TAN – The Afro News

Ghana National Soccer Team

Feature/Ghana/Africa

The Accra Sports Stadium was re-named Ohene Djan Stadium by the former ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2004. Read the full story

Resilience and strength of Africa and its people-TAN :The Afro News

The headline in our local community paper caught my eye. “Rotarians join church members for humanitarian trip to Malawi” Reading on I learned that eight members of the two groups had left on a two-week house-building trip to Malawi in support of Lifeline Malawi, a Canadian humanitarian medical relief and development organization that had already set up medical clinics in “outlying areas, rural villages, where there’s absolutely no access to health care at all,” according to one of the participants. “The poverty there is just amazing,” she said, noting it’s the fifth poorest country in the world.
Who would argue with working to provide health care in remote regions of a nation with high poverty? Not I. But how the help was to be offered, that disturbed me. “We’re going to build a home while we’re down there for a medical worker…What happens now is they have a hard time attracting trained medical personnel because once you have an education, you don’t want to live in a mud hut in a village. Our team is going to build a proper home.” The house will be made of brick and will have solar lighting, she noted.
Visions of noble pith helmeted suburbanites followed by their African bearers trekking across the veldt to save Africans from themselves flashed across my imagination. Did they believe that Africans, whose ancestors built the pyramids, were so lacking in construction skills that eight middle class city dwellers needed to show them how to slap a brick house together in two weeks? Having lived in Ghana I bridle at any suggestion that Africans desperately need foreign expertise to live in their own land. Africa’s farmers, builders, business people and other professionals are the world’s experts at living in Africa. They survive, even thrive, where outsiders given the same resources would perish.
Ah, resources, (read “money”), there’s the rub. If I were the President of Malawi I’d say, “Please send money so our people can be hired to build the housing required. We’d love to see your smiling faces as tourists who spend money in our hospitality industry but not as day labourers, thank you very much.”
My letter to the editor expressing such thoughts was printed with an editor’s note reading, “Story should have included mention that locals will also be hired to help.” Okay, cancel the pith helmets and bearers but the question remains, “How can generous people best help others in need?” First, buy goods and services locally rather than importing them. If there is a local shortage identified by the host country offer to contribute donated money to help establish local suppliers and training programs for service providers. Second, offer help in a way which respects the dignity of those being helped. The story of Ruth in Hebrew Scripture is a case in point. Observant Hebrews were commanded not to harvest all of their crop but to leave gleanings for the poor. Wealthy landowner Boaz instructs his harvest crew to let Ruth glean even among the standing sheaves and to pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles. Ruth is helped in getting food for herself and her mother-in-law in a way that honours her self respect and gives her meaningful work.
I hope that the eight Lifeline Malawi supporters have returned home after the experience of a lifetime filled with the satisfaction of an important job well done and a deep appreciation of the beauty, resilience and strength of Africa and its people. Let’s all dedicate ourselves to doing the best we can wherever we can and whenever we can to meet the financial and human needs of the world.
jacktoronto@telus.net

Culture Freedom Photo by KMG -TAN

The Afro News international : Human capital is the development one’s self to sell one’s labor, skills and or talent in the marketplace. Labor is more than manual labor or factory work but should also be considered things such as academic skills, athletic prowess, business savvy, musical talent (ability to compose, read music, sing and play instruments). One must also consider that skill in sales, science, fine arts, photography and a multiplicity of other fields now available to Africans today are a means of production that we as a people and as an individual control. Another part of human capital is maintaining good mental, physical and spiritual health enhances our ability to produce and pass wealth on to future generations.

Restoration of the wealth of our African ancestors is within our own hands. Even though in times past colonialization, slavery and racism served to propel European civilization forward and hampered the growth of many African people. Transformation of our minds and spirits back to our rich heritage require that we reach higher than just achieving economic and political freedom. While these goals are highly desirable we still are incomplete unless we also seek cultural freedom.

Many black people throughout the African Diaspora have political position and economic strength to a degree but lack cultural freedom and therefore remain in a subservient position. In many civil service, educational, political and corporate environments they are not free to be completely African. Many times they only hold their position because by their actions they still support white supremacy. They are not free to choose the best candidate for a job or an appointment as a government minister, secretary; a corporate executive, manager or a professor if that candidate is another African for fear of being second guessed, chastised and/or pressured by those holding ultimate authority.

Often Black leadership outside of Africa typically has missed the opportunity to demand cultural freedom when at the same time they demand economic and politically parity. Unless we demand cultural parity we live against our own language, spirituality and community values. Achieving our economic and political goals need to be shaped by a set of Afrocentric norms. When we can do this we as a people will be transformed and move forward as a whole African people rather than several fragments. Please feel free to continue this discussion with each other and me. Contact me at fscruggs@yahoo.com

Moving Towards a Sound Immigration Policy

By David Jones and Frank T. Scruggs ; Presently debate over immigration continues in many parts of North America in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in the government and the private sectors. In many cases misinformation and sound-bites skew the actual information which clouds (the discussion regarding who is illegal and who rightfully is entitled to the rights of being called an American. The issue for policymakers and constituents (voters) alike is to determine criteria by which we decide this debate on immigration. A major consideration policy makers in every country should review is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in December 1948 which specifically addresses immigration and migration. Articles 13 states that:

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

• (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

and Article 14 states:

• (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

• (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

There are also those people determined to use the immigration issue for political favor, or as a vehicle for public office. There politicians stir up fear and controversy over immigrants and people seeking employment opportunity. There are only but a few of the reasons that are actually beneficial to their cause but still will continuously provide the public hype. Typically, fear revolves around losing jobs; increased taxes, etc. are often designed to fuel resentment and backlash against new immigrants, especially from Latin American countries.

In regards to legal immigration, Asia has the largest number of legal immigrants; Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan, India, Pakistan, etc. are all Asia countries. Approximately 34.9% of all legal immigrants come from Asia (Refer to Figure 1) as shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Source of Immigrants to the U.S.

Country/Geographic Percentage of Legal Immigrants (%) Africa

Asia

Canada

Caribbean

Central America

Europe

Mexico

Oceania

South America

7.00

34.90

1.60

9.40

7.40

13.50

18.50

.06

7.60

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006

North America has an immigrant heritage which consists of 35 Million people of 12% of the American population is foreign born. Africans first came to the America in 1620 (the first twenty were indentured servants). During the slave trade era Africans were imported or forced immigration as chattel slaves until January 1, 1808 as restricted by U.S. legislation; after 1808 all African slaves were either American born or illegally smuggled into the U.S. In the U.S., immigration policy is the responsibility of the federal government.

Table 2 shows the present and projected composition of the U.S. population:

Table 2: : U.S. Population Projected Ethnic Changes

Race/Ethnic Group Percentage Year 2000 Percentage – Year 2050 (projected)

Native American

Asian

Black (Non-Hispanic)

Hispanic

White (None-Hispanic)

0.70%

3.90

12.30

12.70

70.80

0.90%

0.82

13.60

24.50

52.80

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006

Congress passed the first restrictions on immigration in 1882 (1808 for Africans) and restricted all persons alleged “undesirables” and virtually all Asians. In 1921, a Comprehensive Immigration Act was passed establishing the maximum number of immigrants each year and set a quota for each foreign country at 3% later changed to 2%.

Restrictions of the Immigration Act of 1921 were in response to the wave of Southern and eastern Europeans, Catholic and Jewish immigrants (Poland, Russia, Hungary, Italy, Greece) that entered the U.S. prior to World War I. Quotas were not abolished until the Immigration & Nationality Act of 1965—Replace with categories for relatives, family members and those with professional and skilled trades.

Approximately 1 million people are legally admitted to the U.S. as lawful permanent residents. An additional 32 million people are awarded visa annually to enter the U.S. for study, pleasure or business. There are five categories of noncitizens admitted into the U.S. These five categories include the following:

1. Legal Immigrants (Lawful Permanent residents, Permanent Resident aliens)

2. Refugees and Asylees

3. Parolees (Persons enjoying Temporary Protected Status) – Humanitarian or medical reasons, etc.

4. Legalized Aliens (Amnesty Aliens)

5. Non-Immigrants (Nonresident Legal Aliens)

The U.S. Coast Guard may even intercept boats at sea and return people to their country of origin. Aliens do not have a constitutional right to enter the United States however once someone is in the U.S., whether or not they’ve entered legally or illegally, each and every one of them is entitled to due process of law and the equal protection of the laws. Therefore once an immigrant set foot into America (specifically on U.S. soil) they’re entitled to a fair hearing prior to any attempt by the government to deport them. Provided that the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights really matter, aliens should be entitled to apply for asylum and present evidence at their hearing of well-founded fear of persecution if returned to their country of origin.

Unfortunately this happens in the cases where political will exists as is the case with Cuba for example. The political climate allowed for years the acceptance of certain high profile Cuba athletes to flee. The same often held true for Chinese and/or Russian scientists whom the West wanted in order to embarrass their country of origin by taking in potential exiles ( obviously for political gain).

Presently, economic status often determines who will get into America; especially the U.S. Many Western Europeans have access to resources necessary gain access either through legal or either extra legal methods such as marriages of convenience. Education is another access route as witnessed by the computer engineers from Asia who proliferate the Silicone Valley of California. One other thing to consider is the role of race/color. Africans tend to have to lowest immigration and asylum rate than any other group. Although the continent is known for war, genocide and AIDS as factors deserving humanitarian concern; clearly European immigrants are favored over black and Latin immigrants.

The language one speaks also becomes an issue when looking at current policy of who is in the U.S., while the majority language is English; Spanish has become necessary for North Americans due to the high number of people whom speak only Spanish. This is clearly a problem in employment, education, legal and health care settings making blending more difficult for Africans, Haitian and Latin immigrants than for European immigrants. English as Second language classes required often burden cash-strapped school districts seeking to make cuts rather than incur additional expenses. What has being dubbed the Spanglish dialect is really a true dialect in many places. Still despite many Americans resistance to immigration of Mexicans, many Americans go south to get a good deal on a vacation in Mexico at upscale resorts yet barely understanding the culture or the people.

Mexicans and Latin Americans in general come north of the border into Canada and the U.S. to make money and improve their standard of living. This has created these parallel worlds of two competing interest. One for economic bargains and relative deals of cheap fun in the sun, and the one of needing to make dollars and improve ones quality of life, and find decent housing while Both are legitimate needs and can be met, but only at the expense of acting as if somehow there has to b control on one side of the border. Americans are free to enter Mexico, but Mexicans are not so free to do like wise. The irony being one class of people is poor and the other is relatively well off, if not rich. Herein lies the problem; money allows for some Mexicans to come and go, but they often go to Europe instead of America, because they don’t want to be humiliated by coming to the U.S. and being seen as just another poor Spanish speaking immigrant

The U.S. has 5,000 miles of border and share a 2,000 mile border with Mexico (hundreds of international air and seaports). The U.S. government estimates about 400,000 illegal immigrants enter the U.S. annual while unofficial estimates go as high as about 4 million per year. The U.S. government estimates about 4 million illegal aliens reside in the U.S. and unofficial estimates claim as many as 12 million or higher. As a free society the U.S. is not prepared to undertake the massive roundups and summary deportation of illegal residents. The 5th and 14th amendments require that every person (not just citizens) be afforded due process of law however; the INS may turn back people at the border or even hold them in detention camps raising questions about whether or not America really is that free country standing as a shining beacon on the hill for the poor and the oppressed.

David Jones, an international conflict specialist is also co-founder of Siloam International, a Portland Oregon-based organization that provides culturally based programs for international projects in Europe, India, Africa, Latin America and North America.

By Djami Diallo The Afro News Book Review

Mende Nazer Slave Book Review

My interest was piqued after having read Mende Nazer’s account of her life as a slave in the Sudan. Properly titled Slave: The True Story of a Girl’s Lost Childhood and her Fight for Survival, the book makes for an atypical summer read. Sure, it follows the same formula as many accounts of slavery do, putting the reader through the wringer on a journey from freedom to captivity, through a battle to ultimate salvation. However, not only is the book nothing of the traditional romantic and breezy summer picks; but Nazer delivers something surprisingly different from the linear account of slavery. As the Observer put it so well, “all the clichés of such survival stories are inadequate to describe the impact of Nazer’s eventual deliverance.” To me, this story is unique because in remembering the Nuba Mountains Nazer breaks many of the stereotypes we might come to expect of Africa and Africans. In fact, readers will find themselves in the colorful world of the author’s childhood and possibly be quite thrown by the normalcy of it all: Nazer remembers doting and supportive parents whose life centers around her, the last of five children. Surrounded by the Nuba Mountains, she is free to explore her boundless imagination and encouraged to speak her mind. What results in the young Nazer is a boldness that characterizes even her dreams of postponing marriage for a medical career. In this sense the heroine defies every stereotype we might expect from African girls and women. What’s more is that Nazer’s men are strong, funny, articulate and fully capable of providing for their families. As the central male figure, Nazer’s father commands a respect that we would attribute to any head of household and his bravery is almost too big to behold. For centuries in the tradition of European slavery, we have been told that Black men could never embody this, but Nazer’s male figure struck me as possessing everything that colonialism and slavery systemically denied the Black man.

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