Posts tagged Barak Obama

Now that February has come to a close, the celebration and acknowledgments of Black History will also go with it. Signaling the bitter-sweet nature of the month that some may not be aware of. Is Black History Month really down for the cause, or is it just an outdated celebration that has run its course? Black pride is nothing new, of course. Feelings of dignity in Black societies worldwide is part of our history. Celebrating culture going back as old as civilization itself in the heart of the Rift Valley in the Horn of Africa, to Black influence birthed out …

The complex nature of a boy whose life-story begins in immeasurable turmoil only to end as a righteous man who died by the bullet. Revisiting the legacy of Malcolm Little aka el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz : without his contribution to Black self-actualization, the political discourse of Black people worldwide would be quite different. This is why it is important to remember not just his career, but his life story. In 1946, Malcolm Little, a small-time thief, would serve time in Charleston State Prison (later in MCI-Norfolk Prison) for larceny and breaking and entering, facing up to 10 years in the can. …

On the morning of Monday October 18, the world received news of the passing of General Colin Powell. His family made the announcement via Facebook that Powell who was the first Black person to serve as Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary Of State of the United States died of Covid-19 complications. He was 84. Born Colin Luther Powell on April 5, 1937 in Harlem, New York to Jamaican parents, the distinguished war hero cum statesman was beloved by many on both sides of the political fence. An admitted poor student who grew up in The Bronx, …

Several years ago the name Barack Obama came to prominence, becoming a daily staple in the media. Dubbed a “community organizer” the name, unusual as far as names go, and unconventional as it may have sounded back then, took some time to register on (some) people’s psyche. Some thinking that it may have been some kind of moniker to disguise the true identity of the real person. But the world soon became familiar and accustomed to the name and face association, not just with the moniker community organizer, but especially because he was sociable and easily connected with people, among …

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that of the 82.4 million forcibly displaced people in the world at the end of 2020, about a quarter of them, probably 20 million or so are refugees, seeking a place of refuge from squalor, violence and hunger. The United States of America, probably the most affluent nation in the world today, certainly the mightiest, offers a place to 18,000 refugees that year. Compare that to the 3.7 million Turkey is providing a home for. That’s the backdrop to the horrific story of human suffering that has been unfolding under a bridge …

In almost every Canadian province, maybe with the exception of Quebec and in many major cities across the country, you’ll find a poet laureate, a person tasked with the responsibility of using poetry and literature to give expression to the cultural life of their jurisdiction. On its website, the League of Canadian Poets states: “Poets laureate encourage and promote the importance of literature, culture, and language in Canadian society and work to strengthen the public’s relationship to literature.” This quite illustrious and lofty designation was recently given to Randell Adjei, a writer, poet, educator spoken-word artist, who on April 29 …

I am not here to blame you Mr. Tim Scott, because in spite of you being black, you have made it to become a Senator in the prestigious U. S. Senate Being the only black Republican in the Senate is still an achievement. You have also demonstrated that you are in favor of changes for the better, for the Black minority particularly in the United States. Therefore it comes as a big surprise to many when you on stage, in front of millions of viewers forcefully declared that “AMERICA IS NOT A RACIST COUNTRY.” This is where we draw the …

Today Dr. Lucy Gilbert stands at the top of her profession as one of the leading researchers in the field of gynecological cancers. Her focus on the early detection of ovarian and endometrial cancer has led to the development of a leading-edge test that has the potential of saving the lives of generations of women around the world. For that, she continues to earn widespread acclamation including this past January, being named among Canada’s Top Women of Influence for 2021, a recognition that underlines Dr. Gilbert’s efforts “to drive positive change; or reaching inspiring heights on a global stage.” The …

Rosie Awori (LJI) Nicholas Johnson, who made history in 2020 when he became the first Black valedictorian at Princeton University, has been recently named by CNBC media organization as one of 23 Black leaders who are shaping history. The young Montrealer is the first Black student to earn that distinction in one of the world’s most prestigious institution, which was established in 1734 as the fourth-oldest college in the USA and boasts of having over 40 Nobel laureates, seven Pulitzer Prize winners, and three U.S. presidents. The latest acknowledgement and commendation publish on CNBC online platform- make it- stand him …

On Wednesday, January 20, Kamala Harris took the oath of office to become the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president of the United States of America, A monumental achievement, not so much for Harris but for a country in which systemic barriers have obstructed women of color from holding top political offices or other positions of influence. However Harris, the child of a famed Jamaican-born economist, Donald Harris and a cancer research scientist from India, Shyamala Gopalan made a habit of elevating above barriers as she made her way to the highest-ranking female elected official in the country’s …