Blackbright - religion is it an aid or hindrence

A r e We Te a c h i n g F a i l u re ?

(Motivating Young People)

Reggae Artist Etana

F E AT U R E : Religion?

Aid or Hindrance to Spirituality

Issue 18

Stimulates - Educates - Motivates

Black - B r i g h t

Bruce Golding the Prime Minister of Jamaica, does not believe it is the business of government to “interfere in what two consenting adults choose to do within their own protected privacy...” but stressed, “...I will not accept it that homosexuality must be accepted as a legitimate form of behaviour or the equivalent of marriage”.

So if this is the view of the leader of the island, can the indigenous, like Buju, really be held accountable?

I have to wonder if Buju was an ‘innocent’ by-product of his culture? The PM of Jamaica openly admits to the homophobic tendencies on the island, so if prejudices of forefathers have been reinforced, transferred and projected onto him which, on a small island, is easy to do and if Buju had grown up believing that being gay is unacceptable - wouldn’t he interpret that ethos as a lyrical entertainer? Isn’t Buju merely the pawn of a long standing belief system and if so, how effective can discussions be with the gay community with this backdrop? See article relating to Buju on www.caribeanfever.com.

I also wonder why some gay men find the need to make their sexual orientation so obvious? Lesbians don’t - apart from the haircut in some cases! I do not understand the exaggerated hand movements, the swagger and the toss of the head and in there, maybe, lies my ignorance!

The way how individuals interpret gay lifestyles will vary. Will the miseducated ever comprehend that homosexuality is not necessarily a chosen path? I have gone on a tangent considering I started off with a colleague evaluating the implications of fostering a gay parent, but what I have been trying to illustrate is how widespread ignorance is and its global impact. What is paramount, is to accept individuals unconditionally, On an early November morning (on www.caribeanregardless of their sexual orientation, race, culture, relifever.com), I read about Buju Banton sitting with the (The Editor) 1 gion age, gender or disability.

While I accept that some individuals are born into homosexuality, I do not like its visual representation flaunted in my face, but that goes for heretosexual relationships too - it makes me feel uncomfortable to see people snogging and groping in public!

My background is Jamaican, even though I was born in the UK, so I was raised in a culture that denounced homosexuality. According to Lisa Bragion, a Jamaican Reporter, even now in the year 2009, the gay community are forced to go underground to pray in church and an American preacher flies in to Kingston to preach once a month.

This conversation forced both of us to reflect on how we felt about homosexual relationships

It started off with a colleague of mine sharing the results of an interview she had with a social worker who was assessing her for fostering. She had been asked if she would consider fostering a gay child. As she had planned to foster a parent and child, she asked the social worker: “If she is pregnant, how could she be gay?” The social worker responded by saying that she could have been raped and as a result had become pregnant?

EDITORIAL Is Buju Banton a Pawn of a Belief System?

Buju could have been lauded as a creative genius because his impactful lyrics aroused real emotion (isn’t that what art is supposed to do?) but sadly, the already aggressive nature assigned to Jamaicans, meant that his lyrics were interpreted literally. Buju’s lyrical content, whether by allegory or analogy, should be documented as a historical statement that highlights the behaviour, ethos, attitude of the dominant Jamaican culture of this time!

gay community to discuss the boycott against him.

Was he wrong or did ignorance hold him ransom? Did he have creative licence to express his point of view as a lyricist, or was his ‘mistake’ or lack of responsibility due to choosing lyrics that were construed as inciting violence against gays, even if there was no harm intended?

ISSN No. 1751–1909 This is an Online Publication Only

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spirit world and adheres to a specific set of practices designed

which I define as an organised system that believes in the

The two most common pathways to this goal are religion,

Spiritual wholeness is an eternal quest for the human race.

drives us through our lives: who are we? Why are we here?

whichever era, some common themes tend to emerge of what

ple are varied. Yet, through whatever walk of life, through

us? As no two people are alike, the desires and goals of peo-

also within ourselves. What makes us happy, what motivates

things in life: happiness, fulfilment, not just in our lives, but

Whoever we are, we are all the same. We all want the same

Fiona Whata

RELIGION - AID OR HINDRANCE TO SPIRITUALITY

2

and Daniel either spoke with God, saw visions, predicted the

would be a psychic. Holy men such as Moses, Isaiah, Samuel

son who divines the future. In modern day parlance, this

An online dictionary defines a prophet as an authoritative per-

The Bible, in particular the Old Testament, is full of prophets.

to have been, perhaps, the greatest psychic who ever lived.

on psychics, and that the chronicles of its saviour reveals him

that the construction of its own religion appears to heavily rely

However, what the Christian faith has failed to acknowledge is

is an abomination to the LORD.’

for whoever does these things

one who inquires of the dead,

medium or a necromancer or

sorcerer or a charmer or a

tunes or interprets omens, or a

practices divination or tells for-

among you….anyone who

‘There shall not be found

Deuteronomy further elaborates,

them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.’

that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone

Leviticus, ‘A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or

acknowledged. The King James version of the Bible states in

Christianity’s hostile attitude towards all things psychic is well

we may understand ourselves better.

between the two. In trying to understand why this is the case,

are the same, yet there is a curiously uneasy relationship

ing one’s psychic potential as spiritualism. The aims of the two

religious, while I would regard reading tarot cards and explor-

Attending church regularly would fall under the category of

has the same goal as religion but without its structural aspect.

to bring them closer to God, and what I call spiritualism, which

from psychic powers be seen as coming from any other source than God? This lack of a balanced approach towards all things psychic is a human characteristic that goes back thousands of years.

Despite an accepting attitude towards their prophets, biblical people were not immune to hostility of psychic displays as the

play of psychic activity become more abundant when Jesus makes his appearance in the New Testament.

We are informed that Jesus held a conversation with God in the garden on Gethsemane

of human ability and behaviour, and it is human nature to view as threatening anything that is different. Yet I find myself unconvinced that being psychic is an abnormal condition for human nature. The following incident related in Matthew 14: 22 – 31, validates my doubt:

from God. It’s their word against the Church’s which seems to universally condemn all psychics as bad and evil, without investigation. An investigation, however, would be tricky – how does one go about finding proof in the intangible and scientifically unproven world of spirituality? Perhaps a more

chic under scrutiny and basing judgement on to whether the 3

‘Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and

threatening? Maybe because it’s contrary to accepted norms

are many psychics who always assert that their powers come

mature approach would involve observing the work of the psy-

So what is about psychic phenomena that people find so

how, then, will his kingdom stand?’ (Matthew 12: 22 – 26)

And if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself;

or house divided against itself will stand.

kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town

But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every

of demons.”

drives out demons only by the power of Beelzebul, the prince

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man

be the Son of David?”

All the crowd was astounded, and said, “Could this perhaps

and see.

and mute. He cured the mute person so that he could speak

‘Then they brought to him [Jesus] a demoniac who was blind

psychics and genuine ones who misuse their gifts. But there

along with the good, and there are no shortages of fraudulent

a deeply flawed view. As in every area of life, there is the bad

not attribute their power to the same source. This is, at best,

the Bible got their gifts from God, while today’s psychics can-

One argument that I’ve often heard is that the prophets from

psychic activity in today’s world.

Christian religion should so vehemently oppose and condemn

celebrated psychic phenomena, it is mystifying that the

fish and bread to feed thousands. With such a rich history of

like walking on water, calming a storm and multiplying a few

ed physical psychic abilities

tion), and even demonstrat-

own crucifixion (precogni-

future of mankind and his

tion of Jerusalem, the

ence), foresaw the destruc-

following passage from the Bible demonstrates:

improved, love-centred clients. For how could positive results

ance and fortune telling are clearly at work here, and the dis-

(clairaudi-

results are ill health and misfortune or healthy, spiritually

future, or all three. The psychic gifts of clairaudience, clairvoy-

natural had been bestowed on him by Jesus, I think, they would not have been so dependent on the former’s reaction, but would have worked regardless of what Peter thought of it.

tainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Humans, in their full wholeness and potential are psychic of the physical world, the powers became activated by simply

believing that he too could do it. It wasn’t until he became 4 beings. Religion is supposed to be a pathway and aid to spir-

My stance is that being psychic is a natural human condition. mant until he saw the way Jesus was not bound by the laws

ble: that Peter already possessed these powers. Lying dor-

supernatural powers. In my opinion, another theory is possi-

that it was Jesus who performed a miracle and gave Peter

walk on water. The first and most generally accepted one, is

mind, there are two explanations for why Peter was able to

perhaps, but he too displayed physical psychic ability. In my

What is often overlooked is this: so did Peter. Momentarily

much attention has been devoted about his walking on water.

beings are inherently psychic.

rience this throughout the ages, strongly suggests that human

“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” ’ Now the scene-stealer of this show is, of course, Jesus, and

That most people of all cultures and ages and religions expe-

there’s something about that person that doesn’t feel right’).

dreams, to sensing people’s auras (‘I can’t explain it, but

something dreadful is about to happen, to seeing the future in

chic. These abilities range from having premonitions that

ed abilities that can only be described as supernatural or psy-

human beings have at point or another in their lives, manifest-

who will relate ever having walked on water, most or all of

isolated incident. While I don’t think there are many people

was just one person. However, Peter’s adventure was not an

natural powers is not all that unnatural to human nature? It

So if I am correct, how does this prove that possessing super-

trolled his own ability to walk on water.

doubt?’ seems to me confirmation that Peter, not Jesus, con-

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and

“Come,” he said.

water.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the

Don’t be afraid.”

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.

out in fear.

the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried

walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on

That Jesus should chastise him: ‘You of little faith, why do you

ability to walk on water deserted him. If Peter’s sudden super-

crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a moun-

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them,

frightened upon seeing the strong wind, that his belief and

go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the

By Fiona Whata

fulfilment.

climb towards a goal that is common to us all: happiness and

another insight into human nature, which can only aid my

something I ponder. When and if it becomes clear, it will be

seek. The reason for this fear of ourselves is not clear, and is

are at odds within ourselves. We run away from what we most

religion and spiritualism is at odds with each other is that we

are you not to be? You are a child of God.’ The reason why

be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who

ness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to

we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our dark-

est fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that

we are, our greatness. As Marianne Wilson stated, ‘Our deep-

We seek to realise who we are, yet what we most fear is who

human nature.

nesses manifested by each one, they reflect back to us, our

tution in life is dominated by humans, and through the weak-

to the foibles that afflict human beings in general. Every insti-

gious, but religion is created by humans and therefore prone

fection – is what we fear the most. Not all humans are reli-

what we most strive to accomplish – spiritual growth and per-

opposition towards what is only a natural state of being, is that

with ourselves. What religion shows us, through its adamant

get right with ourselves, we have to first know what is wrong

surely knowing ourselves is the key to growth for in order to

unintentionally. For it gives us more insight into ourselves, and

think the opposite may be true; that religion does guide us, if

ders humanity’s progress in the spiritual quest. However, I

fights against what it aims for, it could be said that religion hin-

itual wholeness. Because it is hostile towards, and vigorously

5

(NOTE: The Editor has an unbiased view about this excerpt)

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If it is 10,000 times stronger than Chemo - why are we not aware of this? Its because some big corporation want to make back their money spent on years of research by trying to make a synthetic version of it for sale.

That rumour has it that the Sour Sop or the fruit from the graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer

Did you Know...

With seeds deeply rooted in the youth, Etana regularly talks to The Young Reggae Girlz, Jamaica’s under 17 and under 20 female soccer teams. A hit among the team members, Etana shares music and life experiences with the team and encourages the girls to respect themselves so that others can respect them. Etana indicates that a major part of “respect” comes with abstinence. Further, the artist lets the Girlz know that it’s okay to be strong black women. But no talk is complete without focusing on the central theme of education. A critical component, the artist declares “education is the greatest way to overcome poverty and be successful.”

that they can do any and everything once they put their mind to it,” the singer adds.

Motivational talks with the Reggae Girlz are just a snippet of Etana’s commitment to the youth, as she regularly visits schools throughout the world. No matter where Etana is performing, she goes out of her “Overall, I want young girls to hold their heads up way to visit schools in the respective area. While the high and embrace their power......I typically tell them 6 youth are too young to attend most of her performanc-

“I have always taken a special interest in the youth as they hold the key to the future,” says Etana sincerely.

“I am particularly driven to encourage young girls since they often don’t recognize their full potential because of some of society’s stereotypical roles placed before them.”

Often infused with messages and real life stories, Etana’s music is credited with moving all who listen.

Riveting songs like “Wrong Address,” “Roots,” “Not Afraid” and the latest single “August Town” stay true to Etana’s signature style. But beyond the soulful singer’s love of music, lies a passion to help the youth. And throughout her impressive career, Etana has taken pride in inspiring and motivating youth through music and many other efforts. Moreover, the soulful songstress is especially vested in empowering young girls.

Kingston, Jamaica, 14th October 2009

Etana - Reggae Motivator

Irish and Chin, Inc. • 22 Westminister Road Kingston 10, Jamaica • 876-926-7562 • 718-878-6323

Flair Lindsey publicity@irishandchin.com (202) 277-8191 (c) (718) 878-6323 (o) http://www.irishandchin.com

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Etana’s work involving youth is ongoing. It is the singer’s utmost goal to launch a youth-driven foundation in the future centred on the themes of education and empowerment. Plans for this foundation, which will formalize Etana’s efforts, will begin soon.

Throughout her set, Etana consistently delivered the message of abstinence and staying in school to the youth and thanked the teachers for diligently moulding and shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Etana is slated to perform on the tour each Tuesday that she is in Jamaica until the tour’s end in mid-November.

Etana willingly joined the RE School Tour for a second time because it’s platform is directly in tune with her efforts involving youth.

In addition to these independent efforts, Etana is now a featured artist on the RE School Tour. Recently, the powerful Etana commanded the standing room only crowd at the Tour’s first stop at St. Andrew’s Technical High School in Kingston, JA. There, “The Strong One” belted out a string of hits to the 700-plus crowd and was ever-so amused when students sang the lyrics verbatim. Although Etana was pegged for a 3-song set, the crowd’s overwhelming response made her stay to perform 2 more songs.

es, she brings entertainment directly to them by dropping in on surprise visits. Regularly, Etana sings some of her best known selections and intermittently motivates the classroom to pursue an education, stay focused and make good decisions. She continuously lets the classrooms know that all things are possible with education.

7

Guide and bless all thy children, who have been sent to direct us to the centre of your will, to openly ask it in the name of the most high JAH

cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

Search us, Oh JAH and know our hearts today,

We have ridiculed the time-honoured values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression;

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem; we have abused power and called it politics; we have coveted our neighbour’s possessions and called it ambition;

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable;

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare; We have killed our unborn and called it choice;

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism; we have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle; We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery’

We confess that:

Oh Jah, I come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance.

I’n’I know Your Word says, “woe to those who call evil good” but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

The ever-so-talented Reggae songstress Etana has made great strides in 2009, affording the world with her soulful brand of Reggae music. Adding to an already impressive year, Etana has been chosen to represent Jamaica at the Johannesburg 2009 Arts Alive Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Kingston, Jamaica

Before the 1900s, most people lived on a farm, and schooling was in a one-room schoolhouse. In

There will always be failures when young people are sorted by age and expected to meet programmed achievement by that age. Human nature does not work this way. The system must be in harmony with human nature. In the right learning environment, anyone can excel and no one needs to be labelled a failure.

When the academic curriculum allows nonintellectuals to receive passing grades, then intellectuals will not have opportunity to discover their full potential. These students will become unrecognised failures, meaning, their skills will be well below their capabilities.

When the academic curriculum is a challenge to the natural talented intellectual, non-intellectuals cannot compete and will be labeled failures. They don’t have the academic talent that intellectuals do.

The typical high school teaches 30% of its students to be failures. This is because the curriculum only recognises academic skills, and student intelligence is measured by this standard. Nonacademic skills and associated intelligence are ignored. A person who has the ability to be a first class welder is labeled a failure. He may never become a welder because self-fulfilling prophecy based on academics, will determine his fate.

Are we Teaching Failure?

8

The education system uses reward and punishment as a control tool. Intellectuals are rated most likely to succeed, and then they are offered scholarships that lead to quality jobs. Non-intellectuals are put on the punishment list. They are denied participation in special projects and other nonacademic subjects including shop courses, sub-

The system needs to recognize natural talent, plus skills that cannot be measured and adapt learning environments to individual needs.

Customizing education to students’ personal interest and learning habits is why home schooling programs are so successful. Also, home schoolers do not receive the failure label because their progress is NOT compared to other students; the goal is to develop a love to learn. With a love to learn, additional skills can be mastered as needed.

Today’s education has a production line mentality with inspectors to eject those that do not conform to the system. To make production line education work, the curriculum is limited to academics, because it can be taught in the classroom and results can be measured. This may seem efficient, but the price to society of failing students is becoming too high to be acceptable. Problems are spiraling out of control. To help maintain control, politicians are passing laws to keep the system in place. This cannot go on forever.

The term “failure” was adapted by city schools that use multipliable classrooms and sorted students by age. Performance is based on averages with winners and losers in every class. Every student, in each age group, is expected to march in lock step to a single drummer, the instructor. Role models, in the classroom, have become a thing of the past, the sharing of knowledge, by students, is no longer an education tool.

this environment, students were sorted by skill level, not by age. This allowed students to advance at a natural pace without negative stigmas. The system recognizes that everyone has a unique talent and has different learning speeds.

Developing a love to learn was the goal and its effectiveness was based on the ability to share knowledge. Usually, older students shared their knowledge or interest with younger students.

Younger students were inspired by older students and they became role models. This interaction developed a respect for fellow students, inspiring all to excel. The one room schoolhouse did not teach students to be failures.

www.motivation-tool.com

Employment is available for non-intellectuals with positive self-esteem

There is more to education than academics.

These same students could develop positive selfesteem in a different learning environment, one where academics was a byproduct.

No employer will hire people with negative self-esteem no matter how many education certificates they have.

These people are turned off to the learning process.

No one wants to associate with people with negative self-esteem, even classmates.

People with negative self-esteem accept and believe the negative labels placed on them by others, especially authority, and simply gives up.

A person who can read and write, but is told they are a failure in every class they attend, also develop negative self-esteem.

A person who can’t read and write develops negative self-esteem.

On Self-Esteem

Motivational and inspiration skills, that can’t be measured, are not taught in the classroom.

The student must discover and adapt them on their own.

Society needs to abandon the belief that academics is the only skill needed for a successful and productive life. Human nature is not that simple.

Standardized testing is widening the gap between passing and failing students. The pressure to comply is forcing marginal students on one side or the other. There is a breaking point and many simply give up. Increase pressure will force students to reach that breaking point at an earlier age. The price will be more crime on the streets, not less.

On the other hand, the school’s performance rating increases when failing students walk away from the system.

jects they could excel at. This policy guarantees that predictions will be right, “anyone who does not master academics will become failures in life.”

Self-fulfilling prophecy becomes the controlling factor.

9

(If you’ve visited the Caribbean, you’ll love this!)

It’s witty, it’s funny, it’s engaging. £10 + p.p. or get it from your library. (ISBN 096323881-7) Order via www.myspace.com/blackbrightnews (Written by Myrna Loy, Published by AOG)

THE OTHER SIDE OF TOURISM

Please respond to blackbrightnews@aol.com

What advice would you give to the Poet?

Have you ever felt like you can’t get away from something?

Plesae share how it felt with our readers.

Have any of you ever felt like someone is following you or chasing you? Describe how that experience felt for you.

What does this poem say about the author?

Why do you think she never realised the shadow was hers?

Why do you think the shadow was big?

What do you think the Poet is trying to share in this poem?

I turned around the shadow was coming It was following me from behind I kept running – trying to get away Until I realised the shadow was mine.

I know everyone hates me, Because I looked the way I do I don’t like my hair, the clothes that I wear I don’t like my shoes – so why should you?

I looked away to stop them laughing I held onto myself to keep warm But they kept coming, and prodding and taunting Until I fell and hurt my arm.

I looked around and saw a big shadow It was coming up from the floor I wanted to run, but my feet wouldn’t let me I had seen this shadow before...

(Please Analyse this Poem)

The Shadow

Michelle Balach-Ali, 6/2009

Fate? Such state, much hate.

Kindred/mate, no weight.

Enigmatic meandering, thoughts New life – mastered beginnings.

Given hope, not just rope Just able to cope... desire to elope Escape: run, use the gate – don’t wait.

Life... strife, no wife...

Cut with knife, hatred rife Torture of the talented ... tempered

Born ... scorn, forlorn , torn – flesh’s thorn Suppressed, pre-confessed Not dressed – fest ... ering

Black Power, black magic, black-death, blackness Darkness, debris, not free – me?

Hate, fate, no mate, state?

Shoots: Black born life given fate

10

is the voice of the Youth.

5 members of Real Talk have qualifications in child care, health & Social Care, Sports & Science and Media along with their own experiences are equipped to talk about real issues.

Aimed at the 14 - 25 year olds who have challenges at home and at school.

www.jamrockradio.com

Are you carrying the weapon or is it your alterego ?

Are you wondering if your friends are your real friends?

Are you are thinking of having children to compensate for something you are missing?

Does your family support you or do you feel alienated?

Real Talk

will be presenting their radio show called on the personality-led internet radio station Jamrock Radio!

Real Talk

‘Real Talk’.

Jade, Iyesha, Sheeka, Love and Rencie are 5 young DJs/Presentors from Luton, mentored

by Lady Loy and who go under the name of

Real Issues...

Real People...

it’s about...

“Real Talk”

1st January: Confidence with Faith (Imani)

31st December: Creativity

30th December: Purpose (Nia)

29th December: Cooperative Economics

28th December: Collective Responsibility

27th December: Self Determination

26th December: Unity

Kwaanza lasts 7 days and symbolised as follows:

Jesus is claimed to be the English rendition, coming from Greek etymology Jeshua (Joshua) Christ meaning the Annointed.

Original Holy Trinity is said to be Isis, mother of Osiris, Horus, father of Osiris and Osiris himself.

December 25 is celebrated as the Earth Day of Horus.

Brief insight to Kwanzaa

11

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DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR COPIES?

Blackbright has been nominated and has received several awards for her relevance to the community, her commitment to raising awareness and her entrepreneurial spirit.

The market feasibility was conducted using direct mail and personal distribution where 3.2% positive rate is considered a success. This positive response rate seems to indicate that Blackbright could cater to a select audience that has not been covered by existing publications on similar subjects. Further the Chief Editor, Myrna Loy has worked in varied capacities from a secretary to a publisher during a career spanning more than two decades. With Myrna’s experience and contacts, she assembled a team of volunteers who obtained proof that the perceived market need for a unique magazine such as Blackbright which would eventually support forums and workshops, was real. More importantly, Myrna has the necessary experience to see through the success of Blackbright Magazine as the process is not new to her. Myrna is a person who enjoys constant challenges and looks for new opportunities.

Working parents are constantly balancing between a professional (or other career) while trying to meet the obligations of a devoted parents and as a result, what should be the strongest influence in the young person’s life, can no longer be due to prolonged absences. Blackbright offers ‘alternative parenting’ strategies. Blackbright can address these issues successfully, it will be able to attract a large audience leading to the success of the magazine.

Using the concept behind every child matters, Blackbright is an educational initiative that has been introduced to provide enjoyable information that will help keep our readers safe.

The target group for Blackbright is educated parents; role models, mentors and those involved in social learning who use their knowledge skills and experiences to benefit young people. Most BME publications have broader constituencies, and as a result have lost much of their editorial impact, due to the lack of focus. Blackbright is specifically targeted at a select group which will give it the much needed focus and is expected to be successful.

MISSION STATEMENT TO STIMULATE, EDUCATE, MOTIVATE & ELEVATE

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Stimulate Your Brain...

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Why read it?

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They benefit by being informed, by learning about people that are not normally in the forefront of the news but who have just as important a story to tell.

oldest students are 95 and 96, youngest are 65) and I notice that the people who seem to be surviving best are those who have made the effort to find solutions to new problems rather than giving in to them. My 95-year-old student is nearly blind, but I never knew it until she asked me to position her physically for some of the exercises! I want to be like her when I grow up!”

How readers I teach ando exercise class at abenefit? retirement community (my

an approach to thought problems that I haven’t tried much in the past, having preferred to abandon things that were difficult.

It’s for anyone who is interested in learning about an individual journeys; anyone who feels they are missing out on important information, and anyone who Visual games also require ingenuity in inventing solutions likes toparticular be stimulated top-to for one’s problems. I by haveinteresting had to devise ways compensate for perception skills that I am lacking. This is ics.

extremely nearsighted as a child but because we lived ‘out back of beyond,’ no one noticed it until I was almost 12!

So I think I missed some hard wiring in the visual department. Visual memory games have therefore been a particular help to me, because I never remember ANYONE’S face. I can already see an improvement in my daily life.

Who isinteresting it for?problem with visual memory. I was “I have an

Betsy Anderson, 59 - Teacher

...Regardless of your age!

ges, experiences and successes.

Regarding the structure of “Black Hair,” the reason why kinky hair breaks so easily is that every twist in African American hair represents a potential stress point, which means the curlier your hair, the more prone it is to breakage. Cornrows left in too long can cause traction that may result in breakage. Our kinky hair is also prone to catching onto one another, which causes fragmentation. What makes the colour of hair different? Whether it be black, blond, and brown, the answer lies in melanophore. The hair roots contain pigment cells called melanin, which creates a black pigment.

Melanophore is a chromatophore that sends pigment to new hair. The greater the amount of pigment sent to the hair, the darker the hair becomes. On the contrary, as the amount of pigment sent is reduced, the 13

There is no chemical difference in the makeup of African-American hair in comparison with any other hair type. It has a cuticle (the outer layer), a cortex (the middle layer, composed primarily of keratin and moisture, plus melanin, which gives our hair its colour), and a medulla (the centre of the hair shaft). All these parts are identical to those of Caucasian hair. What is different is our wave, curl or kink and bonding pattern. (Bonding speaks to the structure of hair: the tighter the bond, the curlier the hair.) Our hair colour can vary from a very light, sandy blonde to dark black. Universally ethnic women do tend to have rich-brown complexions and deep-brown hair.

Officially, the root of a hair fibre sticks into something like a bag in the skin.

The fibre is pushed out of this bag about 0.35mm per day growing about 1cm, or half of an inch, per month. The growth rate relates to the individual, his/her age, diet etc. Healthy hair has an average lifetime of 2-6 years.

Though there are exceptions, the hair of blacks is usually coarser in texture, tighter in curl pattern, more naturally delicate, and more vulnerable to damage from chemical treatments. Because of our multicultural heritage there really isn’t any one typical “type” of African-American hair. Its texture can vary from fine to medium to coarse; its curl pattern from straight to softly wavy to excessively tight; its colours from blonde to red, to all sorts of browns, to black.

Around 1441 when African slaves were brought west to the “New World,” they were confronted with their first loss of identity. It was then that the one and only identity they had, was stripped from them. The standards of beauty that they encountered were the privilege of fair skin, straight hair, and thin features, in contrast to “African” dark skin, curly hair, and wider noses and mouths. Some slaves had to get accustomed to the European beauty styles to survive (literally). Often times they would serve as barbers and/or beauticians for their white owners. Other slaves attempted to stay with their traditional African hair customs like braiding hair using African patterns and using natural herbs from trees for their hair and skin care.

Some people say that blacks have embraced hairstyles and beauty methods that reflect popular European standards of beauty. However, Blacks have used their West African roots and their own artistry to create styles and standards that reflect a unique black culture.

What hair-ta-do about nothing?

The popularity of natural African American hairstyles has also developed an Internet following. There are many websites with information, products, and tips for African American hair care. Websites devoted to natural styles, braids and dreadlocks are growing too. Black Hair Media is one of the more comprehensive sites online. Nappy Hair is another online resource for anyone who needs guidance managing natural hair. Offline, many

Still, blacks are losing control over the black hair care market. Business by business, mergers and acquisitions are taking apart black-owned hair care endeavours. A moment of truth came when L’Oreal acquired Carson. The result was the top two-black owned hair care companies (Johnson Products and Soft Sheen) were joined under L’Oreal’s ownership. Many white business people know what kind of money black people put into their hair care and want a part of that market.

Near the end of the twentieth century, relaxed hair became popular again in a wide range of short and long styles, while the new jheri curl used a different chemical to create loose, wet curls for both men and women.

Women and men chose dreadlocks, twist, corkscrews, fades, and other styles that used the benefits of black hair’s natural texture. Despite the economic depression in many black neighbourhoods, hair salons remain among the most successful Black business in urban communities, and even African Americans who move to predominantly white suburbs often return to black urban neighbourhoods to get their hair done.

Madam C.J. Walker is one of the pioneers in the black hair care market with her Walker System. However over the years African Americans have thrown away the European standards of beauty. During the 1960’s the “Afro” debuted and with it the concept of Black is Beautiful. During the 80’s and the 90’s West African traditional hairstyles began to resurface in the black community. Many people were getting braids with the traditional West African patterns. There are many beauty shops that are designed to create only West African traditional hairstyles.

Many blacks argue that imitating European standards of beauty and grooming was necessary for blacks to be accepted by white culture, especially by potential white masters and employers. For generations hairstyles have reflected the history of American race relations and the way blacks wore their hair reflected the dominant white culture. AfricanAmerican hair was straightened, combed, or parted to mimic Western coiffures. In response to the propaganda in black communities to accept the European standards of beauty, the black hair care market expanded.

On a normal scalp there are about 100 to 150 thousand hair fibres. A blond head of hair has usually much more fibres than red or dark haired heads.

Hair consists mainly of keratin, which is also responsible for the elasticity of fingernails. A single hair has a thickness of 0.02-0.04mm, so that 20 to 50 hair fibres next to each other make one millimetre. Hair is strong as a wire of iron. It rips after applying a force equivalent to 60kg, after it is stretched to 70%. Regarding hairstyles and how general American culture affects black hairstyles, there are a number of opinions.

Some people believe that differences in hair colour are caused by the differences in the intensity of ultraviolet rays contained in the sunlight, to which the hair is exposed. A baby’s hair begins to grow around the third month after conception. Trichocysts are first hairs formed. They develop into hair follicles as the fetus grows, then they become downy hairs several centimetres long when the baby is born. The total number of hairs is determined before the baby is born. After that, the number of hairs never increases, they only decrease. There are about four hundred and fifty thousand of them to be found above the neck. These hairs include about one hundred thousand hairs on the head and about thirty thousand hairs taken up by moustaches, beards, or facial hair. Hair grows at a faster rate in the spring and summer than in autumn and winter.

hair colour turns brown and then blond.

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As the study of American history has revealed, the slave trade not only inflicted physical damage, but it also left emotional and psychological scars. The most devastating scar, that is still reflected today, is that done to the slave’s self-image. This is especially true as it relates to hair and skin color. As they both became the framework for determining race.

Slave owners often described the Africans’ hair as being “woolly”, thus likening them to animals. These and other terms would later be used to justify the inhumane treatment of the slaves. After years of repression and constantly seeing those with “straight hair” and “light skin” afforded better opportunities, the slaves began to internalize these words. Ultimately, selfhatred began. In an effort to educate others about black hair and to celebrate its diversity, I created this website. While it is not a complete history of black hair, it should provide some basic knowledge.

“In the early fifteenth century, hair served as a carrier of messages in most West African societies” (Tharps and Byrd 2001) These Africans—citizens from the Mende, Wolof, Yoruba, and Mandingo—were all transported to the “New World” on slave ships. Within these communities, hair often communicated age, marital status, ethnic identity, religion, wealth, and rank in the community. Hairstyles could also be used to identify a geographic region. For example, in the Wolof culture of Senegal, young girls partially shaved their hair as an outward symbol that they were not courting (1).

“And the Karamo people of Nigeria, for example, were recognized for their unique coiffure—a shaved head with a single tuft of hair left on top.” (1) Likewise, widowed women would stop attending to their hair during their period of mourning so they wouldn’t look attractive to other men. And as far as community leaders were concerned, they donned elaborate hairstyles. And the royalty would often wear a hat or headpiece, as a symbol of their stature.

Source: www.lml.jou.ufl.edu

Damaging Effects of the Slave Trade

Just as hair was elevated for social and aesthetic reasons, its spiritual connection also served to heighten its significance. Many Africans believed the hair a way to communicate with the Divine Being. According to Mohamed Mbodj, an associate professor of history at Columbia University and a native of Dakar, Senegal, “the hair is the most elevated point of your body, which means it is the closest to the divine.”

Consequently, many thought communication passed through the hair.

Many believed a single strand of hair could be used to cast spells or inflict harm. This explains why hairdressers held and still hold prominent positions in the community. For those who do not know, styling and grooming black hair is often complicated and time consuming. This time spent at the hairdresser often results in close bonds between the stylist and the client.

It is important to note that “unstyled and unkempt hair was largely unseen, as were scarves and headwraps.” Therefore, one can conclude that the hair was not meant to be covered.

Spirtual Significance

Just as the social significance of hair was important, so was its aesthetic appeal. According to Sylvia Ardyn Boone, an anthropologist who specializes in the Mende culture of Sierre Leone, “West African communities admire a fine head of long, thick hair on a woman. A woman with long thick hair demonstrates the life force, the multiplying power of profusion, prosperity, a ‘green thumb’ for bountiful farms and many healthy children” (Tharps and Byrd 2001) However, there was more to being beautiful than having long tresses. One’s hair also had to be neat, clean, and arranged in a certain style. These styles included, but were not limited to, cornrows, and other braided styles. They also adorned the hair with ornaments such as beads and cowrie shells.

Aesthetic significance

Social significance

And the history of the affair begins.... The origin of this love affair can be traced back to Africa. It seems only natural that the “affair” would begin here, since most blacks were transported from the west coast of Africa.

Although the textures of their hair varied greatly, the Africans expressed similar views on the cultural and social significance of their hair.

As a member of the Black culture, I admit we often take the significance and maintenance of hair to another level. But this is not of our own will. In fact, the importance of hair in the Black community can be traced back to our African ancestors.

Ask almost any black woman and she will probably tell you that her relationship with her hair is similar to a love affair. Whether it’s the long hours spent waiting at the hair salon, the pain endured from pressing or braiding, or the amount of money spent—hair is truly an obsession. While I realize other cultures value hair, in Black culture hair is extremely significant and often synonymous with identity. And many individuals, such as Don King, Bob Marley, and Angela Davis have used their hair to make a statement.

www.naturalnaps.com

books have been published on the topic. Among the most recent is the 2003-released, “Hair Rules: The Ultimate Hair-Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly, or Wavy Hair,” by New York City stylist, Anthony Dickey.

Photo by Garfield Hall Page Design: L N Gupta

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