150 Years Later

New book release:

The Truth is Free!

"People often say, "You can't save the world." The statement insinuates that as individuals our efforts for change and for the bettering society are utterly useless. Yet, historical analysis disagrees. There have been countless individuals that took a proactive outlook on life and made profound changes to our society. We would like to one day be able to say that we did the same. We all have a limited time on this planet. Some people leave the world having made a substantial impact while others only a small one."

I recently came upon this website and thought it important to pass along to you. They have many, many films available. Below is more information on the organization.

Freedocumentaries.org streams full-length documentary films free of charge, with no registration needed. For several films, we even offer the ability to watch trailers or to download the actual film.

The films are gathered by our researchers as we scour the web for well-produced videos and present them to our viewers. We adhere to all copyright laws and honor the wishes of the producers.

We created Freedocumentaries.org because we wanted to find an easy way to bring thought-provoking, educational, and entertaining documentaries to anyone with a high-speed internet connection. 

We believe that the mainstream media increasingly practices self-censorship, and that it ignores many opinions and historical events. With the media distorting or ignoring information, it’s often very hard to get an accurate picture of a problem, even while watching the news.


Sites like Freedocumentaries.org are a much-needed counterbalance to corporate media: an industry dominated by special interests. Even though every dollar we make via advertising or donations is critical, we do not let any advertisers have any influence over which films we play.


We would rather lose that money than lose our independence. And the fact that we won’t shy away from controversial films is one of the things that makes us unique.

Please check them out!

Black Venus ~ Vénus Noire movie

Story behind the movie

Ambassador Skweyiya accepted the remains for South Africa

The remains of an African woman who was paraded around Europe as a freak and scientific curiosity have been handed back to the South African Government in a symbolic gesture of reconciliation by France.

The skeleton and bottled organs of Saarti Baartman - who was known as the "Hottentot Venus" for her pronounced buttocks and genitals - were handed over to the South African ambassador in a ceremony in Paris on Friday, ending a long battle for her return.

"After suffering so much offence and humiliation, Saarti Baartman will have her dignity restored - she will find justice and peace," said French Research Minister Roger-Gerard Schwartzenberg.

Her treatment has become a symbol of European colonial attitudes towards Africa and her return has been an important issue in post-apartheid South Africa.

Freak show

Six women sang a hymn as two crates containing a plaster cast of Baartman's body and her remains were opened, and then covered with a flag and a leopard skin cloth.

They will be transported to South Africa later this week.

Baartman was born in 1789 into the Khoisan tribe of hunter-gatherers who lived in the southernmost tip of Africa and were also known as Hottentots, which is now considered a derogatory and offensive term.

In 1810 a British ship's doctor, William Dunlop, noticed what seemed to him, her unusual shape.

He took her to London, hoping there was money to be made by exhibiting her and showed her off to a paying audience as a freak of nature.

She was then sold to a French entrepreneur who took her to Paris where she seems to have fallen into alcoholism and prostitution and was dead by 1816.

Baartman was then dissected as a scientific specimen.

Parts of her were preserved and put on display along with her skeleton and could be seen in a Paris museum, right up until the mid 1970s.

Righting a wrong

After the ending of apartheid, South Africa began to campaign for the return of her remains.

In 1994 former French President Francois Mitterrand made a personal promise on the matter to Nelson Mandela, but it has taken several years for the necessary legislation to be passed.

A special act of parliament, passed in February, opened the way for the handover to South Africa.

The French were concerned that to return Baartman's remains might lead to claims from other countries for return of artefacts held in French museums.

For South Africa, the case illustrates the racist scientific thinking common in 19th Century Europe and there are plans to give Baartman a national funeral and partially put right a historical wrong.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1957240.stm

Can a French African man become President of France?

“Years ago, France had a dream,” said Patrick Lozès in an interview with the daily newspaper Le Monde, “A country where all the citizens would be free and equal, without reference of belief, color of skin, sex or roots. We ask that this dream, which is also that of the Blacks of France, become finally a reality.

Patrick Lozès, a pharmacist by trade, was born in Benin in 1965.  Lozès is a 2012 presidential candidate in France. He is president and founding member of Cran (Council Representing the Associations of the Black People of France).

Lozès, who is the author of Nous Les Noirs de France [The Blacks from France], wants to bring this dream to fruition yet faces an uphill battle as many within the French government and intellectual scene are unaware of the views of the black people in their country.

Patrick Lozes is optimistic: “ It will be difficult but not insurmountable ,” he said.
Today, there is the prospect of an alliance between the traditional right and the extreme right, and face it, the left is sluggish."

The election will be held in April 2012.

information source It's About Time

Ghana by way of Paris - A Destination Wedding - Conclusion

Q. Are there any special legal requirements for getting married in France?


Kim - Yes, there are TONS of legal requirements for getting married in France : http://www.parisianevents.com/parisianparty/the-skinny-on-getting-married-in-paris/  If clients can't meet these requirements, then we offer symbolic vow-affirmation or vow exchange ceremony coordinations, and they have a Civil ceremony in their home country.

Q. Are there any traditional differences in how a wedding ceremony is done in France?


Kim - Before a couple can have a religious ceremony in France, they have to first have a Civil Ceremony. This is done in a city hall, and is VERY dry by US standards. The mayor or his assistant will read a list of statutes which the couple agree to, then the couple and their witnesses will sign the marriage certificate and registry, and thats it. I always find it funny because French people get all wild when its time to sign the registry- everyone strains and pushes to get the best photo, where I think, if this was in the States- I'm not sure it would be that big of a deal.

The religious ceremony is fairly standard. The majority that I've done have been Catholic. Often, the readings will be from the Bible, rather than other poems or prose. Also, they don't do the Unity Candle in France. I often have to explain this a lot to the French side of the family in the Franco-American weddings that I organize.


Q. Do the bride and groom select the location of the wedding and the person who officiates or do you have certain places to recommend? Do your services include honeymoon planning?


Kim - The majority of the time, I recommend the venue after I've spoken to them about their style, budget, etc. I also typically suggest the officiant as well, unless they have made other arrangements.  "Weddingmoons" are very popular now- couples who get married and honeymoon in the same destination. We do help our clients plan some of the activities for their honeymoon. We're not a travel agency, so we don't really go further than make suggestions or giving advice, but that is usually really helpful as well.

Q. What makes your service special/different from other wedding planners in Paris?

Kim - I think the level of customization helps set us apart, as well as well as the fact that I'm American and "get" what the typical (or even not-so-typical) American bride is looking for. It's beyond just being able to speak English- we have a certain style, and a way of looking at things. Its being able to pick up on these nuances that I think sets me apart from some of the other wedding planners in Paris.

To plan your Paris wedding or other event, contact Kim @ Parisian Events and tell her I sent you!

A Destination Wedding - Ghana by way of Paris - pt 1

I am super excited to post this recent interview I had with Kim Petyt, Owner, Wedding and Event Planner of Parisian Events in Paris. I have been waiting to connect with her. Kim loves weddings, she has lived in San Francisco and she is now living in my favorite city, Paris! But Kim's a busy lady, as it is the season for weddings.  I am very appreciative that she was willing to take some take out of her schedule to do this interview with me.


BTW- I was also searching for a wedding planner who specializes in a destination weddings in West Africa but so far have found none, however it just so happens that the gentleman in the photos below is from Ghana and relocated to Paris. 

Q. Where are you from and what made you decide to move to Paris?


Kim -  I'm from Chicago originally, and had always been in love with traveling. I knew that I wanted to live overseas or in Europe, or SOMEWHERE ever since I was a little girl. I met my husband while I was on vacation in Paris, we moved to San Francisco together, then he had the opportunity to be transferred here with his work, so we took them up on the offer! We've been here for 10 years now.


Q .How long have you lived in France and what made you decide to go into the wedding planning business? What other kinds of events do you plan?


Kim - I planned corporate and social events in the US.  When I started trying to plan my wedding in France from the US, I ran into a LOT of speed-bumps and miscommunication (I didn't speak French).  At the time, wedding planners were pretty much non-existent in France, and I thought that there had to be other people out there like me- people who saw the beauty of Paris and would love to get married there, but just didn't know how.  In the time between leaving the States and having my children, I really studied a lot on how to transfer my skills to wedding planning. I took online courses, joined industry groups, took seminars, etc., as well as volunteered my services whenever I could, in order to learn the ropes.

Q. As a successful business woman what are the biggest obstacles someone from the US might encounter in starting a business in Paris/especially different from starting a business here?

Kim - I've never owned my own business in the US, but one thing that I think is a HUGE difference is the American "can do" attitude. In France, they are very into credentials and diplomas. The fact that you have been successfully doing a job for 5 years doesn't really mean anything if you don't have a diploma in that particular field. Which also means that someone who HAS received a diploma, but may not be very good at a job will be taken more seriously than someone who has talent, drive, and determination but no diploma. As there is no "Doctorate of Wedding Planning", I found it really difficult in the beginning to validate what I do.  Especially since it was a new concept- I don't feel that people are as willing to take a gamble on new ideas  as they are in the US.


Q. Destination weddings seem to be a growing trend these days. How does the cost compare to having a wedding in your own town or big city?

Kim - A lot of couples will choose to have a Destination Wedding when they see their wedding budget start to spiral out of control. When you plan a wedding in your home town, you'e often compelled to invite friends, relatives or colleagues out of a sense of obligation or duty. With a destination wedding, many of these B- or C- listers aren't able to make the time or expense commitment, and so automatically, the couple has fewer guests (meaning lower dinner reception costs).  In the same vein, often the destination wedding ceremony itself is a lot more scaled down- which affects the over-all budget as well. I've seen quite a few clients end up spending the same amount of money on their destination wedding as a local wedding, though, by planning tons of extra activities around the wedding day itself.
Couples often feel like they "owe" their guests since they've come so far, and will arrange expensive welcome baskets, tours, wine tastings, Happy Hours, day-after brunches, etc etc. I like for them to know that destination guests are there to share in their wedding, their Big Day :), and don't expect all of those extras. I usually suggest they set up a wedding website early on, and help guide their guests with links to activities, sights, etc. But then let them plan their own activities and enjoy Paris in their own way before the wedding.


Q. I think a destination wedding in Paris would be very romantic but would not know the first thing about how to go about planning one. Would you explain your process ?

Kim - My agency can pretty much handle as much or as little as a client likes. Sometimes couples have been trying to plan their wedding on their own, but are having trouble finding certain vendors- we have a service that can help them choose the best vendors for their style and budget. We have some clients who have no idea where to begin. With these clients, the first thing we do is build a Style Profile for them- we schedule a call to talk about their vision, what they like about Paris, how they imagine their wedding. We also talk about what they want to offer their guests- a "Parisian experience", an "Insiders Peek", etc. We talk about personal style- their favorite designers, where they shop for home furnishings, their style icons, etc. All of this helps me to get an idea of ways to personalize their event. - I think this is one way that my agency stands out from a lot of the others: So many wedding planners offer different "packages" that are based on generic formulas that have worked with previous clients' weddings. I prefer to take the time to get to know my clients so that their Parisian wedding is 100% "them"


Q. How do you handle working with a bride that is in another country? Does she need to come to France to meet with you?


Kim - No, I usually only meet my Destination Wedding clients a week or so before the wedding! Until then, we email, phone, SKYPE.  The hardest is trying to communicate over time zones- especially with clients in California, for instance, where there is a 9 hour time difference. We work it out, though!


Come back tomorrow for part two - Destination Weddings

West African dance

Ailey Extension - West African from AlvinAileyAmericanDanceTheater on Vimeo.

African Marriage Customs

African Marriage Customs from Halaqah Films on Vimeo.

I haven't yet located marriage traditions of my ancestral homeland of Guinea Bissau, however the nearby country of Senegal borders Guinea Bissau so here is some information from African Marriage regarding customs in Senegal.

SENEGAL
Traditional Wolof wedding ceremonies, the parents of the groom-to-be sends elders to the girl’s parents with kola nuts and money to ask for her hand in marriage. The girl’s parents consult their daughter and either consent to or reject the proposal. If accepted, the parents of the bride to be distribute the kola nuts among the family and neighbours. This distribution is an informal way of announcing the impending wedding. 

In more traditional practices, the groom to be’s family paid the girl’s bride price in the form of money. This tradition, has been modernized and dowry is paid in money, cars or even houses. After the completion of the groom’s obligations, the two families set a wedding day. Before the wedding day, the groom’s family gives a party to welcome their daughter-in-law and to prepare her to live with her new family. The imam and elders advise the groom with the presence of the some representatives of the bride’s parents. Weddings traditionally take place at the groom's home. 

Parents receive guests with food and drink (but not alcohol), while guests bring gifts of money, rice, drinks, ships, sugar, or spices. After the ceremony people feast and dance with guests hiring a griot (praise-singer) and giving further gifts to the groom’s parents. The girl moves to the husband's (or his parent's) home or compound, bringing utensils for cooking which she buys with the money from the bride price. For more information on African traditions please  click here

Weddings Around the World - Africa

Marriage is sacred the world over, and that is definitely true in Africa, no matter which region or which culture you come from, and no matter what your religious beliefs. In fact, many cultures have a special totem that is designed to remind a couple that cultural and tribal differences must be allowed for in order to make a marriage succeed.

 

Divorce is rare in African marriages. Problems in a marriage are often discussed with both families and solutions found. Often entire villages join in to help a couple find solutions to their problems and keep a marriage from failing.

According to an article from Africa Guide, African weddings are a family affair and involve the combining of two lives, two families, and sometimes even two communities! There are many different wedding traditions in the African continent and no two are exactly alike. However, in all the communities the bride plays a very special role and is treated with respect because she is a link between the unborn and the ancestors. A bride might eventually bear a very powerful child, so she is treated with respect. In some areas of East Africa the grooms family would even move to the brides village and set up a whole new house there.

Modern Zambia Wedding Dance (2 different weddings)

Dress a Girl Around the World

This is an email I received yesterday. Thought those of you who worked on the Little Dresses for Africa project might be interested.

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I want to let you know that there is another organization out there making and delivering pillowcase dresses to little girls around the world called Dress a Girl Around the World that you may be interested hooking up with their sewing events.

They started in late 2009 and have made over 33,000 dresses, delivering them to 47 countries with the help of sewers in 42 US States, Canada, UK, Australia, and Hong Kong.

Their web address is www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com I know there are members sewing in California and Wisconsin that you both can connect with to take part in their sewing events if your interested.

Plus, they can help you coordinate with a state rep to distribute your dresses so that you don't have to pay for shipping. In Wisconsin we're setting-up a "Pony Express" to get dresses from sewers directly to WI organizations traveling to areas in need.

You can also check them out on Facebook. I think CA has a couple of pages however, I know Wisconsin has one and you can find it at Dress a Girl Around the World - Wisconsin. The WI page provides links to tips/tricks of sewing, pictures of events, and info on sewing events in WI.

Thank you sew much for helping sew dresses for little girls in need! My daughter and I delivered 140 dresses to Belize in April this year and the memory of their smiling faces as their heads popped through the top of the dress is priceless!

Therese M. Schmidt

Wisconsin State Rep

Dress a Girl Around the World

Clean WATER in Moale, South Africa by Charity Water

I love Charity Water, just can't get any help from them in Guinea Bissau. I won't give up though. I will find them clean water somewhere!

We promised we'd be back. from charity: water on Vimeo.

The Meeting of Two Cultures - One African the other African American

I was so happy to read this article about another group of Africans and African American families coming together to explore the connections we share.
Here is the story

By Alan Boyle

Thanks to 21st-century genetic testing, William Holland is finally able to show some of his African cousins what happened to his slave ancestors back in the 18th century. The climax of Holland's quest came last weekend, when about 60 African-Americans and Africans gathered at Franklin County Recreational Park in Virginia for a teach-in about his family's ocean-spanning, three-century saga.

The 42-year-old Holland, who lives in Atlanta, left his job at Coca-Cola and turned his focus to the family quest nine years ago. The quest is particularly difficult for African-Americans like Holland because their ancestors came over in chains with their African identity erased. Holland eventually figured out that his great-great-great-great-grandfather was brought over from Africa around 1772 and sold to a Virginia plantation owner. He even discovered that his great-grandfather, Creed Holland, was forced to serve in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Read the rest of the story

No Difference - 500 Years Later

From the onset of the African holocaust of enslavement and colonialism, Africans are still struggling for basic freedom. Filmed in five continents, "500 Years Later" is a timeless and compelling journey, infused with the spirit and music of liberation. You can see the full movie on Hulu.

Parisian theme wedding in South Africa

I am interviewing a Parisian Wedding Planner for my Paris blog and thought I would see if I could locate any weddings which were performed in Africa with a Parisian theme.

I came across the recent wedding of Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma's daughter Duduzile and Lonwabo Sambudla. They had an Easter "Parisian-theme ceremony" ceremony this past April which has been described as South Africa's wedding of the year.

The Sunday Times reported that an army of private security guards, police and the presidential protection unit watched over the venue, Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve near East London in the Eastern Cape, where a giant white marquee had been erected.

The bride, 28, wore a white off-the-shoulder wedding gown encrusted with Swarovski crystals, and a pair of silver Christian Louboutin shoes.

She was accompanied by her father and four bridesmaids dressed in red gowns.

I think I will investigate African wedding planners and if I have any luck I will post the interviews here.

Duduzile and Lonwabo Sambudla

Ethical Fashion Africa Project

New African Woman Magazine launch July 2011

There are so many African magazines out there these days, it seems that every season there is a new magazine launch which is all positive and exciting to see magazines with African related content. However, there are some magazines worth investing money in and others you just have to find out for yourself. We are Shadders have a few we love and New African Woman Magazine happens to be one of them.  Take a glimpse into the New African Woman Magazine – July/August Issue 10, make sure you grab your copy believe me you will not be dissapointed. Check out the amazing editorials featuring designers such as Eki Orleans, NKWO, Bestow Elan, Sika Designs, Tebi Jewels, Vlisco, Beatrice Bee Arthur and Maureen Amooti just to name a few.

Gordon Heath African Amercian - conversation with Alyssa Heath

I posted a few months ago about one of the Paris tours we took called, "Walking the Spirit Tours". In that post I spoke about Gordon Heath, an African American expatriate,actor, musician, director and producer. About a month ago I received an email from Gordon Heath's 18 year old cousin, Alyssa Heath. I thought it would be interesting to ask her a few questions about her cousin. 

Q - where did you grow up?

Alyssa - I grew up in Long Island, New York.

Q - how many siblings do you have?

Alyssa - I have one older brother.

Q - how are you related to Gordon Heath?

Alyssa - Gordon and my grandfather were first cousins, making Gordon my 3rd cousin.

Q - You mentioned that you recently found out about Gordon. Did you know of him but not know about his contribution or did you not know of him at all? Tell us when and how you found out?

Alyssa - I always knew that we had a musician in our family but I didn't know he was really famous. I then asked my father about him, and he told me that Gordon had a cafe in Paris and that my dad met him a few times when he was younger.

Q - I understand that you took a trip to Paris a few years ago? When was the trip and how long did you stay? What was the purpose of the trip? What did you enjoy most about Paris? What surprised you?

Alyssa - Yes, I took a trip to Paris in 2008. I stayed for 10 days and it was a school trip. We explored the tradition and nostalgia of Paris. I enjoyed that Paris was full of old buildings and famous streets. What surprised me was how the US dollar amounted to much less when I exchanged it for Euros.

Q - Did you know the important contribution that Gordon made to Paris before you went on your trip? Did you visit any of the historic Parisian landmarks which honor his memory?

Alyssa - I had no idea of how much of an impact Gordon had on Paris. I wish I would have known then because I would have had loved to go to his cafe. Soon I want to go back to Paris to visit and experience his cafe.

Q - Now that you understand more about the part he played here and abroad, what makes you the most proud?

Alyssa - It makes me proud that Gordon as an African-American man followed his dream. The fact that his venue is still standing and still in business long after his passing is mind blowing. It makes me very proud to be a Heath.

Q - Do you have any family stories about him that you would like to share? 

Alyssa - I personally did not know him. But my father does remember him being a very kind person and always offering to help when he could. He said Gordon was always smiling, but had a cool and quiet way about him.

Q - Do you or anyone in your family have any theatrical/musical skills? What are your future plans for school?

Alyssa - No, no one other than Gordon in my family possesses musical skills. I am currently in college and I plan to get my double major in business and law.

Q - How did you happen to find my blog post about Gordon (which blog was it on)? Why did you decide to contact me?

Alyssa - One day I randomly decided to do some research on Gordon, then I came across your site. This site popped up on google, and out of all the other sites that popped up, this one was the most gravitating. You had so much on Gordon and his legacy, which impressed me. I also wanted to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in the questionnaire for your amazing site ! I really appreciate it. Thanks : ) !

Thank You Alyssa!

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Gordon Heath Movie 1961

My Baby is Black (Original title in France was Les Laches Vivent d'espoir)

Movie synopsis - A couple finds that their love is not accepted by society in the land of liberty, fraternity, and equality in this drama. Françoise (Françoise Giret) is a college student who is friendly with a group of idealistic bohemians living together in a Paris flat. An artist living with the beats introduces Françoise to Daniel (Gordon Heath), a medical student she spotted at a student cafeteria. Françoise is quite taken with Daniel, who is bright, friendly, compassionate, and handsome. However, Daniel is also black, and while Françoise, who is white, is not concerned with his race, she discovers not everyone around her is so open-minded. After several months together, Françoise discovers she's pregnant; her parents are shocked and demand that she have an abortion, and Daniel isn't certain what they should do, though his brave actions after a young black boy is abused by the police help her make up her mind. More thoughtful and less exploitive than its American release title would lead one to expect My Baby Is Black (released in France as Les Laches Vivent d'Espoir) was written and directed by Claude Bernard-Aubert. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Gordon Heath, African American Expatriate

While in Paris this past April, we took a tour which featured African American expatriates in Paris. One of the expats I highlighted was Gordon Heath. A few weeks ago I received an email from Gordon's 18 year old cousin, Alyssa. Tomorrow I will post my interview with her.
In the meantime, here is some additional information about Gordon Heath.

Seifield Gordon Heath, was an African American expatriate, stage and film actor, musician, director and producer. He founded the Studio Theater of Paris, was a co-owner of the nightclub L'Abbaye and a fixture on the Paris cabaret scene. Gordon was born on September 20, 1918 in Manhattan's San Juan Hill district in New York. He was the only child of Harriette (Hattie) and Cyril Gordon Heath,

Gordon Heath began performing at a young age. As a child he sang in St. Cyprian's Church choir and played both the violin and the viola. Heath began focusing his attention on acting during his teens, in part to escape his father's aspirations and expectations for his musicianship.

In 1943 he landed his first Broadway role, playing the "second lead" in Lee Strasberg's South Pacific. In 1945, while working as a radio announcer, Heath won the lead role in Elia Kazan's Deep Are the Roots, a controversial Broadway "race play." Heath played the role of Brett Charles, an African-American war hero who returns home following WWII to find that the "fight for democracy" has had little effect on race relations in the Jim Crow South. Heath's performance was widely acclaimed, and he was lauded as "the next Paul Robeson."

While in London, Heath became enamored with Europe, a position that was reinforced after he returned to the U.S. and realized that racism prevented him from gaining access to the types of roles he desired to perform.

While in the U.S., he met the man who would become his partner, Leroy Payant, an actor from Seattle. In 1948 he left the U.S. and began working in London via Paris, but was often passed over in favor of British actors, particularly for coveted roles.

Seeking to establish "continuity in the theater," he instead turned to the more friendly confines of Paris where Heath and Payant opened up L'Abbaye, a nightclub on the Left Bank where the two performed folksongs, spirituals and the blues in a quiet and intimate setting. L'Abbaye was initially created as a means for the two men to make a living between roles. However, it quickly became an important institution in Paris, particularly among expatriates and artists, and remained in operation for 27 years.

Heath remained active in theater, especially in London, France and the U.S. However, he still found it difficult to secure the artistic freedom and types of roles that he desired.

In the 1960s Gordon Heath attempted to alleviate these restrictions by founding the Studio Theater of Paris (STP), an English speaking theater workshop and group comprised largely of expatriates from England and the U.S.

In the 1970s Heath began performing more frequently in the U.S. In 1970 he returned to U.S. for five months to play the lead in Oedipus at the Roundabout Theater.

After Payant's death in 1976 (Payant died of cancer at the age of 52) and the subsequent closing of L'Abbaye, Heath began appearing more regularly in the U.S., and even moved back to New York for a period of time in the late 1970s and early 80s.

He returned to Paris to live, but continued performing on both sides of the Atlantic. His final performance, a production of Wole Soyinka's The Lion was staged at the University of Massachusetts in 1987.

The University's Press also commissioned the publication of Heath's memoirs, a project he worked on in Paris until his death on August 31, 1991. While Heath was unable to finish his memoirs, Deep Are The Roots: Memoirs of a Black Expatriate, the University of Massachusetts Press published what he had completed in 1992.

information courtesy of: Gordon Heath Papers (MS 372). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

What the Traveler Saw - Update Guinea Bisssau

July 4, 2011
Ola Devon,
I guess I struck out with the internet thing here, I can transfer the pics to my comp but the service is too slow to up them onto a letter. Devon, I am just back from the Catio area and I am all but lost in a sea of needs going on there in the"bush". I have met with Fula Chiefs and have listened to their hopes and desires for their people.
I have witnessed so little going so far and a people who have to just continue on regardless or else be dropped into the sea of the forgotten. Many just living to eat their next bowl of rice & fish and not realizing there are no nutrients being provided.
I do hope you and your group will consider possibly splitting your trip between Bissau and the Catio area. The city or Village is renovating some former "Executive housing" for the sole purpose of providing housing for our extended family coming to Catio from America. Devon I do think you and your group will find this area and other parts of Bissau full of opportunities both large and small where you can and will make a difference.
I will pic you as soon as possible, flying out in the morning looking forward to meeting with you in the near future.
From Bissau to Cali,,Chow
GBY

Randy

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Catió, town located on the southern coast of Guinea-Bissau. The surrounding area is covered with mangrove forests and swamps and has a monsoonal climate with an annual precipitation of about 100 inches (2,500 mm). Catió is a market centre for cash crops, including rice, coconuts, and oil palm cultivated in the nearby coastal lowlands. It has an airport and provides air transport to Bissau, the national capital. Pop. (2004 est.) 23,872.

 

Blankets of Hope - Update

Colleen forwarded this email to me and I thought I would post it on the blog. This shows how ONE person truly can make a difference.

If you would like to make a blanket or two, please let me know. A simple blanket with one side fleece and the other flannel. Need both sizes in both boy and girl patterns. 

So far 12 blankets are completed. The goal is 54, We could use your help! Blanket go to Open Arms Ministries in Mexico

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Dear Colleen,

Thanks so much! I apologize for the delay in responding.  We have been away, and out of email contact.

I am in awe of you, Devon, and the wonderful community of dress-makers and blanket-makers. I know how important a blankie is to a small child, and I can only imagine how important it becomes to a child who has very little.

I would love to send you a gift card for JoAnn Fabrics to help defray your costs! Please send me you address and I will take care of getting a gift card to you.

Also, when you get a chance - please send the directions for the blankets. (My sewing skills are atrocious, but then I figured, how tough can a blanket be? And the need is so great.)

Thanks so much.

love,

Barb  

Meet the New AFRICANS! Millionaires buying up land in Africa

For obvious reasons, there isn't much out there about who's buying what and how much in Africa. But what has discovered is a number of investors paying sometimes nothing for large plots of land in some African countries

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The lease deals are arranged between seemingly corrupt African leaders, reportedly without disclosing the details to the members of the communities that will be displaced because of the land development, and investors such as hedge fund managers.

"In a "hedge fund land grab," investors are are being compared to colonialists in America." 

Ladies and Gentleman
Meet the new AFRICANS!

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