“What has happened to the Black Blogosphere Pt.1&2” by Victor Amenta

The articles speak for themselves (note: give the posts a moment to load after you click on the links):

1. What has happened to the Black Blogosphere Pt.1
2. What has happened to the Black Blogosphere Pt. 2

You will also appreciate this by Eco.Soul.Intellectual: Black Blogs Lost, Black Blogs Dead

Byts and Bytes: Father’s Day – A Day of Honour?

As Father’s Day approaches, the Black/African community in the Diaspora particularly, gears up once again for the yearly conversation…  today it’s primarily in the form of tweets and Facebook postings (for at least a weekend)… about the importance of Black fathers and fatherhood in general.

I will share a number of articles and videos which I had saved to set the stage for this day of honour. I will drop a post on or around Sunday, to comment on the materials below, as well as share what I have learnt in my experiences as a father. Until then:

1. The trouble with a great father

2. The African American Black Man: The New Neanderthal?

3.

Sunday Inspirations: African Girl Goes from Poverty to International Chess Star

It is difficult to survive with your siblings by scrounging for food. But that’s the life that was once lived by Phiona Mutesi out of Uganda. Called “the ultimate underdog” by those who admire her, the young woman has risen to become one of the most celebrated and respected chess superstars in the world. In fact, they are planning to make a Disney movie out of her story.

When she was three, Mutesi’s father died of AIDS. She doesn’t even know her real birthday. “I thought the life I was living, that everyone was living that life,” she said to CNN. “I was living a hard life, where I was sleeping on the streets, and you couldn’t have anything to eat at the streets. So that’s when I decided for my brother to get a cup of porridge.”

The girl said that her lack of exposure led her to think that this was the life she was intended to live. A missionary by the name of Robert Katende met the little girl and started a chess program. He offered a bowl of porridge to any child who would learn how to play.

“It teaches you how to assess, how to make decisions, obstructive thinking, forecasts, endurance, problem solving, and looking at challenges as an opportunity in all cases — and possibly not giving up,” he told CNN. “The discipline, the patience … anything to do with life, you can get it in that game.”

The man immediately noticed how talented the young woman was and groomed her for competition. She said that it took her a year to learn to play well and that she would walk four miles to practice in order to get the food. Eventually, Mutesi became the Ugandan champion and was competing in Russia.

“Chess gave me hope, whereby now I’m having a hope of becoming a doctor and … a grand master,” she said.

Disney has bought the rights to her story, which is one that will inspire millions around the world.

Shared from Naturally Moi

sat’day riddymz

The Cress Theory of Racism: Surviving Racism in The 21st Century

Sunday Inspirations: Two African Students Develop Anti-Malaria Soap

In 2010, 219 million people were affected with malaria, and out of that number over 600,000 died. Malaria is also one of the leading causes of death in Central Africa.

Two students in Burkina Faso, pulled their science knowledge and resources together to invent a mosquito repelling soap in order to prevent malaria. Gérard Niyondiko and Moctar Dembélé, both students at Intsitut International de l’Eau et de l’Envirronement de Ouagadougou (International Institute of water and environment) in Burkina Faso, were awarded this year’s Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) $25,000 Grand Prize. The GSVC is the only international competition of Social Business Plans, dedicated to students, young graduates, and entrepreneurs with high social and/or environmental startups. They are also the first student team from Africa to ever win the Grand Prize.

“The soap will be available first here, and then given to NGO”, Gerard Niyondiko, Technical Manager of Faso soap said in a video that was posted online today.

Their invention, called Faso Soap, is made from karate citronella, and other herbs found locally in Burkina Faso, that are still a secret.

“We want a simple solution, because everyone uses soaps, even in the very poor communities”, Moktar Dembélé, General Manager of Faso soap said.

sat’day riddymz