First let me begin by saying that I appreciate the struggle. That I adore the freedom fighters that fought so hard to guarantee my freedom as a black woman. I understand that till this day there are still a couple of bumps in the road that will lead to a racism free world. Right now that that's done lets dig in :)
On many occasions whilst speaking to fellow young people of my color everyone is so quick to claim that the white man hates the black community so much and this is why we have been unable to achieve the level of success that we desire. My response, ABSOLUTE BULL****. The problem in the black community is that we have failed to unite as a race and learnt to accept one another. In other words, a great part of the problem is within the community itself. At this point i'm expecting the 'Oh no she didn't just say that'. Well i just did. There is disunity in the community and this is a fact. For example, the constant divide between Africans and Caribbeans, The constant argument of who is better between Nigerians and Ghanaians, We categorizing ourselves by the tone of our skin.
Another problem within the black community is that somehow we have misplaced our priorities. The amount of rappers/MCs/Singers/Dancers our community produces perhaps needs to reduce. Not that I do not appreciate the arts but we as a people need to start exploring other professions that will empower the community. Why can we not spout out Doctors, Lawyers, Economists, Scientist, you know actual professions that our future generation will aim to be like. Reading the biography of Malcom X, it saddened me that this man through the Nation of Islam tried to encourage the black community to unite and empower ourselves. Furthermore upon leaving the Nation of Islam El Shabzz(as he was known after) went on to encourage Pan Africanism. Today is the story the same, you ask yourself
Truth is that I could go on and on and on about the problems in the community that need to be fixed but then in doing this i might not have the time to finish my plantain. I want to be part of a community that is united. I am tired of the constant claim of trying to inspire people through music, LOOK ELSEWHERE! I am tired of the constant light skin v dark skin debate. I am tired of the constant accusation that when a black person simply refuses to adapt to stereotype that they are 'coconuts'.
Lets improve ourselves, Lets unite, lets be more creative and innovative, lets depend less on the government, lets stop blaming racism for everything and finally for heaven's sake please stop using the N word, because you are black doesnt make it any better for you to use it
Well i'm off to finish my plantain. Adios!
Life as I know it
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
The Less Significant 49
As we can see, Independence day is fast approaching. It will soon mark 49 years since our great nation was freed from the chains of colonialism. The question remains; How much have we changed?
Some might argue that it is not significant for us to question the change Nigeria has gone through since the country will be turning a "less" significant age of 49 rather than 50, but should change be measured in numbers? Shouldn't every single day mark a new improvement in the life of every Nigerian?
Recently, the CBN Governor; Sanusi has either been praised or criticised for his name and shame tactics in getting funds borrowed to be paid back to th banks. Views vary and why shouldn't people be entitled to what they think? Personally, I commend Mr Sanusi's tactics of getting money repaid. During these times of Economic Recession, Nigeria must now allow the rich take advantage of the leniency they enjoy from the banks. Funds that are borrowed and outstanding MUST be paid back.
Lawyers like Ibori argue that it is only natural to borrow. Of course the man is right but when one borrows , the lender gives the money in the hope that it is paid back. When people borrow money n behalf of companies, then they must be prepared to suffer the consequences (that the company will suffer) of they cannot pay it back. Some might say Sanusi is being radical but i implore them to take another look at the situation, putting into consideration; Nigerian Mentality.
'If the loans are not paid back, then there is a high possibility a company could be denied more loans, which will mean the end for that establishment but painfully the loss of jobs. Directors, Managers, CEOs and the upper hierachy obviously have transferrable skills and network which means looking for another job will be a piece of cake. However the lower section of the hierachy, who tend to put in most of the Labour will be left jobless with families to cater for. The cycle begins, robbery and you name it all in the quest for survival. To quote from a book "How can i live by the river and still have soap in my eyes". Surrounded by wealth and opportunies, greed and the negativity of tribalism prevents equal opportunity and damages Economic growth.'
Call this radical socialist thinking. It's not. It's just an uncomfortable truth that a lot of wealthy Nigerians fail to accept. Suffering and intense poverty is still in existence 49 years on whilst the colonialists enjoy the fruits of colonialism. Nigerians must begin to accept what is right and reject what is wrong. My father says to me "An honourable man will die a dignified death for what is right". Obviously i have not said we should kill the greed, but the suggestion is this; Look corruption and temptation in the eye and say NO!
Our parents unfortunately have left us a Nigeria that still needs fixing but they have also instilled in us a sense of pride and discipline. Whatever faith you are, Truth and Fairness is valued and we all, I believe share that in value. Let October the 1st not be the beginning of positive attitudes towards change,No. Let tonight be it. Let us begin to move our nation forward. Leave 419, Leave Yahooze, Leave Fake Drugs. Endorse Free Education, Endorse Free Renewable Energy, Endorse Free Healthcare, Endore the cleaning up of the Nigerian Police, Endorse Reasonable Housing, End University Strikes. Nigeria CAN move forward. Nigeria WILL move forward. God Bless Nigeria.
Have Pride in your culture, Have pride in your Country, Have pride in yourself.
Happy Independence in Advance
Some might argue that it is not significant for us to question the change Nigeria has gone through since the country will be turning a "less" significant age of 49 rather than 50, but should change be measured in numbers? Shouldn't every single day mark a new improvement in the life of every Nigerian?
Recently, the CBN Governor; Sanusi has either been praised or criticised for his name and shame tactics in getting funds borrowed to be paid back to th banks. Views vary and why shouldn't people be entitled to what they think? Personally, I commend Mr Sanusi's tactics of getting money repaid. During these times of Economic Recession, Nigeria must now allow the rich take advantage of the leniency they enjoy from the banks. Funds that are borrowed and outstanding MUST be paid back.
Lawyers like Ibori argue that it is only natural to borrow. Of course the man is right but when one borrows , the lender gives the money in the hope that it is paid back. When people borrow money n behalf of companies, then they must be prepared to suffer the consequences (that the company will suffer) of they cannot pay it back. Some might say Sanusi is being radical but i implore them to take another look at the situation, putting into consideration; Nigerian Mentality.
'If the loans are not paid back, then there is a high possibility a company could be denied more loans, which will mean the end for that establishment but painfully the loss of jobs. Directors, Managers, CEOs and the upper hierachy obviously have transferrable skills and network which means looking for another job will be a piece of cake. However the lower section of the hierachy, who tend to put in most of the Labour will be left jobless with families to cater for. The cycle begins, robbery and you name it all in the quest for survival. To quote from a book "How can i live by the river and still have soap in my eyes". Surrounded by wealth and opportunies, greed and the negativity of tribalism prevents equal opportunity and damages Economic growth.'
Call this radical socialist thinking. It's not. It's just an uncomfortable truth that a lot of wealthy Nigerians fail to accept. Suffering and intense poverty is still in existence 49 years on whilst the colonialists enjoy the fruits of colonialism. Nigerians must begin to accept what is right and reject what is wrong. My father says to me "An honourable man will die a dignified death for what is right". Obviously i have not said we should kill the greed, but the suggestion is this; Look corruption and temptation in the eye and say NO!
Our parents unfortunately have left us a Nigeria that still needs fixing but they have also instilled in us a sense of pride and discipline. Whatever faith you are, Truth and Fairness is valued and we all, I believe share that in value. Let October the 1st not be the beginning of positive attitudes towards change,No. Let tonight be it. Let us begin to move our nation forward. Leave 419, Leave Yahooze, Leave Fake Drugs. Endorse Free Education, Endorse Free Renewable Energy, Endorse Free Healthcare, Endore the cleaning up of the Nigerian Police, Endorse Reasonable Housing, End University Strikes. Nigeria CAN move forward. Nigeria WILL move forward. God Bless Nigeria.
Have Pride in your culture, Have pride in your Country, Have pride in yourself.
Happy Independence in Advance
NAIJA LOVE
Naija Love
Roses are Red,
Diamonds are blue,
You make my heart skip a beat,
True talk, every time I see you.
Confessions don’t have to be bad
They don’t always have to make one sad
This thing I want to tell you
Walai ta Lai, is especially for you.
Call it a cliché, Laugh if you want,
I bet after you’ve heard, you’ll feel special
You are the only sugar in my tea,
The only Cockroach in my Cupboard;
You make the sun rise from the east, and
Set in front of my house.
You are the only oil for my lantern
The inspiration to my thoughts,
You are the credit to my mobile
The only water in my garri
To God eh, you were created specially,
Crafted with art; You were drafted with
Talent, established with skill.
Walahi, if you say no to me my heart eh,
My heart no go beat again.
This is not a western way of professing my love
You’ve read it in Shakespeare; It has
No significance.
This is a language your ears understand, though your pride
Rejects it.
Any way sha, truth be say
I love you well well.
Roses are Red,
Diamonds are blue,
You make my heart skip a beat,
True talk, every time I see you.
Confessions don’t have to be bad
They don’t always have to make one sad
This thing I want to tell you
Walai ta Lai, is especially for you.
Call it a cliché, Laugh if you want,
I bet after you’ve heard, you’ll feel special
You are the only sugar in my tea,
The only Cockroach in my Cupboard;
You make the sun rise from the east, and
Set in front of my house.
You are the only oil for my lantern
The inspiration to my thoughts,
You are the credit to my mobile
The only water in my garri
To God eh, you were created specially,
Crafted with art; You were drafted with
Talent, established with skill.
Walahi, if you say no to me my heart eh,
My heart no go beat again.
This is not a western way of professing my love
You’ve read it in Shakespeare; It has
No significance.
This is a language your ears understand, though your pride
Rejects it.
Any way sha, truth be say
I love you well well.
A Death, Damaged and Laughing Bankers
April 2 2009, the G20 Summit begins. Whilst 19 world leaders seat together and try to find a way to fix the current economic and financial mess we have found ourselves in, on the other side of London a group of Anarchists believe that violence somehow is the way to make their voices heard. The result? An unfortunate death of an innocent man, vandalism on public buildings, lootings and oh the government and police are blamed.
Now i may not be a psychology student but i'm pretty sure that one of the traits that i have noticed amongst us British people is that for everything that happens, the government or the police are to blame. We seem to forget the reason why we elect people to public office or have a very strong police force. It is not there to receive all the blame that we can lay on them. First let us look at the case of Mr Iain Tomlinson (hope i spelt it right). It is very unfortunate that the man who had nothing to do with the unrest being caused was the one who paid a fatal price, not that i am saying that anyone had to but maybe it would be more fair or realistic to say that perhaps it is not the police that are responsible for this man's death, rather it is those anarchists who were out there causing unrest. We must remember that it was riot police that were sent out to tackle the problem and that with the rate of violence that went on that day, everyone automatically becomes a suspect. I have already seen the video of Mr Tomlinson being hit and do agree that it cannot be condoned but i also stand on my point that Police cannot stand 100% accused for such an unfortunate incident. Blunt and slightly radical some might i claim but i call this statement realistic; Wherever there is unrest, it results in injuries and in the most unfortunate of cases, death.
We place so much blame on our police who were out there protecting our interests that day. Let me state some facts that you should know off the top of you head as a person. SIR FRED GOODWIN WHO EVERYONE IS ANGRY WITH AT THE MOMENT DID NOT BUILD THE RBS BUILDING THAT WAS VANDALISD, WE THE TAX PAYERS DID. Oh and guess whose gonna foot the bill for the smashed windows, THE TAX PAYER. Another fact: IF THESE ANARCHISTS CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE RUINED ECONOMY, CAN THEY STATE THE EXACT JUSTIFICATION IN LOOTING A BANK or isn't that stealing; the same crime that Bankers have been accused of?
In the end of this whole mess, what do we end uo with? A death, A bill to repair the damage caused by anarchists. Whatever measure was taken to gain attention i assure you would never have resulted in Gordon Brown running down to Liverpool street to apologise or Barack Obama coming down to Liverpool street to assure Anarchists of change they could believe in. The summit would have gone on peacefully with the comfort of fine food and merry. But to live everyone on a light note, whilst anarchists went around causing unrest and damage to the city, it was to the entertainment of bankers who stared out their windows, watching , laughing at the rioters and at the end of the probably laughing on the way to the bank.
Now i may not be a psychology student but i'm pretty sure that one of the traits that i have noticed amongst us British people is that for everything that happens, the government or the police are to blame. We seem to forget the reason why we elect people to public office or have a very strong police force. It is not there to receive all the blame that we can lay on them. First let us look at the case of Mr Iain Tomlinson (hope i spelt it right). It is very unfortunate that the man who had nothing to do with the unrest being caused was the one who paid a fatal price, not that i am saying that anyone had to but maybe it would be more fair or realistic to say that perhaps it is not the police that are responsible for this man's death, rather it is those anarchists who were out there causing unrest. We must remember that it was riot police that were sent out to tackle the problem and that with the rate of violence that went on that day, everyone automatically becomes a suspect. I have already seen the video of Mr Tomlinson being hit and do agree that it cannot be condoned but i also stand on my point that Police cannot stand 100% accused for such an unfortunate incident. Blunt and slightly radical some might i claim but i call this statement realistic; Wherever there is unrest, it results in injuries and in the most unfortunate of cases, death.
We place so much blame on our police who were out there protecting our interests that day. Let me state some facts that you should know off the top of you head as a person. SIR FRED GOODWIN WHO EVERYONE IS ANGRY WITH AT THE MOMENT DID NOT BUILD THE RBS BUILDING THAT WAS VANDALISD, WE THE TAX PAYERS DID. Oh and guess whose gonna foot the bill for the smashed windows, THE TAX PAYER. Another fact: IF THESE ANARCHISTS CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE RUINED ECONOMY, CAN THEY STATE THE EXACT JUSTIFICATION IN LOOTING A BANK or isn't that stealing; the same crime that Bankers have been accused of?
In the end of this whole mess, what do we end uo with? A death, A bill to repair the damage caused by anarchists. Whatever measure was taken to gain attention i assure you would never have resulted in Gordon Brown running down to Liverpool street to apologise or Barack Obama coming down to Liverpool street to assure Anarchists of change they could believe in. The summit would have gone on peacefully with the comfort of fine food and merry. But to live everyone on a light note, whilst anarchists went around causing unrest and damage to the city, it was to the entertainment of bankers who stared out their windows, watching , laughing at the rioters and at the end of the probably laughing on the way to the bank.
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