Add to that any judgement by family members, church members, or cultural attitudes... quintet.
Now that’s a lot of discrimination to deal with.
I was a young mum ( as time went on a single mum ) so I know when I hear some of these stories there is truth in them. .
Language.. lovely as it may be.. can also be used as a weapon, tone of voice, all those subtle little mannerisms, one uses over another to establish an understanding of where the'imagined' power lies. ( again.. another post)
My point is simple. It is entirely possible that young black women do face more discrimination especially in certain environments, and if they say something, it would appear the problem is theirs alone..or quite simply.. 'imagined'. They may feel safe telling others who may also have experience, or knowledge of it, but feel really uneasy sharing the experience with anyone else.
Why?. Because it’s hard to prove, uncomfortable to speak of, and uncomfortable to hear.
Catching up on a read or two, and a look back at Tracy Chapman.
A friend of mine gave me a Kate Bush book to read a few weeks back, and I have yet to tackle it. I'm feeling quite drawn to it at the moment, and need to take it to bed to ensure I get to reading it.
Whilst not a fan of the video, I've always liked this song. It's one of those that has sat in the background for years..
Perhaps it's having listened to Magic and Heart radio over the years.
Top song
Some of the nicest and most relaxed nights I've have, have been spent tuned in to those stations.
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Whilst not a fan of the video, I've always liked this song. It's one of those that has sat in the background for years..
Perhaps it's having listened to Magic and Heart radio over the years.
Top song
Some of the nicest and most relaxed nights I've have, have been spent tuned in to those stations.
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
The business of war
Valentines day - the business of love
Porn - the business of sex
Anything can be exploited.. not everything should.. but that's how it is
Uneasy comment made in this doc... 'America gives alot of these countries foreign aid so that they can come here and buy weapons from their companies'. Well.. foreign aid is not free money, it often come with strings attached.
A little like a pay day loan I suspect.. a little money.. for a whole lotta pay back if you're not careful
Porn - the business of sex
Anything can be exploited.. not everything should.. but that's how it is
Uneasy comment made in this doc... 'America gives alot of these countries foreign aid so that they can come here and buy weapons from their companies'. Well.. foreign aid is not free money, it often come with strings attached.
A little like a pay day loan I suspect.. a little money.. for a whole lotta pay back if you're not careful
Childhood..
I was watching Mike & Molly and was reminded of how much I used to enjoy watching my children's school plays etc. The children were so sweet, and there's something about children that really heightens your emotions.. makes you a little tearful. Maybe its because they're so innocent, and we know that anything can happen from childhood to adulthood.. the reality of the world we've created.. To think, all the adults you and I know where children once, un- bittered, un-scarred, friendly and filled with love, big eyes full of wonder.. and a smile to melt snow.
A simple bedtime story, singing a nursery rhyme , looking out from behind the school stage curtain to see if their mum or dad is out in the audience to watch them. A quick wave...our children need us.. and equally .. we need them.
I think we need them to remind us of who we once were, how simple life can be.. and how to love.
Sometimes however.. childhood can be a real nightmare.
That's when things can go terribly wrong.
Much depends on where in the world you live, families you are born into.. you name it.
I never take for granted that childhood is a good memory for people. As quite often.. it isn't
**
80% of the worlds supply of Coltan comes from the Congo... that I didn't know.
A simple bedtime story, singing a nursery rhyme , looking out from behind the school stage curtain to see if their mum or dad is out in the audience to watch them. A quick wave...our children need us.. and equally .. we need them.
I think we need them to remind us of who we once were, how simple life can be.. and how to love.
Sometimes however.. childhood can be a real nightmare.
That's when things can go terribly wrong.
Much depends on where in the world you live, families you are born into.. you name it.
I never take for granted that childhood is a good memory for people. As quite often.. it isn't
**
80% of the worlds supply of Coltan comes from the Congo... that I didn't know.
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