#ifAfricawasabar

"If Africa was a bar, what would your country be drinking or doing?"  This tweet by Siyanda Mohutsiwa went viral with many Africans and non-Africans chiming in with a response. Some people responded by poking fun at stereotypes, others highlighted geopolitical tensions and government spending. What Siyanda and many others demonstrated was the platform that Twitter gives people to voice their ideas and thoughts, where political or geographic barriers may have otherwise blocked them. Siyanda mentioned how Africans are bursting with creative energy and innovation but with shaky institutions and bad governments all of this potential can go to waste. Social media gives young Africans a chance to promote what Siyanda calls, Social Pan-Africanism and unite ideas and creativity to tackle many of the issues affecting African countries. There are many examples of how ideas on social media have gained traction and brought about positive change. Think about the Ice Bucket Challenge and ALS or various crowdfunding campaigns that have raised money for worthy causes. Siyanda believes Social Pan-Africanism will help to generate potential solutions to problems affecting African countries and Twitter is the tool that she is using.

President Obama on Blackness

President Barack Obama speaks during the commencement ceremony for Howard University in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2016.  SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images (www.theroot.com)

On May 7th, 2016, President Barack Obama gave the commencement speech at Howard University, one of the nation's Historically Black Colleges. President Obama gave encouraging words to the class, stating that the world is much better today than when he graduated from college in the 1980s. He also offered advice on how young leaders can shape their future and bend it in the direction of justice. These statements come after the past couple of years have demonstrated a disproportionate use of excessive force by police officers directed at young men of color in the U.S. and the protests and rallies that erupted following these incidents. The most controversial part of President Obama's speech came when he told the graduates to "be confident in your heritage. Be confident in your blackness. One of the great changes that's occurred in our country since I was your age is the realization there's no one way to be black."  He went on to talk about how in the past couple of months he has had lunch with the Queen of England and hosted Kendrick Lamar (popular hip-hop artist) in the Oval Office. People have criticized these remarks, suggesting that the President ought to be more inclusive with the words he uses and not give so much credit to race, which is a characteristic that people do not choose, but are born with. Critics say that Obama ought to use more inclusive language. I certainly agree that President ought to use inclusive language and in this speech and many others he does. However,  given the history of injustices directed at minority groups in the US and around the world and the more recent rhetoric used in politics, unequal incarceration of minorities in the criminal justice system, and prejudices that exist which have been highlighted by cases of excessive force (often lethal) by police officers disproportionately directed at minorities, I think that Obama is correct in encouraging graduates of one of the premier Historically Black Colleges in the U.S. to be confident in their blackness. Not to feel superior because of their blackness, not make decisions based on race or ethnicity, but to be confident. This is a message that many young African-Americans need to hear and I am proud that the President of the United States of America was the one to say it.

Reconnecting With Africa in Senegal

Originally Published April 2008 Maroon Tiger

The humid, cool, West African air hit me as soon as I stepped off of the plane. It was 5:30 a.m. and still dark outside when students from Spelman College and Morehouse College finally arrived in Africa. As we waited for our bus to take us to where we would stay that night, some of the Senegalese were already interested in engaging us in conversation. The fact that they spoke French and I spoke English was a bit of a barrier initially, but then Barack Obama's name was mentioned and we found common ground. “Baaa-rack Ooo-bama!” Later that day, as we traveled through downtown Dakar, my eyes were fixed on the window, trying to capture all of commotion occurring in the streets. People were selling all kinds of things, artwork, clothing, telephone cards, just about everything. There were many people in the streets and on the sidewalks and cars seemed to be traveling in every direction. After a few detours, we finally reached the bank and exchanged our money. It is important to mention that while in Dakar we met up with a man of Morehouse, Wendell Hassan Marsh who is studying abroad there. Also, I was introduced to a Morehouse man who lives in Senegal. The fourth day, we set off for the Île de Gorée. Gorée Island is off the coast of Senegal and was a place where Africans were held before being taken to the Americas and abroad during the slave trade. As we waited for the boat to take us to the Island, I started to ponder the conditions that Africans endured during slavery; my mind was being prepared for the island.We arrived on the island, and after stepping off of the boat, before I realized it, there was a child placing some kind of glue on my shoes where part of the sole was detaching. He wanted me to give him something for his services. We later took a tour of the slave house, where Africans were held and I gazed upon the "door of no return" which served as a symbolic reminder that when Africans passed through the threshold of this doorway, there was no turning back to Africa. The next day, we traveled to the city of Kaolack and were greeted by the school girls at the 10,000 Girls program there. My experience in Kaolack proved to be the most profound experience of my trip. In Kaolack we stayed with host families for three nights and traveled to a school in the rural village, Ndofanne where we helped to lay the foundation for a library. We later engaged in a bit of dancing and celebration. My host sister, Maimouna expressed to me her interest in coming to the U.S to study to become an obstetrician so that she could help her family. Conversations like these touched me personally, and helped to re-form a bond of responsibility between Africa and myself. There were indeed challenges that we faced in Africa, but despite these uncomfortable experiences there was something beautiful about the African homeland. In Senegal, there were not many distractions that technology and the media often offer in the U.S. It was quiet enough for me to appreciate people and nature, and strengthen a spiritual connection. The Senegalese have been able to preserve this environment and it makes me think, “Who is really living a fulfilling life, me or them?”

Nicholas Gordon

Dream Now. Act Now.

Today, I, along with my brother Wesley and my best friend Mike went to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. I was appreciative to all of the organizers, the politicians, the King family members and friends, the donors and the sculptor, among others who were persistent in making this memorial a reality. This is such a beautiful tribute to a man who sacrificed so much because of his love of God and of mankind. The irony is that although such a tribute is deserved, I think that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  really would not have wanted all of this done for him.  He was more concerned about the issues. Through the nonviolence approach that he adopted, King advocated for an end to racial prejudice, for jobs, for human rights, and an end to unjust wars.  He explained that his outspoken position came about from his deep love for the U.S. and his vision that America can be a great and moral nation and an example for the world.  Today, we face some of the same issues in the U.S. that King spoke out about over 40 years ago: job creation, ending an unjust war, equality for all people. Interesting, huh?

At the time of his death he was as unpopular as he had ever been, but shortly afterward his popularity rose to great heights as people realized that he gave up so much in an effort to bring all people together in love at the table of brotherhood.  As I looked around today at the memorial and saw people of different races all gathered to experience the memorial and read King's words etched in stone, I thought to myself that Martin Luther King, Jr. would want us to not focus so much on him, but on the Spirit that moved him to action and to work to improve the conditions of all people; the same Spirit that inspired Jesus to bring about change and promote revolutionary ideas like loving one's enemies; the same Spirit that lives today and that has the power to lead and guide us to make great and lasting impacts on this world. This memorial has inspired me to strengthen my faith in the Almighty who has the power to send his Spirit to encourage and inspire me to do His will, just as it inspired Martin Luther King, Jr. In King's last sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, King stated that at his funeral he would not want people to mention where he went to school or that he has 300 or 400 awards, or that he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He wanted it instead to be mentioned that he tried to clothe the naked and feed the hungry; that he tried to be right on the war issue and ultimately that he tried to do God's will. Tears come to my eyes when I hear this because I know that this too is what I want people to be able to say about me. King knew that he was not perfect. I know that I am not perfect. With God, however, all things are possible. Let us keep King's dream and the dream of others alive by taking a stake in our country, putting silly political arguments aside, and working together to make America what it ought to be: a beacon of morality for the world.  Deep down, I think that everyone wants to be great.  In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , "Everyone can be great because everyone can serve." Dream now. Act now.

Never Give Up

I just saw the movie Sanctum tonight. Often times I leave the movie theater inspired and motivated to press on harder in school and overcome the seemingly large challenges in my life.  Tonight was no exception. Here are a few things that I learned.

• We are a product of our environment. At the moment, I feel like I am so use to my current living situation that it is actually limiting my growth.  I think its time for a change of environment so that I can see life at a different angle and gain an enhanced perspective. I really liked the setting of the movie.
• Never Give Up.  In the Bible, the idea that God never gives us more than we can handle, is present.  No matter how gloomy the situation may be, God always provides an out. In the movie, Sanctum, the father encourages his son to never give up and this attitude is what saved him.  As I look back at the times when I didn't achieve a goal I set, because of lack of motivation as a result of defeat, I realize that I didn't utilize every option that I had at my disposal to overcome the challenge. Oftentimes, I think it is our own minds that determine if we are going to be defeated or not. We have to chose to not be defeated.
• Don't panic. I remember after explaining to my grandfather that school was getting difficult. He said to me " When the going gets tough, the tought get going". This is true. When tough times present themselves, panic will only worsen the situation.  When there is panic, there is a lack of faith.  The confidence that comes from faith in God and faith in oneself  because of God is what helps us make it through such tough times. 
• Lastly, poetry plays a major role in the movie. I have my own quote that comes to mind when I think of Sanctum.  "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of great challenge and controversy" - Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. In the beginning of the movie, some of the characters seemed really cool. That coolness wore off, however, when they found themselves in sticky situations and compromised their morals.

Thank you, James Cameron for a movie full of great cinematography and excellent life lessons.

NBG

Reclaiming The Dream

 (As written 08.29/2010 with a few modifications)      Yesterday commemorated the 47th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network held a March yesterday to celebrated this day.  The March was from Dunbar High school in D.C. to the furture site of the MLK memorial in D.C. At Dunbar, the program kicked off with different individuals, representing various organizations giving a few words of support for the event as well as information specific to the cause they were supporting. The recurring theme was, "Reclaiming the Dream". Tom, Joyner, Al Sharpton, Morehouse College President, Robert Franklin, Adrian Fenty, as well as others spoke.  Afterwards, the march began around 1:30 pm. As I was marching, I [sang] songs like, "We Shall Overcome".  Shouts like "Fired Up!" and the response, "Ready to Go!", and other words filled the air.  I was able to make my way to the front and for a while I march[ed]  2 or 3 people behind Rev. Al Sharpton.  Earlier, Al Sharpton said that we are the "Sons and Grandsons of MLK". This experience was the closest that I could get to marching with MLK and I was able to feel what it would feel like to march with him.  There were uncomfortable situations during the march and I knew that MLK was uncomfortable at times, but he had faith that God would see him through.  Thats what I have to have.  This march was very uplifting for me.  I feel like I can begin again to contrubute to realizing  King's dream.