Sunday, January 26, 2014

An Evening With Danny Glover: Part 1


A little bummed that I didn’t get tickets to An Evening with Danny Glover at Vanderbilt on MLK Day, I got a text from a friend saying she had extra tickets. (Yay for me!) It was such an eventful night that about halfway through the interview, I wondered if I should be taking notes.  So I scribbled down a few things on the front of my program that I’ve turned into (hopefully) a three part blog series. 

The first thing that struck me enough to write down was Danny Glover saying that 90% of Brazilians are in poverty and one-half of the country is afro-descendents.  That number was so striking; I wondered how they are able to have a sustainable economy.  Everything I’d learned about Brazil so far was that they are an immerging developing nation that has made a significant enough splash in the oil industry to be noticed as an oil producing country.  Yet in Brazil, a high proportion of people of color—including both Blacks and those of mixed race—live in the mostly poor rural northern part of the country where families tend to have large numbers of children.

From previous research of the country before my 2011 visit, I’d learned that the entire education system of Brazil is mediocre at best.  Even the highest ranked private schools only test at median levels in comparison with other countries.  Because it is legally difficult to be fired in Brazil, schools are often ill-equipped with nonchalant teachers and students tend to drop out before fully completing their secondary education.  Black children, however, tend to drop out earlier than others and are more likely to work in lower paying occupations.

This explains the high levels of poverty in the country because, a large portion of their citizens are subject to these conditions.  It makes me wonder how the country of Brazil plans to fervently combat racism and discrimination.  Because Mr. Glover spoke of Dr. King’s influence on Latin America in general, I found it fascinating that in 2010 both Bolivia and Honduras passed anti-racism laws to aid in the struggle against discrimination and other ethnic intolerances. 

Another fascinating piece of information I picked up from the conversation at Vanderbilt that night was the Afro Cubans participation in the abolishment of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela at the helm of Fidel Castro.  Castro sent 300,000 Cuban soldiers and 50,000 civilians and doctors to fight in Africa’s liberation wars, bringing independence not only to Angola and Namibia but also accelerating the end of apartheid in South Africa.  This amazing feat was done without the assistance of the US and some believe that we actually supplied possible nuclear assistance to the resistance in South Africa. 

Dr.  King along with other American civil rights leaders helped Ghana celebrate their independence in 1957.  While there, Dr. King was quoted in a radio announcement as saying, “This event, the birth of this new nation, will give impetus to oppressed peoples all over the world. I think it will have worldwide implications and repercussions--not only for Asia and Africa, but also for America….It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice. And it seems to me that this is fit testimony to the fact that eventually the forces of justice triumph in the universe, and somehow the universe itself is on the side of freedom and justice. So that this gives new hope to me in the struggle for freedom.”  From this, I understand that global freedom is relative and in keeping with the theme of the evening, I implore you to “Do Justice.”

Monday, January 20, 2014

I'm From China...


Here’s the pilot episode of an ABC program, Trophy Wife.  About halfway through Warren, the Chinese adopted son of the show’s stars says the title line of the episode (and this blog entry.)  I’m not going to bore you with the history of this immersing country.  I’d like to share some thoughts I had as I was coughing, wheezing, and sneezing in the wee hours of the morning watching TV.  (PBS/NPT is the best!)  I caught a couple of shows one night that not only discussed the weather but also—of course—the modern culture of the Asian country.


China’s current culture, from fashion to architecture to TV shows to products and behaviors, is a fascinating force.  Though many believe China’s economy is on a bubble, it hasn’t burst yet.  The BBC recently reported that the economy is stabilizing and from the looks of it, the whole world has a stake.  My sister and father took a trip to South Africa and Namibia a few months back and noted while souvenir shopping that they could barely find products that weren’t made in China.  They actually had to drive one lady who was selling trinkets back to her house to get some baskets she had that were actually made in South Africa.  I don’t know if she was saving them for herself or not when she sold them to my dad.  They’re wonderful and I’ve been eyeing one.  They came in a set of three and my sister has one at her house.
South African baskets my dad bought

One of my high school classmates is currently teaching English in China and it’s an adventure, for me, just to read her Facebook posts.  She talks of how the students are so inquisitive and I remember this same inquisitiveness in the Chinese classmates I had in grad school.  As part of graduation requirements at the Massey School at Belmont University, we had to take a study abroad trip.  The students who went to China reported back colorful stories on everything from the food to the garbage to the long flight and having to take a whole day of sleep to recover.  I would recommend anyone planning to visit the country do research on everything from the political system to the education system to sports and history.  While there you should make observations, reflect on the preconceived notions you had before the trip and recognize how your ideals changed with your first hand experience.  I guarantee it’ll change your perspective on how you view foreign countries in general as they compare to our own.
 
We indeed live in the best country in the world.  I know this from my own experience in foreign countries.  Refraining from being too political, I plan to do what I can and to encourage others to make the United States better and brighter for generations to come.  Hint:  It starts by voting…


Sunday, January 19, 2014

Goodwill Finds


Oh, did I tell you I found a Kate Spade bag at Goodwill?  It was in a case at the register.  As I was checking out, the design on the exterior caught my eye.  I asked to see it and noticing the brand said, “Oh, it’s Kate Spade!”  The person ringing me up looked up and said, “Well maybe…”  As I was examining the interior and the detail, I thought, This is either a genuine Kate Spade or an impeccable fake.  It had great craftsmanship.  I bought it along with this great skirt from the same location.

 
I was actually looking for an out of season white dress when I came across the little darling of a skirt.  When I didn’t find any dresses to suit, I started meandering through the skirts.  This 1940s era tweed find was literally peeping out at me from among the tan skirt section.  Because skirts and dresses of that era were closely cinched at the waist, I believe someone tried it on, discovered they couldn’t fit it, and just tossed it back on the rack out of frustration.  Fortunately for me, no one had the idea to have the waist let out.  Well… I bought the skirt without trying it on first because the inside of the belt said it was a 14 so I just knew it would fit me. (I’m smaller than that.)  When I got home, it was too small.

 
The buy was a wonderful accident.  A friend of my mom is a great seamstress and used to make the majorette uniforms for my high school band.  I trusted the task of letting out the waist and covering up stains along the bottom edge and down the sides of the skirt to her.  Valerie, the owner of DestinĂ© Fashion and Alterations in Nashville, assisted with my vision for the skirt and turned it into the photo on the left.  The first time I brought her the skirt, she remarked that the label was from a store her grandmother shopped in Downtown Nashville when she was a little girl.  This skirt is older than me! The extender fabric came from a ½ yard of suede cloth.  The black stripes down the sides are wool from Textile Fabrics on Franklin Rd.  I had a wonderful time shopping there but they are not cheap.  They have everything you could ever imagine for sewing and I am determined to go back after Valerie teaches me.  She offers sewing classes.

 
The lace at the bottom and a pin I bought to cover the stain on the pocket came from JoAnn’s where a nice lady in line directed me to their mobile coupon site.  The new belt came from Banana Republic Factory Store at 60% off during the Christmas holiday.  I picked up the off-white turtleneck at the same store at 50% off and bought some black and gold bangles from there as well.  (Discount!)  The necklace I’m wearing in the photo was a late-in-the-day Black Friday deal at NY&CO and the shoes are from my closet which were bought several years ago.  I decided to pair my thrift store find with a splurge from Cole Haan Outlet that was actually 60% off.

 
I originally paid four dollars and change for that skirt which wasn’t taxed by the Goodwill.  The fabric and alterations were considerably more than four dollars but my skirt is now couture.  By the way, my right hip is bigger than my left hip which is apparently normal for most people.  My new skirt was done in two fittings and looks pretty good for my first crack at vintage shopping, if I do say so myself.  I learned that vintage shopping is an all day process and can be very daunting.  I recommend getting stores’ schedules for discount and specials days.  Valerie told me of a dress she reconfigured for a coronation that only cost the campus org queen $0.99.  Also, take your time.  I was so eager beaver that I spent more than I should have on some of the fabric.  I bought a whole yard of the wool when I could have cut costs by only getting a half.  I could have also caught better sales if I’d just waited for some of my desired items to be marked down.  All in all, I’ve been bitten by the bug.  I am now officially a vintage shopper and will spend some of my weekends looking for great deals and thinking of alterations.  And I think I’ll try to find a fascinator to go with this look…