Warm Memories of Commonwealth of Dominica 2009 :An Excerpt

In 2009, I had the immense pleasure of visiting Dominica, the homeland of my darling love, Enson.
I had such a wonderful time in Dominica, and looking back on some of my writings when I was there, gives me such wonderful memories and beautiful recollections of this nature island, sandwiched delicately between Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Below is an excerpt from my first week in Dominica. I may share other excerpts in my blog.

Thursday 30^th July 2009

Well, today I am writing after spending one idyllic week in Dominica. Enson, Racheal, Mario and myself are spending it in Salisbury, the village that Enson knows like a worn cardigan. Shouts of ‘Moggy’  - my King's  nickname - usually precede him everywhere he goes… it seems that he knows the entire village and they are very familiar towards him.

There are so much positive superlatives to spout about Dominica. It is a land of beauty, but abject poverty resides by the beauty. I mean that’s the reality unfortunately. However, the land and the people are extremely friendly. There are so many things to write, but permit me first to say that the sheer brilliance of the man built houses, which are literally stuck on the side of this volcanic island is a sight to see… From winding, long narrow roads, with customary potholes, large enough to accommodate a small household cat, to shacks and palatial colonial style, houses squeezed together, like rancid lemon slices, Dominica has it all.

We have washed in the pure sea – sea baths to heal our selves, redeem our souls and wash away our Eurocentric stresses. Dominica’s sea is a brilliant blue and is as clear as a freshly washed windowpane. Pebbles and the dark volcanic sand vie for attention. I must add, it’s a great exfoliater for my weary hardened European soles, and I’ve noticed that my soles, which were very dark, crusty and dry, have now started to look like a newly born baby’s bottom. Thus, to me, it’s a code, an indication telling me that I am slowly healing. I am now detoxing the dead cells that have accumulated since the year of my birth.This land has truly revitalised me. If Enson said to me that we’d be living here for good in a couple of week’s time, I would not reject the notion at all. I have fallen in love with this land. My heart and soul is of this land. I have taken on the mantle of being a Dominican by proxy.

Now off to enjoy this wonderful and brilliant sun as it deepens the melanin content of my skin!

Mid Life Crisis or Mid Life Motivation?

I feel that I'm at the crossroads on the road of my journey. It feels really exciting, but also, sobering at times. Because having a 'mid life crisis' sounds really ominous, and also seems that I have stagnated. Well, I haven't. Although I am in a kind  of reclusive mood, mainly because I am rethinking my strategies and recollecting of what my path in life is all about, I kind of know which direction my path will take me in 2012. I know all of this may seem a bit navel gazing,that that is how I feel right now.

I know that I have procrastinated so much over the years  in terms of my creativity. I guess because there is always this nagging  and irritating voice that constantly drips into my consciousness like a faulty tap, telling me  that I'm 'no good' and it is 'too late' to start writing my novel. I mean, I have undertaken gazillions of research and I have a basic outline of all of my characters - up to a point. However, something keeps on pulling me back into this murky abyss. I keep on telling myself that I have missed the boat and the tide of opportunity  has long gone, but this constant negative self speak  keeps me paralysed and then I just suddenly stop. Then my creativity dries up like a packet of  dessicated coconut. The words that I want to write disappear from the left side of my brain. I become STUCK once again. I become mute with uncertainty and deaf to the words I want to hear that gets my creative juices flowing. And therein is where the vicious cycle continues.

So, now, instead of labeling all of this my mid life crisis, I am going to start to embrace this as my mid life motivation. Aren't  words mighty powerful?

Now, off to scribe and create in my journal.

Young, Gifted and Black: A Badge To Wear With Honour and Pride

The lyrics of the above song still resound within my soul, forty plus years after its release. This song was written by Nina Simone - one of my favourite artistes of all times- however, growing up, I'm familiar with the above version and it brings so much happy memories for me.

The song and the lyrics still make my soul sing and revitiise my spirit. It makes me smile and feel all warm and secure within. It makes my soul hunger to hear  these kind of lyrics again within popular culture. Not because they validate who I am, but they validate in my own personal belief and philosophy of being gifted and black. The young, not so much now! However, let me just interject here, that I say all of this with utter humility, but because I feel this way - it took me a long time to reach this destination - in the past, I have been accused of being  'arrogant', 'aggressive' and 'too confident'. Hmmmmm... sounds familiar! See, when you are Black and a woman ( or a Black man for that matter, but the labels are usually more pernicious), these negative labels remain a burden around your neck and a heavy weight that you have to carry on your back - until you are ready to eject them and, metamorphise into a beautiful butterfly and  feel free, once again.

Earlier on, I was reading an online newspaper The Continued Cyberbullying of Mischa B about Misha B. For folks who are unfamiliar with this beautiful, young, darkskinned, talented young woman, she is a contestant on the UK's X Factor. From the beginning, when I saw this beautiful young woman sing in her auditions, I knew that she'd make it far in the competition, however, since then, when she showed that she was confident, young, gifted and Black, she seemed to have struck a nasty and begrudging  nerve with the UK viewing public. It was made even worse when she was accused of bullying Misha B accused of being a backstage bully Ever since then she has been accused of being 'over confident', 'arrogant', 'having a chip on her shoulder' and other negative descriptions. One only has to see the majority of negative and hurtful comments that have been attached to her.

Why so much venom and hatred? Is it because she shows, in the face of adversity, that like Maya Angelou's poem, that she will 'still rise'? The level of bullying that she has been accused of in the past - and these were just allegations which have never been proven by the way - definitely has some hidden agenda from some of these rabid media outlets, waiting to pluck her bare bones when she is finally voted out of the competition. In fact, the media are guilty of doing the same thing that Misha B has been accused of. Woe betide if she remains a finalist. It will be interesting to analyse the media's reaction then and what their next step will be. She'll probably be accused of being a cannibal or a serial killer. Yes, I know I'm being a bit over the top, but I know I may not be far from the mark.

I know that the two most famous black women in popular culture at the moment are Rhianna and Beyonce, but they seem to be 'safe' and 'non threatening' and dare I say, seen as 'beautiful' and 'desirous'  to the general public. In fact, they are embraced by the majority of people, regardless of race. So why has Misha B, who is just starting her singing journey, singled out with all of this unrepentant hatred? Well, I know, from experience, as I explained at the beginning, why this common, yet, unconscious (or is it conscious?) occurrence always happens. Once you are a black woman - stone me now if you want -  and darkskinned as well, you are meant to 'know your place' and position in society. Your not meant to be 'young, gifted and black'. Because, if you carry these positive labels around with you, expect the venom, hatred and absolute fear from mainstream societies. Yes, I said, FEAR.

I do not have any girls, however,  I have two, fine, young men and I used to sing Young, Gifted and Black to them all the time as a lullaby when they were babies. I really hope that Misha B has somebody strong in her life - and I think she has, as she was brought up by her aunty who instilled a sense of self within her; this is evident ( I know this from the audition I saw of Misha B).

I know that when I watch Misha B this Saturday on TV, I will be cheering her from the sidelines and singing Young, Gifted and Black at the top of my lungs to cheer her on. If she does not win this competition, I know that her star will soar far into the universe, leaving the lukewarm competitors behind in their soon forgotten singing careers. Good luck Misha B, I'm rooting for you!



Young, Gifted and Black


 To be young, gifted and black,
Oh what a lovely precious dream
To be young, gifted and black,
Open your heart to what I mean

In the whole world you know
There's a billion boys and girls
Who are young, gifted and black,
And that’s a fact!

You are young, gifted and black
We must begin to tell our young
There’s a world waiting for you
Yours is the quest that’s just begun

When you feel really low
Yeah, there’s a great truth you should know
When you’re young, gifted and black
Your soul’s intact

Young, gifted and black
How I long to know the truth
There are times when I look back
And I am haunted by my youth

Oh but my joy of today
Is that we can all be proud to say
To be young, gifted and black
Is where it’s at

Rejuvenating and jump starting my creativity: Researching and writing my book

Creative Writing Story Structure - Advanced

After all of this heart heavy work that I have been partaking with self over the last couple of weeks, I have decided to up my ante on researching and finally to start to write my book. I'm going to keep the subject close to my chest for now, because I am excited by the challenge, and most importantly, I have never seen a theme addressed in a fiction book before.

Suffice to say, I need to sweep away all of my procrastination cobwebs, jump aboard the writing train and keep on creating .

I am really excited about this journey, because I have eliminated my fears and self doubts when it comes to my creativity. I guess the reason why I picked at myself and beat myself up was because of a lack of belief in my creativity. The other day I was looking at some of my poetry pieces that I wrote several years ago. They're dang good! I may share some in this blog. The most vital thing for me now is to rejuvenate and jump start my creativity and dive into my pool of creating words and painting scenes within my book pages, so the core audience I am writing for, can ultimately relate to the story that I will be writing.

Still, Like Dust, I Rise: A Response to the Racist Article in Pyschology Today

 

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.  

The above piece of poetry was written by Maya Angelou in the late 70s. It perfectly debunks the trash of what I read in an outrageous article posted in Psychology Today entitled provocatively "Why Are Black Women Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women?" Thankfully the article has been removed from their website, but it has been gaining  digital power since it emerged on the internet a few days ago.

As I read the bulk of the article - my blood started boiling and I felt my pressure rise like the mercury spirit I have inside me from my ancestors - the mantra of Maya's beautiful rhythmic second stanza kept on reverberating in my head.

Again, the dodgy premises of 'scientific' research, together with the usual traits of racist and mysognist notions have been regurgitated within this weak and redundant article. Additionally, the article still uses the well oiled debunked  historical legacy of utilising subjective 'scientific' research to justify these ridiculous notions.

It's important to read the piece, don't get me wrong. It's important to go through all the barometers of your emotions. But ask yourself, how does it impact on how YOU feel as a Black/African woman? I know it answers a lot of questions that I have  constantly asked myself for years about the "invisibility" of Black women in all areas of life. It is an issue that effected me so much I based my first dissertation on it.

In conclusion, regardless of your colour or gender, writing articles such as this to justify a sense of superiority complex is flawed and continues the ongoing trend to constantly  devalue African Womanhood and our amazing contribution to the world.

Please sign the above petition, it will take you there by clicking the title link of this blog post...  let's make it go viral and demand a response from the editors of this magazine.

Oh, and if you still want to read the article, click here where it has been reposted.