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| CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY YEAR |
For the last week, everything around me seemed to revolve around the importance of having good relations with family and close friends and finding a way to connect our past with the future. When I really needed help in finding out what is going on with this generation and how things were different in my Granny's time, I had several conversations with persons of different ethnic "BLACKgrounds." At the end of it, it came down to the fact that because we are BLACK, we all share the same history, issues and stories. Idiosyncrasies aside - It does not matter if you were born in Jamaica or Nigeria where we tend to be more aggressive, or if you are a Bajan who is a little more on the laid back side; when it comes to the value system that is inherently us, we all are fruits from the same judgment tree and we deal with things in similar fashions. I was reminded of being in China when my group and I were walking in the street and we were followed by some Chinese folks who were fascinated by our dreads. I stopped and had a conversation with one young lady to find out why she continued to follow me, and she told me in limited English that I am "soooo different from the Africans here." At the time I could not understand what she meant but later found out that they have a bad opinion of Africans because they found them to be very aggressive and somewhat unapproachable. Back then, I told her that I was Jamaican and she smiled and said "Awwww, Bob Marley" and then I was on my Jamaican-pride trip and it did not even cross my mind to inform her that I am also an African (not that she would get it, anyway). The point is this - each time I hear someone highlight how bad and negative black folks are and can be, I know they are talking about the collective black...when a Jamaican does bad, it reflects badly on the black race, when a black American does bad, it reflects badly on the black race, etc. As blacks, we KNOW that very many of our BLACK contribute and perpetrate the mess that is being said about us...it is time to flip the script! If we do not lead by example like those we pay homage to each February, how do we expect the negative stereotyping to stop? So, I am right back to the family and close friends issues. If you have one of those in your life who is guilty of tarnishing the positive image of blacks, tough love is closer than you think. We MUST find a way to connect our past with our future in a positive way!  I have lots of GOOD information below, so READ and prove "them" wrong again! Happy belated birthday to my son, Khani, Butta B, Kyanne Jackson, Dennis Wanliss and everyone else celebrating this and next week! Celebrate BLACK History Year!
Creative Director
PEPPY ENTERTAINMENT & PROMOTIONS, LLC |
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TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR TAX SPECIALS!
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If you are still waiting to file your taxes, and have one dependent, one state, and one W2, Capricorn Tax Services, Inc. will prepare your 2009 taxes for ONLY $99.00.
February specials are in effect so get with Capricorn Tax Services, Inc, to get started so you can have your refund in your bank account in a jiffy!
Contact Tax Professional, EDWIN COKE at edwincoke@msn.com, 202-529-3775. You may also fax your documents to 202-318-0217.
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| VISIT OUR SPONSORS |
Ronald Johnson, Author
Dream Castle Villa
Suzan Walters
Caribbean Cargo DC
UNIA-ACL Legal Defense Committee
Multimedia Training Institute DC. (MMTI)
MMTI Inc. is a 501(c)3 media
production and training corporation. They have trained over 1000 youth and
young adults in the Washington, DC area for the past 20 years. Their targeted population is youth and young adults from ages 14 to 22 and
who are considered to be "high risk" individuals. While they accept
participants from the entire area of the District of Columbia, most of
our students come from Wards 7 and 8.
Through their after-school/out-of-school training and entrepreneurial
programs, they provide empowering alternatives to divert youth from the
activities and lifestyles that often render them at risk of educational
failure and involvement with the juvenile justice system. READ MORE HERE:
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| MEET SOME OF THE ARTISTS FOR "HOPE FOR HAITI" |
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 Queen Ayacodobae (I-Ya-Su-Do-Bet) is a profoundly enlightened and awakened Spirit Woman in the Universe. She is a globally-acclaimed and is a revered holistic Healer and herbal expert
extraordinaire. A brilliant and gifted natural teacher and world class
communicator, she connects immediately with all ages. She is a true artist,
motivator, singer, songwriter, and so much more, and she gives all glory and
honor to God, her parents and the Ancestors. Her noble mission of healthy
nutritional green living has successfully guided and enabled hundreds of human
beings to make life altering transformation resulting in dramatic quality of
life changes bringing peace, love and desired personal growth and
accomplishment. She is a Phenomenal Spirit Woman to the fullest power. To read more on Queen Ayacodobae, click on the image at left or visit www.myspace.com/queenayacodobae2.
 Loide (Loy-Deh) is a Washington DC based jazz vocalist who has
roots in Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, though born in France and raised
in California. Serving up a mix of contemporary jazz and warm
Afro-lusophone rhythms, Loide's music is reflective of her own eclectic
roots. She has spent the last 9 years honing her musical craft in some of
the nation's hippest speakeasies and jazz clubs and abroad. Loide has
had the privilege of performing with renowned musicians such as Lonnie
Plaxico, Dave Marsh, and Kahlil Kwame Bell, to name a few. She has
performed in Hollywood for a star-studded televised event, opened for
the legendary Hugh Masekela, and Zimbabwean guitarist Oliver Mtududzi,
and, most recently, Loide performed to a packed house at the world
renowned Blues Alley in Washington, DC.
To date, Loide has just completed her debut project, "LOIDE, Live
at Bohemian Caverns" recorded in the summer of 2009. The project
contains originals by Loide, written together with Lucky Dube's
original guitarist, Mongezi Ntaka, as well as Loide's distinct
interpretation of some of her favorite tunes. Loide cites Sarah Vaughn,
Cesaria Evora and Miriam Makeba as some her greatest musical
influences, but believes it is her African heritage that has provided
her with a fresh musical perspective, a unique sound, and song in her
native tongue, Portuguese. To read more on Loide, and hear some of her music, click on the image above right or visit www.myspace.com/loide.
Catch Queen Ayacodobae, Loide and many others LIVE at HOPE FOR HAITI/TO HAITI WITH LOVE: A Black History Fundraiser on Thursday, February 25 at Club LIV on U Street.
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| THE UNIA-ACL LEGAL DEFENSE COMMITTEE CORNER |
(Below: U-NIA President, Senghor Baye with U-NIA's Counsel General, Faruq Muhammad)
In 1920, in Madison Square Garden
in New York City, led by the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, more than 25,000
African people from around the world came together under the banner of the
Universal Negro Improvement Association - African Communities League
(U-NIA). It was decided at that
plebiscite, that a Government for Black people should be formed. That
government was in fact formed and has been in effect since then - laying
dormant
In 2005, under the direction of the duly appointed
Counsel General Faruq Muhammad, U-NIA created the Legal Defense Committee
(LDC). The purpose of the LDC is to
assist U-NIA to restore the vitality and influence of that global government
established back in 1920 and awaken this sleeping giant to return to its
rightful place in history.
The LDC has developed several
programs to bring about its stated goals.
One of the most notable programs established by the LDC is the
International Expatriate Movement (IEM).
The purposes of the IEM are twofold: 1) To become the vanguard entity for U-NIA Officials and Members wishing to become citizens of U-NIA's government, and;2) To provide
assistance in the healing process between those who are descendants of the African slavery movement throughout the world who seek dual
citizenship with Countries of the African Continent. The
concept is based upon the international system already in existence that has
been utilized for decades by people from all other countries, all over the
world, other than those of us of African descent who are victims of the infamous
slave trade, born in this country and around the world. Up until now no effort has ever been made to be included.
While celebrating the night of Kujichagulia during the Kwanzaa season of
2009, U-NIA held its first citizenship ceremony. Thus, giving the U-NIA government its first
citizens since the early 20th Century.
As we
celebrate Black History month this year, we wish to challenge you to consider
how the present actions that we take today will in fact influence Black History
in the years to come. We of the LDC and
on behalf of the government of U-NIA believe that we are making a significant
influence in the direction that Black History will take. We ask your support in this most important
work that we are undertaking for African people worldwide.
For more information on the U-NIA's Legal Defense Committee, please visit www.myspace.com/unia_ldc or email faruq.muhammad@verizon.net. |
LOCAL ADLINK POWERED BY ZURVITA
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
This event will take place TONIGHT, Friday, February 19  
We are pleased to announce that HOPE FOR HAITI & TO HAITI WITH LOVE will be a combined effort and event!
Proceeds from this event will go to National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians' (NOAH) Tents for Haiti Project and Brothers and Sisters International.
  Stay tuned for fliers and more information on three dynamic events coming up next week:
Reggae Month Symposium at the Embassy of Jamaica in DC on Friday February 26
The DC Reggae Awards on Saturday, February 27
The Shashamane Fundraiser at Zanzibar on Sunday, February 28 | |
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