Aftermath: The Consortium '13

Oaky, I'll admit it....I was worried.

I had a few last minute curve balls that threw me a bit.  We had a room change at the last minute, and one of my panelists backed out on me.  Therefore, I only had TWO panelists...myself included.

WE ROCKED!!!

It went really well...better than I expected.  It was actually well attended, people actually turned out for the event.  The members of my division came out in full force (ok, we're not a HUGE group, but they came and supported nonetheless), and a few other friends of mine came out to support us as well.  Considering that I only had three weeks to promote the event, I'm kinda satisfied with the result.

The people at BCCC we're truly impressed.  They're hoping to do more with us in the near future.  Everyone found the program to be very informative and insightful.  The attendees were quite diverse; African Americans, Latinos, and Afro Latinos came out to support the event.

Personal critique...I think I tended to babble.  My thoughts weren't very coherent.  I was just so tired from work, and stressed out from trying to put this whole thing together.  NOT one of my best showings as a public speaker.  I need to step up my game.

I definitely want to thank the BCCC Office of Student Life, and professors Rebecca Hackett (our moderator), Zak Kondo, and Dr. Boyd Mariano.  Your support for us helped to make this happen.  Thank you for all of you help, and for providing us the use of your facilities.

Much respect to my fellow members of my UNIA division!  I couldn't have done this without your support.  This is just the beginning of our resurgence....

And MOST definitely....my dear, dear hermano Christopher Rodriguez.  Thank you for coming out and supporting me in this endeavor.  You are an inspiration to me, and someone who I truly look up to.  I hope for my work to reach the standards that you have set.

 
See you in the fall for the Latino Heritage Month version of The Consortium!!!

The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities 2013

The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities
Panel Discussion and Book Signing

"Our Stories, Our Voices"

Featured panelists:
Christopher Rodriguez: "Latino Manifesto"
Kevin Alberto Sabio: "Raise Your Brown Black Fist"
Alicia Anabel Santos: "Finding Your Force"

Prof. Rebecca Hackett; moderator

Friday February, 22, 2013
6pm to 9pm
Baltimore City Community College-Liberty Campus
2901 Liberty Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD

FREE ADMISSION!!!!!   NO CP TIME!!!!

Accessible by public transportation (22, 52 bus and Mondawmin Mall stop by Metro train)

Flyer en espanol.

BE THERE!!!!!

Black History Month: The Diaspora Edition (the return)

Doing my part to celebrate Black History Month.  Here is an excerpt from Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2 from the essay/article of the same title.

"We are taught so little about our own history; not only is it never expressed within the greater society that we live in, but it is also not taught internally from within the Black community.  What little of it that is actually taught is never portrayed accurately, and is usually some watered down, stripped down version made to make our oppression seem not so bad.  Our people have been able to overcome great obstacles, no matter where we were taken, and our achievements need to be highlighted.  The UNIA had their Liberty schools, the BPP-SD had their Freedom schools; we need to be able to take it to the next level in order for this current generation to learn about their history, and know about their heroes and sheroes.  Our people (and our children specifically) need to know about leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Steven Biko, Maurice Bishop, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, CLR James, Amilcar Cabral, Yaa Asantewaa, Queen nzingha, Patrice Lumumba, Julius Nyerere, and James Thuku.  They need to know about our people who resisted their enslavement, and were able to run to freedom, and form their own independent societies.  We need to learn more about our ancestors who formed the free Maroon societies, the Quilombos, and the Palenques throughout the Diaspora.

More needs to be known about our ancestry elsewhere.  We should learn more about Yanga and Esteban Montejo from Mexico, and how they were able to rise above their enslavement.  We should teach our children about Zumbi from Brazil, a renowned Maroon leader who formed one of the first Quilombos out there.Also from Brazil, we should make ourselves familiar with the works of such writers as Abdias do Nascimento and Leila Gonzales.  Knowing about our history and our great writers and thinkers is essential to our progress.  It is not only important to about where we came from, but also about what we were able to achieve pre-enslavement/colonization, and what we were able to accomplish during those oppressive times.  We need to be knowledgeable of those brothers and sisters who took the mantles of leadership, and lead us throughout our greatest achievements, and our darkest hours."

The following excerpt is from my second book "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino".  To read the complete article/essay, purchase a copy of my book from your local bookstore, or via online through my publisher Outskirts Press, Amazon.com, Books-A-Million.com, or Barnes & Nobles' website.