This book was written a few years back but I just now discovered it at the library. It is called "African Voices Of The Atlantic Slave Trade." Anne C. Bailey has painstakingly pieced together accounts of the slave trade from an African perspective. You will hear tales that have been recounted by generations of Africans that live in the area of Ghana that was known as the "Old Slave Coast". The author, whose origins lie in Jamaica, became interested in the history of slavery because of the deafening silence on the topic. If you are a history buff like me, this book will definitely enthrall you. It reveals that some Africans were slave traders & doing business with the European slave traders. Through the oral history of the Anlo-Ewe community of southeastern Ghana, the author was able to gather information about slavery that even some Africans are in denial about. Another aspect of slavery that Anne C. Bailey introduces to the reader is how it gave birth to globalization. It is an important read which I am still engrossed in!
I don't think we should charge little children with murder & try them as adults. Even if the crime is "heinous". The 8-yr. old boy who killed his father & a male boarder in Arizona should not be prosecuted as an adult. Of course, I don't know all of the circumstances.When I learn more about this case, my opinion will remain the same. Children can & should be rehabilitated in a juvenile setting. No child should ever be sent to prison where they will be amongst hardened adult male criminals. Whatever chance that child had at redeeming themselves would evaporate. Prison is no place for a child.
I had never heard of "Mama Africa" until today.That was Miriam Makeba's moniker because of her very vocal stance against apartheid in South Africa. Not only that, but she also was one of the best & most celebrated singers to emerge from South Africa! Her beauty,poise, & talent guaranteed her success around the world. But she chose to jeopardize her career for the sake of humanity. Miriam Makeba just could not bear the treatment of Africans under the cruel system of apartheid. Because she testified against apartheid before the U.N., she was exiled from South Africa for almost 30 years. Nelson Mandela begged her to return in 1990.
She was a wonderful singer& great humanitarian.She released some of her biggest hits in the United States.Miriam Makeba was born on Mar.4,1932 in Johannesburg & died on Nov.9,2008 in Italy while performing on stage. As an African-American female, I am on an ongoing quest to familiarize myself with the African culture & people. Miriam Makeba is exactly the type of woman whose life should inspire not only those of the African diaspora.The way she conducted her life should enthuse us all.It's just unfortunate that I did not know about her at all until now.Believe me, I will listen to her music & research her life.Here's an excerpt from suite101.com:
"In the same year she appeared in an anti-Apartheid film "Come Back Africa". Makeba went to the Venice Film Festival to receive an award for the movie that took her voice around the world. She decided not to return home. Her South African passport was revoked.
In 1963, after an impassioned testimony before the United Nations Committee Against Apartheid, Makeba's records were banned in South Africa and her South African citizenship and her right to return to the country was revoked.
Harry Belafonte organized a US visa for her, and the young, beautiful African woman with the sultry voice conquered US audiences. In 1967, more than ten years after she wrote the song, "Pata Pata" was released in the United States and became a hit worldwide. All over people were doing the "pata pata dance". (END OF EXCERPT)Read more about the dynamic Miriam Makeba: http://jazz.suite101.com/article.cfm/south_africas_miriam_makeba
