"I didn't know I was Black Until I Came to America."

The heading on this post is a quote from a young woman I met in Jamaica this past weekend at the Calabash Literary Festival in Treasure Beach, Jamaica.

The festival exceeded my wildest expectations. I met amazing authors like Lawrence Hill, Margaret Cezair-Thompson and Jackie Kay. I had a fabulous, though nerve-wracking, experience reading from my book, Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain in front of an audience of over 1000 people. And the weather cooperated with high temperatures, cool breezes and no rain (until the last day).

But what I enjoyed the most about my little visit to this little island was being surrounded by the most beautiful Black people in the world. What an experience for this chick raised up in the whitest, white Wisconsin, to be in a warm world of welcoming brown faces and kinky hair. I felt giddy to be in the real majority for once. I considered rushing back to America to scoop up my children and bringing them back to Jamaica to raise them in a place where their cute, little, brown, faces would transform to simply cute, little, faces, because the brown would be redundant.

After my reading this woman came up to me with her friend and told me she understood my struggle of trying to define Black in America, because it happened to her when she arrived here for college and was immediately informed by the race police that she must quickly join the Black race or else face the risk of not belonging. "Growing up in Jamaica," she told me, "I didn't even know I was Black." Suffice it to say, America's racial politics sent her right back home after she finished school.

So for now, I have no immediate plans to move to Jamaica, but it is a tempting thought. Although I must admit I would miss snow. After all, I am from Wisconsin.

Peace Out!

Kinky Gazpacho in Jamaica

We interrupt the regular programming here at the Meltingpot to make mention of an exciting Meltingpot literary event taking place this weekend in the Caribbean.

The Calabash Literary Festival 2008 is: " A three-day festival of readings and music with other forms of storytelling folded in the mix. Calabash is earthy, inspirational, daring and diverse. It’s the only annual international literary festival in the English-speaking Caribbean. All festival events are free and open to the public. Passion is the only price of entry."

Unless you roll like that (or you live in Jamaica) it's probably too late to show up this year, but check out the website and imagine the magic that will be taking place as some of the world's most talented writers and musicians gather together in a tropical paradise to share their love of the written word. I get goosebumps just thinking about it and the best thing is, I'll be there this year! Yes, Lori L. Tharps (that's me, I just like to write in the third person on this blog so it doesn't get too personal. LOL!) will be representing at Calabash. Rubbing elbows with my literary heroes, Colin Channer, Lorna Goodison, and Margaret Cezair-Thompson, just to name a few. Soaking up a culture that exemplifies cultural cross-pollination. And, I won't lie, hitting the beach with the Spaniard. Can't wait!

Check it out and support a very Meltingpot Festival if you can.

1 Love

Peace!

(Image is from Calabash Festival '05)

A Vote for the White Side

Just a tip to all of those angry White people(and probably folks of other flavors and colors) who just can't fathom voting for a Black president. Don't sweat it. Remember, Barack Obama is half-White so just vote for his White side. That way you don't have to feel guilty for not supporting 'Your Kind.'

Good luck!

Tidbits

• May is National Mixed-Race Experience Month. I don't know if that's on any official government calendar, but Heidi Durrow over at The Light Skinded Girl has declared it to be so and is dropping some knowledge about people of mixed-race heritage. She highlights a different historical "mixed-race" fact every day of the month. I'm learning so much and encourage you to take a peek. Did you all know, for instance, that singer/songwriter, Carly Simon's mom was Black and Jewish? Me neither, but when you think about it, it's like 'yeah, I could see that.'

• There is no Me Without You. Mildred Loving, the Black woman who paved the way for interracial couples to legally marry in all fifty states, died last week at age 68. Mildred and Richard Loving were actually thrown in jail when they returned to their home state of Virginia as a legally married couple, having tied the knot in Washington, DC. Their efforts to knock down the anti-miscegenation (don't you hate that word? It sounds like a venereal disease.) came not from a grandiose political agenda, but from a practical one. They wanted to live together as man and wife in their home state of Virginia and raise their children in peace. Simple acts of love and faith often make the most difference in this world. To read more about the Loving decision and the June 12th celebration of the day the Supreme Court Decision was delivered, check out Loving Day.org. And this June 12, remember Mildred and Richard.

• Just a Random Thought. I heard a woman on the radio say she was so confused as to who to support as the Democratic candidate for president. "I'm a Black woman," she moaned, "so I don't know if I should support the woman candidate or the Black candidate." I wanted to reach my hand through the stereo speakers and slap her and say, "Bitch, vote for the candidate who you think will do the best job in the White House." What difference does it make if the person has a penis or a vagina, Black skin or White? I would never pick any leader based on their genitalia or skin color. Why is this an issue now? Okay. I'm done.

Peace.

And Happy Mother's Day (a little bit early)