Reparations from the Inside Out: In Memory of Ancestor Dr. Conrad W. Worrill, Part 2
By Mama Edie McLoud Armstrong
Presented by Omni-University
While the fight for Reparations from the federal government continues, careful attention should also be paid to forces at work that are closer to home,i.e., our art forms. Our creative expressions, which had always been a source of inspiration and strength, have been under heavy attack. The consciousness- raising music of the ‘60’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s brought us musicians who sang of their love for Black people. Instrumental jazz provided a safe space as we listened- to reflect and dream, to feel and plan without the imposition of someone else’s words. Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes charged us to “Wake up all the children...” while Marvin Gaye implored us to ask “What’s going on?”. While nurturing and/or thought-provoking compositions are still being created, some of the more recent music over the past 30+ years has been moving us onto a destructive path.
Since antiquity, our art forms have been channels through which we could tap into the seemingly unreachable realms of consciousness that would open that “Third Eye”, allowing us to connect with The Divine. I agree with Sister Oppong Wadie, who commented in a previous H3O Blog that, “Our music has been demonized.”
Healthy Communication: A Key to Internal Reparations
Communication is a major cornerstone upon which all relationships are built. This aspect of our interpersonal dynamics must, therefore, be considered as we work to repair what has been so wounded within and among us. There is no amount of land or money that we may receive through Reparations, or of federal or local systemic change, that will be sustainable if the ways in which we communicate do not contribute to a healing, a strengthening and nurturing of our relationships. It is necessary that we practice active listening- truly hearing what is being said- and being willing to honor another speaker’s right to have their own position, and if needed, to mutually agree to disagree. We all have more to learn. There’s an Ethiopian proverb that states, “Even the river wants to grow.”
It is important that we develop our expressive language skills, even as adults, so that we can express our ideas, opinions, instructions and/or positions with thoughtfulness, clarity and respect. We would be well served to be able to count on a fund of vocabulary and verbal expressions- one of the greatest strengths of our ancestors- that do not rely on debasing each other, or using angry profanity if we’re at a loss for words. While it is important to be honest and clear, it is also imperative that we speak to each other with respect, and that we be kind when the situation allows.
Most of the stories that I tell are related to affirming identity, knowledge of self and culture, of history and empowerment for social justice. On some level, however, they also support finding the light we have inside ourselves, of nurturing that light and that of others, and letting it shine. A story that I wrote, which was included in the first anthology of the National Association of Black Storytellers called, “Boca Linda, the Shrinking Girl,” celebrates the natural physical beauty of an ebony island child. It also drives home the point that when we find it necessary to use the power of our words to diminish someone else’s light, it reflects a kind of ugliness which suggests that we are small inside. In workshops for both children and adults, we explore the dynamics and manner in which our communication patterns can contribute to the health of our relationships or to their demise.
We now live in a society that celebrates the embarrassment, misfortune, and pain of others. The verbal violence, often featured on daytime television, raises ratings but, it also tends to normalize these kinds of interactions. They teach our children – and, unfortunately, a number of grown folks that this type of behavior is “adult”, that it’s accepted and even expected. “Everybody’s doing it,” so it must be ok.
What do these kinds of interactions communicate to us, to our children and to the world about who we are as human beings? With these kinds of dynamics playing out in our daily lives, also often resulting in physical violence, and even death, where are we headed? What difference is Reparations going to make? We are playing right into the so- called Willie Lynch formula of “divide and conquer,” and participating in a global genocidal scheme. The creation of these television programs, whose viewerships are on the rise, are expanding globally. The words we choose, the nature of our interactions, and the spirit in which our messages are relayed, all have everything to do with the health of our relationships, whether personal or professional. It is also helpful to be clear on our definitions of terms such as “love” and “respect.” What do they look like? Are we on the same page?
A few years ago, I provided a show for Sister Wanda Muhammad’s cable tv program, “Shaping Young Minds.” In honor of the upcoming birthday of Dr. Margaret Burroughs and inspired by her poem, “What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black? “,I named the show, “What DO I Tell My Children?” I invited visual artist Arlene Crawford; Percussionists Babu Atiba Walker and Aarafa Payne of the Drum Divas; and, Dr. Obari Cartman, drummer and psychologist. Each artist was asked what it is that they try to communicate to their audiences- especially to children- through their art media. Their responses were very thought-provoking. It is hoped that all were reminded that it is important that we consider carefully, not only what we should say to our children but, also, what we actually DO say to them as well. It’s important that we keep them feeling wanted, lifted, and corrected when necessary as well as respected and affirmed in their value, natural beauty, the light they have inside, and their potential to do great things. What we say to them can carry them or hurt and hold them back for a lifetime.
Although they have come from hundreds of years of tradition with quick wit and subtle, intelligent humor, lyrics in recent times have become increasingly crass, obscuring the light that we so badly need to see in ourselves and each other. It is also clear that music producers have been intentionally promoting the music that degrades and divides us. Language has the potential to shift one’s mindset; so, one must be intentional about the conversations and other communication environments in which we engage. A “mind shift" that will allow us to embrace a healthy sense of identity and a worldview that allows us to see and to strive for the best in who we are is definitely in order. Therefore, I remain especially grateful to the musicians who hold fast to our classical forms such as “jazz”, blues, and gospel. There are also other more recent forms that also lift us up. They take us deep within, empower us, and help us to celebrate our joy and to see our inner light. The music that we surround ourselves with influences the way we think, our beliefs, our intentions and the ways in which we relate to each other. What is communicated through them can lift us and heal us or lead toward our demise.
These observations are also reflected in the teachings of Dr. Jacob H. Carruthers through his book, Mdw Ntr: Divine Speech. Speech is potentially sacred. Its power is enormous. It shapes our perceptions of the world, of ourselves as related to the world, of our own realities, beliefs, and life’s path. Our speech can also facilitate a connection to The Divine in each other and to that within ourselves. As we consider the matter of the inner reparations that need to take place within and among us, the words we choose, those with which we surround ourselves , and the manner in which we define terms such as “respect, friend, love, commitment, and power” will reflect who we are and will affect our interpersonal relationships and long-term aspirations.
I’m grateful for the visual artists, the writers, storytellers, musicians, theater folk and literary artists who, through their art forms, continue to call us back home. I’m grateful that artists such as India Arie, will remind us that- every now and then- we need to “come back to the middle”. As taught among the Kemetic principles of Maat, balance is the key.
Recommended Viewing:
https://youtu.be/xAjNlkAKWSc?si=qteLHySPAR_PbFfu (Communication and Culture “ Featuring Ancestor Brother Kelan Phil Cohran)
"Leadership - Part 2 - H3O Art of Life Show" on YouTube ( Ancestor Dr. Conrad W. Worrill and William “Doc” Walls
( Ancestor Dr. Conrad W. Worrill)
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