Where I am going... and another thank you!!

Again, thank you for coming to this blog page, taking your time away from Facebook, Netflix, your email, and all the other things you do. It's much appreciated.

On October 13th, I'll arrive in Accra, Ghana. My first time leaving North America... and I'll be going to Ghana. I get excited just thinking about it. I have to whisper "I'm going to Ghana... I'm really going to Ghana." Words and blessings from my Ghanian friends has been amazing. They are so supportive and share my excitement. They throw out "Must See" "Must Experience" locations and venues. My friends, I hope I can do it all. Feel free to make some more suggestions. I'm accessible through email @ BlackStarPilgrim@gmail.com

This trip is so comprehensive. Most of the places my friends recommended are on the itinerary: Kwame Nkrumah's Mausoleum, the W.E.B. Du Bois Center, Ghana's National Museum, and Elmina Castle.

If you don't know about Elmina Castle...I'll give you a brief discussion. Africa's West Coast was home to castles-- reminants of European dominance. In the late 17th century, these castles, like Elmina, were used as part of the slave trade. I need to go there. I'll never ever recreate the experience of the ancestors last view of home. For reasons I can't express through written word (a terrible state for a blogger), this experience of being in the space of last embarkation is beyond meaningful. Hundreds of thousands of slaves from Central and West Africa passed through Elmina's Door of No Return. I can't imagine the anguish, anxiety, fear...

But, I'll be there. I'll be a descendant returning to the Door of No Return. I just had a "Redemption Song" moment...

Old pirates, yes, they rob / Sold I to the merchant ships/ Minutes after they took I/ From the bottomless pit/ But my hand was made strong/ By the hand of the almighty/ We forward in this generation/ Triumphantly

Not to be super transcendental or abstract or even superstitious, but this trip feels like it will be a process of patching the gaps... Again, I wish I could explain. But, you feel me.

Thank you!!!
On Friday night, I received an email from PayPal telling that my Uncle Paul (on my mom's side) just donated money to my trip. I haven't spoken to my uncle in a few months and before that it had been a long time. So his donation just touches me. I feel so very blessed to know my family supports my trip.

THANKS!!

I've just received another kind donation from a good friend. This brings my count up to 218 dollars!

I'm so thankful that my friends are so giving. So here's my heartfelt shoutout:

Thank you, Mama (not my mother) :-). When you told me you donated I just felt so overwhelmed. I know you don't have a lot to give and to know that you're giving to me is so precious. I appreciate everything you've done for me: helping me move (twice); supporting me; listening to me laugh, cry, and talk incessantly like the chatterbox I am; helping me finish "that damned masters"; and more importantly being my friend. I hold every memory with you very close especially of Thursday dinners which became every-night-except-for-Sunday-night dinners. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. I love you!

About me (What I do)

Again, thanks to all who have been supporting this effort both financially and emotionally.

On Sunday, March 20th, Achieving Leadership's Purpose, Inc. and the Parents/Guardians of Group 19 hosted a fundraiser of their own. The event was so epic and amazing. We had about 200 audience members. The event featured talent by the students, modeling done by students. parents, and professional models. I mean fierce!!!! I was busy working but everyone had a great time. My soror Tanesha and my friend Imnet came to support. Shout out to them!!!

I've been a Program Coordinator with ALP for about 8 months now. ALP is a rigorous leadership development program that works with youth of the African Diaspora to encourage cultural education and civic engagement.

So, I may have told y'all that I received my MA in 19th Century Black History focusing on slavery. If not, now I just told you. Now that you know what I received my MA in, you're thinking "what was she planning on doing with that?" Trust me, everyone is wondering. The answer is "nothing". I really love the knowledge and the field. I initially planned to get my PhD but quickly learned that archive-living wasn't for me. I enjoy working with folks, not just writing about Race and Place in Binghamton in 1855 and 1865 (but doesn't that just sound interesting?...no? Oh! Well, I like it.)

So all that to say that I actually found an organization where I can put my knowledge of Black history to use. The last 8 months with ALP have been both amazing and challenging. I'm a big geek-- I love this job. A friend of mine called me a Cultural Black Nationalist. I accept that title. I really don't think leadership for people of color can be separated from knowledge of our history. Like Marcus Garvey's quote to the right: "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." I strongly stand behind acquiring cultural knowledge in order to grow...

...but, though I hate to admit it, book knowledge isn't enough. For a while, I figured that the stuff I can cite and spout off the top of my head was good enough. We're constantly problematizing the constructs and reading big books. I think, for me, it's time to put that stuff to work. My experiences in Ghana will be chronicled and discussed with my students. This, I'm hoping, will encourage more action amongst other things.

Check out the students accomplishments on facebook

More thanks and praise. Please keep the momentum going.

Both yesterday and today, I received contributions to my trip. I feel so blessed and thankful to the following folks for opening not only their pockets but their hearts to me. They are continuous sources of support and this post is for them.


A special thanks for my mentor. I put out the call, and you responded. Like you helped me out as a confused Junior, you continue to offer your time to the development of other confused Black pseudo-scholars. I am so appreciative of the multitude of ways you are involved in my professional and educational growth. Thank you for the donation.


My summer-time bestie! We have only just begun to become friends and you stunned me with your donation. I'm still so stunned but I am absolutely thankful that you have come into my life. These written words aren't enough. Next time I see you, I'll give you hugs and wings!!! Thank you.


Thanks to you all. If you'd like to donate, please click the links to the right and at the bottom of the page.

Peace,
J- The Black Star Pilgrim

First and Second Funder Thank You!!

Hi! I'm very pleased to say that I have received my first and second funding contributions.


I'd like to take this opportunity to offer a deep heart felt thanks to both who shall remain relatively "anonymous":


Thank you, Dreamboat. I said my first dollar will be dedicated to you for helping me with the font/set-up/background/sans-serif/content of this blog. Thanks to you it's 65% better than what it started and will continue to grow from your feedback and your contribution to my trip. It's really nice to know that you support me in so many different; albeit, odd ways. *heart for real*


Thanks to my strongest contributor. You've been there for everything. Even when I've been down, uncertain, overambitious, underambitious, and a brat, you've always been a support. I remember telling you about this trip and you were so enthusiastic about it. Though it's not a trip that you'll be on, you've taken the time to share this with your friends and colleagues thus making you a part of this experience as every other I've ever had. I look forward to our daily/nightly calls. I love you.


Thanks to everyone who is viewing this site!! I so appreciate it. Your contributions will be acknowledged. I'm growing more and more excited about this trip!

Blessings,
J- The Black Star Pilgrim

The Black Star Pilgrimage

Thanks for coming to my page.


In October 2011, I'll be taking a cultural, educational trip to Ghana, West Africa. So I set up this blog page for two reasons: ask for your support (emotional and financial) and to tell you about the journey I'm about to embark on.


But first a little about me...I'm the kind of girl who will talk to you for hours about 19th century slavery in the US and the Caribbean. I love talking about historical and contemporary issues in the Black community and have dedicated a good amount of my adult life in support of furthering my knowledge and working with teens to increase their knowledge. I currently work for Achieving Leadership's Purpose, Inc. as a Program Coordinator. ALP is a non-profit dedicated to developing leadership, civic responsibility, and increasing cultural education in youth of the African Diaspora through an intensive two-year enrichment program. I'm a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. I'm a pseudo-scholar and a small-scale nerd (call me Nerdy Nelly)


So, I've never been outside of North America. Shocking, yes! Especially considering my ethnic background. My family is from Guyana, a not so small country in South America. I grew up on things Guyanese including pepperpot, sorrel, souse, soca, calypso, and light amounts of reggae. A few years ago, I had a slim opportunity to go to Ghana on a study abroad opportunity- my schedule didn't make it easy so the opportunity passed me by.


Finally, In January 2011, I found out about this cultural trip to Ghana sponsored by the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art and MVMT. With so many opportunities laid to rest in my past, I have to make this trip happen.


You're probably wondering why you should give your time (to read) and money (to donate) for this trip. The truth is that for me this trip isn't a vacation but an opportunity to make the pilgrimage home. No, it's not my home in Brooklyn or Queens or even Guyana, but my first place of origin. This trip serves as not only a cultural experience but an educational one which I intend to share with the students I work with. The program has focused on the term "Sankofa" which is West African in origin. If you're not familiar with sankofa it literally means it is not taboo to turn back and fetch what you forgot". Looking back as a means to move forward. As a Black woman deeply invested in the affairs of my folk, this trip to Ghana will weave together the strands of my history with the histories of my students, family, and even you.


Symbolized by the bird flying forward with it's head facing back, Black folk embody the sankofa bird. I'm embarking on an opportunity unknown to anyone in my family.


So with that, by July 1st, my goal is to fund-raise $2400 toward my trip which I warmly call "The Black Star Pilgrimage". This fee includes: flight, lodging, meals, and cultural events.

As the trip gets closer and closer, I will be updating this blog with more information about the trip, my own adventures in fundraising, and thanking you- the funders.