- This
inaugural conference for women will not only be a celebration but will
offer speakers and workshops that will Inform, Inspire and Ignite women
from 16-116! The day will start at 8:00 AM with registration then at
9:00 our keynote speaker, Julie Erfle, who will speak to the expected
325 attendees on how her life has changed since the shooting death of
her husband, Phoenix Police Officer Nick Erfle, and how she became a
Political Blogger and Activist (Politics Uncuffed).
Attendees will then have their choice of approximately 24 workshops throughout the day (9:45AM – 4:00 PM). Topics and speakers include:
- “Why Green is Your Color” (Green Jobs for Women) – Jenny Erwin from the Dept. of Labor
- “The Future of Feminism” - Sheila Tobias - Feminist, Author and Educator
- Women’s Leadership Panel - Featuring Diane Enos, President Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Of course, a Celebration of Women includes shopping! Vendors will be available offering a variety of temptations. Additionally many non-profit and private sector organizations supporting woman and families will be on-hand.
The cost is only: $50 – Students 16 and Over: $25 where else can a woman choose from 24 INFORMational workshops to attend, eat a complimentary lunch with INPIREational Women, shop and hear how one IGNITEd woman, Julie Erfle, makes a difference in her community! Most importantly where else can a woman meet 350 new friends? - Should be an interesting day.
- I will post updates and videos upon my return.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 » [31]
Mar
25
2012
We're attending the Arizona Business Women's Conference
By Michelle Hawkins
We're attending the Arizona Women's Conference presented by the Arizona Business and Professional Women's State Chapter. Here's their promotion.
Posted March 25, 2012 11:31 | read more
Mar
22
2012
My Hematite Ring included in an Etsy Tresury
By Michelle Hawkins
EAOC The Art of Contrast
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$8.00 USD -
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$15.00 USD -
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$6.50 USD -
$32.00 USD -
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Enjoy
Michelle
Posted March 22, 2012 12:17 | read more
Mar
21
2012
Sweet Little Earrings
By Michelle Hawkins
These are earrings from my beautiful old stock for the ladies who only like to wear small earrings. These are about one inch. Beautiful orby gray and white Ocean Jasper with white pillow pearls.
These are beautiful Black Onyx puffed squares the I wire wrapped into earrings. They are one inch from the top of the lever backs.
Michelle
Posted March 21, 2012 05:35 | read more
Mar
20
2012
New Pieces from my Bead Stash
By Michelle Hawkins
Hi All!
I've been going through my stash of beads and stones creating new pieces or finishing others. I have beads and gemstones that I purchased over 20 years ago. Beautiful stone that would cost an arm and a leg for now. Smile I finally finished a big stone pink Peruvian opal and pillow pearls bracelet set that had been in my cabinet for some time. The opal has a flat facet to it that highlights the matrix. I love the matrix in the Peruvian opal. See for your self.
I've been going through my stash of beads and stones creating new pieces or finishing others. I have beads and gemstones that I purchased over 20 years ago. Beautiful stone that would cost an arm and a leg for now. Smile I finally finished a big stone pink Peruvian opal and pillow pearls bracelet set that had been in my cabinet for some time. The opal has a flat facet to it that highlights the matrix. I love the matrix in the Peruvian opal. See for your self.
Another piece I had placed in my cabinet waiting completion was a beautiful green aventurine faceted barrel and pink sarovski crystal necklace.
Simply lovely.
If you would like to more information or to purchase either piece send me an email.
Have a great day.
Michelle
Posted March 20, 2012 04:10 | read more
Mar
19
2012
Posted March 19, 2012 18:50 | read more
Mar
19
2012
Will the Presidential Election Affect Your Business?
By Michelle Hawkins
Hi All!
As I started preparing for this week, I saw that Romney had won Puerto Rico's primary, my mind wandered off on what the presidential election would mean to me as a businessperson. I am not sure as none of the candidates in the republican primary have stated anything of substance that I could wrap my mind around. The process so far has been totally negative and of very little substance as to what the candidates would hope to accomplish if elected. I think many like me have just buzzed out of the whole election process until we have the final Democratic and Republican challengers to review.
I have always been a politically active person, my father demanded it of us when we were growing up. Yet this year I am already sick of the candidates, the negativity and the auto dialer's with their stupid campaign messages that say NOTHING.
Tis a sad and sorry state that our politics have degenerated to. I used to love to watch the debates as they gave you an inkling as to how the candidate handled pressure, his thought process and many times his intellect. (Remember George W. Bush. You had to work pretty hard to lose a debate to him. )
Folks wonder why the young folks are so turned off by the process. The young look at the process and consider it a joke and it has truly become a joke. Silent American has to reclaim its clout and bring our country back to her glory and stop letting this travesty of our country continue.
What are your feeling during this election season? Have you buzzed out? Are you working for a candidate? I would like to hear from you whether you're in or outside the US.
Enjoy the week
Michelle
As I started preparing for this week, I saw that Romney had won Puerto Rico's primary, my mind wandered off on what the presidential election would mean to me as a businessperson. I am not sure as none of the candidates in the republican primary have stated anything of substance that I could wrap my mind around. The process so far has been totally negative and of very little substance as to what the candidates would hope to accomplish if elected. I think many like me have just buzzed out of the whole election process until we have the final Democratic and Republican challengers to review.
I have always been a politically active person, my father demanded it of us when we were growing up. Yet this year I am already sick of the candidates, the negativity and the auto dialer's with their stupid campaign messages that say NOTHING.
Tis a sad and sorry state that our politics have degenerated to. I used to love to watch the debates as they gave you an inkling as to how the candidate handled pressure, his thought process and many times his intellect. (Remember George W. Bush. You had to work pretty hard to lose a debate to him. )
Folks wonder why the young folks are so turned off by the process. The young look at the process and consider it a joke and it has truly become a joke. Silent American has to reclaim its clout and bring our country back to her glory and stop letting this travesty of our country continue.
What are your feeling during this election season? Have you buzzed out? Are you working for a candidate? I would like to hear from you whether you're in or outside the US.
Enjoy the week
Michelle
Posted March 19, 2012 09:29 | read more
Mar
15
2012
I love making Rings.
By Michelle Hawkins
I love making rings. The problem is deciding what size to make it in when you have one of a kind items and cannot duplicate the gemstone. Here are some examples:
You can click on the title to visit my ring selection
What ring size do you wear?
Enjoy your day!
Michelle
Posted March 15, 2012 08:18 | read more
Mar
14
2012
Are you a trader in the UK? What to win a grant? Read on.
By Michelle Hawkins
Sharing
Do you trade across borders? Is your turnover £250k or more?
If yes, then you could be selected as a winner of the International Trade Awards and propel your business into new markets and accelerated growth.
Now entering their fifth year, the 2012 International Trade Awards, sponsored by American Express Foreign Exchange Services, are the only UK wide business awards to exclusively recognise the excellence achieved by the UK’s leading exporters and importers.
Despite the challenges posed by current global economic conditions, UK companies are still competing on the international stage and the 2012 International Trade Awards celebrate these ventures and successes.
Any business based within the UK engaged in export, import, outward or inward investment, regardless of industry sector, and that meet the eligibility criteria can enter the 2012 International Trade Awards. Businesses are invited to enter one of the regional heats to compete for a regional title and then the regional finalists will be invited to attend the UK final, held at The House of Lords in December.
The benefits of entering the awards stretch far beyond being presented with one of the national category awards at the House of Lords in December 2012. The strategic value of entering business awards can be an excellent way to gain the edge over your competitors - increasing your profile and exposure to new and profitable opportunities.
To apply and find out more please visit the International Trade Awards website: http://www.internationaltrade.co.uk/content.php?CID=64
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact the awards team on 0845 5000 328 or send an email to awards@internationaltrade.co.uk
Posted By Louise Lederman to Linkedin.
As always you can click on shop to make purchases.
Michelle
Do you trade across borders? Is your turnover £250k or more?
If yes, then you could be selected as a winner of the International Trade Awards and propel your business into new markets and accelerated growth.
Now entering their fifth year, the 2012 International Trade Awards, sponsored by American Express Foreign Exchange Services, are the only UK wide business awards to exclusively recognise the excellence achieved by the UK’s leading exporters and importers.
Despite the challenges posed by current global economic conditions, UK companies are still competing on the international stage and the 2012 International Trade Awards celebrate these ventures and successes.
Any business based within the UK engaged in export, import, outward or inward investment, regardless of industry sector, and that meet the eligibility criteria can enter the 2012 International Trade Awards. Businesses are invited to enter one of the regional heats to compete for a regional title and then the regional finalists will be invited to attend the UK final, held at The House of Lords in December.
The benefits of entering the awards stretch far beyond being presented with one of the national category awards at the House of Lords in December 2012. The strategic value of entering business awards can be an excellent way to gain the edge over your competitors - increasing your profile and exposure to new and profitable opportunities.
To apply and find out more please visit the International Trade Awards website: http://www.internationaltrade.co.uk/content.php?CID=64
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact the awards team on 0845 5000 328 or send an email to awards@internationaltrade.co.uk
Posted By Louise Lederman to Linkedin.
As always you can click on shop to make purchases.
Michelle
Posted March 14, 2012 09:34 | read more
Mar
13
2012
For the Internationalists The African Network (TAN) Conference 2012
By Michelle Hawkins
Hi All!
For the internationalists in the audience, especially the Africanists. There is going to be a very interesting conference on Africa in May 2012. Here's the promo.
For the internationalists in the audience, especially the Africanists. There is going to be a very interesting conference on Africa in May 2012. Here's the promo.
Announcement from The African Network, TAN
TANCON 2012 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
(SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA.): Early Bird registration has commenced for the 6th Annual entrepreneurship conference hosted by The African Network (TAN). The conference will be held Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Hilton Hotel, San Jose, California.
Visit the website to see list of recently confirmed keynote and panel speakers and REGISTER today at www.tanconf.org.
==================================
ABOUT TAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCE 2012
TANCon 2012 will showcase leading African and US investment experts, entrepreneurs, global innovators and policymakers such as keynote Speakers
Paul Rice, President and CEO of Fair Trade USA;
Teresa Clarke, former MD of Goldman Sachs and now Chairman and Founder of Africa.com;
Kofi Dadzie, Managing Director, Rancard Solutions, Ghana; notable panel speakers such as Nozomi MizunoWitherspoon of the World Bank Group Private Sector Development Unit; Arjuna Costa, Portfolio Director at Omidyar Network; Niall O'Cathasaigh, Partner, Manocap Private Equity Company based in Sierra Leone; biotech entrepreneur Daniel Laser, CEO of Wave 80 Biosciences; Fred Jordan of African Opportunity Fund and Chairman of FE Jordan and Associates; Bridgette Sexton, Manager of the Google Global Entrepreneurship group; Social Entrepreneur Chid Liberty of Liberty and Justice, Liberia; Teresa Cox of the USA Department of Trade and Commerce; Myles Stevens of Stevens and Associates and host of others.
There will be several panel discussions, including an "Investment Policy in Africa" panel, where information, experiences & opportunities will be shared with attendees.
In addition to the panel sessions, TANCon 2012 will include two
Entrepreneurship Workshops. These workshops, which are described on the conference website (www.tanconf.org), will aim to provide tangible benefits to conference attendees, particularly start-up and existing entrepreneurs. These workshops are: Evaluation of 1-page business plans towards attracting funding AND Professional mentorship for start-up and existing entrepreneurs. TANCon 2012 has confirmed notable venture capitalists, angel investors and social entrepreneurs (incubators) who will be judges as well as mentors at these workshops.
Some companies and corporate organizations that will be present at TANCon 2012 include The World Bank Group; Fenwick and West; Omidyar Network; Imprint Capital; Manocap; Africa.com; Fair Trade USA; Stevens and Associates; Draper Richards Foundation; Google; Silicon Valley Bank (SVB); Xpert Financial, etc. The workshops and discussion panels are aimed at providing more value to the conference attendees during the conference.
================================
Sincerely,
TANCon 2012 Organizing Committee
The African Network (TAN), Inc
Corporate Global Headquarters
PMB 221, 3567 Benton St
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Website: www.tanconf.org
Email: tancon@theafricannetwork.org or events@theafricannetwork.org
(SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA.): Early Bird registration has commenced for the 6th Annual entrepreneurship conference hosted by The African Network (TAN). The conference will be held Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Hilton Hotel, San Jose, California.
Visit the website to see list of recently confirmed keynote and panel speakers and REGISTER today at www.tanconf.org.
==================================
ABOUT TAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCE 2012
TANCon 2012 will showcase leading African and US investment experts, entrepreneurs, global innovators and policymakers such as keynote Speakers
Paul Rice, President and CEO of Fair Trade USA;
Teresa Clarke, former MD of Goldman Sachs and now Chairman and Founder of Africa.com;
Kofi Dadzie, Managing Director, Rancard Solutions, Ghana; notable panel speakers such as Nozomi MizunoWitherspoon of the World Bank Group Private Sector Development Unit; Arjuna Costa, Portfolio Director at Omidyar Network; Niall O'Cathasaigh, Partner, Manocap Private Equity Company based in Sierra Leone; biotech entrepreneur Daniel Laser, CEO of Wave 80 Biosciences; Fred Jordan of African Opportunity Fund and Chairman of FE Jordan and Associates; Bridgette Sexton, Manager of the Google Global Entrepreneurship group; Social Entrepreneur Chid Liberty of Liberty and Justice, Liberia; Teresa Cox of the USA Department of Trade and Commerce; Myles Stevens of Stevens and Associates and host of others.
There will be several panel discussions, including an "Investment Policy in Africa" panel, where information, experiences & opportunities will be shared with attendees.
In addition to the panel sessions, TANCon 2012 will include two
Entrepreneurship Workshops. These workshops, which are described on the conference website (www.tanconf.org), will aim to provide tangible benefits to conference attendees, particularly start-up and existing entrepreneurs. These workshops are: Evaluation of 1-page business plans towards attracting funding AND Professional mentorship for start-up and existing entrepreneurs. TANCon 2012 has confirmed notable venture capitalists, angel investors and social entrepreneurs (incubators) who will be judges as well as mentors at these workshops.
Some companies and corporate organizations that will be present at TANCon 2012 include The World Bank Group; Fenwick and West; Omidyar Network; Imprint Capital; Manocap; Africa.com; Fair Trade USA; Stevens and Associates; Draper Richards Foundation; Google; Silicon Valley Bank (SVB); Xpert Financial, etc. The workshops and discussion panels are aimed at providing more value to the conference attendees during the conference.
================================
Sincerely,
TANCon 2012 Organizing Committee
The African Network (TAN), Inc
Corporate Global Headquarters
PMB 221, 3567 Benton St
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Website: www.tanconf.org
Email: tancon@theafricannetwork.org or events@theafricannetwork.org
Click http://www.tanconf.org to visit the website.
This may be an event you want to attend. Sharing
As always you can click on the shop button or the title to purchase from my shop.
Michelle
Posted March 13, 2012 05:46 | read more
Mar
12
2012
Featured Artist: Syeda Umar
By Michelle Hawkins
Hi All
Today's featured artist is Syeda B. Umar, my youngest child. Syeda has show an eye for design since she started walking. Her first canvases were my bedroom wall and window seal. Syeda took some aqua colored beads put shea butter on the back of them and made a mosaic on my wall. I showed her creation to a number of local and national artists in Detroit. To a one, they all told me that she had a gift and to not let public school take that away from her. Me being me, I left the mosaic up until the shea butter finally melted and most of the beads had fallen to the floor. Smile
We have been blessed to have excellent art teachers who did not try to pigeonhole Syeda. Her teachers taught her new techniques and strives to enhance her natural talent. She has attended three sessions at the Scottsdale Artist School. One of the most prestigious schools in the country.
Syeda won her first artist competition at age 9. She received a certificate and a check for $50.00. According to her arts teacher her style is already being copied. We have even had her work stolen. Syeda's interests range from mixed media to painting, writing fiction and plays to songwriting.
Today's featured artist is Syeda B. Umar, my youngest child. Syeda has show an eye for design since she started walking. Her first canvases were my bedroom wall and window seal. Syeda took some aqua colored beads put shea butter on the back of them and made a mosaic on my wall. I showed her creation to a number of local and national artists in Detroit. To a one, they all told me that she had a gift and to not let public school take that away from her. Me being me, I left the mosaic up until the shea butter finally melted and most of the beads had fallen to the floor. Smile
We have been blessed to have excellent art teachers who did not try to pigeonhole Syeda. Her teachers taught her new techniques and strives to enhance her natural talent. She has attended three sessions at the Scottsdale Artist School. One of the most prestigious schools in the country.
Syeda won her first artist competition at age 9. She received a certificate and a check for $50.00. According to her arts teacher her style is already being copied. We have even had her work stolen. Syeda's interests range from mixed media to painting, writing fiction and plays to songwriting.
Syeda will enter high school this fall and I'm looking forward to seeing how her work will evolve. As always you can make purchases at my etsy shop by clicking on shop or the title.
Make the best of the new week. enjoy
Michelle
Posted March 12, 2012 09:41 | read more
Mar
11
2012
Celebrating My 57th Birthday Day 7
By Michelle Hawkins
Hi All!
I am winding this celebration down, today is the last day. I hope I have given you greater insight into me the person. The Internet has been a very different kind of venue for me. I am an opinionated and PRIVATE person that does not mesh with the current mindset of the Internet. All the social media guru's will postulate that you must be transparent and your authentic self. Yet, that's not the true picture. We all have good and bad days. We all have our individual life experiences and quirks that make us unique. What I see happening with the Internet is that folks are afraid to speak their minds, that they self censor so afraid someone will be offended. The fact of the matter is that You have the right to your opinion. I have the right to disagree with you. When we become so afraid to speak our minds than we lose that which makes us Americans.
I have had to skip around this journey of 57 years to try and give you some insight about me. I left a lot off the table like the 1995 White House conference on Small Business where I authored three issues. One issue dealing with international trade received the highest number of votes in the eight state Great Lakes region. So many things I had to leave off the table for the sake of brevity.
Going forward I am moving back into international trade and reconnecting with individuals and organizations in this arena. Amazon Trading Company (amazontc.com) will be my vehicle to accomplish this. I will be offering marketing and contact services for companies that want to expand their customer base.
I hope the Creator will bless me an additional 43 years to see my girls grown and successfully on their life path. Heck, I might even get grandchildren. Smile
Whatever the Creator has in store for me I will meet it head on and give thanks for the opportunity to learn and grow.
Peace.
Michelle
I am winding this celebration down, today is the last day. I hope I have given you greater insight into me the person. The Internet has been a very different kind of venue for me. I am an opinionated and PRIVATE person that does not mesh with the current mindset of the Internet. All the social media guru's will postulate that you must be transparent and your authentic self. Yet, that's not the true picture. We all have good and bad days. We all have our individual life experiences and quirks that make us unique. What I see happening with the Internet is that folks are afraid to speak their minds, that they self censor so afraid someone will be offended. The fact of the matter is that You have the right to your opinion. I have the right to disagree with you. When we become so afraid to speak our minds than we lose that which makes us Americans.
I have had to skip around this journey of 57 years to try and give you some insight about me. I left a lot off the table like the 1995 White House conference on Small Business where I authored three issues. One issue dealing with international trade received the highest number of votes in the eight state Great Lakes region. So many things I had to leave off the table for the sake of brevity.
Going forward I am moving back into international trade and reconnecting with individuals and organizations in this arena. Amazon Trading Company (amazontc.com) will be my vehicle to accomplish this. I will be offering marketing and contact services for companies that want to expand their customer base.
I hope the Creator will bless me an additional 43 years to see my girls grown and successfully on their life path. Heck, I might even get grandchildren. Smile
Whatever the Creator has in store for me I will meet it head on and give thanks for the opportunity to learn and grow.
Peace.
Michelle
Posted March 11, 2012 02:14 | read more
Mar
11
2012
Celebrating my 57th Birthday Day 6
By Michelle Hawkins
Hi All
Today is day six of my birthday celebration. I've been doing these posts daily as the Creator gives me inspiration. This being the next to last day I want to go into my time here in Arizona. Tomorrow when I wrap this week up I 'm want to express what I'd like for the future to be.
These last seven years have gone surprisingly fast. I've watched my girls grow up. My eldest Raven has struck out on her on and is in an amazing trajectory to fulfill her lifelong dream. Syeda has grown into a "tweener", with all the joys and exasperation that brings. She will start high school in the fall. For her middle school class trip she's going back to California. Is there a message in this? Smile. For her sixth grade trip she went to Catalina Island Marine Institute (http://www.cimi.org/cimi.html ) and loved every minute of it.
As I stated earlier we came to Arizona sight unseen. Before we came I took the girls to see our oldest living relatives because I wasn't sure when we would be able to get back to the east coast. Both relatives are in their eighties. Although, I had lived in the South (Atlanta and Washington, DC) and Southwest (Houston) for many years, Arizona was still different. When I got here, I felt like I had been released from prison. You could walk into a restaurant and not have to be buzzed into use the restroom. You could talk face to a teller and they were not encased in plate glass. The sky was so clear and beautiful. Yes, Arizona still has a long way to go in dealing with Black folks. We are only 17% of the population and it shows. A lot of what they know about Black folks seems to come from MTV, rap videos and OZ. I had a neighbor who tried everything she could to start a fight with me. When that didn't work she finally asked me, "If I was going to BITCH slap her". I kid you not. Another Syeda and I visiting in Mesa near the Mormon Temple. We walked a couple of blocks to the store. A little girl about 7or 8 saw us and started, running behind us shouting "Mommy! Mommy! Black People". Mommy got embarrassed and made the kid come back. I always wished Mommy had let her talk to us. The kid had questions she wanted answers to and I would have been more than happy to answer them. Syeda and I are different complexions and some people seem to not be able to understand that I am her biological Mother. Weird. At the same time this is the state that has had five women governors.
I realize that the Creator guided me to Arizona because I had some hard lessons to learn. My Aries sister always accuses me of looking for the good in people, an accusation I am guilty of. I always have started people at zero. Whether you went up or down in my eyes depended solely on what you did, not on what others said about you.
Arizona taught me to take the rose colored glasses off. I have had more lies and gossip thrown at me in the seven years I have been in Arizona than the first fifty years I have been on the planet. My older brother told me when I was twelve to prepare for this, that people were going to love me or hate me. There would be no middle ground with me. I asked him why, his reply was, "That I was comfortable with myself". He said that was a trait that many grown folks never accomplished. I have lived to see the wisdom of big brother's words. I have had folks who would publicly state they couldn't stand me, defend me in public, while so called friends stood silent. I think its a matter of respect and I'll take that any day. Respect is the one thing I require, if we become friends that's a a bonus. I am respectful and demand it in return. I have been amazed at how folks here will assume that because you are Black you will accept any kind of treatment from them. Its not happening.
Scottsdale is the fifth whitest City in America and it shows. You will meet some of the most amazing, wonderful, nicest people on the planet here. You will meet some of the most racist people here. I long ago made the statement that I'd rather deal with an avowed Southern racist than a Northern Liberal. Here's why, the Southern will say, You're a Nigger, I'm a racist and I openly admit it. The Northern will say, You're a Nigger, but I'm NOT a racist. But if I am a racist its your Fault. Big difference. Bottom line there are NO Niggers in my family.
I still like Arizona, there's a different kind of spirit here. A live and let live atmosphere. A lot of the nonsense I spoke of above came from people who are not born or raised here. Remember, I'm originally from Detroit and the racism is a heck of a lot worse in Michigan.
Truth be told there is a very real immigration problem in Arizona. To the Mexican nationals this is Mexico North and they can be way more racist than the Whites here. A fact that is not discussed in the editorials. A lot of Mexicans fly under the radar as whites. They will marry white, anglosize their names and pass. Arizona's and America's immigration problem didn't start with SB1070, it started with dial 1 for English and 2 for Spanish. It will be interesting to see how this saga plays out.
I am winding down this celebration and will end it tomorrow with what I hope my next 43 years will include. Yes, I am planning on breaking my great grandmother's 98 years record. Inshallah. Smile
So let's keep this party going click on shop or http://wirequeen.etsy .com to use my coupon "Birthday57" at checkout. Today is the last day the coupon is valid.
See you tomorrow.
Michelle
Today is day six of my birthday celebration. I've been doing these posts daily as the Creator gives me inspiration. This being the next to last day I want to go into my time here in Arizona. Tomorrow when I wrap this week up I 'm want to express what I'd like for the future to be.
These last seven years have gone surprisingly fast. I've watched my girls grow up. My eldest Raven has struck out on her on and is in an amazing trajectory to fulfill her lifelong dream. Syeda has grown into a "tweener", with all the joys and exasperation that brings. She will start high school in the fall. For her middle school class trip she's going back to California. Is there a message in this? Smile. For her sixth grade trip she went to Catalina Island Marine Institute (http://www.cimi.org/cimi.html ) and loved every minute of it.
As I stated earlier we came to Arizona sight unseen. Before we came I took the girls to see our oldest living relatives because I wasn't sure when we would be able to get back to the east coast. Both relatives are in their eighties. Although, I had lived in the South (Atlanta and Washington, DC) and Southwest (Houston) for many years, Arizona was still different. When I got here, I felt like I had been released from prison. You could walk into a restaurant and not have to be buzzed into use the restroom. You could talk face to a teller and they were not encased in plate glass. The sky was so clear and beautiful. Yes, Arizona still has a long way to go in dealing with Black folks. We are only 17% of the population and it shows. A lot of what they know about Black folks seems to come from MTV, rap videos and OZ. I had a neighbor who tried everything she could to start a fight with me. When that didn't work she finally asked me, "If I was going to BITCH slap her". I kid you not. Another Syeda and I visiting in Mesa near the Mormon Temple. We walked a couple of blocks to the store. A little girl about 7or 8 saw us and started, running behind us shouting "Mommy! Mommy! Black People". Mommy got embarrassed and made the kid come back. I always wished Mommy had let her talk to us. The kid had questions she wanted answers to and I would have been more than happy to answer them. Syeda and I are different complexions and some people seem to not be able to understand that I am her biological Mother. Weird. At the same time this is the state that has had five women governors.
I realize that the Creator guided me to Arizona because I had some hard lessons to learn. My Aries sister always accuses me of looking for the good in people, an accusation I am guilty of. I always have started people at zero. Whether you went up or down in my eyes depended solely on what you did, not on what others said about you.
Arizona taught me to take the rose colored glasses off. I have had more lies and gossip thrown at me in the seven years I have been in Arizona than the first fifty years I have been on the planet. My older brother told me when I was twelve to prepare for this, that people were going to love me or hate me. There would be no middle ground with me. I asked him why, his reply was, "That I was comfortable with myself". He said that was a trait that many grown folks never accomplished. I have lived to see the wisdom of big brother's words. I have had folks who would publicly state they couldn't stand me, defend me in public, while so called friends stood silent. I think its a matter of respect and I'll take that any day. Respect is the one thing I require, if we become friends that's a a bonus. I am respectful and demand it in return. I have been amazed at how folks here will assume that because you are Black you will accept any kind of treatment from them. Its not happening.
Scottsdale is the fifth whitest City in America and it shows. You will meet some of the most amazing, wonderful, nicest people on the planet here. You will meet some of the most racist people here. I long ago made the statement that I'd rather deal with an avowed Southern racist than a Northern Liberal. Here's why, the Southern will say, You're a Nigger, I'm a racist and I openly admit it. The Northern will say, You're a Nigger, but I'm NOT a racist. But if I am a racist its your Fault. Big difference. Bottom line there are NO Niggers in my family.
I still like Arizona, there's a different kind of spirit here. A live and let live atmosphere. A lot of the nonsense I spoke of above came from people who are not born or raised here. Remember, I'm originally from Detroit and the racism is a heck of a lot worse in Michigan.
Truth be told there is a very real immigration problem in Arizona. To the Mexican nationals this is Mexico North and they can be way more racist than the Whites here. A fact that is not discussed in the editorials. A lot of Mexicans fly under the radar as whites. They will marry white, anglosize their names and pass. Arizona's and America's immigration problem didn't start with SB1070, it started with dial 1 for English and 2 for Spanish. It will be interesting to see how this saga plays out.
I am winding down this celebration and will end it tomorrow with what I hope my next 43 years will include. Yes, I am planning on breaking my great grandmother's 98 years record. Inshallah. Smile
So let's keep this party going click on shop or http://wirequeen.etsy .com to use my coupon "Birthday57" at checkout. Today is the last day the coupon is valid.
See you tomorrow.
Michelle
Posted March 11, 2012 01:42 | read more