Cuba

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:22:52 -0400

What does Cuba represent in the minds of Black revolutionaries? Resistance to imperialism, resistance to capitalism, resistance to white supremacy. The imaginary Cuba where Robert Wiliams, Assata Shakur and many others escaped to- the Palenque of Black America. Cuba conjures up in the minds of people strong emotions, love and hate with no in-between. However the Cuban people are an extraordinary in the sense they have survived against a 50 years embargo, and the 1989 collapse of the Soviet Union.

As I spoke to everyday people from the gardner to the doctoral student to the street hustler all of them expressed an openness to interact with the world but with an underlying sense of pending change. I was welcomed as a sister- black norte americana, or often just mistaken for an Afro Cubano. I thank the Cuban people for sharing a little bit of themselves with me as I continue on my own journey on what it means to be human in a world that so often negates our humanity.

New World African Spiritualism

Babalawo Lopez intercedes in the spirit realm on my behalf speaking a trilingual prayer in Yoruba, Spanish, and English. Enslaved Africans from Nigeria, and the Congo protected their religious practices by hiding the Orishas up under Catholic Saints thus creating syncretic religions of Santeria, Condomble, and Lukumi.

Borike’n

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:13:30 -0400

Borike’n, means Great Land of the Valiant Noble Lord named by the Taino native american inhabitants of Puerto Rico. This summer’s journey took me to the Caribbean-- Afro-Latino-European creaolized culture. On this journey I ventured to the only rain forest in the United States, learned about the surviving Taino communities in the hinterlands of Puerto Rico, and encountered a Loiza spiritualist.

Caguana/Tibes: Taino Ceremonial Grounds

Taino Ceremonial Ground Bohique Social Role
Playing Time: 7:04 Playing Time: 3:55

Puerto Rican Culture and Society

Loiza: Bomba, Afro-Latino Beats
Playing Time: 2:47

Puerto Rico Spiritualism
Playing Time: 39:02

Hawaiin Islands

Mon, 19 May 2008 18:00:27 -0400

Alaska

Thu, 8 Nov 2007 21:42:35 -0500

The name "Alaska" came from an Aleut word for "great land," though some believe the Aleut word meant "mainland," referred to it by those residing on the Alaska Peninsula. Scientist and surveyor William Healey Dall wrote in 1870: "This name, now applied to the whole of our new territory, is a corruption, very far removed from the original word called by the natives Al-ak-shak or Al-ay-ek-sa. From Alayeksa the name became Alaksa, Alashka, Aliaska, and finally Alaska. We have, then Alaska for the territory, Aliaska for the peninsula."

Alaska today refers to the entire state as well as the Peninsula. "Alyeska" is still around, though, as the name of a ski resort in Girdwood, as well as the name of the Anchorage consortium overseeing the trans-Alaska pipeline company.

Other names for Alaska:
Territory of Baranov, for Alexander Baranov, the early Russian leader on this continent. Russian America, before it was purchased by the United States in 1867. Seward's Folly, or Seward's Icebox, for Secretary of State William Seward, who proposed the often-ridiculed purchase and the official acceptance of the name "Alaska."

Sources: Alaska Place Names Dictionary, Alaska Volcano Observatory

Purchase: William Henry Seward was secretary of state under President Abraham Lincoln when he began negotiating a deal for the United States to buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million--or 2 cents an acre.

Seward, born May 16, 1801, served as New York state senator from 1831 to 1834, then as the state's governor from 1839 to 1843. Lincoln appointed him secretary of state in 1861. During Lincoln's presidency, he began negotiating the purchase of Alaska, then Russian America. Zachary Kent, in "William Seward: the Mastermind of the Alaska Purchase," reports how Seward invited senators to dinner parties at his home. According to Kent, "While the senators enjoyed fine food and wine, Seward described how beautiful Russian America was reported to be."

The purchase agreement was signed by Seward on March, 30, 1867, and approved by the U.S. Senate May 27, 1867. President Andrew Johnson signed the final treaty the following day and the transfer was made Oct. 18, 1867, in Sitka. In 1917, the third Alaska Territorial Legislature created Seward's Day to mark the signing of the treaty. That same year, lawmakers also designated Oct. 18 "Alaska Day."

Many Americans of the period called the purchase "Seward's folly" or "Seward's icebox," thinking Alaska a snowy, icy wastelands. Of course, that was before Alaska was discovered by gold seekers, oil companies and tourists.

Many streets throughout Alaska have been named after William Seward. A city on the Kenai Peninsula bears his name, and Alaska has a glacier, a passage, a peninsula, a creek, a highway and mountains named for him as well.

And what about William Seward himself? The night John Wilkes Booth fatally shot Lincoln, a Confederate veteran named Lewis Payne entered Sewards bedroom and attacked him with a large knife. Fortunately, the blows were blunted by a neck brace Seward was wearing (according to The Lost Museum, a Web site sponsored by the City University of New York and George Mason University.). Seward continued to serve as secretary of the state under President Johnson, and it was during Johnson's administration that Seward completed the negotiations with Russia.

Statehood: Alaska (October 18, 1867) was first a district, becoming an organized territory on August 24, 1912. Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.

Capital: The state capital is Juneau, located in the southeast region of Alaska. In 2002 it had a population of 30,684.

Motto: "North to the Future" (1967) Our motto was chosen in 1967 during the Alaska Purchase Centennial and was created by Juneau newsman Richard Peter. The motto is meant to represent Alaska as a land of promise. Sidebar: "North to Alaska" was a 1960 Western-comedy movie featuring John Wayne as a turn-of-the-century prospector sent from White Mountain, "just a little southeast of Nome," to fetch his partner's sweetheart from Seattle. When he finds the sweetheart already married, he invites a beautiful dancer to be her replacement -- and he falls in love with her himself. The movie's ballad, also called "North to Alaska," became a hit in 1960 for Johnny Horton.

Nickname: "The Last Frontier"

Seal: The state seal includes images of the aurora, icebergs, mining, farming, fisheries, fur seals and a railroad. The state seal was originally designed and adopted in 1910 while Alaska was still territory, not a state. The rays above the mountains represent the Northern Lights. The smelter symbolizes mining. The train stands for Alaska’s railroads, and ships denote transportation by sea. The trees symbolize Alaska’s wealth of forests, and the farmer, his horse, and the three shocks of wheat represent Alaskan agriculture. The fish and the seals signify the importance of fishing and wildlife to Alaska’s economy. If you click on the link at the beginning of this paragraph, you can see a picture of it.

Song: "Alaska's Flag" became the state song in 1955. Follow the link for the words.

Holidays: (official state ones)
bullet Seward's Day: Usually the last Sunday in March. Seward's Day commemorates the signing of the treaty by which the United States bought Alaska from Russian, signed on March 30, 1867. The Monday following is a state holiday for government workers.
bullet Alaska Day: October 18. Alaska Day is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the territory and the raising of the US. flag at Sitka on October 18, 1867 (http://fairbanks-alaska.com/alaska-history.htm).

Follow this link for information on the Symbols of Alaska, like her state bird, state sport, etc. Alaska

The Gunks - New Paltz, New York

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The earth shares its’ many personalities with us. At times its sunny while at other times snowy. I traveled to the Adirondacks located in upstate New York (New Paltz) for a little rest and relaxation during Thanksgiving break. Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) my favorite outdoor sporting store were my guides for this trip that included ice climbing, cross country skiing and repelling down the side of a snowy mountain. I found ice climbing to be physically challenging and demanding as I attempted and completed climbing vertically up the side of a frozen waterfall.

Cross country skiing was more relaxing yet required great cardiovascular endurance and finally repelling simply was scary yet fulfilling as I overcame my fears of jumping off the side of a mountain on a string that’s called rope. At one point I stopped in the middle of the descent because I was a bit nervous but I simply talked my way through the process.

EMS Link

Medicinal plants help US to heal

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Personal Experience - Sunday, August 1, 2004
South America conjures up images of indigenous communities located in the Amazon jungle with sparsely located African maroon communities along the coast escaping from Spanish and Portuguese enslavement. What in the world is an African American doing in Tarapoto, Peru? At age 39 I had accomplished more than I had ever imagined. I had worked, studied, and traveled throughout Africa for the past 18 years and completed my doctorate degree. However, my life (vida) felt empty and incomplete. Something was missing with the spiritual dimension of my life decreasing. Although, I had grown up with the Methodist tradition it was lacking in spiritual content and connection with Spirit and nature. This trek to Peru represents the reclaiming of my spiritual self.

I’m having a spit-up moment

I spent five days at the Hampichicuy Research and Health Center located in the Amazon rain forest under the care of Javiar and Betty Zavala. Surrounded by fruit trees in a lush rain forest provided a tranquil setting necessary for the healing of my soul, body, and mind. I began my spirit quest by receiving the assistance of several plant and nature spirits. The first phase consisted of preparing my body for the Ayahuasca ceremony by purging the toxins out of my system. This entailed ingesting 8 ounces of rosasisa and tobacco juice along with 3 liters of warm water in one setting. Needless to say, I never wanted to drink 3 liters of water ever again. This purgativo process as it is called is followed by relocating to the health center and living alone in a Tambo for the duration of the stay. Javiar shared with me that my plant regiment would consist of 4 Ayahuasca sessions, daily in-take of ahasocha, and coca juice. The ahasocha and coca plants are feminine and are used to treat bone ailments and to produce good (suenos) dreams. On alternate days I ingested the powerful Ayahuasca plant to open my consciousness to the Universe and to other intelligent beings.

I feel that I have begun the process of reconnecting with my own spirit, Divine Spirit at large, and humanity in general. I intend to return to Peru to learn more about indigenous healing practices and the powerful Ayahuasca Spirit.

Just a final note, I would like to thank Javiar and Betty for their kind hospitality during my stay in Peru.

Gabon - west africa

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The spiritual world is an integral part of the physical world but most of us are unaware of the daily interactions. Shamanism is a global practice that entails the utmost respect for the power of Spirit. I travelled to Gabon, Central-West Africa, 1993 as part of Rev. Leon Sullivan’s African/Afrircan-American Summit Delegation. What I encountered was a sensuous full-body experience encounter with a Bwiti Priest.