Again, I love February! I fell asleep watching PBS last night, and I am so bummed I missed so much! Black History month has been fun to celebrate and enjoy through PBS this month so far.
Please watch your local stations for the incredible series called "African American Lives 2". Click here for details. Just click "play" on the little clip, and you will get a very good overview of the series. Very simply, it is genealogy. The narrator has chosen a few prominent African American celebrities and traced their roots, and found some incredible things. For instance, Don Cheadle's family was owned by Chickasaw Indians in Oklahoma! When the Emancipation Proclamation was declared, the Indians were sovereign and didn't have to comply to that order, and didn't. His family remained slaves in a no-man's-land kind of situation for 30 more years. Amazing!
Morgan Freeman. His last name comes from the Emancipation Proclamation. Many freed slaves changed their names to reflect a new identity, and Freeman was his ancestors chosen name. Also, his great great grandmother was in an interracial "marriage" that was never sanctioned by anybody. But from looking closely, it is obvious this woman and her man loved each other and lived together for 35 years, and were buried next to each other. Her last name on the tombstone is his last name. It was touching to see.
Chris Rock showed his tender side when he was told his great great grandfather enlisted as a soldier in the black army to fight for the freedom of slaves. When the war was over and reconstruction was the big hope of the south, he became a state senator! Once reconstruction came to an end, he was destitute. It is amazing history.
I totally recommend this series. Mainly, it is so interesting, yet not with an angry tone or an ax to grind. It is an appreciation of the history of African Americans, where they came from, how they worked hard for the future, and had hope for the future.
After that was over, then came the documentary on William Wilberforce, the Briton who was a staunch abolitionist, and fought hard for the rights of slaves. This show is not for youngsters-- there is nothing gratuitous but certainly recounted stories of slave abuse that might be too much for kids. What is so cool, he was a staunch Christian as well. The statement that rang in my ears the best before I fell asleep was, "Here is a man of faith, who used that to make social change."
Amen.
I am sure all this month, these two shows will be repeated. I know the "African American Lives 2" is on at three in the morning in a few days. Please tivo it. It is amazing.
I will be purchasing soon the DVD set of "African American Lives" that first aired in 2006 as well as this one. It is so interesting, and something I can share with the kids. This series is absolutely appropriate for children, and would be a great history lesson this month.
Feb 7, 2008
Feb 5, 2008
The future comes at you fast....
Who is that little girl in the ribbons? That is me at about three years old.I am turning 40 this year. A friend asked me at my last birthday, "Are you 40 yet?" I told her, "Get behind me, Satan!"
Anyway, all kinds of things these days are reminding me that the past and the future change hands very quickly.
Not too many years after this photo was taken, I was six years old and I went to my first summer camp overnight for three days. I remember that experience like it was yesterday. Why? Because I still suffer from post traumatic stress from it.
What happened? One of the first days, I fell off of the top bunk of a bunk bed head first. I remember watching the bunk move away from me as I fell. Next I remember being comforted by someone. This was in the 70's folks, when there was no such thing as liability and litigation and settlements. I should have been taken to the ER immediately if only because I lost consciousness. Nope. I got to lay in bed, where I promptly threw up in my sleeping bag that would be where I slept for the next three nights. Medical folks out there, if someone throws up after a head injury, that is a serious thing. Still didn't go to the ER. I got some Pepto Bismol. From the symptoms I had, I can guarantee you I had a pretty nasty concussion and should have been in the hospital.
I also remember wanting my parents so badly because I hurt so much and feeling incredibly alone and vulnerable after that fall. I just wanted my parents.
But what sleep did I get in those three days? None at night. Why? Because there was a cemetary right down the dirt road from this camp (which was not a Christian camp by the way) and there was the ghost story. There was only one. It was about a ghost names Chaz McGee. He was green and headless. He scared campers a lot by whooshing through the camp at night. Some times older campers who thought they were smart would sneak out to the cemetary at night and see him hovering about his tombstone. What is even worse--one of our nature hikes went past the cemetary and we looked at the actual tombstone. It was all beat up and you could barely read the words on it.
Stop here. I was six! I was terrified to even leave the room to brush my teeth! Then when lights out came, I just laid in my stinky sleeping bag and froze wondering if every little thing I saw was Chaz McGee. Between the head injury and the very obvious ghost running around, it was the worst three days of my life! I just wanted to go home so badly.
Honestly, I don't remember one activity we did on that camping trip, except for the walk through the cemetary. I don't remember crafts, songs, dining halls, walks, friends, etc. Nothing.
I remember when my parents came to get me feeling a huge sense of relief. I never wanted to go back. I think back now to when we drove away, and remembering these suddenly mature feelings of relief and freedom from that place.
Why am I hashing this out now? Because JM is going to be seven next month--he has been invited to go to a three day came this summer through our church. It will be his first camp experience. It is really weird thinking about his first camping experience and wondering what it will be like--suddenly, I keep thinking back to my first camping experience. He will go despite the fact that I am somewhat weirded out by this. But suddenly my past just became the future.
Things that are different now than they were in *gulp* 1974.
1) I will sign a medical waiver form. Those were not required back then, and we can now see why they are now.
2) This is a Christian camp. If I hear one ioda of a ghost story going around, the plug on this whole adventure gets pulled.
3) I grew up. And my head injury seems to have healed--no giggling from the hecklers out there.
Just for the sake of closure for the reader. My parents didn't know until years later how bad my fall was. Since I was only six, I didn't realize until years later how bad that fall was. They were called and told I fell, nothing else. They didn't think they needed to come, but realized they were told a very watered down version of the truth. They were not too happy to hear my side of that story years later. It would appear I seem to have recovered well, but the jury is still out on that.
Also, remember my parents are not Christians. Especially my dad has a very utilitarian view on ghost stories. They are effective in keeping kids in their beds at night and not wandering around camp. I understand that, but I don't agree with it at all. I didn't sleep for three days at camp. I was only six. I certainly don't think that terrifying fear is a good way of controlling kids.
Lord, thank you that we are not destined to relive the past. Most things are better left in the past. Thank you for giving us memories of them, if only so that we aren't destined to repeat the past.
I'll let you know what happens this summer for JM's first camp experience.
Feb 4, 2008
Post Super Bowl Bullets
First. let's just start with my favorite ad. It was a hard choice this year. But as always, Bud Light seems to have the creative genius.
Second, how awesome it was to watch Peyton from the stands cheer on his brother. As Eli stood accepting his award, Peyton is just watching him with the eyes of an adoring brother. I think it is very cool that two brothers have won consecutive Super Bowls. And also too, Peyton could have easily gone to the field and hugged his brother, but didn't. This was Eli's moment and Peyton wanted it to be Eli's moment.
I do not like the Patriots. For all kinds of reasons. They were caught cheating this year. Their media campaign has tried to make Randy Moss look like a saint, and most of us can remember when he played for the Vikings and was a mean player. I also don't like Tom Brady on a more personal level. He is a "player" in a bad boy kind of way, and I have never liked players.
I have a new reason to not like them. Here is how the last second of the game went. There was one second on the clock, and Bill Belichick runs on the field, half congratulates someone from the Giants and runs like a rabbit to the locker room. It takes fifteen minutes to get the field cleared because it is NFL regulation that all time is played. Bill was not on the field in the final time of regulation play. He was being a sore loser. I think Bill in his millions of years of experience coaching knows that rule and knew he needed to stay, but left anyway.
Traditionally, there is quite a long time of the two teams shaking hands, giving hugs, congratulating, etc. The coaches congratulate not only each other but the other teams and their staff. Nope. Did you notice the ceremony started pretty quick? The Pats were gone, lead by Bill Belichick.
Why is this a big deal? If you have watched the Pats much this last season, on more than one occasion the Patriots have driven up a score against a mismatched opponent and really rubbed a loss in their face. Those opposing teams have had to sit on the sidelines and eat it. That is poor form and really shows a lack of class on the coach's part.
Bottom line, Bill Belichick is very good at winning football games--to the point that he is willing to rub it in. He needs to get good at losing. It was absolutely poor form he showed yesterday, and it really highlighted what a sore loser he is.
My hats off the to Giants. They stuck in there, and kept going even when I had given up. In the last two minutes, when they had 80+ yards to go, and they hadn't done anything in the red zone yet, and the Patriots don't let any team get much done in the red zone--I had given up.
I honestly think that was one of the best Super Bowl's in recent history, and it was hard fought and hard won.
I hope the Manning family is having a good breakfast today. They have much to be proud of. Also congratulations to New York.
Second, how awesome it was to watch Peyton from the stands cheer on his brother. As Eli stood accepting his award, Peyton is just watching him with the eyes of an adoring brother. I think it is very cool that two brothers have won consecutive Super Bowls. And also too, Peyton could have easily gone to the field and hugged his brother, but didn't. This was Eli's moment and Peyton wanted it to be Eli's moment.
I do not like the Patriots. For all kinds of reasons. They were caught cheating this year. Their media campaign has tried to make Randy Moss look like a saint, and most of us can remember when he played for the Vikings and was a mean player. I also don't like Tom Brady on a more personal level. He is a "player" in a bad boy kind of way, and I have never liked players.
I have a new reason to not like them. Here is how the last second of the game went. There was one second on the clock, and Bill Belichick runs on the field, half congratulates someone from the Giants and runs like a rabbit to the locker room. It takes fifteen minutes to get the field cleared because it is NFL regulation that all time is played. Bill was not on the field in the final time of regulation play. He was being a sore loser. I think Bill in his millions of years of experience coaching knows that rule and knew he needed to stay, but left anyway.
Traditionally, there is quite a long time of the two teams shaking hands, giving hugs, congratulating, etc. The coaches congratulate not only each other but the other teams and their staff. Nope. Did you notice the ceremony started pretty quick? The Pats were gone, lead by Bill Belichick.
Why is this a big deal? If you have watched the Pats much this last season, on more than one occasion the Patriots have driven up a score against a mismatched opponent and really rubbed a loss in their face. Those opposing teams have had to sit on the sidelines and eat it. That is poor form and really shows a lack of class on the coach's part.
Bottom line, Bill Belichick is very good at winning football games--to the point that he is willing to rub it in. He needs to get good at losing. It was absolutely poor form he showed yesterday, and it really highlighted what a sore loser he is.
My hats off the to Giants. They stuck in there, and kept going even when I had given up. In the last two minutes, when they had 80+ yards to go, and they hadn't done anything in the red zone yet, and the Patriots don't let any team get much done in the red zone--I had given up.
I honestly think that was one of the best Super Bowl's in recent history, and it was hard fought and hard won.
I hope the Manning family is having a good breakfast today. They have much to be proud of. Also congratulations to New York.
Feb 3, 2008
Worthy of Repeat--How to Make a Great Bowl
Please click here for one of my past posts.
This is the best chili ever. It is now a Super Bowl Sunday must for our family.
Today is not as we had planned it. We were going to go to church, then hang out this afternoon and hope the Giants win. We would also go to church with this yummy recipe simmering away in the crock pot.
Not so. My two year old has the ickiest nose and is sick. He also has the shortest fuse on the planet right now. For those two reasons, he is not going to church. My husband decided to join me in this sick day and stay home from church.
That helps me on the temporal earth, although God may not think it's so hot.
I am off to the grocery store to pick up some supplies I need for this recipe. I was hoping to do that yesterday. I packed in a week's worth of candle parties in one day. I don't do this often, but I did three parties in one day. I was hoping to have a chance to stop at a grocery store in between parties. Not so! I was driving in snow for most of the day and needed the extra travel time. I came home, answered a few emails, and fell into bed. I woke up to my two year old giving me a snotty kiss in bed.
I just found out the game doesn't start until 3 pm our time, so this chili will be simmering by 1 pm, and ready to eat at half time. I think I am good on that.
What is the point of all of this?? This is the craziest best chili ever! My husband wants me to enter it into a chili cook off. Yep, I'll be sure to do that in my copious free time--make meals for someone else when I can barely do it for my family. Make time in your week sometime this week to make it. It is so good. When it says to simmer it for a few hours, just put it in your crock pot on low for about 4 hours or 2 hours on high.
Also check the comments on that recipe too. F's husband, J, recommends adding about six times the amount of bacon. I don't recommend that because we are not having any heart attacks on Super Bowl Sunday!
This is the best chili ever. It is now a Super Bowl Sunday must for our family.
Today is not as we had planned it. We were going to go to church, then hang out this afternoon and hope the Giants win. We would also go to church with this yummy recipe simmering away in the crock pot.
Not so. My two year old has the ickiest nose and is sick. He also has the shortest fuse on the planet right now. For those two reasons, he is not going to church. My husband decided to join me in this sick day and stay home from church.
That helps me on the temporal earth, although God may not think it's so hot.
I am off to the grocery store to pick up some supplies I need for this recipe. I was hoping to do that yesterday. I packed in a week's worth of candle parties in one day. I don't do this often, but I did three parties in one day. I was hoping to have a chance to stop at a grocery store in between parties. Not so! I was driving in snow for most of the day and needed the extra travel time. I came home, answered a few emails, and fell into bed. I woke up to my two year old giving me a snotty kiss in bed.
I just found out the game doesn't start until 3 pm our time, so this chili will be simmering by 1 pm, and ready to eat at half time. I think I am good on that.
What is the point of all of this?? This is the craziest best chili ever! My husband wants me to enter it into a chili cook off. Yep, I'll be sure to do that in my copious free time--make meals for someone else when I can barely do it for my family. Make time in your week sometime this week to make it. It is so good. When it says to simmer it for a few hours, just put it in your crock pot on low for about 4 hours or 2 hours on high.
Also check the comments on that recipe too. F's husband, J, recommends adding about six times the amount of bacon. I don't recommend that because we are not having any heart attacks on Super Bowl Sunday!
Feb 1, 2008
Black History Month
I always get this confused! I need to get over it. Here is where I get confused, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is in January. President's Day is in February. Yet, Black History Month is in February. I got it now!
Anyway, as a mom of African American (AA) children, I am always looking out for these things. I have an obligation to my kids to bring their culture to them. I knew that was the case the moment I held them in my arms. It wouldn't be fair to ask them to know everything about white culture just because I am white. It would also cripple them as AA adult living and moving in our world. I also think it has made me a better person in general to think through the eyes of my kids. Plus both of our kids have some biological family history in southern states--in other words, they have a high probability of having slave ancestry. I want/need for them to know their history in a positive, not angry, look to the future, kind of way.
So, this time of year seems to be when all the stops come out and all kinds of great resources are available. I love it! I am always looking for great movies, stories, books, authors, role models, that I can put in front of my kids. I also appreciate that it seems like professional sports are cleaning house. For awhile in our city, the local NBA team had AA team members on the news almost weekly standing before a judge on any kind of charge. I can honestly say, that hasn't happened in a long time at least locally.
So here is what I found I thought I would share with you.
**Connections Academy just listed on their website an exhaustive list of respected authors for kids of all ages, into college years. Also, they are holding "read ins" in different locations nationally. Here is the link for read ins. The reading list is here. I got an invitation email for the read ins just today, and they sound great for kids.
**I am also pretty impressed with the History Channel's list of basic resources. Click here for those.
**I just found this incredibly exhaustive website for teachers (or homeschool moms, take your pick) that has a lot of printables. I am impressed by the music, games, coloring sheets, history, books, etc that are listed. This site alone will keep me busy for awhile. Click here.
**Also, there are books on my sidebar that I want to highlight. "Cry the Beloved Country" is a must for any teenager or above. It has some pretty intense moments that make it PG-13. It is a fictional story based in South Africa. It has an absolutely wonderful story of redemption in the end. It also highlights the tragic history of South Africa that we are still living today.
**Another book I recommend that isn't on the sidebar, although the illustration to the left is from this book. "Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northrup. It is the true slave narrative of Solomon as told by him, and he is amazingly eloquent. Click here for a very brief summary of the story. He was a free man living in New York state. He was kidnapped, beaten and sold into slavery in Louisiana, one of the worst states in terms of slave abuse. It is an absolute miracle he was rescued. When you read the part where his family comes to the farm he is working at, and he recognizes them as his rescuers, his heart wrenching drop to his knees, raising his arms to Jesus in pure joy and thanks. It is a miracle. It is a true story, and I totally recommend it to everyone. It has some intense spots, so maybe 8-10 years or older would be appropriate for reading.
One sad thing about Solomon. He only lived a few years after being rescued. Being a slave took a toll on him physically, and he speaks to that. What I think is a shame, he died the same year that Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves. I am sure Solomon would have tried to contact those that were left behind when he was rescued. He had significant relationships with them and was very concerned for them when he left.
**I also recommend movies like "Glory Road", "Remember the Titans", or even "Radio". All of them are truth based stories about AA athletes during the civil rights movement. All of them are positive and would be appropriate for kids about eight and older. All of them make me cry.
**Update 2/4/2008. Let me add one more movie to the list. I just watched it today. "Antwone Fischer" starring Derek Luke and Denzel--all movies are better with Denzel in them. But this is definitely an adult movie. It is the true story of Antwone Fischer and his survival as a kid in the hood, being abused by foster parents, finding his family, and "beating everyone who beat him". Some very adult discussions (ie children being molested, drug abuse, murder, etc.) although nothing gratuitous. It will make you cry. If you can get the DVD there are some great interviews with the real Antwone. What a great story of redemption and survival.
I know this isn't something all of do with such focus. However, it's nice to have the resources and to share this with others.
Anyway, as a mom of African American (AA) children, I am always looking out for these things. I have an obligation to my kids to bring their culture to them. I knew that was the case the moment I held them in my arms. It wouldn't be fair to ask them to know everything about white culture just because I am white. It would also cripple them as AA adult living and moving in our world. I also think it has made me a better person in general to think through the eyes of my kids. Plus both of our kids have some biological family history in southern states--in other words, they have a high probability of having slave ancestry. I want/need for them to know their history in a positive, not angry, look to the future, kind of way.
So, this time of year seems to be when all the stops come out and all kinds of great resources are available. I love it! I am always looking for great movies, stories, books, authors, role models, that I can put in front of my kids. I also appreciate that it seems like professional sports are cleaning house. For awhile in our city, the local NBA team had AA team members on the news almost weekly standing before a judge on any kind of charge. I can honestly say, that hasn't happened in a long time at least locally.
So here is what I found I thought I would share with you.
**Connections Academy just listed on their website an exhaustive list of respected authors for kids of all ages, into college years. Also, they are holding "read ins" in different locations nationally. Here is the link for read ins. The reading list is here. I got an invitation email for the read ins just today, and they sound great for kids.
**I am also pretty impressed with the History Channel's list of basic resources. Click here for those.
**I just found this incredibly exhaustive website for teachers (or homeschool moms, take your pick) that has a lot of printables. I am impressed by the music, games, coloring sheets, history, books, etc that are listed. This site alone will keep me busy for awhile. Click here.
**Also, there are books on my sidebar that I want to highlight. "Cry the Beloved Country" is a must for any teenager or above. It has some pretty intense moments that make it PG-13. It is a fictional story based in South Africa. It has an absolutely wonderful story of redemption in the end. It also highlights the tragic history of South Africa that we are still living today.
**Another book I recommend that isn't on the sidebar, although the illustration to the left is from this book. "Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northrup. It is the true slave narrative of Solomon as told by him, and he is amazingly eloquent. Click here for a very brief summary of the story. He was a free man living in New York state. He was kidnapped, beaten and sold into slavery in Louisiana, one of the worst states in terms of slave abuse. It is an absolute miracle he was rescued. When you read the part where his family comes to the farm he is working at, and he recognizes them as his rescuers, his heart wrenching drop to his knees, raising his arms to Jesus in pure joy and thanks. It is a miracle. It is a true story, and I totally recommend it to everyone. It has some intense spots, so maybe 8-10 years or older would be appropriate for reading.
One sad thing about Solomon. He only lived a few years after being rescued. Being a slave took a toll on him physically, and he speaks to that. What I think is a shame, he died the same year that Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves. I am sure Solomon would have tried to contact those that were left behind when he was rescued. He had significant relationships with them and was very concerned for them when he left.
**I also recommend movies like "Glory Road", "Remember the Titans", or even "Radio". All of them are truth based stories about AA athletes during the civil rights movement. All of them are positive and would be appropriate for kids about eight and older. All of them make me cry.
**Update 2/4/2008. Let me add one more movie to the list. I just watched it today. "Antwone Fischer" starring Derek Luke and Denzel--all movies are better with Denzel in them. But this is definitely an adult movie. It is the true story of Antwone Fischer and his survival as a kid in the hood, being abused by foster parents, finding his family, and "beating everyone who beat him". Some very adult discussions (ie children being molested, drug abuse, murder, etc.) although nothing gratuitous. It will make you cry. If you can get the DVD there are some great interviews with the real Antwone. What a great story of redemption and survival.
I know this isn't something all of do with such focus. However, it's nice to have the resources and to share this with others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)