Arts vol 1.11 by Arts Today Ezine

KENNETH CALVERT KING OF BLUES pg. # 76

View this and past issues from our website.

Dr. T. McCarthy Healing The World pg. #28

C. Holland Youth Voter Reg. pg. #52

Financing

Gianis LalSandhu pg.#100

ALLURING

FIERY

AND HYPNOTIC

Tango Buenos Aires performs in St. Louis Back by popular demand, Dance St. Louis presents Tango Buenos Aires at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on January 30-31. Direct from Buenos Aires and considered one of Argentina’s greatest cultural exports, the company is known throughout the world as the most authentic and uncompromising representative of the Tango. For this special production, Tango Buenos Aires performs “Song of Eva Perón” – a Tango dance and music presentation inspired by Eva Perón, the most important feminine character in Argentinian history who started from nothing, growing up in the slums of Buenos Aires, yet propelled to stardom and became Argentina‘s First Lady. Accompanied by live music performed by musicians from Buenos Aires, the engaging, passionate production blends sultry tango with the story of Eva Perón. Tango Buenos Aires has three performances at the Touhill: January 30 at 8 p.m. and January 31 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $65. To purchase tickets, visit dancestlouis.org or calling 314-534-6622. Free Tango Lessons Following the Saturday, January 31 matinee performance and prior to the evening performance, Dance St. Louis hosts a milonga from 4-6 p.m., featuring free Tango lessons from two Tango Buenos Aires teaching artists with music mixed by Rick “El Conquistador” Barbarash. The milonga is free and open to the public. No show tickets are required to participate in the free Tango lessons. Food and beverage are available for purchase.

- Sarah Thompson

Established 2014 Volume 1.11 St. Louis, MO www.the-arts-today.com/ Layout/Design www.bdesignme.com

IN THIS ISSUE: Featured: Photographer

Jerren Photography ................... pg. 60

Artist

Kenneth C. ....................................... pg. 76

Poet

Michael C.- Selection of Poems......pg. 102

In The News .......................................................pg. 8 Live,Work, Play ................................................pg. 14 Art of Food .......................................................pg. 54

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Volume 1.11 Janaury 4, 2015

In The News

If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen this, please view it as soon as possible and help bring some clarity to the situation. Let us know what you think at artstodayinfo@aol.com?

http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/ watch/shocking-mistake-in-darrenwilson-grand-jury-364273731666

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IN THE NEWS CONT

NEWS RELEASE: Missouri Department of Insurance encourages impacted businesses in the St. Louis area to contact their insurance companies immediately Missouri DIFP sent this bulletin at 11/25/2014 04:09 PM CST Missouri Department of Insurance encourages impacted businesses in the St. Louis area to contact their insurance companies immediately Business owners with insurance questions can also contact department for assistance Jefferson City, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Insurance encourages business owners in Ferguson and the greater St. Louis area, who have sustained property damage, to contact their insurance companies as soon as possible. The department is currently making preparations to send a team to the St. Louis area to meet with impacted business owners and answer questions. Representatives from the Missouri Department of Insurance will be available tomorrow at the Ferguson Library to assist with insurance questions. Representatives are also available to answer questions at 800-726-7390. “We encourage owners of damaged businesses to contact their insurance agent or company immediately,” said department Director John M. Huff. “We also want to let businesses in Ferguson and in the St. Louis region know the state has trained insurance experts standing by, ready to assist them if they have questions or concerns about their insurance or the claims process.” The Department of Insurance offers these tips for impacted business owners: Contact your insurance agent’s or company’s toll-free claims number as soon as possible. If you have lost your company’s contact information, the department may be able to help you locate it. Visit insurance.mo.gov or call the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390. If your business suffered physical damage, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. For example, a broken window should be boarded up to keep out rain. Otherwise, further damage will likely not be covered by your insurance policy. Keep the receipts for materials you buy so you can be reimbursed. Don’t let contractors inspect your property if you’re not watching. Some unscrupulous companies will cause damage to drive up the repair cost, and your insurance company will likely not cover the additional cost. Don’t pay the whole repair bill in advance. Pay in full only when the work is completed according to your agreement. Be suspicious of anyone who offers to get you more money for your insurance claim. A public adjuster - required to be licensed by the department - may solicit you. Public adjusters will require part of your claim settlement as payment for their services. In general, consider hiring a public adjuster only if you reach an impasse with your insurance company. However, consumers may want to contact the department prior to hiring a public adjuster. If your business suffered a financial loss because it was forced to close, ask if your policy includes business income coverage. Keep receipts and records for any costs you incur to produce or reproduce financial records. These expenses may be covered under the “extra expense” coverage. If you believe your insurance company has not handled your claim properly, file a complaint with the department. The department will determine whether your insurance company has followed Missouri law in processing your claim. Business owners can refer to the department’s “Small Business Insurance” web page, which offers information on commercial property, business interruption insurance and more. About the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) is responsible for consumer protection through the regulation of financial industries and professionals. The department’s seven divisions work to enforce state regulations both efficiently and effectively while encouraging a competitive environment for industries and professions to ensure consumers have access to quality products. ###

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Ajuma Muhammad Author of 101 Proven and Effective Strategies for Empowering Black Boys

WATCH NOW!

1 0 Strategies

f o r E m p o w e r i n g B l a c k B oy s 1. Black boys should maintain a healthy relationship with God. 2. Black boys should honor and always respect their parents. 3. Black boys should embody greatness in everything they do. 4. Black boys should take pride in their history and culture. 5. Black boys should empower their community through leadership and service. 6. Black boys should be role models in their communities. 7. Black boys should honor, respect and protect the black woman. 8. Black boys should work to establish an economic foundation in their communities. 9. Black boys should travel internationally to better understand their place in the world. 10. Black boys should love themselves!

www.ajuma.org

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Bro. Shahid twitter.com/anthonyshahid1

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

LIVE WORK PLAY

Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

CLICK HERE to Watch

HERE IS ST LOUIS II

Nate K. Johnson ABR,CRS,GRI Broker/Owner Real Estate Solutions nate@livingstl.com www.livingstl.com

As we bring to a close another remarkable year in St. Louis, I am reminded of what Bill Vaughan once wrote about New Year’s Eve. “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” Yes, we have had our ups and downs in St. Louis this year. My hope is that we grow from all of the experiences that we have had and become a greater city as a result!

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Local Events

January If you are like me, you may still be wrapping up your goal setting process for 2015. If you are bit further behind, here are a few simple worksheets to help you set SMART Goals for next year. Let me know if you want me to be your accountability partner. I’m always happy to help! Of course, January starts tomorrow and there are plenty of great things to do in St. Louis over the next month. I’ve got some suggestions on how you can kick off the first month of the year!

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January

Start your new year on the right foot at R-Space Gallery and Coffee Shop’s New Years Day Gathering. They offer yoga, guided meditation, art creation, and goal setting to affirm your destiny. Bring your blanket, yoga mat and dreams! If you’re looking for something exciting to do this weekend, take the kids to see the incredible Harlem Globetrotters perform a mind-blowing show at Scottrade Center on Friday, the 2nd. For some late night fun, head over to the Steinberg Skating Rink for some delightful outdoor ice skating with the family. It’s open until midnight every night until the 3rd. You could also check out the Lemp Mansion Dinner Theatre’s “Harm for the Holidays,” an interactive whodunit from Jest Murder Mystery Company, which has been in the murder mystery business for more than a decade. On Saturday, check out the EPIC STL Motorcycle Show at the America’s Center. It’s the event of the year for any motorcycle enthusiast. Every make and model that St. Louis has to offer will be represented at the show. There will also be a live bike trial demonstration from some of the hottest trick riders in the country. After the show, grab your friends and take a brewery tour on the Brewery Hop bus. The 4 hour brewery hop on Saturday includes transportation to 3 local micro breweries and a behind-thescenes tour of each brewery. You will also get a tasting glass for a tasting at each brewery. On Sunday, get the

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

LIVE WORK PLAY

cont.

family bundled up and head over to Hidden Valley Ski Resort, the perfect winter day-trip destination. Yes, there is skiing in St. Louis! January is Learn to Ski Month, which means package deals for ages 12 and up and for novices and pros alike. Sunday evening is the perfect opportunity to visit the Gardenland Express: A Passion for Plants at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The annual flower and train show features G-scale trains of many eras traveling along 900 feet of track through a miniature holiday landscape made up of festive decorations and thousands of fresh plants, accented by beautiful poinsettias and flowers. It’s also a great day to visit the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park to check out the fascinating Missouri Immigrant Experience Exhibit. You will see the faces and learn the intriguing stories of immigrants from a variety of backgrounds.

January

On Tuesday, the 6th, join me down at Johnny’s in Soulard for Mardi Gras STL - Twelfth Night. It’s the traditional beginning of Mardi Gras, twelve nights after Christmas. Hear the reading of the proclamation on the steps of Johnny’s followed by a procession throughout Soulard ending at Rudy Commons at Soulard Market with the coronation of the 2015 Rex.

January

On Wednesday, take the kids to The String Beans Family Concert at The Magic House. The kids will love their wacky on-stage antics and dance-tastic songs. The show is full of comedy, music, crowd participation, and it’s fun for the whole family.

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January

On Thursday, take the family out to the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis for the compelling, powerful, and provocative show, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. It’s a new adaptation of an award-winning film that explores family and acceptance, and asks which has a greater hold on our hearts.

January

On takethe the11th, family Cirque du Soleil: Varekai the On Friday, Thursday, gettointo the holiday spirit with aatvisit Chaifetz After the show, head to Jazzdecked at the out Bistro to five of Arena. St. Louis' historic homes andover buildings in forthe a drink and some good music. Featuring in Grand festive Center finery on St. Louis Holiday Historic House Tour. bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson, and drummer Participants can tour the locations on continuously running David The Bad is athem leaderless trio with a committed charterKing, buses that willPlus shuttle from stop to stop. After belief in what they’ve dubbed ‘avant-garde populism’ --the idea the tour, head over to the Garden Glow Holiday Light Exhibit that serious music can beGarden. as engaging and accessible as itofis at the Missouri Botanical Hundreds of thousands forward-thinking and provocative. lights will adorn some of the Garden's most iconic locations,

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and walkways will be turned into an explosion of visual magic. For a free showcase of Cherokee Street shops, bars, and restaurants, check out the lovely, historic Cherokee Street for Cherokee Nights. There will be a free horse drawn carriage pub crawl starting at 5pm.

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LIVE WORK PLAY

January

11 January

On Saturday, you can meet me in The Grove at Bruno David Projects as they are having an opening reception in the evening and they will be featuring the talented, Chicagobased artist Monika Wulfers. She opens up a world of lines in various dimensions through her recent sculptures and paintings. Later in the evening, head over to The Pageant for Memories of Elvis featuring Steve Davis & the MidSouth Revival. Special guests include Thomas Hickey as Buddy Holly, and Anna Blair as Patsy Cline. If a high-energy dance concert is more your style, you might want to hang out with me and the babies, checking out Perpetual Motion at COCA on Saturday. The talented members of COCA Dance and COCA Hip-Hip present a mix of cutting-edge hip-hop and contemporary dance in a wide range of musical and choreographic styles.

On Sunday, head over to the St. Louis Art Museum in Forest Park to see the Scenic Wonder: An Early American Journey Down the Hudson River. The exhibition displays the Hudson River Portfolio- a significant cornerstone in the development of American landscape art. The portfolio consists of 20 views along the Hudson River, starting at it’s source in the breathtaking Adirondack Mountains in New York State and down a 315 mile tour ending in New York Bay. While you’re there, check out the Nicholas Nixon: 40 Years of The Brown Sisters Exhibit. Since 1975, the American Nicholas Nixon has been photographing his wife, Beverly Brown, and her three sisters at family get-togethers. What began as a record of family life when the subjects were in their twenties, has evolved into one of the most compelling series in contemporary photography.

On Wednesday, the 14th, do not miss the first annual Art of Live Festival happening at 4 venues over the course of 5 nights in St. Louis. The festival aims to celebrate live music, emerging musical artists, and St. Louis’ diverse collection of live music venues. Participating venues include Old Rock House, Off Broadway, The Firebird, The Demo, and The Ready Room. The festival features more than two-dozen local, national, and international musical artists.

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January

16 January

January

On Friday, the 16th, if you’re interested in a extraordinary and spectacular performance, The Book of Mormon is playing at the Peabody Opera House. If you’re looking for something new and fun to do with the kids, you’ll find me at the 10th Annual Loop Ice Carnival. If you go on Friday, start with Snow Ball Friday at the Moonrise Hotel.

If you go on Saturday, grab the kids and enjoy the free festivities that include live ice carving demonstrations with a chainsaw, ice slides for children, human dog sled races, 5k & 10k frozen buns runs, putt-putt pub crawl, and so much more. Perhaps I’ll grab a beer at Schlafly Bottleworks on Saturday as they are hosting their outdoor winter beer festival, Cabin Fever, on Saturday. Grab some friends and stop by for a round or two of Schlafly’s featured beers and get warmed up for all the evening’s upcoming events. Afterwards, the hilarious Saturday Night Live alum, Kevin Nealon, will be performing at Lumiere Casino on Saturday night. If you’re in the mood for some music, head over to Powell Hall for the STL Symphony Concert: Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony. Hailed for music-making of tremendous emotion, Richard Goode joins the orchestra for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17, while David Robertson leads Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony, a work foreshadowing the compositions of Beethoven. If you have a different taste in music, check out Railroad Earth at The Pageant, with special guests Horseshoes and Hand Grenades.

On Sunday, take a trip over to the Edison Theatre at Washington University for the magnificent performance, Discover DaVinvi & Michaelangelo: Side by Side. Mark Rodgers, Curator of the DaVinci Machines and Michelangelo Exhibitions from the permanent Museum of Leonardo DaVinci in Florence, Italy, will take you on an awe-inspiring journey through the Italian Renaissance as seen through the eyes of these two, monumental geniuses. This original, theater performance is a non-stop, multi-media event featuring movies, videos, 3-D animations, and images of DaVinci and Michelangelo’s inventions, machines, sketches, codices, paintings, and sculptures.

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LIVE WORK PLAY

January

On Monday, the 19th, join UMSL and the St. Louis Community to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance at the Touhill Performing Art Center. Join the speakers, performers, and musicians as we remember the Dreamer and continue to keep that dream alive.

January

On Tuesday, take the kids out for a special night at the Fox Theatre. The Tony Award- winning Broadway musical, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, will delight you with a contemporary take on the classic Cinderella tale. The lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations, and all the moments you love- the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball, plus some surprising new twists!

January

On Wednesday, experience the heart-wrenching story of love, freedom, and survival, as you watch Safe House at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. In 1843 Kentucky, the Pedigrews hold a unique place in their community as free people of color. While one brother has dreams of opening his own business as a cobbler and creating a life for his family, the other risks everything in an effort to help slaves escape.

January

On Thursday, check out the Schlafly Tap Room for Burns’ Night, the celebration of amazing Scottish music, food, and ale on the birthday of Scotland’s native son, poet Robert Burns. Bagpipes, haggis, and Scotch ale abound at this Schlafly tradition. Also on Thursday, The Devil Makes Three will be playing at The Pageant.

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Leonardo DaVinci January

On Friday, get your friends together for some fun competition at the 7th Annual Trivia Night at The Sheldon. The proceeds benefit music education programs. If trivia night isn’t for you, join me for a great cause and get your friends together for Charlie’s Angels Game Night at The St. Louis Masonry Center. The entry fee includes beer, soda, snacks, the delicious Pappy’s BBQ, and tons of fun and prizes if you’re lucky! All proceeds from the event benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I promise you’ll have a good time! You may also be interested in the cuttingedge and exciting Alarm Will Sound performance at The Sheldon Concert

Hall. The chamber orchestra ensemble performs the newest music being composed today with energetic virtuosity and a sense of adventure, creating programs that not only span a wide range of styles, but also innovate the traditional concert experience. Doug Varone and Dancers will be performing two distinct programs on Friday and Saturday night at the Edison Theatre at Washington University. Friday night reveals the creative process of dance as Doug Varone and Dancers puts forth a unique concept of dance for this evening titled Stripped/Dressed.

January

On Saturday, An Evening of Doug Varone and Dancers offers the company’s signature style of style and sly wit, romantic heart and humanity that energizes audiences around the world. You may also want take the kids to Sesame Street LIVE: Let’s Dance! at the Peabody Opera House on Saturday night. The show offers an up-close, interactive experience that includes dance parties. Elmo uses his imagination to ‘Do the Robot,’ Cookie teaches all ‘feets’ to dance, and Ernie shares the fun of dance with Sesame Street favorite “Shake Your Head One Time.” Later in the evening, head over to the St. Louis Art Museum for Vija Celmins: “Intense Realism” Exhibit. The exhibition will include a range of printmaking and drawings by the Latvian-born American artist, including an early expressionist-inspired drawing, Night Forms, and several of her abstracted yet highly detailed prints. Afterwards, check out the Arturo O’Farrill Sextet at Jazz at the Bistro in Grand Center. Arturo O’Farrill is a world-renowned, Grammy Awardwinning pianist, composer, and educator.

January

On Sunday, browse through hundreds of new cars, trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles on display at the 2015 St. Louis Auto Show downtown at America’s Center.

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LIVE WORK PLAY

January

If you’re looking for something to do on Wednesday, the 28th, head to The Sheldon Concert Hall for the breathtaking and intriguing show, Africa. St. Louis Symphony principal percussionist Will James is joined by pianist Peter Henderson and other members of the St. Louis Symphony for music inspired by the rhythms and sounds of Africa.

January

On Friday, Tango Buenos Aires, one of Argentina’s greatest cultural exports, presents another fiery, hypnotic and expressive performance at the Touhill Performing Art Center. Accompanied by musicians from Buenos Aires, the dancers flawlessly execute the Tango with impressively intricate muscular grace and interlacing movements between couples. Dawn Weber, a world-class trumpeter, prolific songwriter, and stylish vocalist, will be performing at Jazz at The Bistro on Friday night as well. On Saturday, make sure to stop by the 2nd Annual Maplewood Sweet Tooth Tour. Take a self-guided tour fueled by sweet treats from Maplewood food purveyors. Sample a tasting of sugary delights including breads, chocolates, pies, donuts, cakes, coffees, and dessert wines. If you aren’t into sweets, heat up your winter at Bud Light Party Centre in Soulard Market Park at the hottest cooking contest of the year- Mardi Gras STL: Cajun Cook-off. Watch as area amateurs and professionals compete for the title of Best Cajun Cuisine in the region. Enjoy the open bar of Bud Light and Southern Comfort Hurricanes, a complimentary Cajun lunch, and live music by the Johnny Henry band. When you’re finally finished with all the amazing food and drinks, head over to the Edward Jones Dome for the thrilling racing and freestyle competitions by monster trucks at Monster Jam,

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January

or check out the Sklar Brothers at The Pageant Saturday night.

Yes, it is certainly going to be another great month in St. Louis. I hope to see you out at some of these fantastic events throughout the month. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. Happy ~Nate Copyright ÂŠ 2014 - All rights reserved.

New Year!

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www.pvmw.org National poetry library and literary center Poets House and New York-based cultural heritage/folk life organization City Lore will be bringing their Poetic Voices of the Muslim World exhibit and programming to the St Louis Public Library system in the spring of 2015.

Bridging Cultures: Poetic Voices of the Muslim World

examines the central role of poetry in the everyday lives of Muslim men and women through three entry points: 1) Themes, such as poetry and identity; poetry and politics; poetry and orality; poetry and conflict resolution; and poetry’s continued oral prominence in music; among others; 2) Poets (from Rumi and MirzaGhalib to contemporary poets from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and North Africa; and 3) Poetic Forms (i.e. the ghazal, the epic, the qasida). The components of the project include a series of public programs; a traveling panel exhibition; and a website (www.pvmw.org) that will contextualize the information provided by the programs and exhibition. Free public programs scheduled to be presented at the St. Louis Public Library starting in April 2015, include Islam and The Blues with The New York Public Library Schomburg Center’s Dr. Sylviane Diouf, Song of the Reed: Rumi presented by Dr. Jawid Mojaddedi with songs and music inspired by the poet by Amir Vahab &amp; his ensemble and The History and Poetics of the Qur’an with noted scholar of Islam Dr. Bruce Lawrence. We hope that you and members of the St. Louis community will be able to attend some of our events, and help us to spread the word about the arrival of Poetic Voices of the Muslim World in your area.

Poets House

10 River Terrace | New York, NY 10282-1240 | (212) 431-7920 | www.poetshouse.org pg.

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SPRING 2015 22

John Jennings Associate Professor Visual Studies SUNY Buffalo tumblr: http://jijennin70. tumblr.com/

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S.L .A .M. St. Louis Art Museum

ART COLLECTIONS

Admission to the Museum is free every day. Hours:

Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm

EXHIBITS

Friday, 10:00 am–9:00 pm

EVENTS Closed Monday

Check out Nick Cave’s Exhibit Going on now through March 8, 2015. For more information CLICK HERE.

w w w. s l a m . o r g One Fine Arts Drive - Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1380 314.721.0072

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BOOK YOUR PRIVATE MEDITATION PARTY! So one of my students is celebrating her birthday next month by sharing the gift of meditation with her girlfriends. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booked a meditation party with me featuring a guided meditation session, energy healing, intuitive readings, food, music, and inspiring conversation with a group of her friends at The Meditation Lounge. What an awesome way to celebrate life!

visit us online for more information.

www.selenaj.com

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Healing the World, Community and Family... One

“Inner Child” at a Time

Healing the World, Community, and Family…One “Inner Child” at a Time by Dr. Tracey McCarthy, Psy.D., DCFC, J.D., M.A. Psychologist, Attorney, Educator Webster University - Legal Studies Department www.drtraceymccarthy.com "There can't be any large-scale revolution until there's a personal revolution, on an individual level....inside first.” - Jim Morrison The Journey of Individual Healing and Collective Wholeness The New Year and the holiday season are always replete with wishes of good cheer and thoughts of peace on earth and goodwill towards all men. As soon as the New Year winds its way towards February, however, we often find ourselves disappointed that the goodwill of the holidays and the budding year have not produced the peace and love on earth for which we have fervently hoped and prayed. Many wonder why constant love, peace, and good cheer seem so elusive when our hope is so well-intended. World healing and world peace seem so simple that its elusiveness eludes us. A challenge with world peace and healing realization is that we fail to see the essential connection between the larger world and our smaller individual lives. We often speak of world healing and world peace, when we rarely even have authentic love, healing, and peace within our own individual bodies, minds, spirits, souls, families, friendships, schools, workplaces, local neighborhoods, and communities. When we are living emotionally, mentally, and spiritually unhealthy individual lives, we cannot expect the larger earth collective to be filled with psychological and spiritual health, peace, and love. Moving closer to world healing and world peace are processes that, therefore, must start with understanding why individual level human wholeness and peace are absent in the first place. This begins by considering what roles our challenges with giving and receiving authentic love tend to play in our difficulties with achieving collective cognitive, emotional, and behavioral healing and peace. The more individually whole and authentically loving we are, the more able we will be to facilitate the healing of our families and communities in the New Year and beyond. What Does It Mean To Authentically Love Someone? …since most of our hurts come through relationships, so will our healing…” - William Paul Young Love is a behavioral manifestation that is prompted by an emotion or a thought. The feelings and thoughts which inspire one to love in action are feelings and thoughts of fondness, strong affection, adoration, tenderness, care, respect, friendship, concern, fondness, devotion, passion, and deep appreciation toward another person. Love in action is preceded by internal sensations of love in one’s heart and mind.

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People are fond of talking about the construct of love and professing supposed sensations and sentiments of the emotion of love, but love is known by its outward manifestation, versus its inner private vibration. Love without concrete action is synonymous with faith without works. Such is basically dead. Love in action is beyond the neurochemical indications of falling in love, which include the brain’s release of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. It is beyond the intense feeling of excitement, loss of appetite and sleep, and the increase in heart rate. It is beyond any unbridled physical copulation that is a frequent outgrowth of the neurochemical indices of “falling in love.” Many think that it is sufficient to have an internal feeling of love or to simply profess love to another, but neither simply feeling love nor professing love represent the full equation of love, which can only be known by concrete action. Words, alone, are insufficient, as the mouth can say anything…and does. When we love, we “behave as love” over a period of sustained duration. To love another human being means to do that which is in the very best interest of that individual, over time. It means to treat one with care and concern, over time. When we love in action, we treat the one who is loved with compassion and empathy. We identify with the individual; we have an attachment to the person. When we love, we find the individual of absolute value versus relative and conditional value. When one loves, one seeks to create safety and security for the one who is loved. When we love, we seek to prompt the joy and wellbeing of another. Love is shown in committed action, over time. In other words, love is revealed by actions indicative of permanency, even in the face of acute or chronic trials and challenges to a human bond. Intuitively, one knows when one is acting in love and when one is authentically being loved. One of the best expository definitions of love in action is found in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. When we love, we are patient with another. When we love, we are kind to another. When we love, we are not envious of another. When we love, we have no need to boast about it. When we love, we are not acting out of ego and pride. When we love, we do not seek to offend or disrespect another. When we love, we are not focused on our own selfish needs and desires to the exclusion of the other. When we love, we are not easily irritated or angered by another. When we love, we are not easily offended by another and we do not keep a tally of all of the person’s wrongs and shortcomings. When we love, we refrain from acting maliciously, spitefully, deceptively, mean, cruel, or uncaring towards another. When we love, we seek to protect another and demonstrate abiding hope in the best in another. It is the absence of authentic love and the masquerading of love in both expression and reception that serve as the foundations of human pain and suffering and the psychological traumas that plague the world, our families, our communities, and our individual beings. When children are not conceived in love, birthed in love, and developed in contexts of authentic love, they have a difficult time with understanding both the feelings of love and the actions of love, in terms of both giving and receiving. They, therefore, often struggle throughout their

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Healing the World cont.

lifetimes to know the peace and harmony that giving and receiving of authentic love engenders. We cannot give what we do not have and we cannot teach or preach what we do not actually know. Infants and children who have, for whatever reason, been deprived of the authentic love of both parents will tend to be developmentally arrested and stuck in infantile and child stages of social and emotional development. Their adult relationships will show this through developmentally immature attachments, relational fears, boundary issues, premature commitments, fear of commitments, and challenges with authentic emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental intimacy. When we know and live true love, we will know and live true peace. True love and peace, however, are not automatic and spontaneous life realities. The road to such tends to involve a process of conscious and concrete healing in action to overcome often long lifetimes of lack and the pain and trauma (in one’s own life and in others) which have accompanied the deprivation of authentic love. We Cannot Heal What We Cannot Admit and Confront “What happens when people open their hearts?"..."They get better.” - Haruki Murakami The fact is that everyone has a deep desire to be whole, happy, and at peace. Every day, every moment, and every New Year bring a new hope for a more whole and fulfilled existence where we move closer to our overall human potential in all areas of life. This tends to come with reflecting on what is right in our lives and what is calling for healing restoration. Revelation leads to restoration. All it takes is a moment of honest reflection to see and admit that we have, collectively, been in a chronic state of unvoiced and unacknowledged human pain and diminished human potential. Some of the pains we have experienced on our human journeys have been so profound and wounding that many feel unable to so much as speak the fact that the hurt exists or that the triggering events ever occurred. People are communally encouraged to bottle up past and present harms and pretend they never transpired. In the alternative, humans are persuaded to minimize the impact of whatever pain has been experienced. This pretending and minimizing begins in infancy and early childhood and persists throughout life and well into old age. Many become experts at burying their emotions as children, as this allows one to divorce oneself from painful inner realities that a child cannot adequately moderate or tolerate. This emotion burying, however, often causes significant problems with the development of self-trust, trust in others, morality, authentic intimacy, self-regard, compassion, and the fullness of one’s humanity. Addictions, in all forms, often grow out of attempts at burying uncomfortable or unbearable thoughts and emotions. When one has not been given the license to engage in emotional honesty and when one has been denied a legitimate outlet for one’s pain, one tends to seek to squelch the honest expression of such in others. Being in misery, some cannot figure out how to support the healing of another.

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Unhealed from their own grief, some may not be able to bear seeing the healing of another in the absence of their own. In doing therapy and psychological evaluations, and simply living life, it has become clear that much of psychological work is tied to human suffering that people have been forced to not only endure but to endure in silence and in illusion. Children and adolescents who are in the throes of painful experiences tend to be very raw and honest about human pain and the trauma of such. Adults, on the other hand, tend to have an armament of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral defenses. These adult defenses serve to shore up the stories adults have told themselves about their earlier trauma experiences that they consciously and unconsciously recapitulate, to the detriment of self and others, in current relations and situations. “We're going to have to let truth scream louder to our souls than the lies that have infected us.” - Beth Moore Instead of honest reflection, truth seeking, and truth giving, we admonish ourselves and others to simply forgive in a quest to actually forget, without taking the time to deeply understand the wounds that have created the need to forgive in the first place. In the push towards perfunctory mercy, we miss the healing that comes from more fully comprehending painful life processes and interactions. The pressure to immediately and thoughtlessly forgive and forget often encourages misplaced accountability and a process of self-deception. This results in the premature covering of psychological injuries which have never been given room to breathe. When this occurs, we promote the very psychological illnesses and pains that cyclically recreate themselves in our human relationships over and throughout time. With so much focus on forgiving and forgetting, we dismiss the bidirectional healing power and essentiality of authentic apology, responsibility acceptance, and repentance from those who have caused harm. Indeed, forgiving has much potency, but rarely will instantaneous and mechanical “forgiving and forgetting,” alone, resolve the individual and systemic hurts that cause the pains that produce the unhealed wounds of human suffering. Consequences of Collective Denial and Delusion “…anger and frustration are the result of you not being authentic somewhere in your life or with someone in your life.” - Jason Mraz The collective desire to forget pain and move quickly beyond the realities of human hurt, result in denial and delusion. A significant challenge in understanding, preventing, and healing community-wide psychological trauma is learning to simply be honest about such. It is what it is. The fact is that all people experience pain and trauma. The fact is that when unaddressed and unhealed, the wounds of trauma fester. The fact is that festering wounds spread. The fact is that without appropriate attention, those festering and unhealed wounds, regardless of how welldressed those wounds happen to be, cause psychological, relational, and communal necrosis.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Healing the World cont.

Unhealed human pain often transforms into physical symptoms and chronic psychological challenges, resulting in cognitive, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, social, and vocational struggles and impairments. Though often downplayed, psychological illness and pain have now reached epidemic proportions, driving more men, women, children, and adolescents than ever into psychotherapy and onto cocktails of psychotropic medications to eradicate, manage, or diminish countless psychological symptoms. Even more individuals, however, turn to alcohol, illicit drugs, foods, shopping, overwork, lying, sex, gambling, television, pornography, drama creation, mind gaming, repetitive relationship destruction, religiosity, other-abuse, the internet, power tripping, self-sabotage, and countless other compulsions to quiet or numb inner and outer experiences of pain and the memories of such. Schools, today, are overwhelmed with children and adolescents with unmet psychological needs and severe emotional and behavioral challenges. Such children are, on a daily basis, frequently confined to isolating school environments. Those pained children and adolescents who manage to stay in mainstream classrooms are often failing miserably in their coursework and in their social skills development with both peers and adults. The same compulsions employed by adults to quiet pain and the memories of such are naively used by children and adolescents at an alarming rate. Some individuals who simply cannot find the means to forgive, forget, heal, apologize, repent, or gain any indicia of inner peace make life choices that result in even more devastating life consequences and trauma. So vast and deep are present day psychological challenges, that many individuals are homeless, imprisoned, prematurely deceased, in foster placements and detention facilities, suicidal, on permanent disability, or simply functioning below their God-bestowed gifting. Trying to stay one step ahead of the pain, they are missing their life callings and living beneath their possibilities, purposes, and potentials. Entire families and communities are, accordingly, missing the immeasurable fruit and gifting of those lost callings. A Tree and Its Fruit: Early Roots of Pain and Trauma Adult psychological illness is, more often than not, simply unresolved and unhealed infant, child, and adolescent psychopathology and suffering. What happens in childhood necessarily makes its way into adult functioning, because adult patterns of functioning are largely cultivated in infancy and childhood, including vulnerability and resilience. Adult psychopathy/sociopathy, depression, psychosis, PTSD, anxiety, alcohol abuse, pathological narcissism, relationship addiction, domestic violence, low self-esteem, underachievement, perpetual victimization or perpetration, compulsivity, bullying, and drug addiction can all be traced to either infantile vulnerabilities or unresolved infantile wounding. Much of what we see as individually and collectively destructive psychopathology is merely the current maladaptive response to earlier maladaptive circumstances. Children who learn maladaptive life strategies in childhood tend to live those maladaptive patterns and courses of action in adulthood. We simply do not â&#x20AC;&#x153;do as we are toldâ&#x20AC;? but, instead, we do as we have seen and have lived. continued page 38. pg.

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Healing the World cont.

“Home is Where the Needle Marks Try to Heal My Broken Heart” – Gil Scott-Heron Socially and politically conscious spoken word artist Gil Scott-Heron used music to explore issues of human existentialism. On his Pieces of a Man album, he examined the unfathomable hopelessness that grew out of his overall “home” environment and the toll such took on his entire life. “Home” for Gill Scott-Heron was “Where the Hatred Is.” “Home” for Gil Scott-Heron, and many others, was not an arc of safety, but a human space of trials, trepidation, and trauma. We cannot escape the fact that if much of psychological illness, pain, and trauma is rooted in childhood such is also concomitantly rooted in the environment of “home,” parenting processes, and the birth family. Positively or negatively, we are fundamentally molded by the craftsmanship of our parents. Our mothers and fathers are our first “homes” and some of those “homes” have been so pain-filled that many find “needle marks” the only way to heal their sad and “broken hearts.” It is only the exceptional parent, however, who openly and honestly embraces this reality. Parents tend to shine when talking about the positive lives their children are leading. In fact, parents are very quick to take responsibility and accept public accolades for the noble attributes and accomplishments of their children. They are not, however, very quick to accept equal accountability for children gone awry. A parent cannot, however, be personally responsible for positive child outcomes while insisting on a communal diffusion of responsibility for less than constructive child, adolescent, and adult trajectories. All children are fruit of the collective parental trees from which they have emerged and grown. Much of childhood psychological trauma and pain grows out of situations where children have been birthed into less than appropriate “home” circumstances and contexts. A chronically depressed, chronically anxious, actively psychotic, rage-filled, psychopathic, substance abusing, self-hating, borderline, domestically violent, or pathologically narcissistic parent is a less than appropriate life circumstance for a child to be born into. An unstable parental union, abject poverty, and severe communal violence are less than optimal contexts for a child to thrive in. Delusion and political correctness, however, tell people otherwise. When considering parenting, one needs to reflect on whether they and the potential co-parent are truly equipped - on a basic level - to healthily parent a child. Are both parents emotionally, mentally, and physically stable and available? Are both parents sufficiently mature? Are both parents financially able to shoulder the diverse and ongoing costs associated with properly caring for a child? Can both parents be the nourishing and life affirming “home” a child needs? While there are no perfect children, communities, countries, or parents, many who have elected to be parents, or who have stumbled upon such a vocation, should simply not be. Such individuals create broken hearts which eventually lead to various forms of needle marks. When you add an unstable mother, who is either emotionally, physically, or sexually abusive, boundary violating, or neglectful with an emotionally or physically unavailable or abusive father, the children of such a union have a higher than average likelihood of being highly unstable and

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vulnerable to childhood, adolescent, and adult psychopathology in varying degrees. Such individuals tend to have higher than average rates of depression, anxiety, Cluster B personality disorders (Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Histrionic Personality Disorder), and disruptive behavior disorders of childhood (Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity). Many who are parents or who seek to become parents are, themselves, traumatized psychological “infants” and “children” who are barely eking out a life for themselves. Everyone is not equipped to be a salubrious “home” for children. Some individuals are so hurt and unhealed that their energies should, instead, be focused on re-parenting themselves and healing the damaged infant or “child within” their own beings. Regardless of the best of intentions, parents who are psychological “infants” and “children” cannot healthily and adaptively parent actual infants and children. This is because such parents are often latently trying to find and capture the adaptive parenting they, themselves, were deprived. When one is already a parent - when one should be, instead, focusing on re-parenting of the self such an individual needs to honestly search their heart and soul for the presence of wounding and the outgrowths of such. One needs to examine the manner in which one’s own childhood wounding currently impacts one’s self care, one’s psychological health, one’s relationships, and one’s parenting. After that examination, one needs to begin to explore ways to address the lingering pain and trauma that results in a less than optimal life and less than optimal parenting. The New Year is an ideal time for such healing reflection and action planning. Many parents are latently or manifestly depressed and guilt-ridden over the parenting choices they have made and the harm that has been visited upon their children by the parent’s life choices. Those choices may include the selection of an inappropriate or hurtful mother or father for their children, physical neglect, emotional neglect, educational neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, abandonment, rage-filled actions, exposure to adult domestic violence, exposure to adult substance abuse, exposure to parental adultery, and exposure to traumatizing parental psychopathology. Without diminishing personal parental responsibility for any harms caused by parental choices, parents need to understand that harmful parenting choices are often rooted in a parent’s own experiences of unhealed pain and childhood trauma. When taking full ownership of one’s parental choices, one must create concrete processes to remedy the choices that they have made, and continue to make, that serve their children less than well. As hard as it may be, parents in these situations must find a way to simultaneously do what is best for the children they have created and for themselves. They must engage in the potentially overwhelming task of re-parenting themselves while simultaneously and adaptively parenting their children. They must make choices – sometimes, very hard ones - that place their children (who did not ask to be born) first and foremost.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Healing the World cont.

Parents who are hurting cannot wait until they have adaptively parented their children to reparent themselves. Likewise, they cannot re-parent themselves while their children sit on the sidelines waiting to be parented. The process must happen simultaneously and by whatever means are necessary for the tasks. Instead of being burdened with choice-based guilt, parents should seek freedom, self-healing, and child-healing through humble, diligent, and patient soul searching. That soul searching should include soul-level apology to the child for parental wrong choices and harms. It should also include an acknowledgement of past, current, and future accountability and a plan for true repentance. Along with offering an apology, parents must directly ask for forgiveness for harms caused. In other words, the parental recognition of less than healthful parenting and related harm to the child should be met with open and direct acknowledgement of the harm. This should be followed by concrete acts in furtherance of healthful change and healing for the child, regardless of the child’s age or developmental level. Parents of adult children must develop ways to help their adult children heal from their childhood “home” traumas, and such generally must occur at the expense of the parent’s later life convenience. When parents work to facilitate the healing of an adult child of harm childhood hurt created by the parent, such will serve to help with the parent’s own healing. Parental excuses of “Well, I did my best.” or “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” will do nothing towards the authentic healing of the parent or the child of any age. These defenses simply sound like parental excuse making and shirking of true responsibility for choices. Such attitudes and protestations function to minimize the harm done to the child, while sending the message that whatever abuse or harm occurred was acceptable and the “best” the child deserved. Failing to take full apologetic responsibility for parenting choices that harm children also functions to encourage the hurting parent to dismiss their own childhood wounding under the fallacy of their parents having done their hurtful “best.” If “hurt” is the “best” a person can imaginably do in relation to their child (or others), such is a profound testament to the pervasiveness of pain metastasizing throughout the parental mind and spirit. Some parents can only give hurt and neglect because that is the bulk of what they really know from their own glossed over and whitewashed childhood “home” experiences. When grandparents have to shoulder the bulk of responsibility and custody for grandchildren, such often serves as an indication of long-ignored or minimized childhood pain and trauma of the actual parent. Many sing the praises of tired and overwhelmed grandparents for stepping in and parenting grandchildren when the parents are ill-prepared to do so. This often occurs in situations of severe parental mental illness and/or severe and chronic substance abuse. In these cases, we tend to see the grandparents as self-sacrificing parental icons, pillars of the community, and saviors of the children that parents have forgotten. The fact is that the same self-sacrificing grandparents of today were often the less than authentically loving and self-sacrificing parents of yesterday. Had many of the absent and

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abandoning parents been parented and authentically loved according to their own developmental needs, it is highly likely that many grandparents would not be called upon to do the generational double duty in which they are pulling in relation to their grandchildren. These grandparents, likely, have their own childhood trauma and hurt to heal from. Children: Heal Thyself “All children should be taught to...accept, approve, admire, appreciate, forgive, trust, and ultimately, love their own person." - Asa Brown Clearly, if we want to be as individually and communally functional as possible, child health and healing must be a communal focus and an individual life priority. Not every parent, however, is going to feel capable of working on their own healing and that of their children, particularly adult children. Not every parent will be interested in healing themselves, their children, or their communities. Not every parent will have the cognitive or emotional wherewithal to heal themselves or their children. Hurting children (regardless of age), therefore, cannot simply wait for parental healing to occur to get their own healing. As soon as a child is old enough to understand the concept of hurt and healing, a child should be encouraged to engage in self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-healing. This can be encouraged and facilitated by a parent, a family member, a minister, a teacher, a counselor, or even a peer. As hard as it may be for an abused or neglected child, adolescent, or adult to understand or deal with the actuality of childhood psychological pain and trauma, a wounded child must be honest with the self about the truth of their lives. This self-awareness is crucial because parents rarely acknowledge the harms they cause. The child must, however, learn to see beyond a parent’s attempts at self-preservation at the emotional and spiritual expense of the child. Both young and adult children must come to understand, deep in their souls, that their value does not come from someone else’s estimation of their God-bestowed human worth. This includes erroneous estimations from, sometimes, less than well-meaning parents (and teachers). When a parent fails to love a child, a child must find ways to healthily love the self and acknowledge the reality of the parent’s maladaptive functioning. As difficult as it may be, a child must strive to refrain from self-harm and subtle or blatant self-sabotage in a quest to pay the parent and the neglectful world back for the child’s suffering. Hurting young and adult children must also come to understand that maltreatment by a parent does not speak to what a child actually deserved. It only speaks to what the parent elected to give. In healing from hurt or resisting such, children, adolescents, and adults who are on a healing path need to internalize the fact that they are human and worthy of dignity and nurturance. When the parent has not bestowed such, a child, adolescent, or adult must find ways to healthily affirm the self in the absence of full parental affirmation. Such children must also internalize that while

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Healing the World cont.

abuse, neglect, or abandonment may have been “normal” for the parent, such is pathological and should not be revered, minimized, or ever repeated. Children of all ages must learn to speak truth to power within, even when power without will not listen or acknowledge the child’s experiential reality. “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” -Walt Disney Company Authentic “Love Covers a Multitude of Sins” and Heals the Deepest Wounds From the womb, humans are hardwired to both give and receive love, to nurture and to be nurtured. In early life, if we do not receive the type and amount of love we require from parents and caregivers, we develop a distorted mental schema of the true nature of love and our ability to healthily give and receive love often becomes impaired. This tends to result in getting into personal and professional relationships with less than loving and healthful individuals. It also tends to result in having children we are ill-prepared to parent or following vocational and social paths where we spread more pain than joy, for both ourselves and others. While the process of healthy love may become impaired for a season of life, such is not completely beyond all repair. “Beauty for ashes” is more than a religious platitude; such is an ever-possible psycho-spiritual healing reality. “Was it hard?" I ask. "Letting go?" "Not as hard as holding on to something that wasn't real.” - Lisa Schroeder The sooner we recognize a love wound or love fallacy in ourselves or others and take decisive steps towards correction, the sooner we come to individual and collective healing. Learning how to authentically give and receive love or re-learning how to give and receive love does not occur by osmosis, however; it takes desire and effortful action. It, sometimes, takes considerable effort to simply admit to the self the depth and breadth of unhealthy early love messages and experiences. This, in and of itself, can be a frightening undertaking, as entertaining the idea that what a parent did was not love may trigger inaccurate feelings of unworthiness. Some of the parenting that people have received involved rejection, game playing, discarding, manipulation, deception, devaluation, boundary violations, degradation, triangulation, and various push-pull dynamics. The possible negative outgrowth requires that one remain ever clear that the parent’s issues and challenges were the parent’s issues and challenges and such just happened to spill over into the child’s life reality. (Such youthful or adult gaining of clarity, of course, tends to be easier said than done.) When one is able to be honest with oneself regarding early confusing experiences and unhealthy or hurtful early messages, one has a more genuine foundation for healing change. Again, the New Year is a wonderful time to begin the journey of healing change.

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“…transform the suffering into a creative force.” - Martin Luther King Jr. Efforts towards healing change might include journaling, creative arts, reading on the subject of love or parenting, conversing with others regarding authentic love, engaging in talk counseling or art therapy, praying accompanied by performing, creating healthy physical and emotional boundaries, eating well, practicing open, direct, and honest communication, lovingly confronting one who has caused harm, participating in psycho-educational groups, observing those who are known to healthily parent and love, authentically apologizing for harms caused to others, taking alone time, practicing love behaviors, practicing love languages, listening to the self, embracing life and love affirming music, acknowledging hurtful and healing emotions, and practicing giving yourself the love you would like to receive from others. Your life is a trajectory. Every choice you make alters that trajectory, in a positive or negative way.” - Donald Van de Mark While there are many possible healing things to do on the journey, there are, likewise, many things to avoid. This includes staying away from, and limiting interactions with, those who seek to cause you emotional or physical pain (consciously or unconsciously). One needs to keep away from situations of potential boundary violation. It is, likewise, helpful to steer clear of situations and conversations which trigger unhealthy “love” and relational patterns and internal dialogues. One should also work towards avoiding movies, music, and other art forms that devalue any part of one’s identity or which perpetuate trauma. Healing the “Outer Child” One of the most profound activities on a healing journey is to give a pained, traumatized, or struggling child some form of love that the child is missing. When we know a child who is suffering, we owe it to the child and to our local and world communities to find ways to concretely show forth love to that child. (Love might be shown by giving food, clothing, shelter, school supplies, a listening ear, a smile of affirmation, a kind and encouraging word, or protective intervention.) This serves as a bidirectional healing process. This child might, in fact, be one’s own child, a niece, a nephew, or a child on the street. We must give children a reason to desire alternatives to self-harm, psychopathy, depression, psychosis, PTSD, anxiety, alcohol abuse, drug and other addiction, aggression, school, home, and vocational failure, and repeated child maltreatment with future children. Even the smallest gesture may loom large and lasting in the heart of the child. We Are Each Other’s Keepers While many can share testimonies of personal resilience and the surmounting of private challenges and tragedies, it is the rare human being who can completely overcome pathogenic infancies and childhoods and come out unscathed in adolescence and adulthood. Quite

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Healing the World cont.

frankly, I have never met such an uninjured individual. (Hence, one reason why we need to be patient with one another as we journey through life.) Regardless of what psychology likes to believe of itself as a discipline and a healthcare science, changing maladaptive lifelong patterns, healing psychological pain, and moving beyond long-minimized trauma is a daunting endeavor for any individual. For this reason, prevention is better than any attempt at cure. It is also for this reason that greater communal focus needs to be placed on de-glorifying teen sexuality, preventing teen pregnancy, developing community-wide parenting education classes, creating and supporting healthy and adaptive twoparent families, preventing pregnancy by those who are substance abusing, supporting family preservation for incarcerated parents and their children, eradicating homelessness among families with children, and supporting primary custody for functional, available, and adaptive fathers in situations where single mothers are too traumatized or overwhelmed to effectively parent. We need to also concentrate on providing creative and “as needed” psychological health services in all communities and creating community-wide professional development programs aimed at teacher and workplace psychological health development and awareness. Undoubtedly, we can create increased healing and peace throughout the earth, albeit at the same rate that we create such healing and peace within individuals, families, and communities. While we are, indeed, called to be each other’s keepers, we must first learn to be more loving, peace-filled, health-focused, and affirming keepers of our own individual selves, regardless of our childhood “homes.” As we seek to heroically heal the world, we must, at the same time, heal our own “inner children” who co-create our current hurting world. Our individual and collective “home” beginnings do not have to dictate our middles or our endings.

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VerbQuake 2015 A new season of VerbQuake kicks off on Martin Luther King, Day on January 19th with a high school slam at UrbArts in Crown Square. Up to 16 participating high schools will get poetry slam coach who’ll facilitate weekly meetings onsite. During the season teens will strengthen their writing and public speaking using poetry and public spoken word performance techniques. VerbQuake is currently setting up monthly meetings and poetry slam demonstrations. To get your school involved, email info@urbarts.org for more information. VerbQuake 2015 is made possible by support from Missouri Arts Council, Regional Arts Commission, Deaconess Foundation & UrbArts.

Event times Weekly Writing Workshops

UrbSLAM VerbQuake Tour (January) 

30-60 minute performance featuring top 10 ranked team



Weekly writing, performance & revision workshops begins week of 1/19

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16—20 high school tour

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Feedback on poetry

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Poetry workshop follows

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Mentoring and coaching

VerbQuake 2015 Season

VerbQuake Tourney (Registration Required)



Slams: 1/19 @ 1 pm | 2/28 @ 3:00 pm | 3/28 @ 3:00 pm

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Preliminary: Fri Apr 3, Sat Apr 4th | 5pm—9pm | Crown Square

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All slams at UrbArts | 2600 N. 14th St, 63106

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Semifinal: Sat Apr 11th, 1pm—5 pm | UrbArts

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16 Schools, 16 Coaches

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Indie Grand Slam: Fri Apr 17, 6 pm | Team Grand Slam: Sat Apr 18, 3pm

For more info: UrbArts.org|info@UrbArts.org|314-621-3551

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Freedom Celebration The Dream Marches On

At the

St. Louis Art Museum

Friday, January 16, 2015 7:00 pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;8:30 pm The Farrell Auditorium @ The St. Louis Art Museum

FREE The Saint Louis Art Museum invites you to its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Celebration. The tragedy of Ferguson reminds us that Dr. Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dreams have yet to be realized. Join us for a remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march that ultimately led to the passage of the 1965 voting rights act. Keynote speaker, Sam Walker, historian and founding board member of the National Voting Rights Museum, will share his personal stories as a Selma civil rights activist, including his participation in the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday at the age of 11 years old.

w w w. s l a m . o r g

Program will also include: Civil Rights Photographs by Moneta Sleet, Jr. & Gospel Music Performance

One Fine Arts Drive - Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1380 314.721.0072 pg.

“Acting White”

Share your Story Dear friends: I have been asked to write a chapter in a book that will address colorism in education. My chapter will focus on “acting white.” Specifically, when I was growing up, I was a “smart” student. My top performance in school, doing homework, raising my hand to answer questions, etc. often drew the accusation from my African American classmates and friends that I was “acting white.” Now, I know there are psychologists out there who say this is not true and does not exist. But alas, it was absolutely true for me. I have written about this in past works. I will do so again for this new book. I do know that many young folks today who continue to have such allegations hurled at them so feel free to share this email with whoever and have folks email me directly. I did a survey on this very question about 7 years ago and the results were consistent with my experiences decades ago. I’d like to update my earlier survey. I would love to hear from anyone out there who has a similar/related story either involving yourself or someone you know. I would like to include your story in the chapter. I will conceal your identity if you request. Do you have a story to share? If so, please email to me at: norwood@wulaw.wustl.edu. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead Kimberly Norwood , Professor of Law | Washington University School of Law Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

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MK Stallings

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34-40 NIV

We seek to impact the world with the love of Christ one life at a time! Hopelessness and desperation are on the rise in a world where the greatest segment of the population possesses the least amount of resources. We need your help! Please help us fight this epidemic by sending your tax deductible donations/contributions to: For His Glory Ministries of St. Louis P.O. Box 1942 Maryland Heights, MO. 63043 http://calvarychapelslc.com/homeless-ministry/ For other ways in which you can help please contact Pamela Ford at pamelaford98@gmail.com or 314-216-0744. pg.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Re-envisioning Voter Regis In Our Comm

Piece by

PIECE A

merican high schools traditionally have annual honors and awards ceremonies that recognize students for academics, athletics, and other achievements. Citizenship falls into the “other” achievements category. But, often citizenship awards are given, for “good character” and “personality,” which are subjective decisions and do not include everyone. Citizenship awards can be given to all students who have fulfilled the civic responsibility of registering to vote. This responsibility begins for all citizens who reach the age of seventeen and a half. The new recognition category can be classified as “civic responsibility and voting”.

to vote. Today, people remain vigilant as the right to vote continues to be under siege. Many states across the country are trying to limit or take away the right to vote in the most insidious ways, such as in the passage of voter ID laws. I believe that when the importance of voting and its impact on the community is understood by the entire community, you will no longer hear the age old comment of “my vote doesn’t count”. The inclusion of the civic responsibility and voting award in high schools might be more successful and universal if local board of elections and school districts work cooperatively to ensure that all students are educated about voting. If this activity cannot take Re-envisioning the concept of youth, voter registration can place within schools, local civil rights, peace and justice or youth organizations can take on the responsibility. There are several be challenging. However, I believe that this can be done by incorporating the recognition of civic responsibility and voting into organizations like kidsvotingmissouri.org designed to get children high school honors and awards programs. Yes! Students should (k-12) involved in voting. However, I did not find any programs be honored and recognized for the single act of registering to designed to recognize all students who had fulfilled the civic vote. This elevates the importance of voting before the entire responsibility of registering to vote. community; family, peers, clergy, community leaders, etc. Registering to vote, becomes a rite of passage that embodies An engaged and informed voting population empowers and one of the most cherished and empowering acts of citizenship. strengthens the community. Informing parents about the new award category, civic responsibility and voting, is essential. It can inspire The turbulent legacy of voting in this country cannot be and motivate parents to ensure that their teenager registers to vote. understated. People have protested, fought and died for the right It can also provide an opportunity for parents to examine their own pg.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youth, strationâ&#x20AC;? munities,

attitudes concerning voting. Finally, families can be proud that their children are honored at school for something that the entire community values. In re-envisioning our communities, everyone has to be included, honored and convinced they are valued. We need to create programs and activities that are open and nurturing to all members of every community. No one should be left behind. Today we live in communities that reflect otherwise.

Cheryl Holland

Librarian, Washington University in St. Louis

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

ART OF FOOD

My hope is that this article, and future ones, reach the foodies, food lovers that like to experiment, the folks who just want/need help + tips. We’ll explore healthy alternatives, twists on traditional dishes and introduce new ingredients to experiment with. Since I was 7 or 8 years old, becoming a chef and a restaurateur has been my dream. On March 28, 2014, I graduated from culinary school with honors, (#CertifiedChefInTheHouse lol). This accomplishment has given me the recognition of my peers as well as my solid background. I have worked in catering, an upscale pizzeria, a bakery/ café that specialized in vegan + vegetarian cuisine. Since graduation I have been working in a fine dining restaurant. It is a blessing when yourdreams sstart becoming your reality. With all of that being said… I’ll be sharing some of my own personal recipes, techniques, tips, ideas and recipes that I’ve fallen in love with over the years. I am the queen of taking recipes and making them my own. So please feel free to do the same with recipes that I may post. Just make sure you comment and tell us what you did differently, so we can try it too. This first time out let’s try something simple but delicious: Homemade Biscuits. My 1st semester in culinary school, I tried this version out and it was a class hit. I’m sure everyone has their perfect biscuit recipe or at least a mental picture of what they should taste like. I promise this recipe is sure to please. Even though at times I’ll gravitate towards the canned biscuits or the mix out of the box, once you try this recipe, there will be no comparison.

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Ingredients: Yields 1 dozen 3 cups All-Purpose Flour 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar (You can add more depending on your taste buds) ¾ tsp Kosher Salt 1 Tbsp+½ tsp Baking Powder ¾ tsp Cream of Tartar ¾ cup Butter, Cold & Cubed 1 ea Egg, beaten 1 C + 2 Tbsp Milk Directions: Preheat your oven to 425°F. In a chilled bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cream of tartar. Gradually cut in (incorporate) the cubes of butter. In a separate bowl, whisk egg &amp; milk together. Add the egg and milk mixture into the dry ingredients; stir until just moistened. On a floured surface, begin to knead the dough 10 to 15 times. (Be careful to not overwork.) Roll the dough out to approximately 1-inch thickness. At this point if you have any biscuit or plain round cookie cutters, now is the time to pull them out &amp; dust them off. If you don’t have either, find a glass whose mouth is similar to the size of your desired biscuit and begin cutting the dough. Place biscuits on a greased baking sheet, any size you have will work. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until they’re golden brown. Serve hot. **Optional: Brush biscuits with melted butter, before and after they are baked. *Serving options: with sausage gravy, bacon gravy (time to try beef bacon maybe), sweet or savory compound butter, marmalade, compote, etc. You can even turn theminto breakfast sandwiches! You’ll stop making those trips to your favorite fast food place.

Home Made Biscuits

Bon Appétit,

Doré

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Léna O. A. Jackson St. Louis, MO Culinary Arts Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

A House

Yet

D/v/ded!

By: Bernie Hayes Some believe the general hysteria and paranoia that pervade the police, the media and the general public, is counter-productive, but countless others will disagree. Fannie Lou Hamer said “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired’, but what some don’t remember is another one of her speeches that included ‘whether you have a Ph.D., or no D, we’re in this bag together. And whether you’re from Morehouse or No house, we’re still in this bag together. There is one thing you have got to learn about our movement. Three people are better than no people. Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.’

Rodney King once asked ‘can’t we all just get along?’ I guess the obvious answer is no. The negotiators and protesters in Ferguson, Berkeley and across the country declare they will continue with an ongoing effort to gain a clear and permanent guarantee of privileges for their groups, such as civilian oversight of law enforcement agencies, and fair and equal treatment under the law. And jobs with inclusion to apprenticeship programs, membership in labor unions and equal pay. Emmeline Pankhurst thought “You have to make more noise than anybody else, you have to make yourself more obtrusive than anybody else, you have to fill all the papers more than anybody else, in fact you have to be there all the time and see that they do not snow you under, if you are really going to get your reform realized”. The marchers’ numbers vary from time to time but they insist they are not going anywhere until justice is served. Margaret Mead put it in a few words “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Although African Americans have overcome countless barricades, racism and discrimination still exists in our lives today. There were many evils and tribulations that African Americans faced in the pre-civil rights era, some of which still exist in today’s society. We have come a long way but we however live with the hardships that once were the norm in this Land of the Free. In 1957 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said “It’s good to be in St. Louis, for I’m happy to see the progress that has been made and that is being made in the area of human relations. In a quiet and dignified manner, integration has moved on amazingly well and this city is to be commended. Certainly the Deep, the cities in the Deep South have a great deal to learn from a city like St. Louis. It proves that integration can be brought into being without a lot of trouble that it can be done smoothly and peacefully. This city is to be commended for that. Well here we are 57 years later and Dr. King’s dream for the St. Louis area has not been fulfilled. Although racial strife is nowhere near the levels of the 1960s and 1970s, racial intolerance and racial inequality have not fully ended. Racial discrimination and police brutality is an ongoing reality in the lives of African Americans as shown by the continuing demonstrations in Ferguson, Berkeley, St. Louis, New York, Oakland and other cities across the nations. Dr. King also said” Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. I therefore concur with you in your call for negotiation. Too long has our beloved Southland been bogged down in a tragic effort to live in monologue rather than dialogue.

Happy New Year……………………….or will it be?

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Art of Healing

Your Ad or Article could be here!

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Featured

Photography

Submission

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Jerren McKenny, Photographer

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Jerren Photography Website | Blog | 314.775.3137 pg.

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Jerren Photography Website | Blog | 314.775.3137 pg.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Jerren Photography Website | Blog | 314.775.3137 pg.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

***Please share this announcement with emerging and developing poets and fiction writers.***

CALLALOO is now accepting applications for the 2015 CALLALOO CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP, which will be hosted by the Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice at Brown University, May 31-June 13, 2015. We invite submissions of poetry or fiction for admission consideration for this intensive two-week workshop in Providence, Rhode Island. VIEVEE FRANCIS (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/vievee-francis), RAVI HOWARD (http://www.ravihoward.com/), MAAZA MENGISTE (http:// maazamengiste.com/), and GREGORY PARDLO (http://pardlo.com/) will serve as the 2015 workshop leaders. Applications must be submitted online at http://callaloo.expressacademic.org/login. php no later than February 15, 2015. Each application must consist of a brief cover letter and writing sample (no more than five pages of poetry or twelve pages of prose fiction). To complete and submit your application, go to http://callaloo.tamu. edu/node/232 For additional information, email (callaloo@tamu.edu) or call (979-458-3108). CALLALOO Journal, CALLALOO Journal of African Diaspora editor

Coming Soon!

ART

The of FOOD Contact us to have your submission included.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

In addition to providing exemplary academics, New City School is actively committed to teaching students to understand, respect, and appreciate others, both in our classrooms and in the world. New City was founded on a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and this remains a core value of our school. We believe that success in school directly correlates with success in life. To learn more about us, join us for an open house that celebrates diversity at New City School on Thursday, January 8th, 2015, from 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 PM. RSVP (required) at 314-361-6411 or online at www.newcityschool.org.

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AAA Insurance Sales The Road to Success Starts Here

WE’RE HIRING! If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about our AAA Insurance Sales Agent opportunities, apply online at AAA.com/careers or call Insurance Business Manager Chris Raymond at (314) 862-8021 ext. 103

AAA offers the following: ✓ Pension plan and employer-matched 401(k) ✓ Forgivable draw plus commission ✓ Rewarding career advancement opportunities ✓ Excellent benefits package ✓ Paid sick/vacation and holidays

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

State Celebration Commission of Missouri

of t n e i ecip iven r e h as t ng g i e b ard is ontinuing s w a c r’ he a s t T i e . y r d o s war nd f nts. Thi a A s e t c ervi ievemen itme ling”. S m y t i m mun erful ach s and co for Hea m o nd 5C eal me o i 1 d i T 0 w s 2 ’ s A ’ ge ted ear iong, Jr d c t Y n E e c i l s ’ z K A e ding n z s r n o o a t e i s a J t h s a d t s s h out mmi on of The Martin Lu ers Calle o C ion s i s d . t i i r a the n m Le og ify D om 6:30 C t a e t in rec exempl Emerging 015 . Sta o r “ 2 t J , s , i s 0 t g e Kin effor ary 1 r u them e n h t a Lu g y, J n n i i a t r d g r a d u owle the Dr. M y on Sat ditorium. n k c au rsit cly a nted at e i n l i v i b a n u m ard, p l be prese e State U iversity’s w a ow t Un The ice, wil S e s h i t r r v n ser t Ha .m. i a p n o www.thejazzedge.com i at r b e l Ce pg. 72

z z a J he

a r t s e rch

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Monthly Timebanking 101

MEET-UP Saturday, January 13, 2015 11 am - 1 pm Schlafly Library 225 N. Euclid / 63108

WATCH NOW!

The Cowry Collective is a Beautiful

Solution

Strengthening community through TIMEBanking Blog | Facebook! | Join: www.thecowrycollective.org

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Sister's Keeper Products

Natural Hair & Skin Care

We have created an all natural, emollient-rich, and affordable product line. Our products are created using the most effective ingredients to nourish, rebuild, repair and rejuvenate hair and skin. Some of the items we offer are: Dream Whip Body Butter Dip Hair & Body Moisturizer Exfoliating Brown Sugar Body Scrub Brahmi & Rhassoul Conditioning Masque Goats Milk Soap Whipped Soap Frosting Raw Organic African Black Soap Cocoa Honey Deep Conditioner Penetrating Hair & Body Glaze Sister's Keeper Sunburst Shampoo Bar Totally Twisted Styling Custard Happy Hair Leave-In Conditioner We also offer a bi-monthly subscription service.

Contact us Website: www.sisterskeeper.biz Email: customerservice@sisterskeeper.biz Find us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest @SistersKeeperProducts

Twitter @sisterskeeper11

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Art by:

Kenneth Calvert Ken Calvert draws on diverse artistic influences to make bold statements about a broad range of subjects that include slavery, African history, poverty and African American culture. His main source of inspiration is his immediate environment. Calvert’s work exhibits an enriched background in the visual arts, with expertise as illustrator, painter, graphic designer, and muralist. His style is a blend of academic traditions and Abstract Expressionism. He crosses traditional genres to challenge the notion that versatility equates to inconsistency. Calvert is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Education: BFA, Art History, Lindenwood University, St. Charles, MO Selected Exhibitions: 10th Street Gallery, St. Louis, MO Beach Institute, Savannah, GA Portfolio Gallery, St. Louis, MO Chosen Image Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Philip Slein Gallery, St. Louis, MO Howard University, Blackburn Gallery, Washington, D.C. Washington University, Bixby Gallery, St. Louis, MO Selected Commissions: “Ndumba Tembo” Anheuser Busch “Kings and Queens of Africa” series “Cornerstones of Courage and Culture” Mural St. Louis, City Hall. Http://www.kennethcalvert.com http://kennethcalvert.imagekind.com/store/ pg.

Featured

Artist

Submission

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#artstodayEZ pg.

Imperial Steps:

St. Louis’ Own Swing Dance

The “rock ‘n’ roll” mania of the 1950s and ‘60s created new dance styles for music fans to connect to the beat with their feet. In St. Louis, it was the Imperial, a swing dance style that is definitely a hometown original. The Imperial maintains an avid following today, most notably through several local dance clubs committed to preserving and passing down this fun and footwork for future generations. The Imperial evolved from the Jitterbug of the Big Band era into a fusion of East and West Coast swing dance styles. It is a couples “fast” dance with a few basic patterns spawning hundreds of creative moves including wraps, turns and spins. The once rotational dance developed into a rectangular alignment where the dancers move back and forth in a “slot” – the distinguished feature of the Imperial. The dance style originated at the Club Imperial owned by George Edick on West Florissant Avenue at Goodfellow Boulevard. Edick purchased the dance club in 1952 and later featured the rock ‘n’ roll bands and performers of the era. Over the years, local headliners included Chuck Berry. Ike and Tina Turner. Little Milton, the Aerovons and Bob Kuban. “Teen Night” held on Tuesdays featured local teenagers who created their own version of swing dancing to the latest rock ‘n’ roll hits. Their new dance style took the name of the club – the Imperial. Edick created a local TV show called Party Time to spotlight performers and dancers each week. Nationally the Imperial dance style is well-known among swing dancers as St. Louis’ own unique brand.

Reprinted with permission from Famous Firsts of St. Louis: A Celebration of Facts, Figures, Food & Fun by Diane Rademacher. Copies available at more than 30 locations throughout St. Louis. To find a locaton near your, visit the Famous First Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/famousfirstsofstlouis You can also order by emailing firststl@aol.com. Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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SG E modeling agency

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Talent can get you there, but character will keep you there!

As we enter a new year, we at ESG MODELING AGENCY, are filled with a true humility and honor to be able to enter a new season and fulfill our God given talents and dreams. Being a Christian based agency that started in St. Louis, our journey has not been easy by far. We have built a company from the ground up, that not only exhibits the Love of Christ, but is determined to continue to exhibit strong faith and obedience even in the darkest times of our career. To start a company in the beginning of the recession when... gases prices continued to sky rocket, banks frowned at small business loans, real estate was shaking ground and the doors of fellow businesses and big corporations closed- was nothing short of miracle. Then, to expand to 5 major cities within 5 years was beyond our dreams and evidence that we can do all things through Christ which strengthen us! As we step into new territory, we have been blessed enough to meet so many wonderful and talented people that have been praying for the right organization or platform for their career. When God connects us with those individuals... Makeup Artist, Models, Hairstylist, Designers, Fashion Stylist, Boutiques, Interns, etc. the final outcome is always phenomenal! Due to the expansion we are adding more professionals to our roster. Join us in St. Louis, Atlanta and Houston for our biggest job fair/ casting call in the history of our organization. We are looking for models, fashion designers/stylist, actors, actresses, professional makeup artist and hairstylist, volunteers, interns, sponsors, host, Djs, photographers, caterers, vendors, performers, christian musicians and other small businesses. The event will be in St. Louis on Saturday, January 10th (for models, actors, actresses, fashion designers/stylist) Sunday, January 11th (for all other Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

professionals and businesses) from 7-8:30pm at Flex Studio located at 3139 (A) South Grand suite 201, St. Louis, MO 63118. Special Note: The St. Louis division has a great need for God fearing and talented Makeup Artists that are interested in traveling for their career. If that is you or you know someone that may be interested please pass this information along. We hope to see you there! God bless! ***The date for Atlanta is tentatively scheduled for February 2015 and Houston is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2015. For future updates on these division email us at esgmodelingagency@ yahoo.com.***

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

(Philippians 4:13 KJV)

Article written by: Kimberly Marie Company ESG MODELING AGENCY Images by: AG photography

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Facebook: ESG Modeling Agency Twitter: @ESGModeling pg.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

St. Louis

ART MUSEUM The Saint Louis Art Museum will host its annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Celebration on Friday, January 16 at 7:00 pm in The Farrell Auditorium. The Art Museum’s Freedom Celebration is inspired by more than 100 spectacular photographs in its collection by photographer Moneta Sleet, Jr. In 1955, Sleet became a staff photographer for Ebony magazine, a position he continued until his retirement in the early 1990s. Over the course of his career as a photojournalist, he would document the civil rights movement in America and Africa giving us some of our most memorable images, including those of the Selma March. This year’s program commemorates the Selma to Montgomery marches that ultimately led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The keynote speaker for the evening program will be Sam Walker, historian and founding member of the Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama. He will share his personal memories of the civil rights movement and examine today’s issues in the context of Dr. King’s hopes and dreams for equality for all citizens. The program will also feature the Voices of Praise Choir of Greater St. Mark Family Church performing interfaith gospel and spiritual music. Greater St Mark Family Church, located in Ferguson, is led by Rev. Tommie L. Pierson, Sr., pastor. Looking to our future and calling for change, the audience will be delighted by a dance performance by youth in the Vipepeo Program (Swahili for butterflies), which looks to our future and calls for change. The Program is one of the Educational Development Programs of the Saint Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is dedicated to African sisterhood, service and the history and culture of people of African descent. The Art Museum is pleased to offer this free public program, but seating is limited and tickets are required. Same-day and advance free tickets are available at the Museum Information Centers during regular Museum hours. Advance tickets also are available through Metrotix. The tickets are free, but tickets acquired through Metrotix will incur a Metrotix service fee. For additional information about tickets, please call 314.655.5444.

w w w. s l a m . o r g One Fine Arts Drive Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1380 314.721.0072 pg.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Celebration

Friday, January 16, 2015 7:00 pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;8:30 pm Saint Louis Art Museum, The Farrell Auditorium Free Tickets, but seating is limited.

Advance and same-day tickets available. Call 314.655.5444 for ticket information

The Dream Marches On

Join us for a remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march that ultimately led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Keynote speaker Sam Walker, historian and founding board member of the National Voting Rights Museum, will share his personal stories as a civil rights activist including his participation in the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965 at age eleven. Featuring: Civil Rights Photography by Moneta Sleet Jr. Voices of Praise Choir, Greater St. Mark Family Church Delta Vipepeo, Saint Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Wilberforce University... wants you in our family!

Apply now for January 2015 Spring Semester We have so much to offer you: ✓ Wilberforce University is the first private Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the nation ✓ Gain work experience: All students REQUIRED to complete two Cooperative Education assignments ✓Competitive pricing: approximately $20,000 for the academic year (includes tuition, room, and board) ✓ Almost equal male to female ratio ✓ Get to know your professors; among the lowest student-to-faculty ratios in the nation ✓ Located in Southwest Ohio (1 hour south of Columbus and 45 minutes north of Cincinnati)

We Have a Major For You

Business & Economics Accounting Management Marketing

Social Sciences Political Science Psychology Rehabilitation Services (Generalist) Rehabilitation Services (Mental Health) Social Work Sociology

Engineering & Computer Sciences Computer Science Computer Information Systems Computer Engineering Nuclear Engineering Electrical Engineering Advanced Technical Intelligence Arts & Sciences Literature Mass Media/Communications

Natural Sciences Biology Health Services Administration

Applying is easy: Online at www.wilberforce.edu or request a paper application by contacting

us at 1.800.367.8568. Do not hesitate to contact us directly with any questions that you may have.

Turn Over for Wilberforce University Admissions Requirements pg.

The Admission Process (First-time Freshmen) If a student has ever attended any other college or university, they are considered a transfer student! Please see transfer requirements on following page.

Final Official High School Transcript sent directly to Wilberforce University from your school that shows your graduation date. Please be reminded that you must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in order to be admitted into Wilberforce University. We do accept unofficial transcripts initially with your application. HOWEVER, WE MUST RECEIVE YOUR FINAL OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT SENT

DIRECTLY TO WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY FROM YOUR SCHOOL THAT SHOWS YOUR GRADUATION DATE, PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL ON CAMPUS.

Minimum 5 paragraphs, typewritten essay entitled “What Goals I Plan to Accomplish Through a College Education”. SAT or ACT Test Scores – We do not have a minimum requirement for either test. However, you must submit your scores. They can be mailed, faxed, or emailed. 2 Letters of Recommendation – The first should be from a school counselor, principal, vice principal, or dean. The second should be from a school teacher, preferably your English teacher. If you have not already done so, please complete your FAFSA form at www.fafsa.ed.gov

The Wilberforce University Financial Aid Code is 003141 Questions? Call Wilberforce Financial Aid at 800-367-8565

The following documents are needed once you have been accepted as a student to Wilberforce University and it is your intent to attend. Housing Application is a single page and will assist the Residence Life staff in placing students in the residence halls. This should be returned ASAP with your $225.00 housing deposit in order to hold your spot.

Health Record Form consists of 3 pages. Pages 1 and 3 are to be completed by the parent/guardian. Page 3 is where you will list the health insurance that covers the incoming student. Page 2 is to be completed by a healthcare professional.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Portfolio Fundraiser Moves to Artist's Studio

Janet Riehl's "Women & Wardrobe: The Riehl Collection" exhibit has finished it's successful run at The Portfolio Gallery and Education Center. It brought in $2,000 to help with much-needed building repairs. Many people went home with framed ($150) and unframed ($50) prints they love, and a good time was had by all. Folks have said they would have loved to have seen the show, and were sorry they missed it. Janet has decided to host At Home evenings on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. so you can! Come visit, enjoy the work, and of course buy whatever calls to you. Any profit realized will continue to benefit Portfolio Gallery. If you'd like to come, please contact her at janet.riehl@gmail.com. Janet and Robert Powell, director of Portfolio Gallery and Education Center appeared on Fox 2 news. http://fox2now.com/2014/07/29/women-wardrobe-and-art-on-a-cell-phone-atportfolio/# Janet and her art was featured in the Alton Telegraph. http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/home_top-lifestyle-news/50095336/Artists-workmakes-Riehl-results#.U-Tbf1Ao7qC

Come on out! Meet some new people and enjoy some playful, colorful, and sensuous art inspired by African Women.

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Reading a Poem by Rudolph Lewis at Winter Solstice Good readings are sometimes governed by iconoclasm, the smashing of established gestures of decoding. A reader just walks out of the prison built by guardians of culture; she or he discards mindcuffs and explores; he or she discovers the wilderness is more intellectual than the glacial chambers in palaces of wisdom, the prisons of correctness. Despite probable errors of misreading, the reader’s sense of being independent is rewarding. When I first read the typescript of Rudolph Lewis’s Mockingbirds at Jerusalem, I felt that I was discovering traces of unbridled creativity. The most important features of his craft and craftsmanship were derived from paying more attention to life rhythms than to treatises on prosody and monographs on how to write a poem. The bane of much contemporary poetry is disingenuous professionalism. What does it profit a poet to achieve technical brilliance without fire? Lewis has mastered fire and artistry. After reading the published version of Mockingbirds at Jerusalem (Pikesville, MD: Black Academy Press, 2014), I have rediscovered “Defying Raging Night,” one of several touchstones in the book. Lewis has the discipline needed to write such fresh, engaging villanelles as “The Thrill Is Gone: A Blues Villanelle” and “Get Up Dead Man: Blues Villanelle #2.” I am attracted more, however, his playing a riff on the formality of the villanelle by invoking the blues in “Defying Raging Night.” The poem is a defiant tribute to Dylan Thomas’s masterpiece “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” a tribute that confirms the rightness of Thomas’s general imperatives to resist the inevitable by displacing them with specific, burning recognitions from African American blues ethos. Thomas inspires. Lewis empowers. Lewis demonstrates that fixed poetic structures can be unfixed to one’s advantage. Lewis’s achievement in this poem depends on cultural literacy, a reader’s ability to grasp allusions: “in ancient cypress swamps” ---James Weldon Johnson; “ringing insect sounds affirmed” ---Richard Wright; “I’ve known black wonders”--Langston Hughes. Place names evoke knowledge of African geography and scenes of ethnic language creation as well as genocide—Bukavu, Lake Kivu, Goma, Grand Marché, and Kongo. A genuine reading of “Defying Raging Night” absorbs a reader, uniting her or him with the lyric persona as a Middle Passage survivor who can know “black wonder soothing enough to/write letters in hope of a Mockingbird spring.” The poems in Mockingbirds at Jerusalem are aesthetic tools for building something positive and as yet unknown during winter in America. Read. Use the tools Rudolph Lewis has given us to increase our collective ability to resist ignorant armies that clash in raging night. Read. Build critical independence.

Jerry W. Ward, Jr.

December 21, 2014

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The

New African Paradigm

Study Group (NAPSG)

is an organization dedicated to the empowerment and education of our community through book study and our lecture series. We have brought many African scholars to St. Louis to awaken our people and to get on one accord to face the challenges in our community. The NAPSG is in need of your help so we are currently seeking new members to help us continue to be able to meet the demands of our lecture series and our study group. Our study group meets every 3rd Sunday at Sabayet, 4000 Maffit, St. Louis, MO. at 4:00 p.m. Please join us on our journey for knowledge of self, our gods, and our Ancestors. Contact James Steward at (618) 977-8191 for more information. Also, Like us on FaceBook.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Gianis LalSandhu, Realtor

Alexander Realty | St. Charles, Missouri | ph: 636-669-1717 | 314-437-8576 The first of a two part article for renters who want to become homeowners.

Everything First-Time Home Buyers Need to Know Financing Your First Home Today’s reality is that the Missouri real estate market is rebounding and the inventory of homes is balanced meaning there are about the same amount of sellers and buyers. First time home buyers have a wealth of financial resources to help move from rental dependency to home ownership. When a lender has determined that your credit score, income and debt are sufficient to purchase a home, you are ready to begin looking. Funding for the purchase of a first home typically comes from one of the following: FHA LOAN – The FHA mortgage loan types are insured by the government through mortgage insurance that is incorporated into the loan. First time home buyers are ideal candidates for an FHA loan because the down payment requirements are minimal and FICO scores do not matter.

and loan, credit union or even through a mortgage broker that funds its own loans or brokers them. Two important factors are the term of the loan and the loan-to-value ratio. In addition to these funding sources, additional home buyer incentives are provided thvrough the Missouri Housing Development Commission. For More Information, visit the following website: http://www.firsthomebuyers.net/states/missouri-first-time-home-buyer.html To view our inventory of foreclosure and bank owned properties, visit: www.alexrlty.com

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION LOAN- This type of government loan is available to veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Services and, in certain cases, to spouses of deceased veterans. The requirements vary depending on the year of service and whether the discharge was honorable or dishonorable. The main benefit to a VA Loan is the borrower does not need a down payment. The loan is guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, but funded by a conventional lender. CONVENTIONAL LOAN- An amortized conventional loan from a bank, savings and loan, credit union or mortgage broker that funds its own loans or brokers them. These loans have no government sponsorship like the VA and FHA and are identified by the term of the loan and the loan-to-value ratio. Home buyers can take out an amortized conventional loan from a bank, a savings

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FE PR AT OP UR ER ED TY

Alexander Realty St. Charles, Missouri | ph: 636-669-1717 | 314-437-8576

DESCRIPTION: 11534 Rosary Lane, Spanish Lake, MO 63138 Mini mansion in Francis Farm Estates offers 6400 square feet with all the bells and whistles chef’s kitchen, granite tops, custom cabinetry, formal living room, dining room, library, 2 story grand staircase, media room 5bdrms/5 baths, 4 car heated garage; luxurious master bedroom suite; unfinished lower level (‘man-cave’).

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Featured

Poetry

Submission

DOUBLE KWANSABA* AFTER MICHAEL BROWN

When police are the threat, who’s there to protect? When walking in the street can get you busted, shot, or beat just for being black, talking back, looking wrong, or looking strong—how can we really be: a viable city, where people can live in harmony? a free country?

With tanks in the street, who or what do they defeat? No good results, only bad; fear is what drives us mad. And fear, the root of hate, becomes the Police State. Instead of tear gas, hear us! Let’s relate, for a start, human to human, heart to heart.

-michael castro-2014

*A kwansaba is a form invented by Eugene B. Redmond: seven lines, seven words per line, no more than seven letters per word

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Michael Castro

WE NEED TO TALK

I am more than your idea, I am tangible, touchable, a human being like you. We breathe the same air, want the same things. We need to talk. I am more than my skin tone, more than the weight I bear, more than the clothes I wear, more than who I sexually prefer. more than my accented speech, hear me—we need to talk. So get out of your closed mind, It’s claustrophobic in there—thoughts fester if they can’t expand. Let’s meet. Get out of your car, come onto the street. Let’s discover each other on common ground. We need to talk. I say, take off your armor, put away your gun, don’t just stare into your smart phone. Hello. Or as they say in the East, Namaste, & Savati—the god in you honors the god in me. We need to talk. -michael castro- 1-2015

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Castro Poetry... cont.

FREEDOM RING for Dr. Martin Luther King

Dr. King, Dr. King, When did you hear freedom ring? When the bloodhounds growled & wailed? When sherrifs locked you up in jail? When you sat up front in a bus? When you overcame for us? Dr. King, Dr. King, When did you hear freedom ring? When the tap clicked on your phone? When you prayed at night alone? When a child returned your smile? When you walked the extra mile? Dr. King, Dr. King, When did you hear freedom ring? With civil rights writ into law? With klansmen pounding at the door? When you won the Nobel Prize? When you looked into deep dark eyes? Dr. King, Dr. King, When did you hear freeedom ring? When you lunched with congressmen? When you marched with garbagemen? When your dream lit up the night? When your soul beamed in the light? Dr. King, Dr. King, When did you hear freedom ring?

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When you climbed the mountain high? When the bullet let you die? When your spirit rose to speak? When you turned the other cheek? Dr. King, Dr. King, When did you hear freedom ring?

-michael castro-

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Castro Poetry... cont.

Photographer: Ros Crenshaw

Michael Castro has recently been named the First Poet Laureate of St. Louis. http://www.stlpoet.org/#! pg.

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The Bernie Hayes Show Talk and interviews about affairs of the day with a St. Louis slant. The Bernie Hayes Show can be seen: Friday’s at 9 A.M. Saturday’s at 10:00 P.M. Sunday’s at 5:30 P.M.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

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OPPORTUNITIES

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Not Being Black Enough, A Myth

As a former university professor, I taught a number of courses. One of my favorites was

Cultural Diversity in the Media, examining the depictions of women across ethnicities and people of color in U.S. film, TV, magazines, etc. The unifying theme was the stereotyping of these groups, which in real life can have a devastating and many times tragic result.

The challenging part was that I was teaching predominantly White students and many weren’t necessarily prepared to easily understand cultural diversity. On the surface, it seemed like a fairly simple concept. But because we’re engulfed in a toxic quagmire, triggered by the racist society we continue to endure, sometimes, it was like teaching physics.

One day, an annoyingly self-righteous and apparently resistant White male blurted out a question in the middle of my lecture that was not remotely part of the course, but that didn’t stop him. “What does not Black enough mean? I just don’t get it, ” he sneered. I was kind of taken aback, unprepared for such a question. As most teachers, we usually don’t like to wing it. Instead, we’d rather dig into some credible sources, quote the literature, so that we won’t inadvertently steer someone in the wrong direction. In other words, I didn’t have an informed opinion.

I failed that student that day. But tenacious and unrelenting, I decided to think really long and hard about what this means and began reading about how experts weighed in on it. Not only what it means, but also its implications.

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Am I Black Enough by Anita Heiss, explores her ethnic identity in Australia as an Aborigines. Similar to U.S. Blacks, Aborigines are entrenched in stereotypes, roiling with contradictions and conflicts. Heiss, a fair skinned college professor and author, sued a journalist and won for violating the Racial Discrimination Act. The journalist contended she wasn’t black enough. He said she was actually White, pretending to be Aboriginal to boost her career.

There have been other instances where this strange questioning of someone’s ethnic identity has occurred. So where did this not Black enough originate?

In the book, Not White Enough, Not Black Enough: Racial Identity in the South African

Coloured Community, author, Mohamed Adhikari, asserts, the Coloured or Mixed-Race category evolved from the politics of the last century. There were four racial categories there: Blacks, Whites, Coloureds and Indians. All were part of a racial hierarchy. Coloureds and Indians were more privileged (or less oppressed) than indigenous Blacks but far less privileged than Whites. Therefore, identity politics (or access to resources based on skin-color) was rooted in a racist history, according to Adhikari, or a “social identity under White domination.” Now, let’s break that down. The reason for the establishment of identity politics is for the powerful to maintain ideological and economic dominance.

In the U.S., unlike in South Africa, Blacks are classified regardless of color, ranging from “cotton-ball white” to “Midnight African blue.” This contorted rule was based on onesixteenth of a drop of Negroid blood. This of course is unquantifiable. But, no matter how White you looked, if you had any traces of Black ancestry, you were considered and treated as Black. With blue eyes and blond hair, Walter White, head of the NAACP from 1931 to

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Not Being Black... cont.

1955, made numerous forays into the South to investigate Jim Crow practices, interacting with countless of Whites while they never knew he was considered Black. As an aside, I don’t subscribe to the term, “passing.” It harks back to a by-gone era where Whites were in complete control of identity politics. Plus, it doesn’t make sense.

Every now and then, you’ll hear someone being accused of not being Black enough. But it appears that this accusation is generally not part of African American culture or lore, because being Black (or White for that matter) is determined by the powerful. For example, when Whites and Blacks married before the banning of miscegenation or crossing the color line, Whites were proclaimed as colored even in the U.S. Census.

Suffice it to say, we’re a less empowered minority, hence, no matter how White you appear, Black is super-imposed upon you regardless of skin-tone, hair texture, eye color, etc. There may be some differences in treatment for lighter skinned Blacks, as studies have shown they tend to have a higher socio-economic status, but all face race bias. Hence, Blacks in America represent all colors and phenotypes and typically all colors are in our families. In other words, U.S. Blacks encompass all colors.

The media tried to give voice to this as long ago as 1984 about actress, singer and deposed Miss America, Vanessa Williams. Never mind that she incurred the wrath of many Blacks for downplaying the significance of being the first African American to win the title. And never mind that a few irate Whites sent her poison pen letters and death threats.

In the 2008 presidential campaign, the media attempted to make this an issue for Barack Obama’s candidacy, that is, Blacks did not consider him Black enough, they claimed, or that

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he didn’t descend from slavery. But as you know, Blacks voted in droves for him and then again in 2012. I might add, that Africans, particularly the Kenyans, where Obamas’ father hailed from, enthusiastically embraced him.

Most recently, it cropped up with Super Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks. In USA Today, October 29, 2014, it states: “… Bleacher Report cited several anonymous interviews in which players said quarterback Russell Wilson isn’t black enough.” His teammates quickly howled in protest, saying that it was an insult and that the story was made up.

Charles Barkely, often stumped by the obvious, who’s subject to say and do almost anything, walked straight into a firestorm when he tried to address the issue. To wit: “ … it’s a dirty secret in the black community unless you’re a thug or got a criminal record or just a jackass, some people don’t think you’re black enough,” Barkley said. He blabbered on and on much to the chagrin of many; oh well -- the power of willful ignorance cannot be overstated.

First, how does Barkley know this? Like any menacing stereotype, it’s an image (pictures in our heads) associated with all members of a group unencumbered by the thought processes with no bases in reality. Second, could it be an attempt to decouple a Black stereotype from successful African Americans? In other words, if you’re successful, you must not be Black enough.

Usually when journalists are searching for the facts, they seek out knowledgeable people. So why is it when it comes to trying to get at the truth about something reputedly said among Blacks, they’ll go to the most uninformed person they can find? This is not always the case,

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

Not Being Black... cont.

but rumors and myths about an entire ethnic group should definitely be vetted by the highest sources before it’s unleashed on the poor unsuspecting masses like my very confused student.

The history of this country, as well as countries such as Brazil, resulted in a practice of “lightening of the races” as the lighter you were, the more opportunities to succeed, that is, the more access to resources. Although light-skinned Blacks in the U.S. were not in their own separate category, for all intents and purposes, they were for many decades treated like the Coloureds of South Africa, placing them above darker-skinned Blacks. But this is changing, thank God. As they say, race is more than biology, it’s also a socio-political construct. Moreover, noted historian and author, Dr. Gerald Horne, asserted: “The construction of whiteness is the original identity politics.” (For sake of disclosure, Gerald is my younger brother.)

Third, before I was in academia, I worked at a drug treatment center among clients who were too cool to a fault and I never heard anyone use such language. In my cursory questioning of other African Americans, they say they haven’t heard it either.

Fourth, if you said someone was not French enough, British enough or not Italian enough most would shrug with indifference. But not Black enough seems to easily provoke the ire. Conversely, Dr. Claude Anderson in his YouTube presentation, titled, Powernomics, pondered: “How can you be too Black? … Nobody says you can be too Jewish, too Indian, too Asian.” He said he was told his economic programs, designed exclusively for African Americans, were too Black.

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The moral of the lesson: Because there are so many urban myths floating in the ether, it would behoove us all to ignore this racist cacophony. Not Black enough appears to be a red herring; another one of those urban myths that must be exploded. But not to worry, like a pop-up window on the Internet screen, as soon as one is vanquished another will pop up.

Stereotypes, in my opinion, are myths. It boxes a person in, depriving her or him of their individuality. They are powerfully pernicious and at the core of institutionalized racism, leading to discrimination and social injustice.

Besides, who died and went to heaven and anointed a decider for all things Black? It’s a cruel jibe, meant to injure and cause conflict. The term, as the Seattle Seahawks players said, is insulting. So the next time, someone comes up with the umpteenth stereotype about who ever the group might be, please “scatter it to the four winds over the seven seas.”

Now is that Black enough for you?

Malaika Horne, PhD

Malaika Horne, PhD, is a journalist and college administrator.

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Volume 1.11 January 4, 2015

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