Adornment London 2007 w/ E.Badu
While Don Imus ferverently sought to apologize for his description of the Rutgers predominately black, women's basketball team as Nappy Headed ho's, naturally styled, braided, cornrowed, locked, intricately adorned and culturally affirmed, African queens were descriptions he could have used to describe women of African descent present Easter 2007 weekend at Adornment London, an exhibition, April 8-9, 2007 that showcased and represented the UK's largest network of African-influenced cultural & creative businesses. The event drew more than 9,000.
From April 7th - 11th, 2007 cultural emissaries from the United States; including Elegba Folklore Society and Happily Natural Day, traveled through London England to participate in discussions revolving around image, the residual effects of slavery, and how African people can be pro-active in solving the problems that face their community. Sponsor for the US delegation was the African American Heritage Association of Virginia's signature project: Beyond Image: Emancipation Through Self Discovery. The event offered a unique opportunity for Africans from the United States and the United Kingdom to freely exchange ideas, concerns and opinions on a shared history; that of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and African Diaspora. Featured as a two day panel at Adornment London, Beyond Image ... included Janine Bell of Elegba Folklore Society, Duron Chavis of Happily Natural Day, Marci Walker of Madam Walker's Braidery & School & international recording artist Erykah Badu.
Despite disparaging comments by Imus, African people around the world were celebrating their natural beauty, affirming their culture and heritage as African people, and building bridges from the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. Issues of identity, self-esteem, and the degradation of the African image globally were all issues that were brought to the table during the Beyond Image panel. Prevailingly the responses to the question of how we can improve the conditions of the African community, whether it be American, British or Caribbean, focused on increased grassroots participation, cultivation of cultural heritage programs, and raising cultural awareness and pride in the community.
2007 marked the 200th year anniversary of Britain's abolishment of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade. To commemorate, Richmond Virginia wass one of three cities to raise statues in honor of reconciliation; similar statues were raised in Benin, West Afrika and Liverpool, England. Ironically enough, the comments of Don Imus show just how far we as a people are away from reconciliation of a very sordid history. It is important that we not only focus on racial slights and insensitivities hurled at African people; we must encourage and give equal attention to the efforts being made to break these chains. In order for reconciliation to occur, we must talk about these issues of inequality and place them in a historical context so that we may understand why certain phenomenon are happening.
Patricia Green of AAHA, producer of Beyond Image comments "The conversation is as critical and, often, as painful, across the pond as is in the States. Women of African descent are stereotyped, stigmatized, and marginalized in ways that are a throw back to a history that we dare not forget. The struggle continues for respect and parity, yet we can win."
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