AfroTraditionalist

Book Wishlist – Book Number 1

cosiar — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:26:03 +0000

The Middle Passage, Vintage Series, V. S. Naipaul, 9780375708343 Paperback – Barnes.

Synopsis

In 1960 the government of Trinidad invited V. S. Naipaul to revisit his native country and record his impressions. In this classic of modern travel writing he has created a deft and remarkably prescient portrait of Trinidad and four adjacent Caribbean societies–countries haunted by the legacies of slavery and colonialism and so thoroughly defined by the norms of Empire that they can scarcely believe that the Empire is ending.
In The Middle Passage, Naipaul watches a Trinidadian movie audience greeting Humphrey Bogart’s appearance with cries of “That is man!” He ventures into a Trinidad slum so insalubrious that the locals call it the Gaza Strip. He follows a racially charged election campaign in British Guiana (now Guyana) and marvels at the Gallic pretension of Martinique society, which maintains the fiction that its roads are extensions of France’s routes nationales. And throughout he relates the ghastly episodes of the region’s colonial past and shows how they continue to inform its language, politics, and values. The result is a work of novelistic vividness and dazzling perspicacity that displays Naipaul at the peak of his powers.

We Can Save and Preserve our Culture!

cosiar — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 09:20:56 +0000

The time has come. Time to take over our communities. For the glory of our ancestors and for the security of our children , grandchildren and their children. The government can not do this for you- matter of fact they will stop you, they need to control you. Vote not for Democrat or Republican, take vote of confidence in yourself and control your own destiny. “If you cannot do it…you shall die!”

cosiar — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:19:06 +0000

I join too many sites…lol

BlackMenToday – BlackPlanet.com

cosiar — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:55:24 +0000

Interesting video where a round table of professional Black men discuss a few topics affecting Black men today. I found it interesting, maybe you will too.

BlackMenToday – BlackPlanet.com.

RLJ Companies to Bring Jobs, Build Homes in Haiti – BLACK ENTERPRISE

cosiar — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:05:36 +0000

Great idea, an African American spreading our influence through out the diaspora. Robert Johnson also promoted we take ownership of Liberia and treat it as our Israel. That is an idea I agree with, we started the nation.

RLJ Companies to Bring Jobs, Build Homes in Haiti – BLACK ENTERPRISE.

List the Six Books

cosiar — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:56:51 +0000

What six books shaped you and your outlook on life? What were the most powerful, meaning and repeatedly read tombs of your literary life? Let us know in the comments section.

For me it has been

Black Majority – Peter Woods – A seminal piece of work and the best history book I’ve read by a good deal. Dealing with colonial South Carolina it delves deep into the origins of African American culture and language. Please read, it will be the first step in your awakening.

The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual by Harold Cruse – Showed me that one could embrace nationalist and traditionalist beliefs without skewing extreme. Harold Cruse’s writing also had a more cerebral and less populist tone than my other great influence , The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey.

Invisible Man & Shadow and Act by Ralph Ellison – As an artist no one was as honest about the Black and ultimately the human experience than Ralph Ellison. Shadow & Act showed me how to interput information in a whole new way, and how my experience leads me interpret art and information.

The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey by Marcus Garvey & Alexander Crummell: A Study in Civilization and Discontent- by William J. Moses- Garvey’s book is the bible for any Black nationalist & Alexander was a great Civilizationist, his belief in building our own institutions and nations inspired Garvey and still inspires me.

The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams

Honorable mention:

The House of Morgan by Ron Chernow

Class by Paul Fussell

The Protestant Establishment by E. Digby Baltzell

Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston – I like this better than Invisible Man but it just re affirmed my beliefs as we agreed on much.

The AfroTraditionalist’s Political Philosophy

cosiar — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:02:00 +0000

According to ontheissues.com, I am a moderate Libertarian. Not sure I agree with or can relate to the various Libertarian groups, many of who are incurable loons by any standard.

NAACP, Desegregation and Sending the Wrong Message?

cosiar — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:40:00 +0000

It seems the NAACP has tried to take the old civil rights fight and apply them to this era. As a Fogey I can understand an inability to let go of the past. But this is worst. The NAACP is attempting to apply the directives of the pre-1970 Civil Right fight onto today’s supposed problem with school desegregation. They do this and of course send the message that Black children do not have the ability to learn whilst sitting next to other Black children. That waking up at some ungodly hour, taking a bus out of town to sit next to white children will somehow help their child do better. It is a silly idea and ignores to true problem with in our community. The NAACP should be focusing on making sure the teachers in our schools are up to par, they need to try to influence parents to be more involved, create programs to support these children and first and foremost recognize it starts at home not with busing. They must stop promoting the idea that Black kids can’t learn simple because they are sitting with Black kids, stop placing responsibility outward.

http://www.todaysdrum.com/11482/north-carolina-faces-claims-of-resegregation/

Building Sustainable Communities

cosiar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:48:14 +0000

It is sad we have excluded ourselves from the sustainable communities discussion. Through out much of our history we lived in self sustained communities practicing what they now call organic farming. Imagine how lower our crime rates would be, and how much more efficient our schools would be if you took greater control in what we do and produce in our communities. It is time to remove the government from the equation and get back to controlling our own destines.

http://www.todaysdrum.com/11466/what-is-a-sustainable-community-and-why-should-blacks-care/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+todaysdrum%2FvVVb+%28Today%27s+Drum+-+Positive+Black+News%29

Re Connecting with the Past

cosiar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:55:52 +0000

Geechee Chef Charlotte Jenkins is putting back a cookbook of her favorite recipes. Support her and your culture by buying this book and cooking its recipes.

Full Circle | Charleston Magazine.