Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Missing Maya


The world has lost a jewel in the death of Dr. Maya Angelou. She was an activist, a poet, an intellectual, an inspiration, a mother, sister, friend, and
daughter. She epitomized the quintessential artist; a beautiful, intelligent, black woman—someone I personally idolized for her abilities. The first time I read the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, I was a young girl who loved to read, as Maya had often said she did. My very soul was stirred by her sharing in her life and as a consequence of my reading that book, I continued to seek out her work. Her poems were sometimes sweet as honey, as raw and gritty as a city street, or as lighted-hearted as children at play. Reading her works inspired me to continue to work at my craft and give me hope that maybe one day something that I have written or said will change a life as she had changed mine so many years before. Maya Angelou was one of the voices of a generation that has gone on to glory and though we sorrow in her passing we rejoice in her living. Her words breathe life into dead situations and provide a voice to the forgotten. I love her and all she has given to the world. I am so glad and blessed that she found her voice and made the decision to share her voice with the rest of us.

 Rest in Peace Maya Angelou! You truly will be missed and surely never forgotten!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Support Your Community

Over the years, I have read many works on the topic of Black Wall Street and I am one of the few who actually seeks to support black owned business. Although there were more than one of these "wall streets" in the US in the 1920's-1940's, the one in which I have studied the most is the one that existed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is a fact that one of the reasons the people there were so wealthy was because of the length of time that it took for the dollar to leave the community. It circulated over 100 times before it left the black community. My people have lack because we refuse to learn our history and apply the lessons of those who have come before us. We often repeat negative history but we do also have the ability to repeat positive history also, it only takes conscious effort. I hear people say that they give black businesses a chance, but often are not happy with the goods or service. Well, they are your brother, they are your sister, pull them to the side and tell them with love what you did like about what they provided, then provide them with constructive criticism, but do not stop supporting them. We need to unify. It is not a racial thing, it is a pride and a love thing. There is no way that I can help any other groups, until I take care of home first.

One Love,
A