About Indifference

ELDER TALK


It is lost today how important it was for these individuals (Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, and other prominent Negroes) to be in the public eye, and why their behavior was, and had to be above reproach.

Prior to the assumptions of these times we tend to make about 20th century, Negroes had to be above reproach at every level of their lives to be above average, and successful in the white world. White people's general assumptions and convictions about Black people were carved into stone, and the preservation of our integrity, and race pride were profoundly important to us. In addition, being killed by white folks, and judged by low evaluation standards made daily life a strategic operation. The sophistication it took to work, and live in those times did not have the assumptions of present day belief structures today's youth seem to embrace.

Black and white kids today believe the lies, the misrepresentation of their histories, and undisciplined where they should be disciplined these young people tend to believe racial equality has occurred without work, or input on their part, or collectively. A deeply felt "Oh, shit!" moment is what they need to wake up from the slumber of their childhood, and what their childhoods failed to introduce them, and prepare them to become!

I can think of, and share a number of things, and expand their worlds in this medium, or in their presence, but I have learned the number of students is but a handful hard to attract. One need not cast pearls to swine. If there is hunger there is want. If there is need there is a seed. If there are seeds to plant the land will ask. If someone wants to die let them die.

These are my words.

Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
3/27/19

Nate King Cole and Maria Cole.

Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald at the top of their game!

Requires Thought.

Slave marriage taking place. I remember this dance.

"During the time of slavery, not every hour was a miserable hour. While alone with their families, slaves did attempt to live a regular lifestyle. They cooked, cleaned, and fed their families and made sure that everyone was doing what they had to in order to not get sold. One thing they did to keep each others spirits up was tell jokes and mimic their masters and mistresses. This is what began black comedy within the United States." - Cedric Freeman 

Dave Chappelle's insight.

"I agree with what you have said; we must learn that if we do not agree with other's lifestyles, do not judge negatively what is seen or viewed. None of us are perfect and communications is very important, in the realization that words can damage if not used in a caring way. We are indeed our brothers' keepers. With that in mind, with "love" and loving someone, you do not have to agree with everything they may say or do, because love is being honest with the individual simply because you do truly love them and not to agree to satisfy them or because you feel obligated to agree; We must learn to be true and honest "BUT" in such a way as to show "love and honesty" in such a way that others see and feel the sincerity within us!!!" - Barbara Tharpe 

White Power movements.

IN the Depths of Human Experience.

Is it possible in the brokenness of 21st century the resurrection of divinity within the African? Could be, will it be inevitable? It is ever possible. 

It never could be a better time before, but now the dysfunction deep beneath and within the soul of Americans makes demands on common sense. A powerful African woman seated as an authority announces the presence of a husband completing sacred powers the two have responsibilities to fulfill. Birthed into the present how would crudeness and the crude way of being upon the Earth, our Mother accept the holiness of an African woman and African man, who are deep in the powers beyond the capacity of crudeness?

There is a lot asked of excellence, and a lot to fear. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 1/28/19 

African Mother's Powers. artist unknown.

This was the last known photograph taken of Dr. Anna J. Cooper in her Washington, D.C. home. Dr. Cooper was an American scholar and educator.
 
Born a slave in Raleigh, North Carolina, when she earned her PhD in history from the University of Paris-Sorbonne in 1924, Dr. Cooper became the fourth African-American woman to earn a doctoral degree. Photo Source: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History 

Sarah Collins Rudolph is the fifth little girl who was injured in the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama that killed four little girls readying for Sunday school. Her sister was killed in the bombing. She lost an eye, suffered severe cuts throughout her body, and has endured years of surgery and medical problems as a result of the bombing... 

Deep story. 

Black History Facts

the African People + the Terrorists

Royalty has its way of expressing itself outside the vernacular of Europe with profound dignity and the lightness of play with the essential elements of spirituality, in the context of what is ancient about African traditions. This is far away from the pretense of British royalty, which does not repent playing its game, as if its evil has nothing to do with its stench, its practiced cruelty and the Arabic terror attacks in Europe and the U.S.! This kind of denial is unique among apex predators. It is a blindness protected by fear: fear they created and sustained in others, and by the techniques that employ servitude with gratitude colored by fears of 'them'!

This is a language whites, for hundreds of years, have refused to acknowledge but know; didn't want to accept, but outlawed taking humanity from other people they don't respect. That's a puzzle? Imagine being the grandchild of an ex-slave negotiating a life among masters of terror, who claim not to be the terror they generate!

Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
September 3, 2018

Royalty has its way...

the Hope to Break free!!

Black Woman in blue by Ike Slimster

There is a lot of space to be filled with the stories about the essence and the survival of Black African daughters, who have come from a dark past in relation to Europeans. But, there are the centuries before our Dark Centuries with the whites, we do not talk about because we only think of ourselves in terms of enslavement. This dark space in our souls is our history connecting us to Europe after we opened the world-at-large to them. There is no Europe or America without the Blacks from the Land of the Blacks!. . . ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories [August 8, 2018]

A Clash!

II.

The eyes and the composure of a beautiful white woman defines something in the essence of a man understanding this. Inside of many Black women it is disrespectful this regard for white women, and for good reasons. The tone of calls for racial equality rests in perpetual lies and evasive truths! The denial of histories playing in our daily lives is measured by a fear white people engineer in efforts to not atone for sins. ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 6/26/18





I.

"The African proficiency for genius comes from our women, our spiritual centers that are traceable, elusive and present." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

UNBELIEF in Young bloods, Not knowing.

Unbelief applies here looking deep into her eyes. The future is there. The possible resides within and from the core of her being is the promise of more to come. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 

Unbelief in the strength of women is founded on a concept of an overextended version of male superiority that suffers under the glare of our women, who know better. In the context of Black American history the strength of concepts from matrilineal societies hold Black families intact. Today, all the factors that debilitated the new Africans in the Americas were challenged by the old, strong traditions from the Land of the Blacks!...

I make this point because the power of this image brings this to the forefront. The strength Black American women have needs to be respected, understood, deciphered and held against the wisdom depths of our Ancestors, who understood in depths we, as a People, have long forgotten!... - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 

Unaware thinking they are hip.

Turning heads is something good looking women can do effortlessly. 

Being beautiful is a condition of one's relationship with elements higher than lust. 

- Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories

WAKE UP to LIVE!

The African woman is the great divide in the consciousness of freedom because of the interference of European thought and aggressive terrorism. . . ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 8/22/18

the Art of the Feminine melanin.

DARK Women

The Dark Woman. 

Janet Jackson in black dress August 3, 2012.

Trend Of Copying The Beautiful Black Woman

The new trend of black men attacking dark skin black women is a frightening game that will have vast frightening repercussions. If a dark skin man devalues a dark skin women based on hype, then in essence, he is not only downgrading his mother and all the women and ancestors of his family, but he is also downgrading himself. Wouldn’t this make him less of a man at best?

The black woman is without argument, the most beautiful gender on the planet. She comes in vast colors and shapes and sizes. But you can always recognize a black woman by how her body is shaped and how she is built. The black woman is built strong and her shape is something to be desired. Even when the black woman is not trying to be sexy, she automatically is sexy. The beautiful black woman possesses a figure that no other gender on the planet has. Black women are physically strong and usually dominant athletically.

Some, not most, black men are handing their black women over to the wolves in a desperate attempt to fit in with a supremacist white society that has downgraded and killed black men and black women for centuries. It’s put to black men as if now they have justification for the predicament they are in. Let’s blame the beautiful black women because she didn’t do a good job raising the black man. But this is not fair and this is not accurate. For if anyone deserves to be punished for their role in bringing up black men, enough blame can be passed to black men. The burden is for the black men and black women to share together.

Naked as a sacred symbol African women unafraid are a natural force.

Psychology Of Most Beautiful Black Woman

Society has attacked beautiful black women so much that even black men have begun carrying out a misguided agenda against black women, claiming that they are not beautiful and less of a woman. There have even been popular media channels set up on social networks, where black men have basically set up channels to denounce dark skin women.

The popularity of degrading most beautiful black women has effortlessly caught on with black men. It appears that even when being black is the butt of a joke, black people participate in an effort to fit in. What is commonly seen and thought of as high school mentality, has apparently shifted to the masses. This time, the joke isn’t about black men. Because black men feel like they are free from this particular attack, some willingly chime in and degrade beautiful black womenas well, without realizing, that they are secretly the butt of every joke and attack against black people. Sorry brothers, but you have not escaped ridicule.

Black woman in black outfit and some baad red heels!

The popularity of degrading most beautiful black women has effortlessly caught on with black men. It appears that even when being black is the butt of a joke, black people participate in an effort to fit in. What is commonly seen and thought of as high school mentality, has apparently shifted to the masses. This time, the joke isn’t about black men. Because black men feel like they are free from this particular attack, some willingly chime in and degrade the most beautiful black women as well, without realizing, that they are secretly the butt of every joke and attack against black people. Sorry brothers, but you have not escaped ridicule...

"Overwhelming presence and beauty is its own energy source compelling 

poet to pen, singer to listen, and drummer to the heartbeat." 

- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 5/27/17

Tiffany Haddish, comedienne. 

Stand For Something, and Someone Else.

Civil Rights protestor alone and defiant.

I grew up during this era and everything was devoured, meaning all information about the Civil Rights movement was taken in by the general public eagerly and with dread. It was exciting for reasons this generation cannot grasp.

Every time period exists within a period of time. How it was important and unique to its time is important to the future where it is judged. It has always been like this in human history! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 9/7/18 

Kaepernick making a statement.

Cicely Tyson speaking at Aretha Franklin's funeral. 2017. 

I am always moved by Cicely Tyson's presence, what she says, does not say and how she conveys deep intangibles with her eyes, and by right of ancestry and legacy!" - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories (Sept. 7, 2018) 

Shekere played by Chadra Pittman made by Madeline Yyodele of Women of the Calabash. photo by Bill Thomas.

When Dr. King spoke: Power of a People's Pain.

When Dr. King spoke: "If you can't fly, then run, if you can't run, then walk, if you can't walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward" I heard the enforcement of the laws of purpose, and felt at the time what it meant to Colored folks. Being young, and being old and a Negro in those times held a stress level that strangled dreams. It killed by fear and emboldened by necessity a killer instinct in others, and made the leaders arise from within the caste system created by the fears white lives, who developed themselves into monsters or tolerant moderates, afraid to do what was right in the sight of God!

Dr. King, I recall, was despised by so many ministers, but I saw fear of changing the white people around them alive in the purposes the church served in Colored neighborhoods. No one killed like white folks! I remember how television delivered these messages from Martin Luther King Jr. the way word spread through the forests into the towns and cities where 'Members' lived. I remember old people talking about the way storytellers told the old stories to the children around fires in the dark of night! The fires became radio, radio became television and television became the internet, where the family circles disappeared into the mist of separate rain drops.

Now, today broken circles pretend to bring people together. Pieces of a dream are no more effective than broken bowls. The old ways of fighting the demons are the methods to bring the worst of killers to their comeuppance, to trail, to the courts of law, but not the law created by the killers and framed by the beneficiaries of their brutal murders and acquisitions by force and terror.

It is less and it is more our Ancients speaking the old truths our interactions with those from Europe stripped from our knowing of the deep that gave Dr. King his voice... - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 4/18/18 

Differences between the African and the Euro-American

Abby Parece ,by the way in jeans, makes the light look better back in 2015!...

Abby Parece made a statement in 2015: "If you keep looking back you might miss what is standing right in front of you!" "What would Sankofa say?" would be the question to ask, not being a white man. I am an African First Nation man.

Sankofa affirms the spiritual practice of looking backwards to better see the present and the future. It is distinctly Akan, from the Adinkra system of writing in present day Ghana and the Ivory Coast. In Colonial times European countries after slaughter and subjugation the continent of Africa was divided amongst the war participants against African rule, thus becoming countries with multi-linguistic groups, and cultures living in new circumstances.

The immediate task to maintain cultures and rituals throughout the continent of Africa was, and to this day difficult because Europeans as Colonial powers are extremely brutal. There are quite a number of West African authors, from the 1960's onward who have critiqued this time and illustrated detailed stories of that initial period, and how it moved through the decades. In these struggles, Sankofa was the appropriate technique amongst others to maintain the ancient cultures as France, and England, in particular thrust their nasty spirit into daily life!

In the United States, white Americans have inflicted themselves with gross contradictions to live by as they spread dark forces upon the people indigenous to this land, and the enslaved Africans they kept alive to copulate bringing forth more 'property' to bear upon their individual, and collective wealth. This system of manipulation for financial gain and cultural dominance to this end slaughter ancient ritual practices of the many African traditions that survived the Middle Passage. The Church, the educators, the business men, and the Department of War were the high priests of this orgy of dismantling the soul of people, Red and Black.

The 20th century bore fruit from this violence in both of our communities. Sankofa became more of a presence in the African spiritual communities in major cities as more and more Black American's struggles brought them closer home to who their ancestors prayed better understanding of self over mere survival. Washington DC's African spiritual communities are 'houses'.

There are eleven (11) houses: Yoruba, Akan, Ausar Auset, and one house of Voudoun. Each employ Sankofa in the practicality of unlearning what white people poured into our souls, as bowel. It is safe to say, and accurate to say the Sankofa presents itself to need, and is indifferent to being disregarded the way whites like to overcome their dichotomies with denial insisting upon other ethnic groups to simply get over whatever they (we) think they did to us!


Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
March 7, 2018

Abby Parece by EASPHTOGRAPHY in October of 2015.

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.

For Clarity's Sake

The Original

"The only way to sell propaganda to a soul less people is by distorting the fabric of their entire existence. It is a profound thing to say, but deceptive with this imagery because the 'soulless' are those who convinced themselves African people were without souls."

- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 

Thoughts. artist unnamed.

Telling A Story!

Protect him, a traditional story. "What are your thoughts on this?"

There is a lot to remember in this image. The most provocative memory comes from the dark times of enslavement when African women created secret societies to protect their men, and fleeing slaves from the ravenous spirits of the whites! I think about Voudon and its importance to African survival, not only for their own, but the white women seeking refuge from their own men, and culture! There is Harriet Tubman's ability to kill those who wanted to return to slavery, and the Maroon societies throughout the African Diaspora. Lastly, I remember how this spirit permeates the ancestral links of our young people, who are unguided and unable to fit in their minds who they are, and how all these things align themselves into their systems of beliefs, action and inaction!

It is a deep story denied, captured and hidden and in the open,  and in action! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories