National Black Arts Festival

Finally!! I have something in Black arts and entertainment that I can feel good about. Stepping away from the barrage of negative images and derogatory stereotypes that are propagated by both black and white media outlets hails the National Black Arts Festival. The festival began in 1988 and is now celebrating it's 20th anniversary! What was originally a bi-annual event has evolved into a year round institution. The festival is a cultural celebration showcasing our diverse artistic talents in the areas of: dance, music, theater, film, literature, and visual arts. Its mission is “to develop, expose and educate audiences to the arts and culture of the African Diaspora and provide diverse opportunities for artistic and creative expression.”

Being an absolute fanatic over all things "indie" and loving to see my culture depicted in the glorious and positive light that makes me ever more proud to be a Black woman, I will be in definite attendance for as many events that I can squeeze into my schedule.
I'm a bit dismayed that as I drive around my city and listen to the radio, I don't see very many advertisements posted nor do I hear much publicity given on the radio. It's a sad testament to our times when we are more apt to be exposed to culturally and racially demeaning images and words rather than those that are rich, uplifting and celebratory.

I'll be doing my part to practice what I preach, as regards helping to build more positive images of Black America by becoming a member and only financially supporting the media and entertainment venues that depict me in the light in which I wish to be seen. As I take my foray into the festival and all it has to offer, I will take time out to highlight many of the events that I attend by commenting/reviewing and yes, posting pictures of them here.

The National Black Arts Festival will take place in Atlanta, GA July 18th-27th. Mark your calendars!

Missy © 2008

myeishaspeaks@gmail.com

For more information please visit:

www.nbaf.org/

http://www.atlanta.net/visitors/national_black_arts_festival.html

http://www.atlantaheritage.com/commonHumanity.html



The Renaissance, The New Millennium, National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA, Diaspora, art, festivals

Royal Ebony

brown eyes that shimmer

of varying hues

skin from yellow

to the darkest of blues

intense in demeanor

determination of steel

there's a need and a way

I have faith that we will

show the world

what we're capable of being

take our places on thrones

as Kings and Queens

a residual flicker lingers

from a once full flame

ebony royalty

will rise again!

© 2008 Missy

myeishaspeaks@gmail.com

The Renaissance, The New Millennium, Kings and Queens, Royal Ebony, Poetry, Unity

Rwanda

While we’re getting set up, chew on this.

5/15/2007

Rwanda

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No matter how long it's been, no matter how long it gets to be, one must never forget the Holocaust. For one-hundred - no - not that Holocaust. I am referring to the small east African nation of Rwanda. For one-hundred days, during 1994, approximately 800,000 Rwandans were slaughtered, butchered, if you will, by the majority ethnic group, the Hutus. Of the 800,000 killed, about 50,000 were moderate Hutus and Tutsi sympathizers. The remainder of the 800,000 were Tutsi. To understand the situation, I will provide a very short, very abridged history.

Prior to 1994, the ruling government, or occupying force, was Germany. They placed the Tutsis in a position of higher status than the Hutus because the Tutsis had more prominent European features. The Germans left and Belgium took over. The Belgians continued the separation of the Tutsis and Hutus by issuing national identity cards, which declared each citizens ethnic heritage. By the 1950's the Tutsis were seeking their independence, and the Belgians began to switch the high status to the Hutus, as they felt they were less civilized and easier to control. In 1959, ethnic clashes broke out, and the Belgians allowed the Hutus to burn down Tutsi houses with no interference. After two weeks, 300 were dead. Ironically, the majority of those arrested by the Belgians were Tutsi. This internal fighting continued until, finally, the Hutus were in total command. By 1961, the Belgians had allowed the Hutus to engineer a 'legal' coup, thus declaring their independence. Then, in July of 1973, Major-General Juv‚nal Habyarimana, a Hutu, took over governance in a bloodless coup. He asserted, falsely, that he would allow the Tutsis to remain in virtual peace, as long as they did not get involved with politics.

Fast-forward to April 6, 1994. General Habyarimana was returning to Rwanda, by plane, when the plane was shot down, killing everyone on board. No one person or group was blamed for the downing of the plane, but it is almost certain that it was the work of the Hutus, who were convinced that General Habyarimana was beginning to give in to international pressure. Others say that the Hutus were simply willing to sacrifice the general to incite the population. An hour after the plane was downed, roadblocks were set up, and the hunt was on for those whose names were on a pre-prepared list of moderate Hutus, slated for execution. At that point, the Hutus went after every Tutsi in the country, slaughtering them with automatic weapons, machetes and farm tools. The final outcome: 750,000 Tutsis dead and 50,000 Hutus. Rwandan Tutsi refugees (in Uganda) had formed the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) back in 1985, and by now, had finally gathered up enough power to overcome the ruling Hutus in Rwanda by the end of the one-hundred days. By then, the damage was done.

Today, those acts have been condemned as pure and simple genocide. That term, genocide, only came into play after the Tutsi rebels had finally gained control, and put an end to the violence. During the time that the genocide was taking place, the international community was particularly careful not to call it 'genocide'. Some of the most blatant efforts to carry out such a denial were perpetrated by the United States. No politician, no part of the media, and no diplomats were to ever refer to the violence as 'genocide'. The senseless killings were referred to as 'acts of genocide' and 'ethnic in-fighting'. It was never to be referred to as 'genocide'. That would mean that, as a super power, the United States, or any other world power, would be obligated to step in. As it stands, Rwanda was left to all but perish. The UN Security Council voted unanimously to abandon Rwanda, finally pulling out the remainder of its peace-keeping troops.


In 1994, for one-hundred days, a wholesale slaughtering of human lives took place in the small east African nation of Rwanda, leaving 800,000 people dead. No one stepped in. No one even recognized it for what it was - genocide. No matter how long it has been, no matter how long it gets to be, one must never forget the Holocaust.

This is blackstarr saying “Vive La Renaissance”.

Blackstarr52@gmail.com

Rwanda, Hutus, Tutsi, rebels, 1994, Habyarimana, 80000, genocide, ethnic cleansing, murder rate, homicides, RPF, Uganda, holocaust, media manipulation, ethnic in-fighting, civil war

Celebrities and Racism

While we're getting set up, here's something to chew on.



I was all set to do a piece on celebrities and racism. If you are near my age, I bet I know what came to your mind first: Elvis Presley and John Wayne. That was to be my topic, and I did extensive research to come up with some insight and perspective. To my surprise, after spending countless hours of searches, I ended up with Kanye West! I will admit that my disappointment with Hip Hop and Rap has led me to put them in the back of my mind. Unfortunately, in doing so, I have missed out on some very important issues. This piece focuses on the words said by Kanye West in an interview in Essence magazine, back in 2006. Since it was that long ago, I have included this article under "How Soon We Forget".

In the event that, like yours truly, you missed the hoopla of the Essence article, Kanye West was reported as saying "If it wasn't for race mixing, there'd be no video girls." He went on to say "Me and most of my friends like mutts a lot . . .Yeah, in the 'hood they call em mutts." I did not read the article, but every search came up with the exact same words, so I guess that's as close as I will get to actually quoting him. I was disgusted when I heard the news of Michael "Kramer" Richards' comments, and I was ghastly appalled at the racist remarks made by Imus. However, this takes the cake. I have lived in "the 'hood" way longer than Kanye West, and in all of my 55 years, I have never called any woman a "mutt".

The first problem is comparing our women to dogs. It is even further humiliating when I can find no news article or web page that prints an apology from Kanye West. Heaven knows, I tried to find something that said he was worthy of at least some type of forgiveness, but I have found not a shred of evidence that he has made an apology. Perhaps he meant what he said and that it was not some off-the-wall remark - it came from deep inside. He apparently hates his own likeness. Whether one is of mixed-origin or from two parents of the same ethnic origin, one should never be called a dog.

The second problem comes in his claim that "If it wasn't for race mixing, there would be no video girls", which further extends his self-hatred. Of all the women that apply to be on music videos, of all the diverseness in style, complexion, and shapes, there is no one worthy of becoming a video girl other than those of mixed- origin? I have seen some of the women who did not make it into the music video world, and I must tell you that any given one makes my heart skip more than a beat. For that matter, those who were turned away at the door without so much as a "howdy do" are pedestal material.

The third problem is not with Kanye West, but with the young people who buy the cd's, the products, and attend the concerts of such vile people as Kanye West. They have the power to boycott, they have the power to say "Enough". I don't understand how they can listen to the horrendous lyrics that degrade our Black women, and feel that there is no problem, or that they have no obligation to take a stand. I suppose that if slurs don't come from Caucasians, it does not injure their hearts and souls.

I am not one who would purchase his CD's, so my boycott of his music does very little. However, my opinion from this day forth is that Kanye West is deeply rooted with a hatred of his own kind, and, regardless of his musical aptitude, he should not be looked upon as someone who should be esteemed in any way.

His remarks were printed back in the December, 2006 issue of Essence, which makes this news 'old hat'. And that being the case, this is just a reminder that we should not fall victim to "How Soon We Forget".

This is blackstarr saying "Vive la Renaissance". Peace.

copyright © 5.29.2007 blackstarr blackstarr52@gmail.com


racism, video girls, mutts, mixed race, hip hop, Essence, rap, Kanye West