FORWARD AND ACTIVE....What are you contributing to Our Solution.

[L.E.G.A.C.Y.]

Greetings Fam,

I've been on a lot of forums on the internet. We all have different, yet similar life experiences. We all have matured throughout our lives, learned lessons, had children, got degrees, released albums, books, given our opinion etc...

What I'd like to know is...What is your contribution to the Solution of liberating the minds, hearts and souls of our people...of our children? Now, let me first say that this is not just a "Black" conversation because we all are on some level experiencing the same challenges within our family units and communities (or lack thereof).

So, some of the questions I"m asking are: Do you have a functional marriage/partnership with a man or woman? Do you have children? Are you still in a functional relationship with the mother/father of your child? If so, what are what are the challenges you face to keep your relationship strong and Forward? If not, how has this affected you and the child and why did the relationship stop being functional?

What are you doing to uplift our People? What is your contribution to the Solution of liberating the minds, hearts and souls of our people...of our children? Do you feel the YOU are yet "liberated"? ARe you a musician, an author spreading truth, are you a father or mother caring for you children? What are we all here in NYOIL the Ideal doing.

Opinions are necessary for dialougue, but knowing and innerstanding our track records and how we can move forward is the ultimate goal.

INFORMATION FOR THE HEALING OF OUR NATION
BABA MFUNDISHI, Co-Founder (Along with Abut Seshatms -- his Queen) of the
Black Gold Sacred Kultural Healing Center
70 West 125TH Street, 3RD Floor
Harlem, New York 10027

[L.E.G.A.C.Y.]

I'll start for us....
I play multiple roles in my family and community. As far as I am concerned multitasking at an efficient level is the only way we will move Forward. We have so much work to do. I am a holistic healer (in training), musician/composer (piano), songstress, community organizer (administration), family wombman to name some.

Through out my life I went through many transitions, but my Faith and Steadfastness in seeking the Truth has always been with me. I know I am Divinely Guided, so, Yes, I know I have been liberated from the stats quo from the lies that I have been fed. With that said, I believe that liberation is constant and continuous. I know I have so much more to learn, to grasp, to innerstand, to mature into, however, those are limited view. My (Our) Spirit is limitless and as long as we are in a place of being able to receive Truth, do our part and work together we are liberated.

Do you have a functional marriage/partnership with a man or woman? Yes and my marriage is very much a family affair. We consult our parent and grandparents often when we have challenges.
Do you have children? Many community children and a biological on the way
Are you still in a functional relationship with the mother/father of your child? Yes, a partnership/marriage is a lot of work and it is so worth it.
If so, what are what are the challenges you face to keep your relationship strong and Forward? differences in the way we operate (I like plan far in advance, he is more of a "day of" planner) and differences in our approach to community development (I prefer to be involved with my family and extended community as much as possible, but it does take a lot of time from my schedule. He is is married to his music, so after immediate family, it's music.)
If not, how has this affected you and the child and why did the relationship stop being functional? n/a

What are you doing to uplift our People? First and foremost, I spend a lot of time with my family. I have three younger brothers (the youngest is 2), nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters, several mothers and fathers, so to me, making sure I have a strong relationship and bond with those who are closest to me is foremost. When I'm with my little brothers I introduce them to materials and music that they are not getting from home, cook vegetarian dishes with them and open them up to new perspectives about life. I even have hour long converstations with the 2 year old!! My outreach of myself in the community comes through my music and community organization. I assist organizations and people with planning and managing events for us and carrying out necessary tasks. Lately, I've slowed down with my outside community work because in this season of my life it is necesary for me to focus on me and my immediately fam for elevation to continue in its proper course.

What is your contribution to the Solution of liberating the minds, hearts and souls of our people...of our children? All the above

I did not put all of this to show how Great I am (although I am pretty Divine :) ). I posted this message because I know that with all of our effort forward and our Spirits in a Balanced place, we will be more focused toward Solutions...what we can do, are doing and will continue to do for the Now and Future generations....it starts at home first.

[newk]

I'll be the second to do this. I can see how this can group people together and stregthen their efforts to better the community.

I am right wing, but not closed minded. I really enjoy listening to other ideas. I like to argue, but I only do this to learn the other side.

Do you have a functional marriage/partnership with a man or woman?
yes I do, I am married. I am currently working on getting my wife to be more involved. We have started small by volunteering at soup kitchens, and homeless shelters. Our marriage is extremely functional because of I stress communication at all costs.

Do you have children?
I have one son who is five.

Are you still in a functional relationship with the mother/father of your child?
Very fortunate that I do.

If so, what are what are the challenges you face to keep your relationship strong and Forward?
her family. They are your typical closed minded there is nothing wrong with the world so I'm going to sit on the couch, eat bon bons, and spend more than I earn type of family.

What are you doing to uplift our People?
I spend time volunteering everyone I can. Be at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, my kids school mentoring, a high school, boy/girls clubs. Anywhere I can when time allows.

What is your contribution to the Solution of liberating the minds, hearts and souls of our people...of our children?
This one is tough. I don't think I do a lot here. I am working on improing myself here. One of the many reasons I am part of this family.

What are you doing to uplift our People?
I spend a lot of time with my family. I believe a strong family core is essential above all else. If I don't have a strong family core I don't think I can expect myself to uplift other people. What I do is provide uplifting words to the people that are down on their luck and try to give them the motivation to improve themselves and not wait for somebody else to do it. The one thing I learned in my short time on this earth and that the only person that is gonig to take care of me is myself.

What is your contribution to the Solution of liberating the minds, hearts and souls of our people...of our children?
Same as earlier, I need to liberate myself before I can liberate others. This is very hard being in the military. a lot of things I see I can't see any other way.

[L.E.G.A.C.Y.]

This is what I"m talking about. It doesn't take much, but it takes a whole lot of effort. You spend time with your family, work to keep your relationship together, raise your kids right with values. This is the first and foremost step to liberating anyone....having a functional unit that can work together. As that is set in place, values can be upheld, people are accountable to one another. I think the lack of accountability is one worst things that has happened to families. The sister can run around with 10 boys before the brother, mother or father says anything. The brother can disrespect the mother and the other siblings can't stop him....the father abuses the mother and the kids feel hopeless and so on and so on. How can we get anywhere if we are allowed to do whatever the hell we want...we have to be accountable to a unit.

It urks me when I see someone who goes to church with their entire family on Sundays and then I look at their myspace and they posted up doggy style or glorifying the objectification of women. You've supported the point. It starts from home. Give your children the example of what you'd like to see florish in them. Thanks for your response. I'm curious to see what others say and add to this convo. (oh, and I think I missed the updated post about the class you took on African American history...I'll have to search for it. For now, I'm out until tomorrow.)

[L.E.G.A.C.Y.]

I also wanted to say something bout not getting along with families. I do feel like sometimes we have to continue to Love and be united with our immediate family, but if their ideals and ideologies are not in line with ours, it is some times best to keep them at a distance...like I said, still in Love. I have a lot of respect for my blood-related family, but much of how some of them live is so contrary to my belief system that I don't get too deep into conversations and I don't visit often, but I do stay in touch. I don't do their american holidays any longer, so they always wonder why I dont' show up, but it is a choice I had to make. I miss out on family interaction, but I am giving back to myself and the future generations....I've formed a entirely new line of family and community and I've put a lot of effort into doing so because I know it is what is necessary...tough decisions like these have to be made in the midst of differing values and in the state of emergency we're in.