Our Own Black Shining Prince!

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz: 19 May 1925 - 21 February 1965

Although I missed the anniversary of the death of Malcom X, I still feel obliged to pay him homage. Next to Jesus Christ and Rev. Martin Luther King, he influenced me in becoming the man I am today. I think I have read "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Haley at least 3 times. His whole life is an example and an inspiration for always standing up for what you believe in, as well as charting a new course when you come to a deeper level of understanding.

"I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and the root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems we face as a race." Rev. Martin Luther King.

The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19th, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Bob Marley: A Musical Prophet

Yesterday as Baby Asa and I were travelling to a play center, a local radio station which features a weekly 3 hour reggae segment, started playing a set of Bob Marley music in honour of his birthday, February 6th 1945. I was watching my little man boppin' to the vibes and I started singing along. There we were, me and mini-me driving down the road, shaking our heads to the rythmns and enjoying the musical prophet of our heritage. It was special moment. I have this dvd on the life and music of Bob Marley, so when we returned home, the Queen, the prince and I watched it. It was inspiring to say the least.

There was a time in my life when I listened to Bob every day. Even today, whenever I get bottled up with the rage caused by the bullshit of day to day living, I will go to the gym and workout listening only to Bob. As I burn off the negative physical energy, the music and lyrics brings perspective to my mind, as well as heals my soul.

I remember when I visited West Africa in 1997, I took all my Bob Marley cassettes with me. It was the same thing in all three countries: Senegal, Gambia and Ghana. My drivers, guides and I would be singing the lyrics as we travelled along to our destinations. Although we spoke different languages and came from various cultures, they knew all the words to all the songs... although they would occasionally ask me what some of the phrases meant. It was so sweet that the music of Bob Marley, a Jamaican... gave us: a Jamaican-Canadian, Senegalese, Ghambians and Ghanaians... an instant connection.

My favourite Bob Marley song:



Rest In Peace! Jah Rastafari!