WEANED ON WORDS with my Granny’s
storytelling, when I started my formal education at age four and learned words
could be written as well as spoken, I came to know what I was born to do: write.
All core artistic people create because they must. Those fortunate enough to begin to earn a living from their creating enter a certain state of liberty. When your art is able to earn you an income, it moves from being your life’s calling and becomes your life’s work.
I had achieved that in a career spanning over twenty years in press and TV. Until I was targeted and utterly undone.
I used to say “blacklisted.” I will
not reinforce the negatives often attached to the word and the colour black. So
I’ll borrow a thoroughly perfect term from present Media pop culture: Burn Notice. I was burned.
They are ignorant of the new world order that has come into being via modern technology. The whole world is opening eyes, ears and heart to all sorts of otherness, making connectivity possible in ways that simply could not have happened before.
So people like me have no excuse to
“go gently into that good night.” No. People like me must use all good means and
craft to fight for what is right.
I earned my right to be a part of the
Media in my nation, but instead was almost destroyed by factions in it. Yet, I
do not need it or them to do the work I was created to do.
Even alone I can wield my talents,
skills, training and hard-won experience, and create something of worth that brings
meaning to more than just myself. I can stand and invite others to stand … even
if they are alone, too.
I see my world. I have something significant to say about it and to give to it. I will be open. I will be naked. I will not let myself be silenced any longer.
All core artistic people create because they must. Those fortunate enough to begin to earn a living from their creating enter a certain state of liberty. When your art is able to earn you an income, it moves from being your life’s calling and becomes your life’s work.
I had achieved that in a career spanning over twenty years in press and TV. Until I was targeted and utterly undone.
Charred and blue
Like they burned witches. For the same reasons, really. Because I was different, strong, real. Because I would not be their puppet, tool, slave. Because they were evil. Okay, I'll soften the word to ignorant.
They are ignorant of the new world order that has come into being via modern technology. The whole world is opening eyes, ears and heart to all sorts of otherness, making connectivity possible in ways that simply could not have happened before.
For Self and country
Even alone, I can apply the same
dedication to my duties. I can continue to break ground. I can foster the
understanding of what modern media must mean to a nation claiming “developing
status,” thereby helping my fellow citizens navigate the international Media, to
confidently craft a place in this world for Self and country.
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| What do you look with when you look at life? |
This blog is a preview, really, of the corazine (heart magazine) I fully intend to bring to life in my nation.
Adinkra is an African language, and the word hyewonhye means unburnable -- like the soul, the spirit, that which can never be utterly put out. Ai is one Japanese word for love. I mated the words into my watchword "hyewonhai," which translates into unburnable love. That's what I want to become.
I see my world. I have something significant to say about it and to give to it. I will be open. I will be naked. I will not let myself be silenced any longer.
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