Life. Observation of the human circumstance. Spirituality. Poetry. Art. Knowledge. (In no particular order.)
Heroes
All those past and present, living quiet, unassuming lives, who -- without fanfare, limelight, acknowledgement, or glory -- shed blood for, supported, enabled, encouraged, and took risks so that racial justice could be manifested and so that present and future generations could live in a more equitable society.
All those upon whose shoulders I stand, including my parents and Elders whose love, sacrifice, and oral histories and traditions touched and shaped me.
My layout, graphics, banners and photo editing done by "Creations By Donna" Click her banner and go see her work...tell her I sent you.
I am first and foremost a poet (www.myspace.com/ayiraspokenword), artist, and social observer. My poetry reflects my social justice perspective and observations of life. A native Washingtonian transplanted to Baltimore, my poetry explores topics such as relationships; spirituality; the realities of being/living of African descent in the USA; politics; the universal condition; and explorations and observations on the kaleidoscope of self.
By trade, I am a consultant specializing in organizational development (strategic planning, feasibility and organizational assessment studies/reports, nonprofit board development); membership building and fundraising (expanding membership bases, major donor fundraising, foundation and corporate fundraising); community organizing technical assistance, and workshop facilitation and trainings on a variety of topics essential to the viability of nonprofit organizations.
In addition, according to both vocation and avocation, I am an anti-racism / anti-oppression "specialist" and facilitator. I study the historical development, manifestations, and trends around the "ism" issues in American society that have been used to systematically and institutionally oppress groups of people since the inception of the United States of America. My particular focuses are racism/white supremacy and internalized oppression (when oppressed people believe, internalize, and act upon those denigrating messages and stereotypes developed and attached to them by majority society; i.e. those in power).
My blog, "Blogging Amerikkka", will focus on deconstructing racism/white supremacy and internalized oppression found in all aspects of every day life: popular culture and society, the legal system, entertainment, media, images of African Americans in popular society, etc.
Hope that you will join me there and add your comments to my own...
A Matter of Perspective
They tell me to forget the past
Say I am enslaved to it
That it’s no longer relevant
That we’ve successfully passed
Through it
That since I am rooted in my history
I cannot be objective
But what I’ve found is that their
Opinion is a matter of perspective
When talking about their history
Then everything is fine
When talking about my history then
Friendships are on the line
All of a sudden our roles are reversed
And I’m the oppressor from which
They need protection
And it’s clear to me that what we’re
Experiencing is a divide
In historical perspective
We’re all individuals to be judged
On our activities, our rights
Our wrongs
But there is also a much larger context
To which all of us belong
Generations have come before us and
We walk in the footprints
Of their legacy
And we cannot be complete individuals
Without that sense of our own history
When talking about my history
Friendships are often put on the line
People want to ignore its importance
And feel we’re engaging in one big whine
But history’s enduring legacy goes on in feelings
And emotional invective
Another reason why it’s important to deal
In fact and not just emotional
Individual perspective
Whether feelings are hurt, whether the past
Is dismissed or celebrated in its time
Often depends on the side on which you stand
In Amerikkka’s color line
I wanted to share this with you and your circle of friends *smiles*
The original work "Awakened By His Light" was created July 9, 2008, by (Creations By Donna) Donna Osborn Clark. I knew when I created this it was going to be a book cover sometime in the future. Well, that time (several months after it's creation) is now! *smiles* It is now the cover art for a beautiful inspirational book that is an anthology of stories from 14 gifted authors titled: “Never Would Have Made It: A Testimony of What God Has Done In My Life” published by Tranquil Moments LLC.
If you like the artwork you will love the rest of God's plan for this!
"Awakened By HIS Light" is also now available on all of your favorite items from prints, cards, stickers and magnets to household items and apparel at my Create Space Store. www.cafepress.com/DonnasCreations/6590691
Thanks for reading *smiles* please know that I appreciate you so much!!!! I KNOW that if not for many of my amazing friends here I would not be doing what I love most, creating the visions that God gives me. I am so very thankful to be able to do that and to be able to share them with you here.
Well, it was packed in there. There was a youth group that rolled through. Some of the ones I heard were very encouraging (new young writers). I was late as promised as well as looked fly as promised ;o).
There was a lot of good poetry all the wa y around. Some little gentleman (& I mean, gentleman) was playing the keyboard... ...well... ...in his little suite.
Libby had a young boy (think he was 8) co-hosting. It was cute... He called Ken "Keeprah." It was so freaking cute...
I didn't know you were going to be performing. It was a pleasent surprise to see you and Terri. I was happy to be there though.
Yeah, I will be there Thursday. Shux, you miss a 1st Thursday and it's like missing out on a monsoon season during a drought, man. It passes by and still no fertile soil to foster good germination. I do have a networking event to do so i may be late like last time. I'm upset folk are trying to yank my 1st Thursdays though. ...but business is business...
I'll try not to be in the suit this time. My goal will be to keep it somewhat casual but still "Tayree Fly!" :oD...
Yeeeeeeaaaaahhhh!!!!!!! Vacation!!!!! Why an I still at work, hungry and head aching from not eating since 9 a.m. I don't see how anorexics do it. I can't see myself getting use to this madness...
Like, I'm prepared to be fired! Like why am I the only idiot still here working on OUR grant required GOAL the last day before a holiday!!!!! If I leave, Imma have to come in on my day off and if I stay, I'm going to be really pissed AND GOD ONLY KNOWS how that will manifest itself?
Now, I could give you a bowl of cream every night but I can't rub the belly though. Only kitty gets that kind of treatment. Oh, wait, I can give you a bowl of cream, and on your first night over, get you a professional masseuse to give you that treatment in memory of kitty...
Dang, I gotta wait til then. Meeeeeeee, til the last Saturday. *sniffle-snort* *sigh* :o?... Oh well, I guess, if I have to be shoved to the end of the line, it won't be the 1st time. I'll just have to get over being in last place, at the end, way in the back, far-far-far away, almost light years in the future, maybe I'll be able to talk with Buck Rogers while I wait and wait and wait -- who knows, he may have a cute sone or grand son (i'm not sure how old he is buit I'm sure he'll be older by the end of April....
Wow!!! Adar, just relaxing. What is the world coming to?? What a world, what a world. We have to hook up for our lunch. I will call you around 8ish tonight.
Since, you're back on work mode, I'll leave a message and some dates on your voicemail.
Thanking you for sharing your wisdom and love. Wishing you and yours the best NEW YEAR ever:) It was a pleasure to work with you in 2007, they are not ready for what is coming in 08' :)
You know it is going to be fiyah! Only a fool or someone spontaneously drafted into a camel racing army would miss the People's Poetry Awards this Sunday.
