The East Washingtonian James) Russell Nesbit, gained popularity as an acrobat, model, and coach in the nation’s capital in the 1950’s. Nesbit taught acrobatics to a legion of children in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood where he lived and established the Flying Nesbits acrobatic troupe that included his then wife and their son. Nesbit, who died at the age of 81 in 2001, was an opening act for notable artists like James Brown, Billy Eckstine, Gladys Knight, and the Spinners. He may be best remembered for walking down the 898-step interior of the Washington Monument – on his hands in 1962. “He is the reason why I do what I do,” Ebb proclaimed proudly.
Author, Author
The cover of “Jayla Jumps In”, by Joy Jones
American ambassador resides. At that time Ambassador Jon Huntsman, Jr. welcomed the cultural ambassadors.
Double Dutch’s Historical Context
According to information obtained from the website (aaregistry.org) of the African American Registry (AAREG), jump rope activity can be traced back to 1600 A.D. when the Egyptians used vines for jumping. Evolving from Africa, Double Dutch is historically a jump rope game played mostly by girls of African descent around every region in the United States. The first concrete evidence of jump rope activity can be seen in medieval paintings where children jump rope down the cobblestone streets of Europe. Early explorers, from their expeditions, documented Aboriginal people jumping with flexible bamboo and vines as a form of sport and play. After World War II, Double Dutch appeared regularly on the sidewalks of New York City where mothers, neighbors, and the community could keep a watchful eye on their children. In the last quarter-century, the interest for Double Dutch has widened and moved it into international competition.
Ebb’s Inspiration
Ebb has performing arts and talent in her blood. She is the daughter of the late (Charles
Besides beginning a program that has helped revitalize Double Dutch in the area, Jones has written a total of five books including her most recent entitled “Jayla Jumps In.” The book is about a 11-year-old girl discovering the joy of Double Dutch during a large family gathering at Thanksgiving. She falls in love with the sport and then forms a multigenerational team, made up of family members, which succeeds in improving the family’s overall health. The book is set in Southeast in the Hillcrest community. Jayla Jumps In can be purchased at East City Books (eastcitybookshop.com), Mahogany Books (mahoganybooks.com), and Amazon.
Future Events
Every Thursday at Martha’s Table, located at 2375 Elvans Road, SE, between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., DC Retro Jumpers practice their jump roping. They are scheduled to be at the Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, located at 1500 Anacostia Drive, for an event on October 1. DC Retro Jumpers have also been invited to two events – one on August 2 (National Night Out at the Piney Branch Elementary School) and the 14th Annual Play Day on September 24 – by Pat Rumbaugh, one of their biggest fans. “I heard about Robbin and invited her to a play day,” said Rumbaugh who founded a play committee (letsplayamerica.org) about 14 years ago. “She teaches people Double Dutch so easily. Our mayor of Takoma Park (Maryland) learned and loves it. I recognize the beauty of it. You feel such a sense of accomplishment after you do it,” said Rumbaugh. u
Foraging by Leniqua’dominique Jenkins
A
s a child I grew up foraging. I recall riding my bike for hours with my cousins, running in and out the house for water breaks. After the fifth or sixth time, my mother would gently encourage us to “stay in or out.” Our unanimous decision would always be “out.” We spent the hours outside, pausing only to enjoy nature’s buffet. Hopping off our bikes, we would chew fresh sugarcane, pick oranges or pluck some of our neighbor’s sweet Japanese loquats. As youngsters, we did not possess the language to describe our practice of living off the land. As an adult, I understand that my cousins and I were embracing the beautiful tradition of foraging. African peoples have a long history of foraging. Their sacred carvings and hieroglyphics illustrate their relationship with nature. Drawing on these traditions, enslaved peoples foraged, trapped and fished to add more nutritional value to skimpy meals that were provided by their enslavers. Both the free and enslaved travelled with seeds embedded in intricate hair braiding to plant in their new homes. In the wake of emancipation, former enslavers widened the rights of property holders to constrain foraging along with other efforts to disenfranchise and legally control the formerly enslaved and eliminate their ownership of land. This caused a shift in black attitudes toward foraging. However, we are a resilient community. Like myself, blacks often got history lessons along with their dinner plates. Along with the meal, they memorized the shapes of the leaves of plants like collard and mustard greens that grew around them. Elders taught them the regional produce of the place they called home. Foraging is not as complicated as one might think. My Deanwood community is one of the greenest in the District. Walking my dog Dynamite, I often notice the abundance of Virginia peppergrass, wood sorrel and dandelion. Here is one of my favorite dandelion herbal tea recipes to encourage you, Dear Readers, to try foraging yourselves. 1. Collect fresh dandelion flowers. It’s safe to pick and consume the entire plant because the flower, leaf and roots are edible. 2. Carry upside down. This helps remove loose dirt and insects. 3. Wash the entire plant. 4. Remove the flowers from the stem. 5. Place flowers, dried or fresh, in a strainer. The strength of the tea is based on the number of flowers. 6. Pour boiling hot water over the flowers and steep for 4-5 minutes. 7. Add lemon and honey to taste. Use them conservatively because the flavor of the tea is very light and can easily be overpowered. Foraging is beneficial, organic and economical. It promotes eating seasonally and sustainably. Most of all, it brings us uniquely closer to our history and culture. Leniqua’dominique Jenkins holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Houston and has worked on Capitol Hill and in Africa, India and Spain. She is a preschool teacher at a language submersion school in Ward 7. u E ast
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