faith

Book of the Quarter

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This week we focus on business. In this section of the book we take a moment from when Zo is having a chat with her new friend Andrew. She is running her plans by him. Remember this is 1912.

“I gonna run by Mr. Sweet tomorrow an see if he will let me write for his paper.”

“His newspaper?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Girl, he won’t let no woman do that kind of work.”

“I have experience. I even have some bylines.”

Andrew sighed.

“You will be better going to clean someone’s house. I know this little family that can use someone.”

She looked at him like he had insulted her.  He needed to know she as not some ordinary heifer. She was capable of much more.

“I don’t clean other people’s houses. I am an educated woman.”

Destiny’s Dilemma

An African American woman moved home to take care of her dying mother giving up the opportunity to experience a world beyond segregation. Zoraida Hughes Williams finds that some things have changed about her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas while some have stayed the same, like Hell’s Half Acre, an area where saloons, prostitution and gambling runs wild. Like most of the residents, she wants to keep her head down and stay away from trouble, but it comes in the unlikely form of an Anglo Baptist preacher. He messes up everything and almost gets them killed.

Available on Amazon.com

or Books2read.com which include Barnes & Noble, Apple, Indigo and more.

Art of the Month

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Common Era history would have you believe that there is no history from the continent of Africa that would require chronicling.

I disagree.

There is rich valuable information that can be determined from this history. It just needs to be presented so that each individual can make up their own minds.

We have established through a biblical context that people of African descent have been viable since history keeping began. After walking the road with Jesus and Simon of Cyrene, we move to another part of the continent and a little later in time.

Between the 2 and 3rd Century AD, the Kingdom of Aksum (which is now present-day Eritrea and northern Ethiopia) traded gold and ivory into Middle East, India, and China. This was a wealthy civilization that thrived for centuries. They also exported frankincense, myrrh, emeralds, salt, and live animals. It established economic strength, noted in the image as the coin, which held the image of its leaders.

Meanwhile a tribe of about 4,000 people in 200 AD grew to about 26,000 by 800 AD in a settlement in Northern Nigeria. They developed a method to grow rice using tools made of iron. This system would become a game changer later in history. It is noted in the image as white mountain. The other mountains represent gold and copper which were also items other nations wanted.

Different tribes throughout the continent of Africa would gather their natural resources and trade them with countries around the world. Although many of the tales will never be told, Africans began globalization by 150 BC as notes from Chinese Courts tell of ambassadors from Ethiopia bringing goods.

By 1000 AD, Madagascar was part of the route to trading with China through the town of Kilwa on Tanzania. Archeological digs in the town reveal Chinese porcelain.

Stereotypes of people from African countries show them as primitive uneducated people who didn’t know how to manage their own lives, less alone build booming economies.  For a very long time they have been the innovators that make the world a better place.

Book of the Quarter

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It is Black History Month. I love being African American. I love history. This month I will share different moments from the Book of the Quarter, Destiny’s Dilemma. This week in history we will celebrate music. In this scene Zo, our heroine entertains her mother with music she knows she will like.

“Mama I want you to hear this.”

After getting back from the long afternoon, she brought her mother into the parlor and made her comfortable. She enjoyed this time with her. They could talk in a way they had not before.

“Is this some of them blues?”

“Mama, listen.”

Zo started the phonograph. Hattie listened for a few minutes, then looked at her daughter.

“Is she…”

“Singing about Jesus. Yes ma’am. I told you some of these new fangle things could be used for the good.”

Zo giggled at herself. She loved the surprised look on her mother’s face. She enjoyed watching her mother settle in and listen.

“What Baptist church she go to?” her mother asked about the woman singing.

“Mama she one of them holy rollers.”

“You don’t say.”

“This little girl’s name is Arizona. She from around this way, up in Sherman.”

“She can sing. The lambs blood washed me clean. I like that.”

Her mother reclined on the sofa and listened to church music.

Destiny’s Dilemma

An African American woman moved home to take care of her dying mother giving up the opportunity to experience a world beyond segregation. Zoraida Hughes Williams finds that some things have changed about her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas while some have stayed the same, like Hell’s Half Acre, an area where saloons, prostitution and gambling runs wild. Like most of the residents, she wants to keep her head down and stay away from trouble, but it comes in the unlikely form of an Anglo Baptist preacher. He messes up everything and almost gets them killed.

Available on Amazon.com or Books2read.com which include Barnes & Noble, Apple, Indigo and more.

Art of the Month

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

Common Era history would have you believe that there is no history from the continent of Africa that would require chronicling.

I disagree.

There is rich valuable information that can be determined from this history. It just needs to be presented so that each individual can make up their own minds.

We have established through a biblical context that people of African descent have been viable since history keeping began. After walking the road with Jesus and Simon of Cyrene, we move to another part of the continent and a little later in time.

Between the 2 and 3rd Century AD, the Kingdom of Aksum (which is now present-day Eritrea and northern Ethiopia) traded gold and ivory into Middle East, India, and China. This was a wealthy civilization that thrived for centuries. They also exported frankincense, myrrh, emeralds, salt, and live animals. It established economic strength, noted in the image as the coin, which held the image of its leaders.

Meanwhile a tribe of about 4,000 people in 200 AD grew to about 26,000 by 800 AD in a settlement in Northern Nigeria. They developed a method to grow rice using tools made of iron. This system would become a game changer later in history. It is noted in the image as white mountain. The other mountains represent gold and copper which were also items other nations wanted.

Different tribes throughout the continent of Africa would gather their natural resources and trade them with countries around the world. Although many of the tales will never be told, Africans began globalization by 150 BC as notes from Chinese Courts tell of ambassadors from Ethiopia bringing goods.

By 1000 AD, Madagascar was part of the route to trading with China through the town of Kilwa on Tanzania. Archeological digs in the town reveal Chinese porcelain.

Stereotypes of people from African countries show them as primitive uneducated people who didn’t know how to manage their own lives, less alone build booming economies.  For a very long time they have been the innovators that make the world a better place.

Affirmation

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Last month we were capable

I am able

In addition to being capable of doing something, You are able to do it. This month as we celebrate Black History and see all that our ancestors accomplished, remind yourself that you are able.

You have power, skill, proficiency, and intelligence to accomplish the tasks before you.  You have the means and the opportunity.

Tell yourself this every day and watch how your life changes.