Published inZORA·Nov 13‘Nuff Respect: A Tribute to Master Storyteller and Griot Nothando Zulu and the Legacy of Love She Left to North Minneapolis and BeyondAn Invocation: May the Orishas welcome Maé (Mother) Nothando into her relatives’ ancestral resting place and grant her respite and a chance to share the stories of her people with all who will listen, griot that she was/is. AshéNothando Zulu4 min readNothando Zulu4 min read
Published inZORA·Oct 29Getting Back Alla My Stuff! What to Do?Somebody almost walked off wid my stuff. Not my poems or a dance I gave up in the street, but somebody almost walked off wid alla my stuff. From For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf (1975) Ntozake Shange Barstool Divah wants to know what do…Black Women4 min readBlack Women4 min read
Oct 20A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) is not the Problem: We Need More Diverse and Inclusive Humans in the Tech SectorIn a recent #LinkedIn post about an #NPR story by @Carmen Drahl, “AI was asked to create images of Black African docs treating white kids. How’s it go?” , my #blackanthropology colleague, Dr. David Simmons, reminded us of the real danger of #AI; he notes: …AI still relies on humans…Black Tech4 min readBlack Tech4 min read
Oct 13They Won! Named #1! GUNCLES: Gluten Free Bakery Rising to the Top from Mobile, AL to USA Today “Readers’ Choice” Contest for National Top Ten BakeriesGUNCLES WON-Ranked #1 by USA TODAY ! Mobile is known for many things: it is the birthplace of Mardi Gras, despite New Orleans vast marketing enterprise; it is the oldest city in Alabama, founded by the French in 1872; and it is an oyster lover’s paradise — anyway you want…Gluten Free6 min readGluten Free6 min read
Published inZORA·Oct 2From Brazil with Love: The Power and Danger of the Orishas in the Lives of Black Brazilian Women Pt 2Dear Reader, Back again, and here to tell you that African spiritualism (worship of traditional African spirit culture) is ever present and an integral part of everyday life in Brazil, especially for women who are viewed as keepers of these spirits. Beliefs in the power of the Orishas can be…Afro Brazilian Culture6 min readAfro Brazilian Culture6 min read
Published inZORA·Sep 4Racialized Ageism Against Black Women: It’s a real thing.Recently, I was reading a back issue of the #AARPMagazine and was delighted to see that at age 77, actress #HelenMirren is getting roles in a series, just as #Merylstreep is also getting TV roles in popular series like “Only Murders in the Building” (https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/meryl-streep-only-murders-in-the-building-season-3-hulu-1235489810/) at age 73. After my…Racism5 min readRacism5 min read
Sep 4Why Anthropology?Photo Opt: Irma (C) with Dr. Yolanda Moses, first Black President of The American Anthropology Association, (R) and originator of the Race exhibit idea, and Dr. Arlene Torres (L), at 1500sf RACE: Are We So Different exhibit on Capital Hill for the Black Congressional Caucus. Circa 2010 Thirteen years ago…Black Anthropologists2 min readBlack Anthropologists2 min read
Published inZORA·Sep 4From Brazil With Love: The Power & Oppression of Black Brazilian Women, Pt1Dear Reader, I recently discovered that in Portuguese the word, Irmã, means “sister.” It is the same way that my name is spelled. …Afro Brazilian Culture4 min readAfro Brazilian Culture4 min read
May 17Africatown Redemption Voyage-Reclaiming What Was Lost“Old pirates, yes, they rob I/ Sold I to the merchant ships/ Minutes after they took I/ From the bottomless pit/ But my hand was made strong/ By the hand of the Almighty/ We forward in this generation/ Triumphantly/… Won’t you help to sing/ These songs of freedom?/ ’Cause all…Redemption Voyage9 min readRedemption Voyage9 min read
May 17Listening to the AncestorsHere in Plateau, Alabama, the group stops at the entrance of the Africatown Cemetery and one elder Black woman shakes her head. She speaks solemnly: “Something is not right; the ancestors are not happy.” She tells us: The ancestors are speaking; they say: “We are calling you. Listen.” When elder…Africatown4 min readAfricatown4 min read