Archives
Five Reasons Grateful for M. L. King, Jr. Day
Posted on January 19, 2015 7 Comments
Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., saw that still in the second half of the 20th century the descendants of slaves, on whose backs this country’s wealth was built, were still unable to enjoy the promised freedoms, equality, and pursuit of happiness written into the American constitution and law. He accepted the charge to work for the achievement of those […]
Practice Gratitude with the Avaaz Community
Posted on January 15, 2015 1 Comment
Avaaz Photo I have participated in Avaaz internet actions for years. For those who do not know, in the words of the Avaaz team, Avaaz is an extraordinary community of hopeful, practically idealistic people who choose to sign a petition or donate money when no one is looking. This organization has successfully delivered petitions, with millions […]
Please Support My Big Idea for Change
Posted on December 20, 2014 11 Comments
I’m an active e-mail activist. In November I added comments to the Big Ideas Project asking for what change I’d like to see in this country. I didn’t realize it’s a large effort to influence political legislation. The top 20 ideas will be presented to Congress. People can vote on ideas. To my surprise I received an e-mail yesterday […]
The Prince and the Goddess – Ideas, Innovations, Inspiration
Posted on October 15, 2014 6 Comments
It’s time for the Artist Formerly Known as Prince to move over and bow to a new Prince. I discovered Prince Ea on the Facebook newsfeed of a Buddhist friend when I wished her happy birthday. She had posted a video, What No One Wants to Say About Ferguson. From the title I thought he […]
A Voice for Peace and Sanity
Posted on August 20, 2014 4 Comments
My Plea to Israel: Liberate Yourselves by Liberating the Palestinians is an op-ed written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu recently published in a major Israeli newspaper. He uses the history of South Africa’s, ultimately non-violent, end to apartheid through a world-wide boycott to encourage the same efforts to achieve peace and justice in Israel and Palestine. Photo provided by Avaaz Well-worth […]
Free Write Friday – The Seed
Posted on June 7, 2013 19 Comments
It’s been a few weeks since I had the time to participate in Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday. Below is the prompt and the short story that just came to me immediately. Enjoy. You’re young. You are standing in front of a shop window watching something on the black and white television inside. A woman grabs your […]
Angela Davis and I – Poetry, Cinema, and Social Justice
Posted on February 24, 2013 11 Comments
1970, Professor Angela Davis and myself, a college freshman; Angela in the 80s our second meeting; Angela in 2012 at the Toronto Film Festival.——————————————————————————————————————————————————————– Angela My conscience commissions me/to take pen and paper/and give meaning to the meaningless word./Your silence castrates me./Day dawns but I am weary/the pages empty, the hours wasted./What is your glory […]
Posted on February 17, 2013 12 Comments
As it is Black History Month, today I’m sharing two blogs that I found very worth while. The first you will find at this link, http://browneyedspin.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/paul-robeson-an-extraordinary-man-part-1/. Brown-eyed Spin is doing a series of Black History posts that are well worth the read. Her latest blog led me to research Paul Robeson and the Spanish Civil […]
I Am That We May Be
Posted on February 10, 2013 7 Comments
Illustration of book cover drawn by me The poems that I have posted the past couple of weeks were first published in 1974 in my book of poetry, I Am That We May Be. I used the Swahili name, Damali, which meant a beautiful vision, explained in my introduction: “Poems are visions to be shared […]
Three Poems for Celebration
Posted on January 20, 2013 12 Comments
Tomorrow this country officially celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I believe, if he was still alive, he would say, do not celebrate me, I just did my work as a minister. Celebrate this country’s achievement for removing racist laws. Celebrate the descendants of the sons and daughters of Africa who continue […]
Skywalker Storyteller Works 