Author Archives: LaSheba Baker

💖Film Review: Emperor

*Notice: This film review contains spoilers. Emperor While watching history documentaries on ancient African kingdoms, I came across an interesting film synopsis, about an enslaved African man who descended from royalty. I had not heard of this film before and found it by chance–or perhaps by providence. Honestly, I do not watch many Hollywood filmsContinue reading “💖Film Review: Emperor”

🍎Bonus Book Review: The Kushite Prince Akinidad & The Roman-Kushite War

*Notice: This book review contains spoilers. The Kushite Prince Akinidad & The Roman-Kushite War The Kingdom of Kush in Nubia was a powerful ancient civilization located in modern-day Sudan. The Nubian homeland was just south of Egypt (Kemet) and the two countries shared a long geo-political history. In the 8th century B.C.E. (744 B.C.E.- 714 B.C.E.),Continue reading “🍎Bonus Book Review: The Kushite Prince Akinidad & The Roman-Kushite War”

October 2022 Edition

Culture & News Ethiopian Jews The land of Ethiopia has diverse religious beliefs that include Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and indigenous spirituality practices. There are references to the Ethiopians in biblical history, such as the highway encounter between Philip the evangelist and an Ethiopian eunuch-treasurer in service to the Candace Queen of Ethiopia. This meeting ledContinue reading “October 2022 Edition”

💖Repost: The Mysterious Queen of Nubia Who Defeated the Romans

*Notice: This book review contains spoilers. The Mysterious Queen of Nubia Who Defeated the Romans The land of Nubia (also known as Kush) was a powerful ancient civilization located in modern-day Sudan. The Nubian homeland was just south of Egypt (Kemet) and the two countries share a long geo-political history. In the 8th century B.C.E. (744Continue reading “💖Repost: The Mysterious Queen of Nubia Who Defeated the Romans”

September 2022 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 toContinue reading “September 2022 Edition”

💖Film Review: The Green Pastures

The Green Pastures (1936) Starring Rex Ingram, Oscar Polk, & Eddie “Rochester” Anderson The Green Pastures Recently, I read the book Black Skin, White Masks (1967) by the brilliant Frantz Fanon who mentions the film: The Green Pastures (1936). He describes the author Mayotte Capécia’s impression of the film: “…But there is the film Green Pastures,Continue reading “💖Film Review: The Green Pastures”

August 2022 Edition

Culture & News The Benefits of  Music Music has a diverse set of tones, rhythms, and sounds that can invoke emotion or stimulate memories. Many societies have music as a key element in their cultural traditions. Physicians also recommend music for a variety of health benefits. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Research has shown that listeningContinue reading “August 2022 Edition”

July 2022 Edition

Culture & News Happy Summer The summer has arrived with all of its glory. It’s a time for travel, cook-outs, and gathering with friends and family for some fun in the sun. There is so much going on in the nation and world, that socio-political turmoil is often the soup du jour. Although, these issuesContinue reading “July 2022 Edition”

💖Repost: Welcome to the Sankofa Newsletter Blog!

Culture & News Sami Blood What does it mean to assimilate into a more dominant culture? Are you allowed to retain your own cultural identity or adopt the customs of another group? Amanda Kernell explores these questions in her first feature film Sami Blood (2017). The film introduces two sisters, Elle-Marja and Njenna, who are SamiContinue reading “💖Repost: Welcome to the Sankofa Newsletter Blog!”