obrigação a MAMA

For me...mother's day is every day. I always strive to be more cognizant and deliberately thankful of the many blessings I have and continue to receive, and to also give thanks (OBRIGADA) for those that would not be if not for MAMA!

Here's a lil gift a put together. My first shot at iMovie...Enjoy!



As for the lyrics, I "borrowed" this translation of the chorus from YouTube. The song is in Yoruba and English.

Ebami kira fun mama mi
orisha bi iya o
ko o si laiye
Ebami kira fun mama mi
orisha bi iya o
ko o si laiye

help hail my mother
theres no goddess like her
on earth
help hail my mother
theres no goddess like her on earth

ASE!!!!!!!!!

It's Coming

Last few weeks were too much...and lack of blog posts have been reflective of such.

More to come soon. Stay tuned please.

Chekkout Jazz Fest Pix in the interim :)

Make it CLPP

Until tomorrow, I'll be @ Hampshire (on-the-farm) College in Amherst at this Conference...When not networking or dodging sexuality superstars, I'll be attending the following sessions:

(FRI)
Healthcare for All
(SAT)
Prisons as Agents of Reproductive Oppression
Sex Work & Feminism: A Match Made in Heaven??
Bodymapping: Telling Our Stories, Connecting our Lives
(SUN)
New Eugenics

SHOUTS TO MAP, who is here presenting at two sessions :)

More later...

Mulheres do Poder

Diasporic connex are something else. The more we learn, the more we understand how similar our stories and struggles are. Negritude just don't dilute!!! I attended a "Women of Power" forum at the my favorite NOLA museum last week.

Guests included two DOPE female activists. Rosana Silva Chagas from Brasil (far left, white dress) and Marfa Inofuentes (18 yrs in the mov't, Sis w/ the beads) from Bolivia. Email me or comment if you'd like me to send an email re: their background.

Rosana spoke about her growth into Black consciousness from a kid growing up in Liberdade, her involvement with Ile Aiye and matriculation at Steven Biko. Marfa outlined the struggle of Afro-Bolivians to be acknowledged...yes, acknowledged. Up until very rencently, the country denied that they even existed. The story was similar in Brasil - 137 racial categories on the 1980 census - in a country that's 80% Black. They claim that racism doesn't exist, though Bahia (a Black city), has never had a Black mayor. Marfa told a story with uncanny similarity to Mama Fannie Lou's trip to the DNC with the MFDP during Freedom Summer. Crazy connex, I say. Check the links :)

squirrlly gras

Zen...

...and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance

Chat 'bout Wheel-a-Spin (translation: "Speaking of these things...."), yesterday marked a milestone! My Lil' Schwinnie Mandela finally came home (it only took 2 months to build her).

Spare parts shortage and Mardi Gras delays aside, it was a wonderful process. Thanks and praises to all friends (now family) at RUBARB :) Come visit me any Saturday and get ur hands greased up...don't worry, we've got Gojo.

Really though, going from knowing nothing about bikes (save riding and stopping) to gaining functional knowledge of building and mechanics is extremely satisfying and rewarding. And Mr. Louis philosphies are lagniappe icing on the cake. You know how everyone has their "thing" - most find "it" sooner or later. Well bikes are Mr. Lou's "thing." One picnic table conversation consisted of his diatribe of bikes and life. It went something like this...

"bikes are like life...there's the wheel and the spokes going out everywhere, in all directions. but they all come together in the middle, the hub and turn...and then you've got the spokes...."

i said SOMETHING like that. OK, time for me to practice how to true a wheel. Next week...

First post and I thought of this one...why not start with a tune to set the mood???