• I dream of the day when these, the African mathematicians and computer specialists in Washington and New York, the African physicists, engineers, doctors, business managers and economists, will return from London and Manchester and Paris and Brussels to add to the African pool of brain power, to enquire into and find solutions to Africa's problems and challenges, to open the African door to the world of knowledge, to elevate Africa's place within the universe of research the information of new knowledge, education and information -Thambo Mbeki, former South African President
  • They therefore concluded that “the findings of this (and other) surveys indicate that coverage of Africa, by the leading sources of American media is, at best, dismissive of the continent’s progress and potential, and thus leading to continued ‘exotification’ and marginalization of the African continent. At worst, coverage disregards recent trends toward democratization, thus betraying an almost contemptuous lack of interest in the potential and progress being achieved on the continent.”

Above excerpt is from a writer: Gbemisola Olujobi

  • By Gbemisola Olujobi - The Africa You Need to Know - Posted on Nov 28, 2006 See Full Article above

Why is the African image so negative?

  • Tell the Truth
  • What is your image of Africa?

Thursday, September 10, 2009

How is it That You Haven't Quit by Now?

It is so hard not to notice her demeanor. Her walk and her smile. Her elegant choice of wardrobe does not go unnoticed. Literally.

With her stride, her head help up high and strong shoulders that portray confidence, she faces each day just like the rest of us. Only her days are really nothing near what our days are like. Really.

She is one in a million. A woman who, even though I haven't met, has demonstrated intelligence, smart reasoning and a go-getter attitude that has truly paid off. Very much so.

Her's is a life of mystery. A life lived in a private, yet very public lifestyle. She is a woman who is strong, not only for herself and her children, but strong for her man too. While others hold her husband down, she lifts him up. When others mock him, she stands strong, by him, and for him. When duty calls and her husband makes a move towards the line of fire, towards the bomb awaiting to explode and towards the enemy, she's not moved, at least not in public. She uses her eyes and her smile to communicate with him. She winks and smiles to encourage him and support him and tell him how much she loves and believes in him. She doesn't flinch with fear as her husband is heckled, spat on or rebuked. At least not in public view, and she doesn't display any aggressive response, even while she has a reason to, which in my watch, would be just about any day of her life. How does she do that?

One day I will ask her. I would love to meet her, and if I do, I would like to hear her story. Surrounding myself with influential people is something I love to do, even for a minute. People who have made a difference, those that make things happen and those who demand excellence are my kind of people. That is the the only way I'd ever be influential myself.

When i meet her, mine will just be one question. Just one. A question I have struggled with for a little over 2 years now. A question that will be the beginning of something new....well, at least for me, that's if she actually gives me an answer, which i pray and hope that she will.

"How is it that you haven't quit this by now?".

Yeah, a simple question, and I will have my pen and paper ready. Whatever her answer will be, it will be enough to write a book on it, a story that I would love my children to read to their children for generations to come. The story will be one of what is it like to be the wife and the woman behind the first Commander In Chief of the United States with a tone other than white. I will have prepared enough note pads and stocked enough pens in my journalism assignment folder just in case.

In that one question, I would love to hear how she manages to let her husband walk out of that door to go walk among people who openly rebuke, mock and abuse him. I would like to know how she lets him out of her arms to go walk on fire, towards bombs ready to explode on him. I would ask how she is able to remain calm as she keeps her children away from the discussions, newspapers and friends from school, who repeat what they heard their parents say last night. I would love to know what she holds on to when she hears that an angry man showed up with a gun somewhere close to her husband's meeting venue. I would love to know how she felt when a pastor from an Arizona Baptist Church prayed for her husband to have cancer, melt like a snail with salt on it and die - Reported on major news network, newspapers and FoxNews too: see the link http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/31. I would love to know how at the end of the day she doesn't just tie her husband to herself so he does not have to leave for work the next day.

"How is it that you haven't quit by now?"

She has demonstrated strength where none is likely to be seen.
She has remained calm in public even as her husband walks on fire and towards the the enemy.
She has stood her ground and refused to betray her integrity.
She has maintained her place as a wife, friend and soul-mate.


This one is a woman to learn from and pray for.
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