Afraid, Aware!

Cindy Crawford, a study of a woman. 

Cindy Crawford. She was a young woman when she entered the public collective of memorable white American beauties. She singularly changed the standards of beauty, as all accepted standards are in white estimation, into something relaxing the rigidity of the standard historically held over other races. That is a lot to say, even harder is to have spent time understanding the racial ideologies in place in the West, the play of sexual dynamics in politics, white conquests, and Europe's dominance over every sphere of existence. As a man, a father, it was my responsibility to learn these subjects from the unique perspective of an American Indian and an American African!

For a little woman, Cindy Crawford was on multiple magazine covers, and being studied introspectively by many thinking people in African American communities. She may or may not have known about it then, but surely as she lived longer it became evident. I am not privy to her views on race, and race and beauty. If she has shared any views, young women need to get their heads out of their clouds and ponder what she may have said, and did not share.

My perspective is mine, but I am fully aware of how far Americans praise and worship youth, as if it staves off aging, and dying. But, since my own youth the fallacy of this tendency has always been evident. Unlike millions of American youth, I sought, listened to and studied what the aged and wise had seen, and learned, and wished to pass down into the next generations.

Without historical reference readily available to them many readers stop here. The curious, who are seeking the truth, raise questions that hopefully will lead towards truth, and deeper understanding about the circular nature of truths governing daily life, and public policies. It is work.


Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
November 18, 2018

Cindy Crawford was born February 20, 1966 and is a former American model and she fine!

Nude study of Cindy Crawford! 

MURDER, as business.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Strathearn in Scotland, departs after officially opening V&A Dundee, Scotland's first design museum on January 29, 2019 in Dundee, Scotland. Photo by Max Mumby. 

"Behind, and beneath the hoopla around the royal house of Britain is the menace of their dark history. It is a foul, bloody history stepped over each time acclaim is raised over the romances of British royalty, but not forgotten by non-whites, who need more than validation. Many recoil in disgust over the way these people's dark history is not addressed, as we are made to feel we should get over it. But, how is that possible when it is still profitable for them their ways of subjugation?" - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 2/7/19

WHEN WE AWAKEN 3

"Some things are just average, other things are spellbinding!"


TO MY Nephew

"Whatever you do as a practice developing body, mind or spirit and however you develop emotional maturity it comes back to assist you at the oddest times; in particular when you have been given life for a long time. In a culture, childishly upset over aging, and obsessed with the illusion of staying young old age trips you up. There are peculiar benefits to a life well lived. The practices of life to stay fit in the four realms are best teaching us how we live.

It is fascinating this way of being. "- Gregory E. Woods, (Dawn Wolf), Keeper of Stories WHITE AS A RIGHT! I was recently watching a video clip of a British man, with images flashing of what his people were doing to people who looked like me of the darker hue, in recent times past in other countries. Black African countries they have conquered and subjugated. The combination was meant to disturb the viewer and his closer was meant to be a kumbaya moment.

The horror he described with emphasis on the images in the film is grim, but a white man with a British accent telling this burns within me. It stirs a rage, a collective one constantly felt in silence by our ancestors and those of us whose people suffered at their hands. It is the way he sits with authority and a measure of disgust and the simple minded appeal to the viewer about how we are one that burns into the soul of non-whites! Historically, whites skip all the steps to heal with a not so subtle a suggestion that we hold hands and let bygones be bygones.

It always comes out this way and it always leaves the rest of us happily lapping it up so we can avoid the long process needed to mend at the deep levels, or it burns with rage on the inside because we know that beast is never chained up and killed. He is always there. It is part of the staying power of Donald Trump! ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 12/24/18

Under Trump KKK resurfaces with aplomb.

Donald Trump's presence on the international stage isn't comic relief. It is, amongst other things, a revival of Jim Crow's spirit. My caution is felt in the air. White broadcasters and the news media most Americans listen to are distant from the pulse of non-whites. We, of the darker hue, have long memories, and own no reason to be confident in the intent of good white people. Our old people, our parents always whispered in our young ears: "It is never a question of if, but when will whites betray you!" - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 12/02/18 

Beautiful and compelling white women, like Mona Wales, have tempted and taken many sons from Black mothers. The white led to red blood on green grass growing from brown earth. - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 12/02/18

Between Two Generations

Considering the stories of white men and African people marriage between the two is always, at its roots, a marriage between the children of the slave owner and the children of the slave. Those cords are deep, long and powerful. Just because time has past doesn't mean the myth of distance is applicable. The present in the past is a dream, the past in the present is our collective history.  - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories


Erzulie Kay I think people should marry who they fall in love with regardless of race but if this is saying to Mary white man because they’re better than black men than hell no! 


Gregory E. Woods There is a lot in the depths of marriage and marrying beyond a trite approach or attitude. The past always resides in a marriage, as well as the future is dreamt in the present. 

October 23, 2018

Outside of AFRICA

Delbert Africa was assaulted by Philadelphia police after the standoff with the group MOVE. An officer was killed that day and the evidence pointed to him being shot by other cops, but 9 MOVE members were all convicted of pulling the trigger. The memory of that is dark taking me back to other related incidents, as brutal as the way their house was burned to the ground with people inside.

During the years I was a police officer in the period of the crack epidemic I saw a lot I won't write about. One of the outstanding things I learned was this: Communities, cities and towns tell, and indicate what they really want. In other words, police reflect the unspoken desire of their communities, and their leaders. I am not sure how sophisticated Black youth are, but as they are seen in the eyes and behavior of police around the country it is clear! How and if that changes is dependent upon the changes Black Americans make within individually, and later collectively. The chances of that are slim contributing to the violence levied against us by brute force, and contempt for Black lives that don't matter to 'them'! The bulk of the battle is within. The enemy is without substance if we own ourselves! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10/19/18

diagram of Racism

Delbert Africa beaten by this Philly cop with his helmet. When down others kicked him in the face till unconsciousness, dragged him by his hair. 3 cops were tried for excessive force and exonerated...

A Look Back

Dyan Cannon on phone in the '60's

Sophia Loren in a breeze.

Helen Mirren, actress "Woman In Gold" 

‎

Beautiful and stunningly beautiful white women from days gone by formed and support the opinions about what was the standard for this and the last century.

Look at this gallery. It is more of a tribute. Women like Kim Novak and Sophia Loren featured in this gallery of poses, who set standards today's woman glances at in their mirrors for glimpses. Yes, this is a tribute to the influence of white women in our sensibilities. This gallery of comparative photographs skips through the mid-twentieth century with darlings like Caroline de Maigret and Lucille Baugh! Audrey Hepburn set the standard of elegant poise and the long forgotten Isabel Jewell!

If you look close and beneath the assumptions they are all white women, whose influence framed the network of thought and esteem Black women from then until now hold as mirrors. In the strive for freedom Black American's struggle for identity begins with images framing their perception of themselves.


Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
October 14, 2017

pretty legs of Ginger Rogers.

Anna Q. Nillson in 1920. 

Mae Busch's exquisite beauty in 1922. 

Hedy Lamar in the style of the 1940's.

singer, Crystal GAYLE

Long hair of singer, Crystal Gayle held me captive from the first time I saw her singing. It moved, or swayed as a body animated by the sensuous quality of her voice. the song in her hair, the look in her eyes justified being moved by her beauty. Back in those years racial pride was raw in the Black community, and there was no justification for yearning for a white woman, if you weren't white! You could admire, but long for, and worse pursue a white woman in the 1970's was to banish yourself from your people.

A lot of thought went into messing with white women. There were repercussions to weigh against the immediate disapproval from all who mattered. Being glib about it was naïve. It sounded foolish coming out of anyone's mouth. Very simple minded people believing they are hip, in today's climate, like to whine about how they've gotten beyond race! The notion is insulting. Black Americans can't blink an eye, or make a dismissive comment and the stench of our Ancestor's outrage fade! Those who've made the journey from the deepest levels of a commitment to honor their true self have done the spiritual work engaging their rage in the social climate of the States, and its history with a skill set unadorned by the pretense of political correctness. Over time this endeavor rewards the spirit, liberates the mind, and eases the pain of the Ancestors.

Who would dare do such a thing? - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories (May 5, 2018)

Crystal Gayle, country singer, onstage...

BOOK PROMOTION: A LUMBEE GERSHOM

Anita Jo Shifflet reading her book,

A Lumbee Gershom. (2018) 

alumbeegershom.com

Lonely and tired, the lovely young Indian woman with the white father and Lumbee mother embraced courage and chased truth as she looked into the angry eyes of a crowd that judged her. She knew she was the evidence her parents had broken the law by loving and marrying one another. She also knew her existence was evidence that racism exists in people of varying shades of color. Her two worlds melted into one as she looked directly into the eyes of her critics and began to speak.
"For I have been a stranger and have dwelt in a strange land...I am A LUMBEE GERSHOM." 

Anita Jo Shifflett, Lumbee author and lawyer promoting her book in November of 2016.

🌻 A LUMBEE GERSHOM🌻


Where Do You Dwell? Are you prepared for a journey into my world? A world where my skin deceived those that did not know the true me? A world where I grew up playing with the children of great writers, doctors, attorneys, United States Generals, and even United States Senators. Or would my real world interest you more? The world of my brown skinned mother and my people, the Lumbee Indians of Robeson County, North Carolina. A community filled with clapboard houses, mobile homes standing a top of exposed cinder blocks, old pick up trucks with strong brown arms propped upon doors making their way down old dirtroads, mule pulled tobbaca’ crates, the sweaty faces of the tobacco croppers with barefoot Indian children freely running through flat fields of sand and old Indian women sitting on front porches shelling field peas faster than any machine could possibly imitate.

Such scenes came from my hidden world…the world of A Lumbee Gershom.
Or does my secret world interest you more? A place where words like “miscegenation”, "mixed marraiges”, "Eugenics” and "forbidden love affairs” shaped my young adult life.
And the best part?
Every word is true…. Take the journey with me, JoJo…the original Lumbee Gershom.

ON SALE NOW $15.00 SIGNED TO YOU BY JOJO. BUY YOUR COPY NOW AT
alumbeegershom.com