My Africana Blog

 I first met Dr Awoonor at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa, when I was an assistant t professor and  a very junior faculty member in the English Department. Dr Awoonor joined  the department following a sabbatical leave granted to him by Stony Brook University where he had been teaching for several  year as a  distinguished professor.

 This blog entry is based on an article in Yahoo!Life for November 5, 2024 written by Serafina Kenny. Naomi Whitehead , an African-American centenarian is now the oldest living person in the US. Her Life story:She was born in Georgia on September 26, 1910. She said in a New Castle interview in 2023 “ I ‘ll live as long as the Lord lets me.” Her philosophy of life and Lifestyle: she attributes her longevity to the following factors: 1. Working hard. Worked on a farm for several years: plowing, picking cotton, and tobacco. Always on the move. 2. Religious woman: Religion plays a great role in her Life. Her grand son describes her as “ a Godly woman. She is truly Blessed.” 3. Never smoked, never used alcohol or tobacco. God Bless Madam Naomi Whitehead.  Please check my previous blog entries on longevity in Ghana and in our own family.

 When I was appointed director of the Paterson Free Public Library ( the first black person to occupy that position since the library was founded in 1885 as NewJersey’s first  chartered public library), one of the first things I did was to plant a tree on EARTHDAY in April of 1993. The tree was purchased for the occasion by the Friends of the Library, under the leadership of Dr. Richard Rumania, then president of the Friends of the Paterson Library. The tree was planted in the south-east corner of the employees parking lot , near the  Children’s Department at the Main Library on 250 Broadway. The maintenance staff , their supervisor, Roger, myself and a pastor from one of the churches were present. Before the tree was planted, I talked about our responsibilities  to save the Earth as God’s  creatures, and to continue to ensure that the planet we call our home will remain sustainable and livable for future generations.  I also poured libation asking the anim...

 Two teenage girls in Mississippi fought against discrimination. In 1966.  Clyde Marie Perry 17 and Emma  Jean Wilson 14, intergrated their Grenada Mississippi schools and successfully fought against expelling pregnant students like themselves.

 Rosa parks had been credited with starting the civil rights fight.       But    BUT. According to the historical record. , a young  a 15-year old teenager CLAUDETTE COLVIN  in 1955 was arrested for refusing to give up her Montgomery. Alabama bus seat to a white passenger, nine months before Rosa Parks. The leader of  Colvin’s local NAACP Youth     Council chapter did the same. “ she wanted change.” 

 I always listen to Christmas music in December. I did so in 2023. One particular song caught my attention. That’s why I am blogging about it. On Sunday, 24th November 1984, a group of famous musicians gathered in London and recorded “. Do They Know It Is Christmas Time” to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. While the philosophy behind the entire project is noble, and noteworthy, some parts of the lyrics is not commendable. I am particularly sad and disturbed about that part of the lyrics that question whether they “ Do they know it is  Christmas Time?”. With all due respect, Ethiopians, and the Coptic Church has had a long  Christian tradition since the First Century. It was said that some of the Apostles brought the Christian religion to Ethiopia after the Resurrection. Some Coptic priests even claim that the Arc of the Covenant is in Ethiopia. I once saw a program on television whereby  Ethiopian Coptic Christians traveled several miles from their rural ou...