The Afropolitan Network:::

RIP Miriam Makeba

Our New Afropolitan President

They Call Me Mr. President

The Green Collor Economy

I just read about a New York Bestseller book, The Green Collar Economy. I'm gonna check it out. Also, the author Van Jones has a blog called Green for All which is pretty cool.   

The Race

[AP/Alex Brandon]

Something has really been bothering me about the US Presidential Election. We all know the questions asked from the beginning about Sen. Obama have been centered around experiance and his race. Now that the experience question has almost vanished and been substituted with the patriot question, thanks to Sarah Palin, race is still on the table and the "great unknown".

As a black person watching the coverage since December when he was 20 points behind, I feel a bit slighted when the media makes comments like "race is an issue" or "the race problem". This directly links his blackness as being a problem or an issue that he created. Well, I know what you're thinking...duh! Of course its an issue, America's never had a black president! But I think there is more here. 

First, it puts the "burden of proof" on Obama. Its like, "yeah you're black and you have to prove otherwise". Thats the general attitude. That is, instead of the heat being turned towards the voters who aren't voting or are unsure of him not because of his polices or party but because of his race, it is being forced at Obama.  But how unfair is that? What is he supposed to do? Un-black himself? It also says to the rest of us black people that you will always have to prove that you won't threaten us with your blackness.  I guess its easier to talk to one guy instead of a nation of racists. But this strikes me as just backwards. Almost like those with such prejudices are being given a free pass by the media because they are "Middle America".  Its like totally fine that there are people out there who won't vote for him because of the color of his skin. I haven't seen to many pieces questioning WHY that is ok.  Well I guess there is no law against being racist.

Which brings me to my next point. Why can't the media just come out and say that white voters in the Midwest are worth more than the rest of us? I mean they keep alluding to it with phrases like "the all important white working class vote" or "hockey mom" how many black hockey mom's are there? For that matter, how many non-white hockey mom's are there? A part of me knows that this is because white people are the majority in this great country, but constantly making their votes worth more is a disservice to democracy in my opinion. Here are some other code words:

America = The white parts

Un-American = possible terrorists 

Pro-America = Republican

Anti-America = Democrats/Liberals

Values = What we believe to be right for everyone

Muslim = Terrorist

Small Town = Midwest

Freedom = Restrictions

Working Class = White working class (since most black people and latinos are working class anyway)

Black voters = Obama voters
Troops = People we care about and use as political leverage only when they are on the battlefield but not when they return home

Drill, Baby, Drill = I want to be able to waste and consume without restrictions

Saddam Hussein = Osama Bin Laden

Lastly, when it comes to women voters, this is also code for white women voters. As it is assumed that ALL black women voters are for Obama. This is why race usually trumps gender. But returning to my original point, I wish Republicans weren't allowed to get away with this as much as they do, i.e. Michele Bachmann. I think this year the media has done a better job at holding them accountable than usual, but not nearly enough. 

Rwanda

 

Some cool news from Rwanda last week that hasn't been reported much. The small African nation now officially has the largest female majority parliament---in the world! The Speaker of the House is also a woman, Ms Mukantabana Rose and all were sworn in by President Kagame.

So, Rwanda is also the first African country to meet the 50% quota requirement for women. Cool.

Rock and Blogroll ~ Book Worm Edition!

So the head of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Horace Engdahl made the comment that no great writers come from America anymore because they're all pretty much from Europe. Specifically:

"Europe still is the center of the literary world."

Hmm, well that's great. Except that it ignores the rich history of writers from...ohhh...every other corner of the globe! So I thought I'd do a little post about my fave African writers. Including my mentor and former professor (ok don't mean to name drop, but what the heck!)

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o [Kenya]

One of my favorite writers. He's an amazing writer who was a "founding father" as it were, and helped African writers gain international prestige. He's key contributions span decades and include: Weep Not Child (1964)
Petals of Blood (1978), Decolonizing the Mind (1986), the latter being my favorite.

Tsitsi Dangarembga  [Zimbabwe]

Her coming of age novel "Nervous Conditions" is so powerful and a true Afropolitan tale, complete with alienation, homecoming, struggle for acceptance, cultural pride/shame, you name it. I would encourage everyone to pick it up. She is also a filmmaker and made Everyone’s Child (1996)

  Chinua Achebe [Nigeria]

I find it cool that many High Schools in America require Things Fall Apart (1958) as required reading a long with "the classics". Considered the father of the African novel in English. Also wrote, No Longer at Ease, (1960), Arrow of God, (1964), Anthills of the Savannah, (1988)

Wole Soyinka [Nigeria]

Poet, intellectual, playwright, Nobel Laureate (haha! take that Engdahl!) Love his poems including Mandela’s Earth and Other Poems (1988)

Ousmane Sembene [Senegal]

Writer, filmmaker, intellectual (who passed away in June 2007). He's seen as the father of African cinema. Check out his flicks, Black Girl (1966), Xala (1974). But his novels are, The Black Docker (1952), Gods Bits of Wood (1962). Good stuff.

There's quite a few that I'm leaving out. Especially women *gasp* Anyone have any of their favorite authors to add? I will do a diaspora post separately.

Pundits

First check out this great mini-documentary on Ory Okolloh. If you don't know who she is she's Kenyan Pundit, and was a crucial voice during the Kenyan Elections Crisis, he blog being one of the go to sites for updates and news during the great time of uncertainty.

Second, check out my other blog that I've cranked up into high gear. Its called Afropundit and its a blog for people of color to come and post/vent/wax philosophical about politics/culture etc. So far we're focused on the US Elections. If you're interested in doing a guest post, let me know. Got four people on board so far.

Danny Glover and Louverture Film

[DROITS RÉSERVÉS - COPYRIGHT Michel CORBOZ]

So apparently Danny Glover (who is enjoying a post-Die Hard career as an international activist) was making a film on Toussaint Louverture, who was basically a liberator of Haiti and is viewed as one of the great black historical figures. However, the whole project was derailed after he was unable to secure financing from any Hollywood executives.

I'm pretty bummed about this, b/c I love his life story and think it would make an excellent biopic. Why is it hollywood can fund biopics about African American Gangasters, sports figures and musicians but not politicians, activists, leaders? I guess Malcolm X is as far as they went.

Given the success of films like The Pursuit of Happinyness which was a positive story of a black man *gasp* why not fund a film about someone who changed the course of history, i.e. the abolishment of slavery in the Americas?

from his wiki page:

"Toussaint Louverture played a key role in what was the first successful attempt by a slave population in the Americas to throw off the yoke of Western colonialism. He defeated armies of three imperial powers: Spain, France, and Great Britain. The success of the Haitian Revolution had enduring effects on shaking the institution of slavery throughout the New World. "

Go figure. If I was a millionaire Danny, I'd fund the film (the budget is $30 mil)

By the way, look at who was cast to play in the film! :

Wesley Snipes, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Roger Guenveur Smith, Mos Def, Isaach De Bankolé, and Richard Bohringer

For those of you who understand French, here's a mini doc on youtube on Louverture:

Kibera Slum on Google Earth

This image via White African. Check out the google earth photo of Kibera Slum in Nairobi, Kenya which is the second largest slum in Africa (the largest being Soweto in South Africa). The area can be seen at the top part of the image. Its home to over a million people.

Voter Suppression Wiki

For those of you planning to vote in the US Election (which should be every citizen of the age of 18!) do check out the Voter Suppression Wiki, if you have any problems registering, or casting a ballot.

Just a Band

Check out Kenya's own house/funk sensation "Just a Band". They are so cool! Check out the animated video and the philosophy behind the group via their blog and wikipedia entry. Thanks Julia and Dave for the heads up! 

Latent Prejudices

So there's a new poll of 2000 people that was conducted over a year about racial attitudes towards Black people. Here's an excerpt from the article:

"Given a choice of several positive and negative adjectives that might describe blacks, 20 percent of all whites said the word "violent" strongly applied. Among other words, 22 percent agreed with "boastful," 29 percent "complaining," 13 percent "lazy" and 11 percent "irresponsible." When asked about positive adjectives, whites were more likely to stay on the fence than give a strongly positive assessment."

This is pretty sad. I don't know who to blame more for these views, which I know are widely held around the world. My first instinct was BET, (Black Entertainment Television). But maybe they are too easy a target? How about rappers? Or systematic oppresion via bad schools, unsafe neighborhoods, high unemployment, high incarceration rates? What about so called "black movies" like Friday, Boyz in the Hood, Soul Plane, American Gangster? Actually, when I saw American Gangster, I was almost embarrassed for Denzel because he's done such family oriented movies and is a very good role model for black men in his private life; you can tell he loves his wife and kids.  I'm not really passing judgment, but rather, trying to find answers. But most white people in Iowa or Nebraska won't watch BET or see American Gangster.

So what is it? Why are black people STILL viewed so negatively when we have a black man running for the highest office in the land? Maybe its the 6 O'clock news that always has some burglary or violent crime report and the picture of a person of color. I read yesterday that 97% of blacks will never commit a violent crime and 70% of all drug users and dealers are white but 80% of the convictions are people of color.

Lastly, "nearly four in 10 white independents agreed that blacks would be better off if they 'try harder'." 

What do you think about this Afropolitans out there, cause this affects you. Initially, many white people will still view you through the prism of prejudice  no matter how smart, well dressed, employed, smiley, friendly, or meek you are until you win them over.

This might be a good time to ask, do you think there is also a difference between the way African immigrants and African Americans are treated by whites? Its been my experience that white people veiw African immigrants (or 1st, 2nd, generation) as "less threatening". 

Thoughts?

Further reading: How Racims Works for Me

On Rotation

Afropolitan News

• Fashion week features few black runway models | Lifestyle | Reuters
• Obama Daily Waffles
• ANDREW DOSUNMU

The Souls of Black Girls

Here's an excerpt of an interview by Clutch Magazine on The Souls of Black Girls a new documentary film by Daphne Valerius on the double consciousness of black girls growing up. A clever take on W.E.B. DuBois groundbreaking expose into the "duality of people of color" here's a sneak at the interview:

Rock and Blogroll! Fashionistas and Girl Power

I've missed surfing the net for cool Afro-p blog but yesterday I had my fill! Here some pretty neat blogs on fashion and trends. I love the design and the commentary:

• Make Fetch Happen

 

• Majonzi [kenya/us]
• Miss Mwambi [zambia/malawi]
• Kasalina [ny]
• Charcoalink [tanzania/uk]
• Brown Sista
• Black Girl Lost...In a Book [texas] great blog for book lovers!

Plus, haven't updated my links in a minute, so here are a couple online magazines that I'm adding to the blogroll:

• Clutch Magazine

• Clam Magazine  [absolute must see!]

Honorable mention

• Check out Black Girls Rock an outreach program for at rick young girls. I like the aim of combating negative images of black women in the media. You rock!

My dears, welcome to The Network ;-)

Exit Polls in Kenya

Here's a great summary by James Long on Kenya Imagine about the 2007 Kenyan Elections and the data gathered from exit polls. It seems Kenyans aren't as tribalistic as the media would have you believe. Check it out.

Afropolitan News

In Italy, At Least, Black is Beautiful | The Root

Kerosene As 'Gold' in Abuja | All Africa

The Beautiful 'Black List' | The Root

Little Ethiopia: A Thriving Community in D.C.| Mshale

Patrick Robinson Hopes to Put Gap Back on the Map | NYTimes

Green activists 'are keeping Africa poor'

Western do-gooders are impoverishing Africa by promoting traditional farming at the expense of modern scientific agriculture, according to Britain's former chief scientist.

read more | digg story

Palvika Rathod

My buddy on facebook! She also wowed at the Fashion for Peace show. I was amazed at her elegant yet bohemian/stylish design. I would definetly wear all her clothes. This was my favorite designer for the night:

 

 

The Lady herself, Palvika Rathod