Month: October 2016

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace, love, and light. I hope all is well in your world this morning. It seems my days are running together but I am doing the best that I can to keep the most important things in perspective. Nevertheless, I always feel as though I am neglecting something. I have been meditating on a few things over the past few days that I feel like sharing.

As most of you know or maybe you don’t, I am all about the progression of my people within the Afrikan diaspora. I am learning that I am a rare breed among most people within my community at large though. Most of us have become so comfortable with our current condition that we cannot move past or let go of status quo. Most take personal issue with anyone who challenges the current state of our community. I am also learning up close and personal the effect that complacency is having on our people’s condition. It is nearly impossible to mobilize a resistant people. Many claims to want to change, but refuse to take any steps to actually cause change.

It is a difficult life—wanting better for people who don’t see any issue with their current life. Many turn a deaf ear to the truth and ostracize those that highlight the issues. I foolishly believed that there were more “of us” than there actually were. But, there is hope. Hope can be found in the youth. Our children are much more open to change and in the words of Huey Newton “The revolution has always been in the hands of the young. The young always inherit the revolution.”

I know you may be thinking, “why is she ranting this morning?” Well, let’s just say my disappointment has overflowed and I needed to let out my thoughts on our condition. Facebook and Instagram are not the forum for revolution. Don’t get me wrong, both sites are wonderful modes of communication and sharing information but we need more boots on the ground. We claim that we are so tired but are we so exhausted that we can’t take any actions to make our children and our children’s children lives better. What does our future look like if we continue on our current path? Most of us are looking to some savior to come but 500 years of oppression in this country should show us that the chance of that happening is non- existent. No president and no one else is going to remedy our ills. Meditate on that. Where are we giving our energy and time? Einstein once said that the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Are you ready to do something different?

 

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali

Surviving Disaster

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace, love, and light fam! It’s has been too long but as we are all aware, life always changes. So, my family and I are just finding a bit of normalcy after weathering Hurricane Matthew. The community where I live currently suffered so many losses and so many have lost everything, some even their life. The storm has caused me to seriously take inventory on disaster preparedness, as well as what is truly important in my life. So, I want to take this time to share a few of the things that has been on my mind as well as some disaster survival tips.

  1. Purchasing a generator is a good investment. I have had it on my mind for a while but a generator would have saved my family and I a lot of food as well as inconvenience.
  2. My father used to say “It’s always better to be over prepared.” Purchasing flood insurance may not be on the top of some people’s agenda but, this hurricane caused so much flooding and many people did not have flood insurance.
  3. I always keep an abundance of candles but we could have used more flashlights and of course batteries. (However, if we would have had the generator, none of that would have been necessary)
  4. Keep important documents and keepsakes in one box for easy transport if one must evacuate suddenly, as did happen to some people in the hurricane
  5. Having an emergency fund is of the utmost importance. It is difficult enough when trying to navigate when disaster strikes, but nearly impossible if you have no money.
  6. Having alternate sources of energy is also very important. My family and I have a propane tank that we use for cooking outdoors. We were able heat water for bathing and we also cooked meals using the propane. We cooked on the grill as well, as most people did too.
  7. Always have a disaster plan in place and a way to communicate in the event everyone is not at home or unable to get home in times of disaster. I work in healthcare and though I was not working the day of the storm, many of my co-workers were and some had difficulty getting home after their shift because of damage and flooding. Every family member, especially adults or those who drive, need to have a meetup point if you must evacuate and a means of communicating.
  8. I mentioned earlier in having a box with necessary documents, but having what I like to call a “breakaway bag” is also a good idea. The backpack will have a few changes of clothes, underclothes, hygiene items, comfort items such a favorite toy for a child, and anything else that you may need if you have to leave home unexpectantly.

These are just a few things I have been thinking on over the past week. The unity and sense of community I have seen has been heartwarming. My heart does ache for all of those who have suffered severe losses. I hurt for the families who have lost loved ones in the flood. But, we must keep in mind that circumstances could have been so much worse. Most of my community has their power back on and the linemen, city workers, and volunteers have done much to repair the community and also make sure that everyone has the necessary items needed such as bottled water, cleaning supplies, clothing, food, etc. Much work is still left to do but I am sure that everything will fall into place. We just have to take it one day at a time.

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali

 

 

 

Photo Cred: http://beautifulandawesomewallpapers.blogspot.com/2012/11/sunset-beach-wallpapers-and-backgrounds.html

It’s Harvest Time

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace, love, and light as always fam. The air early this morning was cool, crisp, and absolutely divine. I have quite an affinity for cool/cold weather (strange I know). But, anyway, most people think of spring as the season of rebirth and newness. I view fall as a similar time. It is a time of shedding off old things, off nature allowing some living things to “die” for a season, to hibernate, to put things to rest. But, it is also a time of harvest. All the work of planting and nurturing comes to fruition and one reaps what one has sown.

Harvest may or may not be vegetables though. Harvest can be representative of the hard work that you have put into accomplishing a particular goal coming to fruition. It seems I am always working on the next project or taking the next step. I realize that each step I take is correlated to my overall life path. Now, when it relates to the people, my people, we need to really think about our next steps in the path to liberation. I see positive moves from some of my comrades but I see a lot of wasted energy as well.

In my opinion, the quote-unquote “conscious community” wastes too much energy bickering, debating, and bashing, and not enough time building, working, and coordinating. The internet is an awesome tool for dispensing and distributing tons of information quickly but it can be also a hindrance to actual “work”. It is not enough to spread information online, though it has its place. We have to move away from social media being our only means of communication. If the internet fails, how many of us have phone numbers and locations for our “comrades”? How many of us have actually met offline? What happens in times of disaster and danger? Do we have safe houses established and can we get there without GPS? All of these questions are of the utmost importance.

Summer has died down, thought the temperature in certain areas still is warm. Let’s stop playing around. It is high time we got serious about the state of our union. This is not a time of peace. This is a time where strategy must outweigh our desire for normalcy. This country has shown us repeatedly how it feels about our lives. We cannot wait until death meets us at the door to make moves. Let us support one another unfailingly. Let us reach and connect with one another. We already know who is coming to save us—let’s act accordingly. We have connected online. Now let’s do the work. It’s harvest time!!

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali