#My mother in Monrovia
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Made with speech to text.
For the record, one of our neighbors gave us the Monrovia pot for free along with some other big plant pots. I don't really recommend buying Monrovia plants unless it's a species that you can only find from that brand because they're really expensive for no reason.
The canna lilies that I had growing in the plastic shoebox after being transplanted into their new pots.
The dirt is from the various plants that did not survive when it went down to 15° over the winter. RIP to my one wild strawberry...
Anyways don't let anybody tell you you can't reuse potting soil. You can. After a while you might just have to add some nutrients back into the dirt because they got used up and this is really easy if you compost stuff.
Throw some banana peels and dead leaves and stuff in there. It's literally what nature does do you think Mother Nature goes out and buys new soil? No! So why the fuck should you be doing that? Because corporations tell you to? Don't waste your time and money.
And don't throw away old plant pots unless they're like damaged beyond duct tapes ability to repair or disintegrating. You can literally reuse them until they fall apart.
[Image description start. 10 photos, showing five canna lily seedlings of different sizes, in variously sized plant pots, ranging from a big green pot with the brand name Monrovia on it, to a small generic 4-inch starter pot.
Each of the seedlings has light green leaves that are emerging from the central base, with many still wrapped around it and closed.
There are three pictures of the first seedling which is the largest, one of the smallest in the 4-in pot, and two each for the seedlings in 3 gallon black buckets.
The one in the Monrovia pot and the black buckets each have white paint marker on the side of the plant pot numbering them one search for, and marking an x on different sections of a rectangle drawn next to the number.
Image description end.]
These seedlings are from the species can an Indica also known as Indian shot because apparently the seeds were used to replace buckshot in some war in India when they ran out of bullets.
Seriously just go to the Wikipedia page and read about this plant it's it can do everything it's like the jack of all trades but a plant
#Rjalker trains its gardening skill#described images#canna lily#canna#canna lilies#canna indica#gardening
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Immigrant Interview
Immigrant Interview
Interviewer: Lianne Nelson
Interviewee: Maryann Nelson
I decided to interview one of the closest immigrants I know, which is my mother. I am very indulgent in my mom's culture and I know a bit about her story coming to the United States. My mom and her family came to the United States from Monrovia, Liberia. Unfortunately, there was a war that influenced my mom and her family to move at the time they did. My mom and her parents migrated to Newark,NJ and the rest of her family moved to Maryland. According to my mom, there wasn't many barriers in her transition to the States. During high school my mom has encountered some situation where some people were ignorant towards her because of her broken English. My mom persevered and didn't let these people get in her way. Other than the slight language barrier my mom had plenty of bridges. She made many friends that helped her get accustomed to her new lifestyle. Even though she adjusted very well to being American she is still in touch with her heritage. We still practice traditions that her and her family brought from Liberia. Another bridge that helped my mom was my dad. Not only did he help her get adjusted but he also introduced her to some of his own culture, My dad's family is from Barbados. I am so grateful for my mom and where she is from. Without her and her culture I wouldn't be the person I am today.
Where are you from?
Monrovia,Liberia
How old were you when you first migrated to the United States?
12
Why did you and your family decide to immigrate to the United States?
In 1989 there was a Civil War that forced my mom and her family out of the country and they decided to come to America for better living and opportunities
What effect did this change have on you and your family?
My mothers family was able to break cultural barriers including the upbringing of children, and better communication between the family.
How was getting accustomed to a new American lifestyle?
My mom didn’t have a hard time getting accustomed to the American lifestyle because English was her first language. In Liberia the primary language spoken is English just spoken in the dialect kolokwa. Liberia was also colonized by Americans which means they have already adopted a lot of American ways.
What is something that you miss the most about your home country?
“Honestly nothing, I am so happy for the life I have and can’t imagine having it any other way.”
How did coming to America change you?
“America has changed me in giving me a better understanding of the importance of family, work ethic and mental health”
What advice would you give some coming from Liberia to the United States for the first time?
“ My advice to a person coming from Liberia to the United States will be the to stay focused on the positive on the culture and what America has to offer and be open to the change.”
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Book Review: The Dragons The Giant The Women by Wayétu Moore
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Synopsis (from Amazon.com): When Wayétu Moore turns five years old, her father and grandmother throw her a big birthday party at their home in Monrovia, Liberia, but all she can think about is how much she misses her mother, who is working and studying in faraway New York. Before she gets the reunion her father promised her, war breaks out in Liberia. The family is forced to flee their home on foot, walking and hiding for three weeks until they arrive in the village of Lai. Finally, a rebel soldier smuggles them across the border to Sierra Leone, reuniting the family and setting them off on yet another journey, this time to the United States.
Spanning this harrowing journey in Moore’s early childhood, her years adjusting to life in Texas as a black woman and an immigrant, and her eventual return to Liberia, The Dragons, the Giant, the Women is a deeply moving story of the search for home in the midst of upheaval. Moore has a novelist’s eye for suspense and emotional depth, and this unforgettable memoir is full of imaginative, lyrical flights and lush prose. In capturing both the hazy magic and the stark realities of what is becoming an increasingly pervasive experience, Moore shines a light on the great political and personal forces that continue to affect many migrants around the world, and calls us all to acknowledge the tenacious power of love and family.
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Book Length: 272 pages
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My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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My Review: This was a very eye-opening, gripping, and emotional read. I felt deeply connected to the trials and triumphs experienced by the author because my own family lived through the war time and my parents came here to the U.S. for a better life. The author did a wonderful job of really capturing the sights and sounds of her surroundings which translated to me in a way I could see and hear especially bringing back memories of my own trips to Africa (Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone).
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Black Excellence 365 Spotlight: Jay Reeves
New Jersey's Jay Reeves is a multi-talented actor, producer, and musician currently starring in Safety on Disney+. Growing up, Jay ranked #9 out of 100 in the Western Region of Underclassmen and went on to play at Pasadena City College before leaving to pursue a career in acting. After experiencing homelessness, Jay went home to regroup, eventually studying acting in New York, and debuting as Shawn Scott on The CW's All-American. Jay took the time to chat with us about the making of Safety, his music, and Black Excellence. Check it out:
Which scene from Safety had the most impact on you as you were filming it, and which do you hope viewers pay the most attention to?
The most impactful scene for me was the scene about the custody of my little brother. I mean, I grew up with a single mother most of my childhood, and placing myself in that circumstance, as Ray, was hard for me. A young man who has to rise to the occasion and take custody of his little brother is a difficult situation on its own. But when you add the stakes of having such a life-altering conversation with your mother, now that is difficult. It took me to a level of vulnerability that I haven’t been able to showcase thus far.
You’ve said that “as content creators [we] have the obligation to hold a mirror up to the world.” What do you hope to reflect?
I hope to reflect honesty at all times. That’s whether I’m playing a fictional character or someone who lives on this earth, because people gravitate towards that, people love to feel. Most importantly, there’s always someone who can relate to the truth, and that’s whether it’s my truth or the truth I live through on the big screen. There’s always someone who can relate to the story at hand, so I just hope to reflect enough honesty so the audience can organically connect.
How does your experience playing football impact your approach to acting roles?
My past experience in athletics helps me keep a level of discipline when it comes to acting. Just like any professional level player, in the NFL or elsewhere, we have to work every day and treat our bodies well. That looks like eating clean, being prepared, and knowing when to rest, and that all starts with self-discipline. You have to wake up every morning and want these things for yourself before the world can see it for you. I wake up at 5 AM every day just like I’m in high school or college again playing ball. I truly believe that’s the level of intensity you should bring as an entertainer, athlete, or whatever your dream is to be.
What music are you working on right now, and can you give us a sneak peek or hint about what you have coming up?
I’m working on an EP between acting gigs, so it’s early on in the process—a hint would be too much of a giveaway. But I am working with the same folks I have in the past, Ashton McCreight and Spencer Nezey. It’s early in the developmental process, but I trust these guys, and I can’t wait to see what we can collaborate on and put together. However, I did drop two EPs on SoundCloud this week, so be sure to tune in!
If your life was a choose-your-own-adventure, what decisions would viewers have to make on an average day?
Luckily, I do have a career where I can choose my adventure daily. Being an actor, I find myself studying and always learning about so many different careers and life decisions. What’s also cool about being a filmmaker is you get to play around with different periods, so I’m not confined to a box or any kind of structure. We get to imagine and break any form of limitation.
When you hear the phrase “Black Excellence,” what or who comes to mind?
When I hear Black excellence, I can’t help but think of Issa Rae and her infamous speech of saying, “I’m rooting for everyone Black,” because that is how I feel. Black excellence goes so deep, and there’s enough success on this earth for us all to be excellent. As a Black man, I hope to one day no longer be confined to just having the label of Black Excellence, but reaching higher and achieving overall human excellence as a Black man. My mother’s side of my family came from Monrovia, Liberia. I am my ancestors’ wildest dream!
How did you find your voice?
I found my voice falling flat on my face. I moved to Los Angeles, but things didn’t work out on my first go-around. I didn’t have money, and I lost my support by making dumb decisions, so I went back home and scraped up every single dollar and sent off the most prayers I think I’ve ever had in my life. Doing so allowed me to dig deep within myself and realize my true potential—but without that moment of failure, I wouldn’t have had my back against the wall to do so. If you’re dealing with fear, I encourage you to face it with faith because that is how I found my voice, and I’m pretty sure it’s how you’ll find yours.
You have the opportunity to ask an all-knowing genie one question. What do you ask?
If I had the opportunity to ask a genie a question, I would ask him what stock is going to short through the roof because then I would just dump all of my investments and savings into that and ride the wave. But that might be illegal for the genie to tell me that. As young people, I believe we need to no longer be consumers of a product but be producers and makers of products.
What advice would you give to young Black talent looking to get their first break in the entertainment industry?
Shoot your shot, reach out to these CEOs and ask them for advice. Don’t be afraid to ask questions…look for information, look for a mentor and work hard. Nothing worth it is easy. And you wouldn’t want it to be easy anyway. The person we become as we follow our dreams and hit the ground or backs against the wall is the true blessing. The success is the cherry on top.
How do you practice self-care?
I take good care of myself, and it’s as simple as that. I eat clean, I work out, and most importantly, I feed my spirit daily. Even if I’m not feeling in the mood, I’ll pray, and I take time to give thanks. I do whatever it takes for me to feel 100% because health is wealth.
Thanks for taking the time, Jay! Safety is now streaming on Disney+.
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Immigrant Interview
My subject for the immigrant interview is a 53 year old female from Monrovia, Liberia in West Africa. She came to the United States illegally on a plane when she was 15 years old and has been in the country since. Since this time, she has become a law abiding citizen and managed to be here for so long without being documented by renewing her work authorization. A work authorization is what is given to non US Citizens when they work for the state. My subject has been working for the state since she was 27 years old and has renewed her work authorization since. She also has children who were born here in the United States and married a U.S. citizen. She decided to come to America when one of her older sisters received a visa to come as well. Her mother encouraged them to go even though her mother could not go with them. Her older sister decided to bring her with her for better opportunities. She received her permanent status just 6 years ago and once she received her U.S. passport, the first thing she did was go back to Liberia to have a proper funeral for her mother. Her mother died back in 2008 and she went back in 2017 to bury her. She is currently building a house in Monrovia for her children to visit her homeland.
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Caption . . You ask why I’m mad I’m tired of the questions Seeing bodies pile up in the streets Innocent lives lost Can’t even protest peacefully We took a knee for police brutality We took a backseat for your feelings While you turned a blind eye To all that we feel inside And all that you see on TV The rEVOLution has arrived Whether you’re black or white And every color in between We stand united against injustice We stand united against your hypocrisy But don’t take it from me Open your own eyes You can’t scroll through your timeline Without seeing the pain of 400 years Yet you can’t shed one tear? Can’t admit to the suffering? I speak for my Mexican Mother And for my Black and White Father I speak for their struggles As an interracial couple I speak for what I saw with my own eyes Growing up with the judgement Of being a multi-racial child And hold a space of love for mine Not that I needed to justify But that’s my qualification To speak of the damnation That you try so hard to hide I can breathe I can speak I can protest I can write I can ensure That the future is bright For all that follow behind That is my responsibility To the ones that came before me And the ones that didn’t survive -Christopher Seiffert @lion.in.the.stars . . #poetryfromtheheart #soulwork #justiceforgeorgefloyd (at Monrovia, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA8J2fPl5XW/?igshid=1mqg3ix46i37t
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Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'!
Yes, Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'! AKA Bloodleaf (also called Bloodgood). Described by Monrovia as a “ delightful small tree with gracefully branched stems that hold beautiful, palmate, red-purple leaves.” This deciduous tree is hardy to US Zones 5-8 (I have no idea what zones that’d be in the UK, Australia or New Zealand sorry guys), prefers partial-to-full sun exposure, requires regular watering, and will reach up to 18 ft (5.4 meters) in height! The beautiful red-purple foliage turns an even more brilliant red in the fall! I mean, just look at this gorgeous tree:
Fuck yeah, Japanese maples. Did you know there are over 1000 cultivars of Japanese maple? They’re gorgeous.
This is a gardening blog, right?
No?
Shit.
Whatever, nobody cares.
And by that, I mean: Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith!
I wasn’t kidding about how amazing Japanese maples are. Seriously, if you’re in a compatible zone (most are 5-8 on the USDA hardiness zone map, which includes the western areas of the Pacific Northwest, fuck yeah!). Anyway, the eponymous bloodleaf of Smith’s novel do not belong to a Japanese maple. It’s more like a flowering ground cover, like a little white, three-petaled Lobelia. Only super duper poisonous and the only safe part are the petals, which can save lives, but are practically impossible to harvest. Hurray?
Anyway! Book review! That’s what this blog is for. Not for recommending various plants that I like. It is for reviewing books. I’m pretty sure no one actually reads these, though, so I can include whatever the fuck I want. My favorite Japanese maple? Well, I don’t just have one, but I am partial to lace leaf Japanese maples, because the leaves are just so damn pretty...
Bloodleaf! By! Crystal! Smith! I am capable of focus!
Princess Aurelia of Renault is having a hell of a time - for one, everyone thinks she’s a witch, a crime punishable by death in her country. Even being accused of being a witch is enough to get you hanged by the neck until dead. Or burned. Seems like the preferred method in Renault is hanging, but burnings work, too.
What, did you think there weren’t going to be Monty Python gifs here?
Everyone in Renault, even the royal family, lives in fear of the Tribunal, a shady organization that apparently has jurisdiction over witches and seems to possess absolute power. The public is on the side of the Tribunal (witches = bad), so the fact that Aurelia is rumored to be a witch isn’t exactly great.
The fact that she is, indeed, a witch, is even worse. Aurelia is a blood mage - she can see spirits of the dead and do magic with her blood. Fun! I wish I could do magic whenever I get a paper cut - if that were the case, I’d be doing magic all the time at work. Or whenever my cat springboards off me or I nearly slice my thumb off shredding Parmesan cheese. Anyway: Aurelia has to keep her witchy-ness secret re: regular hangings and burnings. Aurelia has been engaged to Prince Valentin of the neighboring kingdom of Achelva since infancy. Things look a bit better for witches in Achelva, which sounds great, but Valentin himself? Not so much. Valentin is rumored to be a weak and infirm invalid who rarely ever leaves his rooms. The current king of Achelva, Domnhall (no relation to the beautiful, red-headed Domnhall Gleeson) is the worst. He’s basically Donald Trump in everything but name. So Aurelia isn’t overly thrilled at her upcoming marriage, but she’s eager to get the hell out of Dodge before people catch on that she’s a witch, holding out to the hope that, in uniting her country with Achelva and becoming a queen, she can lessen the influence of the Tribunal and make things better for her fellow witches.
(Seriously, did you think I wasn’t going to use Monty Python gifs here?)
That’s all well and good, but just as Aurelia is getting ready to head off to Achelva, the Tribunal stages a coup - Aurelia’s mom, the Queen, is captured, while Aurelia and her little brother Conrad, the future king of Renault, just barely manage to escape. Things get even worse when the people who helped Aurelia escape Renault turn on her. They take Conrad and head off to Achelva with an impostor posing as Aurelia, while the real Aurelia just barely manages to escape being murdered.
Now stuck in Achelva with no money, no friends, no papers, nothing, Aurelia has to do her best to survive. Then a handsome stranger called Zan steals her horse. Well, he tries to pay for it after the fact, but still. The only thing Achelva has going for it is that Aurelia can now practice her blood magic without fear of immediate hanging and/or burning. But there’s still the fact that the Tribunal still has her mother hostage back home, and Conrad is in the hands of the impostor and her Tribunal-loyal father. Plus there’s something weird happening within the walls of the city-state of Achelva. Old magical protections seem to be failing and Zan is determined not only to find out why, but also find a way to stop it. When he learns that Aurelia (now calling herself Emilie) is a blood mage, he offers to teach her how to use her power in order to save his country. Can Aurelia manage to save her family and Achelva and Renault from the grips of the Tribunal without dying a horrible death?
Good luck with that, Aurelia/Emilie!
Sometimes its hard for me to be objective about books that I enjoy. If I like a book, I’m willing to forgive most of its flaws, embrace the story and roll with it. For the most part, the books I review here on this stupid tumblr blog are books that I’ve liked. I don’t really want to waste my time slogging through a book that I don’t like. Life’s too short, if I don’t like something, I’m not going to read it. If I like a book, I’ll finish reading it, even if it takes me a while.
And then sometimes I encounter a book like Witchmark or The Binding books which, once I started reading them, I literally could not stop and now I love them forever holy shit those books are so good you guys, you should buy copies of both right now I am not joking, Jesu Christi people, READ THEM!
Uhm.
Bloodleaf happens to be among the latter. It’s one of those books where I started reading and then would not stop. I remained at the gym for an extra ten minutes just so I could finish a chapter. I was ready to hiss at anyone or anything that would stop me reading. For example:
Housemate: hey, we’ve got a bunch of old bananas here, would you be willing to make banana bread tonight?
Me, reading Bloodleaf:
Needless to say, I enjoyed this book a lot. It has its flaws typical to YA fantasy (mostly just some weak characterization and worldbuilding) but once I got going I really didn’t care. I went into full YA Fangirl Mode. And once I enter Fangirl Mode it’s difficult to convince me not to like or enjoy something.
Plus there’s a bunch of not-so-subtle Donald Trump references to the regent of Achleva, who is definitely a Trump-type. One of the characters even refers to him, sarcastically, as a “stable genius.” Another character tells him, very publicly: “Facts is facts. Wishin’ ’em false and declarin’ ’em fake don’t make it so.”
Heee. I see what you did there, Crystal Smith. I see what you did there! And I very much enjoy it.
So if you’re looking for a strong, female-led YA fantasy novel featuring blood magic and the occasional witch burning, Bloodleaf is the book for you. And a brilliant scarlet-leaved Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum is the tree you’ll be wanting for your garden. Don’t let it die of a fungus like mine did. RIP, Mr. Bloodgood. You were a tree that I got for free.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Fans of YA fantasy with a strong female lead, magic, romance, etc.
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR: Anyone who came here legitimately hoping to read about Japanese maples, non-YA fans, people who can’t stand the idea of a kickass female protagonist.
TRIGGER WARNING: Midway through the book there’s a scene of a very violent near-rape - be warned and prepare accordingly. If that’s really not your thing then you may want to steer clear.
RATING: 4/5
TOTALLY UNBIASED FANGIRL RATING: 500,000,000/5
RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2019
ANTICIPATION LEVEL FOR SEQUEL: Chhogori
TREE RATING: Eucalyptus regnans
#bloodleaf#crystal smith#acer palmatum#renault#achelva#princess aurelia#Zan#Prince Valentin#aurelia/zan forever#young adult#young adult fantasy#book review#monty python and the holy grail#burn the witch#japanese maple#Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'
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Title: Dream Country
Author: Shannon Gibney
Genres: Historical, Contemporary
Pages: 368
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Review Copy: ARC received from publisher
Availability: On shelves now
Summary: The heartbreaking story of five generations of young people from a single African-and-American family pursuing an elusive dream of freedom.
The novel begins in suburban Minneapolis at the moment when seventeen-year-old Kollie Flomo begins to crack under the strain of his life as a Liberian refugee. He’s exhausted by being at once too black and not black enough for his African American peers and worn down by the expectations of his own Liberian family and community. When his frustration finally spills into violence and his parents send him back to Monrovia to reform school, the story shifts. Like Kollie, readers travel back to Liberia, but also back in time, to the early twentieth-century and the point of view of Togar Somah, an eighteen-year-old indigenous Liberian on the run from government militias that would force him to work the plantations of the Congo people, descendants of the African-American slaves who colonized Liberia almost a century earlier. When Togar’s section draws to a shocking close, the novel jumps again, back to America in 1827, to the children of Yasmine Wright, who leave a Virginia plantation with their mother for Liberia, where they’re promised freedom and a chance at self-determination by the American Colonization Society. The Wrights begin their section by fleeing the whip and by its close, they are then ones who wield it. With each new section, the novel uncovers fresh hope and resonating heartbreak, all based on historical fact.
In Dream Country, Shannon Gibney spins a riveting tale of the nightmarish spiral of death and exile connecting America and Africa, and of how one determined young dreamer tries to break free and gain control of her destiny.
Review: (Content warnings for graphic violence, rape, police violence, racial slurs, and homophobic slurs.)
Shannon Gibney’s Dream Country is a heartbreaking look into the history of a family across two continents and almost two centuries. The sections of the novel are out of chronological order, but this back and forth between time and place effectively builds a sense of connectivity between the generations. This is most notable in how Gibney portrays violence rippling across the years, pitting people and their communities against one another. This us-versus-them mentality was a constant presence throughout the book and was especially prevalent in Kollie’s section, where he not only had to deal with racism from white members of the community but also anti-immigrant/refugee sentiment.
I was particularly drawn to Yasmine Wright’s section of Dream Country. Yasmine’s yearning for freedom took her and her children across the ocean, where they carved out new lives at their own and others’ expense. It was tragic seeing how the “heathen” rhetoric that was used to justify racism/continuation of slavery in the U.S. became a tool for Yasmine and the other colonists against the indigenous groups in Liberia. I appreciated that Gibney took the time to look at how violence and colonization changed (or didn’t change) the members of Yasmine’s family.
One thing I admire most about Gibney’s writing is how distinct the voices were for all her narrators, especially given how little space some of them got compared to others. The narrators were key in bringing each setting to life, and I cared deeply about several of them. I wished we had more of Angel’s section, though her ending narration and explanation for the stories of her family history (and her present) was well done and provided a surprisingly hopeful end to the book.
As a small side note, readers may find it useful to review the brief timeline of Liberian history provided at the back of the book before starting. While Gibney provides plenty of context to be able to figure out what’s going on, I think I would have had a better appreciation for the novel had I gone in with a framework for my own reference.
Recommendation: Get it soon. Dream Country is a thoughtful, compassionate, and heartbreaking look at the history of an African-and-American family across five different generations. Shannon Gibney’s exploration of freedom and violence and family is a worthwhile, if occasionally difficult, read.
Extras
Shannon Gibney: On Identity at 88 Cups of Tea
#dream country#shannon gibney#historical ficiton#contemporary#we need diverse books#young adult books
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PHOTOS: Happy to the one and only actress, producer and screen writer, @iamkortodavis ! The only woman who had the opportunity to go act in foreign movies but said to herself, “no, I will stay in LIBERIA and make my own movies”! We wish you a prosperous birthday and pray that God bless you to help us contribute to building a solid movie industry in our mother land LIBERIA!! Subscribe to her YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/3AsHLXrY2pY #liberianstarsviews #liberianstarsviews #liberia #theeliberianbloggerkou #liberianblogger #africanblogger #theenimbaianbloggerkou #nimbabloggerkou #nimbablogger kortodavis #liberianactress #augustinakoumonpleh (at Monrovia, Liberia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcNZMY8uPo9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
#liberianstarsviews#liberia#theeliberianbloggerkou#liberianblogger#africanblogger#theenimbaianbloggerkou#nimbabloggerkou#nimbablogger#liberianactress#augustinakoumonpleh
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#TheSlayFestEdition #Mr247Star: 🌹(#OpenLetter) I Woke Up With An Irritated Message From My Cousin Dawyen Sekajipo As He Sent Me A Picture Of His Plate To Eat: #Fish, #Plantain, #DryRice, #Okra With #Pepper. (#African Nutrients For The Soul). Later, As I Lit My #BloodSage To Give Thanks To My #SpiritGuide..I Decided To Pray Safety Over Everyone That Holds Me Dear. See, To Me There Is A Reason For Everything...Even Though My Cousin Was Mocking Me With The Plate Saying "It's My Gift", It Was Also A Message Telling Me To Find #Nutrients For My #Soul In Order To Receive Balance. 🙏🏾 The Plate Was Held And Devoured In The 🌞 Sun....Which Feed #Melanin Within The Skin. Right Now, He Is In #Africa...On Our Land Of #Monrovia #Liberia (Rich With #Nourishment But Poor From Blood Ties ⚔️). One Day I Plan To Revisit The Broken #Land Again With The Initiative To Strongly Help My Cousin With His Plan To Rebuild Our Country Due To #BirthRight. After The #Prayer...I Knew Strength Would Come In A Blessing: For Him, Myself, My Friends, My Dad, My Supporters, My Inherented African Family/Blood Family, And My Mother; The Stove Pictured 🌷Pink And Not ♥️Red As It Truly Was In Real Life Meaning, The Soul Has Been Fulfilled & And The Life Lessons Have Been Learned (Unconditional #Love=God)...I Am One With My #Divine Spirit.....I Believe In My #Journey Of Life.... My Mother Even Spoke In Not Knowing #Tomorrow.... 🌹 ❤️🔥🐉 (4:05 Was The Time I Was #Birth 5/18 ♉) #SpiritualityAwake #LIB #Refugee #SekajipoForThePeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CbU7YU3Lmuf/?utm_medium=tumblr
#theslayfestedition#mr247star#openletter#fish#plantain#dryrice#okra#pepper#african#bloodsage#spiritguide#nutrients#soul#melanin#africa#monrovia#liberia#nourishment#land#birthright#prayer#love#divine#journey#tomorrow#birth#spiritualityawake#lib#refugee#sekajipoforthepeople
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Although I don’t know any immigrants in my family, I had the honor of doing a phone interview with Mrs.Geneva who was an immigrant; one of my mother’s former coworkers who treated my mother as her own. Mrs.Geneva was born in Monrovia, Liberia in 1942. She is now 79 years old. I must say it was truly a delight speaking with her. Mrs.Geneva was a very distinguished, highly educated woman who spent most of her life in Liberia, later on met her husband, and then had two children. Her last son of the two was born in 1974 when she was 32 years old in Liberia as well.
Mrs.Geneva’s husband was a diplomat who served within the embassy of the United States in Liberia which would soon change everything for her family. In 1989 the first Liberian Civil War began. Her husband would have to play a part in the war due to his position as a diplomat. He didn’t want her or their children to be in Liberia at this time, so since he had the power to do so with his connections through the US, he sent her and their youngest son who was 17 to the United States in 1991. Her eldest son was already 21 at the time so he was forced to stay. Mrs.Geneva was worried by the idea of leaving her husband and son behind, but she went anyway to protect her youngest child. At the age of 49, Mrs.Geneva emigrated from Liberia to the US.
Mrs.Geneva told me that her transition to the US wasn’t as difficult as others due to her husband’s status and position within the government. She had money and she had her youngest son, but the one thing that feared her the most was leaving her home after almost 50 years, and leaving behind two of the closest people to her. Once she arrived in the US, she eventually found a good job due to the education she received in Liberia, and a home for her and her son. Mrs.Geneva said it wasn’t easy dealing with the extreme racism that she faced for her first couple of years here in the US. Often times she felt white people would look down on her even though she knew she was capable. Overall, she said living in the US wasn’t extremely terrible.
In 1997, the war in Liberia was finally over after 8 years, and 6 years after Mrs.Geneva emigrated to the US. In 2008, at the age of 66, Mrs. Geneva came to the conclusion that after spending 17 years in the US, she wanted to return home to Liberia with her husband, and that’s what she did. Her eldest son finally made it to the US where him and her youngest son decided to stay. She says she visited her sons and grandchildren in the US three times within the last 13 years but now she feels she’s getting to old. I enjoyed and appreciated Mrs. Geneva’s story ,and knowledge she gave to me. She is a gem!
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Chapter 9 Field Work
The chart above only depicts a small fraction of the huge family I have. My mothers side of the family is from Monrovia,Liberia where most of them were born and raised. Although I am closer to my mother's side of the family, I also share a lot in common with my Dad's side of the family. My dad's father (my grandfather) is from Barbados. Even though most of my dad's side of the family resides in New Jersey, most people don't know they are from the south. An interesting fact about my fathers family history is that his mother was able to witness Martin Luther King Jr's I Have A Dream speech in person. An Interesting fact about my mother's side of the family is that we try annually to make trips back to Liberia to build schools for children.
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Jels Quiah: The Refugee Who Found Refuge In Music
Jels Quiah: The Refugee Who Found Refuge In Music
Born on Sept 18 1993 in Monrovia during the civil war to a Liberian single mother, Jels J. Rue known professionally as Jels Quiah was 5yrs old when he moved to the USA in 1999.
“Another remarkable situation I experienced in my life, was the second Liberian Civil war in 1999 that claimed over Three hundred thousand lives.” Jels said. “My Mother took me to a refugee camp where we stayed with…
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My relationship with Ethnicity and Nationalism
My father was born and raised in this country. He is from Newark, New Jersey and has lived there but most of his 63 years of living. My mother on the other hand was born and raised in Monrovia, Liberia which is located in West Africa. She came to this country when she was 16 illegally and used renewed work authorizations to stay in the country. At 53 years old, she just received her permanent citizenship about 6 years ago. My mother has been living in this country since and has embraced American nationalism to an extent. My mother has had to adjust to America’s customs to be able to receive permanent status. My mother had to demonstrate how she has been a law abiding citizen of America and what she does to contribute to society. My mother still practices her home country’s traditions and identifies with her own ethnic identity. This has affected my personal view of ethnicity and nationalism because of the influence my mother has on my life, my nationality is American but my ethnicity is West African.
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“I met Princess in West Point, a thumb of land between Liberia's capital, Monrovia, and the Atlantic Ocean. Princess was 16 when she gave birth. In Liberia, about one in three girls are mothers by the time they’re 19. At the news of her pregnancy, Princess’s mother sent her away from home. The baby’s father refused to recognize the baby as his child, so she named him Anointed, so he would be blessed, even without a father. She stays with Anointed in a friend’s house, until she can afford a space of their own. At night, before he sleeps, she sings playfully about her dreams for herself and for Anointed: "The boy will buy my car, the boy will build my house." #livinglullabies #Liberia @insidenatgeo. From a story on lullabies in the December issue of the magazine.”
@hannahreyesmorales vi@ NatGeo Instagram
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