Insights Into Cultural Understanding

As one of the pre-eminent gospel choirs in the world, the Harlem Gospel Choir has performed for Nelson Mandela, the Pope, Paul McCarthy, U2, and Diana Ross …just to name a few! Sharing their message of love, peace, and harmony with thousands of people, the cultural ambassadors create a better understanding of the African-American culture and the inspirational music called Gospel as it relates to the Black Church. The Choir includes the finest singers and musicians from Harlem’s Black churches who perform songs of inspiration that touch the depths of the soul and raise to angelic heights.

To see a video of one of their many sold out concerts click here. To attend their concert in Phoenix call 623-935-6384 for tickets (VIP price includes admission and artist’s reception) or go online to www.westvalleyarts.org

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America’s first conference focusing on minority business opportunities in the sustainability arena was time well spent. This day-long event was designed to bridge the gap between decision makers and the minority business community. Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore, did not attend but nevertheless it was an inspirational and educational day-long immersion into the value of being green. Building environmentally friendly homes, running business that cut down pollution, learning who is leading the charge in Arizona, and more. A day well-spent.Then Cybel, DP/cinematographer, urban visionary sent this link which I share with you. If you want to be inspired, love New York City and urban life in general, believe that we can create win-win-win environmentally safe cities along with reducing crime, creating jobs, and parks, please click on to TED where you can get access to the world’s greatest thinkers and teachers. This was a from-the-heart message from one such luminary Majora Carter: Activist for environment justice. (She is a powerful speaker.) Learn more about Majora’s organization and spread the word.

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Myspace, Facebook and other social networking sites have altered how we react and interface with one another. They have begun to redefine and form a new understanding of what binds us together. Through these online programs, diversity may be occuring out of view and is none the less, right under our noses.

There is evidence that our normal way of reviewing and analyzing information has shifted significantly. Case in point, the current Presidential campaign, where there is a two thirds chance that the next President of the United States, will be someone, who as recently as six months ago, was seen as having “no chance”. The TV talking heads are now quick to say “we have no clue as to what going on”. Four years ago, Moveon.org was the the new thing that helped to form new societies. What will the new tool be in two or even fewer years from now?

The NYT Opinion Blog “Freakonomics” posed the question “Is Myspace Good for Society“? What seems to be certain is that with these new social networks there are both gains and losses. Eye to eye contact, deep friendships, intimacy and vulnerability are just some of what we stand to lose. (Try feeling a virtual hug.)

Seinfeld and Friends are gone forever

What may have been gained is acceptance based on other qualities. Issues like generation, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and geographic location don’t have the same relevance when communicating online. They may be important to the sender, but can be invisible to the recipient/viewer. In social networking you don’t need to have a photo, just a prescence. We are deciding that there are other things that are important in establishing a “friendship” and we are acting on these new rules. In truth, what is a friend, has changed.

Using tools like Second Life We can have an ideal individualized diverse network of friends.

The understanding of diversity is still important if we want to not only ‘get along’ but to achieve in the US and the world in general. We will still come in physical contact with one another….at least for a while.

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On Aunt Carrie’s Speak Easy blog, a light easy way to stay current on points of view on much that is happening “now”I read about Andy Palacio. Mr. Palacia was a bandleader and songwriter who spearheaded a revival of the Garifuna music of Central America. He died Saturday in his native Belize City, Belize. He was 47 years young. (See photos of Belize below.) As this Insights Into Cultural Understanding blog is dedicated to all aspects of culture, Aunt Carrie especially appealed to me with this focus on a musical genius, cultural heritage, legacy, and contribution. Read more in the NY Times obituary including this…

The Garifuna (pronounced ga-RI-foo-nah) are descendants of West African slaves who were shipwrecked in 1635 off the coast of what is now the island of St. Vincent and intermarried with local Arawak and Carib people. Garifuna villages arose on the coasts of Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Belize. There are now an estimated 250,000 Garifuna people worldwide, a minority culture under pressure from assimilation and coastal development.

“I decided to use music as a medium for cultural preservation,” Mr. Palacio said in an interview with NPR last year. “At least we’d be able to use the language in the songs and keep them alive.”

The prime minister of Belize gave Mr. Palacio the Order of Meritorious Service in September 2007, and in November, Mr. Palacio was named a Unesco Artist for Peace. “I hope that our efforts will not only preserve Garifuna culture but also re-energize a generation,” he told NPR.

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