Returning to My Mother’s Land 2

December 28IMG_1232

OK, so this is what I’ve learned. I am becoming more comfortable each day…Everyone is super nice but also super cautious and suspicious of outsiders…especially outsiders with cameras…yesterday, at particular times, was a difficult day for me…because of the language barrier I felt out of place at the beginning of a gathering at a Sierra Leoneans house. I’m happy to say that by the time I left, I was happy and glad I went. It turned out to be a great gathering, lots of fun, music, dancing and food. Everyone was really nice and accommodating … as usual. (more…)

Published in: on December 31, 2013 at 6:05 AM  Comments (11)  
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Returning to My Mother’s Land

A Sierra Leonean Woman African Beauty

A Sierra Leonean Woman
African Beauty

December 22 or 21st , I’m not sure but it’s a Sunday…I think..

After traveling for 27 hours by car, plane, shuttle, shuttle again, plane, boat, then car…we finally made it to Ishmil’s house, Kadia’s brother. It is really nice…with security, security walls, and security doors. He made us African chicken and rice, which means free-range and the meat can be a bit tougher but it was spicy and delicious. We had refreshing water as well. One of Kadia’s bags, an important one was left behind by accident by the flight crew and my makeup bag with all of my makeup was left somewhere as well,,. The good kind of makeup bag where you have all of the “trusties” that have been working for YEARS…you simply keep replacing the…so, I thought, well there’s a blessing in everything. But, I was also thinking, I know God may have wanted me to get back to my roots but with NO MASCARA! A little EYELINER? No? I don’t think he wanted me to go THIS native! Not cute…But, I handled it…smiling… (more…)

Published in: on December 27, 2013 at 11:58 PM  Comments (3)  
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Angels Unawares….

Angels

So, there I was, sitting in the waiting room of the International Travel Vaccine Clinic, closely being watched by nurses to see if I was going to pass out or something after getting 3 shots. I began to breathe slowly and quietly to see if I could hear my heart beat. Were my toes numb? Did I have cotton mouth? Was I trippin! Yes…I was…so I took another deep breath and became relaxed and happy that, so far, I wasn’t having any (more…)

Published in: on November 14, 2013 at 9:27 AM  Leave a Comment  
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Girls will be Girls…

So, I was just thinking…sometimes Americans talk about the “devastating,” “traumatic,” “barbaric,” “mutilating,” “disgusting,” “Third World,” “uncivilized,”  ritual practice of female “castration” or “mutilation”  that occur in other countries. We run to their “rescue.” We run to their defense like we know what is best. Yet, during these discussions there is little to  NO reference at all to OUR OWN practices of molestation, rape and abuse that happens to females every day, of every year, of every century in this “civilized” world we call America. Hmmm…so, I’m wondering, what are the REAL big differences-elements of distinction? Are we really all that different? Do we have our own sanctified and protected ways of attempts to kill the soul of such innocent victims (targets)? Ritual vs. mutilation. Rights of the female body dictated by the individual female vs. rights of the female body dictated by others. Wrong vs. Right. Does it all just really come down to a matter of perspective? I’m just asking… 

Published in: on July 6, 2013 at 7:36 PM  Leave a Comment  

Would you be scared?

It’s dark. You’re all alone and you’re on your way home when you notice a car following you. You don’t recognize the individual or the car but you know AND you can feel that they’re following you. You’re not sure why because you haven’t done anything wrong. So why are they following you? Your heart begins to race and you begin to feel danger…scared that the stranger has bad intentions. There couldn’t be any good intentions because they haven’t said hello, blew the horn, or anything that would come off as friendly. Would you be nervous? Would you be scared? (more…)

Published in: on June 30, 2013 at 4:25 AM  Leave a Comment  
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Piers “Trump”?

So, Piers admits to wanting to do whatever he can to “extinguish” Omarosa’s chance of moving ahead. Again, I hope you’re watching how the “bullying effect” is being engaged. Last episode, because the Team lost, the Project Manager was fired. No questions asked, Donald Trump looked at her and said, “You’re fired.” Of course, viewers witnessed how upset everyone was that the project manager didn’t fire Omarosa, including Donald Trump. So, now, an almost identical scenario has occurred. The TEAM lost, Dennis Rodman brought in the smallest amount, should the project manager be fired? If they follow suit…yes, but, thanks to Piers, and his prejudicial slant against a woman who is as strong as he is, it became ugly. I will say…and I have to say…that the way Donald Trump came through when it all went down, with class, I am pleased. He could have taken the road of sludge that was being thrown around so much but he didn’t. Thank you for stepping forward—and showing class when there was none for a long period of time. Omarosa is still tops in my book. A great fighter and leader and an extremely strong woman. Now, that this is all over, I think the ratings may go down…gradually. We’ll see.

Published in: on April 2, 2013 at 6:54 AM  Leave a Comment  
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And so another day….

And so another day has come and is now heading out the backdoor to make room for tomorrow…Friday..

Yes, I was impassioned the last time I wrote, yes, I told the truth the last time I wrote and yes, I wrote how I felt….yes…yes…yes…

And so what did I learn today? I learned, once again, that no matter how impassioned I am, no matter how much truth I tell, and no matter how I feel at any given moment, I am always amazed at the blessings that surprise me, when I least expect it … but ones that are so welcoming and moving. (more…)

Published in: on September 14, 2012 at 7:12 AM  Leave a Comment  
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Another Day of being Black in the White Public World

So, here I am again…asking anyone who wants to hear, do you want to know what it is like to be black in the public white world? I say public white world because the experiences I have had in this world are not the experiences that I had in the military world growing up as a military brat. In the military, there was one common goal…to secure the safety of America and everyone who lives here. Rank also mattered more than color…at times….But any way, that’s another blog for another time… Right now, I want to share with you what happened to ME last night… (more…)

Published in: on September 11, 2012 at 5:17 AM  Leave a Comment  
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Come walk with me…

To my dear Non-black brothers and sisters,

The old saying is that you never know what it’s like to be someone or understand their consequences until you walk a mile in their shoes…Well, would you like to know what it’s like to be Black in America? Come with me and walk 3 miles in my shoes…

I got up this morning as usual, feeling refreshed and happy to be alive, put on my workout clothes and headed outdoors…into the fresh air, a little sunshine and the freedom that I see symbolized in my feathered friend who was the first one to greet me on my front lawn… (more…)

Published in: on March 29, 2012 at 7:37 PM  Leave a Comment  
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Where are you NOW?!!!: A Call to ACTION!

A call to action In 6 sentences…With the attacks on women from ALL fronts, where is the voice of NOW? Where is the representation of the National Organization for Women? NOW is the time we should hear the voice. NOW is the time for a united front to take on these battles. NOW is the time and NOW is not is not visibly present. Move your voices from the margins and place them in the core, the mainstream, where the struggles, wars, and battles are being fought. NOW!

Published in: on March 7, 2012 at 9:20 PM  Comments (2)  
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