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 :)