In able for any tradition to survive we must adapt just like the spirits have done.

Many of our non-African brothers and sisters help to educate people in ways of the spirits and have taken away fear.

If it is normal and fine for children of Africa to become Christian, then I think it is just as normal and great for children of Rome to become vodouist. And that’s all Gods work

 

--- On Tue, 6/2/09, L.C. Roscoe <lucretiarose@ rocketmail. com> wrote:

From: L.C. Roscoe <lucretiarose@ rocketmail. com>
Subject: Re: [Carrefour] The Ever-Popular "Race in Vodou" Question
To: Carrefour@yahoogrou ps.com
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009, 10:53 PM

You raise very valid points, many of which I have argued myself in the past.

And yes, some people who posess a lighter shade of skin pigmant don't have any idea what other's still have to go through.

But other's do, if not personally, they still have eyes to see clearly what is being done and they know that it is senseless and wrong.

 

Then again it often doesn't matter the colour you are. My own skin is so pale most people tend to think that I am a ghost or just dead, still I know what it is like to be spat at, have abuse thrown at you and even in some cases physically threatened because you are not one of the majority [polite way of putting 'have the crap beat out of you']. I know what it is like to be followed by shop-detectives, ignored and dismissed by the police from your hospital bed, have your children attacked. Having to keep moving house just to find somewhere safe to make a home. Need I go on...

Hate is universal, and if you can't be hated for one reason you can garentee they'll find another one to use against you. Colour/Sex/Age/ Religion even down to the music you listen to or the clothes that you wear. Child learning hate from parent, then passing it down to their own children.

 

If you have time look up William Roscoe MP, Liverpool, England. This was a man who believed strongly in equality and was willing to stand up for it at a time when slavery was still accepted, I think he would be saddened by how little people have actually learnt since his time.

 

Personally though, I think besides teaching our children not to hate, we need to work towards making race mean 'something' instead of nothing. All the different cutures that make up our race should be equally revered and openly taught, as it is only by education and understanding that hate and fear can be stopped.

 

But what do I know, I've always said that America has one of the worst human rights records in the world, but apparently I'm wrong there too.

 

---

Your sentiments are commendable, but for many people racism is a fact
of life. I've found that many white people pride themselves on being
"color-blind" and "never giving a thought to race" without realizing
how their skin privileges them to do so. We may all have come from
Africa originally -- but some of us have a harder time hailing cabs
than others, and some of us are more likely than others to be harassed
by police. Ignoring those issues won't make them go away, although it
may make us feel more comfortable about living in a racist society.
If we're going to follow a path with African roots, we may want to
consider the issues facing those of African descent in our culture. Is
it enough to say that "race means nothing to me" -- or should we work
to build a world where it means nothing to everyone?

- k

--
kenaz filan,
6393 penn ave. #325, pittsburgh, pa 15206 | 917 267 7469 | www.kenazfilan. com
author:
the haitian vodou handbook,
vodou love magic
drawing down the spirits (w/raven kaldera)
vodou money magic (forthcoming)