NYANSAPO

NYANSAPO

"wisdom knot"

symbol of wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience

An especially revered symbol of the Akan, this symbol conveys the idea that "a wise person has the capacity to choose the best meeans to attain a goal. Being wise implies broad knowledge, learning and experience, and the ability to apply such faculties to practical ends." *

*www.welltempered.net - Adinkra Symbols

It seems like I can never make plans for my life. Everytime I plan an event, a weekend, or anything, things never turn out quite right. Hardly ever is it a turn for the worst, but you can believe that it is normally a turn for the interesting. This weekend has been unusually informative for me. It seems that the recurring theme was "wisdom." As a student of Africana, there are sets of ancestors that I trust in knowledge and in practice. It is hurtful in many ways when you find a way in which you feel your ancestor has failed. One of my sisters and I have been enveloped in an ongoing dialogue questioning our position as women in (and of) the discipline.

The question is: How come our male intellectual counterparts continue to seek and find emotional, sexual, and ultimate (defined by marriage) kindred friendships with females that are not African?

For Example:

Frantz Fanon, author of Wrethed of the Earth and Black Skin, White Masks, who took a critical look at race, class, social constructs and other facets of exploitation and colonization. His books were not mere theoretical surface level hobknob but writings that are still influential on conscious and revolutionary political thought.

For example here is Franz Fanon:

Here is about his wife: By the time he published his first book, "Peau Noire, Masques Blancs," he had abandoned the philosophy of Negritude for what he described as a so-called "non-racist humanism" as if loving yourself and your culture is racist. In the same year as the publication of his first book, he married a white, French woman, Marie-Josephe ("Josie") Duble in October 1952, suggesting continuing, unresolved ambivalence and conflict regarding his own blackness. Fanon's relationship with a difficult and rejecting mother is also implicated here. (raceandhistory.com - Frantz Fanon)

This little tid bit of information blew the hell out of my sister and of course others I am sure....

Does anyone have a theory explaining this phenomenon?

if this is the case, the further I find myself in the discipline the further away I can imagine myself creating a life with a partner that is my counterpart in intellectualism?

that is hurtful, and frankly I refuse to accept any notion that that is the inevitable truth for me and all of my sisters

that doesn't make sense

the whole premise of my participation in the discipline is the discovery that i am not a mammie, i am not asexual or "over"sexualized, and i am deserving of companionship, deserving of a male counterpart....

deserving of love.

Where are they? Where are these brothers that are rooted in the discipline and wanted women likewise? Speak up. Speak out. We are here to listen!

How does this relate to wisdom.....

think AA: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference...

Also, it is quite apparent that I am at that age where is wisdom is not only sought but delievered at this age. It is our turn to deliver wisdom to our young proteges, our mentors and mentees.

Last week, I had the opportnity to listen to a reading by the lovely Sonia Sanchez, and she said the following: "Let me wear the day well so when it reaches you, you will enjoy it." (a haiku) I live my life in hopes that their futures will be better than mine. An amazing poem, indeed. We have crossed the threshold into that area seeking wisdom and delivering it at the same time.

I wish this entry was better organized, but its late and a lot is on my mind.

Visit the National Visionary Leadership Project.

Ethnic Notions

Ujamma

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) "To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Today I concluded that: Consumerism will be the death of me, and sadly (maybe?) my community.
Though I try to fight it regularly, however, constantly I find myself in the stores purchasing YET another pair of jeans...which is unnecessary for a person who owns over 40 pairs of BLUE jeans ( i am sick and i know it )
I have previously worked in retail and I know first hand how consumerism plagues not just individuals or groups, but society as a whole.
Consumerism not only eats money but it consumes values as well.
Its addictive... I have to spend money....daily...finding a reason to go to the store to by something whether its needed or not!
as my good friend knows me to say... 2007 is not going to be about that...
my money will be better controlled, better spent, and better used.
Not only for my benefit, it shows retailers that I care about where my dollar goes which benefits not only me but my community, it also allows me to become a CAREFUL CONSUMER... who actually researches the market and understands the true power and value of her dollar.

Gifted Hands by Ben Carson, MD

On my plane ride back to DC I decided to pick up a book at Borders... only because it was the first time I had seen a Borders at an airport... unbelievably there were two! The mini-Borders had an African American section and I decided to browse it knowing there was a book over there that I had not read that I absolutely need to read. I came across the title GIFTED HANDS and I knew it sounded familiar and I picked it up realizing it was the autobiography of Dr. Benjamin Carson.. an absolute must read for a black people.

On this blog I am striving to stay away from my own personal convictions and experiences but you may gather what you will from what I essential share on this page.

This book was an excellent read. It took me one day to read and I absolutely had to read every detail of the book. I read a lot (for a college student)... translation, I read for pleasure when I have the time. This story was one of the most inspirational that I have ever come across. For blacks, it is inspiring to read and understand what struggles can be overcome with persistence and hard work. For Christians, its a great testimony of what a strong faith in the Lord will do for an individual. A friend of mine told me today that she noticed those pepole who do put their trust in God never worry about anything, things always work out in the end This book is going on my must read list.

Inspiration -
This man understands wholly is God given talents and what others are able to see through him. That man has the ability of presenting humble inspiration. For those individuals that are blessed with extreme talents they often are inspiring for others because they want to imitate them. However, there are a select few who are able to take those talents and inspire more than just imitation. They inspire a work ethic, a creed, a belief in others to achieve.... not just what has already been but whatever that individual has the potential to achieve on their own level.

My favorite concept is THINK BIG... taken directly from the book
Talent: Our Creator has endowed all of us not just with the ability to sing, dance or throw a ball, but with intellectual talent. Start getting in touch with that part of you that is intellectual and develop that, and think of careers that will allow you to use that.

Honesty: If you lead a clean and honest life, you don't put skeletons in the closet. If you put skeletons in the closet, they definitely will come back just when you don't want to see them and ruin your life.

Insight: It comes from people who have already gone where you're trying to go. Learn from their triumphs and their mistakes.

Nice: If you're nice to people, then once they get over the suspicion of why you're being nice, they will be nice to you.

Knowledge: It makes you into a more valuable person. The more knowledge you have, the more people need you. It's an interesting phenomenon, but when people need you, they pay you, so you'll be okay in life.

Books: They are the mechanism for obtaining knowledge, as opposed to television.

In-Depth Learning: Learn for the sake of knowledge and understanding, rather than for the sake of impressing people or taking a test.

God: Never get too big for Him.

This concept is not too over the top for kindergarten students and is not too elementary for PhD candidates. It's simple and IT IS TRUE.

This theory needs to be applied to our public school systems across this nation. This type of refocus on personal achievement would be extremely beneficial for students and communities as a whole.

Achievement -
taken from THIS AWESOME SITE

In 1987, Carson made medical history with an operation to separate a pair of Siamese twins. The Binder twins were born joined at the back of the head. Operations to separate twins joined in this way had always failed, resulting in the death of one or both of the infants. Carson agreed to undertake the operation. A 70-member surgical team, led by Dr. Carson, worked for 22 hours. At the end, the twins were successfully separated and can now survive independently.

Carson's other surgical innovations have included the first intra-uterine procedure to relieve pressure on the brain of a hydrocephalic fetal twin, and a hemispherectomy, in which an infant suffering from uncontrollable seizures has half of its brain removed. This stops the seizures, and the remaining half of the brain actually compensates for the missing hemisphere.

All I could say was wow. This type of personal achievement is almost unheard of. By reading the book you can see exactly why Dr. Carson was able to achieve all of these things. He took pride in himself, what he did, and what he represented. Personal pride. REAL GENUINE personal pride in not only what we are but in what what we do as well. Realizing this pride and realizing its potential ensures ACHIEVEMENT especially PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT. Dr. Carson reinforces the fact that personal achievement was so much more important than impressing others. It is what you do for YOU.

GOD IS NUMBER ONE

Dr. Carson, at least through his book, constantly gave thanks, praise, and glory to God for his crowning achievements. The title in of itself was a homage to what God graciously blessed him with. Dr. Carson was a neurosurgeon who participated (not performed) miraculous surgeries numerous times. He could have easily taken the credit, but because he realized that he was merely the hands that God chose to work through he represented a well respected sense of humility and self actualization.


So... concluding thoughts tomorrow...

THIS IS NEEDS TO STOP ---- A CALL FOR ACTION

As college EDUCATED students who have studied exactly the impact violence has had on the black community there is no reason why we need to continually resort to its treacherous use in the streets, on campus, with our friends, in front of families. Tonight as I right this, I have a friend who is in the hospital suffering brain injuries because of a fight at a college party. We are too bright for this, way too intelligent, way too smart to be involved in this situation. However, it continues to happen every weekend. We don't need to do this to ourselves. Its an absolute tragedy that you come miles away from your family to attempt to get your degree and do something for your community and have to fight to live because of one evening at a party. It is not worth it... one night of fun isn't worth your safety, your friend's safety or any of your brother or sisters safety. We have to change things.....

Best Wisdom comes from Cartoons

"Tear down the walls of convention with the wrecking ball of creativity and rebuild the walls of innovation with the mortar of collaboration."
- Sunny Baxter (Andre 3000, Class of 3000)

While watching my absolute favorite, Cartoon Network, last night I caught the premiere episode of highly anticipated animated series Class of 3000 from Benjamin Andre of Outkast. The show was pretty good, a light hearted comedy that will most likely be enjoyed by elementary age students.The whole episode is based upon the quote that I have posted above. Sunny Baxter, the picture character above, attempts to teach the kids how to apply the quote to their music lessons and planning for the school pageant. Of course, in true cartoon fashion, the kids confuse the quote, Sunny forgets to teach them to work together and everything becomes a huge mess until the last minute when everyone pulls together to allow the pageant to succeed. The funny thing is.... I fell in love with the quote... I felt that it was applicable to many things particularly the life of a college student. I needed to find out who said this quote, in what context, and when.... so while googling the quote I come to find out that the quote is from the script of the show. No philosopher, no activist, no PhD.... writers for a television show, perhaps even Andre 3000 himself. The beauty is that even in cartoons one can find someone else's passion for creativity, wisdom, and inspiration.