Category Archives: North American African Perspective

Seven Guitars, A Glorious Gaze at the Mundane

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Wilson meets us where we live in all our drama and turmoil amidst the mundane backdrop of one day following another despite the brutality of the previous one. Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seven of One, Five of the Other: Half way through August Wilson’s Century Cycle

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Wilson is a bluesologist and we are blues people. Avotcja Jiltonilro explained to me once that the blues as we know it actually evolved from praise music not from the angst of the American experience as we have been taught. It is our song. Our ever overstanding of the beauty and majesty inherent in life and our heart’s determination to continue beating. Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, Craft, non fiction essay, North American African Perspective, Performing Arts, Tales of Iron and Water, Theater, work in progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

home in the graveyard

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements brothers hug corner dreamstil they bleedcuz that’s allthey own i woke up lastnight dreamed i built me a homeI pray my grave is not the only land I ever own

Posted in Black Arts, North American African Perspective, Poetry, spokenword | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advertisements I do not believe the presidency  of the United States of America is a sole proprietorship. I have  entertained a different idea every since I read Taylor Caldwell’s Captain’s and the Kings. Like most of the American public; I have often been instructed by … Continue reading →

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD | Leave a comment

First Funeral, 2013

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements Forever young never to be a grand father early in your day the work of you is done you were like the heat that never found the sun the shine resting in the diamond the tune up before the … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, Life., North American African Perspective, Poetry, spokenword | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

under fire

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements how do I tell them stop shooting they are being shot at “its like sport” hunting each other because they keep hearing that they are worthless so they disconnect from the god within hunted by everybody else no chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, North American African Perspective, Poetry | Leave a comment

Gentrification: No Resting Place, Pt.2

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

“West Oakland is situated on the Bay side of Highway 980 and is easily accessible by public transportation including BARTand buses. If you are an urban pioneer who is looking to buy somewhere before it really booms, look into West Oakland” (Red Oak Realty, 2012 para. 4). West Oakland is being discovered and repopulated by pioneers of a different stripe. Continue reading →

Posted in I'm Just Saying!, non fiction essay, North American African Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gentrification: No Resting Place, Pt.1

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

The Bottoms in West Oakland was once a desirable destination for North American Africans recently freed from chattel slavery. Ex-slaves and Pullman Porters wrote a chapter in this neighborhood’s history. This chapter, like many that followed, is informed by race. Continue reading →

Posted in I'm Just Saying!, non fiction essay, North American African Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Media and the Management of Reality

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements Marvin X says the news ain’t the news it ain’t nothing but the blues and I agree. You might as well listen to Damien Marley, Koran Streets, or WolfHawkJaguar, if you want the news, they will tell you what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in I'm Just Saying!, journal, Life., non fiction essay, North American African Perspective | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

King Tides and NewTown: Harbingers of the Time

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements Today there were King Tides in the Bay Area. I wonder about tides pulled by the moon and what makes anomalies. I wonder. I stay in conversation with the universe. There are explanations for most anomalies. As humans we … Continue reading →

Posted in I'm Just Saying!, journal, Life., non fiction essay, North American African Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments