#Grenadian Poetry

[cowshorsesandgardenias]

This Month for the first time, I am going to do my best to post about Caribbean Americans who contributed Black American History in the USA. Please Enjoy. I encourage all of the African Diaspora in the USA to post about their contributions to the beautiful tapestry, mosaic known as Black History. Audre Lorde was born in New York City on February 18, 1934 to Caribbean immigrants. Her father, hailed from Barbados and her mother, was Grenadian and was born on the island of Carriacou. As a poet, she is well known for technical mastery and emotional expression, as well as her poems that express anger and outrage at civil and social injustices she observed throughout her life. As a spoken word artist, her delivery has been called powerful, melodic, and intense by the Poetry Foundation. Her poems and prose largely deal with issues related to civil rights, feminism, lesbianism, illness and disability, and the exploration of black female identity. #audrelorde #barbados #grenada #usa #caribbeanamerican #caribbeamericanheritage #caribbeanamericanhistory #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory365 #blackhistory #poetry #poet (at Brooklyn, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoIIF9wuQoE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[anywaythagod]

Photo from the last #MusicAndWordsClub event wasn't down to perform yet got given the opportunity to do something at the end. Down to perform Thursday coming 25th October #ComeDown #Support #Local #Talent #Artists #Art #AnywayThaGod #MC #Poet #Poetry #Music #Live #Windsor #Slough #Berkshire #Grenadian #Universal #Words https://www.instagram.com/p/BpPYkHnB8Fp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=au93nmi331ra

[mixdgrlproblems]

Audre Lorde was an #American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian & civil rights activist. She was a self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” who dedicated both her life & talents to confronting injustices of racism, sexism, classism & homophobia. I personally call her the “Quote Queen” She was born in NYC to #Caribbean immigrants, her father from #Barbados, her mother #Grenadian from the island of Carriacou. Her mother was of #mixedancestry but could "pass for 'Spanish.” Nearsighted to the point of being legally blind, she struggled with communication & came to appreciate the power of poetry as a form of expression as a child. At age 12, she began writing her own poetry & connecting with others at school who were considered "outcasts” like her. She published her first poem in #Seventeen magazine after her high school's paper rejected it. In 1954, she spent a pivotal year at the National University of Mexico, a period she described as a time of affirmation & renewal. She “came out” & identified herself as a lesbian. She has a long list of works in writing & activism that can’t all be listed here & she has made an impact on women of all ethnicities all over the world. "I am defined as other in every group I'm part of," she declared. She states that "the outsider, both a strength & weakness. Yet without community there is certainly no liberation, no future..” She described herself as a part of a "continuum of women" & a “concert of voices" within herself. Notably, she started the #AfroGerman movement in Berlin. She inspired Black/Mixed women to refute the designation of #Mulatto, a label which was imposed on them & switch to the newly coined, self given "Afro-German", a term that conveyed a sense of pride. She inspired AfroGerman women to create a community of like-minded people. Some Afro-Germans had never met another Black person & the meetings offered opportunities to express thoughts & feelings. She has many tributes all over the country such as the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, the only primary care center in NYC specifically for the #LGBT community. She died of liver cancer at age 58. 🇧🇧🇬🇩🇪🇸#womenshistorymonth #mixedgirl https://www.instagram.com/p/B-OJQtPl4pA/?igshid=1tkjgzehpzr76

[thejccollective473]

New Video Alert! So have you seen it yet? Infinite, an inspirational spoken piece by Brandon aka SpAw, dares you to dream, to challenge yourself to.... You know what, just click the link and check out the video.

[girlactionfigure]

Even as a child, she knew she was different. She was born in New York City on February 18, 1934 to Caribbean immigrants, her father from Barbados and her mother Grenadian. Her mother was of mixed ancestry so her skin was lighter compared to her husband, who had darker skin. "Audrey Geraldine" looked more like her father. Even in rare childhood photographs, such as the picture here, she (in the middle) would be compared to her "lighter-skin sisters." Her own mother, who viewed people with darker skin suspiciously, would also treat her differently. Her difficult relationship with her mother and the outside world would lead her to books, especially poetry. Viewed as an outcast in school, she started communicating only through poems. If asked a question, she would respond with a poem. When there wasn't a poem that she could use as a response, she started writing her own poems. Even as a young child, she was a rebel. She decided at a young age, she wanted control of her own being, so she changed the spelling of her name, from "Audrey" to "Audre" because poetically it sounded better. Audre Lorde would describe herself as a “poet, warrior, feminist, mother, pioneer, lover, survivor”. She devoted her life to advocating that women could be all of those things and more. She would say, "If we do not define ourselves for ourselves, we will be defined by others." She would refuse to be defined by others, receiving criticism whenever she spoke out. She faced racism and hatred because of her differences, yet she continued to speak out for civil rights, lesbian and gay rights, and feminist movements. Her poems expressed her anger and outrage at civil and social injustices she observed throughout her life. When a a uniformed officer shot and a killed 10-year-old black boy from Queens, in Lorde's poem "Power", she would say: "A policeman who shot down a ten year old in Queens stood over the boy with his cop shoes in childish blood and a voice said “Die you little motherf*cker” and there are tapes to prove it. At his trial this policeman said in his own defense 'I didn't notice the size nor nothing else only the color'. And there are tapes to prove that, too." About racism and homophobia, she would say, "I urge each one of us here to reach down into that deep place of knowledge inside herself and touch that terror and loathing of any difference that lives there. See whose face it wears. Then the personal as the political can begin to illuminate all our choices." When she battled cancer, she made the decision not to wear a prosthesis after her breast was removed, saying, “Prosthesis offers the empty comfort of ‘Nobody will know the difference.’ But it is that very difference which I wish to affirm, because I have lived it, and survived it, and wish to share that strength with other women. If we are to translate the silence surrounding breast cancer into language and action against this scourge, then the first step is that women with mastectomies must become visible to each other.” Lorde was also one of the first critics of early feminists for focusing primarily on the experiences of white middle-class women to the exclusion of women of color. She would argue that feminism needed to look at, and value, the experiences of all women, not just one type of woman, and it needed to acknowledge what she dubbed the “hierarchy of oppression.” Lorde would encourage others, especially women, to speak out, saying, "When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak." She said, “My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” Lorde established The Women’s Coalition of St. Croix’s, which offers assistance and advocacy to women and children who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes. Lorde would say, "I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves." Lorde would also say, "In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction . . . It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." The Jon S. Randal Peace Page

[worldlifetimejourneys]

🌍 Discover the exotic island of #Grenada in the #Caribbean together with the islands of #Carriacou and #PetiteMartinique

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👉 1. Introduction:

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Grenada plays host to the world’s first Underwater Sculpture Park, cascading waterfalls and white-sand beaches. Visitors will feel instantly welcomed by the open-hearted nature of the friendly people, whose smiles and authenticity make Grenada the perfect Caribbean getaway.

Grenada, with its unspoiled landscapes, has the perfect balance, appealing to the interest of adventure lovers, beach dwellers, or couples looking for a romantic destination. On this picturesque and petite island, visitors can go for swimming in the crystal clear waters of Grand Anse Beach to trekking through the rainforest of Seven Sisters Waterfalls, all within a day.

👉 2. Purity and Adventure:

Grenada´s English-speaking nation has some of the friendliest people in the Caribbean, so, even if the visitors happen to get lost, they will surely encounter other aspects of the vibrant culture and hospitality!

👉 3. Culture:

Grenadian culture is expressed through music in all its variety; pageantry and poetry; dance and theatre; sport and recreation; and the people´s natural penchant for welcoming, socializing, cooking and celebrating.

👉 4. People:

With less than 110,000 inhabitants and only 133 square miles of land, the tri island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique appears almost invisible on the world map. Despite its size, the island is widely known for its abundance of spices, unspoilt beauty and friendly people.

👉 5. Other facts:

It has often been questioned though, how an island so tiny, can possess a people with such great character and huge hearts. In 1961, when the Italian cruise liner, the Bianca C caught fire and sank, hundreds of Grenadians rushed to the aid of those onboard, feeding, sheltering and clothing them as needed. Today, a statue known as the ‘Christ of the Deep’ still stands on the Carenage in the town of St. George as an expression of gratitude for their great acts of kindness to the people of Grenada.

If you visit the island today, you will still notice the distinct friendliness and hospitality of the Grenadian people; a people of pure warmth, welcoming and desire to please. From the willingness to assist with changing a tire to the humorous manner of providing directions, the locals never fail. Grenada has definitely been listed as one of the most amazing vacation destinations and it’s not because of cheap airfare. It is simply because of the island’s unspoiled beauty and charm of the people.

👉 6. Experiences and activities:

Whether you prefer to explore an underwater sculpture park on a diving expedition, to visit historical forts or to sample delicious spices, the options available to you are endless. This tri-island state is a charming place where a spontaneous encounter with a Mona monkey or a trek to Mt. Carmel waterfalls leaves you with a lifetime of memories.

Here you will find all the information you need to explore Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, whether you’re here to get married, dive, sail or stop-over. Grenada´s historical sites and nature spots are never crowded. This allows you to take your time to enjoy the unspoilt natural surroundings and take in the fresh air. Adjust your body to island time and engage with locals at festivals and cultural celebrations, for Grenada´s people are its biggest attraction.

Diving: Colourful coral reefs, spectacular shipwrecks, exhilarating drift dives and a unique underwater sculpture park – Grenada Carriacou and Petite Martinique have it all. With more than 50 sites of intriguing underwater wonder to be discovered, it’s no wonder that divers of all levels from around the world are attracted to these island.

Experiences in Grenada

A culinary experience in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is sure to be an unforgettable one. With the option of formal dinning, casual bars, and roadside vendors, there is an endless variety of fresh food enhanced by Grenadian herbs and spices.

Spa & Relaxation: The Spice Islands are the perfect place to give your body that treat it really deserves. Take a trip to the spa where you can escape from reality, losing yourself in the exotic but therapeutic pleasures that await you. See what rejuvenates you below.

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[blackbritishwomeninlit]

Joan Anim-Addo, “Daughter and his housekeeper”, Edinburgh Review, 123 (2008), pp. 65-71

Joan Anim-Addo has had an incredible impact on the UK’s Black women’s writing scene. Grenadian-born Addo joined the University of London in 1994 and became the Director of the then Centre for Caribbean Studies. Her research interests include Caribbean literature and diaspora, feminist perspectives, and creolisation. As well as this, she is the founder editor of the New Mango Season, the journal of Caribbean Women’s writing.

Some of her works include:

Am Black/White/Yellow: An Introduction to the Black Body in Europe

Longest Journey: A History of Black Lewisham

Haunted by History: Poetry

‘He who touched me with words was not destined to be your father. I was taken by another. The rest has been sorrow. That’s the crux of it. I am certain it will kill what is left of me to ever say all that again.’

In Daughter and His Houskeeper, Anim-Addo gives an insight into the life of a mother and daughter. The mother is a housekeeper in slavery, rescued from by her slave master from a plantation. Within the short story, she telling her daughter about who her father is.

One major theme in this book is motherhood. The mother is clearly protective of her daughter and wants to shield her from the world, and even from her own experiences.

‘Daughter, we are not the people who have stories that end with lovers living happily ever after. Those people are all in Massa Boss library, in his books that trap words. Yes, I too was once soundly hexed by words. Now I prefer words trapped on pages as in Boss-man’s library. At least there, I am allowed still, to stay close to them.’

Another major theme is slavery in both its specific and broadest context. The mother says ‘clever people, our master, to enslave time.’ This quotation reflects how all-encompassing the mother describes her experience of slavery as.

A final crucial theme in this text is female autonomy over sexuality. The mother expresses her sexual assault to her daughter, and her lack of power in her daughter’s conception. ‘Words’ are used as a metaphor for a voice, to express how as a woman in slavery, she did not have access to express herself.

sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Anim-Addo 

[sadiesavestheday]

#AudreLorde (1934-1992) Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet. Today would have been her birthday! Audre Lorde was a #lesbianwriter, #librarian, and #civilrightsactivist. She was born in New York to #Grenadian and #Barbadian parents. She was a tireless champion for the causes that were dear to her: #womensrights, #anticapitalism, #LGBTrights, and #Blackadvancement. Along with #BarbaraSmith and #CherrieMoraga, she founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, which was the first United States publisher specifically for women of color. She was also one of the founders of the Women's Coalition of St. Croix which help women who dealt with sexual violence. As part of the establishment of Sisterhood in Support of Sisters, she worked to help women who were harmed by the apartheid in South Africa. Lourde was a poet and her command of language is what has endeared her to so many. She was able to put difficult issues and feelings into understandable words. This wasn't always so easy for her, and she grew up having an extreme difficulty communicating with others. Poetry was the way she learned to communicate. "When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak." "When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." (I also appreciate that she was severely nearsighted, just like me 🤓) . . . . . #womanism #feminismisforeverybody #feminismonegro #feminism #womenempowers #feminismisequality #thefutureisintersectional #feministartists #feministsunite #feministmovement #womensright #intersectional #feministquote #feministpoetry #intersectionalfeminist #feministasfuck #feminist #feministartist https://www.instagram.com/p/CLcz5Xsjm44/?igshid=hdj27mu2y4rl

[kareninaeoreileao]

We have been told that poetry has a soul and theory has a mind and that we have to choose between them. The white western patriarchal ordering of things requires that we believe there is an inherent conflict between what we feel and what we think—between poetry and theory. We are easier to control when one part of our selves is split from another, fragmented, off balance. There are other configurations, however, other ways of experiencing the world, though they are often difficult to name. We can sense them and seek their articulation. Because it is the work of feminism to make connections, to heal unnecessary divisions, Sister Outsider is a reason for hope. Audre Lorde’s writing is an impulse toward wholeness. What she says and how she says it engages us both emotionally and intellectually. She writes from the particulars of who she is: Black woman, lesbian, feminist, mother of two children, daughter of Grenadian immigrants, educator, cancer survivor, activist. She creates material from the dailiness of her life that we can use to help shape ours. Out of her desire for wholeness, her need to encompass and address all the parts of herself, she teaches us about the significance of difference—“that raw and powerful connection from which our personal power is forged"

Excerto de: Audre, Lorde. “Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches (Crossing Press Feminist Series).” Ten Speed Press,

[newsrustcom]

What to Read Before Heading to the Caribbean

What to Read Before Heading to the Caribbean

As the Caribbean recovers from a devastating hurricane season, here are three books by writers from the region that tackle the culture and resilience of the people of Grenada, Haiti and the West Indies.

Photo

LADY IN A BOAT By Merle Collins 95 pp. Peepal Tree Press. (2003)

In this book of poetry, Collins reflects on her childhood in Grenada, the failed Grenadian revolution, and the…

[newsrustcom]

What to Read Before Heading to the Caribbean

What to Read Before Heading to the Caribbean

As the Caribbean recovers from a devastating hurricane season, here are three books by writers from the region that tackle the culture and resilience of the people of Grenada, Haiti and the West Indies.

Photo

LADY IN A BOAT By Merle Collins 95 pp. Peepal Tree Press. (2003)

In this book of poetry, Collins reflects on her childhood in Grenada, the failed Grenadian revolution, and the…