Monday, September 21, 2009

OPEN LETTER TO DR. HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.

OPEN LETTER TO DR. HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.

September 2, 2009
Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Professor
Harvard University
Boston, Massachusetts

Dear Dr. Gates:

It is with a great deal of consternation that I write this open letter to you in reference to a set of mis-information that you continue to promulgate to the Black Community: During your receipt of the Louis Sullivan Award at the Kennedy Center, you alleged that there are no Black and Indian family lineages amongst African Americans in the US. That is totally bogus, incorrect and inappropriate.

As a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and of Black and Indian heritage, I was highly insulted. Where do you get off making such a statement? My great grand parents, grand parents, parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, aunts, and a host of friends are all proud of our American Indian (native American for those who want to be “politically“ correct), bloodlines with the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chikasaw, Seminole, Creek, Crowe and other nations.

Your allegations are especially offensive and insulting to those of us who have grown up personally knowing our relatives intimately; just as they are also likewise offensive to those who know they have “Indian in their family,” though it may have been generations back.

Of course we are cognizant of the great rape of Africans by whites that gave us the variations in pigmentation that has caused us to be called “children of the rainbow.” There are probably those who have both Caucasian and Native American bloodlines, too. The difference being that the relations between Blacks and Indians started out as symbiotic -- with Indians helping slaves escape from whites. Even when Indians "owned" slaves, they generally ended up marrying them after a year or two.

I expected better from you, because you hold yourself out as being a master scholar in Black history. However, even with your considerable amount of learning, knowledge, and accomplishments, you are not qualified to deny the heritage that has so long been a part of my family and countless thousands of others here in the US. And truly, it’s not like anyone is escaping the oppression of racism by being either Black or Indian. Both of us have suffered greatly through disrespect, deprivation, and genocide.

African American/Indians (descendents of Freedmen) are currently embroiled in a racist dispute in Oklahoma at the hands of a Cherokee mixed-breed (white and Indian) who is trying to deny our heritage. It seems to have stemmed from the fact that considerable sums of monies are pouring in at the casinos, and they don’t want to include the Blacks who helped make it possible. Yet another divide and conquer issue.

Even with this letter that I am forwarding to your attention, I have no intention of getting embroiled in a long term harangue with you, my brother. We saw that between Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. DuBois, which served to keep us from saving Africa from an additional 70 years of colonialism. So, while I personally consider your assertion arrogant and ignorant, it really is your opinion, and the facts belie your erroneous statements. I think it would best serve us all if you refrain from making such allegations, because people are relying to their detriment on your expertise.

I recommend that take a visit to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Olkmulgee, Guthrie, MacAllister, Anadarko (Oklahoma had 27 all Black Towns), and meet some of those people you claim do not exist. My brother and mother, as well as several classmates still reside there, and they would be more than happy to take you around.

In fact, as a family, we’ve been there for quite some time, since the Trail of Tears in the 1830’s; through the Oklahoma Land Grab (also known as the Oklahoma Run); through statehood in 1907 where they installed the jim crow laws; through the riots on so-called Black Wall Street,where we kicked their butts; through the dust bowls, where we hung in and continued to thrive; through the sit-ins and NAACP youth council, where we marched for equality; through the bombing of the Murrah Building, and we are still standing.

We have Black/Indian heroes who have led us through the Civil War and Civil Rights. We have produced wonderful people like John Hope Franklin, Nathan Hare, Rafer Johnson, Ralph Ellison, among others. Additionally, I am recommending some books for you to review: Staking a Claim: Jake Simmons and the Making of an African- American Oil Dynasty Jonathan D. Greenberg; Black Indians by William Loren Katz.

You also might want to watch a PBS documentary: “How the West Was Lost.” These are just a couple of the many resources you can look up to enlighten yourself about our American Indian heritage and ancestry. I truly recommend that you avail yourself of the info, for you own enlightenment as well as the edification of the people you interact with.

I appreciate your programs and the productions you have developed to inform and enlighten the world about the viability of Black people and our heritage. I would hope that you use that same professionalism in this instance as well.

Thank you and Stay Blessed

Eclectically Black

Gloria Dulan-Wilson

OPEN LETTER TO DR. HENRY LOUIS GATES JR.

http://gloria-dulan-wilson.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 18, 2009

AFRICA RISING: LEON SULLIVAN HONORS THREE AT DC KENNEDY CENTER GALA

AFRICA RISING: LEON SULLIVAN HONORS THREE AT DC KENNEDY CENTER GALA

BY Gloria Dulan-Wilson

What do a Harvard Professor, an actress of stage, screen and television, and a 14 year-old boy have in common? They’ve each made monumental impacts on the lives and well being of thousands of Continental Africans. Their dedication and action brought them together to receive the LEON SULLIVAN HONORS, which celebrates advocacy, humanitarian efforts and contributions to the poor and disadvantaged.

Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan, an iconic trailblazer, had a major impact, both nationally and internationally, through the establishment of his Sullivan Principles and business enterprise training programs. The SULLIVAN HONORS were inspired by his life and principles, which continue to be promulgated by The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, which promotes the “political, entrepreneurial and intellectual leadership of the African Diaspora and friends of Africa,” as well as to advocate on behalf of Africa’s most vulnerable.

Each year the Sullivan Foundation host a week-long African Summit Conference in a different country in Africa that is working to advance the principles for which the organization stands. The effectiveness of Dr. Sullivan’s legacy shines brightly through his daughter, Hope Masters, who serves as President/CEO of the Foundation, and who MC’d the fifth annual LEON SULLIVAN HONORS at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C, The Sullivan Awards recognizes individuals who have had major impact on the lives of African and African American people. Held in the Eisenhower Auditorium, the elegant event brought individuals and dignitaries from all over the world, to celebrate the work, life and times of Dr. Leon Sullivan and his influence on African leaders.

For those not familiar with Rev. Dr. Sullivan, he initially founded the Opportunities Industrialization Center or OIC, which provided free professional job and career training to African Americans and people of color. Originating in Philadelphia, the program quickly spread to neighboring states (including Brooklyn), and provided the appropriate skill sets that made it possible for participants to obtain career-track positions, or become entrepreneurs with businesses and employees of their own.

While OIC still proliferates throughout the United States, though the Brooklyn branch is no longer viable, and there is no OIC in any other part of New York (one has to wonder why that is?). In the mid sixties, as Africa was liberating itself from oppressive colonialism, Dr. Sullivan saw an opportunity to develop business and manufacturing relations between African and African Americans and soon began making regular trips to different parts of Africa to interface with leaders who likewise saw the need and value.

The 2009 award recipients include Henry Louis Gates, Scholar and educator; Actress/Activist Mia Farrow and Founder, Wheels to Africa, 14 year old Winston Duncan. Dr. Gates, who noted how stunning Ms. Masters was, (the statuesque spokesperson wore a stunning red fish-tail evening gown with white rhinestone trim); he spoke of the intense need for a continued relationship between African Americans, Africans and the rest of the world.

He credited the capacity of DNA testing now to provide direct linkages to ancestral lineages heretofore unavailable to scientist. Interested individuals should contact the W.E.B. DuBois Institute for African & African-American Research. Ambassador Andrew Young, Chair Board of Directors for the Sullivan Foundation, and Chairman of Good Works Inc., made the presentation.

Ms. Farrow, who spoke of the importance of becoming mentioned that she had adopted several African American children. She is integrally involved in providing food and services to African villages. "To ignore their plight would be to turn your back on half your family, to not be involved in the rescue of Africa from oppression is unthinkable." Having made two visits to Darfur as well as nine visits to refuge camps, she writes consistently for the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe and other online programs about the plight going on in such areas as Rwanda, Chad, Darfur, Central African Republic, Congo, and other terror ridden areas. (http://www.miafarrow.org/ in case you’re interested in reading or contributing to her efforts).

Neither last, nor least, is the rising star of Winston Duncan, a young man who actually founded his charitable organization at the age of 11, after having visited South Africa with his father and seeing a lot of people having to walk everywhere they went, because of the lack of public or private transportation facilities. After learning that it takes one day for someone to walk from one locale to another, and paralleling that with the fact that his grandmother often needed wheels to get around, he began taking his birthday gift money, and monies from his college fund. He sent his first bikes to Africa in 2006, and to date has sent thousands of bikes to Africa.

He is now looking to expand his organization world wide to begin getting contributions from all over the US to even more African countries. (dDuncan@comcast.net in case you’re interested in contributing to his effort).

In addition to the awardees, the introduction of the 2010 Sullivan Soldiers: Gene Banks, Asst. coach of the Washington Wizards, Raheem DeVaughn, Grammy nominated singer; Dr. Marc Hill, Assoc. President of Columbia University, Jeff Johnson, Social Activist, and T.J. Holmes, CNN news anchor. Entertainment provided by local groups included South African vocalist Ana Mwanalagho, the Prestige Steppers, Spoken Word artists and choreographers, Status Quo; KanKouran, West African Dance Company, Motown artist, KEM.

The newest concept to come out of the Sullivan Foundation is that of the AFROPOLITAN. The concept of the “Afripolitan” has evolved to describe the swelling ranks of those who care about Africa and are engaged in efforts to advance the continent and its countries in joining the global economy of the 21st century. The term is a melding of “Africa” and “metropolitan.” Africa, of course, centers this concept on those who see the continent’s importance to the world at large.

The metropolitan aspect conveys the sense of worldliness that understands the interconnectedness of all societies and the need to ensure that no society is left to languish. But the Afripolitan does more than see Africa; he or she makes an effort to help in whatever way they can.

Those who may be interested in becoming an Afripolitan, can contact Howard Sullivan of the Sullivan Foundation at http://www.sullivanfoundation.org/.

Previous recipients of the Sullivan Honors include President Kikwete of Tanzania, and Congressman Donald Payne, Chair of the Congressional Committee on Africa.

Stay Blessed

Eclectically Black,

Gloria Dulan Wilson


AFRICA RISING: LEON SULLIVAN HONORS THREE AT DC KENNEDY CENTER GALA

http://gloria-dulan-wilson.blogspot.com/

Thursday, September 17, 2009

WELCOME TO ECLECTICALLY BLACK VIP

WELCOME TO ECLECTICALLY BLACK VIP

BY Gloria Dulan-Wilson

And for those who don't know me, I'm Gloria Dulan-Wilson!
Wow! I finally got it up and running. I've wanted to do so for quite some time, but I've been too busy writing to write one.

At last, with the help of a dynamic sister, Ms. Von Doane The Blogger BlogMaster, I'm actually sitting down and doing this.


I've been a communicator all my life; and a professional one for over thirty-five years -- including writing, radio, television, screenplays, poems, activism -- you name it, I've been trying to communicate with our world for at least that long.

As an activist at the early age of 10 with the NAACP Youth Council, I sat in, prayed in, picketed and protested; and later with the friends of SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) in the early days of Black Power I took my activism to another level.


As a feature writer from the Daily Challenge News, the New York Beacon, The Black Star News, The African Sun Times, or Our Times Press I tried to keep you informed when the mainstream tried to keep you misinformed or uninformed.

Numerous forays on the now defunct Donahue Show (14 times); Geraldo Rivera (4 times -- I was the perfect juror during the O.J. Simpson Inside the Mind of the Jury epison -- I Said that OJ was absolutely 100% not guilty. Appeared on The Joan Rivers Show (I had the privilege of being on with the late great Black legend Ms. Rosa Parks); the early versions of Montel Williams (2 times -- both times dealing with racists rednecks); and Good Day New York in reference to the Spike Lee movie, Jungle Fever, which at the time stirred up controversy over the interracial theme.

I always to present the ECLECTIC BLACK VIEW.
I later became known for my One-on-One Personality Profiles, doing in depth articles on people from all walks of life, from the famous to the infamous, from the great to the not so great, I had the fantastic opportunity of writing about people who had made an impact on our lives and our community.

As much as I enjoy writing about individuals, celebrities, events, concerns, and issues that affected us as a people, what I don't enjoy is the delay in getting essential info to our community. It was often left to the whim of an editor, or whether or not enough ads had been sold, or whether it conflicted with another article, as to whether or not a particular article was published in a timely manner.

It used to really aggravate me to do the work, write the story and find out that a week or two later it still hadn't run.
Well, now I get to post VIEWS INFORMATION PERSPECTIVES on issues as I get it. Hopefully I'll live up to my own stringent standards and get the info out to you in a timely manner.

I do warn you, though, I am definitely ECLECTICALLY BLACK in my views and orientation! That means that I resonate to all the facets of my African Heritage, including African, African American, Caribbean, South American siblings, as well as any relatives of American Indian and Asian extraction, who are also part of the panorama of Blackness.

We've got so much to learn from and about each other, so much to share with each other, I want to be a conduit for unity in our community. VIP means that the Views, Interests and Perspectives that concern Black People, whether it be political, educational, emotional, social, spiritual, financial, or other areas will alway have priority. I also plan to have a little fun as well, because it was our sense of humor that brought us a lot of stuff. I'm predisposed to good news, and will deal with "bad news", but if we can come up with some positive solutions or recommendations to the problem(s), rather than a pity party or gripe session, so much the better.

ECLECTICALLY BLACK VIP will be oriented to "anything they can do we can do better" for ourselves and with more class. This, hopefully will become the jump off point for consolidating the resourcefulness that made it possible for us to survive more than 400 years of oppression.


ECLECTICALLY BLACK will be a "love-fest", taking us to the next level of greatness. Love for our selves, our people, each other. It's open at the top for your input and reflection, as long as you keep it clean and uplifting.

So welcome to ECLECTICALLY BLACK: VIP. This is the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship.


Stay Blessed and ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Welcome To Electically Black VIP

Visitors may post reviews, are encouraged to post comments, and other content; and use other communications; and submit suggestions, ideas, comments, questions, or other information, so long as the content is not illegal, obscene, offensive material (items that promote hatred, violence, racism, or intolerance) threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy or spam.

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WELCOME TO GLORIA DULAN-WILSON ECLECTIC BLACK PEOPLE VIP BLOG

ECLECTIC BLACK PEOPLE VIP

Black people have come through so much. We are prime examples of the saying "only the strong survive," which, as a child, I thought was just a great dance song by Jerry Butler. We are at a stage in our lives where we have to demonstrate to ourselves and the rest of the world that we not only have learned the important life lessons, but are now also prepared to put them in action for the benefit and blessings of our selves and each other.

We are at source for all the good that we say we want, so why do we continue to either blame others, or wait for others permission to realize the good we say we want? We have learned to make something out of nothing; to provide for each other though others would deprive us. To foster our creativity under the most dire circumstances. Yet we continue to resonate to those who would put us down as not being worthy of the best.

My mission is mani-fold to educate and inform, to inspire and motivate, and to activate and report. Who we get our news from is as important as what they say about us. How we're depicted is as important as whether there is any mention of us at all; and the spirit in which we do what we do, is as important as whether or not we do anything about our circumstances.

As a result, I fully take the liberty of being a participatory journalist, and, as such, reserve the right to care about and be integrally involved with my people. I reserve the right to tell the truth when the main stream media lies and distorts who we are, to show the full measure of who we are, what we mean, what we've accomplished and where we're going.

As an Eclectic Black Journalist the Eclectic Black People VIP (Views Interests & Perspectives) Blog focuses on our multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, multi-talented from the good and the not-so-good, but never from the indifferent.

Stay Blessed And Empowered

Eclectically Black...

Gloria Dulan-Wilson

ECLECTIC BLACK PEOPLE VIP


http://gloria-dulan-wilson.blogspot.com/