Conversation Pieces

This is my conversation peace...

Facebook as many know is an awesome community of folks... some you know, some you don't and all of whom you are getting to know or are getting to know you ("hoping you like me")...I love it because as I once told someone it is a way to be in the conversation despite the miles between me and them (friends, loved ones, peers and colleagues) ...I also happen to love to talk (www.blogtalkradio.com/djdannak) and exchanging comments that become conversations is right up my alley.

Facebook consistently and persistently gives me the chance to put my best face forward. I tweet, but the level of engagement and connection offered by facebook is matchless....well matchless for having rich deep connections and conversations with people whom you've never met or seen and is not in the name of love, lust or dating...

The short conversation I had below with Bay Area friend Jacquinn Scales was a chance to express something that I often try to say to whomever will listen.

At the speed of life however we are all on to the next thing in 24 hours or less...having a medium to record these short exchanges or conversations as they were called before phones and internet allows someone like me to leave little legacies that have meaning beyond the "24 hours or less" ...so I turn to my blog-all things real the shelf life of a blog is 24-72 hours (even it is archived until the internet becomes obsolete, can you imagine what that day will look like or what might be next...at this moment I cannot). I am never that hard to please and 24-72 hours will suffice. All I pray to do is plant seeds that can and will grow...so today I am a gardner.

What appears below is Jacquinn's comment about a "status" I posted. I think Jacquinn was picking on me Sunday evening as he had commented earlier on a previous status...but when I received the thumbs up from him and an innocent bystander, another "Facebook Friend" and fellow Alum from Tuskegee commented later in the day on the conversation I thought...."I believe I will share" and so it is

My status read ....

Danna Lafaye Kiel just got caught up watching TI's Road to Redemption

and Tonya jumped in and then came Jacquinn and me

Tonya Hussein Michelle at 11:33pm March 15

I kind of really like that show.

Jacquinn Scales at 11:47pm March 15 via Facebook Mobile

Do you feel as though its kind of a shame that black influential people have to get into trouble before they seek to help the community? Ti and Road to redemption. Then Lil Kim who got in trouble and all of a sudden while in jail has this passion to want to help foster kids. What are your thought?

I think Jacquinn raises a thoughtful and provocative question...below was my answer

Danna Lafaye Kiel at 12:04am March 16

I believe it is what it is ....Here in America we live in a media influenced society that maintains an investment in a star system...I teach for a living and I used to work in records...large numbers seem to always be influenced by what a a very few do (how they live...what they sing about or rap about or in the case of actors the movies they make) so honestly I think its important that if the spotlighted few find an opportunity to use their powers for good and not evil and the change of heart or the revelation of the true heart is sincere and authentic then let it "do what it do" ...the rest of us are responsible for consistently doing our part (if it is our aim) to push the images and profiles of those who have honorable lives worthy of admiration, adoration and have the charisma to captivate and positively energize those in need of such influence and inspiration

Kelley Woods at 11:32am March 16

Well said Dana...I am loving your vibe on this one...It's a struggle out there...Stay with it!!...One Love

Jacquinn Scales at 1:11am March 16 via Facebook Mobile

Very insightful. I wasn't tryna imply that their efforts were phony or anything. I believe God uses folks for different reasons. Its just I wondered what your thoughts were because so many people say "Its a shame it took TI going to jail in order to serve you" and blah blah blah. Hell in my opinion he's making more of an impact with these kids ... Read More than some of these faith leaders and other so called black leaders. I recall being young once...I was in foster care sixteen years and went straight from that into the juvenile justice system and served for years in the California Youth Authority. A lot of things contributed to that that only a selected few could identify with my pain. TI doin a good job and I see him impacting more and more lives along with other megastars as well. S*** we all know government won't do anything on our behalf much less people like ********* so we need the TI's, david banners, Nas and others.

More seeds before I move onto the next backyard garden....

I believe that in the Obama Nation we currently live in and beyond there is work to be done and with Stimulus money trying to trickle down (4 Billion for Police forces (across the nation) and Gang Warfare Prevention)...those who have the strength, courage and the will should be working harder than ever to turn love into action...Love of God, self and country. When we truly love ourselves we will see, hear and think more clearly. We will believe our own dreams and work until they come true. We will speak the mother tongues of care and compassion. We will also do the work that needs to be from Watts to the Whitehouse to rebuild our nation, our world and her people....(do you hear the violins or the drums (the rim shot) or the 808 or horns (trumpet or sax) playing in the background? ...I do :-)

Between Friends

It is never my intention to let a month go by between posts, but here we are two days shy of a month since my last post (Feb 8th). If you read my December blog Passion v. Profession you know I like a few others have a struggle or two (wink wink sarcasm sarcasm). Profession is currently whoopping Passion's tail.

I work everyday like most folks and though teaching is a more than an honorable profession, I count the days til summer and in the process try not choke somebody's child or slit my own wrists :-). I love math, but what I do everyday is not my passion. Since my return from DC the work has been all consuming. I am at the corner of Tired Ave and Overwhelmed Blvd and one block away from Exasperrated Lane. This is life. Momma said there would be days like this...and there are.

My heart is however warmed when I can purchase necessities for my son (lunch pail, backpack and shoes), lotion and a much needed Ped Egg for my own feet. When a "comfort song" (Prince, D'Angelo, Erykah, The Spinners, Lena Horne or Miles Davis) plays on the radio in my car, I can bring into focus...the work. The eye chart at the end of the hallway reads C for "car note", I for "insurance", F for "food", G for "gas", L for "lotion", R for "Rent"...I believe you know the eye chart I am talking about.

So as I do the everyday work of building the life I live and would like to live, I vigorously pursue MY PASSION, wisdom, patience, humility, integrity, honesty and understanding. As a result I (like most women) am very busy. My son's life is the only life more important than my own. Everything I am is because of him. Everything I do is for him (and his future).

I have so many beloved friends with whom I've been blessed to amble along this very active, organic and passionate journey. I am everyday lifted not only by my relationship with Mother/Father God, but by the friends Mother God has blessed me with. Two different days this week Ali and I broke bread with 2 very close friends, Charlotte Dugan and Jennifer Johnson.

My friend Charlotte describes our friendship as a conversation that began from a random introduction in 1998 that has never ended. We have seen each other through joy, pain, loss and the life changes that come with our brand of motherhood...singlemotherhood. Jennifer and I met through a mutual friend and then renewed our friendship vow shortly after Ali was born and renewed it again after she married and gave birth herself. When together our conversation traverses a landscape of topics that only mothers with command of the "poor short term memory language" can even appreciate.

The day after an incredile Salmon and Coconut Rice dinner prepared at her hands, I had the need to complete a conversation we'd begun about exceling in an area. We were combing over what some educators call, the Essential Question. Our essential question is "what is it that I do?" or... "what is it that I am good at?"

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Last week I spoke with someone and we were having too deep and too engaging conversation about life and I expressed the concern that I believe that my Dad worked his whole life performing jobs that adequately and at times inadequately took care of our family. He is now 70+ and never (I don't believe) worked doing something he loved. I concluded our convversation with not only this revelation, but said "that is my fear I don't want that...but it feels like exactly where I am going. I simply don't feel good at what I desire with all my being to do (write and direct films) and it feels like I don't have the time to put in the hard work to become good at it and I am already over 39 :-). I spent time with another filmmaker (Director, editor and writer as well) and while he has freelanced way more in the field and built a strong level of expertise he too is further over 39 than I am and has not attained the tangible level of success that allows him with comfort and at the very least routine to earn more for his family. He however provides and provides consistently based on my every visit to their apartment for birthdays and communion. I am not the only one with some concerns.

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Yesterday evening while sitting in my after school component I wanted to close my conversation with Jenn over our ponderance of our Essential Question, "What is it that I do?" She expressed that she and a friend are starting a business and her concern was "Am I smart enough to do this?" The short answer is ..."of course you are !" the long answer came to me yesterday and I text(ed) her and I want to share with you what was revealed to me...

"I thoroughly enjoyed our time together yesterday and we had so many unfinished conversations, but the only thing I know at 41 (which is a little late, but better late than NEVER) is I just have to believe in me whether it feels crazy or not because whether I am excelling at "it" today or not if I am passionate about being "it" or doing "it" I have to believe with all my might that I am fine and greatness is within whether I can yet see it or not (the bible says Greater is He (or She, the creator) that is in me than "he" (or she) that is in the world)...I just have to believe and so do you...every moment (or incident) that makes us unsure is an opportunity to learn and grow...I know it sounds preachy, but as we head down these roads less travelled or well travelled with the brand new landscape that progress and change have created it gets rather lonely and all we have is ourselves..."

My other blogging friend said to me that maybe my blogs from Passion v. Profession and others that turn inward (maybe too far) were a cry for help...I believe Mother God heard my cry...so the journey continues...

PS: Y'all know Ali will be 7 in April so we know the picture is a little dated... :-)...we have indeed come this far by FAITH !!! (I hope you know the rest of the song...)

Part 1: Million Man to One Million or More Strong ....Reflections on Inauguration

Space Log:

January 18th we (Ali, one of my students and myself) arrived into National Airport around 11:00am on time. We deplaned. I had been last in my beloved National Airport back in August. In August I had only anticipated our victory and that Inauguration would be ours. It was 2 days before the big day and VICTORY was now ours. We took pictures with the "Barack" cut-out and headed down to get our luggage.

We retrieved our luggage, loaded metro cards and headed to the platform to wait for the train. We boarded with all of our luggage and headed out to the Branch Avenue Station on the Green Line.

We arrived into the station where our Ft. Washington, MD host picked us up. We got in and I immediately returned to the metro station to catch whatever I could of Sunday's Big Free concert. I will not bitch about the fact that tickets were needed to get to a certain area and in all of the texts I received from the PIC (bka Presidential Inaugural Committee), it was never communicated that tickets were needed.

I was soon able to sift out the rumors that if I continued walking toward the Jumbotrons I would still be able to enjoy whatever was left of the show. This information would have been more helpful before I rode all the way to Foggy Bottom GW Metro Station to get to the back side of the Lincoln Memorial where I could not access the show instead of hopping off at Smithsonian Metro Station and sitting down quickly to enjoy whatever was left of the incredible 2:30p concert.

I walked and I made it around to a screen and caught the close of what sounded like an incredible show. I had walked the perimeter of a large area hearing Bono, but unable to see him until I got in that night. I still haven't seen the whole concert and I hear John Legend and James Taylor smashed it. Everyone's got homemade DVD's. It will work out.

The plan was to meet up with my sister. Before meeting up with her I walked and walked trying to get a lay of the land for the Big Day. We have all planned and talked...talked and planned for months and weeks. Some friends had fallen back and decided not to make the pilgrimage to Washington.

Despite some financial challenges and yes some challenges at work. I decided to make the trip anyway. I surveyed the mall. I surveyed the not so jumbo jumbotrons. I checked out the American History Museum that was opening at 8:00am instead of 10am to accommodate anyone who wanted to stay in from the cold. I even met two local ladies who like me were surveying for Tuesday, as well. We called it a "practice run". For the record a lot of the DC locals were either trying to flee the city or not coming out. It was refreshing to meet these two "Auntie" aged women trying to figure things out.

I eventually met up with my sister near the American History museum where we got Empanadas and hotdogs. We exchanged gifts, love and hugs.


As we talked, used the restroom and walked a feeling came over me. The sun was beginning to set though it had barely risen this day. I'd been on the mall many times since October 16th, 1995, but I heard the Men of the Million Man March whispering to me. I felt the spirit of that day speaking directly to me. I, Black Woman, was there. Despite how inappropriate some may have thought it was, I had to bear witness to One Million Men on the Washington, Mall. The weekend before I had run into so many of my Skegee classmates at the local clubs and pubs who (Muslim or not) were in town to "march". There seemed to be Beautiful Black Men everywhere ! (I had to be there).

14 years ago Minister Louis Farrakhan convened Black America's Men to meet on the mall to talk about and demonstrate "leadership". There were many public reservations about the controversial American Muslim leader convening such a meeting. As a DC resident I just kept thinking "They're letting him have the Capitol Steps and the Mall...they can't be as afraid or uncomfortable as the media claims". I also reflected that Martin Luther King had gathered more than a few folks in 1968 so freedom of assembly had definitely rung over the years. I am not comparing King and Farrakhan, just reflecting upon "controversial" million (or not-so-million)-plus gatherings on the Washington, Mall.

I had not felt afraid in 1995 and despite the magnitude of Barack's campaign, I was not afraid of what would or could happen on January 20th. I also attended the speech in Denver at Mile High Stadium. I was not afraid there either. Fear of "what might happen" was just not on my radar.

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There were black folks who actually worried that there would be some "incident" at Inuguration. "You know how 'our people' are when we get together", reflected a friend's friend'; as though "our people" were the going to be the only people in attendance. It sounded idiotic to me. It was frustrating, but not my issue. I was more worried about say a threat on Barack's life than "Pookey" vs. "Quan" or even the Jena 6 vs. Arian Nation.

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While the Inauguration is a Federally supported event and the differences between January 20th, 2009, October 16th, 1995 and August 24th, 1968 are very clear, I still believe I heard whispers of love, support and triumph from those who had experienced those historic days. I felt the continuum. They seemed to say that the way has been made...run on.

History says there were 250,000 at the March on Washington. The Million Man March is said by the Nation of Islam to have been attended by 1,000,000 . The media and the National Park Service (Park Police) reported between 400,000 and 450,000. Farrakhan even threatened to sue the Park Police for the reporting those numbers. As an attendee I feel confident there were WAY more than 450,000, but after looking at the 1.5 Million helicopter shot on Obama's big day , I hate to break it to Farrakhan...We were "Strong" that beautuful day in October 1995, I am just not certain we were "One Million Strong" (please don't sue me).





Here's the thing...I am not certain if it matters anymore. I just know over this continuum we are "53 million plus" strong for Barack and its been a long time coming...like since slaves and abolitionist whispered for freedom long time coming...these things don't just happen over 2 or 3 years more like hundreds...

My reflections on January 20th, 2009 are these .. It was too cold to be out there; trying to see too many folk the night before I was disappointed at not having gotten up early enough to get out onto the mall space between the monument and the capitol (we made it to the nice space between the Washington Monument and the War World II Memorial which some consider "Mall Enough", I do); the swearing in was incredible (despite the HUGE disapointment of having to watch the whole thing on a jumbotron through a dead tree), but the stress (so many street and gate closures obstructing the walk to the mall that was already an inevitable 2 miles) of walking 2+ miles to get there was distracting to the moment for me (and a few others whose names have been protected for fear of "incredible moment" backlash); Ali was so completely fatigued from the walk that he slept through

swearing in (I still have guilt and nightmares about the walk to the mall for my 6 year old, I take full responsibility for the decision) ....I am still tired...I enjoyed Denver and the DNC way more....

Am I glad I was there ? Yes after a hard fought year of volunteering, campaigning, canvassing, phone banking and just daily debates I had to stand in the spot ordained for me in Washington, DC to witness HISTORY. I had to breathe DC's frigid air of HOPE, COURAGE and BEAUTY. Yes I had to be there !
















BTW....Good times did actually roll for me in DC on my beloved U Street...stay tuned for my next blog ...

Black History Month Thoughts...just for today

I have several blogs clogging my pipes, but this gushed out today...I will catch you up on all things Inauguration and DC. I will catch you up on all things on the job, as well. I also found myself INCREDIBLY thrilled watching my son play "Bitty Leauge" Basketball at Rancho Cienega.



Today let's talk history....I open with an excerpt from Dr. Yolanda Pierce's Blog (in response to her partner Dr. Lacewell) from the Kitchen Table which brought me out of the "Blog Funk" I've been in...here goes

"When I think of Black History Month, I think of the stories like Seymour's that have yet to be told; I think of the songs, and the histories, and the poetry yet to be written about the African American experience. I think of the current political moment we are in, as well as the 400 years of struggle from which it emerged. I think about the courageous educators like Carter G. Woodson, who fought to have Black history recognized as American history.

Like you, I wish that we had no need of a separate month to recognize these achievements. I wish that we would seamlessly weave the stories of all people at the margins into the very center of the history that we teach. I wish that the silenced and the voiceless would find expression in our country 365 days of the year. And I will continue to work towards that goal. I've dedicated my life to working toward that goal as I teach this material every month of the year."

Excerpt from The Kitchen Table..."Black History, Black Stories"
by Dr. Yolanda Pierce

Dr. Pierce's words were incredibly profound and serendipitous for me today. I have spent the last two weeks since my return from a very cold and excruciating Washington, DC researching Sojourner Truth, Myrlie Evers and John Hanson (the Black Man ...there was a White one too). I just yesterday expanded my research to Carter G. Woodson (I have read Miseducation of the Negro, but I was not aware of his struggles with the NAACP and Howard University) and today stepping up to the First true liberator of Black Folk, Harriet Tubman. She didn't just theorize, lead and hope....She FREED 300 or more slaves !!!!!!!!!

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I am often frustrated by the idea that "Black Leadership" is revered as the province of men (Martin, Malcolm, Mandela and Me (as the T-Shirt from my college days went). Although no longer a part of the American History standards for the state of California a study on WEB Dubois and Booker T. Washington has just fallen to the desire of individual instructors. I observed the AP History teacher teaching it anyway and including Marcus Garvey as the three "Black Leaders" of the time. He lectured on the differences between their schools of thought. I turned him onto Dudley Randall's poem. He was not familiar. It was the least I could do watching from the sidelines.

There is however no noting of Harriet Tubman's HARD WORK woven into any standards or lecture. There is nothing even said of Isabella Baumfree bka Sojourner Truth who preached and lectured about Black Liberation and Women's Liberation before the turn of the century. She also "lobbied" (if you will) for the government to GRANT land to Freed Slaves moving west. We never got our 40 Acres, but she was seeking a remedy for the "Exodusters" leaving the South to begin their lives West. I am a graduate of Tuskegee University. I am not trying to diminsh the significant contributions of our menfolk. I am just trying to bring Harriet and Isabella out of "novelty/black fact status".


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It is not that I don't know who the aforementioned historical icons are. It is not that I haven't looked these historical icons up before in an Encyclopedia of old (I miss encyclopedias do you miss encyclopedias ?), but with my radio show and the desire to be an authentic master or reasonable expert on this information, I too am daily (365 Days) disappointed by the OMISSION of Black Stories in the pantheon of "American History". I recently read that when Sojourner Truth met Abraham Lincoln, he is said to have shown her his Bible that was said to have been given to him by "Black People in Baltimore". Maybe Obama was trying to make sure that everyone was at the Inauguration. I am more sure than ever I want to be a purveyor of the African American History Gospel, like Carter G. Woodson.



As a math teacher waiting on my afternoon classes I often listen to the same AP History Teacher teach from a text that is so profoundly deficient, that I want to yell out "Lewis Latimer !" like someone with Tourettes Syndrome as he teaches them about Thomas Alva Edison.

I quoted Dr. Pierce's words becauseI am thrilled, moved, inspired and renewed by them (check the whole blog at www.princetonprofs.blogspot.com). I am personally looking to change the world through this "acknowledged" knowledge and information that can at the very least enrich the landscape from which children and young people are taught (media, film and literary work) and at best become fully woven into the fabric of American History. One day it will all be taught seamlessly as a NATURAL part of the American Experience. I am working for that day !

all love
danna