For Tante Pat; The Breath of the World

*Thank you for your supreme example.

Ode to Sadness

by Pablo Peruda

Sadness, scarab
with seven crippled feet,
spiderweb egg,
scramble-brained rat,
bitch's skeleton:
No entry here.
Don't come in.
Go away.
Go back
south with your umbrella,
go back
north with your serpent's teeth.
A poet lives here.
No sadness may
cross this threshold.
Through these windows
comes the breath of the world,
fresh red roses,
flags embroidered with
the victories of the people.
No.
No entry.
Flap
your bat's wings,
I will trample the feathers
that fall from your mantle,
I will sweep the bits and pieces
of your carcass to
the four corners of the wind,
I will wring your neck,
I will stitch your eyelids shut,
I will sew your shroud,
sadness, and bury your rodent bones
beneath the springtime of an apple tree.

*painting by Michael Anthony Brown

Steve Biko-A Man You Need To Know

When I left Cote d’Ivoire, so did the African Development Bank. The bank’s headquarters moved from Cote d’Ivoire to Tunisia along with many of my friends whose parents worked for the ADB. So when the people of Tunisia recently took to the streets and demanded, against great odds and possible death, their rights to live decently and with dignity, I knew of Tunisians and cheered them on. I am doing the same for Egypt today. All of this is inspiring.

I was with my grandparents this morning and we were discussing the events in North Africa and my grandmother mentioned that Nelson Mandela had been hospitalized. My grandfather brought up Steve Biko, someone who I had never heard of, and said how he helped to inspire many young South Africans, during the apartheid period, to rise up and demand their rights to live decently and with dignity. Steve Biko was kind of the Malcolm X of South Africa. His contributions are ones that we all should be aware. Coincidentally, I had the opportunity to watch Cry Freedom, a movie about Steve Biko, on this snowy day. ( It’s On Demand/Comcast.) Learning about his Black Consciousness Movement and about the white South Africans who opposed apartheid was eye-opening and inspiring.

Steve Biko is someone who should be on your radar.

Listen again to this remake of Nina Simone’s Young, Gifted and Black. This song is sung by many of southern Africa’s rising young singers. It’s amazing. Here’s to you Steve Biko. And good health to you, Madiba!

http://kalamu.posterous.com/video-to-be-young-gifted-and-black-from-the-m

Happy Birthday Paul Robeson !

I took a writing course two years ago at the Paul Robeson House in West Philadelphia. The course was part of the Teen Writers Academy founded by Valerie Harris. You can imagine how awesome it was for eight African-American teenagers to discover their own voices and the history of Paul Robeson-a real renaissance man- while writing in the house he spent his last years.

This Sunday, January 23rd, will be Mr. Robeson’s birthday. Though he died in 1976, he remains a giant of a man who more people need to learn about. This week I’ve been reading a biography about Mr. Robeson with my grandfather.

Here is a link that provides great insight into Paul Robeson’s contributions and personality. Enjoy it and share it with someone.

http://www.whyy.org/community/robeson.html

Silence is Betrayal

Once a month, I will post an anti-war speech. I will post speeches from individuals from around the world. I will offer no comment other than an invitation to just listen and consider... The following is a link to an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech against the Vietnam War entitled Beyond Vietnam; A Time to Break Silence. It was delivered on April 4, 1967 at the Riverside Church in New York City. I can’t resist in saying so little has changed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3zwcQlWsPU

Happy Birthday, Dr. King. I am trying to live the DREAM.

*painting by Heavyweight

In the Heights At the Academy of Music

In the Heights:
A Review by Sojourner Ahebee

On Tuesday the 18th of January, I had the utmost pleasure of attending In the Heights at the Academy of Music. This presentation was part of the Kimmel Center's Broadway Series. This was my first time seeing In the Heights, so I went in not knowing the storyline or what to expect. What I witnessed on that stage was pure genius; and that only begins to describe this musical.

In the Heights tells the story of a diverse Hispanic community trying to find themselves, find value in their culture while aspiring to live out the American Dream. The story that touched me the most was that of a young woman named Nina,who from a child had always succeeded in school . Her hard work and determination really paid off and she was accepted to Stanford University. Even though this was such a huge achievement for Nina, there were still a few problems. She found it quite difficult to fit in because the environment was quite different than of her home surroundings. Also, she had to work two jobs to buy books she didn’t even have the time to read. This is such a heartbreaking yet common story. It very much angers me. You never know what people have to battle before the school day even starts. Consequently, she fell behind in school and was asked to leave. It took Nina forever to tell her parents because she didn’t want to disappoint them, but eventually she did. You will be quite surprised and touched to see what her parents do to enable her to return Stanford. You really get to see their love for their child through their actions.

Okay ,anyways, let’s not forget about the fabulous music. I loved how the play predominantly used music to paint the heart of this tale. One of my favorite songs was “96,000”. It’s about a lottery ticket and what everyone would do with the money if they won. Through this song you understood the dreams and desires of the play’s characters.. You saw their desperation, yet you saw their passion to make the best of what they already had. The song is a very vibrant one that makes you wanna jump out of your seat and dance. I had actually performed it at my choral concert prior to this performance, so it was especially fun to watch. Also, don’t think this musical is only about the serious things in life; there is much humor throughout this musical.. For example, another one of my favorite songs was Piragua. Piragua is a Puerto- Rican frozen treat, almost like water-ice. This musical number was sung by a man who sold these frozen treats. He often sung about how the Mr. Softee truck is ruining his business. But, one day there is a blackout and he sings about the Mr. Softee truck being broken and what a joy this is to him. It is quite a funny performance full of humor and pizzazz.

The choreography was fresh and current, yet it reminded me a lot of the exuberance of the dancing in West Side Story.

All in all, In the Heights ended on a light and happy note. There is not one moment you are not being wowed out your mind! On a scale from one to ten, I would give this show a million! I would definitely recommend this to people of all ages! Everyone can relate at some point in this musical to its theme of identity and how we come to define ourselves. In the Heights is at the Academy of Music from January 18- 23, 2011. I hope everyone comes out and supports In the Heights. Below is a link for more information.

http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?id=3706

Come and Enjoy the Pennsylvania Ballet's Production of The Nutcracker

A Review by Sojourner Ahebee

The clock is a ticking. Today, the Pennsylvania Ballet will dance its final performance of The Nutcracker for this holiday season. Attending the Nutcracker is an annual event for me and one that never looses its aura of drama and glamour.

I attended a Saturday matinee at the Academy of Music. As usual the performance was spectacular and as always, put me in the Christmas spirit! When I reviewed this ballet last year, I retold the story of the Nutcracker, but I’m sure my readers know it by now. I wasn’t sure what to expect this year. I thought since I saw this ballet last year, it wouldn’t have the same mesmerizing affect. But to my surprise it did.

My mother accompanied me to the ballet with three of her students-Donjae, Akira and Latoya. It was their first time seeing this production and they were very much impressed. To see their smiles light up the room as they oohed and aahed at the luminous Christmas tree, the equally radiant falling snow and the jolly candy canes made my experience even more enjoyable and memorable.

The dancing is just one component of the Nutcracker experience. The choreography and artistry of the dancers is second to none. But, I always end up falling in love, again and again with the costumes and the stage design. Every costume transports you to the heart of the Nutcracker story and the stage design is majestic, mesmerizing and sets you in the middle of everything.

The dancer who stood out for me again this year and keeps me coming back every year is Jermel Johnson. He usually performs the Candy Cane role, but on the day I went he did not. This time around, he danced with the Sugar Plum Fairy, as her cavalier. OMG, he owned his performance! I was not expecting Mr. Johnson to dance this part but when he did you couldn’t stop watching him move! All in all, I hope everyone gets the chance to share with family and friends the Pennsylvania Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. It’s a great way to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new one. Happy New Year!

For more information, click on the following link: http://www.paballet.org/nutcracker.html

Discover the World Through Another Language

Though it’s only a few days after Thanksgiving, summer is just around the corner. Now is the time to find those summer programs that will engage you in ways you haven’t imagined. Deadlines are approaching and applications need to be filled out and recommendations gotten.
I have been working hard to get my French back and so I am a big fan of language programs.

Last summer, I participated in a French Immersion program sponsored by Middlebury College, the preeminent place for learning languages. My program was hosted at Oberlin College. If French is not your language, how about Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Italian? You are required to take a pledge that you will only speak your selected foreign language all the time, for a month. It is a challenge, but the payoff in terms of you developing your foreign language skills is phenomenal.

I like the fact that the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy hosts its programs on different college campuses around the United States. This gives you the opportunity to get a sense of another college and what it has to offer. I love Oberlin and it is absolutely gorgeous and quaint and has one of the best music conservatories in the country. This program is amazing and empowers you to take on almost any task. And the friendships that are made and ones that I know will be for a lifetime. At first, I was definitely worried about going to a new place and meeting new people and a speaking a language all-day long that I was not fluent in, but the staff at MMLA and the way the program is organized makes you feel you can do it.

Here is the link to information about MMLA’s language immersion programs. I’ll share information about other programs, so keep reading.
http://mmla.middlebury.edu/

As I progress in my French learning, I am learning just how big and small the world is and how exciting it is to learn about it. I am a big fan of music from France’s West African immigrant communities. Also, to my surprise, I am getting into foreign films in French. Now, one of my favorite directors is Ousmane Sembene, who died in 2007. He was from Senegal. I love one of his early films called Black Girl. Learn about him and his amazing insights. You can rent his films on Netflix. Here is a link about Black Girl.

http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/02/23/black_girl.html

Photo of Man- Ousmane Sembene

Caminos del Inka-Travel the Inca Trail Through Music This Coming January

A lot of you know I love music from South America. But the music I have listened to from this vast continent has been primarily the music of its African population; a music which is dynamic, diverse and documents the lives and concerns of the African Diaspora. Recently I learned that one of my former teachers, Mr. Diego Luzuriaga, who is from Ecuador, is also a renowned composer who celebrates in his music the glory and beauty and struggles of South America.

I will have the grand opportunity as you can to hear some of his compositions. On January 14, 2011, the Philadelphia Orchestra will play his music as well as other South American composers as part of a series called Caminos del Inka-The Inca Trail. This concert will be conducted by the Peruvian-born conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya, who is the brainchild behind this incredible event. The concert not only showcases the work covering three centuries of South American composers, including Mr. Luzuriaga, but it is also a multimedia event which includes stunning photography to complement the music.

Click here to get a taste of what’s to come and to learn more about this project.

1. http://www.cgpartnersllc.com/projects-clients/caminos-del-inka/a-musical-journey/

2. http://caminosdelinka.org/concerts

Be sure to expect to hear more from me about this not to missed, upcoming concert.

The Inca Trail
Friday January 14, 2011
7:00 PM
Verizon Hall

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Miguel Harth-Bedoya - Conductor
Jeffrey Khaner - Flute
Efe Baltacigil – Cello

For more information here is the website for the Philadelphia Orchestra - http://www.philorch.org/

Aung San Suu Kyi Rises

I love this photo of Desmond Tutu and the woman he is raising in his hand. My favorite lady from Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, was freed this past Saturday after 7 years of house arrest. Let’s wish her well on her journey to empower her people.

I give you Ben Harper, again, singing Maya Angelou's I Rise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZEoeBlIUHk&feature=related

Reconsidering Columbus Day ?

I’m back on the block. Sorry for the long silence, but high school is a real challenge. I have lots of great information to share, in upcoming posts, about some amazing summer programs.

But today, Columbus Day, let’s talk about silences. Click this link first.
www.reconsidercolumbusday.org

Here is a quote by a hero of mine-W.E.B. DuBois. He precisely captures what our country has been so unwilling to do-face the truth, acknowledge it and move forward with a head raised high.
One is astonished in the study of history
at the recurrence of the idea that evil must
be forgotten, distorted, skimmed over. We
must not remember that Daniel Webster got
drunk but only that he was a splendid
constitutional lawyer. We must forget that
George Washington was a slave owner . . . and
simply remember the things we regard as
creditable and inspiring. The difficulty, of course,
with this philosophy is that history loses its value
as an incentive and example; it paints perfect man
and noble nations, but it does not tell the truth.

-W.E.B. DuBois
1868-1963

After my doctor’s appointment, I’m headed to Last Word Bookstore, in University City, to find a book my uncle suggested-Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. I’m kind of ashamed at how little I know of American history, especially the history of Native Americans. That’s about to change.