BLACK AROUND THE WORLD

Dancers prepare for today's 37th 'Noite da Beleza Negra do Ilê Aiyê , "a collection of art, history, beliefs, and customs that mark the identity of the #African people of #Bahia and does so through the figure of the woman, who occupies a very respected role in the community of #IleAiye, a musical movement of negritude [black consciousness] in Bahia who's major objective is the self-esteem in black/mestizo community of #Salvador, #Brazil [2014 Grandela, Carolina].

The #COP21 talks in #Paris continue as nations that face the most existential threats from #climatechange are raising their voices to heard. Island nations such as #Grenada are fighting to lower the temperature rise threshold from 2°C to 1.5°C, which would be required for the survival of these nations. They are urging rich, polluting nations to be more aggressive in their greenhouse gas cuts and support for nations such as Grenada, that are not only shrinking annually but are experiencing destructive storms and droughts. Climate change eventually affects everyone and everything on this planet but black and brown lives in both the global North and South are the most immediately affected. Top: 2004 Hurricane Ivan wreckage Bttm: Dessima Williams, former UN ambassador of Grenada #enviromental #sustainability #blacklivesmatter

#checkout 22 year old Cuban singer, composer and arranger Daymé Arocena's debut album 'Nueva Era'. Her music is absorbed in #jazz, Cuban neoo-soul and #African rhythm, layered with her rich and deep vocals. Daymé, always wearing white, visibly reflecting her devolution to #Santeria, along with her music, singing #Yoruba songs, radiating its beautiful energy.

#checkout New Orleans trumpeter Christian Scott's @cscottjazz new album 'Stretch Music'. Scott is a part of a generation of contemporary jazz artists who are "stretching" the imagination and boundaries of modern jazz, incorporating an entire pallet of sounds to open new horizons and a new audience.

#NowPlaying "Favorite Star" by Quadron from Avalanche

In solidarity with the men and women in Burkina Faso fighting the battle for their country. The upright people are ready to democratically decide their next president. First they must remove another coup and plans are to do so without bloodshed.

Wednesday September 16th is Mexican Independence day. Guanajuato, Mexicoa wealthy mining town on the central high plateau of Mexico holds an African presence. The Afro-Mexican population is mostly focused in both coasts of the country but the central population is often overlooked. These images taken by Romualo Garciá 100 years ago show people of clear African ancestry. Check out the book "Guanajato diverso" by Maria Guevara.

I've walked passed this item several times thinking nothing of it, coming to find out that it is of great historical significance. Most museums, including the Oriental Institute tend to separate #AncientEgypt and Nubia in different wings of the building. This #incense burner unlocks the earliest history of ancient lower #Nubia's (northern #Sudan) interactions with upper #Egypt. It features the first know symbology of an Egyptian King, the #WhiteCrown found in #Qustul, Nubia. This beckons the question as to rather Egyptians borrowed the crown and others from the Nubians? Nevertheless it shows the cultures (despite European framing) were very closely connected. #Checkout if ever in Chicago. # next stop: the Louvre

Teaching the young one of his history and roots. Runoko Rashidi leading tour in ancient #Egypt section of the Oriental Institute. This 7 year old was wide eyed and engaged the entire time, asking the most questions of the entire group. I couldn't help but imagine what if I exposed to this wealth of knowledge at that age. #UNIA

#MJ #neverashamed of his #Melanin. #happybirthday

A noteworthy organization, especially those interested in civic involvement is 'Le Balai Citoyen', which was one of the driving forces behind the protest in Burkina Faso in 2014. Founded by musicians Sams' Khe Jah and Serge Bambara, the youth movement aims to improve the lives of local people. One way is through promotion of cleanliness and hygiene in the community through gardening, garbage removal etc. @BalaiCitoyen is named both in reference to "sweeping out" political corruption and regular street-cleaning exercises inspired by Thomas Sankara in which citizens would pick up brooms and clean their neighborhoods (an act replicated last year after president Blaisé's departure) both as an act of community development and self-sufficiency.