A long day but a good one. In the morning I went down to Sheridan Circle for the Memorial Service in remembrance of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt. Every year IPS friends and supporters meet and the program is a reminder to continue the work we do. Here is the link to our site: www.ips-dc.org
Speakers this morning included Rodrigo Leiva, Gabriel Kornbluh and the the Chilean Ambassador Mariano Fernandez. Saul Landau read 2 poems and Ayana Gregory sang two songs.
During the program John Cavanagh introduced me to Channapha Khamvongsa. What a wonderful person. We immediately found so much to talk about; leaving the memorial program we walked down to DuPont Circle and found a place where we could have juice and continue our conversation. Channapha told me about her project - Legacies of War. Here is the website:
www.legaciesofwar.org
In the late evening I went down to the DCJCC and introduced the writer Darin Strauss. It was great meeting this guy. I enjoyed reading his third novel - MORE THAN IT HURTS YOU.
Highly recommended.
E-NOTES: WHEN THE NEWS IS NOT ENOUGH. THE BLOG OF E. ETHELBERT MILLER
Sunday, September 21, 2008
BOOKS FOR SALE:
Contact E. Ethelbert Miller at emiller698@aol.com
for copies of HOW WE SLEEP ON THE NIGHTS WE DON'T MAKE LOVE.
Price: $13.95. The author will autograph copies.
"On nights when we don't make love, it might be helpful to have some of E. Ethelbert Miller's alluring and captivating poems nearby. As intimate as they are seductive...they should be just as enticing even on nights when we do make love."
- Edwidge Danticat
GIVING FREEDOM A WORLD VOICE
International Symposium Series 2008
A reflection on the global legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Presented by the Humanities Council of Washington, D.C.
November 16-21, 2008
For information visit the following website: http://www.wdchumanities.org/
Saturday, September 20, 2008
THE MEDIA: Oh, Please...
Monitor how many articles and stories begin to appear about race now that the election is almost here. This is another attempt at mainstream media to "poison" our water supply and throw a dead animal into the well. Will white Americans vote for a black man? Notice how it's no longer about experience or qualifications. Thanks Palin. It's back to race. Are we reading too much into the next election? Perhaps...
At the end of the day, most of us are good people and will -do the right thing. Remember that line from Spike? No one wants to be viewed as a racist. Many people will hold onto their worldview - nothing wrong with that. How many people feared the first automobile? Is the question today - can a black man drive? America will either embrace the future or will be dragged backwards into it.
We must understand the importance of tolerance. The next election is not about McCain or Obama, it's about all of us and the type of world we want to live in. It's about the role of government. Nothing more or less.
The election is also about our fears and the ability to find the power to change. The future is uncertain until it becomes past. What we learn each day determines our ability to dream. This is where love and community begins.
Hold the ideas that you cherish in your hands - now ask yourself if you are willing to share. What are you willing to let slip through your fingers? We either live with our hands open or our hands closed. Too many of us only want to make a fist. We harm ourselves by fighting those we believe are strangers.
Know your heart - let it speak to everyone. Listen to the hearts of others.
What is your heart saying? Can you translate it into love?
Monitor how many articles and stories begin to appear about race now that the election is almost here. This is another attempt at mainstream media to "poison" our water supply and throw a dead animal into the well. Will white Americans vote for a black man? Notice how it's no longer about experience or qualifications. Thanks Palin. It's back to race. Are we reading too much into the next election? Perhaps...
At the end of the day, most of us are good people and will -do the right thing. Remember that line from Spike? No one wants to be viewed as a racist. Many people will hold onto their worldview - nothing wrong with that. How many people feared the first automobile? Is the question today - can a black man drive? America will either embrace the future or will be dragged backwards into it.
We must understand the importance of tolerance. The next election is not about McCain or Obama, it's about all of us and the type of world we want to live in. It's about the role of government. Nothing more or less.
The election is also about our fears and the ability to find the power to change. The future is uncertain until it becomes past. What we learn each day determines our ability to dream. This is where love and community begins.
Hold the ideas that you cherish in your hands - now ask yourself if you are willing to share. What are you willing to let slip through your fingers? We either live with our hands open or our hands closed. Too many of us only want to make a fist. We harm ourselves by fighting those we believe are strangers.
Know your heart - let it speak to everyone. Listen to the hearts of others.
What is your heart saying? Can you translate it into love?
IS MARIAN ANDERSON SINGING TONIGHT?
Bombs around the world and I stop at the market this morning with Melissa. We are in downtown Silver Spring and the weather is kissing everyone. Children laughing and many are drooling happiness. In my bag an unread newspaper and a copy of Dreams from My Father.
Melissa has enough vegetables for the week. In Haiti the water is brown and hunger still comes to Darfur on horseback. It's the beginning of fall and the chill in the air has nothing to do with love.
Homeless, Homeless...
According to DC City officials the homeless population in the city exceeds 5,000. I wonder how many new people become homeless each week?
It's important to retire the word shelter from our vocabulary and start talking about housing.
Fenty is doing the right thing (closing Franklin Shelter) but must avoid doing it the wrong way. People will need housing as well as special services such as counseling, job training and mental health care. People will also have to be monitored in order that they can move forward and not backwards. Safeguards and nets are needed. Giving folks gift cards of $300 (for household items) should also come with money management tips and lessons.
A QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES:
When will America be capable of electing a Muslim president of the United States?
It's amazing how many people still believe Obama is a Muslim. It's also amazing how we continue to have negative views of Muslims and the Islamic faith, in a nation that claims to uphold religious tolerance. How long will it take for many Americans to have a better understanding of Islam? Even in the Obama camp there is a rush to move away from being associated too closely with Islam. This is sad and shows there is much work to be done in our society. When will we be able to rejoice about matters of race and religion? What Friday? What Saturday? What Sunday?
Friday, September 19, 2008
New Book:
I ran into Ian Smart today and he gave me a copy of STREET SMART, POEMS by Gerardo Maloney Francis. In 1984 Francis published his first book Juega vivo (Street Smart) representing the new black poetry from Panama.
Ian Smart is translating and publishing the work of Gerardo Maloney Francis. See site:
www.iansmart.com
Smart has been my friend and colleague for many years. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, for more than three decades he has taught Spanish at Howard University.
I ran into Ian Smart today and he gave me a copy of STREET SMART, POEMS by Gerardo Maloney Francis. In 1984 Francis published his first book Juega vivo (Street Smart) representing the new black poetry from Panama.
Ian Smart is translating and publishing the work of Gerardo Maloney Francis. See site:
www.iansmart.com
Smart has been my friend and colleague for many years. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, for more than three decades he has taught Spanish at Howard University.
THE VIEW FROM THE BACK OF THE BUS
So what's going on at the DC Convention Center? All those lovely black business folks walking around looking as if nothing is happening on Wall Street. Maybe it doesn't affect them. I like how we dress and walk in the evening. If we could only get racial points for style...
I looked out the bus window - searching for Booker T. Washington. If I could find him perhaps I could encourage him to change the title of his autobiography to UP FROM BLACK ENTERPRISE AND ESSENCE.
So what's going on at the DC Convention Center? All those lovely black business folks walking around looking as if nothing is happening on Wall Street. Maybe it doesn't affect them. I like how we dress and walk in the evening. If we could only get racial points for style...
I looked out the bus window - searching for Booker T. Washington. If I could find him perhaps I could encourage him to change the title of his autobiography to UP FROM BLACK ENTERPRISE AND ESSENCE.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
RICHARD WRIGHT AT 100
Panel discussion with Dr. James A. Miller and Dr. Michele Simms-Burton
Moderator: E. Ethelbert Miller
Thursday, September 25, 2008
4PM-6PM
The Browsing Room
Founders Library
Thursday, September 25, 2008
4PM-6PM
The Browsing Room
Founders Library
Howard University
I spoke with Julia Wright (Richard Wright's daughter) this afternoon. We had a nice telephone conversation. She is traveling across the country participating in a number of Richard Wright Centennial programs. She plans to finish the book about her father next year.
I spoke with Julia Wright (Richard Wright's daughter) this afternoon. We had a nice telephone conversation. She is traveling across the country participating in a number of Richard Wright Centennial programs. She plans to finish the book about her father next year.