TO ACTIVATE, TO FREE OTHERS: a calling.

Still spinning from this past Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) when I was given the Legacy of A Dream Award at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. — It was surreal to say the least. I gotta thank all of my family, friends, colleagues, mentors, and teachers who came out. You made the evening so special.

A line from my acceptance remarks, “Let us wake from our deep deep sleep so we no longer have to dream and can experience in our waking state the beloved community...”

Thank you Georgetown University and President John J. DeGioia for selecting me for this honor. Summarized from their website, “Each year, the "John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award" is given to an inspirational emerging leader... since 2003, the award has been given to civil rights icons, children’s rights advocates and other #humanitarians."

In one of the photos you'll see me with Dikembe Mutombo who reminded me that I have a lot of growing to do!

And all the remarkable beings who I get to work with at One Common Unity — There is so much important work to do... feeling grateful and inspired. - Hawah Kasat (Jan. 26, 2019) 

Hawah Kasat honored (r.) receiving the Legacy of A Dream Award at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. January 20, 2019. 

"The journey we are on is long and sometimes it can feel overwhelming. The question today is what will we choose to invest our time, energy and resources in?

Life is both short and long. It is long because during our time we can make a huge impact on future generations… if we spend our time wisely and are other-centered instead of self-centered, then we have the opportunity to correct the injustices in the world.

It is short because that time, which we have, moves by really fast and if we aren’t paying attention it will be over before we know it.

I encourage all of us, to never forget that it’s never too late for us to begin dedicating our life work to something beyond selfish interests.

The solution to the violence and division in this world may begin with being caring, kind, generous, and other-centered BUT our work cannot end there. The institutional violence which inherently breeds inequity must be addressed. Both of these paths require more than just good intentions, they require us to fundamentally change the ways we live and with unrelenting focus transform the very systems that perpetuate violence." -Hawah Kasat (Jan, 20, 2019)  

EIGHTEEN 

"One has to live this life within their vision to speak this truth. From legacy to knowledge of how things work is how intelligently vision is carried by people, who hold the vision given them into their individual futures. In our mother's carrier (her womb) we lay in the waters knowing. Remembering is how we learn who we are, and how we manifest that dream becomes legacy. It is a cycle of unlearning visionaries move within..." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories [Jan. 30, 2019]  

One Common Unity

Hawah Kasat honored receiving the Legacy of A Dream Award at 

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. with his family. 

(2019)

Black History: a look at the past through the present!

We called James Brown, and Sammy Davis Jr. sell outs when they stood up and out supporting presidents who did not support the causes Black folks needed. They were called Toms, and took a lot of grief, but the depth of the substance they embodied was based upon the way they served Black communities and ideals during their careers. They took professional risks to take risks for their people despite white opinions of the 'Negro problem'!

These lens provides a way of looking at today with wider lens. Without a proper historical perspective movements like Kanye West's rush to be photographed with President Trump bring attention to his crazy outbursts. But, politically and as a social advocate for his people what does this young man produce that makes him as compelling as James Brown, or Sammy Davis Jr., and important to his people? - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 2/12/18

Kanye West posing with president Donald Trump and his daughter January 2018.

IN the Community of Now, Tomorrow!

The observation, Hebert Simon made: "A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention." collaborates with the notion that information is power. I don't subscribe to the latter because it is disconnected from the heart, which is the center of intelligence. Those who are alive should adjust themselves to understand that how one uses information indicates one's relationship with power. If people are outside of the possibilities of becoming powerful, or more importantly; in relationship with their death there isn't a chance at depth in one's life! 

I believe Hebert Simon is looking closely at the first generation growing up online, seeing how fragmented these children are under the age of forty. It is a strange lifestyle developing from an old European paradigm that develops deficiency in the ability to pay attention. It is also by design being ignorant of the intricacies of maturing, at each level: emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually! To remove yourself from this paradigm requires the right questions to unravel the dominating stories of one's life.

First question: "When is enough, enough?"

Second question: "Do I want to live deeply?"

Third question: "What is my spiritual responsibility?"

Fourth question: "If I change, who and what changes?"

Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

8/14/17 

Look at us from Within...

Our ancestors seeing us today would hear there is no communication between people on public transportation.  That would depress any conscious person and in particular a person of action. - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 9/15/16

The Community of Greatness

Cassius Clay at just 12 yrs old, 1954 

 A young Cassius Clay, later to be known as Muhammad Ali, poses for a picture at just 12 years old. After having his bike stolen he tell the police office that was taking the report that he was going to ” whup whoever stole it”. The Policeman decided to take the young boy under his wing and teach him how to channel that aggression out in the boxing ring. He then introduced Cassius to boxing trainer Fred Stoner.  


 

Dying Churches?

Dr. Sinclair N. Grey III – Is The Church Dying?

by Dr. Sinclair Grey III for Christian News
December 20, 2016


Sadly and shamefully, there are a lot of churches dying because of complacency. With so many things happening in the world, one has to question whether or not, the church has any relevance. What do I mean by this? Is effective ministry (the concept of serving) being done outside the four-walls of the church? Is the church making a difference in social justice for the least and left out? Is the church about transforming and empowering the lives of many? These are a few questions I raise to ask if the church is dying?

As one who has been in ministry since 1997, I’ve witnessed the ups and downs of churches. From the megachurch to the small storefront church, I have to conclude that many churches along with people inside the four walls of the church do not exude the power of God they profess to have. It’s this lack of power that’s kept so many people throughout the world broken spiritually for so long. I want you to think about it for a moment. You have faithful churchgoers and those who profess their Christian faith living in a state of brokenness. Could it be that one of the reasons for this brokenness is because the church is dying. Let’s face it – a whole lot of shouting on Sunday morning doesn’t equate to power. In a real sense, a whole lot of programs to simply fill up the church calendar doesn’t mean the church has power. Could it be that the church is in a state of busyness and not in the business of transformation?

Here are some things to ask yourself to see if your church is dying. Does your church do the following?

1. Refuse to educate and empower their people politically, socially, culturally, and economically

2. Spend so much time styling and profiling and neglect teaching on relevant topics

3. Brag about stuff and never speaking up on issues that are plaguing their community

4. Hinder people from using their gift(s) to reach those outside of the church

5. Complain, complain, and complain and never doing anything

Because there are so many churches (for this case, Black churches), all over the inner cities, one has to ask the question, why so much brokenness in communities of color? Perhaps the reason why is because the church is dying. Unless a church revitalizes itself, attendance will be down and people will question whether they should even attend church. A dying church attracts dying people. On the other hand, when the church becomes active and involved, it does the following: thrive, grow, prosper, and seek to change public policy to help those who are disenfranchised by systems of injustice.

A dying church in today’s culture is a reflection on many within its leadership structure. As people always say, ‘without a vision, the people perish.’ In the case of the dying church, whenever pastors refuse to step up and step out to confront injustice along with a host of other ills in their community and this country, too many people will follow that poor leadership. A dying church must get rid of any and/all leadership that’s cancerous to its growth. In addition to that, there are so many in the church who need to ask themselves the question, are they contributing to the death of the church with their mentality and actions (lack thereof).


Dr. Sinclair Grey III is a speaker, minister, author and success coach. Contact him at www.sinclairgrey.org, drgrey@sinclairgrey.org or on Twitter @drsinclairgrey

Ronda in the Province of Málaga, Spain.

"Ancient civilizations used this mountain perch in the south of the Iberian Peninsula as a strategic location for fortified settlements, with Romans, Moors, and Visigoths each contributing to the modern-day Spanish city we now call Ronda. Puente Nuevo is the bridge we see on the right side of this picture. It’s one of three bridges that straddle El Tajo canyon, the gap that separates Ronda’s two halves. At the base of El Tajo runs the Guadalevín River, supplying Ronda with water and, these days, another breathtaking scene to delight visitors to the city." ~ anon

Ronda in the Province of Málaga, Spain. Viewed in September 2012 by unknown photographer.

Tribute to Fine Dining!

Ambar

523 8th St SE

Washington, DC 20003

(202) 813-3039

http://www.ambarrestaurant.com/ 

All of life and community comes together around stories agreeing to relationships that make life and community possible. It is food that lowers the guard between people, and joins all the elements that encircle with joy why community comes together! In bustling and changing cities sacred space has to be made in central locations to the theme of coming together. This is where the spirit food is prepared.

Beyond this body and spirit agree with other spirits to simply be in the present and eat. A place and a chef can undo so much turmoil and relieve so much pressure with food in the right place.

These are the things I felt eating chef Alex Kolberg's food, served by the staff of Ambar restaurant, embodying the elements food needs to be around.

These are my words.

Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
8.19.16

the Riddle of Nigger!

It is true. Until you know who you are you will always be in chains, but freedom is as evasive as denial is potent and the general makeup of the average Black American.

One of my biggest challenges working in the Black community in my capacity is the non-thinking and the mentality of bondage, of being a 'nigger' that dominates the vernacular of the mind set in motion against itself!

Working with young lives into their teenage years has given me a skill set, insight, and tools. There are workable solutions, but as a collective bondage is the adage of Black culture. The behavior is the mirror of the soul of Black folks disgusted with their Africaness, and the clinging to the hope of being accepted by whites! If this ain't bondage what is bondage and how distant is freedom from the reality of Black Americans? - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 8.16.16

Mendi Davis standing in water.

October 14, 2015

"How a woman stands in the world is as important as why and when she makes a stance!"

- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

8.16.16  

VISIT WASHINGTON DC ! ! ! !



Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington DC with people enjoying themselves.



Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington DC

The Josephine Butler Parks Center has a significant place in the part of Washington DC it is located near Malcolm X park. It holds a deep feeling of place that people find embraces cultures, opinions, states of being, political persuasions, spiritual communities, and is receptive to the creative spirits that come and perform for audiences as hungry for realism as the artists who perform are meant to perform with hunger and passion for them and the ideals they espouse!  

I think the intent of the establishment grew from its original intent into its capacity to hold the genesis of change within the contradictions of the city over the years. Somehow, that makes sense in a creative way in a surrounding community with deep roots in controversy, overlapping histories that are continually engrossed in deep contemplation about the changing of times.

 

How the Center is connected to the city-at-large is the city's connection to the people who have lived and lived in the city intelligently! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 4.9.16

Josephine Butler Parks Center's main entrance January 2016.

 

OUR Story is their lives...

Robert Earl Jones, father of James Earl Jones, appeared in Oscar Michaeux films, on Broadway and with Robert Redford in The Sting. In the 1930s, he was a boxer and the sparring partner of Joe Louis. Blacklisted in the 1950s, he appeared in an uncredited role as the club employee who offers Harry Belafonte a “piece of iron” in the 1959 film noir Odds Against Tomorrow.

Photo by Carl Van Vechten. - Old Black Hollywood

 

Te'Reisha, judicial law clerk in San Francisco, CA passed the bar Nov.20, 2015.
Her hopes her passage of the bar gives hope to the hopeless in her community in Richmond, CA.

 

Zora Neal Hurston's words.

  

Assaata Shakur, Black Panther, political activist

 

a Pakistani artist

This story is titled, Daughters Two. the art of

Faraz Maqsood Hamidi

GAY OR HAPPY MARRIAGE!!

"Should government, at any level, regulate marriage be it a heterosexual or homosexual couple?" - Brian Hersey, 3.27.2010 

"People wanted separation of church and state. They got it, but now want the state to redefine what the bible defines as a marriage. Seriously? Every freedom is a double-edged sword. Freedom of speech isn't just as long as it doesn't anger you...it's there.

I also don't think a government has the right to define what makes up a family. I'm for unions, including plurals among adults. Can't have the term 'marriage' though and I hold each state accountable to uphold it, but I'm all for the rights of whatever is defined as a functional and loving family." - Charles Comer, 10.16.13


"No, but it should not be redefined by them either. Next we'll have people wanting to marry their pets--or maybe even their favorite pair of shoes. Who is to say that marriage should have to be between people. Marriage is ordained of God and needs to stay that way. Have any relationship you wish but leave the definition of marriage alone and let people have the religious freedom promised in the constitution." - Tom Martin 11.24.13


"Marriage was and is, first and foremost, a private (in most cases, religious) affair. The gov't decided to recognize and facilitate the institution of marriage with financial and legal privileges in order to encourage responsible procreation. Growing the US population grows the US economy, and thus tax base, workforce, ie. number of employers and employees, fills out the military ranks for a strong national defense, etc. The gov't has a state interest in encouraging population growth, which is why the public institution was established with certain regulations, benefits and purposes in mind. The gov't did not establish the public institution of marriage to recognize people's "love" for each other, "love" is neither a legal requirement nor justification for getting married, the gov't could care less whether two persons getting married "love" each other. The gov't recognizes marriage for one reason: to encourage conception, birth, and responsible child-raising--a purpose which same-sex couples cannot contribute towards because last time I checked, it is impossible for two persons of the same gender to impregnate one another. It's not discrimination, it's biology. If the state interest in population growth is no longer relevant, then the gov't should abolish the institution--which is clearly being bastardized now for political ends--and allow the private sector (e.g. the Church) to resume its prerogative to recognize marriage according to its rules & purposes." - Dan Frazee, 8.12.13

Cybill Shepard grabbing between her legs.



Arazel by Lori Foxworth Photography
September 2, 2014

"The deeper sensations of pursuing one's purpose and finding them are what causes the inhale and exhale of spirit as air, and air as spirit. Spirit and air are one and the same. When one leaves the body the other follows in pursuit of what needs to be developed on the other side." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories (10.13.15)

Maat Petrova in Ghana in front of Cape Coast Slave Castle in December 2014

Maat Petrova, herself an evolved woman, has put together an approach to development for Black communities across the nation on two fronts. First, she asserts, "Before the Black community can pull it together, we need to change our diets. Everything else will align itself. The meats, the processed foods, fast foods, sugar, refined foods.

When I changed my diet a consciousness overcame me that was blocked before. Once the downloads came with clarity, execution of the proper strategy will hit. Boom!"

I feel her suggestion taken into practice should be one of the first steps led by a spiritual mother or father to 'grow' a boy into man and a girl into woman in the transformation of mind into spirit.

On a second note, Maat Petrova humbly asserted into a perverted and hardened practice of fear and selfishness in the maternal instincts of too many Black American mothers, wives and girlfriends an insight into "womb knowledge":

"I'm the type of woman who will pick your child up from your child's mom house for you, and if she has other children from her current relationship, they can come along too. I don't trip. It takes a community effort and if that's what it takes to keep the community happy while supporting my man and loving him in peace then that's what its gonna be." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories (10.14.15)  

Arazel

 in bondage
 February 19, 2013

Bondage I don't understand as a fetish. From the woman's perspective given the horrid history of women in Western civilization it is baffling. Maybe I missed something. Black women subscribing to this type of submission are more contradictory in nature. To date no one woman has explained it in print over the years, or to me personally because I ask. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10.14.15


D'Ava Arazel Chaiarre Newman 
 

Thought around Rachel Dolezal

Rachel Dolezal by Justin Bishop 2

Rachel Dolezal’s True Lies

There is a community Facebook page called I Stand With Rachel Dolezal that simply says, "This page is for people who support Rachel Dolezal. If you do not support Rachel. Please do not post or comment." As a consequence to date only 82 people have 'liked' the page.

 

To get a better understanding of her complexity her dissenters need a voice in this forum. At the least, Black Americans need to be heard on each side because the subject of "passing" is the central issue here. Rachel Dolezal is on the other side of "passing". And the question "Why" has grave impact because white Americans have had the upper hand in the identity of Black Americans and Black Indians like myself. It is a cruel subject Rachel Dolezal brought up and having a forum that favors only those who are for her is the language of white Americans fighting for something outside the reality of major players of this paradigm.

 

Even Cher's comment, "Why did Rachel Dolezal's parents out their daughter? It was cruel. I don't know why she chose her path. But who doesn't want to have Black cool?" is the same kind of thinking that Blacks endured from whites before law changed Jim Crow into a subjugated spirit. Blacks speak amongst ourselves with unbridled resentment about Cher who thinks she is hip, or 'one of us'. Whites here in the States fence themselves as a means of protections by words like this because they can pretend that race does not matter when it does by their own design and convienence.

Now that being said how does one side support Ms. Dolezal and create community? - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories



Rachel Dolezal by Justin Bishop 4

There is a story about Rachel Dolezal written by Allison Samuels here worth reading. The story.
 

Crazy Times!



gun, a sneer & a crazy woman in the back seat !!!!

"We cannot stop structuring our lives through the lens of attachment or relationship, but no single connection or form it manifests as can or should hold the entirety of our selves. A web of relational interconnection provides avenues for growth, expression and the near-infinite variety of emotional experiences.” - David Teachout September 15, 2015


 

Susan be Susan

Susan Sarandon & male nude statue in background

Susan Sarandon playing with camera.

Susan Sarandon, the woman and the actress, insists upon being herself. It comes through every public appearance she makes, and each film she is a part of. Not only is that an endearing quality it drives home the point of individuality, not as a selfish immature insistence upon getting one's way, but as a compliment to living, and paying attention to others. ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10.20.13 

actress and lady, Susan Sarandon
Gallery

The DOGS

The Dogs: Keeper of the Stories by Gregory E. Woods

Just one glance into the recesses of one's memories are the many times the presence of good and evil, of a sacred and divine flow of energetic particles seem to flow along the contours of the fiber of our being from a core. Every life has felt it. What a thinking person does with it is their decision. It is unknown how these things occur, but accepted child-like with the reverence gratitude instigates all becomes magical feelings, and a thinking stops thinking as a primary way of absorbing the world of sensory perceptions. More often than not it becomes magic of a kind that is comforting or probing.

Animals don't think about these things to the degree people do. The four-legged People's thoughts are voices without sounds, pictures of the deeper things that convey mystery language to the sense of knowing and belonging to the whole. 

One morning when I was a young father, my brother-in-law, Scotty, carefully shook me awake just after the sun cracked an eye open in the east. Grumbling, I followed him downstairs outside. I had left my machete in the house. I was clad in jeans, barefoot. The early birds were flying circles above the street looking down at people standing on cars, or braced to run in terror from a pack of wild dogs. The dogs formed a half-moon shape from the leader against the backdrop of the forest at the end of the road. Their menace was thick in the air. I relaxed into the moment recognizing the leader and a dog here and there I'd met over the months stalking them in the depths of the forest searching for their dens.

The leader looked deep in my eyes, and I in his recognizing what was important to know in each other. These assessments can be long, or short exchanges. We knew each other. Out of habit I'd readjusted my weight to balance against attack, but they were too far away, and only the leader was calling the shots. I was telling my story of who I was that day, and he his story came full and possessed with hunger tinged menace. I thought of killing. He thought of tearing flesh. In the end we knew the dance for that moment.

With an almost imperceptible nod from the leader to me the other dogs turned without a sound and filed into the tall grass, and slithered between the hardwood trees without a sound. I looked after them awhile sad, and glad to see them go. The people on the cars were staring at me with fear wondering what happened, and how. Under my breath I told Scotty, “Go to work.” and went back to bed.

People remember the power of one when the whole is threatened. In turn the community ideal is to complete the circle aiding the one. This circle binds us together as a community. This is my story.

Gregory E. Woods
Keeper of Stories (Dawn Wolf)
2.16.15

published by Indian Voices
March 02, 2015

Dawn Wolf in ceremony sharing a Medicine Wheel teaching

 

Inexplicably beautiful people

It hurts knowing how deeply the caste system of India is woven into Indians who are two, three generations as American citizens who believe in this system, adapt it into their daily lives, and live amongst all the ethnic groups calling the United States home. In two popular movies I've seen featuring Indian themes and actors the writers were blunt about the culturally held conviction that marrying amongst their own is best. That's cool. I can get along with that. But, the saying goes further denouncing marriages, or sexual unions with whites, but those unions are cast as passable; something one can learn to live with, but never with a Black! That hurts in the light and shadows of the complex histories of Indians (with the dot, not the feathers), and Black African nations over thousands of years! 

- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
8.23.14

• Hot Collection 8 Aishwarya Rai Latest Hot Pictures...

Lara Dutta

Lara Dutta's exquisite beauty 

Aishwarya Rai, Bollywood actress

Poverty vs Solutions

introspection one day...

Poverty: A Domestic Issue That Can't Be Overlooked
By Dr. Sinclair N. Grey III (Here's an article I wrote that was recently published.)


No rational person wants to see anyone go hungry. Let’s face it – everyday poverty affects many people in one way, shape, or form. We cannot ignore it because poverty isn't just a community problem or a state problem, it’s a global problem. Anytime men and women, boys and girls have to face economic hardship, housing misfortune, food deficiency, and medical deprivation, we have a crisis. For too long, people have looked over poverty with a policy here and a policy there, but failed to do anything of substance.

In a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau, it was declared in 2010 that “15.1% of the general population lived in poverty.” A breakdown is as follows: “9.9% of all White persons, 12.1% of all Asian persons, 26.6% of all Hispanic persons (of any race), 28.4% of all Black persons. About half of those living in poverty are non-Hispanic White (19.6 million in 2010), but poverty rates are much higher for Blacks and Hispanics. Non-Hispanic White children comprised 57% of all poor rural children.” These statistics are troublesome for a country that has resources but wishes to place many of those resources in other countries to help build up their infrastructure while the people at home suffer.

Whenever cities/communities are struck with high unemployment, business divestment, and government inefficacy, the likelihood that a family will avoid poverty is very slim. If you look at cities and individuals hit hard with poverty, you’ll find private property abandonment which not only depletes a neighborhood, but also adds a criminal element to the fact.

Professor Mark Flowers, the author of Three-Handed Economist suggests a few ways in which we can alleviate domestic poverty by doing the following:

• Treating underdeveloped areas as disaster areas by bringing in community organizers
• Incentivizing businesses to invest and making it business friendly
• Using government revenues for public works projects which will give jobs and income to those most in need to be spent in the local community thereby creating a need for new business development which in turn creates new jobs.

Poverty is a problem that all of us must deal with on a regular basis. Even though statistics may show it affects certain ethnic groups more than others, the fact of the matter is that poverty is a human problem whereby humans need to address and solve the problem. I’m challenging our country to make dealing with poverty within the U.S. a top priority. This is by no means discrediting the problems/issues happening in other parts of the world, however, when we overlook the concerns of the people in our own backyard, how can we justify spending money in other countries in humanitarian aid and effort, when the very people who are hurting and suffering in the U.S. can’t afford to live. It’s time that we, as a country, stop being politically correct with other countries and learn to be more empathetic and compassionate with the cares and needs of our own citizens. — 8.21.14

Black woman in her messy room