I actually don't think that this relates directly to my internship at CASA. But, I'm at work on a Tuesday evening and I'm imputing voter information into the computer so naturally I'm bored and naturally I'm listening to music.
The new NAS album "Untitled" or as he originally titled it "Ni**er" came out today so I'm listening it out online. The song "Ya'll my Ni**as" caught my eye, or ear rather. Actually, a specific line...check it:
"They got Nigeria and Niger
Two different countries
Somehow Niger turned to ni**er
And shit got ugly
The problem is we started thinking like the colonists..."
Now, I was born in Nigeria for those of you who don't know. And, to a very large extent I associate my identification and consciousness to the land whose name has Latin orgin and comes from the word "niger" which means black. Other variants include the Spanish/Portuguese word "neger" which also means black. The French, "neger," you guessed it, means black. The significance of the names Nigeria and Niger, given to my homeland isn't as deep as some may seem, it simply meant land of black inhabitants. Now, what is the significance of this seemingly non-related post...
it all just got me thinking I suppose. I proudly wear the colors green and white. I proudly identify as a Nigerian, West African. But, what does that really mean? Alas, my country will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2 years but it is much older than 50. The collected land and people that inhabit what is known as modern day Nigeria will be 50. The country gained its independence from the British in 1960. Just writing that sentence fills me with directed rage. I know that sounds like an oxymoron but just give me a couple of years to organize this J.D. degree and I'm going to wreak havoc...ugh, "gained independence..." I'll move on I suppose. The lines on the map that make up Nigeria will be 50...because truly that's all the country is...lines on a map.
Not all of the groups of people who now live and die in Nigeria once lived in such close proximity. They were forced to move closer by the Europeans during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and Colonialism/Imperialism. Gotta love that era! And, listening to Nasir Jones took me back, just like that movie I was watching last night did. It took me back to last summer, in Ghana, visiting the slave dungeons at Elmina and Cape Coast...
I can't even try to articulate all the sensations I experienced. It was as if everything was being stimulated at once, and not just my 5 senses, but the senses within the senses, and the ones within those....
conclusion: Europeans came to my homeland, raped my people and our resources physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, spiritually, religiously, politically and any other lly you can think of, and then they took a map and drew some random lines...
fast forward to 2008, I walk around a proud Nigerian without really knowing what that means. And, people have the nerve to question my state of mind, disposition, opinions, and emotions....
they don't even want to get me started!
Power!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Organizing & Tequila
We had our first generation change summer session this past Friday. It was enlightening and necessary. It was on "National Youth Organizing" and we had 3 dynamic speakers. Carmen Berkley from USSA (big sis), Edith Sargon of Choice USA, and Jessy Tolkan of Energy Action. Great discussion. Great minds. Power!
Whenever I attend sessions such as this I always get re- energized and reinvigorated. I was familiar with a lot of the things Carmen was saying (because she's my big sister) but I learned some interesting things about the other women and their organizations. Organizing is fucking powerful man...I wish more people knew there were careers in it...
Jessy got me thinking about the whole environmental/green movement. I want to get engaged. I really do. It's just hard as a person of color to dedicate my time when I know there are more pressing matters at hand. Also, the green movement like the GLBTQ movement is led primarily by progressive white folks while people of color are consistently being pushed to the outskirts. Jessey kind of hit on this. She talked about how in the past the green movement has worked versus other movements especially people of color movements and her organization works to pull all the different organizations in and work with them...collectively for all of their issues...so you can't advocate for energy stuff and ignore the sweat workers movement...it makes sense in my head but I don't know how practical it all is? I guess I need to attend one of their sessions or conferences or something. I'm trying to be a environmental friendly black progressive...ha!
I'm getting into it though...reading up on some of Damali Ayo's ish....I need to connect with more black green folks. That's the support I need/want right now. And, then I can branch out. I need to understand this monster as it relates to me, Sheila, a progressive black, female, GLBTQ identifying, immigrant youth...
ya dig?
The session was cool. After that we went to happy hour. Tequila...yum! Great people. Great minds. Great conversation. Kali, myself, Neha, Kiran, Cari, and some other guy (who came w/ Kali's boo). We had a very interesting conversation about Israel and Palestine and half way into it I had to fall back...it was more of an educational seminar for me. Not my expertise but I'm always willing to learn...
we dropped the guy and went to Busboys & Poets. More drinks and an even better conversation with just the girls about our lives and the complexities of it all...
it was a good reminder of why programs like this works. I think the Center Community Change will be wise to adapt the Gen Change program next year so that it incorporates more connections with the interns and fellows. There's nothing more uplifting and beautiful than getting to know other young, progressive folk who think like you, are dedicated to the social justice movement like yourself, and who have been through similar ish as you....
just an observation. But, it rivaled some of my favorite conversations ever. Made me realize why I love conferences with people such as this. We're all different to look at. What was it? An Iraqi, a Nigerian, an Indian, and half Jewish Indian....but the program is fostering bonding and connecting across our differences in culture, experiences, and school of thought...
Power!
Jessy got me thinking about the whole environmental/green movement. I want to get engaged. I really do. It's just hard as a person of color to dedicate my time when I know there are more pressing matters at hand. Also, the green movement like the GLBTQ movement is led primarily by progressive white folks while people of color are consistently being pushed to the outskirts. Jessey kind of hit on this. She talked about how in the past the green movement has worked versus other movements especially people of color movements and her organization works to pull all the different organizations in and work with them...collectively for all of their issues...so you can't advocate for energy stuff and ignore the sweat workers movement...it makes sense in my head but I don't know how practical it all is? I guess I need to attend one of their sessions or conferences or something. I'm trying to be a environmental friendly black progressive...ha!
I'm getting into it though...reading up on some of Damali Ayo's ish....I need to connect with more black green folks. That's the support I need/want right now. And, then I can branch out. I need to understand this monster as it relates to me, Sheila, a progressive black, female, GLBTQ identifying, immigrant youth...
ya dig?
The session was cool. After that we went to happy hour. Tequila...yum! Great people. Great minds. Great conversation. Kali, myself, Neha, Kiran, Cari, and some other guy (who came w/ Kali's boo). We had a very interesting conversation about Israel and Palestine and half way into it I had to fall back...it was more of an educational seminar for me. Not my expertise but I'm always willing to learn...
we dropped the guy and went to Busboys & Poets. More drinks and an even better conversation with just the girls about our lives and the complexities of it all...
it was a good reminder of why programs like this works. I think the Center Community Change will be wise to adapt the Gen Change program next year so that it incorporates more connections with the interns and fellows. There's nothing more uplifting and beautiful than getting to know other young, progressive folk who think like you, are dedicated to the social justice movement like yourself, and who have been through similar ish as you....
just an observation. But, it rivaled some of my favorite conversations ever. Made me realize why I love conferences with people such as this. We're all different to look at. What was it? An Iraqi, a Nigerian, an Indian, and half Jewish Indian....but the program is fostering bonding and connecting across our differences in culture, experiences, and school of thought...
Power!
Coincidence or Consequence?
It's been a while. It's officially the 5th week of the internship so after this week it'll be the halfway point. So, what I've been up to so far? We started our first week of the citizenship ceremonies last week. We went to the Immigration building at 31 Hopkins Plaza in Baltimore, clad in our bright red CASA t-shirts and educated and registered newly naturalized citizens to vote.
It pretty much consisted of us getting there, going through security, and walking around with voter registration forms talking to people who were waiting for their ceremonies and trying to convince them to register to vote even though they would not "technically" be citizens until after their swearing.
This task is harder than it sounds because of our arduous naturalization process. About 90% of the people we talk to are people of color and most of them have gone through some much shit to become citizens of this great country that they aren't trying to get roped into anything that's going to jeopardize all that time, effort, and money. I actually don't blame them. But, I have to keep on chugging w/ the job...
Some people take the forms, fill them out, and promise to give them to us after their ceremony. Most, take it home to complete. And, some outright deny us to our faces. My question is...why else become a citizen? I guess it's the power that comes along with having an American passport but they only main difference in terms of rights is voting. Alas, I won't ever understand...it may be timing though, like, I stated before. They may just be scared. They aren't even citizens yet...ya dig?
We did really well Wednesday last week. We registered and collected about 40 forms. That's not bad for about an hour and a half. What people don't realize is that this is really an untapped constituency. I can't imagine the number of newly naturalized citizens who just never register to vote.
So, I do that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and on Mondays and Fridays I try to compile every one's information so that we can follow up with them and hopefully get them engaged in the movement. Things are moving along finally. There was a huge rally yesterday outside the immigration building concerning some raids that occurred at a panting factory in Annapolis. Not a good look for our voter registration. We were in the paper and our name was said numerous times...
go figure they moved the citizenship ceremony up to 2 p.m. and its usually at 3 p.m. We registered a grand total of 3 people yesterday at the INS building. Coincidence on Consequence?
Power!
It pretty much consisted of us getting there, going through security, and walking around with voter registration forms talking to people who were waiting for their ceremonies and trying to convince them to register to vote even though they would not "technically" be citizens until after their swearing.
This task is harder than it sounds because of our arduous naturalization process. About 90% of the people we talk to are people of color and most of them have gone through some much shit to become citizens of this great country that they aren't trying to get roped into anything that's going to jeopardize all that time, effort, and money. I actually don't blame them. But, I have to keep on chugging w/ the job...
Some people take the forms, fill them out, and promise to give them to us after their ceremony. Most, take it home to complete. And, some outright deny us to our faces. My question is...why else become a citizen? I guess it's the power that comes along with having an American passport but they only main difference in terms of rights is voting. Alas, I won't ever understand...it may be timing though, like, I stated before. They may just be scared. They aren't even citizens yet...ya dig?
We did really well Wednesday last week. We registered and collected about 40 forms. That's not bad for about an hour and a half. What people don't realize is that this is really an untapped constituency. I can't imagine the number of newly naturalized citizens who just never register to vote.
So, I do that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and on Mondays and Fridays I try to compile every one's information so that we can follow up with them and hopefully get them engaged in the movement. Things are moving along finally. There was a huge rally yesterday outside the immigration building concerning some raids that occurred at a panting factory in Annapolis. Not a good look for our voter registration. We were in the paper and our name was said numerous times...
go figure they moved the citizenship ceremony up to 2 p.m. and its usually at 3 p.m. We registered a grand total of 3 people yesterday at the INS building. Coincidence on Consequence?
Power!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)