“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
January 2020 Edition
Culture & News
A New Way of Life
Susan Burton is an author and the founder of A New Way of Life: Reentry Project, located in Los Angeles, California. She advocates for recovery and prison reform for incarcerated women and those newly released. Her reentry project assists women and their children with support services to help make the transition from prison to a new way of life. It also has a 78% success rate.
Ms. Burton understands the unique challenges these women face when released from prison, because she has walked in their shoes. In 1981, she lost her 5 year-old son to a car accident and in grief turned to drug abuse. She found herself in a cycle of drug addiction and frequent imprisonment. A turning point was reached when she had the experience of a recovery home program that in her words was “humane” and thought this approach should exist in other communities. I look forward to reading her book: Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women (2017). Watch the video of her at the end of this newsletter.
She, The People: Susan Burton on Leading Women Returning to Society: “A New Way of Life”
A New Way of Life: Reentry Project
“Lock Them Up:” My Double Standard in Responding to the Crack Crisis vs. the Opioid Epidemic
Khalil Cumberbatch: Setting His Sights on Education, And A New Life
Art/Film News
Memories of the Sword
The Goryeo Dynasty 10th-14th century (918 C.E.-1392 C.E.) of medieval Korea is the setting for the film, Memories of the Sword (2015). It’s a deeply woven tale of ambition, justice, and revenge. Three comrades lead a revolt against a tyrannical king, only to be betrayed by one in their group who gives in to the monarch’s temptation of greed. This betrayal leads to the deaths of fellow comrades and sparks a call for justice and revenge years in the making. The film has beautiful cinematography, great action sequences, and some melodrama, but in a good way. A wonderful film to watch and its available for free on YouTube.
Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFvAPcl_jUg&feature=youtu.be
Business News
Today I Want To Be
Martinique Brown is an entrepreneur and creator of the interactive calendar, Today I Want To Be. This calendar aims to inspire middle-school to college age African-American young ladies by providing examples of black women in various professions. Her website’s motto is: “Dare to Dream Bigger than Your Surroundings.” What an awesome and uplifting message!
Entrepreneur Creates Interactive Calendar Empowering Black Girls to Explore Different Career Fields
Today I Want To Be
Book Review
Beyond Roots: In Search of Blacks in the Bible
William Dwight McKissic, Sr., provides biblical and spiritual identity to the African diaspora in his book: Beyond Roots: In Search of Blacks in the Bible (1990 & 2017, 76 pages). As a retired school teacher and pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, he gracefully presents the information with ease in a short, concise, and fulfilling manner. He asserts knowledge of biblical ethnicity is an important responsibility to those who are preachers and evangelists, a key component in Christian education, and needed to combat ignorance in race relations.
He covers multiple topics that include: Noah and his three sons (Ham, Shem, Japeth), ancient biblical nations and their descendants, Christianity in Ethiopia, and Islam. He writes: “The descendants of Ham led very advanced civilizations that predate Semitic and Jophetic civilizations by at least two thousand years, which may explain the reluctance of some scholars to identify the ancient Egyptians, Canaanites, Libyans and sometimes even the Ethiopians with the modern day negro… However, the only biblical heritage that some Blacks have been taught is the so-called “curse of Ham” (p. 29). He also reminds the reader: “Ethiopia is the oldest Christian country on the face of the Earth…” (p.50). And “The Bible was translated from Greek to Geez, the native Ethiopian language, in the fourth and fifth centuries by Syrian and Ethiopian scholars…” (p.66). Pastor McKissic has done excellent work in this book and receives additional praise for doing so in a short-length read. Not an easy task. This book definitely belongs in your home library whether you are a believer, historian, or just curious.
Pastor William D. McKissic, Sr. of Cornerstone Baptist Church
Video (2)
2012 Purpose Prize: Susan Burton, A New Way of Life
The Skin Deep YouTube Channel
Formerly Incarcerated Father Opens Up to Daughter
Khalil Cumberbatch & Mia
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