Welcome to BLOGGING BLACK MIAMI.The mission of this blog is to share items of interest to Blacks in the Miami area and commentary on experiences from the perspective of Black people. Feel free to leave a comment; follow us on Twitter and connect with us on Facebook.
Some of you have asked about the change in design theme and format for Blogging Black Miami so I guess it's time to explain. There is a story. Quite simply, the header design is a partial rendering of one of the buildings slated for exterior renovation as part of the Osun's Village Commercial Revitalization Project within the Liberty City area along NW 7th Avenue in Miami.
The rendering is courtesy of Miami-based architect Harlan Woodard. He and business partner, Nathaniel Styles have been working quietly to develop enough resources to establish international trade and cultural linkages with authorities in Africa.
Woodard's rendering also conveys a sense of revitalization, reconnection and redefinition of consciousness that the community needs. That flavor and flow represent my vision for Blogging Black Miami and its contribution to the South Florida collective.
Join me in this journey of enlightenment, uplift and change. Read more about the Osun's Village and the African Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor initiative at the South Florida Times website. Stay tuned for details as preparations are being made for the local visit of many African dignitaries and cultural groups in early 2009.
Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration of family, community, and culture. Central to the celebration of Kwanzaa are seven principles, the Nguzo Saba, and various symbols.
Kwanzaa is a non-religious celebration. That means families and friends of different religious beliefs and affiliation can celebrate this holiday together. Togetherness --- Unity --- Umoja is the first principle of Kwanzaa.
Umoja (oo-MO-jah) Unity stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are."
While more than 18 million people celebrate Kwanzaa, far too many don’t because a lack of understanding and misinformation of the Kwanzaa Celebration. Kwanzaa is a powerful and empowering concept and way of life. It’s to the advantage of our many of our government and business leaders to discourage the practice of Kwanzaa. Knowledge of self and self-determination are threatening to some folks.
Anyhoo, before we get too far in the pro- or con- position on Kwanzaa, let’s address Dr. Maulena Ron Karenga, the founder of Kwanzaa as we know it today. You see, Karenga’s criminal background has been used to disparage Kwanzaa and those who practice it.
To me, Kwanzaa is way bigger than Karenga. It’s principles are those that should be practiced to improve the daily lives of many blacks in the United States. Take a look at where many of us live, where we spend our money and where our kids go to school. We need Kwanzaa.
If you don’t already know about it; do your own research on Kwanzaa with an open mind.
No matter your perspective, it's difficult to argue the fact that our community needs to practice unity each and every day. Habari gani!
Kwanzaa is the celebration of African culture, community, and family traditions. For more than 40 years, millions of people have come together to reaffirm Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. These principles emphasize unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
As people across our country gather to commemorate this seven-day celebration, may we all be reminded that Kwanzaa is an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions of our African American citizens.
Laura and I send our best wishes for a joyous Kwanzaa.
Alvah H. Chapman Jr., third-generation newspaperman and former Miami Herald president/CEO -- one of South Florida's most influential corporate and civic leaders, whose business acumen and quiet passion helped mold not just the Herald, but modern Miami -- has died at 87.
Chapman spent a traditional family Christmas Eve at his Coconut Grove home, reading the Bible with his wife, Betty, their two daughters and several grandchildren, then succumbed to pneumonia on Christmas Day.
He was afflicted with Parkinson's disease, had suffered strokes in recent years, and broke a hip in March.
I was shocked to learn that Ms. Eartha Kitt transitioned yesterday. Perhaps it was that purring or her physique that seemed to show no signs of age that made her seem immortal. Anyhoo, she will no longer be with us in the natural.
My parents recall her early days in show business but my fond memories of her are as Catwoman and Lady Eloise from Boomerang. Ms. Kitt lived a life of fabulousness and starred on stage and screen around the world. The New York Times has documented her story much better than I, so those who choose to know more of her background should definitely check that out.
Ms. Kitt only played in three episodes of the Batman television series but she is Catwoman so her portrayal is the most memorable, no offense to Julie Newmar, Michelle Pfeifer or any of the other ladies who played the part.
Rest in Peace, Ms. Eartha Kitt. You will be missed. Ashe’
Here's to a very special Christmas to one and All. Even if you didn't get all you wished for, remember the Blessing of family and friends. Most of all, remember that He is the reason for the season.
Hopefully you will enjoy this Chris Brown video. I love this song by Donny Hathaway but Brown does an excellent soulful twist to the song also. Merry Christmas!
The Miami HEAT’s Dwayne Wade and his Wade’s World Foundationhelped a displaced Miami family move into their very own home. Wade also provided furnishings, other necessities and even Christmas toys and gifts for the kids.
It's that time of the year when people tend to be more helpful, cheerful and giving. Children dream of receving the latest and greatest toys. Life is wonderful.
Well, once that short-lived Norman Rockwellesque dream is over, the truth for many needy families in south Florida sets in. The impact of the economic crisis we find ourselves in paints a bleak picture for more people but life goes on.
Those of faith are more motivated, inspired and blessed by follks in the community who are unselfish in sharirng their blessings with those less fortunate.
One community hero who consistently steps out on faith to help the needy in the community is Big Mama Essie Reed of Fort Lauderdale. She and her team have been blessed to receive food, money and otherneeded items to help the coommunity holidays and toprovide money for scholarships for the many children she has cared for.
Big Mama's outpouring of love has spread from Broward County to the southernmost areas of Miami-Dade County like Florida City. Big Mama was able to get thousands of toys this year although donations have been very slim for other organizations.
If you've wached any local news show, it's likely you've sen Big Mama in action. She is living breathing proof n the Power of One person to make a difference. Big Mama loves what she's doing and those that give and receive love her too. Thank you for all you do, Big Mama.
Old Dillard Museum is hosting an Art Exhibition at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, in January and February 2009. The opening reception for the show is January 10, 2009.
The Exhibition is called "Louis Delsarte& Friends." Delsarte is a nationally acclaimed painter whose work was featured on a 2005 Commemorative Postage Stamp of Martin Luther King, Jr., in a New York subway station and in a historic ward in Atlanta, Georgia. Delsarte is currently working on a commission that will be unveiled at the King Center in Atlanta.
Other artists featured in the exhibit are two local artists, one who had a creative period of study with Delsarte during a fellowship and another who was his student. the works of Charles Mills and Addonis Parker will also be on display at the exhibition.
The works of all three artists are always powerful and often outspoken social commentary as well as aesthetically beautiful.
MIAMI, FL (December 24, 2008) Alonzo Mourning, NBA All-Star and Founder of Zo's Fund For Life, an organization Mourning launched shortly after he learned he would need an organ transplant, has been leading a campaign to quickly raise funds for a three-year-old boy named Omar Ferguson who was in desperate need of a liver transplant.
Omar's health began deteriorating rapidly a couple weeks ago and he was put on life support with only one effective treatment option: a liver transplant.
Zo's Fund for Life raised the initial funds needed in order to place Omar on the transplant waiting list and doctors at the Holtz Children's Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus in Miami, Florida quickly moved Omar to priority status.A donor liver became available on Saturday, December 13, 2008 and was flown in from California to Miami where doctors immediately performed a successful transplantation on little Omar who was clinging to life.
Just a week and a half since the transplant surgery, Omar remains in intensive care and is being closely monitored by the pediatric transplant team.The new liver is functioning well and has allowed Omar to be disconnected from life support and the hemodialysis machine, said Andreas G. Tzakis, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Liver/GI Transplant Surgery, Director of the Miami Transplant Institute, and Professor of Surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and Miami Transplant Institute.He is still in critical condition but is making a very steady progress, breathing and eating on his own well.We expect to be able to move him to a regular room at some point next week.
The race to Give Omar Life, a campaign initiated by Zos Fund for Life who recognized the importance of giving Omar the chance to live, is not over yet.Omar will need ongoing post-transplant care and several immunosuppressant medications to help fight against organ rejection in addition to the current transplant-related expenses, which are all a part of the overall $300,000 goal to be raised.Omars mother took a leap of faith when she left their hometown in the Bahamas, whose hospital did not have adequate medical facilities to perform the necessary transplant, and came to the U.S. without health insurance.
Zo's Fund for Life has donated $50,000 of the $300,000 needed to Give Omar Life and has raised a total of$152,460to date.Donations have been streaming in from all over the country but there is still $147,540 to be raised.Zo's Fund for Life continues to call on the publics support in order to meet the goal needed for the entire cost of the transplant as well as post-transplant related medical expenses.
It's because of the support and heartfelt gratitude from folks in our community and around the nation that Omar received the greatest gift of all this holiday season: a chance at life, said Mourning.Were more than halfway to reaching our goal and need your help to successfully get there by the end of this holiday season.
In the spirit and season of giving, Mourning is urging the public to contribute to the Give Omar Life fund as soon as possible.Donations are tax-deductible and accepted by:
•Mail a check payable to Zos Fund For Life (reference: Omar) at Zos Fund for Life, PO Box 330110, Miami, FL 33233.
•Drop off cash or overnight/courier a check to Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc., c/o Zo's Fund For Life, 2901 Florida Avenue, Suite 806, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133.
•Wire transfer to Zo's Fund for Life, Regions Bank, 2800 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL, Account #: 9660220568, ABA/Routing #: 062000019.
Omar has been lying in a hospital bed for most of this holiday season at the Holtz Childrens Hospital at UM/Jackson.He was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, a rare condition he acquired as a newborn in which the common bile duct between the liver and small intestine is blocked or absent.Most patients with this diagnosis will undergo a procedure as infants to remove the atretic biliary ducts outside the liver and attach the small intestine directly to the liver at the spot where bile is found or expected to drain in an effort to re-establish bile flow.If this procedure is done before two months of age, success is likely.
Omar was not fortunate enough to have received this procedure as an infant and as a result the blocked bile flow caused severe liver cirrhosis which has led to liver failure.He was in end-stage cirrhosis experiencing complications including life-threatening intestinal bleeding, fluid retention in the abdomen (ascites), and abnormal blood ammonia levels which, if left untreated, could have resulted in coma.The only effective treatment option for Omar to survive was a liver transplant.
Some of you have asked about the change in design theme and format for Blogging Black Miami so I guess it's time to explain. There is a story. Quite simply, the header design is a partial rendering of one of the buildings slated for exterior renovation as part of the Osun's Village Commercial Revitalization Project within the Liberty City area along NW 7th Avenue in Miami.
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