But since April, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s signing of SB1070 into law (it took effect today) has kicked off a firestorm of xenophobic statements and belligerence from the measure’s supporters, who can be found across the country.  At best, the law attempts to right what’s seen as the federal government’s inability to fix the problem.  I fear, however, that it won’t roll out how lawmakers have promised.  If you give the police express permission to pull you over/aside because they suspect you’re undocumented, what’s to stop them from rampantly profiling? I have a hunch you can substitute the word illegal for Hispanic or Mexican and take it from there.  The fact that the legislators had to rewrite it to “ensure” no profiling would occur indicates that they weren’t altogether concerned with the potential harassment of legal Latino Americans.

Arizona has also dismantled its high school ethnic studies programs because if you allow minorities to learn about their history, well, they know the truth.  And that’s bad.  They’re following their two masterpieces with the brilliant idea of denying citizenship to immigrant children born on US soil.

Unfortunately, this mass outrage over the “illegals” is spreading around the country, even around the world, it seems.  Check out this tiny town in Nebraska where their overwhelming population of 25,000 has an immigration problem that necessitates strong action. Voters in Switzerland took it upon themselves last year to ban the frightening specter of…minarets. To strike at the growing population of Muslims, they have outlawed shiny towers with pretty writing on them.  France is also on the battlefield, banning burqas when only 2000 women in the entire country wear them.  President Nicolas Sarkozy likes to frame it as an assimilation issue—as in, those Muslims won’t assimilate to our values and we don’t like it.

And you know what, I agree with him. Only, I think that Western countries are engaging in a xenophobic war against people who don’t look like them. The face of immigration isn’t American, French, or British; it’s Mexican, Pakistani, and Sudanese. It’s former colonial power vs. mobilized colony. It’s allowing Cubans and turning away Haitians. The world is a sandbox and certain countries are drawing lines of Us against Them.  But neither xenophobia nor discrimination stop at legal status. If you believe that African-Americans are exempt from this debate, just look down at your arm and ask yourself if you look any different from an African immigrant. And that’s exactly why it matters.

1. How did you come to be connected with Pangaea’s Garden?
A friend of mine thought I would enjoy being part of the Garden.

2. How would you describe your personality/outlook on life?
Positive and Negative (YinYang)

3. What color would you pick to describe your personality? Why?
Purple is my favorite color, a sign of royalty

4. How would you describe your style? You feel most comfortable dressed in what?
Whatever my mood is, determines my style.

5. If there were one thing you would especially like for people to know about you, what would it be?
MY STRENGTH

6. How old are you?
I am truly blessed God has kept me 28 years and counting.

7. Where are you from originally?
I am from Miami, Florida.

8. Single or Committed? EarthSista or EarthMother?
I’m an EarthMother yet a SoulSista who’s committed to family

9. Large or small family? And how did that affect you?
My  immediate family is small, Small enough for everyone to get on each other’s nerves.

10. What cause would you fight for? What cause would you die for? What cause would you live for?
LIFE!!!

11. Who/what has been a major influence in your life to this point?
Faith!

12. Name five artists that you’d have to have on your IPOD.
Gotta  do 6: Meshell Ndegeocello, Jill Scott, Teena Marie, Sade, and Chaka Khan, Floetry!

13. Who/what are your major artistic influences?
Music inspires me with everything I do.

14. What are your hobbies/interests?
I love to dance, it’s my form of expression!

15. Aside from work, what activities consume most of your time?
Being a mother is hard work, it takes up 85% of my time. I have to make sure I take some time to myself.

16. What are your politics?
Neutral as long as it embarks independence and well being for all!

17. Complete this sentence. “As a woman, I believe it’s especially important to…”
As a woman, I believe it’s especially important to KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

18. Is your hair natural? If so, for how long?
After years, I decided to go natural 5 years ago. Now my Locs of love is part of my personality, my appearance, and my life!

19. What turns you on?
Truth and Honesty! P.S: Scented Candles

20. What is your virtue of choice?
Staying focus with prayer

21. Tomboy or GirlyGirl?
Both, I am outlined with dominance and colored in eye-shadow.

22. Words to live by?
-Man see what we do, God knows why!
- I have NO LIMITATIONS!

23. Whats your sign?
Only a sweet Aquarius can be so open.

24. Last Book Read?
Act like a Lady, Think like a Man

25. One think you want to do before you die?
I don’t give death a thought, ONLY the rapture of change!

26. Complete this sentence. “You have faith in …?”
I have faith in Christ and Myself!

Photography courtesy of Brandi Pettijohn Photography and the National Black Arts Festival

Anticipation mounts as I wait to see the show.  I have the most amazing feeling and I wish someone was here to share it with me.  Like…I’m about to experience greatness.  Magic.  I’ve never gotten into Curtis Mayfield–not because I never wanted to or didn’t like him–no, not at all.  I love his voice and his music but I’ve just always felt it related to something I didn’t know about, some part of history or time my parents grew up in and therefore not for me.  But it is a part of me, a part of my history and here I am…I love it.

That was the feeling I had right before going into the Atlanta Symphony Hall for the National Black Arts Festivals Legends Celebration on Friday, July 16, 2010.  I’ve lived in Atlanta for two years now and this is the first time I’ve actually been to any of the festival’s events.  I knew that the festival took place every year but I never knew when or what or anything.  The day of, under the instruction of V.C. who advised me to look up some events, I went to the website and took note of a couple of things I would like to see.  Then I saw the legends celebration and Curtis Mayfield and I knew I had to go.  Something inside of me was saying, “You need to see this.”  Thank God I listened and went against that evil voice inside of me that always seems to stop me from living. So I went and bought a ticket and planned an evening of jamming to some live Curtis Mayfield.  And it was AWESOME!

Frank McComb opened the show with “We People Who Are Darker Than Blue” and “Choice of Colors”, two songs I’ve never heard before, or at least not that I remember.  I loved his smooth voice and his singing made me want to listen the originals (which is what I’m doing right now).  The man in the seat beside me was saying how Frank McComb sounded like Donny Hathaway and I admit, he did.  The band and McComb sounded amazing during the breakdown of “We People”.  The Impressions came on next.  I’d forgotten that Curtis Mayfield was in a group before his solo career.  Please, don’t stone me, I know.  It’s like forgetting Michael Jackson did “Thriller”.  So, The Impressions definitely made an impression on me.  They sang “People Get Ready”, “It’s All Right”, “We’re a Winner”, “Keep on Pushing”, and “I’m So Proud”. Ah, amazing, once again.  I was so proud that I actually knew more than one of these songs! The Impressions still had it, even after the years have come and gone.  And they were moving like age wasn’t nothin’ but a number.  And being in the crowd with both young and younger, I know it isn’t.

Van Hunt did an excellent job with “If There’s a Hell Below We’re All Going to Go” and  “Pusherman”.  I don’t think anyone else could’ve done better, if you’re at all familiar with his style and music. (I forgot my favorite Van Hunt song is “Down Here in Hell (With You)”.  I had to cop it quick!)  I anticipated seeing Eddie Levert who sang “Little Child Running Wild” and “Freddie’s Dead”.  And he was moving too!  I had such a good time watching Eddie get down on stage.  Jasmine Guy choreographed a dance number and the dancers moved so smoothly and gracefully, like liquid mercury to “Give Me Your Love”, decked out in the funky fly style that was the ‘60s and ‘70s. There was a fifteen intermission and I took advantage of the time to call one of my best friends who was at work because I knew he would have LOVED the show, being such a big fan of Curtis and a lot of the artists present.

The energy level had dropped a little upon returning to the show, but both Dionne Farris and Joi (who apparently only needs one name, which I have to say, it was enough) Gilliam, both native Atlantans with “Makings of You” and “Something He Can Feel” respectively.  I didn’t know Curtis Mayfield wrote the songs from Sparkle. I remember when I was younger watching En Vogue sing “Something He Can Feel” and then watching Sparkle and making the connection.  I love that about music, it’s ability to transcend age and transform for the generations. The celebration ended with Dionne Farris singing “Move On Up” and  Curtis’s family uniting on stage to receive the Legends Award in his honor.  It was truly a beautiful moment.  Everyone on stage continued to jam to “Move On Up” until the lights came up.

Overall it was an amazing experience and I’m glad I actually got to witness a piece of history.  I’ve always watched concerts like this on TV and only imagined what it would be like to actually be in the audience at one.  It was more than everything I thought it would be.  I was honored, entertained, awestruck, starstruck, lifted, and enlightened to how much music impacts our lives and how one person can make a difference in the world.  And when we all come together, it is a force to be reckoned with.  Curtis knew what was up. So people get ready….

In April 2007, I achieved the  Personal Trainer certification from the American Council of Exercise, and started Elevated Physical Fitness, my own personal training company. Elevated Physical Fitness  is based on the belief that you are the creator of life and your body!  Using tools such as the Law of Attraction, Meditation, Visualization, and combining those with the physical tools such as weight training, nutritional consultation, and massage therapy, we can fully take care of your body.

I wanted to start a personal training business that would not only develop the outside body but would improve a person’s mental and emotional health as well.  I now pride myself on fully taking care of a person’s mind, body, and spirit.  The videos I’ll be sharing on Pangea’s Garden will show different ways to work out your body so you can feel great naked, inside and out!

RepJA is young, hip, and up-to-date, yet speaks to the tastes of fashion lovers. Spanning across several countries, RepJA clothing is accessible and affordable.  The online store, blogs, photos, and media links with music for download, offers you a colorful collaboration of their style and charisma.

So, just as the sun was beginning to settle in the morning sky over Atlantic Station’s historic Millennium Gate, the Pangea’s Garden models began their RepJA mission. Sporting t-shirts with sayings such as “Original RudeGirl”, “Skip To My Lou”, and “Girls Dem Sugar”, the models laughed, jumped, posed, and danced their way into gaining some great shots that embodied the high energy and vibrant life of the RepJA clothing line and lifestyle.

]]> http://pangeasgarden.com/projectblog/pgp190-repja-goes-naptually-rude/feed/ 1 http://pangeasgarden.com/projectblog/introducing-solanjel/ http://pangeasgarden.com/projectblog/introducing-solanjel/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:00:24 +0000 tafakari http://pangeasgarden.com/?p=4220 The Sol ex-PEER-ience

sol (sōl) n. 1) Roman Mythology the sun god 2) the sun personified

experience  (ek spirˈē əns) n. 1) the act of living through an event  2) anything observed or lived through 3) a) training and personal participation b) knowledge, skill, etc. resulting from this

-from Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus

Hello and welcome to the Sol Expeerience.  This is an exploration into my world where art forms collide and take you on a physical journey through spiritual spaces and intergalactic travels through mental stimulation. Sorry if I go too deep.  This is just an introduction, after all.  My name is AJ aka solanjel and I will be your navigator. As you can see, I took my name from the sun and also angel because I’d like to think of myself as an earthbound spiritual being.  I think that essentially, that’s what we all are.

I believe that life is an ex(peer)ience…which means that we are meant to participate in it, observe it, learn from it, and LIVE IT. I also believe that we experience life through our interaction with others and the way we express ourselves to the world. We thrive off of our peers, which includes everyone with whom we come in contact, whether we acknowledge the interaction or not. To truly experience life is to fully embrace it.

I think music is a big part of how we interpret the world we create for ourselves.  Music is universal; it has a rhythmic language the soul understands.  It can create or change a mood, inspire imagination, spark interest, motivate, or even save a life. This may (or may not) go without saying, but I am very creative and am in search of getting out my dreams…by any means necessary.  I love artistic creation and respect all forms of art.  I am currently working on a career in film as a writer/director/actress. I am also trying to figure out me while navigating through the ever-changing landscape of life. I don’t have the answers; I am here to give perspective in the hopes of opening minds and challenging standards.

Before anything, I am a writer and I value words like nothing else.  Well…almost nothing else.  I can only hope that my words touch your lives in a way that will help us all.  Thank you for journeying with me!

Love, solanjel

If you haven’t heard about this fiasco yet, then let me catch you up.

Before vetting anything or performing the most cursory of investigations, the USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack, recently decided to can federal appointee Shirley Sherrod for making allegedly racist remarks at an NAACP banquet.  The NAACP went in on her, then White House officials went in after them.  Who was behind the video’s outing?  Why, Fox News and conservative bloggers.

Smell a rat?  Me, too.

So, it turns out that the rat (also known as Andrew Breitbart) posted an edited video and touted it as current evidence of the Obama administration’s “reverse” racism.  On the full video, Sherrod actually was relating an anecdote that implored the audience to see beyond black and white, to help poor people.  In the middle of a volley of “you’re a racist” charges between Ben Jealous and the Tea Party, Sherrod becomes a convenient casualty of their race word-war.  Let the apologies and backpedaling begin here, here, and here.

I will freely admit that I fell for the okey-doke when I first heard about the “racist black USDA agent” on Monday, and my jaw dropped.  Racism on any side, in any form, is stupid, counterproductive, and wrong.   I now understand why there are conspiracy theories for everything.  Every media outlet that ran this story ran their mouths without even watching the entire video first. If CNN’s Roland Martin and Fox News’ Greta Bill O’Reilly are spouting the same thing, then it must be fact, right?

There are a couple of flat-out wrongs here:

1) Breitbart needs to be sued for defamation (or whichever legal form of get-back is appropriate) for misrepresenting excerpts of Sherrod’s speech as the whole enchilada.  Fox News…will go on being Fox News, or someone in their own house with journalistic integrity can call them out for accusing Sherrod of racism on Monday and then brown-nosing her to spite Obama’s face on Tuesday.

2) The Obama administration, the NAACP and their officials need to slow their rolls when dealing with the GOP, Tea Party members and/or people they deem “opposition” who are decrying reverse/black racism.  And not because it’s an invalid claim, but because every person deserves at least an investigation before they undergo a castigation.   They jumped the gun in the middle of a knife fight and caught one in the ass.

Shirley Sherrod should be commended for her refreshing honesty in the face of a debate where each side likes to claim victim without admitting any wrongdoing.  I, for one, feel horrible for believing the hype and hope they give this woman a fat check, her job back, or whichever means the most to her.

A couple weeks ago, I said that we-the-people at Pangea’s Garden were hard at work making the site better for you in creative ways.  Thanks for all your helpful suggestions! We really want The Garden to grow into a fully collaborative effort, so keep sending us your comments and requests for discussion topics. I’m excited to announce that, over the next few weeks, we will start rolling out regular blogs by our new contributor panel! Without further ado, let me give you a sneak peak of the awesomeness coming up:

(I feel hella awkward talking about myself in the third person).  What’s Going On? will discuss politics and issues important to black folk, Georgians, women under five feet tall, people who don’t drink soda…okay, so everyone, really.

Solanjel’s proper Pangea’s Garden introduction is forthcoming, but her blog will cover arts, music, and culture with her own innovative spin on it.  She’s a strong, relevant voice and I can’t wait for you all to read her.

You should be afraid of this woman; she will make you cry in pain and like it.  PhysiqueAE1 is going to get us all fit, healthy and sexy one week at a time.  She’s a kick-ass trainer who thinks we should all feel great naked (and who are we to argue with that?!).

The excitement kicks off tomorrow, so be sure to stop by and say hello to our newbies (that goes for the lurkers, too).

It all started when we did the T-shirt shoot for RepJa.  It was a fun Sunday afternoon and my girl Tara showed up to film the behind-the-scenes (she thinks she’s an auteur or something).  We were having so much fun that, on an impulse, we decided to have a get-together at her shop, The Crochet Fashion Gallery.  Tara and I didn’t know what we were going to do or what it was going to be about, but we knew we were going to do it in a week (because it was the last week of free parking).  Finally, we decided to go with The Crochet Strut.  We just had a little fun with it, and a few invited friends and photographers later, it was on.  We were surprised by how many people showed up on such short notice!

It was hot, we were sweating, and we had a damn good time.  And the pictures were astounding.  We have definitely got to do this again.  Would you want to come?