“To gain knowledge for the future, demands wisdom of the past.”
💖Welcome to the Sankofa Newsletter Blog!
The word Sankofa originates from the Twi language of the Akan tribe of Ghana, West Africa. It means “go back and get it.” The Akan people believe the past and the future are eternally intertwined and any pursuit of knowledge must demonstrate this understanding.
The Sankofa Newsletter is a mini-guide to culture and news. A monthly publication that features four articles to inspire, enlighten, and stimulate intellectual curiosity. Get a free copy delivered to your email inbox today. Share, Like, Subscribe. Happy Reading! LaSheba Baker, Creator & Editor
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Sankofa Newsletter
December 2019 Edition
Culture & News
Father-Son Conversations
Big K.R.I.T. is a lyricist, independent rapper and producer whose stage name is an acronym for “King Remembered In Time.” Born as Justin Scott, he hails from Meridian, Mississippi and as a youth played both the cello and baseball. He was on the path to become an architect but a love of music changed his course. Often considered as an “underground” artist he devoted several years to recording studio study and has gained fruit from his labor.
He provides a glimpse into the relationship with his father in a video that discusses anxiety, depression, and life challenges. It’s the type of healthy conversation between father and son that happens everyday somewhere in America although not typically reflected as apart of African-American life in mainstream media. But the rise of alternative media has given these diverse voices a platform. Watch this good father-son conversation video at the end of the newsletter.
Big K.R.I.T. Is Still Growing: Interview
No, Most Black Kids Are Not Fatherless
App Connects Black Men With Mental Health Services
Police Killing Unarmed Blacks Affects Mental Health of African Americans,Study Says
Art/Film News
A Lot Like Christmas
A young man travels home for Christmas and is surprised to find his estranged father has been invited to the family gathering. The indie film, A Lot Like Christmas (2019), is full of laughs, heart tugs, and lots of family fun. The city of New Orleans serves as a backdrop with that signature southern charm. Watch this cute movie to get your holiday season rolling.
Read the storyline/watch the trailer here:
https://www.maverickentertainment.cc/movies/a-lot-like-christmas/
https://www.maverickentertainment.cc/movies/a-lot-like-christmas/
Business News
Mahogany Books
Washington, D.C. Mahogany Books hopes to quench the thirst for literature by being an oasis in a “book desert.” The husband and wife owners, Derrick and Ramunda Young, named the bookstore in honor of their daughter, Mahogany. They offer a variety of genres that feature African-American authors, such as Cultural Literature, Fiction, Children & Young Adult, and Non-Fiction. You can visit the bookstore or make a purchase online at their website. Happy Reading!
Black Bookstore Opens in South D.C. \”Book Desert\”
Family Brings Black Literature to African American Community with No Bookstores
Mahogany Books Website
Book Review
An African American Cookbook
The holiday season is upon us and that means delicious food and cheer. Phoebe Bailey introduces tasty recipes and some history of the Pennsylvania Underground Railroad in her book: An African American Cookbook, Revised & Updated: Traditional and Other Favorite Recipes (2015). There are recipes for old-time favorites like Gumbo, Collards, and Cracklin Cornbread as well as contemporary dishes such as Asparagus Frittata, Sesame Fried Chicken, and Strawberry Mousse. The cookbook has a good balance between the old and the new with easy written instructions that would benefit beginner cooks and also please the experienced home chef.
This cookbook pays homage to the “African Christian’s historical perspective of the enslaved Africans’ investment and leadership in the quest for freedom and equality through means such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Underground Railroad” (p.247). Through-out its pages are quotes from historical figures, recipe contributors’ comments, and brief summaries on the importance of Negro spirituals as hidden communication for those fleeing the oppression of enslavement by means of the Underground Railroad. Included is a quote by Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, Ph.D, (Philosopher and Department Chair of African American Studies at Temple University): “We have a formidable history, replete with the voice of God, the ancestors, and the prophets” (p.122). This cookbook would make a lovely holiday gift for yourself and others.
Hog\’s Head, History and Hymns: An African American Cookbook Blends Traditional Recipes with Spirituals and Tales of the Underground Railroad
Video (2)
Big K.R.I.T. YouTube Channel
Song: Price of Fame
Big K.R.I.T. YouTube Channel
K.R.I.T. in Conversation with his Father
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