"The way Obama has scooped victories
in state after state is amazing,” remarked Momodou Joof, Director
General for the National Center for Arts and Culture in Banjul, The
Gambia’s capitol city. However, not all Gambians identify with
Obama’s victories. “I want to see a woman who will mother the
American nation,” proclaimed University of the Gambia Professor Fodeh
Baldeh.
However, the West Africans we spoke with are mainly looking for an
Obama victory, but all do not identify with Obama just because of
his African ancestry. “I do not see him as a Black man. I see him
as a liberator of the people,” commented Barbacour Cessay, a journalist
for the Gambia-based pan-African Foroyaa newspaper. (Foroyaa
means freedom in Mandinka, the dominate ethnic group in The Gambia.)
“If Obama wins maybe Blacks will have more freedom and opportunities,”
added Nyato Nursery school headmistress Elizabeth Sanko. Up the
Gambia River in Juffreh, Kunte Kinte’s hometown, Bakery Ngie was more
confident. The Kinte relative added, “If Barack Obama wins,
Blacks will gain more freedom.”
Even European and American visitors in The Gambia thought Obama’s
victory will signal that America is ready to play a more positive role
in world affairs. “You beat people just because you have a big
stick,” commented Mageng Hassel-Flugh of Denmark at Port of Harlem’s Meet and Greet at
Timbooktu Bookstore in the somewhat swanky suburb of Bakau-New
Town. Obama, he continued, “is a young man and has nice ideas.”
Peace Corp volunteer Dan Socha added that an Obama victory would mean
that the U.S. would have more interest in African affairs. The
East Providence, RI native admitted that he did not vote in the primary
but thinks “Obama would be good for
Africa.” Continued Joof, who is busy planning Banjul’s annual
International Roots Festival, “It can change America’s relationship
with the rest of the world.”
Next
Stops:
Sa. March 8 - The State of Wyoming - A caucus state (an election method
where he has done well) 1% Black
Tu. March 11- The State of Mississippi - A traditional primary
state - 37% Black - the state with the highest percentage of Blacks
Taking Root: The
Vision of Wangari Maathai - U.S. Premiere
Taking
Root
tells the story of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, who led
a movement in her native Kenya to safeguard the environment and human
rights. Born when most girls in Kenya were uneducated, Maathai became
the first woman to both earn a Ph.D. and to head a university
department in that country. She came to international attention as
founder of the Green Belt Movement, which helps restore forests while
paying women to plant trees. Through the group, she has helped women
plant more than 30 million trees across Africa, and has taken
courageous stands for democracy and women’s rights. This screening will
be followed by a discussion with filmmakers Lisa Merton and Alan Dater,
and Chris Tuite, director of the Green Belt Movement's Washington
office.
Saturday, March 15,
3p.
Member $13/Nonmember $15
Port of Harlem T-shirts
Now
you can own a beautiful 100% cotton, deluxe Port of Harlem T-shirt worn
by the magazine’s staff. The cost in only $20 and includes
shipping and handling. We have a limited number of
shirts available in the following sizes: 4-XL, 10-L, 1-M, and
1-S. Click
here to reserve your T-shirt.
We will then send you an email confirming that the T-shirt in your size
is
still available. You will then have one week to send a check or
money
order, or pay online. We will send the shirts to you
immediately.
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to be in Port of Harlem?
We are looking for a picture of couples: One unmarried
heterosexual, one same-sex unmarried couple... any age. Click
here if interested. We will then fill you in on the story to
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if you are interested in a very short interview.
White
Supremacy?
The Crisis
magazine reported the findings of a recent study that found that
61 percent of Hispanics, 53 percent of Asians, and 47 percent of Blacks
would rather do business with Whites than members of the other two
groups.
.
Win
the Lost Supreme: The Life of
Dreamgirl Florence Ballard
In the next Snippets: Do not miss the
excerpt from
The Lost Supreme: The Life of Dreamgirl Florence Ballard by Peter Benjaminson
and the link to enter the contest where the prize will be a free copy
of the just released book. It is all in the March 21 - April 3,
2008 issue of Snippets.
U.S.
Jail Population Soars! Ask
Tyrone
The Federal and state
governments in the United States are spending more than $55 billion to
incarcerate more than one in 100 adult Americans. The U.S. is the
world leader in number and percentage of residents behind bars. One in
nine Black men ages 20 to 34 (prime marriage age) is behind bars.
T.
Michael Colbert, our print issue’s incarcerated contributor, is open to
questions from readers about any subject. Colbert, who writes for
the department “The Other Side,” wrote “The Gym Cell” in the current
print issue. When
submitting your question, please include your
name and city, and look for your answer in an upcoming print
issue of Port of Harlem.
