Black History Month, February 2010
Schedule of Events
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2010 ON MAUI
Black History Month will be celebrated throughout February 2010 with a series of events presented by two nonprofit organizations, African Americans on Maui Association and Arts Education for Children Group. Events will include free presentations, a fashion show, musical performances, the release of a newly published book, an awards ceremony, and an historical exhibit.
The fifth annual Black History Month exhibit will be on display at Wailuku Public Library throughout the month of February. The exhibit
features African Americans and includes African artifacts, jewelry, and
masks. Also on display will be the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exhibit,
a ten-foot long span of photographs of the slain civil rights leader.
The schedule of events will begin on Saturday, February 6, at noon
with a video presentation and talk session about Black Indians by Earl
Sundance Shepperd at Borders Books & Music in Kahului. On Sunday,
February 7, a fashion show featuring African garb provided by Lucien
Kouassi will be presented by Nubian Pageant Systems with George and
Terry Rainey of Honolulu. The fashion show will take place from noon to
2pm also at Borders.
Black History Month events will continue on Saturday, February 13 from
1-2pm at Barnes & Noble in Lahaina with music and presentations by
Sodengi, Ayin Adams, and Drums of Passion. An informational session
about Black scientists and inventors conducted by Yoellah Yuhudah will
take place on Sunday, February 14 at Borders Books & Music in the Maui
Marketplace beginning at noon.
A new book, "African Americans in Hawai‘i: A Search for Identity,”
compiled and edited by Ayin M. Adams, Ph.D. will be released at Maui
Arts & Cultural Center from 4:30-7pm on Saturday, February 20. Adams is
a performance artist, inspirational teacher and spiritual healer and
has been published in numerous magazines, e-zines, and on-line
publications. Author of more than five volumes of poetry books,
including the acclaimed, “The Woods Deep Inside Me,” Adams was chosen
as ‘Teacher of the Year 2008’ by the International Peace Poem Awards
Committee. She is the winner of the Pat Parker Poetry Award, the Audre
Lorde Memorial Prose Prize Winner, Award Winner for Literary Excellence
2001, and the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Award.
The essays and interviews in Adams newly published book document the
difficulties and challenges as well as the contributions and successes
of African Americans in Hawai‘i. “The reader of this book will be left
with fresh images and respect for Blacks in Hawai‘i after learning of
their 19th century migrations, leadership roles and contributions to
the whaling industry, medicine, business, education, science, civil
service, the arts, social work, the military, and politics,” says
author Adams. As part of the evening, a ceremony honoring members of Hawaii’s African American community will follow the book launch
John “Stan” Rippy is being presented with the Community Achievement Service Award and Dr. Kathryn Waddell Takara with the Lifetime Achievement Award. John “Stan” Rippy, is the former owner of Molina’s Bar & Rooms in Wailuku and current owner of Rippy’s Construction Company. He has been making improvements in Wailuku Town for more than twenty years and shares his positive attitude regarding personal growth everyday.
Kathryn Waddell Takara, Ph.D. taught at the University of Hawai'i`i at Manoa for more than 31 years in the Ethnic Studies Department where she created and developed courses in African American politics, history and culture.. Dr. Takara’s many titles and accomplishments include those of scholar, poet, writer, researcher, social and community service activist, adviser, coordinator, mentor, mother, wife, and daughter of one of the oldest living Buffalo Soldiers, Dr. William Waddell (1908 - 2007.
Also scheduled to speak at the book release event are former Maui County officials Alan Arakawa and Lynn Araki-Regan. Kahu Alalani Hill will assist with the blessings.
Focus on: Ayin M. Adams, Ph.D.
Ayin Adams is a performance artist, inspirational teacher and spiritual healer. Author of more than five volumes of poetry books, including the acclaimed, “The Woods Deep Inside Me,” written inside Iao Valley State Park, as well as publishing and editing three volumes of poetry books by her young middle school students whom she passionately inspired to hit that enchanted road of poetry; Climbing a Rainbow of Dreams, Butterfly Blossoms, From Dawn To Dusk, and forthcoming in 2010 Graffiti Dreams.
Adams was chosen as ‘Teacher of the Year 2008’ by the International Peace Poem Awards Committee, presented by Mayor Charmaine Tavares, In 2000, she was nominated Poet of The Year. Adams is the winner of the Pat Parker Poetry Award, the Audre Lorde Memorial Prose Prize Winner, Award Winner for Literary Excellence 2001, and the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Award. In 2004 she was nominated in the top ten for the BET/HIV screenplay she wrote & directed, “A Blanket of Hope.” Ayin wrote, produced, and directed the first African American staged play, “A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” playing at the Historic Iao Theatre in Wailuku. She has been published in Bum Rush The Page, A Defjam Poetry Publication, Adams has been published in numerous magazines, e-zines, on-line publications, and by Women In TheMoon Publication, Illiad Press, and Quiet Mountain Essays. Her work has also been translated in French, Dutch, and German. Adams holds a PhD. in Human Services and in Metaphysics, from the University of Metaphysics. Ayin's writing is tender, dynamic, stimulating and thought provoking. Ayin believes writing emotionally weave the bonds of sisterhood/brotherhood in a world that would kill her if she did not fight with her words, dreams, and her position. Ayin believes that everyone has the wherewithal to surpass oneself by suiting up, showing up and following through. She makes her home on Maui where she writes daily and enjoys nature.
I live beyond that which the world tells me is probable and most likely to happen. With a positive attitude of gratitude, nothing can get in the way of my forward movement. My life is one of growth, expansion, and creative possibilities". ~ Ayin Adams from We Cannot Live A Lie.
Focus on: John Stan Rippy
John Stan Rippy, former owner of Molina’s Bar & Rooms on Market Street, contractor of Rippy’s Construction Company. Rippy has lived on Maui with his wife Lorraine Nole Rippy since 1977, having moved from Honolulu. Rippy has been making improvements in Wailuku Town for more than twenty years. Rippy shares his positive attitude with people regarding personal growth everyday. Rippy will be honored for his commitment to service in the community.
Focus on: Kathryn Waddell Takara, Ph.D.
Kathryn Waddell Takara, Ph.D., born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, has taught at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa for more than 31 years, in the Ethnic Studies Department. She has developed courses in African American politics, history and culture.
In 1971 she created the first “Black Studies” courses in Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawai`i, and has been the only African -American lecturer and Asst. Professor of Ethnic Studies teaching “Black Studies” in the University of Hawaii academic setting. She earned a BA. in French from Tufts University (Jackson College), 1965, a M.A. in French from the University of California, Berkeley, 1969 and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, 1993, and has been a Fulbright Scholar twice.
Dr. Takara’s many titles and accomplishments include those of scholar, poet, writer, researcher, social and community service activist, adviser, coordinator, mentor, mother, wife, and proud daughter of one of the oldest living Buffalo Soldiers, Dr. William Waddell, recently deceased 2007.
She was the recipient of the Board of Regents Outstanding Teacher Award during the 1995-1996 school year. Dr. Takara’s love for diverse cultures and languages and search for common ground found her traveling and teaching in China three times, once as a visiting professor at the University of Quindao, teaching American Cultural Studies and Conversational English, and a lecturer at Beijing University of Technology and the National Women’s Federation in Beijing.
Dr. Takara has published 2 books, New and Collected Poems published by Ishmael Reed Publishing and Oral Histories of African-Americans, over 150 poems, several articles in refereed journals, chapters in books, a monograph, several encyclopedia entries, articles on the Internet, and book reviews. She has been featured and interviewed in Hawaii newspaper articles, and often appears on local video and TV productions. Dr. Takara has invited, introduced and/or interviewed such prestigious African-American scholars such as Frank Marshall Davis, Dr. Barbara Christian, Ishmael Reed, Maya Angelou, Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Opal Palmer Adisa, Audre Lorde as well as many others.
Dr. Takara has also interviewed and researched the experiences of many African-Americans living in Hawaii lending a unique and intelligent perspective and voice to their heretofore undocumented presence. Dr. Takara is without a doubt a prominent sojourner and a dedicated and leading pioneer in the small but vital African-American community in the Hawaiian Islands.
Dr. Takara has read her poetry in Honolulu, University of Texas at Austin, the Harlem Book Fair, Arkansas University, Tuskegee University, Beijing and Qingdao, China, Black Oak Books in Berkeley. She has been interviewed and read her poetry on many radio shows including KPFA in Berkeley. She has done several book tours in the past
five years including: 1) the Bay Area where she read at Barnes & Noble Books and Cody’s Berkeley and the Pro Arts Gallery in Oakland, 2) City Lights Books with Ishmael Reed in San Francisco, 3) Tuskegee University, 4) the Texas Book Fair in Austin with Martin Espada and Lorenzo Thomas and 5) Tribes and the Bowery Poetry Club in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Reviewers have said, “When Kathryn Waddell Takara reads her poems, it’s like a soft, steady rain – a quiet affirmation of the meaning of things” says Anne Keala Kelly in Honolulu in Honolulu Weekly adding “Kathryn’s poetry will take the audience to places of celebration and pain while maintaining a soul that is based in love.”
And, says poet Jesse Lipman in the Honolulu Advertiser “place is important to the woman, a performance poet whose words will reverberate at The Arts at Mark’s Garage,” and Ishmael Reed says “It’s hard to find a poet like Kathryn, …she mixes things up. There are a lot of things particular to Hawaii in her work – she moves in and out of cultures” in an interview in the Honolulu Weekly.
Her writing reflects her travels in Africa, China, Europe and her Alabama childhood growing up black in the Jim Crow South. In a 5-star customer review on amazon.com writer Bill Danks says “Some jewels are obvious. They sparkle and shine and call all kinds of attention to themselves. Diamonds are a good example. Other jewels are more humble and quiet and perhaps a bit shy, but they can possess a deeper darker beauty of even greater value. Emeralds are of this type.
Poet Kathryn Waddell Takara is an emerald. …in addition to being a World Poet, she is also most decidedly a `world class poet’ with an amazingly sensual gift of language honed and crafted to perfection over a lifetime of writing.”
Black History Month events will continue on Sunday, February 21, at Borders Books & Music in the Maui Marketplace. Adams will read from her new book and sign copies for purchasers. Also on that day, Gloria Purter of the African Heritage Culture Center of Kauai will be one of the speakers.
The public is invited to attend a free dinner dance on Friday, February 26 from 5-9pm at the Kahului Community Center. Organizers are asking attendees to bring a sample of their own cultural ethnic dish or drink. For more information, email yo77art@yahoo.com.
The month-long celebration will end at Borders Books & Music in Kahului on Sunday, February 28 with a poetry reading by Ayin Adams and African drumming and dancing by Drums of Passion starting at noon.
Schedule of Events
February 2-28
Black History Month Exhibit featuring artifacts, arts, and photo display
Free: 9am-5pm Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri; 1-8pm Thurs;
Closed: Sat & Sun; Furlough Days Feb 3 & 10; and President’s Day Feb. 15
Wailuku Public Library
251 High Street, Wailuku
Saturday, February 6
Black Indians: Video Presentation and Talk Session
Free; noon -1:30pm
Borders Books & Music, Maui Marketplace
270 Dairy Road, Kahului
Sunday, February 7
African Fashion Show
Free: Noon-2pm
Borders Books & Music, Maui Marketplace
270 Dairy Road, Kahului
Saturday, February 13
Presentations by Sodengi, Ayin Adams, and Drums of Passion
Free; 1-2pm
Barnes & Noble, Lahaina Gateway
325 Keawe Street, Lahaina
Sunday, February 14
Black Scientists and Inventors with Yoellah Yuhudah
Free: noon - 1:30pm
Borders Books & Music, Maui Marketplace
270 Dairy Road, Kahului
Saturday, February 20
Release of new book “African Americans in Hawaii: A Search for
Identity” with author Ayin Adams and presentation of community service
awards
Free; 4:30-7pm
Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Haynes Room
One Cameron Way, Kahului
Sunday, February 21
Book signing with author Ayin Adams and cultural speakers
Free; noon - 2pm
Borders Books & Music, Maui Marketplace
270 Dairy Road, Kahului
Friday, February 26
Dinner Dance
Bring your favorite ethnic dish.
Free; 5-9pm
Kahului Community Center
contact: yo77art@yahoo.com
Sunday, February 28
Poetry reading and African drumming and dancing
Free; noon to 1:30pm
Borders Books & Music, Maui Marketplace
270 Dairy Road, Kahului
|
