Nakumbuka Day

There's another memorial/holiday that thousands will recognize today, but millions ought to. Nakumbuka Day.

Nakumbuka Day is a day to acknowledge those lost during the Mafaa, or Middle Passage, which is commonly known as the Global African Holocaust, where at least 100 million lives were lost over a period of 400 years. Nakumbuka is a Swahili word for "I Remember."

It is November 11 every year.

If you're planning a remembrance, you wear all white. There are a number of symbolic rituals done during a remembrance, using materials that reflect different parts of African life. Then people reflect and share on our collective global loss, and give thanks that we are the descendants of survivors of the Global African Holocaust.

Many people say that black people in the United States don't have their own rituals, traditions, or ceremonies. We do. I think Nakumbuka Day is a start, so that we remember from which/whom we came. As well, it's important to remember that before slavery, the slaves as we call them were human beings -- Africans -- with daily lives, hopes, lives, dreams, jobs, chores, and fears -- all disrupted by the arrival of kidnappers and free labor talent scouts.

Often, we just look at and call them "slaves" without looking at the humanity and human-ness of our people. As well, we rarely look at the psychological makeup of a people who would perpetuate an institution such as slavery on another group of people.

Dr. Joy DeGruy starts with her Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome work. If you ever get a chance to read her book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome or to see her speak live, you should do so. So worth it.

Today, if it's your off day, maybe you can start with some reflection too on the Global African Holocaust.

We remember.
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The Colored Museum

The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe is a play that I've never seen live on stage, but I'm looking forward to the day I get to see a production of it. It features eleven vignettes that satirize/explore elements of African American culture, and was first produced in 1986. (The Colored Museum study guide, from Ball State University).

Though I've never seen a live production, the play was required reading for an African American lit class I took in undergrad. With vignettes such as "The Hairpiece," "Cookin' With Miss Ethel," "The Gospel According to Miss Roj," and "The Last-Mama-on-the-Couch Play," we studied it for both content and context as is related/related to current black issues at the time the play was written (and the time we were reading the play.) I enjoyed reading the play.

If you get a chance to read and/or see a live production, you should. Many college theatre groups do their own productions of The Colored Museum.

The play, along with the Percival Everett's novel Erasure, came to mind in the past few days, as my friends and I saw what's soon to become The Color Purple of this generation -- Precious. I loved the film, both in terms of production and content, and also feel it did the book Push justice. I was pleased.

Of course, the conversations I've had range from friends who are my go-out-for-drinks friends to the academic types at the university. The conversations vary -- from this is the BEST film ever... to the pathologizing of black people in films. I saw and see merits in all the conversations and all the views of the film. But I loved the film and hope it received many awards in the coming film awards season.

I also hope people will pick up the novel Push and read it. I also hope that people see it as a film based on a novel, that happens to be about one young, black woman's experience. I also hope it raises awareness of the experiences young people face, domestic and sexual violence, and all the other social needs facing all people today. Like any other film featuring black characters, I don't see it as THE black experience in the U.S. It's a film, based on a novel.

But as I hear more of my academic friends and colleagues share their thoughts with me, I'm drawn back to re-thinking about The Colored Museum, Erasure, and if anyone can win when they happen to write a book or produce a film featuring black characters. Or is this what being a critical thinker is all about... the ability to look at the good and the bad in everything?
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Music, Arts, Activism Weekend

Long work week, but it's all worth it because I'll be going to see a couple of greats from my coming-of-age years.

Anita Baker on Saturday. EnVogue on Sunday. Both at the Nokia/L.A. Live area in downtown Los Angeles.

A couple weeks ago I just couldn't decide on which one. So I decided both... and have been bringing my lunch to work daily every since, lol.

If you're in L.A., another venue you should check out is The Luckman, located on the east side of L.A. on the Cal State L.A. campus. Great lineup of performers this season, including Lizz Wright (this weekend), Les Nubian (December), Itzhak Perlman, Kinky, and more. Check out the 2009-10 Luckman lineup.

Before I can get to enjoy all the arts festivities, I will need to get through a long day of work, a weekend Womyn of Color conference, and more.

Been doing a bit of writing, and of course attending arts and activism type events always gives you good writing material. Observing people can give you major insights.

Hope you're enjoying your week and possible weekend plans!
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Buying Time

Buying Time is the newest novel by Pamela Samuels Young and it needs to go on your to-be-read list.

It follows a down-on-luck attorney who figures out a new line of work to survive... buying up life insurance policies of terminally ill people. It's part thriller, part crime, part mystery.

I wrote about Pamela Samuels Young about a year ago in a blog on black women who write crime story novels. What's really great about PSY is, like most authors I know of, she works full-time... an attorney in Los Angeles.

Anyway, if interested in learning more about this novel or the author, you can stop by Esowon Books on Saturday, November 21 from 3 - 4:30 pm.

My to-be-read list is getting longer and longer!
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Feminista

Who can't relate? You're strong. You're fashionable. You're independent. You have opinions and not afraid to share them. You have no problem meeting potential dates, but nothing quite... sticks.

That's what I thought of when I came across the new novel, Feminista, by Erica Kennedy the other day. It's another going in my to-be-read list.

The novel centers on character Sydney Zamora who's got all the characteristics one would want in a personal and professional life, she's empowered in her cultural and feminist views, and she's also fashionable. But the search for the right partner... not so much. And the thirties are ticking along pretty quickly.

Sounds like a lot of people I know... Maybe someone you know?

That could be why you might want to add Feminista to your reading list. And while you're at it, check out Erica Kennedy's first novel, Bling.

Check out a couple online interviews with Erica Kennedy on Six Figure Sisters, Book-Remarks, and The Root.
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Schooled

Saw this novel yesterday while waiting to see Good Hair and it looked interesting.

Schooled, by Anishka Lakhani, features a teacher as the main character who takes on extra work as a tutor/paper writer/novel reader/ etc... for rich, prep students in New York City.

I quickly read through the first couple chapters while waiting for the movie and will be adding this to my "to-finish-reading" pile of books. That pile continues to grow and grow, but I'm looking forward to this one.

If you know a teacher who's dealt with highly snooty, privileged students and clueless parents, you'll enjoy the humor, sarcasm, and wit in the novel.

Now that you've been schooled for the day, time to get back to work. :-)

By the way, loved Good Hair. It was especially interesting hearing/seeing the reactions of non-black folks who, for many, this was the first time they'd heard/thought of the importance of the hair subject in the black community.
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Sherri Shepherd Sunday in L.A.

If you're in L.A., Sherri Shepherd will be reading and signing her new book, Permission Slips, at Esowon Books on Sunday, October 25 at 3 pm.
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National Novel Writing Month 2009

In about a week, thousands of writers will start writing their hearts out during National Novel Writing Month.

The goal is to produce 50,000 words (about 175 pages) of a novel. It's more about output and productivity first, then revising after the month is over.

November 1 - 30. Up for it?
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