Last week was an event-full week!

On Saturday I attended the Legacy Gala where we championed people within our community who were making a positive impact and leaving a legacy (maybe I’ll be included next year!)  An old friend of mine, Marlon ‘Kush’ Palmer received an award for his contributions to showcasing Black films over the last 20 years (I designed his very first logo!).

I was interviewed at the Gala by ‘No Ordinary Woman’ Chat Show about my novel ‘Journey of a Sister’ – it was a coincidence that I’d only met the presenter Caz-Maz a few days earlier at the Mayor of Southwark’s Office! (That’s another story!)

And last Thursday, I attended the Premier Screening of ‘Birth of a Nation’.  It wasn’t what I expected, as most of the film simply promoted white supremacy, and blatantly showed how the bible was used to subdue my ancestors and turn them docile.  I thought I was going to see an empowering film about revolution, but for me, ‘The Birth of a Nation’ was really about the birth of white supremacy through the enslavement of my ancestors.  As the descendant of an enslaved African, in my opinion, this film did nothing to empower me, and did nothing to honour my ancestors.

The bright side was, I had the opportunity to perform my poem “Who Am I?” before the film started.  It was befitting for me to perform this particular poem, because when I was in Ghana in November 2014, I performed this same poem in the dungeons where my ancestors were held in squalid conditions before being torn from their Motherland and shipped from Cape Coast (one of them was called ‘The Good Ship Jesus’).  I performed it right on the spot where my ancestors were held captive. It was also the 8th anniversary of my grandmothers passing:

It took me a year to write about my experiences in Ghana, but the last two chapters of my revised Self-help novel now titled ‘Journey of a Sister’ are based upon my experiences there. Get your paperback here (ships worldwide).

Anyway, the following day (Friday), I went to see the play ‘So You Think I’m Crazy?’ at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, North London.  Brilliant acting, which again portrayed the many ways my people are under psychological attack – this time through the Mental Health system.  Here’s a clip:

Religion, mainstream media, the food we eat, the music we listen to, and the (mis) education system, are some of the ways we battle psychological warfare.

Along my own Self-healing journey, I studied how the mind works in order to heal myself from depression and self-sabotage.  I learnt that our childhood programming determines how we think and act as adults.  As someone who was indoctrinated into a religion from a very young age, it took me years to un-indoctrinate myself.  On top of that, I’m still going through the process of re-programming my subconscious mind from the negative words and beatings I received as a child (that’s how deep it goes!)  I now know that the whippings my ancestors received were to break them down mentally in order to control them physically.  My parent’s generation were simply enacting their genetic coding of beating their children mercilessly, being emotionally detached from them, speaking negatively to them (e.g. “You are worthless/good for nothing/ugly…”), and taking them to church to be indoctrinated to be humble servants.  I am grateful for my upbringing, because that’s what has led me to the path I’m on today; to help my people ‘break free from mental slavery’.

Religion is a Mind Control tool.  When coupled with the slave mentality, it leaves our minds weak and susceptible to any suggestion made to them.  I seek to work with those who are raising the next generation, because as Frederick Douglas said, “It’s easier to raise strong children than to mend broken adults”. If you are committed to the process of healing, read my Self-help books!

After watching the film ‘Sankofa’ in 2010, I cried out to my ancestors and asked them what I could do to help my people heal.  The following morning, I played the guitar track and recorded ‘We Belong Together’ in my home studio (I recorded it first, then wrote it after – it was channeled!):

Since then I’ve also written ‘Journey of a Sister’ and ‘How to Get the Ring On Your Finger’ (which has contributions from over 30 brothers).  Both books look at how our PAST has affected the way we relate to each other TODAY. They will help you begin the process of Self-healing, and help you build Self Love, Love for your race, Self-dignity and Pride in who you are.

These are the legacies I am leaving for my commUNITY, read them!  You can download ‘How to Get the Ring On Your Finger’ FREE when you subscribe, or get both paperbacks signed by me from the Books page for only £14.99! (ships worldwide, Paypal will convert currency).

December Events:

This Sunday I’m doing a Presentation at the Launch of ‘Kings & Queens United’, a new platform aimed at helping us ‘re-create our bonds’.   My interactive talk will be based on the topics raised in ‘How to Get the Ring On Your Finger’, and I’ll also be performing my poem ‘R U The One?’  This is a Dinner & Discussion type of event, download the e-book of ‘How to Get the Ring On Your Finger’ FREE, and come and join in the discussion!  Book your ticket here, which includes a Caribbean buffet meal!

SAD Presentation @ Brixton Library Sunday 18^th December 2-4pm

Read my blog post on how Colour Therapy can ease symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, and come to my FREE workshop! (Books and Art Prints will be on sale)

For details of other events I’ll be at during December visit the Events page!

I look forward to seeing you!

Award-winning Visual & Spoken Word Artist, International Author, Events Host, Workshop Facilitator