Healthy Cowboys? Looney Tunes Cartoon Teaches Healthy Eating

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August 30, 2013

In an episode entitled, "Best Friends Redux" viewers are taught to eat healthily. (Photo Credit: The Cartoon Network) — In an episode entitled, “Best Friends Redux” viewers are taught to eat healthily.
(Photo Credit: The Cartoon Network)

In the United States, we are embarking on another three-day holiday, Labor Day weekend. According to the U.S. Department of Labor:

“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

In true American fashion, Labor Day has become less about the celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers, and more about leisure time activities, most of which are admittedly well-earned due to the increasing demands placed on workers in the workplace.

Ironically, Labor Day weekend is filled with all kinds of labor – organizing outings, dealing with copious amounts of traffic congestion, and of course toiling over a hot grill or stove, making food that will be devoured over the course of the weekend. Labor Day Weekend food menus vary from healthy to unhealthy, decadent to organic, simple to complex and everything in between.

With all of the health issues plaguing the country in general (obesity) and people of color specifically (diabetes and hypertension), The Burton Wire would like to encourage you to eat healthy during Labor Day weekend. There is a movement of people of color taking control of their health and fighting against diseases and health conditions that plague the community, especially young people. As we celebrate Labor Day, remember the work that everyone can do, which is taking care of h/er body.

How fitting is it that I came across a Looney Tunes cartoon this morning espousing the virtues of healthy eating. In an episode entitled, “Best Friends Redux” (Season 2, episode 25), Looney Tunes reminds kids and arguably adults to eat healthily by watching portion control, choosing good carbs and eating mostly fruits and vegetables. In the form of a Western, the episode takes us back into the past to see how Long-Haired Drifter (Bugs Bunny) and Black Bart (Daffy Duck) eventually became best friends despite major differences including eating habits. How did this occur? By agreeing to choose healthy ways of eating which translates into healthy ways of living i.e. solid friendships.

Check out the episode here and keep the pointers in mind as you celebrate Labor Day. Please have a safe and happy weekend!

This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news site, The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.

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Legendary Brazil Goal Keeper Gylmar dos Santos Neves Dies

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August 28, 2013

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Brazil soccer legend Gylmar dos Santos Neves has died at age 87. (Photo Credit: bdnews24.com) — Brazil soccer legend Gylmar dos Santos Neves has died at age 87.
(Photo Credit: bdnews24.com)

The Bleacher Report is reporting that legendary goal keeper Gylmar dos Santos Neves has died. Often thought of as the greatest soccer goal keeper of all-time, “Gylmar” was part of the iconic Brazil teams that won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962.

The author of the post writes:

“The former Santos and Corinthians keeper suffered a heart attack last weekend and never recovered. He had been in poor health for several years following a stroke.

Broadcaster and journalist Juca Kfouri called him “simply the greatest of all time”.

‘No Brazilian goalkeeper was ever like Gylmar dos Santos Neves,” Kfouri said. ‘ And none ever will be.”

Although Gylmar had a storied career, he also holds the distinction of being the first goal keeper that soccer great Pele scored against. Gylmar dos Santos Neves was 87.

Sonia Sanchez Delivers Poetry and Advice at Spelman College

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August 28, 2013

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Iconic poet Sonia Sanchez delivers poetry and advice at Spelman College. (Photo Credit: Donna Akiba Harper, Ph.D.) — Iconic poet Sonia Sanchez delivers poetry and advice at Spelman College.
(Photo Credit: Donna Akiba Harper, Ph.D.)

Sonia Sanchez likes to talk about how peacekeeping can save communities. The profound poet laureate and author of Home Coming and Homegirls and Handgrenades stopped by Spelman College’s Sisters Chapel on Aug. 25 for an afternoon reading promoting the importance of humanity.

Her spirited presentation – equal parts harmonic poetry, hip slang, personal narratives, family portraits, a stack of books and topped with tranquil pearls of wisdom – was a call to the audience to uplift each other. Sanchez makes the crowd repeat after her several times.

“Promise that you will not twist, curl your tongue or say anything negative about anybody. Don’t destroy each other with gossip. You have no right to destroy people with your tongue,” says Sanchez.

The Black Arts Movement icon who wears thick shoulder length gray dreadlocks has a knack for storytelling. Sanchez, who pioneered organizing the first ever Black Studies Department while teaching at San Francisco State University, once overheard a male colleague insist that a woman’s commitment to the home would take precedence over being a university professor. The former Spelman Poet-in-Residence and honorary degree holder stresses to the majority young women audience to not allow sexism to affect their potential to succeed.

“You go out into a world not necessarily ready to greet you. You need to be tough. This is a world that will swallow you whole and think nothing else about it. Don’t ever let them give you left-handed compliments. They hope we don’t have a conversation about what it means to be human. We need to tell people what’s really bothering us,” says Sanchez.

A purple shawl draped across her shoulders, Sanchez periodically sips from a bottle of FIJI Water. She paces across the stage whether she’s behind the podium or not. Every word the orator speaks completes either a stanza or a quote. She pulls poems from her towering stack of books. Mid-performance, the dramatist starts to rock and incline her body to the rhythm of her poetry.

The 78 year-old Temple University Professor Emeritus addresses all of her students as brothers and sisters. She also requires students to frequently work in group activities. Sanchez’s methodology, she says, reminds students how sacrifices and teamwork are vital for empowering communities.

“We had to continue this fight for justice and jobs. People put their lives on the line so you can do that. Do not hurt each other. Don’t have any kind of disdain for each other. We love you, and we expect great things out of you. Whatever job you do, do it well and with the history of your ancestors,” says Sanchez.

Sanchez remembers raising her black students’ eyebrows for addressing every student as brother or sister. Working in groups, she adds, stresses the importance of accountability. “It changed the course of how students perceived one another. They were teaching to protect each other. If one person fails, we all fail,” says Sanchez.

These days, Sanchez is proud of having a peace haiku mural put up in Philadelphia. She’s working on having various museums and galleries (including Spelman’s campus) feature similar peace haiku benches with contributions from her neighbors and fellow poets.

For Sanchez, peace haiku works much like the students interacting with each other because both encourage productive citizenship. “You got to make your way in America. You defend yourself. You defend who we are,” says Sanchez.

This post was written by Christopher A. Daniel, pop cultural critic and music editor for the award -winning news site The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.

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Tanzania: Country Facing HIV Prevention Donor Crisis

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August 23, 2013

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Major donors have announced that they will withdraw funding from HIV prevention and awareness in Tanzania by 2015. (Google Images)

AllAfrica.com is reporting that major donors supporting the fight against HIV/Aids in Tanzania have announced the withdrawal of funding by the year 2015. Donors that will be withdrawing support include Denmark, Canada and the United States.

The author writes:

“The warning was sounded recently by the Executive Chairperson of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), Dr. Fatma Mrisho, when she paid a courtesy call on Coast Regional Commissioner (RC), Mwantumu Mahiza.

Dr. Mrisho said, ‘As we are talking now, I have just met representatives from CIDA and DANIDA – both of whom have confirmed to me that they will no longer contribute to the National Multi-Sectoral Strategic Framework (NMSF) – with effect from 2015.’

‘We, as a nation, need to get prompt replacement for the funding, failure of which all the achievements made in the fight against HIV and Aids for more than 20 years will experience a heavy blow,’ she added. The Danish and Canadian governments, through their international development agencies DANIDA and CIDA, respectively, constitute a group of key donors who have been contributing to NMSF for many years.”

Some believe that HIV is no longer a dire situation and local charities and organizations can replace the funding that is being withdrawn, while others believe that the loss of this funding will take Tanzania’s HIV rates back to the level where former President Benjamin Mkapa declared HIV a national disaster over a decade ago.

What do you think? Share with The Burton Wire in the comments section below.

Read the article in its entirety at AllAfrica.com.

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March on Washington 50th Anniversary: Digital Marches an Option

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August 23, 2013

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march_on_washington_mlk

The 50th anniversary of the iconic and game-changing March on Washington is here and people around the world are finding ways to commemorate this important occasion. The nation’s capital (Washington, DC) is literally teeming with people who have come in from all over the world to participate in the march activities which will be re-created on Saturday, August 24. Thousands of people will congregate on the mall at 8 a.m. to make more history as part of the Global Freedom Festival. In DC and surrounding areas, there are plenty of activities occurring including the Kingonomics conference, the Let Freedom Ring Celebration, George Washington University’s Pro-(Claiming) Freedom Series: Soundtrack Of A Movement: Freedom Songs In Perspective and Howard University’s program of activities including a day of service and the premiere of the documentary “1963: The Year that Changed America” which focuses on the Birmingham campaign — the movement that showed the world the reality of segregation in America.

Many historically African-American organizations (NAACP, Urban League, Jack and Jill) including black greek-letter sororities and fraternities are sponsoring activities that are taking place in Washington, DC, not to mention the numerous neighborhood associations that have a plethora of activities planned.

For those of you that can’t participate in the many local commemorative events taking place in person, digital marches will be taking place as well. Many of these organizations including media and tech companies like The Root and Google have partnered to help make it possible for people to participate through live streaming and other digital avenues. Check out the meme below for information:

Digital activities to commemorate the March on Washington are happening online. (Photo Credit: Facebook)

If you cannot be in Washington, DC in person, join in the commemoration and celebration online. What events will you be participating in this weekend in DC or your hometown or online? Let The Burton Wire know in the comments section of this post or via Twitter or Facebook.

This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news site, The Burton Wire.

Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual or @TheBurtonWire.

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Caribbean Literary Giant Aimé Césaire Gets His Due

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August 22, 2013

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Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Patrice Lamumba in 'A Season in the Congo'. (Photo Credit: Young Vic London/Johan Persson) — Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Patrice Lamumba in ‘A Season in the Congo’. (Photo Credit: Young Vic London/Johan Persson)

Writing for The Root, Lindsay Johns discusses how a new production of A Season in the Congo helps bring a wider audience to the works of Martiniquan Aimé Césaire. Johns writes:

“This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Martinican polymath Aimé Césaire. If anyone truly deserves the title of Caribbean Renaissance man, it’s Césaire. Poet, playwright, co-founder of the influential literary movement négritude, politician and mayor of Fort de France, Martinique, for nearly 56 years, Césaire was a prodigious talent whose peerless intellect and indefatigable industry made him a quasi-divinity in his native land.

For more than half a century, Césaire bestrode the Francophone literary world like a colossus, an intellectual behemoth and proud defender of the African roots of Caribbean culture at a time when black self-hate was routinely engendered by colonial education.

That such an important figure of literature and politics in the 20th century can be so little known in the Anglophone world is both a tragedy to letters and also to humanity, and something that the scintillating new production of ‘A Season in the Congo’ at the Young Vic Theatre in London — for the first time ever in the U.K. and in English — will hopefully go a long way to rectifying.”

Read the article in its entirety on The Root.

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DJ Jazzy Jeff: Game Changer Curates Music for Life

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August 22, 2013

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DJ Jazzy Jeff curated 'Jukebox: A Retro Active Dance Party' in Atlanta. (Photo Credit: DJ Blak Magic) — DJ Jazzy Jeff curated ‘Jukebox: A Retro Active Dance Party’ in Atlanta.
(Photo Credit: DJ Blak Magic)

DJ Jazzy Jeff loves to take trips down memory lane. The music icon was in Atlanta to curate the inaugural Jukebox: A Retro Active Dance Party series at 595 North.

Playing before a packed house, the turntablist bobs his head precisely to the rhythm as he cuts and scratches. Over two hours, he loops classic hip hop beats and funk samples under layers of memorable R&B and soul refrains.

“My job is to spread good music and good vibes on people who want to have a good time. It’s the biggest blessing that I had. It’s the biggest curse ‘cause it’s what keeps me up in the middle of the night. My internal DJ is always playing something that you can’t really control,” says Jazzy Jeff.

Roughly 30 minutes prior to showtime, the audience downstairs erupts with euphoria. Jazzy Jeff, chilling on a leather sofa in VIP with a dark Phillies fitted cap cocked to the side, lets his fingers surf across his MacBook keyboard. “Music is in all aspects of my life,” says Jazzy Jeff followed by a slight chuckle.

These days, Jazzy Jeff produces and streams Vinyl Destination, a biweekly web series chronicling his travels spinning records and rocking parties abroad. The smiling, enthusiastic DJ created Vinyl Destination to prove that playing American hip hop in other nations makes people feel good.

“Music is universal. Never in a million years would I think that I would be in Singapore playing a Biggie record. It gets the same love and admiration all over the world. We wanted to show that playing for 50,000 people is not hard to believe,” says Jazzy Jeff.

The West Philadelphia native born Jeffrey Townes made music history in the late 1980s and early 1990s as one-half of the platinum-selling hip hop duo, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. The pair delivered multiple hits including “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble,” and “Summertime”, which won the first ever Grammy Award in a rap category even though it wasn’t televised.

“We started when we were 18, 19-years-old, and to grow up doing something you love and people still enjoying it is great. We both know the music started all of this. It’s the nucleus,” says Jazzy Jeff.

Upon the duo’s split, DJ Jazzy Jeff went on to form his own music imprint, A Touch of Jazz, which introduced Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild. Following several of the hip hop duo’s contemporaries, his partner-in-rhyme, Will Smith, transitioned into a popular television star on NBC’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and a high-profile Academy Award-nominated actor.

Jazzy Jeff, who had a recurring role as Smith’s best friend on Fresh Prince, says the group’s success made it possible for the both of them to evolve. “It’s professionalism. This was a business we all got into as teenagers to have fun. At some point in time, it clicks that it becomes a job. If you wanna keep it up, the big thing is just growing up in it,” adds Jazzy Jeff rocking from side-to-side with his hands in his pocket.

Jazzy Jeff still releases compilations and mixtapes. His scratches from time to time on releases by hip hop acts. The self-proclaimed elder statesman of hip-hop acknowledges how important he and the Fresh Prince’s music influenced hip hop’s crossover into the mainstream.

Still, Jazzy Jeff refuses to downplay the contributions of younger generations to hip hop culture. “I don’t think it’s fair for me to say what I want to see different. Hip hop belongs to everybody who does it. What really needs to happen is a bridge for the disconnect. You don’t have to like everything that they’re doing, but you definitely have to give them their respect,” says Jazzy Jeff.

This post was written by Christopher A. Daniel, pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.

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Ethiopian Singer Eyob Mekonnen Dies at 37

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August 19, 2013

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Popular Ethiopian reggae artist Eyob Mekonnen dies at 37 following a stroke. (Google Images)

BBC Africa is reporting that Ethiopian singer Eyob Mekonnen has died. The popular reggae singer suffered a stroke last Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Fans of the singer helped raise money for his treatment following the stroke. A Facebook page entitled, ‘Let Us Pray for Eyob Mekonnen’ was built last week.

Mekonnen was flown to Nairobi, Kenya for treatment on Saturday, but died on Sunday. The author reports:

“Born 1975 in the small town of Jijiga, in eastern Ethiopia, Eyob set up a five-man group called Zion Band, which offered a ‘reggae beat with a distinctive Ethiopian cast,’ Yisakal Entertainment said.

His anthems ‘promote morality, love, peace and social consciousness’, the promoter said.

Eyob’s debut album ‘Kal’ came out three years ago to great national acclaim and he had just started his international career, touring the US, Canada and Europe in June, the company said.

Mekonnen’s body will be returned to Ethiopia on Tuesday and funeral services will be held for the singer on Wednesday. He was 37.

Barbados: 'The House of Landship' Play Bridges Past and Present

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August 19, 2013

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The cast and crew of Winston Farrell's 'The House of Landship' receive a rousing standing ovation following a performance in Barbados. (Google Images) — The cast and crew of Winston Farrell’s ‘The House of Landship’ receive a rousing standing ovation following a performance in Barbados. (Photo Credit: Facebook)

Multilayered, riveting, epic and dramatic are the best words to describe Winston Farrell’s latest play, ‘The House of Landship.’ As Barbados struggles to stay afloat economically, the once gem of the Caribbean sea is now going through rough seas that force a nation to question who we are, what is our historical and cultural legacy and where do we now go from here? How can we recapture the true essence of the symbolic maypole and bring our people to unity to overcome the challenges of leadership, cultural relevance, loss of tradition, religion, politics, management and republicanism.

These leitmotifs give us a glimpse into the multiple dimensions and layers of Farrell’s truly epic drama so richly embodied in Captain Amelda Best, superbly played by Amanda Cumberbatch. If Lamming’s village depicted ‘In the Castle of My Skin,’ was to use the 20^th century’s metaphor for Barbados’ coming of age, then Farrell has recaptured a similar metaphor in the House of Landship to make us look at ourselves in the mirror and ask the real hard pertinent questions. Are we ready for female leadership? Have we overcome our deepest darkest secrets of domestic abuse and sexuality? Are our men living up to their expected roles in the society?

Neil Waithe and Shana Hinds who convincingly play the roles of Amelda’s children, Rodney and Rose, represent the young brigade resisting the pleas of their elders to hold firm to tradition and carry on the baton. Though there were elements of obvious predictability and clichéd drama, that Barbadian sense of dry in-your-face humor broke those moments with the timeliness and wit of seasoned actors Wendell Thomas, the Quarter Master, Nurse Vida played superbly by Angela ‘Lottie’ Weithers and Skins played ably by Kenneth ‘Jack’ Lewis, our typical rum-drinking character who intersperses wisdoms with off-the-cuff truths once his inhibitions are lost to rum.

Ultimately, Farrell has outdone himself and showed his maturity as a playwright and historical folk dramatist who celebrates the “culture of the poor” like no other among his contemporaries. The ultimate bereavement of Commander Elijah Best is not to be seen as tragic, but rather as a rite of passage and a life to be celebrated like that of Moses Wood who founded the movement in 1837. If we can stretch our imaginations to this period and see how our ancestors, immediately coming out of a slave experience, were able to organize themselves in landship docks to support each other financially, emotionally and socially, then we will appreciate and respect Farrell’s call for celebration. Well done John Hunte, well done!

The collaboration with the Cavite Chorale, beautiful dance transitions using routines from the Landship, together with Leandro Soto’s set design all contributed to a carefully crafted multimedia production worthy and deserving of its standing ovation.

The House of Landship can easily be called, the House of Barbados for it’s who we are. It’s about us!

The House of Landship is now at Carifesta IX, the Caribbean Festival of Arts and Culture being held in Suriname.

This review was written by Ian Walcott, contributor to The Burton Wire on Caribbean and Latin American Affairs.

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Barbados: ‘The House of Landship’ Play Bridges Past and Present