by Gloria Dulan-Wilson
This is in response to the question of the week posted by Kwasi Akeampong of the Black List. It had to do with whether or not it was time to bring Baby Doc Duvalier to Justice.
The following is my response:
Look you guys, don't you recognize a diversionary tactic when you see one? The country is in turmoil due to a devastating natural disaster. Millions of dollars have been poured in or, more likely misappropriated, since none of the rebuilding that needs to take place has even begun.
The people are still living in tents, and are suffering from the ravages of cholera and a sense of despair. So what do they do? They play bread and circuses - let's bring Baby Doc into the mix, and be the scapegoat, while we continue to do nothing.
They'll set up a bogus trial of crimes against the country, and while the people are focused on that, continue to pocket the money that should be going to heal the country.
The problems with Haiti may have begun with Baby Doc's overly priced wedding, and his inability to lead -- due to the fact that he was born with learning disabilities and should never have been president in the first place, I don't know what they expected. They would have done better letting his older sister, Jeanne, be president. However, over the past 30 years he's not necessarily been in hiding. They could have put their hands on him to bring him back for a bogus trial at any time. Why now?
Because there's too much money on the table and they don't want to give it to Haiti to mend itself. They would rather see the 200 year liberated country continue to feed on itself in misguided issues.
Haitians actually could have rebuilt their own country themselves several times over with less. They probably could have done quite well without Bill Clinton in the mix. And certainly did not need the likes of George Bush there, considering his track record.
President Obama's heart is in the right place, he just needs to really scrutinize more the people he puts in positions of responsibility. I think President Clinton is a great man, however, Randall Robinson or Wyclef Jean would have been better choices to handle the reconstruction of Haiti.
And the plethora of international organizations gathering like around the tower of Babel, pontificating over their backgrounds, throwing up charts, doing power point presentations, have produced absolutely nothing.
A contract with a pre-fab housing company for the delivery of 100,000+ prefab homes, where the people of Haiti themselves could either be hired to erect them, or work together as teams to construct their own homes would have remedied the problem of housing in less than 3 months.
So who's zooming who?
Haitians have always been self sufficient. They may not have had the most economically viable economy - but they build the Citadel, they build Jacmel; they constructed Port Au Prince. They can do the work. The disaster has of course devastated them. So now that they have reached out for help, we should make sure that the help is not obscured by bull.
Baby Doc's trial can wait. What's really on trial is whether or not the money that is supposed to help Haiti will actually be given to Haiti. And whether or not the individuals put in charge are the right ones to get the job done.
I say let's get these prefabs going and get people back into homes. Take care of the cholera, and talk about Baby Doc in December of 2011, when things may be a lot clearer.
Don't let white man's "justice" take us off the mark (an Oklahoma Indian maiden who knows a little bit about forked tongues). The 800 pound gorilla in the living room is where is the money? Not let's roast and toast Baby Doc Duvalier.
STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Gloria Dulan-Wilson Blog/ ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS
For Eclectic Black People
VIP: Views . Interests . Perspectives
1.27.2011
Are Africans and African Americans being measured by a shorter yardstick?
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
The following is a response to a letter that appeared in the recently published African Executive magazine. I read the commentary and agreed with the brother's summation. Since we are currently wrangling with the issues of the relationship between the 6th Diaspora (Blacks in the US) and Africa I think it extremely important for us to cultivate communications between our brothers and sisters here in the US and in Africa; as well as interact with those brothers and sisters who are here in the US. The excerpt immediately follows my response. Stay Blessed GDW
Habari! and Congratulations on the publication of African Executive.
Thank you for sending me a copy and for this thought provoking article on the ties that bind between Africa and the colonial monsters and former slave holders.
By bind, I mean they have Africa bound and gagged, and African Americans right along with it, in a miasma of bogus rules, lies, trickery and deceit. There is still the perception we seem to have pervasively that "the white man's ice is colder" (Johnnie Cochran) and that our best interests lie with them. Operative word in this sentence is "lie". Because it is a lie.
The fact that African Americans built America - African Americans being those Africans who were kidnapped from Africa and dragged kicking and screaming to serve as slaves in America - is evident of the fact that we can and have produced wonders. Not to mention the wonders that we have as Africans produced on the Continent - the Mother Land.
You see, we have long been under their thumb, from the Brits, Spanish, French and Portuguese who first started the trans-Atlantic slave trade, to the Americans (former Brits) who kept it going well into the middle third of the the 19th century. We have been subjugated to their standards. We have not made the paradigm shift to set standards of our own that would be universally recognized AND ENFORCED by Africans - at home, in the Caribbean/South America and in the US.
What is our criteria, where are our standards. How are we educating our people? Do we have some sort of mass program to help those who are among the most illiterate to learn to read, write, and a skill? Who is to do it and who is to implement it?
Africa was inundated by missionaries who brought in a religion that was basically Anti-African. Africans were considered "heathens" and were subjugated to all kinds of egregious acts. The same thing was happening in America to the kidnapped Africans now known as African Americans - only far worse. Not only were they taken from their homeland hundreds of thousands of miles away so they could not easily return; but their language and traditions were literally beaten out of them. Reprisals such as castration and lynching - not to mention rape and the lose of limbs, selling off of children, were the penalties for trying to hold on to any semblance of African tradition or belief.
No doubt you were enduring similar hardships in your own homeland, as interlopers had now come in and literally taken over your lands and marginalized you.
So do we now need to regroup and recoup? Do you thing we are owed a huge debt? Of course we are. But we are going to have to wean ourselves from having any intimate interaction with european money; we are going to have to begin manufacturing our own goods and providing our own services, regardless of whether or not the eurpoeans buy or value them.
We have to come up with a paradigm shift as huge and as effective as what Japan has been able to do to make them stand up, pay attention, and at the same time gain our own self respect.
Notice I mentioned Japan? Not China - who is only there to exploit Africa - after having been sold a contract for all our "debts" by the US (under Bush). Japan has a very high standard of quality. They started from as low a level as Africa currently faces. They introduced quality control - and made sure it was taught and adhered to from the most elementary and rudimentary endeavor to the most complicated and intricate job. They threw out antiquated methods that did not serve them, and learned how to retool their companies so that they would be able to produce products that were high quality.
Now I'm not going to pretend that the concept originated with Japan. They used to manufacture the crappiest products, that would fall apart before they got off the assembly line. It took a professor W. Edwards Deming, who was actually exiled from the US business industry, to help them make the change. But, oh what a difference he made. Americans were actually going to have this guy killed for his recommendations. He was literally sent to Japan to protect him from angry US manufacturers because he suggested that they build in quality to all their products, and introduce longevity so that they would hold up under any circumstances. American manufacturers, however, were going after "planned obsolescence", so that a product would not last more than 3 years, that would force the consumer to have to replace it and purchase a new one. It was Deming who was sent to Japan after WWII to work with them. Well they listened where the Americans wouldn't. And the rest is history. A Toyota is a better car than a Ford; a Cannon, Panasonic, Sony, or any other product produced in Japan will far out perform those of America, Germany, Russia, France, England - Africa - on any given day (I had a Toyota Cressida that had 250,000 miles on it when I purchased it, and it lasted longer than my neighbor's new car.)
Did the Japanese sell their newly designed products in the America/European market place? Not initially. They actually sold to themselves and each other. They taught each man, woman, child the value of quality and cleanliness. They began to tout to teach other the superiority of their own products, made by their own hands. Not in an ego-trip kind of way. Just in a proud of the product sort of way. They also opened the channels of communication so that a person could make a suggestion for an idea, no matter what their station or rank was; and if it was used they would be acknowledged and rewarded. In other words they got rid of the european standard of hierarchy and realized that every one had a contribution and a value.
The biggest lesson is also that once one person knew how to do something new and innovative, they made sure that everyone knew how to do it, or at least knew about it. Like Africa, Japan has a tradition of celebrating every victory or success, no matter how small.
I also want to applaud those amongst us who have worked diligently to keep the African spirit and history untarnished - Ali Mazrui, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Seiku Toure, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Nnamde Azikewe, Frederick Douglass, Carter G. Woodson, Franz Fanon, among others. We have now to make it part of our curriculum, both in Africa and in the Diaspora to study and learn from and about these great ancestors. I especially want to recommend that you read Franz Fanon's "Wretched of the Earth" and "Black Skins, White Masks"; Carter G. Woodson's "The MisEducation of the Negro" (they used to call African Americans "Negroes").
One of our contemporary heroes, Congressman Donald Payne (D. New Jersey), has every year presented a forum on African/African American relations at the annual Congressional Black Caucus, held in Washington, DC in September. He brings leaders, businessmen, developers from Africa and the US together to begin impacting the issues in Africa.
Now why am I telling you this? Because we have a multiplicity of challenges: It all starts inside out. It starts with us. It starts at home. The perception the euro/Americans have of Africa is not as important as the perception we have of ourselves. We have to be taught to love who and what we are, while at the same time developing the skills and talents (of which we have an abundance throughout the Continent) while at the same time dealing with the hostile media depiction of Africa. We, by no means should be waiting for them to see us in a better light. We have to see ourselves in a better light.
In reference to the money that has been devalued between Africa and the rest of the world, we now have to decide whether or not Africa is really going to be contiguous nations or an United Continent. We have had the OAU, the AU, we now have to make the U - Unity part - work. We have to decide what our lingua franca (unified language) will be so we can communicate with each other -- that does not mean do not be multi lingual. We just need to pick a language that everyone has to learn regardless of what their mother tongue, or who their colonial monster (notice I never say "master"? - these people were monsters) were.
We have to begin to access and develop marketable skills and creative skills at all levels of our communities. And by all means begin to develop a means by which our cultural traditions are transitioned into modern times, in much the same way the Japanese have been able to do theirs - because we so much of beauty that we have developed throughout the centuries.
In terms of oil, mineral rights, cultivation of our agriculture, development of our own African Automobile (the East Indians have theirs, we need to be developing ours); educational system, banking system - we need a unified currency like the Americans have their dollar bills and the Europeans have their Euro) we need our own so that there is no more of this nonsense of what is valued against what.
And we need a mass training and education program to jump start the training of our people, in much the same way they used to do in the US when they were training people for the Peace Corp - they had a 6 to 8 week program that taught language, tradition, skills, etc. with thousands of participants at the same time, and one trainer. Yes it can be done.
BUT ABOVE ALL, we have to quell all these internecine wars (i.e. Tribal wars); and get those people either on the right side of the line, or incarcerate them until they see the errors of their ways. We really can't afford to be killing each other. Every drop of Black blood is heinous and egregious and against God. We are precious in His sight, and have to be precious to each other. (I keep interjecting that, because if we don't begin to develop that level of care and concern for each other and for human life, we will continue to destroy each other). You do know that the reason the US succeeded so well is that they developed a them (Blacks/Africans/Japanese/Indians, etc.) against us (whites) ethos, and made it against the law for anyone who was non-white to hit or waste one drop of white blood. We have to be as vigilent about Black blood being shed - and we have to stop Black on Black crime through intra tribal wars in Africa, and gang activity in the US.
I don't know what we're going to do about the hand-picked "leaders" we've been saddled with in different parts of Africa - but we can no longer allow puppets to run - ruin - the country. This is the 21st century - the era of the internet, cell phone, etc. We now can communicate with each other instantaneously - in ways we have never been able to before. With that said, we should never have a situation where we are not able to update each other about what's up. WE can actually put together whole educational programs; business systems; trade programs via the internet and work together. Likewise, when you have such technology, it should also be possible to inform and alert people when they are being subjugated to a straw dog, bought and paid for by a european backer to prevent them from moving forward. So there should be no deaths over an election. Just re-vote. An informed people won't willingly elect someone who is detrimental to them.(but that's a discussion for another day - we have been blessed with Barack Obama, and with that I think now all things are possible - so I'm an optimist for our future elections in Africa).
You were, of course, to call into question the measures euro/Americans are using against Africa. In America they actually said that African Americans were to be considered 3/5 of a man - in other words they never credited us with being whole or fully human. So to denigrate the Nigerian dollars; the products of Africa, African leaders has been going on since 1619 when they brought the first slaves to the US to work the plantations euro/Americans were either too lazy or too ignorant to work.
Time for a paradigm shift, and that's where I see your line of question leading to. I truly hope the rest of our brothers and sisters in Africa and the US are now listening and are ready to roll up their sleeves, make the sacrifices and get the job done.
THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN AFRICAN EXECUTIVE. I THINK YOU'LL FIND THEM THOUGHT PROVOKING AS WELL:
Indices on Africa: Do they Hold Water?
Ejike E. Okpa II Dallas, Texas Commented:
"It is unfortunate that African leadership is trivialized using a scorecard developed by NMG - publisher of the East African Magazine relying in part on Mo Ibrahim Index and others to assign value. While I understand this type of scoring is to enlist and elicit reactions, hopefully positive by/from those who are at the bottom of the barrel, I find it dubious and suspicious. With Africa having some odd 53 nations all having various issues occasioned by former colonial lineages and continued remote control and Africans sheepishly toeing the lines of their former master, internal and intra-ethnic challenges, a parliamentary or congressional form of governance, population spectrum spotting wide and diverse expectations, and finally, religion - all foreign, it is basically a wide and wild guess to think this sort of ranking is objective. What keeps disturbing me is how African themselves have bought into same unusual formula the West and their donor masters have often used..."
"I unequivocally condemn the flight of stolen wealth making its way abroad. The dependency of African nations on foreign investment while refusing to aggressively improve their local economy leaves the nations impotent and overly dependent. Take the case of Coca Cola announcing that it will invest about $12b to expand its operation in Africa over the next 10 years. Africans jump up to that and dance. But consider this for a second: The value of the investment is only about $1.2b every year amounting to about $1.02 per African on the continent per year. And if one were to factor in the present versus future value of money, it may even be less. The way and manner the West gives $1 and tells $1,000 stories especially with Africa, makes Africans think what they get from the West is more valuable and crucial than what they can give themselves from internal efforts and production...
I guess the aftermath of slavery and colonialism that made the indentured servant believe whatever the master gives is more useful, continue to demean and devalue the African. Until Africa shakes itself off and effectively weans herself from foreign dependency especially on things that tend to further weaken their resolves to emerge from within, Africa shall forever and there appears no end in sight, be the ridicule of every nation and people on earth. The NMG ranking while it tells a story and points to areas of weakness, it must be discouraged. If corruption is identified as a bane for effective development, AU should issue a resounding resolution condemning such and going ahead to set up Anti-Corruption regime within its initiatives to curb and curtail this ugly conduct. The conduct and practice of leaders having homes outside of their country is a shame and sham. "
The African Executive - P.O. Box 135-00100 G.P.O. Nairobi KENYA Phone: 254202731497 - Cel: 254733823062 - Fax: 254202723258 - Email: editor@africanexecutive.com - Website: www.africanexecutive.com
There is an old saying: If no one else will save you, save yourself. (don't ask me where it came from, because I don't know). We all have a lot to say about Africa because we love her and we are pained to see that in the 21st century there are still efforts to stand on our necks: We all have a role to play in the future of Africa. We each can make a contribution of our time, talents, intelligence, love, money, creativity. Start with what you have and you'll be surprised how it all comes together. Africa has sent its brightest and best abroad to study and learn, now we need to make sure that what they have learned is shared and spread throughout the continent so all benefit. Then the measure of our increased greatness will be incomprehensible.
STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
The following is a response to a letter that appeared in the recently published African Executive magazine. I read the commentary and agreed with the brother's summation. Since we are currently wrangling with the issues of the relationship between the 6th Diaspora (Blacks in the US) and Africa I think it extremely important for us to cultivate communications between our brothers and sisters here in the US and in Africa; as well as interact with those brothers and sisters who are here in the US. The excerpt immediately follows my response. Stay Blessed GDW
Habari! and Congratulations on the publication of African Executive.
Thank you for sending me a copy and for this thought provoking article on the ties that bind between Africa and the colonial monsters and former slave holders.
By bind, I mean they have Africa bound and gagged, and African Americans right along with it, in a miasma of bogus rules, lies, trickery and deceit. There is still the perception we seem to have pervasively that "the white man's ice is colder" (Johnnie Cochran) and that our best interests lie with them. Operative word in this sentence is "lie". Because it is a lie.
The fact that African Americans built America - African Americans being those Africans who were kidnapped from Africa and dragged kicking and screaming to serve as slaves in America - is evident of the fact that we can and have produced wonders. Not to mention the wonders that we have as Africans produced on the Continent - the Mother Land.
You see, we have long been under their thumb, from the Brits, Spanish, French and Portuguese who first started the trans-Atlantic slave trade, to the Americans (former Brits) who kept it going well into the middle third of the the 19th century. We have been subjugated to their standards. We have not made the paradigm shift to set standards of our own that would be universally recognized AND ENFORCED by Africans - at home, in the Caribbean/South America and in the US.
What is our criteria, where are our standards. How are we educating our people? Do we have some sort of mass program to help those who are among the most illiterate to learn to read, write, and a skill? Who is to do it and who is to implement it?
Africa was inundated by missionaries who brought in a religion that was basically Anti-African. Africans were considered "heathens" and were subjugated to all kinds of egregious acts. The same thing was happening in America to the kidnapped Africans now known as African Americans - only far worse. Not only were they taken from their homeland hundreds of thousands of miles away so they could not easily return; but their language and traditions were literally beaten out of them. Reprisals such as castration and lynching - not to mention rape and the lose of limbs, selling off of children, were the penalties for trying to hold on to any semblance of African tradition or belief.
No doubt you were enduring similar hardships in your own homeland, as interlopers had now come in and literally taken over your lands and marginalized you.
So do we now need to regroup and recoup? Do you thing we are owed a huge debt? Of course we are. But we are going to have to wean ourselves from having any intimate interaction with european money; we are going to have to begin manufacturing our own goods and providing our own services, regardless of whether or not the eurpoeans buy or value them.
We have to come up with a paradigm shift as huge and as effective as what Japan has been able to do to make them stand up, pay attention, and at the same time gain our own self respect.
Notice I mentioned Japan? Not China - who is only there to exploit Africa - after having been sold a contract for all our "debts" by the US (under Bush). Japan has a very high standard of quality. They started from as low a level as Africa currently faces. They introduced quality control - and made sure it was taught and adhered to from the most elementary and rudimentary endeavor to the most complicated and intricate job. They threw out antiquated methods that did not serve them, and learned how to retool their companies so that they would be able to produce products that were high quality.
Now I'm not going to pretend that the concept originated with Japan. They used to manufacture the crappiest products, that would fall apart before they got off the assembly line. It took a professor W. Edwards Deming, who was actually exiled from the US business industry, to help them make the change. But, oh what a difference he made. Americans were actually going to have this guy killed for his recommendations. He was literally sent to Japan to protect him from angry US manufacturers because he suggested that they build in quality to all their products, and introduce longevity so that they would hold up under any circumstances. American manufacturers, however, were going after "planned obsolescence", so that a product would not last more than 3 years, that would force the consumer to have to replace it and purchase a new one. It was Deming who was sent to Japan after WWII to work with them. Well they listened where the Americans wouldn't. And the rest is history. A Toyota is a better car than a Ford; a Cannon, Panasonic, Sony, or any other product produced in Japan will far out perform those of America, Germany, Russia, France, England - Africa - on any given day (I had a Toyota Cressida that had 250,000 miles on it when I purchased it, and it lasted longer than my neighbor's new car.)
Did the Japanese sell their newly designed products in the America/European market place? Not initially. They actually sold to themselves and each other. They taught each man, woman, child the value of quality and cleanliness. They began to tout to teach other the superiority of their own products, made by their own hands. Not in an ego-trip kind of way. Just in a proud of the product sort of way. They also opened the channels of communication so that a person could make a suggestion for an idea, no matter what their station or rank was; and if it was used they would be acknowledged and rewarded. In other words they got rid of the european standard of hierarchy and realized that every one had a contribution and a value.
The biggest lesson is also that once one person knew how to do something new and innovative, they made sure that everyone knew how to do it, or at least knew about it. Like Africa, Japan has a tradition of celebrating every victory or success, no matter how small.
I also want to applaud those amongst us who have worked diligently to keep the African spirit and history untarnished - Ali Mazrui, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Seiku Toure, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Nnamde Azikewe, Frederick Douglass, Carter G. Woodson, Franz Fanon, among others. We have now to make it part of our curriculum, both in Africa and in the Diaspora to study and learn from and about these great ancestors. I especially want to recommend that you read Franz Fanon's "Wretched of the Earth" and "Black Skins, White Masks"; Carter G. Woodson's "The MisEducation of the Negro" (they used to call African Americans "Negroes").
One of our contemporary heroes, Congressman Donald Payne (D. New Jersey), has every year presented a forum on African/African American relations at the annual Congressional Black Caucus, held in Washington, DC in September. He brings leaders, businessmen, developers from Africa and the US together to begin impacting the issues in Africa.
Now why am I telling you this? Because we have a multiplicity of challenges: It all starts inside out. It starts with us. It starts at home. The perception the euro/Americans have of Africa is not as important as the perception we have of ourselves. We have to be taught to love who and what we are, while at the same time developing the skills and talents (of which we have an abundance throughout the Continent) while at the same time dealing with the hostile media depiction of Africa. We, by no means should be waiting for them to see us in a better light. We have to see ourselves in a better light.
In reference to the money that has been devalued between Africa and the rest of the world, we now have to decide whether or not Africa is really going to be contiguous nations or an United Continent. We have had the OAU, the AU, we now have to make the U - Unity part - work. We have to decide what our lingua franca (unified language) will be so we can communicate with each other -- that does not mean do not be multi lingual. We just need to pick a language that everyone has to learn regardless of what their mother tongue, or who their colonial monster (notice I never say "master"? - these people were monsters) were.
We have to begin to access and develop marketable skills and creative skills at all levels of our communities. And by all means begin to develop a means by which our cultural traditions are transitioned into modern times, in much the same way the Japanese have been able to do theirs - because we so much of beauty that we have developed throughout the centuries.
In terms of oil, mineral rights, cultivation of our agriculture, development of our own African Automobile (the East Indians have theirs, we need to be developing ours); educational system, banking system - we need a unified currency like the Americans have their dollar bills and the Europeans have their Euro) we need our own so that there is no more of this nonsense of what is valued against what.
And we need a mass training and education program to jump start the training of our people, in much the same way they used to do in the US when they were training people for the Peace Corp - they had a 6 to 8 week program that taught language, tradition, skills, etc. with thousands of participants at the same time, and one trainer. Yes it can be done.
BUT ABOVE ALL, we have to quell all these internecine wars (i.e. Tribal wars); and get those people either on the right side of the line, or incarcerate them until they see the errors of their ways. We really can't afford to be killing each other. Every drop of Black blood is heinous and egregious and against God. We are precious in His sight, and have to be precious to each other. (I keep interjecting that, because if we don't begin to develop that level of care and concern for each other and for human life, we will continue to destroy each other). You do know that the reason the US succeeded so well is that they developed a them (Blacks/Africans/Japanese/Indians, etc.) against us (whites) ethos, and made it against the law for anyone who was non-white to hit or waste one drop of white blood. We have to be as vigilent about Black blood being shed - and we have to stop Black on Black crime through intra tribal wars in Africa, and gang activity in the US.
I don't know what we're going to do about the hand-picked "leaders" we've been saddled with in different parts of Africa - but we can no longer allow puppets to run - ruin - the country. This is the 21st century - the era of the internet, cell phone, etc. We now can communicate with each other instantaneously - in ways we have never been able to before. With that said, we should never have a situation where we are not able to update each other about what's up. WE can actually put together whole educational programs; business systems; trade programs via the internet and work together. Likewise, when you have such technology, it should also be possible to inform and alert people when they are being subjugated to a straw dog, bought and paid for by a european backer to prevent them from moving forward. So there should be no deaths over an election. Just re-vote. An informed people won't willingly elect someone who is detrimental to them.(but that's a discussion for another day - we have been blessed with Barack Obama, and with that I think now all things are possible - so I'm an optimist for our future elections in Africa).
You were, of course, to call into question the measures euro/Americans are using against Africa. In America they actually said that African Americans were to be considered 3/5 of a man - in other words they never credited us with being whole or fully human. So to denigrate the Nigerian dollars; the products of Africa, African leaders has been going on since 1619 when they brought the first slaves to the US to work the plantations euro/Americans were either too lazy or too ignorant to work.
Time for a paradigm shift, and that's where I see your line of question leading to. I truly hope the rest of our brothers and sisters in Africa and the US are now listening and are ready to roll up their sleeves, make the sacrifices and get the job done.
THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN AFRICAN EXECUTIVE. I THINK YOU'LL FIND THEM THOUGHT PROVOKING AS WELL:
Indices on Africa: Do they Hold Water?
Ejike E. Okpa II Dallas, Texas Commented:
"It is unfortunate that African leadership is trivialized using a scorecard developed by NMG - publisher of the East African Magazine relying in part on Mo Ibrahim Index and others to assign value. While I understand this type of scoring is to enlist and elicit reactions, hopefully positive by/from those who are at the bottom of the barrel, I find it dubious and suspicious. With Africa having some odd 53 nations all having various issues occasioned by former colonial lineages and continued remote control and Africans sheepishly toeing the lines of their former master, internal and intra-ethnic challenges, a parliamentary or congressional form of governance, population spectrum spotting wide and diverse expectations, and finally, religion - all foreign, it is basically a wide and wild guess to think this sort of ranking is objective. What keeps disturbing me is how African themselves have bought into same unusual formula the West and their donor masters have often used..."
"I unequivocally condemn the flight of stolen wealth making its way abroad. The dependency of African nations on foreign investment while refusing to aggressively improve their local economy leaves the nations impotent and overly dependent. Take the case of Coca Cola announcing that it will invest about $12b to expand its operation in Africa over the next 10 years. Africans jump up to that and dance. But consider this for a second: The value of the investment is only about $1.2b every year amounting to about $1.02 per African on the continent per year. And if one were to factor in the present versus future value of money, it may even be less. The way and manner the West gives $1 and tells $1,000 stories especially with Africa, makes Africans think what they get from the West is more valuable and crucial than what they can give themselves from internal efforts and production...
I guess the aftermath of slavery and colonialism that made the indentured servant believe whatever the master gives is more useful, continue to demean and devalue the African. Until Africa shakes itself off and effectively weans herself from foreign dependency especially on things that tend to further weaken their resolves to emerge from within, Africa shall forever and there appears no end in sight, be the ridicule of every nation and people on earth. The NMG ranking while it tells a story and points to areas of weakness, it must be discouraged. If corruption is identified as a bane for effective development, AU should issue a resounding resolution condemning such and going ahead to set up Anti-Corruption regime within its initiatives to curb and curtail this ugly conduct. The conduct and practice of leaders having homes outside of their country is a shame and sham. "
The African Executive - P.O. Box 135-00100 G.P.O. Nairobi KENYA Phone: 254202731497 - Cel: 254733823062 - Fax: 254202723258 - Email: editor@africanexecutive.com - Website: www.africanexecutive.com
There is an old saying: If no one else will save you, save yourself. (don't ask me where it came from, because I don't know). We all have a lot to say about Africa because we love her and we are pained to see that in the 21st century there are still efforts to stand on our necks: We all have a role to play in the future of Africa. We each can make a contribution of our time, talents, intelligence, love, money, creativity. Start with what you have and you'll be surprised how it all comes together. Africa has sent its brightest and best abroad to study and learn, now we need to make sure that what they have learned is shared and spread throughout the continent so all benefit. Then the measure of our increased greatness will be incomprehensible.
STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
EVENT ALERT: Jimi Holloway's Annual Post New Years Celebration Still Going Strong - Be There
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Every year without fail Jimi Holloway, The Empresario, has thrown the most elegant party ever to start off the year. It turns out the Jimi and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. share the same birth day. In honor of Dr. King, and partly because he just loves to see people having a good time Jimi Holloway hosts an event in the most elegant, prestigious hotels in New York.
However, with the snow seeming to overshadow so many other events, I thought it necessary to just call Jimi and check if we were still on for this week end. And of course, as I had hoped, the answer was definite and emphatic "YES!"
Of course the message was delivered in Jimi's quiet power tone of voice, one that has been the hallmark of this elegant brother ever since his emerging in New York City from Nigeria, his home.
I started calling Jimi the "Empressario" after he was able to get Trump to allow him to hold a party at their hotel, when no one else could do so - it's a combination of Emperor and Impresario (you know a business magnate of the highest order - they do kind of go together, don't they?) And the great thing about Jimi Holloway is that he is a down to earth, positive brother who enjoys his success, but does not let it go to his head.
Jimi calmly responded: "The Opulent Event must go on "snow or no snow", a lot of people had already booked their rooms. Incidentally, the rooms reservations were sold out. "I always walk with faith not by sight". It is going to be one of the best Event ever. Those who really appreciate what "Quality of Life" is all about would come, in spite of the weather. They will not be disappointed and they will be talking about this Event for a while. And to those who miss it will regret what they had missed "THE EVENT OF THE YEAR".(lol) Stay Blessed Jimi H.
Now you heard it from the "Empresario" himself. Those who have attended Jimi's parties know it's what's happening on the inside, not the weather condition on the outside. Not only that, it is one of the most elegant gathering of people for an evening of camaraderie, entertainment, fun. As he stated, "It's like a reunion! Some people only come to this event, and you don't see them until the next year. Or you have lost touch with people you usually see and they all turn up at my event.
This year as usual, Jimi has five ball rooms, each with a different theme and a different event going on simultaneously. Special guest artist Melba Moore will perform, along with Taste, and other artists be there. The festivities start at 10:00, with a buffet at 11:00, and non-stop music UNTIL 3:00am.
This year, as always, Jimi pays tribute to Blacks who have made a difference in our lives. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and the late, great promoter Olin Martin Ferguson (affectionately known as Ferguson) will be honored.
From Jazz to Soul to Salsa and beyond, people will be mixing, mingling, sharing, smiling, dancing and enjoying the company of some of the finest people on earth: YOU.
So, the snow don't stop nothing!
See you at Jimi Holloway's Post New Year Celebration
If you haven't gotten your tickets, call one of the numbers listed below for a vendor in your area:
QUEENS
718.527.1127
718.528.2889
347.805.2287
BROOKLYN
718.345.6911
718.638.1357
347.350.7198
BRONX
917.459.6760
718.294.5855
347.735.7710
MANHATTAN
212.799.9897
212.862.6917
917.843.7716
LONG ISLAND
516.538.3001
516.489.0148
9117.449.5158
PHILADELPHIA
215.276.8065
215.280.8817
NEW JERSEY
201.332.0110
973.623.4162
908.810.9820
WESTCHESTER CTY
914.949.2304
914.667.5157
845.538.6078
BALTIMORE
443.858.9655
CONNECTICUT
203.237.7537
BOSTON
617.584.9706
DELAWARE
917.523.3339
GROUP RATES
718.528.2889
For additional information you can contact 718.528.2889
See you at the event of the season.
STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Every year without fail Jimi Holloway, The Empresario, has thrown the most elegant party ever to start off the year. It turns out the Jimi and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. share the same birth day. In honor of Dr. King, and partly because he just loves to see people having a good time Jimi Holloway hosts an event in the most elegant, prestigious hotels in New York.
However, with the snow seeming to overshadow so many other events, I thought it necessary to just call Jimi and check if we were still on for this week end. And of course, as I had hoped, the answer was definite and emphatic "YES!"
Of course the message was delivered in Jimi's quiet power tone of voice, one that has been the hallmark of this elegant brother ever since his emerging in New York City from Nigeria, his home.
I started calling Jimi the "Empressario" after he was able to get Trump to allow him to hold a party at their hotel, when no one else could do so - it's a combination of Emperor and Impresario (you know a business magnate of the highest order - they do kind of go together, don't they?) And the great thing about Jimi Holloway is that he is a down to earth, positive brother who enjoys his success, but does not let it go to his head.
Jimi calmly responded: "The Opulent Event must go on "snow or no snow", a lot of people had already booked their rooms. Incidentally, the rooms reservations were sold out. "I always walk with faith not by sight". It is going to be one of the best Event ever. Those who really appreciate what "Quality of Life" is all about would come, in spite of the weather. They will not be disappointed and they will be talking about this Event for a while. And to those who miss it will regret what they had missed "THE EVENT OF THE YEAR".(lol) Stay Blessed Jimi H.
Now you heard it from the "Empresario" himself. Those who have attended Jimi's parties know it's what's happening on the inside, not the weather condition on the outside. Not only that, it is one of the most elegant gathering of people for an evening of camaraderie, entertainment, fun. As he stated, "It's like a reunion! Some people only come to this event, and you don't see them until the next year. Or you have lost touch with people you usually see and they all turn up at my event.
This year as usual, Jimi has five ball rooms, each with a different theme and a different event going on simultaneously. Special guest artist Melba Moore will perform, along with Taste, and other artists be there. The festivities start at 10:00, with a buffet at 11:00, and non-stop music UNTIL 3:00am.
This year, as always, Jimi pays tribute to Blacks who have made a difference in our lives. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and the late, great promoter Olin Martin Ferguson (affectionately known as Ferguson) will be honored.
From Jazz to Soul to Salsa and beyond, people will be mixing, mingling, sharing, smiling, dancing and enjoying the company of some of the finest people on earth: YOU.
So, the snow don't stop nothing!
See you at Jimi Holloway's Post New Year Celebration
If you haven't gotten your tickets, call one of the numbers listed below for a vendor in your area:
QUEENS
718.527.1127
718.528.2889
347.805.2287
BROOKLYN
718.345.6911
718.638.1357
347.350.7198
BRONX
917.459.6760
718.294.5855
347.735.7710
MANHATTAN
212.799.9897
212.862.6917
917.843.7716
LONG ISLAND
516.538.3001
516.489.0148
9117.449.5158
PHILADELPHIA
215.276.8065
215.280.8817
NEW JERSEY
201.332.0110
973.623.4162
908.810.9820
WESTCHESTER CTY
914.949.2304
914.667.5157
845.538.6078
BALTIMORE
443.858.9655
CONNECTICUT
203.237.7537
BOSTON
617.584.9706
DELAWARE
917.523.3339
GROUP RATES
718.528.2889
For additional information you can contact 718.528.2889
See you at the event of the season.
STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
1.23.2011
SAVE PAUL ROBESON SCHOOL and SAVE YOUR SOUL
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I recently received an email from my friend, Jitu Weusi in reference to the proposed closing of Paul Robeson School in Brooklyn (see below), and I thought, now this has gone absolutely too far. The hits just keep on coming in terms of the assaults on the Black community.
With each day there is a new way to try to drive Blacks out of Brooklyn. To gentrify the communities we live in. To push people to the point that it’s no longer a desirable place for us to live, while our communities are supplanted by more “palatable” ethnicities (did I put that correctly?).
And while everyone blames Bloomberg, I think the issue is even more organic than some miscreant who has usurped the mayoralty for a third term. I think the heart of the matter really lies with us - we Black folks - who appear to be content to mutter and complain, and put together weak demonstrations (not you, JiTu).
Those of us who sat on our behinds during an election that was ours to lose, and allowed him to sneak back in for four more years of even more insult to injury, are now finding themselves in the crosshairs of his gunsite. He is proceeding unabated in his efforts to dismantle the Black community, and to make Brooklyn the “new Manhattan.” Some part of the culpability of the desecration and the denigration of the Black community must also be attributed to Borough President Marty Markowitz, who does not seem to be looking out for the best interest of the constituents, either. These schools are in the communities over which he has some jurisdiction; yet there is silence from Borough Hall.
By the way, before I go any further, just want to know if anyone has noticed the synchronicity and timing of this whole thing? We have the debacle at Medgar Evers, with a perpetrator in the role of president who clearly means neither the university or the community any good. And while we’re fighting that battle, we now have to close ranks on Paul Robeson School.
But, at the risk of pissing everybody off, I am going to say that the real culprits are we ourselves - we the Black/Caribbean/African/African American/Afro Latino residents of Brooklyn - who make up 85% of the population, but get pushed around as though we are less than 10%.
While I wholeheartedly support Brother Jitu Weusi, I had to wonder just how many really know who Paul Robeson was, and what his significance is for us as Black people? How many of us know who Paul Robeson is? Apart from those of my generation and older, how many have had the pleasure of watching one of Paul Robeson’s classic movies, such as “The Emperor Jones,” or “Sanders of the River,” (which was the original move about King Solomon’s Mines).
How many have ever heard this wonderful man’s bass-baritone mellifluous voice, or viewed perhaps one of the handsomest Black men ever to walk the planet? How many know what a real honor it is to have a school named after such a man?
I personally have always called Brother Paul Robeson F.I.N.E. = Focused, Intelligent, Natural, Elegant - he was an all round athlete, actor, activist - he got a law degree in 1923 from Columbia Law School, in a day and age when Black men weren’t even allowed to “practice” law. He was an all around athlete and intellectual. He came from a family of intellectuals - father a minister who graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (my alma mater!!); mother a member of intellectuals from Philadelphia. He was raised in Princeton, NJ., graduated from Rutgers. He was what was called a credit to his race - meaning us Black folks - and indeed Robeson did us proud.
He was so positive and powerful that he was allowed to make movies on themes that were outside the bounds of Jim crow racism - in London, of course - you know they’d never allow him to do that here back in the day of lynchings and castrations. Robeson was a hero - and he was and is a personal hero of mine and my family. I just watched a DVD of “The Emperor Jones,” a movie I will never tire of, and watched as took us through a complete range of emotions. The brother was a fantastic actor. To this day there have been few who have come close to his talents.
That a school was named in honor of Paul Robeson shows there was a consciousness in the community of providing the students with an individual, a role model they could look up to.
What has happened to cause this to no longer be the case? Well it certainly can’t be the students. It has to be a combination of the administration, faculty, staff - but more importantly, it has to be because the parents have allowed the school to slide into a low level of standards.
If you have a high standard for your child, there is no way that you are going to allow the teachers to do less than the best. If they are now trying to close the doors of Paul Robeson, our parents have to look at what it is they have or have not been doing that has allowed this to happen. Then we have to turn it around and at the same time take a stand, draw line in the sand, and let Bloomie and his henchmen know that we are not going to close the school, but we are going to demand a regime change in terms of the faculty and staff. That we are going to set the standards. We are going to make sure they are implemented.
In addition to demonstrations and negotiations, there has to be some activation of parental involvement. Whose community is this? Whose children are these? Don’t want to hear that you don’t have time because you have to work. Don’t want to hear that Bloomie is going to do what he wants to anyway because he has lots of money. At some point it can’t just be about the money. We are either the majority and of value, or we are just ineffective complainers.
Bloomie has shown that he has little to no regard for any of our feelings or needs. So let’s don’t think that you will be able to appeal to some sense of humanity - some sense of reason. He has more of a specimen approach when it comes to African Americans. He will try to get his way one way. If that doesn’t work, he’ll pretend to relent, and come at you in another way. He’ll pit two ends against the middle, and while we’re focusing on solving that emergency out of no where, he sneaks up the middle, or from the back and does what he originally intended. Remember, he’s the democrat who turned Repuglican to run for mayor. Then he stated he was an independent. Now what is he? He’s the one who pledged to uphold the two term decision, then vacated it via fiat, and stood stone faced while New Yorker after New Yorker stood in City Council voicing their anger, and still put a third term in place. He barely noticed them, because he had already decided that we didn’t count.
We now have Kathie Black, female puppet, in charge of our children’s education. New carte blanche as she rubber stamps Bloomie’s policies.
So if there is nothing new and different about his behavior and policies, there had better be something new and different about ours. We have to do more than protest. We have to do more than circulate petitions. We have to circle the wagons and begin to protect our communities.
Sadly, we lost Johnnie Cochrane a few years ago, and we’ve not had our own mouthpiece since then. We’ve not had someone who has had the Blackbone to take on the administration when it violates our rights, and take a principled stand in our behalf. So we need to either cultivate or hire our legal eagles, while at the same time putting together our activist crew, while at the same time putting together a parents brigade. We have to shut the city down and make sure that this man knows that the people in Brooklyn are as valid and powerful - as large and in charge, as they are in Manhattan.
Notice that I did not say don’t protest. We have to attack on all fronts. We have to make it clear that nobody moves until we get what we want, or stop them from doing what we don’t want.
But we then have to make sure we know what we want. We have to have standards and a criteria for education, and them make sure that we have the people who can step in and get the job done. If we want quality education at Paul Robeson, we had better make sure at the end of the day we have teachers who are qualified and committed to our children, and a higher standard than the ones Bloomberg and Black are putting forth.
We have to make sure that we have a curriculum reflective of the man the school was named for. You can’t just name the school after Paul Robeson and not have academic standards that will turn out Paul Robeson clones. We definitely could use a cadre of Robesons. And we have to make sure that we don’t compromise our standards for some crappy concept that has nothing to do with our children’s intellectual development.
We now have to be about it. We now have to let those who walk around paying lip service to autonomy but cower in the shadows when it comes time to make a stand.
Brother Jitu Weusi has always been in the forefront of our education and rights. He’s carried that banner and still carries it because we lack those who would come behind him and take the baton and keep on going. His love for us is evident and unwavering. Now is the time to make sure we give him the support, take some of the weight off him, while at the same time learning from him so we can go forth benefiting from his wisdom and expertise.
You had better be about saving Paul Robeson School as well as any other Black institutions in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island - they represent and belong to us. Now is the time to stand up for them in order to have a future. What we do now will determine what happens tomorrow.
STAY BLESSED/GDW
PUBLIC URGED TO GET INVOLVED BY COMMITTEE TO SAVE PAUL ROBESON HIGH SCHOOL
By Jitu K. Weusi
Paul Robeson High School (150 Albany Ave. between Dean and Bergen Streets) is under the knife of Mayor Michael Bloomberg D.O.E. I spent Saturday afternoon, Jan 8th, 2011 meeting with school officials (teachers, guidance counselors and Asst Principals), parents, and students who are working enthusiastically to save the school and keep it open for future students. They dispute the label given by Bloomberg’s Department of Education of Paul Robeson as an”ineffective school”. They cited the increased four year graduation rate, the enthusiastic student body and increased recognition of the school for citations and awards as signs that Robeson is on the upswing.
I must admit that as a community resident of Central Brooklyn I am biased in favor of Paul Robeson. I remember when community members approached the Robeson family and asked for the permission to name this high school for the great man. I remember our picket lines for appeal to the Board of Education to appoint Ms. Marcia Lyles who was the first African American female principal of this academic high school. My eldest son graduated from Paul Robeson in four years and went on to graduate from the state university of Stoney Brook Long Island in four years. My son is currently a math coach at a New York City Public Middle School.
We are urging parents, community and students who are concerned about having community based effective high schools in Central Brooklyn to come out and Support Paul Robeson High School on Friday, Jan 21st, 2011.
Sign up at 5:00 p.m. and the hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. Let your voice be heard. For information – Ms. Brown 718 809 8788 or Ms. Siegel 347 721 2152.
The date may have passed, but the urgency has not. Make it your business to follow up and become part of the solution as we eliminate the problem of people making high handed decisions that only serve to eviscerate our community. Bring your A GAME. We’re playing for high stakes: THE VERY SOUL OF BROOKLYN.
NOTE: You may also email brother Jitu at jweusi@aol.com
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I recently received an email from my friend, Jitu Weusi in reference to the proposed closing of Paul Robeson School in Brooklyn (see below), and I thought, now this has gone absolutely too far. The hits just keep on coming in terms of the assaults on the Black community.
With each day there is a new way to try to drive Blacks out of Brooklyn. To gentrify the communities we live in. To push people to the point that it’s no longer a desirable place for us to live, while our communities are supplanted by more “palatable” ethnicities (did I put that correctly?).
And while everyone blames Bloomberg, I think the issue is even more organic than some miscreant who has usurped the mayoralty for a third term. I think the heart of the matter really lies with us - we Black folks - who appear to be content to mutter and complain, and put together weak demonstrations (not you, JiTu).
Those of us who sat on our behinds during an election that was ours to lose, and allowed him to sneak back in for four more years of even more insult to injury, are now finding themselves in the crosshairs of his gunsite. He is proceeding unabated in his efforts to dismantle the Black community, and to make Brooklyn the “new Manhattan.” Some part of the culpability of the desecration and the denigration of the Black community must also be attributed to Borough President Marty Markowitz, who does not seem to be looking out for the best interest of the constituents, either. These schools are in the communities over which he has some jurisdiction; yet there is silence from Borough Hall.
By the way, before I go any further, just want to know if anyone has noticed the synchronicity and timing of this whole thing? We have the debacle at Medgar Evers, with a perpetrator in the role of president who clearly means neither the university or the community any good. And while we’re fighting that battle, we now have to close ranks on Paul Robeson School.
But, at the risk of pissing everybody off, I am going to say that the real culprits are we ourselves - we the Black/Caribbean/African/African American/Afro Latino residents of Brooklyn - who make up 85% of the population, but get pushed around as though we are less than 10%.
While I wholeheartedly support Brother Jitu Weusi, I had to wonder just how many really know who Paul Robeson was, and what his significance is for us as Black people? How many of us know who Paul Robeson is? Apart from those of my generation and older, how many have had the pleasure of watching one of Paul Robeson’s classic movies, such as “The Emperor Jones,” or “Sanders of the River,” (which was the original move about King Solomon’s Mines).
How many have ever heard this wonderful man’s bass-baritone mellifluous voice, or viewed perhaps one of the handsomest Black men ever to walk the planet? How many know what a real honor it is to have a school named after such a man?
I personally have always called Brother Paul Robeson F.I.N.E. = Focused, Intelligent, Natural, Elegant - he was an all round athlete, actor, activist - he got a law degree in 1923 from Columbia Law School, in a day and age when Black men weren’t even allowed to “practice” law. He was an all around athlete and intellectual. He came from a family of intellectuals - father a minister who graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (my alma mater!!); mother a member of intellectuals from Philadelphia. He was raised in Princeton, NJ., graduated from Rutgers. He was what was called a credit to his race - meaning us Black folks - and indeed Robeson did us proud.
He was so positive and powerful that he was allowed to make movies on themes that were outside the bounds of Jim crow racism - in London, of course - you know they’d never allow him to do that here back in the day of lynchings and castrations. Robeson was a hero - and he was and is a personal hero of mine and my family. I just watched a DVD of “The Emperor Jones,” a movie I will never tire of, and watched as took us through a complete range of emotions. The brother was a fantastic actor. To this day there have been few who have come close to his talents.
That a school was named in honor of Paul Robeson shows there was a consciousness in the community of providing the students with an individual, a role model they could look up to.
What has happened to cause this to no longer be the case? Well it certainly can’t be the students. It has to be a combination of the administration, faculty, staff - but more importantly, it has to be because the parents have allowed the school to slide into a low level of standards.
If you have a high standard for your child, there is no way that you are going to allow the teachers to do less than the best. If they are now trying to close the doors of Paul Robeson, our parents have to look at what it is they have or have not been doing that has allowed this to happen. Then we have to turn it around and at the same time take a stand, draw line in the sand, and let Bloomie and his henchmen know that we are not going to close the school, but we are going to demand a regime change in terms of the faculty and staff. That we are going to set the standards. We are going to make sure they are implemented.
In addition to demonstrations and negotiations, there has to be some activation of parental involvement. Whose community is this? Whose children are these? Don’t want to hear that you don’t have time because you have to work. Don’t want to hear that Bloomie is going to do what he wants to anyway because he has lots of money. At some point it can’t just be about the money. We are either the majority and of value, or we are just ineffective complainers.
Bloomie has shown that he has little to no regard for any of our feelings or needs. So let’s don’t think that you will be able to appeal to some sense of humanity - some sense of reason. He has more of a specimen approach when it comes to African Americans. He will try to get his way one way. If that doesn’t work, he’ll pretend to relent, and come at you in another way. He’ll pit two ends against the middle, and while we’re focusing on solving that emergency out of no where, he sneaks up the middle, or from the back and does what he originally intended. Remember, he’s the democrat who turned Repuglican to run for mayor. Then he stated he was an independent. Now what is he? He’s the one who pledged to uphold the two term decision, then vacated it via fiat, and stood stone faced while New Yorker after New Yorker stood in City Council voicing their anger, and still put a third term in place. He barely noticed them, because he had already decided that we didn’t count.
We now have Kathie Black, female puppet, in charge of our children’s education. New carte blanche as she rubber stamps Bloomie’s policies.
So if there is nothing new and different about his behavior and policies, there had better be something new and different about ours. We have to do more than protest. We have to do more than circulate petitions. We have to circle the wagons and begin to protect our communities.
Sadly, we lost Johnnie Cochrane a few years ago, and we’ve not had our own mouthpiece since then. We’ve not had someone who has had the Blackbone to take on the administration when it violates our rights, and take a principled stand in our behalf. So we need to either cultivate or hire our legal eagles, while at the same time putting together our activist crew, while at the same time putting together a parents brigade. We have to shut the city down and make sure that this man knows that the people in Brooklyn are as valid and powerful - as large and in charge, as they are in Manhattan.
Notice that I did not say don’t protest. We have to attack on all fronts. We have to make it clear that nobody moves until we get what we want, or stop them from doing what we don’t want.
But we then have to make sure we know what we want. We have to have standards and a criteria for education, and them make sure that we have the people who can step in and get the job done. If we want quality education at Paul Robeson, we had better make sure at the end of the day we have teachers who are qualified and committed to our children, and a higher standard than the ones Bloomberg and Black are putting forth.
We have to make sure that we have a curriculum reflective of the man the school was named for. You can’t just name the school after Paul Robeson and not have academic standards that will turn out Paul Robeson clones. We definitely could use a cadre of Robesons. And we have to make sure that we don’t compromise our standards for some crappy concept that has nothing to do with our children’s intellectual development.
We now have to be about it. We now have to let those who walk around paying lip service to autonomy but cower in the shadows when it comes time to make a stand.
Brother Jitu Weusi has always been in the forefront of our education and rights. He’s carried that banner and still carries it because we lack those who would come behind him and take the baton and keep on going. His love for us is evident and unwavering. Now is the time to make sure we give him the support, take some of the weight off him, while at the same time learning from him so we can go forth benefiting from his wisdom and expertise.
You had better be about saving Paul Robeson School as well as any other Black institutions in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island - they represent and belong to us. Now is the time to stand up for them in order to have a future. What we do now will determine what happens tomorrow.
STAY BLESSED/GDW
PUBLIC URGED TO GET INVOLVED BY COMMITTEE TO SAVE PAUL ROBESON HIGH SCHOOL
By Jitu K. Weusi
Paul Robeson High School (150 Albany Ave. between Dean and Bergen Streets) is under the knife of Mayor Michael Bloomberg D.O.E. I spent Saturday afternoon, Jan 8th, 2011 meeting with school officials (teachers, guidance counselors and Asst Principals), parents, and students who are working enthusiastically to save the school and keep it open for future students. They dispute the label given by Bloomberg’s Department of Education of Paul Robeson as an”ineffective school”. They cited the increased four year graduation rate, the enthusiastic student body and increased recognition of the school for citations and awards as signs that Robeson is on the upswing.
I must admit that as a community resident of Central Brooklyn I am biased in favor of Paul Robeson. I remember when community members approached the Robeson family and asked for the permission to name this high school for the great man. I remember our picket lines for appeal to the Board of Education to appoint Ms. Marcia Lyles who was the first African American female principal of this academic high school. My eldest son graduated from Paul Robeson in four years and went on to graduate from the state university of Stoney Brook Long Island in four years. My son is currently a math coach at a New York City Public Middle School.
We are urging parents, community and students who are concerned about having community based effective high schools in Central Brooklyn to come out and Support Paul Robeson High School on Friday, Jan 21st, 2011.
Sign up at 5:00 p.m. and the hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. Let your voice be heard. For information – Ms. Brown 718 809 8788 or Ms. Siegel 347 721 2152.
The date may have passed, but the urgency has not. Make it your business to follow up and become part of the solution as we eliminate the problem of people making high handed decisions that only serve to eviscerate our community. Bring your A GAME. We’re playing for high stakes: THE VERY SOUL OF BROOKLYN.
NOTE: You may also email brother Jitu at jweusi@aol.com
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
1.15.2011
THANKS AND BLESSINGS TO REV. JESSE JACKSON FOR THE RAINBOW/PUSH WALL STREET PROJECT
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Yes, I know today is January 15, the actual birth date of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And a great many of us, including yours truly, are paying tribute to him today and throughout the weekend, and on his holiday for his accomplishments and sacrifices. He was truly a remarkable man who loved his family, and made great sacrifices for us all - including having his life cut short in service to the principles of economic parity for all people.
And this is why I am thanking Jesse Jackson, for having the vision, dedication, determination, insight, hutzpah, fortitude - you name it, to bring that to fruition in the form of the Wall Street Project.
I remember when he first announced that he was going to launch the project. I remember the skepticism when he said that the biggest barrier to equality was the economic barrier, and that Blacks were not represented in Wall Street where most of the economic wealth was concentrated. What!??! Hadn't we already overcome. You know those white folks down there aren't going to let Blacks into the board rooms and on the bidding floors of Wall Street.
But here we are nearly 15 years later. The numbers this year were smaller - partly because of predictions of massive snow storms; partly because there are those - white and Black - still trying to recover from the most pervasive economic down turn in the 21st century. But still, enough people turned out, and those who did were regaled with the finest minds, not only from Wall Street, but from Africa, and other parts of the world, looking to band together to do well by doing good.
The workshop on Affordable Housing - and whether or not the current foreclosure prevention programs really hurt or helped Americans was a total eye opener. The program currently being supported by the Feds does not seem to be living up to its promise. However, there are several private investors who came to the Wall Street Project ready to help families save their homes, with no cut throat strings; no dragging out the process; no pointing fingers of blame. Who could have put that together, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson?
It was Reverend Jackson who informed us that many of our Black churches are in serious financial conditions, and are likewise about to be foreclosed upon. That it is now time to turn the attention to the fact that the pervasive foreclosures are about to eviscerate our entire neighborhood. It is time to learn what to do, do it, and do it together.
The forum on the HIP-HOP generation and wealth creation and wealth retention featured a friend I had not seen since he left office as Mayor of "Money Earnin", Mount Vernon (NY), The Honorable Ernest Davis. Or Amsterdam News great, Herb Boyd, who just penned his new book, We Shall Overcome: History of Civil Rights in America (where does Herb find the time to get it all done?).
The panel also featured Rosa Clemente, the former vice presidential candidate who ran with Cynthia McKinney in the 2008 Presidential Election Campaign. Her clarity and insights were amazing and refreshing. She proudly acknowledged that she was a Black woman, as opposed to being a Latina, and her origins, like the rest of us, was Africa, the Mother Land. Where else would we have had the opportunity to be exposed to this brilliant woman? Who but Rev. Jackson would have thought enough to have her participate in such an epoch-making panel.
And who, but Rev. Jackson would realize the need for Hip Hop artists to not only make millions, but to know how to sustain it, maintain it, invest it, understand it. The Rev has offered to take them to Wall Street to learn where the money goes, how it's invested, and how to be sure they themselves don't get ripped off. "If you only talk among yourselves, you have no way of getting new and essential information. Its a one-sided conversation," he asserted throughout the program.
For the January 11 kick off reception, he brought Lalah Hathaway, the daughter of the great Donny Hathaway, to perform. As he stated, "Laila Hathaway could not help having a fabulous voice, it's in her DNA; just like we cannot help being successes as a people - it's in our DNA."
It was Rev. Jackson who brought the clergy together from all over the US for a luncheon to address the problems of church foreclosures, and prevailed upon the foreclosure prevention panelists from the previous day to remain the next day, as his guest, to meet with the ministers to begin resolving these problems.
And it was Rev. Jackson who featured Hezekiah Walker to perform at his first annual Rev. Timothy Wright Gospel Fest, which was held at the Sheraton Hotel. Along with Walker were gospel artist from across the country, keeping the tradition of praise and worship alive.
The fate of Black people does not just rest with what happens here in the US, but is inexorably tied forever to what happens in Africa, our Mother Land, and point of origin as well. Rev. Jackson convened a panel to deal with the future of investing and doing business with Africa, including panelists from South Africa, as well as local businesses that have formed successful linkages between the 6th Diaspora (US Blacks) and Africa. You can't allow yourselves to be lulled into a false sense of knowledge based on what the headlines say. It really does require the ongoing communication and consolidation of efforts to make sure that Africa does not undergo pervasive recolonization. Africa has more mineral wealth per square inch than the rest of the world; they do not have control of it; neither do we. What can be done to make sure those profits go to the people who need them the most?
It was the Rev. Jackson who put together the Women's Summit and brought three powerful Congresswomen together: Nydia Velazquez (D - Brooklyn, NY), Maxine Waters (D - California) and Yvette D. Clarke (D - Brooklyn, NY)
Now I'm not saying that the brother did all this single-handedly -- he has excellent staff members, including the irrepressible Andrew Carr, who works tirelessly to "make it so". But none of this would have even gotten off the ground had it not been for the fact that Rev. Jackson takes the time, the interest, the energy, the insight to make it happen.
One of conference goers remarked that Jesse was the last of the remaining civil rights leaders alive. That's partly true. There are still some, like Ms. Clara Luper in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who at 93 has more than served her time and deserves a good rest(I had to mention her, she was my mentor during my sit-in Civil Rights days as a kid in OKC). But Jesse, who was also a kid then, is the only one from that era who is an active and effective activist, to my knowledge.
If there are others that I have overlooked, please feel free to email me. I don't think we give nearly enough recognition to our brothers and sisters who laid their lives on the line so many of us can live where we want to live, vote, eat what and where we want to eat; send our children to the schools of our choice; have a decent job; get a decent education. There are many who are pre-baby boomers, who are sitting silently on the sidelines, thinking they have been forgotten. There are also many who lost their lives for something as simple, yet as powerful, as a paper ballot, the right to drink from a water fountain, the right to use a toilet in a public facility; the right to eat at a lunch counter, or ride a bus.
When the Rev. Jackson was growing up (as our kids say, "Black in the day"), you'd never have seen his image on television, let alone at the Sheraton Hotel (and if at the Sheraton, he most likely would have been a janitor or an elevator operator back in the day).
That the brother devoted his entire career to Black people, and is still going strong is a testimony to his love for us (did I already say that? Well it bears repeating, because there are some who just don't get it!).
Jesse Jackson, his family, especially Jonathan and his dynamic wife Jackie, are in the fray making it happen. Not just for show, but they are working behind the scenes - meeting, haranguing, negotiating, researching, communicating, trying to provide us with the information we need to get ourselves out of this pit.
We need to begin reciprocating and passing this information along, sharing it with each other; putting it into action. It's time to cut the 80/20 principle, where 80% of the people benefit from the work that 20% do, and make a paradigm shift that says we are all in this together.
Dr. King's Dream Speech was made in Tennessee just before he was assassinated. He was addressing men and women about moving from poverty to prosperity; for the right to work to be paid a just and equal wage. Better known as economic parity.
We are now at the point where we deserve so much more. We also have to be about forming our own businesses, corporation, partnerships; inventions, limited liability corporation. We are now at the point where we must show that in the 21st century, where President Obama's YES WE CAN can now become YES WE WILL, and later YES WE DID.
If you are not familiar with or aware of the Rainbow/Push Wall Street Project, log on to www.rainbowpushwallstreet.org. Or Google it. In this day and age of computers, cell phones iPads/iPhones/ etc., we have no excuse not have as much of our programs, organizations and interests out there as the mainstream does. We ought to have T-shirts and caps that say THANK YOU Rev. JESSE JACKSON. We ought to have Rainbow/Push Wall Street Mugs, watch bands, sneakers. Just like we we know and honor JZ. Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and the rest, put Rev. Jackson, Al Sharpton, Len Jeffries, and the rest up there in our pantheon of Black celebrities.
Let's deal with the fact that this brother, the Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, is still standing after all he's been through; that individually and collectively he is standing for us.
Now is the time to reciprocate. Now also is the time to study, learn, replicate, and spread the Jackson Method of Excellence and Economic Development throughout the Black Community.
It's nice to have dinners in Honor of Dr. King. I will try to attend and cover them all. But I would much rather see us begin to put our funds together, in the way the Black United Fund of New York (BUFNY) did, so that we can underwrite our own programs, build houses, provide scholarships; start our own credit unions so that we can have resources other than redlining banks.
So while we honor Dr. King, remember his protege is still out there trying to make that dream come true. And we need to be out there with him. Start planning now to be here for the 15th Anniversary of the Rainbow/Push Wall Street Project conference in 2012 - the second week in January, at the Sheraton Hotel, New York City, NY. If you do it right, you can book your reservations with Rainbow/Push now, and pay for it on a monthly basis, so that all you have to do is show up.
See you in 2012 -- by the way, they're active throughout the year, so you might want to sign up to be a part of the ongoing process, as well.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Yes, I know today is January 15, the actual birth date of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And a great many of us, including yours truly, are paying tribute to him today and throughout the weekend, and on his holiday for his accomplishments and sacrifices. He was truly a remarkable man who loved his family, and made great sacrifices for us all - including having his life cut short in service to the principles of economic parity for all people.
And this is why I am thanking Jesse Jackson, for having the vision, dedication, determination, insight, hutzpah, fortitude - you name it, to bring that to fruition in the form of the Wall Street Project.
I remember when he first announced that he was going to launch the project. I remember the skepticism when he said that the biggest barrier to equality was the economic barrier, and that Blacks were not represented in Wall Street where most of the economic wealth was concentrated. What!??! Hadn't we already overcome. You know those white folks down there aren't going to let Blacks into the board rooms and on the bidding floors of Wall Street.
But here we are nearly 15 years later. The numbers this year were smaller - partly because of predictions of massive snow storms; partly because there are those - white and Black - still trying to recover from the most pervasive economic down turn in the 21st century. But still, enough people turned out, and those who did were regaled with the finest minds, not only from Wall Street, but from Africa, and other parts of the world, looking to band together to do well by doing good.
The workshop on Affordable Housing - and whether or not the current foreclosure prevention programs really hurt or helped Americans was a total eye opener. The program currently being supported by the Feds does not seem to be living up to its promise. However, there are several private investors who came to the Wall Street Project ready to help families save their homes, with no cut throat strings; no dragging out the process; no pointing fingers of blame. Who could have put that together, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson?
It was Reverend Jackson who informed us that many of our Black churches are in serious financial conditions, and are likewise about to be foreclosed upon. That it is now time to turn the attention to the fact that the pervasive foreclosures are about to eviscerate our entire neighborhood. It is time to learn what to do, do it, and do it together.
The forum on the HIP-HOP generation and wealth creation and wealth retention featured a friend I had not seen since he left office as Mayor of "Money Earnin", Mount Vernon (NY), The Honorable Ernest Davis. Or Amsterdam News great, Herb Boyd, who just penned his new book, We Shall Overcome: History of Civil Rights in America (where does Herb find the time to get it all done?).
The panel also featured Rosa Clemente, the former vice presidential candidate who ran with Cynthia McKinney in the 2008 Presidential Election Campaign. Her clarity and insights were amazing and refreshing. She proudly acknowledged that she was a Black woman, as opposed to being a Latina, and her origins, like the rest of us, was Africa, the Mother Land. Where else would we have had the opportunity to be exposed to this brilliant woman? Who but Rev. Jackson would have thought enough to have her participate in such an epoch-making panel.
And who, but Rev. Jackson would realize the need for Hip Hop artists to not only make millions, but to know how to sustain it, maintain it, invest it, understand it. The Rev has offered to take them to Wall Street to learn where the money goes, how it's invested, and how to be sure they themselves don't get ripped off. "If you only talk among yourselves, you have no way of getting new and essential information. Its a one-sided conversation," he asserted throughout the program.
For the January 11 kick off reception, he brought Lalah Hathaway, the daughter of the great Donny Hathaway, to perform. As he stated, "Laila Hathaway could not help having a fabulous voice, it's in her DNA; just like we cannot help being successes as a people - it's in our DNA."
It was Rev. Jackson who brought the clergy together from all over the US for a luncheon to address the problems of church foreclosures, and prevailed upon the foreclosure prevention panelists from the previous day to remain the next day, as his guest, to meet with the ministers to begin resolving these problems.
And it was Rev. Jackson who featured Hezekiah Walker to perform at his first annual Rev. Timothy Wright Gospel Fest, which was held at the Sheraton Hotel. Along with Walker were gospel artist from across the country, keeping the tradition of praise and worship alive.
The fate of Black people does not just rest with what happens here in the US, but is inexorably tied forever to what happens in Africa, our Mother Land, and point of origin as well. Rev. Jackson convened a panel to deal with the future of investing and doing business with Africa, including panelists from South Africa, as well as local businesses that have formed successful linkages between the 6th Diaspora (US Blacks) and Africa. You can't allow yourselves to be lulled into a false sense of knowledge based on what the headlines say. It really does require the ongoing communication and consolidation of efforts to make sure that Africa does not undergo pervasive recolonization. Africa has more mineral wealth per square inch than the rest of the world; they do not have control of it; neither do we. What can be done to make sure those profits go to the people who need them the most?
It was the Rev. Jackson who put together the Women's Summit and brought three powerful Congresswomen together: Nydia Velazquez (D - Brooklyn, NY), Maxine Waters (D - California) and Yvette D. Clarke (D - Brooklyn, NY)
Now I'm not saying that the brother did all this single-handedly -- he has excellent staff members, including the irrepressible Andrew Carr, who works tirelessly to "make it so". But none of this would have even gotten off the ground had it not been for the fact that Rev. Jackson takes the time, the interest, the energy, the insight to make it happen.
One of conference goers remarked that Jesse was the last of the remaining civil rights leaders alive. That's partly true. There are still some, like Ms. Clara Luper in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who at 93 has more than served her time and deserves a good rest(I had to mention her, she was my mentor during my sit-in Civil Rights days as a kid in OKC). But Jesse, who was also a kid then, is the only one from that era who is an active and effective activist, to my knowledge.
If there are others that I have overlooked, please feel free to email me. I don't think we give nearly enough recognition to our brothers and sisters who laid their lives on the line so many of us can live where we want to live, vote, eat what and where we want to eat; send our children to the schools of our choice; have a decent job; get a decent education. There are many who are pre-baby boomers, who are sitting silently on the sidelines, thinking they have been forgotten. There are also many who lost their lives for something as simple, yet as powerful, as a paper ballot, the right to drink from a water fountain, the right to use a toilet in a public facility; the right to eat at a lunch counter, or ride a bus.
When the Rev. Jackson was growing up (as our kids say, "Black in the day"), you'd never have seen his image on television, let alone at the Sheraton Hotel (and if at the Sheraton, he most likely would have been a janitor or an elevator operator back in the day).
That the brother devoted his entire career to Black people, and is still going strong is a testimony to his love for us (did I already say that? Well it bears repeating, because there are some who just don't get it!).
Jesse Jackson, his family, especially Jonathan and his dynamic wife Jackie, are in the fray making it happen. Not just for show, but they are working behind the scenes - meeting, haranguing, negotiating, researching, communicating, trying to provide us with the information we need to get ourselves out of this pit.
We need to begin reciprocating and passing this information along, sharing it with each other; putting it into action. It's time to cut the 80/20 principle, where 80% of the people benefit from the work that 20% do, and make a paradigm shift that says we are all in this together.
Dr. King's Dream Speech was made in Tennessee just before he was assassinated. He was addressing men and women about moving from poverty to prosperity; for the right to work to be paid a just and equal wage. Better known as economic parity.
We are now at the point where we deserve so much more. We also have to be about forming our own businesses, corporation, partnerships; inventions, limited liability corporation. We are now at the point where we must show that in the 21st century, where President Obama's YES WE CAN can now become YES WE WILL, and later YES WE DID.
If you are not familiar with or aware of the Rainbow/Push Wall Street Project, log on to www.rainbowpushwallstreet.org. Or Google it. In this day and age of computers, cell phones iPads/iPhones/ etc., we have no excuse not have as much of our programs, organizations and interests out there as the mainstream does. We ought to have T-shirts and caps that say THANK YOU Rev. JESSE JACKSON. We ought to have Rainbow/Push Wall Street Mugs, watch bands, sneakers. Just like we we know and honor JZ. Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and the rest, put Rev. Jackson, Al Sharpton, Len Jeffries, and the rest up there in our pantheon of Black celebrities.
Let's deal with the fact that this brother, the Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, is still standing after all he's been through; that individually and collectively he is standing for us.
Now is the time to reciprocate. Now also is the time to study, learn, replicate, and spread the Jackson Method of Excellence and Economic Development throughout the Black Community.
It's nice to have dinners in Honor of Dr. King. I will try to attend and cover them all. But I would much rather see us begin to put our funds together, in the way the Black United Fund of New York (BUFNY) did, so that we can underwrite our own programs, build houses, provide scholarships; start our own credit unions so that we can have resources other than redlining banks.
So while we honor Dr. King, remember his protege is still out there trying to make that dream come true. And we need to be out there with him. Start planning now to be here for the 15th Anniversary of the Rainbow/Push Wall Street Project conference in 2012 - the second week in January, at the Sheraton Hotel, New York City, NY. If you do it right, you can book your reservations with Rainbow/Push now, and pay for it on a monthly basis, so that all you have to do is show up.
See you in 2012 -- by the way, they're active throughout the year, so you might want to sign up to be a part of the ongoing process, as well.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
1.13.2011
DELTA SIGMA THETA CELEBRATES 98 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE & SISTERHOOD
by Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I am so proud to be a Delta. We are 98 years old today, January 13, 2011. We made history way back when others were afraid to think outside the box, let alone step outside of it.
We, who proudly wear the Nine White Pearls and the Creme and Crimson, were and are the trailblazers in service to our Eclectically Black sisters and brothers. We proudly celebrate our contemporary sorors as well as those who have gone before us, such as:
The late Dr. Dorothy I. Height President Emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women, and president of Delta Sigma Theta;
Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the Bethune Cookman College; National Council of Negro Women; and advisor to president Franklin Delano Roosevelt;
Aretha Franklin who has rocked America for the past three decades and has generated 17 number-one songs. No wonder she is known as “The Queen of Soul”
Carol Moseley-Braun – the first black woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992.
Wilma Rudolph – first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympiad; was Track Director and Special Consultant on Minority Affairs at DePaww University.
Betty Shabazz – Before her untimely death in 1997, Soror Dr. Betty Shabazz was the Director of Communications and public Relations for Medger Evers College of the city University of New York. She was also the widow of our Black Shining Prince, Brother Malcolm X (el Hajj Malik el Shabazz).
Niara Sudarkasa – first woman president of Lincoln University, America’s oldest historically Black college (and my Alma Mater). Prior to he appointment at Lincoln, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to receive tenure at the University of Michigan.
Alexa Canady, M.D. – At age 26 became the first Black women neurosurgeon in the United States. She specializes in pediatric neurosurgery.
Natalie Cole -This beautiful, soulful jazz/pop/R&B/Urban Contemporary singer is the daughter of the late Nat “King” Cole and is just as successful today as her legendary father.
Erika Dunlap – 2004 Miss America
Roberta Flack – Singer of ” Killing Me Softly with His Song” She just recently perform a duet at the 2010 Grammys with R&B Soulster Maxwell. Perfection.
Frankie Muse Freeman – Civil rights attorney; First woman to be appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights (1964 to 1979),
Alexis Herman, Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Actress, writer, activist
Camille Cosby: producer, writer, philanthropist (hubby is an Omega),
The Hon. Joyce Dinkins, former first lady of the City of New York,
Nikki Giovanni - Poet, writer, educator
T'Keyah Crystal Keyman - Actress
Billie Holliday-Hodge - Former Deputy Commissioner of Police NYPD; former commissioner of Police in Mt. Vernon, NY
Charlayne Hunter Gault: News caster, formerly with the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour; now residing in South Africa;
Florence "Flo" Anthony: Publisher, writer, gossip columnist
Annette M. Robinson: former City Council Representative for Brooklyn's 36 CD, currently member of the New York State Assembly's 56 AD in Brooklyn, NY.
Johnetta Cole - First African American Female President of Spelman College
Dr. Julianne Malveaux: Economist, philosopher, author
Cicely Tyson: Fabulous Actress, activist
Theresa Merritt: Actress -
Ruby Dee (Davis): Actress, activist, author, philosopher, and dynamic soul mate to Ossie Davis for over 50 years
Mara Brock Akil: Writer, producer, author -creator of Girlfriends & The Game
Lena Horne: Everything
Nancy Wilson: The voice and the style
Judith Jamison: Dance Theatre of Harlem's legendary role model
Paula Giddings: author
Keshia Knight Pulliam - A Cosby protege, and always ahead of the game
There are so many more of my sorors (and yes, I do love to brag about being Delta) - but this could end up being a fifteen page blog if I even attempted to list a quarter of those sorors who have contributed to the well being of our people through service and caring. Suffice it to say we are two hundred fifty thousand strong (250,000!!!) and growing- nationally and internationally.
As a community service sorority, a strong public or community service is a pre-requisite before you are even considered as a pledgee - i.e., you already have to be about it.
Historically speaking, after a considerable amount of deliberation, research, meeting, and creativity, twenty-two young Black ladies, who at the time were members of another sorority at Howard University in DC, made a pivotal decision - to withdraw from the current sorority to form a sorority based on service to Black people. In other words they had a philosophical parting of the ways. They felt they were more needed, and could be more useful in the fields of education, health, and public service.
To date those twenty two, fabulous, elegant, autonomous Black women have each increased their presence more than 11 thousand times (mathematically speaking)-- spiritually, physically, mentally, socially -- each of us Deltas carries the spirit of our 22 progenitors with us as we go out into our respective communities and millieus. We carry with us their love, strength of character and conviction, intelligence, creativity, dedication, and compassion.
This day, Thursday January 13, 2011 is our 98th Founders Day. We celebrate each other and those 22 brave, beautiful founding sorors. Happy Birthday and Congratulations to all my Sorors of Delta Sigma Theta, from your Soror Gloria Dulan-Wilson.
TTBOD
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Soror Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I am so proud to be a Delta. We are 98 years old today, January 13, 2011. We made history way back when others were afraid to think outside the box, let alone step outside of it.
We, who proudly wear the Nine White Pearls and the Creme and Crimson, were and are the trailblazers in service to our Eclectically Black sisters and brothers. We proudly celebrate our contemporary sorors as well as those who have gone before us, such as:
The late Dr. Dorothy I. Height President Emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women, and president of Delta Sigma Theta;
Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the Bethune Cookman College; National Council of Negro Women; and advisor to president Franklin Delano Roosevelt;
Aretha Franklin who has rocked America for the past three decades and has generated 17 number-one songs. No wonder she is known as “The Queen of Soul”
Carol Moseley-Braun – the first black woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992.
Wilma Rudolph – first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympiad; was Track Director and Special Consultant on Minority Affairs at DePaww University.
Betty Shabazz – Before her untimely death in 1997, Soror Dr. Betty Shabazz was the Director of Communications and public Relations for Medger Evers College of the city University of New York. She was also the widow of our Black Shining Prince, Brother Malcolm X (el Hajj Malik el Shabazz).
Niara Sudarkasa – first woman president of Lincoln University, America’s oldest historically Black college (and my Alma Mater). Prior to he appointment at Lincoln, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to receive tenure at the University of Michigan.
Alexa Canady, M.D. – At age 26 became the first Black women neurosurgeon in the United States. She specializes in pediatric neurosurgery.
Natalie Cole -This beautiful, soulful jazz/pop/R&B/Urban Contemporary singer is the daughter of the late Nat “King” Cole and is just as successful today as her legendary father.
Erika Dunlap – 2004 Miss America
Roberta Flack – Singer of ” Killing Me Softly with His Song” She just recently perform a duet at the 2010 Grammys with R&B Soulster Maxwell. Perfection.
Frankie Muse Freeman – Civil rights attorney; First woman to be appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights (1964 to 1979),
Alexis Herman, Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Actress, writer, activist
Camille Cosby: producer, writer, philanthropist (hubby is an Omega),
The Hon. Joyce Dinkins, former first lady of the City of New York,
Nikki Giovanni - Poet, writer, educator
T'Keyah Crystal Keyman - Actress
Billie Holliday-Hodge - Former Deputy Commissioner of Police NYPD; former commissioner of Police in Mt. Vernon, NY
Charlayne Hunter Gault: News caster, formerly with the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour; now residing in South Africa;
Florence "Flo" Anthony: Publisher, writer, gossip columnist
Annette M. Robinson: former City Council Representative for Brooklyn's 36 CD, currently member of the New York State Assembly's 56 AD in Brooklyn, NY.
Johnetta Cole - First African American Female President of Spelman College
Dr. Julianne Malveaux: Economist, philosopher, author
Cicely Tyson: Fabulous Actress, activist
Theresa Merritt: Actress -
Ruby Dee (Davis): Actress, activist, author, philosopher, and dynamic soul mate to Ossie Davis for over 50 years
Mara Brock Akil: Writer, producer, author -creator of Girlfriends & The Game
Lena Horne: Everything
Nancy Wilson: The voice and the style
Judith Jamison: Dance Theatre of Harlem's legendary role model
Paula Giddings: author
Keshia Knight Pulliam - A Cosby protege, and always ahead of the game
There are so many more of my sorors (and yes, I do love to brag about being Delta) - but this could end up being a fifteen page blog if I even attempted to list a quarter of those sorors who have contributed to the well being of our people through service and caring. Suffice it to say we are two hundred fifty thousand strong (250,000!!!) and growing- nationally and internationally.
As a community service sorority, a strong public or community service is a pre-requisite before you are even considered as a pledgee - i.e., you already have to be about it.
Historically speaking, after a considerable amount of deliberation, research, meeting, and creativity, twenty-two young Black ladies, who at the time were members of another sorority at Howard University in DC, made a pivotal decision - to withdraw from the current sorority to form a sorority based on service to Black people. In other words they had a philosophical parting of the ways. They felt they were more needed, and could be more useful in the fields of education, health, and public service.
To date those twenty two, fabulous, elegant, autonomous Black women have each increased their presence more than 11 thousand times (mathematically speaking)-- spiritually, physically, mentally, socially -- each of us Deltas carries the spirit of our 22 progenitors with us as we go out into our respective communities and millieus. We carry with us their love, strength of character and conviction, intelligence, creativity, dedication, and compassion.
This day, Thursday January 13, 2011 is our 98th Founders Day. We celebrate each other and those 22 brave, beautiful founding sorors. Happy Birthday and Congratulations to all my Sorors of Delta Sigma Theta, from your Soror Gloria Dulan-Wilson.
TTBOD
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Soror Gloria Dulan-Wilson
1.09.2011
COTE d'IVOIRE ELECTIONS AND PARADIGM SHIFTS
by Gloria Dulan-Wilson
The following is in response to a letter from a brother who will be addressing an organization trying to resolve the dispute over who gets to be president after a controversial election held in November 2010, in the Ivory Coast, also known as Cote d'Ivoire.
He asked if we had any recommendations or messages for the dignitaries who are expected to gather in DC on Monday, January 10. I actually did a contrast between the Ivory Coast of today, and the Ivory Coast under the late president Felix Houphuet Boigny, who was considered the longest serving president in the history of Africa. In fact, under him, the Ivory Coast prospered. Now we see them descending into the same kind of divisiveness that many of our other African countries are suffering from. Both Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Quattara, the two disputed candidates, seem to have the good of the country at heart. So I will not be commenting on either of these two brothers. What follows are my comments on our Homeland vis a vis Cote d'Ivoire's dilemma.
I would appreciate your feedback as well.
Gloria
Hi Ray:
Happy New Year to you and yours.
Thanks for keeping me in to loop in terms of what my ancestors' descendants are doing. There have been many things said about former president Houphuet-Boigny - good and bad; but you have to admit he kept the country "stable".
Somehow, amidst all this controversy about voting and who gets to lead, Ggagbo or Quattara; and whether or not Cote d'Ivoire is a "democracy" or just a benign dictatorship, there should not be the animosity that appears to be coming through.
The message of disagreeing without being disagreeable must be spread on both sides. When we decimate and denigrate each other we only help the enemy who wants to see us wiped out anyway. They frankly don't really care who does it or how; so if we do it to ourselves, we make it that much easier for them.
That said, my highest concern is that all our brothers and sisters get the fact that if they don't resolve this pretty quickly, they had all better start learning an new language: CHINESE -- if they have not already done so. For as surely as they continue to harangue over this, instead of a way of sharing power and appointing representatives to handle different regional concerns, the CHINESE will insidiously come in and just take everything right out from under their noses, under the guise of "trying to help"; and leave them with even less to argue about.
So, how do you like them apples? that's an old saying for those who ended up with more worms and rotten apples after arguing over who got what was in the basket. (couldn't help it - I'm just full of cliches and wise sayings this year -- expect more of same for 2011 - LOL!!!).
With the exception of a dynamic Black President in the US, Barack Obama, we arrive at the 2011th year as Black people - nationally, culturally, racially, socially, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually -- no better off than when they threw us on those ships, and dragged us kicking and screaming to the Caribbean, South America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the US as chattel where we were forced to work for no more than crumbs. At the same time that they were stealing us from Africa, they were likewise stealing African land and forcing Africans there to do their bidding; all the while they reaped the benefits of our servitude.
Surely, by now, we're sick of this. Surely by now we want better for ourselves. Surely by now we've learned to embrace each other, help each other, love each, mutually support each other so that we can all live better - otherwise, what's the point?
If we haven't, guess what, no one is really waiting for us to get it together. There is a certain amount of consternation that goes against a people (us) who don't love or respect themselves enough in this day and age to begin building something beautiful, permanent, viable, prosperous for all involved. It's one of the reasons why in America those pioneer stories are still so popular; those stories about great explorers who established great cities, etc. for the generations to come. We need to be the subject of those stories from the most positive standpoint -- we need not continue to be the "restless natives who are coming to menace the pioneers; or the savages who need civilizing."
Frankly, I'm tired of the argument, but I love my brothers and sisters, at home in the US, all over Africa, Cote d'Ivoire in particular, and throughout the world wherever we are -- but now is the time to really develop our own ECLECTICALLY BLACK CRITERIA. A credo! We've got to get it together -- so that we are as valuable to each other, as whites have made themselves to one another. So that not one drop of Black blood is spilled for trivial matters. So that we begin to honor our own ingenuity and creativity.
If there is any message to be given to Cote d'Ivoire it's this, you were once considered the richest country in Africa - you can dissipate it or you can get it together and share, bringing each and every man, woman and child along - educationally, spiritually, mentally, economically and in health.
Moreover, AFRICA IS THE RICHEST CONTINENT ON THE PLANET!!!! WHAT THE SAM HILL ARE WE DOING STILL HAVING THESE STUPID ARGUMENTS????? WE ARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. Get it together - we got the internet, cell phones -- come on brothers and sisters, Europe is on its ass wallowing in poverty, trying to recover from their greed and mismanagement of funds so they can come back and oppress you some more and take even more of your riches; and you're still bickering over b.s.
The problem with divide and conquer is that is still works long after the original perpetrators who launched it have left. There is an old African proverb (no, I don't know which tribe) that says, "By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed." And we keep getting tricked over and over and over again by the same ploys and lies.
By the way, in looking at the photos of the candidates, other than the people in the street scenes in cote d'Ivoire, not one of those guys had on any form of traditional African or national clothing. Are we still trying to be ersatz europeans? Maybe that's why the acrimony is still going on. Senghor and Sekou Toure stood for Afrocentricity and Negritude; Houphouet-Boigny stood for financial prosperity and accomodation --
Now is the time for a paradigm shift and put those great philosophies together with that of another great man, who, if he had had his way, none of this would be an issue in Africa today: BROTHER MARCUS GARVEY. "Africa for the Africans, at home and abroad. Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will." It's high time Africans studied what this brother, and Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History, were trying to teach us all, and inculcate it in their philosophies and modus operandii. It was true then, even truer now. And since they were Black men, applicable to the would be presidents of Cote D'Ivoire as well as the people they purport to lead. Wouldn't hurt them to read a litle Franz Fanon as well - you know - Wretched of the Earth, Black Skins, White Masks??? And certainly Frederick Douglass' "My Freedom and My Bondage" just to give them an African American perspective on how much we are being hoodwinked into self sabotage.
We can get so bogged down in b.s., and forget we have the truth right here, under our noses. We have our own geniuses, philosophers. It's okay to try to do stuff the way eurocentrics do; but we still really have to have a philosophy that is suitable for, and works for us as Children of Africa. There's nothing wrong with a great many of what the Euro/Americans have developed. They have made progress very easily (using our labor, of course). But they have this heinous tendenct to deny the humanity of people of other cultures and color; and then to want to confiscate whatever it is they have developed, without sharing any of the benefits.
That's what the Japanese found out; as did people of many other cultures (American Indians). But once the Japanese figured it out, they created a major paradigm shift throughout their country; adapted it in the schools, business, industry, philosophy and they knocked the US, and the rest of the Eurocentric world on their asses with their new technological development, and their protocol of "Quality Control" - you've heard of Toyota, Canon, JVC, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Honda, etc, haven't you?
The Japanese took a major line of departure from the euro/Americo/centric standards and left them all standing in the dust still trying today to catch up with their technological and philosophical developments. There is nothing like quality control, self determination, unity, loyalty, and positive self esteem. But they took it a major step further - they made sure that every man, woman, child, regardless of their economic or educational standing knew everything there was to know about the paradigm shift - through education and training. (Yes, I know it was because of W. Edwards Demming that this happened, but the US rejected his methodology; the Japanese embraced it). They completely stopped the old, ineffective, inefficient ways, and adopted a new way of getting things done -- and blew past all the statistics and standards to the point that the rest of the world had to catch with, and recalibrate their measures.
We gotta get some of that! - for Cote d'Ivoire, African Americans, Africa, South America, Cuba, where ever we are in large numbers. For in truth, there is no place in this whole wide world where Black people are doing well, and are in positive control. Show me one! We are still subjected to eurocentric standards. And when one Black man makes a break through, he is immediately surrounded and separated from the rest of us so that the information that he has is not available directly to us, but is filtered through that of the mainstream's "not necessarily the news media distortions."
Last Parable (I promise): Two mules were yoked together. They had just completed a hard day's work. There was a big pile of hay on either side of the very hungry mules. Mule 1 tried to reach is pile, and in doing so, dragged Mule 2 in its direction. Mule 2 jerked back, so Mule 1did not get any thing to eat. Then Mule 2 tried to eat from the pile near him, and dragged Mule 1 over to his side. Mule 1 jerked back. Then they both tried to eat from their respective piles at the same time, causing a strain on the yoke, but not enough for either of them to reach the coveted hay. So they stood there pulling against each other, angry, hungry, frustrated. Suddenly, an idea came to them (yes both at the same time - it can happen!!): So Mule 1 and Mule 2 walked TOGETHER over to the first pile and both ate the hay TOGETHER. When they had finished that, they walked TOGETHER over to the other pile, and ate the other hay TOGETHER. Then they smiled at each other, sat down, rested TOGETHER.
We have so many things that we need to be doing in Africa in general; Cote d'Ivoire in particular, that we don't have time to be pulling each other apart over this situation. We have to learn to share power; divide labor, and benefit from the wisdom and nuances others have been able to use to move forward. Listen, they worked it out in Kenya; we can do it in Cote d'Ivoire. We have to break the chains of divide and conquer once and for all.
Also remember, to those who have reaped some measure of economic viability in Africa, you still have to help your brothers and sisters. You may have made it, but it means very little if the rest of Africa is still struggling under the thumbs of residual colonization. Nothing trickles down on you but pee - so don't think that some money from someone with some wealth is going to trickle down to the rest of your brothers and sisters. It only works if you set up a plan to make it work. So lets focus on the training and educational programs we need to make it possible to get control over our (Africa's) own mineral and human wealth and capital, and stop letting interlopers come in and take it out from under our very noses, giving us pittances in return.
Cut the border wars, and begin consolidating some of those ties; I should say re-consolidating those ties -- until the arrival of the europeans most of the borders we have now did not exist. United WE stand, divided we reap chaos.
Active sharing with each other, is the way to build an ongoing foundation for multi generational wealth throughout your country - throughout Africa. Sure you may look good riding around in that Citroen Maserati or Mercedes Benz, but when it breaks down, and the only one who knows how to fix it is from France or Germany, you've done nothing to help your own at the end. Where is our African Car? Were is the answer to the new cars they are producing in India to make it possible for people to afford it no matter what their income? Where are our computer and internet geniuses? Who are our next generation educators that can tie all our destinies together and make something magical happen - the reunification of the Children of Africa in a way that completely changes the dynamics of the world for the better?
Ray - I truly wish you much success in this upcoming event. And I hope you share this message with our brothers and sisters from Home, from a sister who resides in the African American Diaspora of Brooklyn, NY, USA!!!
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
The following is in response to a letter from a brother who will be addressing an organization trying to resolve the dispute over who gets to be president after a controversial election held in November 2010, in the Ivory Coast, also known as Cote d'Ivoire.
He asked if we had any recommendations or messages for the dignitaries who are expected to gather in DC on Monday, January 10. I actually did a contrast between the Ivory Coast of today, and the Ivory Coast under the late president Felix Houphuet Boigny, who was considered the longest serving president in the history of Africa. In fact, under him, the Ivory Coast prospered. Now we see them descending into the same kind of divisiveness that many of our other African countries are suffering from. Both Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Quattara, the two disputed candidates, seem to have the good of the country at heart. So I will not be commenting on either of these two brothers. What follows are my comments on our Homeland vis a vis Cote d'Ivoire's dilemma.
I would appreciate your feedback as well.
Gloria
Hi Ray:
Happy New Year to you and yours.
Thanks for keeping me in to loop in terms of what my ancestors' descendants are doing. There have been many things said about former president Houphuet-Boigny - good and bad; but you have to admit he kept the country "stable".
Somehow, amidst all this controversy about voting and who gets to lead, Ggagbo or Quattara; and whether or not Cote d'Ivoire is a "democracy" or just a benign dictatorship, there should not be the animosity that appears to be coming through.
The message of disagreeing without being disagreeable must be spread on both sides. When we decimate and denigrate each other we only help the enemy who wants to see us wiped out anyway. They frankly don't really care who does it or how; so if we do it to ourselves, we make it that much easier for them.
That said, my highest concern is that all our brothers and sisters get the fact that if they don't resolve this pretty quickly, they had all better start learning an new language: CHINESE -- if they have not already done so. For as surely as they continue to harangue over this, instead of a way of sharing power and appointing representatives to handle different regional concerns, the CHINESE will insidiously come in and just take everything right out from under their noses, under the guise of "trying to help"; and leave them with even less to argue about.
So, how do you like them apples? that's an old saying for those who ended up with more worms and rotten apples after arguing over who got what was in the basket. (couldn't help it - I'm just full of cliches and wise sayings this year -- expect more of same for 2011 - LOL!!!).
With the exception of a dynamic Black President in the US, Barack Obama, we arrive at the 2011th year as Black people - nationally, culturally, racially, socially, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually -- no better off than when they threw us on those ships, and dragged us kicking and screaming to the Caribbean, South America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the US as chattel where we were forced to work for no more than crumbs. At the same time that they were stealing us from Africa, they were likewise stealing African land and forcing Africans there to do their bidding; all the while they reaped the benefits of our servitude.
Surely, by now, we're sick of this. Surely by now we want better for ourselves. Surely by now we've learned to embrace each other, help each other, love each, mutually support each other so that we can all live better - otherwise, what's the point?
If we haven't, guess what, no one is really waiting for us to get it together. There is a certain amount of consternation that goes against a people (us) who don't love or respect themselves enough in this day and age to begin building something beautiful, permanent, viable, prosperous for all involved. It's one of the reasons why in America those pioneer stories are still so popular; those stories about great explorers who established great cities, etc. for the generations to come. We need to be the subject of those stories from the most positive standpoint -- we need not continue to be the "restless natives who are coming to menace the pioneers; or the savages who need civilizing."
Frankly, I'm tired of the argument, but I love my brothers and sisters, at home in the US, all over Africa, Cote d'Ivoire in particular, and throughout the world wherever we are -- but now is the time to really develop our own ECLECTICALLY BLACK CRITERIA. A credo! We've got to get it together -- so that we are as valuable to each other, as whites have made themselves to one another. So that not one drop of Black blood is spilled for trivial matters. So that we begin to honor our own ingenuity and creativity.
If there is any message to be given to Cote d'Ivoire it's this, you were once considered the richest country in Africa - you can dissipate it or you can get it together and share, bringing each and every man, woman and child along - educationally, spiritually, mentally, economically and in health.
Moreover, AFRICA IS THE RICHEST CONTINENT ON THE PLANET!!!! WHAT THE SAM HILL ARE WE DOING STILL HAVING THESE STUPID ARGUMENTS????? WE ARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. Get it together - we got the internet, cell phones -- come on brothers and sisters, Europe is on its ass wallowing in poverty, trying to recover from their greed and mismanagement of funds so they can come back and oppress you some more and take even more of your riches; and you're still bickering over b.s.
The problem with divide and conquer is that is still works long after the original perpetrators who launched it have left. There is an old African proverb (no, I don't know which tribe) that says, "By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed." And we keep getting tricked over and over and over again by the same ploys and lies.
By the way, in looking at the photos of the candidates, other than the people in the street scenes in cote d'Ivoire, not one of those guys had on any form of traditional African or national clothing. Are we still trying to be ersatz europeans? Maybe that's why the acrimony is still going on. Senghor and Sekou Toure stood for Afrocentricity and Negritude; Houphouet-Boigny stood for financial prosperity and accomodation --
Now is the time for a paradigm shift and put those great philosophies together with that of another great man, who, if he had had his way, none of this would be an issue in Africa today: BROTHER MARCUS GARVEY. "Africa for the Africans, at home and abroad. Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will." It's high time Africans studied what this brother, and Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History, were trying to teach us all, and inculcate it in their philosophies and modus operandii. It was true then, even truer now. And since they were Black men, applicable to the would be presidents of Cote D'Ivoire as well as the people they purport to lead. Wouldn't hurt them to read a litle Franz Fanon as well - you know - Wretched of the Earth, Black Skins, White Masks??? And certainly Frederick Douglass' "My Freedom and My Bondage" just to give them an African American perspective on how much we are being hoodwinked into self sabotage.
We can get so bogged down in b.s., and forget we have the truth right here, under our noses. We have our own geniuses, philosophers. It's okay to try to do stuff the way eurocentrics do; but we still really have to have a philosophy that is suitable for, and works for us as Children of Africa. There's nothing wrong with a great many of what the Euro/Americans have developed. They have made progress very easily (using our labor, of course). But they have this heinous tendenct to deny the humanity of people of other cultures and color; and then to want to confiscate whatever it is they have developed, without sharing any of the benefits.
That's what the Japanese found out; as did people of many other cultures (American Indians). But once the Japanese figured it out, they created a major paradigm shift throughout their country; adapted it in the schools, business, industry, philosophy and they knocked the US, and the rest of the Eurocentric world on their asses with their new technological development, and their protocol of "Quality Control" - you've heard of Toyota, Canon, JVC, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Honda, etc, haven't you?
The Japanese took a major line of departure from the euro/Americo/centric standards and left them all standing in the dust still trying today to catch up with their technological and philosophical developments. There is nothing like quality control, self determination, unity, loyalty, and positive self esteem. But they took it a major step further - they made sure that every man, woman, child, regardless of their economic or educational standing knew everything there was to know about the paradigm shift - through education and training. (Yes, I know it was because of W. Edwards Demming that this happened, but the US rejected his methodology; the Japanese embraced it). They completely stopped the old, ineffective, inefficient ways, and adopted a new way of getting things done -- and blew past all the statistics and standards to the point that the rest of the world had to catch with, and recalibrate their measures.
We gotta get some of that! - for Cote d'Ivoire, African Americans, Africa, South America, Cuba, where ever we are in large numbers. For in truth, there is no place in this whole wide world where Black people are doing well, and are in positive control. Show me one! We are still subjected to eurocentric standards. And when one Black man makes a break through, he is immediately surrounded and separated from the rest of us so that the information that he has is not available directly to us, but is filtered through that of the mainstream's "not necessarily the news media distortions."
Last Parable (I promise): Two mules were yoked together. They had just completed a hard day's work. There was a big pile of hay on either side of the very hungry mules. Mule 1 tried to reach is pile, and in doing so, dragged Mule 2 in its direction. Mule 2 jerked back, so Mule 1did not get any thing to eat. Then Mule 2 tried to eat from the pile near him, and dragged Mule 1 over to his side. Mule 1 jerked back. Then they both tried to eat from their respective piles at the same time, causing a strain on the yoke, but not enough for either of them to reach the coveted hay. So they stood there pulling against each other, angry, hungry, frustrated. Suddenly, an idea came to them (yes both at the same time - it can happen!!): So Mule 1 and Mule 2 walked TOGETHER over to the first pile and both ate the hay TOGETHER. When they had finished that, they walked TOGETHER over to the other pile, and ate the other hay TOGETHER. Then they smiled at each other, sat down, rested TOGETHER.
We have so many things that we need to be doing in Africa in general; Cote d'Ivoire in particular, that we don't have time to be pulling each other apart over this situation. We have to learn to share power; divide labor, and benefit from the wisdom and nuances others have been able to use to move forward. Listen, they worked it out in Kenya; we can do it in Cote d'Ivoire. We have to break the chains of divide and conquer once and for all.
Also remember, to those who have reaped some measure of economic viability in Africa, you still have to help your brothers and sisters. You may have made it, but it means very little if the rest of Africa is still struggling under the thumbs of residual colonization. Nothing trickles down on you but pee - so don't think that some money from someone with some wealth is going to trickle down to the rest of your brothers and sisters. It only works if you set up a plan to make it work. So lets focus on the training and educational programs we need to make it possible to get control over our (Africa's) own mineral and human wealth and capital, and stop letting interlopers come in and take it out from under our very noses, giving us pittances in return.
Cut the border wars, and begin consolidating some of those ties; I should say re-consolidating those ties -- until the arrival of the europeans most of the borders we have now did not exist. United WE stand, divided we reap chaos.
Active sharing with each other, is the way to build an ongoing foundation for multi generational wealth throughout your country - throughout Africa. Sure you may look good riding around in that Citroen Maserati or Mercedes Benz, but when it breaks down, and the only one who knows how to fix it is from France or Germany, you've done nothing to help your own at the end. Where is our African Car? Were is the answer to the new cars they are producing in India to make it possible for people to afford it no matter what their income? Where are our computer and internet geniuses? Who are our next generation educators that can tie all our destinies together and make something magical happen - the reunification of the Children of Africa in a way that completely changes the dynamics of the world for the better?
Ray - I truly wish you much success in this upcoming event. And I hope you share this message with our brothers and sisters from Home, from a sister who resides in the African American Diaspora of Brooklyn, NY, USA!!!
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
1.03.2011
NATIONAL ALLOTMENT INSURANCE AGENCY (NAIA) SPONSOR OF 2011 RAINBOW PUSH WALL STREET CONFERENCE
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
January 11-14 will be the 14th Annual Rainbow-Push Wall Street Conference. Initiated by Rev. Jesse Jackson, who first identified economic racism as the most pervasive form of discrimination, the Conference is being held in New York City at the Sheraton Hotel, 53rd and 7th Avenue.
This is the first year however, that the Rainbow Push Coalition has an African American corporation coming in as a major sponsor, in the form of the National Allotment Insurance Agency, located in Brooklyn, NY. Sam Dunston, founder and CEO of NAIA, and a long time admirer and supporter of Rev. Jesse Jackson and his principles of self empowerment, admits that this has long been a desire of his to play a major role in the success of the Wall Street Project.
A member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, owner of Dekalb Funeral Home, and one of the few insurance companies that make it possible for its clients to pay their policies through ongoing payroll deduction, a plan which keeps insurance affordable and available.
Sam Dunston is well known and well liked in and around Brooklyn. Most will recognize him as a man who always has a smile on his face and always has something witty and positive to say. Insiders know him as the "go to" guy when you are working on a project, program or concept to benefit the community. In this instance, however, Dunston approached Rev. Jackson to offer his services and support for the upcoming conference.
Those interested in participating in the upcoming 2011 Wall Street Conference can Call 212-425-7874
RAINBOW PUSH WALL STREET PROJECT & CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION FUND
14th Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit
A More Perfect Union: Time to Rebuild America
January 12 – 14, 2011
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers
811 7th Avenue at 53rd Street, New York City
Registration Information
Tickets for the reception and meal events can be purchased separately:
* Adult: $125
* Youth: $75
Conference Packages include:
Premier VIP Package
General Summit Package
Individual Day Registration
VIP Reception and Summit Kick-off Gala
Access to Capital Breakfast: Wednesday, January 12
Economic Agenda & Awards Luncheon: Wednesday, January 12
Labor Breakfast: Thursday, January 13
Ministers’ Luncheon: Thursday, January 13
Women’s Luncheon: Friday, January 14
NOTE: Tickets or badge required for admission to all sessions and events.
No refunds after January 1, 2011.
Questions? Call 212-425-7874
THE AGENDA AS FOLLOWS IS STILL IN FORMATION:
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011
6:00PM-9:30PM SUMMIT REGISTRATION
1:00PM-3:00PM ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE
TOWARD A THIRD WAY: As Crisis ravaged America's economy, business and government leaders jumped to rescue key firms and industries.
Emergency provisions were extended to financial firms, lenders, manufacturers and jobless Americans. Two years later, leading firms are on much more secure footing, but the poorest 60% of Americans remain stuck in deep quick sands. Unemployment is nearly 10%. . We must embark on a uniting and inclusive growth path. Today's record level inequalities of wealth, income and opportunity threaten our unity, sense of justice and economic performance. Leading economists, advisors, and community leaders invite leading media and community partners to a lively, stimulating debate and discussion.
Speaker(s): Dr. Max Wolf, U. S. Economist
6:30PM-9:30PM OPENING RECEPTION
Entertainment: Recording Artist, Lalah Hathaway
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2011
DAY THEME ACCESS TO CAPITAL, INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY, YOUTH
8:30AM-10:00PM ACCESS TO CAPITAL, JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY PLENARY
Highlighting the Urban Reconstruction Agenda and the Dodd-Frank Federal Financial Regulation Bill - Section 342 and State and Local Parity Initiatives
Speaker(s)Don Thompson, President and CEO, McDonald’s USA
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Founder and President, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
10:00AM-12:00PM Digitizing Wall Street: Tech Growth and Financial Investment Bit by Bit Three Tracks
opening the doors for WMBEs as investors and professional services providers;
Keynote Speaker: Andrew Lipman, Partner, Bingham McCutchen; Panelists: Amos Winbush III, Founder, Cyber Synchs; Alfred Edmond, Jr., Senior Vice President/Editor-in-Chief, Black Enterprise.com; Benny Lorenzo, CEO, Kaufman Bros.
Track 1- Social Media
Track 2 –Investor Technology
Track 3- Investing/Access to Capital
10:00AM-3:00PM YOUTH SEMINAR 10:00AM-1:30PM
The Hip Hop Union will host 300 Students in a day of financial literacy and interactive career stations. Daniel “Diggie” Simmons, Justin Combs and Jam Master Jay Jr. with success stories and lesions and their role in rebuilding America.
1:30PM-3:00PM Break Out Session 1
panel discussion with Macy's executives in key strategic business areas to discuss the business of retail w/ Q and A session. Second a demonstration on how to dress for success by Macy's leading to a competition amongst 3 lucky participants to create a best "job interview ready" ensemble, winner will receive a $500 Macy's Gift Card!
Panelists: Shawn Outler, Macy's Inc., Shamika Lackey, Macy's Inc., Lisa Walker, Macy's Inc., Krystin Page, Macy's Inc., Claudia Acosta, Macys Inc.
8:00AM-5:00PM SMALL BUSINESS INSTITUTE (SBI)
A full day advanced technical assistance forum for small businesses seeking accelerated growth, optimization of business plans, and business process improvement.
8:30 a.m. SBI KEYNOTE OPENING SPEAKER
Speaker(s): George Fraser, Chairman and CEO FraserNet
9:00 a.m. PANEL DISCUSSION : The Small Business Heroes Moderator: Stephanie D. Burroughs – Stephanie Speaking, LLC; Panelist(s):Wy Livingston, Wy Stone Teas
9:45 a.m. BUSINESS IMPROV: You Have One Chance to Make a First Impression: a skit for small business owners: Speaker(s): Cheryl Chandler - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Stephanie D. Burroughs – StephanieSpeaking, LLC
10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. BUSINESS ZONE
SESSION I - Introduction of Women Owned Businesses Federal Set Aside Program importance of partnerships between the government and women owned businesses.Speaker(s): Cheryl Chandler-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
SESSION II – Negotiating the Government Contracting Arena Discover various federal contracting opportunities, SBA loan programs and SBA approved lenders. Speaker(s): Walter Maxwell, Dir. of External, Affairs NYC Dept of Small Bus Serv., Jan Walden, Sr. Dir. of Small Business Strategies, McKissack & McKissack
SESSION III – When the Contract is Green maximizing on opportunities in securing green contracts.
Speaker(s): Keith D. Fogg, Petroleum
SESSION IV – Improving Financial Performance
Improving Small Business Financial Performance by Eliminating “Simple Mistakes”
Speaker(s): Michael Horsey – Mitchell & Titus
SESSION V – Leveraging the digital space to grow your business grow your business with the use of cutting edge technology, social media and online marketing.
Speaker(s): Eric Hamilton- WebAcademy; “TC”Coleman, Esq., President, UpwardAction; Wendi Kaplan Carroll- Constant Contacts
SESSION VI - When to bid as a “Prime” or “Position for Subcontracting?” Business Development Strategies targeting Private Sector Corporations.
Topics will include but not be limited to: knowing how to determine what corporations best fit your development/sales plans; understanding and planning for corporate purchasing cycles; positioning a small business to be a preferred sub-contracting partner and optimizing Minority Business/Diversity Certifications with Private Sector Sourcing Initiatives
Confirmed Speaker(s): Emmett Vaughn, Exelon Corporation
12:30 p.m. ECONOMIC AGENDA LUNCHEON (SBI to Join Summit Attendees)
Description: Strategic partnerships with diverse firms should be viewed as more than just “the right thing do.” They can be key components of overall plans to drive shareholder value, diversify client reach and /or expand sources of capital and market intelligence. Many corporations and institutions are thinking creatively about how to drive shareholder value by establishing partnerships with diverse firms possessing unique market access capabilities.
3:00 p.m. CORPORATE SPEED NETWORKING ROUNDTABLE
Description: Business Leaders will lead participates in Roundtable discussions featuring personalized advice on best practices and strategies for vendor growth.
Participants: Citi, Petroleum Purchasing Incentives Inc.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITY NETWORKING ROUNDTABLE
Description: Government Leaders will lead participates in Roundtable discussions featuring personalized advice on best practices and strategies for vendor growth.
Participants: City of NY Small Business Services and New York State agencies.
6:30 p.m. RECEPTION AND SPECIAL EVENING SESSION: REBUILDING AMERICA ROUNDABLE
Roundtable discussion with members of Congress and other U.S., city and state elected officials.
SESSION I ADVERTISING
SESSION II THE STATE OF THE U.S. HOUSING CRISIS: IS THE FUTURE BLEAK OR BENIGN?
State of the US Housing Crisis? Is the Future Bleak or Benign? The ongoing credit crisis has resulted in both capital and liquidity constraints for financial institutions and has created opportunities for public-private partnerships (residential/.commercial.) Evaluate solutions for investors and homeowners. Hear from investment professionals who have +20 years experience to answer questions in today’s residential and commercial real estate sectors.
MODERATOR: David Kelly, Carleton Real Estate
PANELISTS:Carl Webb, Managing Partner, Paladin Strategic Partners; Steve Thomas, American Mortgage; Don Cogsville, The Cogsville Group; Ben Blakey, Courtland; Yale Stark, Ranieri Partners
SESSION III: M & A Panel for Small and Intermediary Organizations
SESSION IV: SPORTS
SESSION V: The Billion Dollar Roundtable - Keith T. Fogg, the owner of Purchasing Incentives LLC will be invited to lead some of Hip Hop’s most prestigious organizations in discussions about how and where they are spending their money and how the Hip Hop Union can be the source of their strength.
6:30PM-9:00PM RECEPTION AND SPECIAL EVENING SESSION: REBUILDING AMERICA ROUNDTABLE
Roundtable discussion with members of Congress and other federal, city, and state elected officials.
9:00-9:30 pm; HIP HOP RECEPTION
The Hip Hop Union will celebrate its 2nd year of existence with the unveiling of the Hop Hip Union National Flag and the year long campaign to get at least 1 million Hip Hop Citizens to declare “I AM A CITIZEN” and commit to rebuilding America. The special guests and attendees will participate in the historic flag unveiling ceremony.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2011 THE CHURCH, COMMUNITY, LABOR
7:30AM-9:30AM LABOR BREAKFAST
Rebuilding America – Leading the Change
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.; George Gresham, President 1199 SEIU; Larry Hanley, 9th President, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
10:00AM-10:30AM PRESS CONFERENCE
10:00AM-12:00PM MORNING SESSION I
I AM A CITIZEN BUSINESS AND ARTIST MATCHMAKING EXPO
Hip Hop inspired businesses and artists present their projects, goods, and services to supporters, Wall Street investors, sponsors and celebrity judges.
10:00AM-12:00PM MORNING SESSION II
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE HEALTHCARE AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES: untapped opportunities for job creation within these industries, focus on the health and wellbeing of communities of color.
The panel will impart what churches and community leaders do to establish win-win working partnerships with healthcare and pharmaceutical companies including: clinical trials, community education seminars, charitable giving to churches and church CDCs, advertising opportunities to minority-owned media and business contracts with minority vendors.
MODERATOR: Dr. Clyde Anderson
PANELISTS: Sean Jerrick, CEO, Electronic Health Enterprise Inc.; Gregory Hankins, President and Founder, Retirement Aspirations (health reform expert); Mary Pender Green, Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services; Barbara Janey, VP – Beth Israel Hospital, Newark, NJ
10:00AM-12:00PM MORNING SESSION III
CIVIL RIGHTS "10-2-10"
12:30PM-2:30PM ONE THOUSAND CHURCHES CONNECTED (OTCC) MINISTERS’ LUNCHEON, WORKSHOP AND PLENARY PROGRAM
PART I : The OTCC Luncheon will recognize the successes and advancements made by the faith community amid this challenging economic period in U.S. history. The emphasis will be on best practices for economic empowerment though education and collective approaches to community stability, service and growth.
INVITED OTCC Luncheon Program Guests Include:
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. – President and Founder, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Bishop Paul Morton - International Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International
Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Jr. – Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, FL
Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, Greater Grace Temple, Detroit, MI
Dr. Calvin McKinney, General Secretary, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of North Jersey at Garfield
Rabbi Marc Schneier, Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, NY
Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook Ambassador-At-Large for International Religious Freedom-Department of State
Rev. Dr. Leah Daughtry, House of the Lord Church (Washington, DC) and CEO of 2008 DNC Committee
Dr. Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary, NY
Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop, C.O.G.I.C.
Dr. Stephen J. Thurston, Sr., President, National Baptist Convention of American, Inc.
Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore, President, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
Bishop Donald Hillard, Jr., Cathedral International, NJ
Rev. Dr. Frank M. Reid, III, Bethel A.M.E. Church, MD
Dr. William D. Watley, Ph.D., St. James A.M.E. Church, NJ
Dr. Jonathan Weaver, Greater Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church, MD
Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, CA
Rev. Dr. Dennis Dillon, Brooklyn Christian Center, and publisher, The Christian Times, NY
Dr. Grainger Browning, Ebenezer AME, MD
Dr. Kris Erskine, Bethany Baptist Church, Harlem, NY
Dr. Clyde Anderson, Executive Director, Clergy and Providers for Racial Healthcare Equality, New York
2:45PM-5:00PM OTCC MINISTERS’ FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKRSHOP AND PLENARY SESSION
PART II(2:45 – 3:45PM)
FINANCIAL EDUCATION TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR PASTORS, FINANCIAL MINISTRY COORDINATORS AND LAY-LEADERS
Financial literacy primer and train-the-trainer workshop focusing on: basics of banking, money management, protecting yourself financially, using credit, planning for the future, buying a home, and starting and growing a business.
FACILITATOR: Wells Fargo - Hands On Banking
MODERATOR: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
PART III (3:45-5:00PM)
Plenary: Concentrating on poverty, unemployment, church and community foreclosures; role of the pastor and the 21st century church in effectively responding to the new diasporas and marketplace. To remain relevant, connected and serviceable to new populations with new and existing needs that hinge on economics and politics, there is a need for the church to be retooled, retrained and re-engineered;.new generations of ministers for 21st century and urban ministry will share successful approaches to tackling the social and economic challenges that have hindered the progress and responsiveness of the church to its community.
3:00PM-5:00PM AFTERNOON SESSION II - INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA: A FOCUS ON THE DIASPORA AND FOREIGN INVESTORS.
role the Diaspora and foreign investors can play in Africa’s economic resurgence and growth; Africa’s tremendous business opportunities not only in oil, gas and natural resources, but also in areas such as energy, telecommunications, technology, entertainment, construction, financial services, and tourism. This forum will also provide an opportunity to outline US trade policy towards Africa.
SPEAKERS: Senator Rodney Ellis – State Senator, Texas; Eugene Jackson – Businessman; Mr. Mike Mabuyakhulu – Provincial Minister, KwaZulu-Natal
Mr. William Jimerson – CEO, Musa Capital
Hon. Ronald Kirk – U.S. Trade Representative
H.E. Ebrahim Rasool – South African Ambassador to the U.S.
3:00PM-5:00PM Gospel Program in honor of The Reverend Timothy Wright
6:00PM-8:00PM SESSION III: Non-Bank Lending Alternatives – How They Can Help or Hurt Our Communities; Despite some of the recent gains in the economy, the American consumer is still not well. The recession has hit the middleclass hard. The nation’s unemployment rate has nearly doubled and more than a quarter of the nation’s homes are in foreclosure. Millions of Americans are unemployed or working in jobs that barely allow them to make ends meet. Even people with good credit history seem to be finding it hard to obtain traditional or prime loan products. More alarming is the inability for working people of modest means to access any type of bank or credit card products. Banks are still not lending, so people in our communities have been forced to look elsewhere. Our goal is to give those consumers more access to credit and the ability to demand and receive more clarity, fairness and transparency from financial products. We will also address credit needs not being met by traditional lenders and how policy makers and lenders can work together to bridge that gap.
This panel will shape an honest discussion around how banks, credit unions, title lenders, payday lenders, mortgage lenders and other financial institutions treat our communities. We will hear from leaders who will address both existing consumer protection potential policies and others that could help if enacted. We will review actions in some of our state houses that were designed to help and their results and produce a record of this meeting to carry our message around the country.
Moderator: Marvin Walker, Milwaukee Community Activist
Panelists: Joyce McDonald, Landri Taylor, Denver National Urban League, State Rep. Fred Durhal, D-Detroit, MI and incoming chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus; State Sen. Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, MI
Rev. JP Neal, South Carolina educator, public servant, religious leader and community developer
FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011 WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP
MORNING SESSION I: NAFEO ROUNDTABLE @ The Wall Street Project – “From Wall Street to Main Street” opportunities for open and honest dialogue about ways of adjusting the entire higher education community of colleges and universities to make it more excellent, effective and efficient, while continuing to maintain the diverse institutional missions and offerings that make the American higher education system unique; feature HBCU presidents and mainstream media executives and will continue a proactive media and grass roots offensive being undertaken by NAFEO on behalf of all of its members designed to educate thought leaders about the stellar achievements and excellent outcomes that Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).
INVITED PANELISTS: Dr. Allen Sessoms, President, University of the District of Columbia; Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President, Spelman College; Dr. Allen Sessoms, President, University of the District of Columbia; Dr. David Wilson, President, Morgan State University;
MORNING SESSION II: WALL STREET PROJECT CAREER DEVELOPMENT, RETRAINING AND RETOOLING PANEL AND BREAK-OUT SESSIONS: strengthen transitional professionals with empowering tips and resources, skill sets, and insights on the new dynamics of how Americans are going to work today and in the future.
Panelists and Facilitators: John Crant, Author Career Coach, Speaker; Karen Bowser, Bowser Research and Consulting Inc. and The Five O’clock Club Career and Business Coaching; Kim Lemon, President, The Lemon Group; and Pat Thomas, Thomas Coaching Company; Stacie N. C. Grant, C&G Enterprises
MORNING SESSION III: WOMEN AND WEALTH SESSIONS:
PINKSLIP; FRANCHISE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES; WOMEN AND WEALTH WORKSHOP
8:30AM-9:45AM PINK SLIP: panel of market experts will share the best strategic moves to protect you from the threat of job loss. If you've already left corporate, you'll gain insight on transitioning.
Moderator: Dee Marshall, Certified Coach, International Speaker & TV Lifestyle Expert
Panelists: Zelda Owens Waters, Managing Director, Hire Counsel Inc.- Confirmed
Jasmin Richardson President, Echelon Life;
Nicole Valentine-Moody, President, Synergy Business Development, Inc.
Tanisha Sykes, Senior Career and Finance Editor, Essence Magazine
10:00AM - 11:00AM DEAL FLOW AND FRANCHISE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES “Deal Flow” as a changing paradigm, incorporates a stream of viable offers and/or opportunities that can bring in enough revenue- or equity-generating opportunities to keep the collaborative business entrepreneurial environment to function at peak capacity.; showcase franchisors that are targeting and searching for qualified female franchise owners for their systems. Women prospects offer a great and effective source for franchise growth and franchisors want to tap into this resource.
Moderator: Carolyn N. Sawyer, President and CEO, Tom Sawyer Co., Inc.
Panelists:
Sakina Spruell, Keeping It Rich on BET.com and President Minute Man Press
Avis Yates Rivers, President & CEO, TGCI
Kathi Wilkes, President & CEO, Wilkes Associates
Denise Pines, President, Denise + Pines Inc.
11:00AM-12:15PM WOMEN AND WEALTH WORKSHOP: turning your relationship with money from passive to assertive; move towards having a wealthy, healthy financial life; chart action steps
Moderator: Sabrina Lamb, Author and Founder/Executive Director, WorldofMoney.com
Panelists: Jacquette Timmons, President Sterling Choices, Author "Financial Intimacy"; Deborah Owens, Author, PBS broadcaster, Financial Wealth Coach
Cheryl Creuzot, Wealth Development Strategies
Stacey Tisdale, PBS's Need To Know and author
12:30PM-2:00PM WOMEN AND WEALTH LUNCHEON AND WORKING PLENARY
Keynote Speakers: Congresswoman Yvette Clark
Iyanla VanZant - Author, Inspirational Speaker
Honorees: Congresswoman Nydia Valazquez, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters
For even more detail, contact the Rainbow Push Coalition. Otherwise, I will see you there. Bring your AAA-GAME, your creativity, your ideas, and let's start 2011 off right, power, knowledge and prosperity.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
January 11-14 will be the 14th Annual Rainbow-Push Wall Street Conference. Initiated by Rev. Jesse Jackson, who first identified economic racism as the most pervasive form of discrimination, the Conference is being held in New York City at the Sheraton Hotel, 53rd and 7th Avenue.
This is the first year however, that the Rainbow Push Coalition has an African American corporation coming in as a major sponsor, in the form of the National Allotment Insurance Agency, located in Brooklyn, NY. Sam Dunston, founder and CEO of NAIA, and a long time admirer and supporter of Rev. Jesse Jackson and his principles of self empowerment, admits that this has long been a desire of his to play a major role in the success of the Wall Street Project.
A member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, owner of Dekalb Funeral Home, and one of the few insurance companies that make it possible for its clients to pay their policies through ongoing payroll deduction, a plan which keeps insurance affordable and available.
Sam Dunston is well known and well liked in and around Brooklyn. Most will recognize him as a man who always has a smile on his face and always has something witty and positive to say. Insiders know him as the "go to" guy when you are working on a project, program or concept to benefit the community. In this instance, however, Dunston approached Rev. Jackson to offer his services and support for the upcoming conference.
Those interested in participating in the upcoming 2011 Wall Street Conference can Call 212-425-7874
RAINBOW PUSH WALL STREET PROJECT & CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION FUND
14th Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit
A More Perfect Union: Time to Rebuild America
January 12 – 14, 2011
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers
811 7th Avenue at 53rd Street, New York City
Registration Information
Tickets for the reception and meal events can be purchased separately:
* Adult: $125
* Youth: $75
Conference Packages include:
Premier VIP Package
General Summit Package
Individual Day Registration
VIP Reception and Summit Kick-off Gala
Access to Capital Breakfast: Wednesday, January 12
Economic Agenda & Awards Luncheon: Wednesday, January 12
Labor Breakfast: Thursday, January 13
Ministers’ Luncheon: Thursday, January 13
Women’s Luncheon: Friday, January 14
NOTE: Tickets or badge required for admission to all sessions and events.
No refunds after January 1, 2011.
Questions? Call 212-425-7874
THE AGENDA AS FOLLOWS IS STILL IN FORMATION:
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011
6:00PM-9:30PM SUMMIT REGISTRATION
1:00PM-3:00PM ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE
TOWARD A THIRD WAY: As Crisis ravaged America's economy, business and government leaders jumped to rescue key firms and industries.
Emergency provisions were extended to financial firms, lenders, manufacturers and jobless Americans. Two years later, leading firms are on much more secure footing, but the poorest 60% of Americans remain stuck in deep quick sands. Unemployment is nearly 10%. . We must embark on a uniting and inclusive growth path. Today's record level inequalities of wealth, income and opportunity threaten our unity, sense of justice and economic performance. Leading economists, advisors, and community leaders invite leading media and community partners to a lively, stimulating debate and discussion.
Speaker(s): Dr. Max Wolf, U. S. Economist
6:30PM-9:30PM OPENING RECEPTION
Entertainment: Recording Artist, Lalah Hathaway
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2011
DAY THEME ACCESS TO CAPITAL, INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY, YOUTH
8:30AM-10:00PM ACCESS TO CAPITAL, JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY PLENARY
Highlighting the Urban Reconstruction Agenda and the Dodd-Frank Federal Financial Regulation Bill - Section 342 and State and Local Parity Initiatives
Speaker(s)Don Thompson, President and CEO, McDonald’s USA
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Founder and President, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
10:00AM-12:00PM Digitizing Wall Street: Tech Growth and Financial Investment Bit by Bit Three Tracks
opening the doors for WMBEs as investors and professional services providers;
Keynote Speaker: Andrew Lipman, Partner, Bingham McCutchen; Panelists: Amos Winbush III, Founder, Cyber Synchs; Alfred Edmond, Jr., Senior Vice President/Editor-in-Chief, Black Enterprise.com; Benny Lorenzo, CEO, Kaufman Bros.
Track 1- Social Media
Track 2 –Investor Technology
Track 3- Investing/Access to Capital
10:00AM-3:00PM YOUTH SEMINAR 10:00AM-1:30PM
The Hip Hop Union will host 300 Students in a day of financial literacy and interactive career stations. Daniel “Diggie” Simmons, Justin Combs and Jam Master Jay Jr. with success stories and lesions and their role in rebuilding America.
1:30PM-3:00PM Break Out Session 1
panel discussion with Macy's executives in key strategic business areas to discuss the business of retail w/ Q and A session. Second a demonstration on how to dress for success by Macy's leading to a competition amongst 3 lucky participants to create a best "job interview ready" ensemble, winner will receive a $500 Macy's Gift Card!
Panelists: Shawn Outler, Macy's Inc., Shamika Lackey, Macy's Inc., Lisa Walker, Macy's Inc., Krystin Page, Macy's Inc., Claudia Acosta, Macys Inc.
8:00AM-5:00PM SMALL BUSINESS INSTITUTE (SBI)
A full day advanced technical assistance forum for small businesses seeking accelerated growth, optimization of business plans, and business process improvement.
8:30 a.m. SBI KEYNOTE OPENING SPEAKER
Speaker(s): George Fraser, Chairman and CEO FraserNet
9:00 a.m. PANEL DISCUSSION : The Small Business Heroes Moderator: Stephanie D. Burroughs – Stephanie Speaking, LLC; Panelist(s):Wy Livingston, Wy Stone Teas
9:45 a.m. BUSINESS IMPROV: You Have One Chance to Make a First Impression: a skit for small business owners: Speaker(s): Cheryl Chandler - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Stephanie D. Burroughs – StephanieSpeaking, LLC
10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. BUSINESS ZONE
SESSION I - Introduction of Women Owned Businesses Federal Set Aside Program importance of partnerships between the government and women owned businesses.Speaker(s): Cheryl Chandler-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
SESSION II – Negotiating the Government Contracting Arena Discover various federal contracting opportunities, SBA loan programs and SBA approved lenders. Speaker(s): Walter Maxwell, Dir. of External, Affairs NYC Dept of Small Bus Serv., Jan Walden, Sr. Dir. of Small Business Strategies, McKissack & McKissack
SESSION III – When the Contract is Green maximizing on opportunities in securing green contracts.
Speaker(s): Keith D. Fogg, Petroleum
SESSION IV – Improving Financial Performance
Improving Small Business Financial Performance by Eliminating “Simple Mistakes”
Speaker(s): Michael Horsey – Mitchell & Titus
SESSION V – Leveraging the digital space to grow your business grow your business with the use of cutting edge technology, social media and online marketing.
Speaker(s): Eric Hamilton- WebAcademy; “TC”Coleman, Esq., President, UpwardAction; Wendi Kaplan Carroll- Constant Contacts
SESSION VI - When to bid as a “Prime” or “Position for Subcontracting?” Business Development Strategies targeting Private Sector Corporations.
Topics will include but not be limited to: knowing how to determine what corporations best fit your development/sales plans; understanding and planning for corporate purchasing cycles; positioning a small business to be a preferred sub-contracting partner and optimizing Minority Business/Diversity Certifications with Private Sector Sourcing Initiatives
Confirmed Speaker(s): Emmett Vaughn, Exelon Corporation
12:30 p.m. ECONOMIC AGENDA LUNCHEON (SBI to Join Summit Attendees)
Description: Strategic partnerships with diverse firms should be viewed as more than just “the right thing do.” They can be key components of overall plans to drive shareholder value, diversify client reach and /or expand sources of capital and market intelligence. Many corporations and institutions are thinking creatively about how to drive shareholder value by establishing partnerships with diverse firms possessing unique market access capabilities.
3:00 p.m. CORPORATE SPEED NETWORKING ROUNDTABLE
Description: Business Leaders will lead participates in Roundtable discussions featuring personalized advice on best practices and strategies for vendor growth.
Participants: Citi, Petroleum Purchasing Incentives Inc.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITY NETWORKING ROUNDTABLE
Description: Government Leaders will lead participates in Roundtable discussions featuring personalized advice on best practices and strategies for vendor growth.
Participants: City of NY Small Business Services and New York State agencies.
6:30 p.m. RECEPTION AND SPECIAL EVENING SESSION: REBUILDING AMERICA ROUNDABLE
Roundtable discussion with members of Congress and other U.S., city and state elected officials.
SESSION I ADVERTISING
SESSION II THE STATE OF THE U.S. HOUSING CRISIS: IS THE FUTURE BLEAK OR BENIGN?
State of the US Housing Crisis? Is the Future Bleak or Benign? The ongoing credit crisis has resulted in both capital and liquidity constraints for financial institutions and has created opportunities for public-private partnerships (residential/.commercial.) Evaluate solutions for investors and homeowners. Hear from investment professionals who have +20 years experience to answer questions in today’s residential and commercial real estate sectors.
MODERATOR: David Kelly, Carleton Real Estate
PANELISTS:Carl Webb, Managing Partner, Paladin Strategic Partners; Steve Thomas, American Mortgage; Don Cogsville, The Cogsville Group; Ben Blakey, Courtland; Yale Stark, Ranieri Partners
SESSION III: M & A Panel for Small and Intermediary Organizations
SESSION IV: SPORTS
SESSION V: The Billion Dollar Roundtable - Keith T. Fogg, the owner of Purchasing Incentives LLC will be invited to lead some of Hip Hop’s most prestigious organizations in discussions about how and where they are spending their money and how the Hip Hop Union can be the source of their strength.
6:30PM-9:00PM RECEPTION AND SPECIAL EVENING SESSION: REBUILDING AMERICA ROUNDTABLE
Roundtable discussion with members of Congress and other federal, city, and state elected officials.
9:00-9:30 pm; HIP HOP RECEPTION
The Hip Hop Union will celebrate its 2nd year of existence with the unveiling of the Hop Hip Union National Flag and the year long campaign to get at least 1 million Hip Hop Citizens to declare “I AM A CITIZEN” and commit to rebuilding America. The special guests and attendees will participate in the historic flag unveiling ceremony.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2011 THE CHURCH, COMMUNITY, LABOR
7:30AM-9:30AM LABOR BREAKFAST
Rebuilding America – Leading the Change
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.; George Gresham, President 1199 SEIU; Larry Hanley, 9th President, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
10:00AM-10:30AM PRESS CONFERENCE
10:00AM-12:00PM MORNING SESSION I
I AM A CITIZEN BUSINESS AND ARTIST MATCHMAKING EXPO
Hip Hop inspired businesses and artists present their projects, goods, and services to supporters, Wall Street investors, sponsors and celebrity judges.
10:00AM-12:00PM MORNING SESSION II
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE HEALTHCARE AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES: untapped opportunities for job creation within these industries, focus on the health and wellbeing of communities of color.
The panel will impart what churches and community leaders do to establish win-win working partnerships with healthcare and pharmaceutical companies including: clinical trials, community education seminars, charitable giving to churches and church CDCs, advertising opportunities to minority-owned media and business contracts with minority vendors.
MODERATOR: Dr. Clyde Anderson
PANELISTS: Sean Jerrick, CEO, Electronic Health Enterprise Inc.; Gregory Hankins, President and Founder, Retirement Aspirations (health reform expert); Mary Pender Green, Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services; Barbara Janey, VP – Beth Israel Hospital, Newark, NJ
10:00AM-12:00PM MORNING SESSION III
CIVIL RIGHTS "10-2-10"
12:30PM-2:30PM ONE THOUSAND CHURCHES CONNECTED (OTCC) MINISTERS’ LUNCHEON, WORKSHOP AND PLENARY PROGRAM
PART I : The OTCC Luncheon will recognize the successes and advancements made by the faith community amid this challenging economic period in U.S. history. The emphasis will be on best practices for economic empowerment though education and collective approaches to community stability, service and growth.
INVITED OTCC Luncheon Program Guests Include:
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. – President and Founder, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Bishop Paul Morton - International Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International
Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Jr. – Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, FL
Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, Greater Grace Temple, Detroit, MI
Dr. Calvin McKinney, General Secretary, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of North Jersey at Garfield
Rabbi Marc Schneier, Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, NY
Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook Ambassador-At-Large for International Religious Freedom-Department of State
Rev. Dr. Leah Daughtry, House of the Lord Church (Washington, DC) and CEO of 2008 DNC Committee
Dr. Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary, NY
Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop, C.O.G.I.C.
Dr. Stephen J. Thurston, Sr., President, National Baptist Convention of American, Inc.
Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore, President, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
Bishop Donald Hillard, Jr., Cathedral International, NJ
Rev. Dr. Frank M. Reid, III, Bethel A.M.E. Church, MD
Dr. William D. Watley, Ph.D., St. James A.M.E. Church, NJ
Dr. Jonathan Weaver, Greater Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church, MD
Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, CA
Rev. Dr. Dennis Dillon, Brooklyn Christian Center, and publisher, The Christian Times, NY
Dr. Grainger Browning, Ebenezer AME, MD
Dr. Kris Erskine, Bethany Baptist Church, Harlem, NY
Dr. Clyde Anderson, Executive Director, Clergy and Providers for Racial Healthcare Equality, New York
2:45PM-5:00PM OTCC MINISTERS’ FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKRSHOP AND PLENARY SESSION
PART II(2:45 – 3:45PM)
FINANCIAL EDUCATION TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR PASTORS, FINANCIAL MINISTRY COORDINATORS AND LAY-LEADERS
Financial literacy primer and train-the-trainer workshop focusing on: basics of banking, money management, protecting yourself financially, using credit, planning for the future, buying a home, and starting and growing a business.
FACILITATOR: Wells Fargo - Hands On Banking
MODERATOR: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
PART III (3:45-5:00PM)
Plenary: Concentrating on poverty, unemployment, church and community foreclosures; role of the pastor and the 21st century church in effectively responding to the new diasporas and marketplace. To remain relevant, connected and serviceable to new populations with new and existing needs that hinge on economics and politics, there is a need for the church to be retooled, retrained and re-engineered;.new generations of ministers for 21st century and urban ministry will share successful approaches to tackling the social and economic challenges that have hindered the progress and responsiveness of the church to its community.
3:00PM-5:00PM AFTERNOON SESSION II - INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA: A FOCUS ON THE DIASPORA AND FOREIGN INVESTORS.
role the Diaspora and foreign investors can play in Africa’s economic resurgence and growth; Africa’s tremendous business opportunities not only in oil, gas and natural resources, but also in areas such as energy, telecommunications, technology, entertainment, construction, financial services, and tourism. This forum will also provide an opportunity to outline US trade policy towards Africa.
SPEAKERS: Senator Rodney Ellis – State Senator, Texas; Eugene Jackson – Businessman; Mr. Mike Mabuyakhulu – Provincial Minister, KwaZulu-Natal
Mr. William Jimerson – CEO, Musa Capital
Hon. Ronald Kirk – U.S. Trade Representative
H.E. Ebrahim Rasool – South African Ambassador to the U.S.
3:00PM-5:00PM Gospel Program in honor of The Reverend Timothy Wright
6:00PM-8:00PM SESSION III: Non-Bank Lending Alternatives – How They Can Help or Hurt Our Communities; Despite some of the recent gains in the economy, the American consumer is still not well. The recession has hit the middleclass hard. The nation’s unemployment rate has nearly doubled and more than a quarter of the nation’s homes are in foreclosure. Millions of Americans are unemployed or working in jobs that barely allow them to make ends meet. Even people with good credit history seem to be finding it hard to obtain traditional or prime loan products. More alarming is the inability for working people of modest means to access any type of bank or credit card products. Banks are still not lending, so people in our communities have been forced to look elsewhere. Our goal is to give those consumers more access to credit and the ability to demand and receive more clarity, fairness and transparency from financial products. We will also address credit needs not being met by traditional lenders and how policy makers and lenders can work together to bridge that gap.
This panel will shape an honest discussion around how banks, credit unions, title lenders, payday lenders, mortgage lenders and other financial institutions treat our communities. We will hear from leaders who will address both existing consumer protection potential policies and others that could help if enacted. We will review actions in some of our state houses that were designed to help and their results and produce a record of this meeting to carry our message around the country.
Moderator: Marvin Walker, Milwaukee Community Activist
Panelists: Joyce McDonald, Landri Taylor, Denver National Urban League, State Rep. Fred Durhal, D-Detroit, MI and incoming chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus; State Sen. Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, MI
Rev. JP Neal, South Carolina educator, public servant, religious leader and community developer
FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011 WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP
MORNING SESSION I: NAFEO ROUNDTABLE @ The Wall Street Project – “From Wall Street to Main Street” opportunities for open and honest dialogue about ways of adjusting the entire higher education community of colleges and universities to make it more excellent, effective and efficient, while continuing to maintain the diverse institutional missions and offerings that make the American higher education system unique; feature HBCU presidents and mainstream media executives and will continue a proactive media and grass roots offensive being undertaken by NAFEO on behalf of all of its members designed to educate thought leaders about the stellar achievements and excellent outcomes that Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).
INVITED PANELISTS: Dr. Allen Sessoms, President, University of the District of Columbia; Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President, Spelman College; Dr. Allen Sessoms, President, University of the District of Columbia; Dr. David Wilson, President, Morgan State University;
MORNING SESSION II: WALL STREET PROJECT CAREER DEVELOPMENT, RETRAINING AND RETOOLING PANEL AND BREAK-OUT SESSIONS: strengthen transitional professionals with empowering tips and resources, skill sets, and insights on the new dynamics of how Americans are going to work today and in the future.
Panelists and Facilitators: John Crant, Author Career Coach, Speaker; Karen Bowser, Bowser Research and Consulting Inc. and The Five O’clock Club Career and Business Coaching; Kim Lemon, President, The Lemon Group; and Pat Thomas, Thomas Coaching Company; Stacie N. C. Grant, C&G Enterprises
MORNING SESSION III: WOMEN AND WEALTH SESSIONS:
PINKSLIP; FRANCHISE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES; WOMEN AND WEALTH WORKSHOP
8:30AM-9:45AM PINK SLIP: panel of market experts will share the best strategic moves to protect you from the threat of job loss. If you've already left corporate, you'll gain insight on transitioning.
Moderator: Dee Marshall, Certified Coach, International Speaker & TV Lifestyle Expert
Panelists: Zelda Owens Waters, Managing Director, Hire Counsel Inc.- Confirmed
Jasmin Richardson President, Echelon Life;
Nicole Valentine-Moody, President, Synergy Business Development, Inc.
Tanisha Sykes, Senior Career and Finance Editor, Essence Magazine
10:00AM - 11:00AM DEAL FLOW AND FRANCHISE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES “Deal Flow” as a changing paradigm, incorporates a stream of viable offers and/or opportunities that can bring in enough revenue- or equity-generating opportunities to keep the collaborative business entrepreneurial environment to function at peak capacity.; showcase franchisors that are targeting and searching for qualified female franchise owners for their systems. Women prospects offer a great and effective source for franchise growth and franchisors want to tap into this resource.
Moderator: Carolyn N. Sawyer, President and CEO, Tom Sawyer Co., Inc.
Panelists:
Sakina Spruell, Keeping It Rich on BET.com and President Minute Man Press
Avis Yates Rivers, President & CEO, TGCI
Kathi Wilkes, President & CEO, Wilkes Associates
Denise Pines, President, Denise + Pines Inc.
11:00AM-12:15PM WOMEN AND WEALTH WORKSHOP: turning your relationship with money from passive to assertive; move towards having a wealthy, healthy financial life; chart action steps
Moderator: Sabrina Lamb, Author and Founder/Executive Director, WorldofMoney.com
Panelists: Jacquette Timmons, President Sterling Choices, Author "Financial Intimacy"; Deborah Owens, Author, PBS broadcaster, Financial Wealth Coach
Cheryl Creuzot, Wealth Development Strategies
Stacey Tisdale, PBS's Need To Know and author
12:30PM-2:00PM WOMEN AND WEALTH LUNCHEON AND WORKING PLENARY
Keynote Speakers: Congresswoman Yvette Clark
Iyanla VanZant - Author, Inspirational Speaker
Honorees: Congresswoman Nydia Valazquez, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters
For even more detail, contact the Rainbow Push Coalition. Otherwise, I will see you there. Bring your AAA-GAME, your creativity, your ideas, and let's start 2011 off right, power, knowledge and prosperity.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
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