Text Tuesdays – Prose – “Invictus” – by William Ernest Henley

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1875, African National Congress South African Communist Party, African nationalist, ANC, and editor, anti-apartheid revolutionary, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Cape Province, Christianity, critic, democratic socialist, England, Evelyn Ntoko Mase, F. W. de Klerk, Gauteng, Gloucester, Graça Machel, Houghton Estate, Invictus, Johannesburg, Key Yemaya Walker, Lawyer, Madiba Thembekile Mandela, Makaziwe Mandela, Makgatho Mandela, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Mvezo, Nelson Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, philanthropist, Poet, poetry, Politician, President of the African National Congress, Prose, Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement, Social Activist, South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, The Crypt School, Thembu, Union of South Africa, University of Fort Hare, University of London External System, University of South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, William Ernest Henley, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Woking, Xhosa, Zenani Mandela, Zindziswa Mandela

The poem that was inspirational to Nelson Mandela

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

#FMSPhotoADay – December – Day 10 – R is For Requiem – Barack Obama Eulogizes Nelson Mandela

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#FMSphotoaday, Africa, Apartied, Barack Obama, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Castro, Cuba, Day 10, December, Eulogy, Fat Mum Slim, Instagram, iPhone, iPhone 5, iPhone Post, Jimmy Carter, Key Yemaya Walker, Mandiba, Mubutu, Nelson Mandela, President, R is For, Requiem, South Africa, United States

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Blue Lines Blog – RIP Nelson Mandela

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1918, 2014, Ambassador to South Africa, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Key Yemaya Walker, Mandela, Nelson Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Rolihlahla Mandela, South Africa

My words are limited as a great man and champion passes on. I was lucky to see Mandela after his release when I was a child.

Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in Mvezo, Transkei, on July 18, 1918, to Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo.

His father died when he was a child and the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni. Hearing the elder’s stories of his ancestor’s valour during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.

He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom to give all school children “Christian” names.

He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.

Nelson Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest. He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943.

Music Mondays – Woman’s Hour – “To The End”

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2011, 2013, bass, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Carrie Ridley, Ellie Giles, Fiona Jane, guitar, Johannesburg, Josh, Key Yemaya Walker, keyboards, Lakes, Laurence Hamburger, London, music, Music Mondays, Nick, Nobodies Business, Oliver Chanarin, Our Love Has No Rhythm / To The End, Parlour Records, Siphiwe Mosoang, South Africa, To The End, Vocals, William, Woman's Hour, Xolani Nxumalo

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Blue Lines Blog -Seeing Nelson Mandela in Atlanta 6/27/1990

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1918, 6/27/1990, African National Congress, Alma E. Hill, Anti-Apartied, Apartied, Atlanta, Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta Journal, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Bobby Dodd Stadium, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech, Grant Field, Hot, iPhone 5, iPhone Post, Jailed, Jay-Z, July, July 19th, Key Yemaya Walker, Mandela, Mark Sherman, Mvezo, Nelson Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, President, Prisoner, Rolihlahla Mandela, Sam Walker, South Africa, Stadium, Steve Harvey, Summer, Thonnia Lee

“…lunch with Mandela…” ~ Jay-Z actually just played.

Commemorating this day 23 years ago. My family and I braves the Atlanta heat to see a recently freed Nelson Mandela during his visit which took place at Bobby Dodd Stadium, at Grant Field on the campus of Georgia Institute of Technology, known to many of you as Georgia Tech.

The attached article is from the Atlanta Journal & Constitution from that day 6/27/1990.

Enjoy a piece of history.

Atlanta opens heart to Mandela: 50,000 cheer ANC leader at stadium
NEW HERO: “Our parents experienced Martin Luther King. Our generation is experiencing Nelson Mandela, ” one Atlantan said.
By Ron Taylor, Joseph Albright

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlantans endured oppressive heat, police barricades, shoving matches and long schedule delays Wednesday to get a glimpse of Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader who has enjoyed a hero’s welcome in each U.S. city he has visited.

At Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, about 50,400 people cheered as Mr. Mandela linked his people’s struggle against racial discrimination to the civil rights movement in the United States.

Blue Lines Blog – My 2012 Movember Journey: What is Movember

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Atlanta, Australia, Awareness & Education, Belgium, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Canada, Cancer, Cancer Research, Cause, Czech Republic, Denmark, Donate, Finland, Global Action Plan, Ireland, Key Yemaya Walker, LIVESTRONG Foundation, Mo Bros, Mo Sistas, Moustache, Movember, Movember & Sons, Movember App, New Zealand, Norway, Prostate Cancer Foundation, South Africa, Spain, Testicular Cancer, the Netherlands, the UK, the US

OVERVIEW OF MOVEMBER

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital awareness and funds for men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.

Once registered at http://www.movember.com, men start Movember 1st clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Donate to my cause here.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

Donate to my cause here.

The Movember Effect: Awareness & Education, Survivorship, Research
The funds raised in the US support prostate cancer and testicular cancer initiatives. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and our men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG Foundation. Together, the three channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with our strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.

For more information on the programs we are funding please visit the following:
Prostate Cancer Foundation
LIVESTRONG Foundation
Awareness & Education
Global Action Plan

Donate to my cause here.

Movember – a global movement
Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne, Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.9 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, South Africa, Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Czech Republic. In addition, Movember is aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and men’s health cause across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, and everywhere in between.

No matter the country or city, Movember will continue to work to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, and to act on that knowledge, thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment.

In 2011, over 854,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas around the world got on board, raising $126.3 million USD.

Big steps have been taken towards changing attitudes and habits relating to men’s health around the world, but there is still much to be done to catch up with the women’s health movement. Via the moustache, Movember aims to fulfill its vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health by continuing to spark conversation and spread awareness of men’s health issues each year.

Donate to my cause here.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Blue Lines Blog: This Day In American History – Edward Perkins Nominated U.N. Ambassador (1986)

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Ambassador to South Africa, Black History, Black History Month, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Edward Joseph Perkins, Edward Perkins, Jefferson High School, Key Yemaya Walker, Louisiana, Oregon, Portland, South Africa, Sterlington, This Day In American History, U.N. Ambassador, U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, University of Maryland University College, University of Southern California

Edward Perkins, the first Black Ambassador to South Africa, was nominated U.N. Ambassador on this date in 1986.

Edward Joseph Perkins (born June 8, 1928) is a former American diplomat. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, South Africa, and the United Nations 1992-1993. He was later Director of the US State Department’s Diplomatic Corps.

Perkins was born in Sterlington, Louisiana, son of Edward Joseph Perkins, Sr. and Tiny Estella Noble Holmes. He grew up in Pine Bluff, AR and graduated in 1947 from Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon. He earned his B.A. from the University of Maryland University College in 1967, and his M.A. and Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and holds the highest honor the fraternity bestows on its members, the Laurel Wreath award.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.