Friday, July 29, 2011

Chapter 20: Solidarity and this idea of sisterhood~



CHAPTER TWENTY



I was thinking about the people in my life who are the closest to me. Who are the people in my inner circle? Who are my confidantes? Who are the people I can count on when I am in a jam? Who picks me up when I am down? Who do I trust with my life story? Who do I trust with my life? Who do I trust with you? I was at a friend’s house—a woman who is definitely in my front row. I was resting on her bed and something made me get up to read quotes and affirmations on her board in her home office. I came across this beautiful quote:

“Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to: Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?” Author Unknown


Who is in your inner circle? What are the circles you run with? How do you decide who sits in our inner circle? I have several circles… there are my NYC girls who have been here for me through it all, the “purging party” at my house where we threw out 35 bags of trash and donated 15 bags. These are the friend’s who bring me nourishment and love while I work, wipe my tears when I am in pain and are my constant sources of strength. My cousins who are like my sisters their faith in me is beyond words. Then there is the constant presence of my your abuela, abuelo, Tia Josie, Tia Fabiana, and Tio Fabio who are my biggest supporters… they are the people who know me the best… who would die for me. There are people who love me sight unseen. They love me flaws and all. There are countless aunts and uncles who I love dearly. The NYCLWG are my sacred writing sisters. Then there is the circle of you and my relationship with Luz. You two are the closest to female soul mates I have ever had.

The people in my TRUE circle want nothing from me but what I am willing to share. They take me as I am. How do we pick who’s allowed in our inner circle? I think for me there is one constant. The deciding factor is… do you come in LOVE? I am less concerned with having an EXCLUSIVE inner circle with only the SELECT few who make the cut automatically because we share a bloodline. I have met people recently that I love deeply. While I do have a small circle of people I go to FIRST. I am more inclined these days to have a circle of LOVE. Luz taught me how to have a true friendship with a woman. In NYC I was searching for sisterhood and solidarity. Solidarity is a union or fellowship built from common responsibilities and interests shared between groups of people. Sisterhood is an association of women for a common cause. I was looking for unity within my community of women. I wanted a sense of oneness in my connections.

"A friend is a person who dislikes the same people you do." --anonymous


Who is in your inner circle? Who do you trust with your deepest/darkest secrets? Who has seen you at your worst and at your best? Who is your confidant? When I met my spiritual soul mate I was in college in the early 90's. Luz’s version of our story is that some woman called the psychology department where she worked to get information and was extremely rude, pushy and arrogant. That woman calling her was me. When we met I was insecure. Luz was vibrant, confidant and incredibly interesting. She quickly became my smoking buddy and best friend. We hit it off immediately. She was exactly the person sent to me to walk with on this journey of self discovery. We spent hours talking about life, love, men, sex, spirituality, art and MUSIC… the first time I really heard Ella Fitzgerald was with her.

We talked about what my issue was when I called the school that day and why I was so rude to her. So many years later I wondered myself about that and tried to answer that question. What was it about where I was in my life that had me so angry? What was I afraid she was going to take from me? Why didn't I trust her intention? Why didn't I trust her truth immediately? What scared me about her strength? Was I envious or jealous of her and this thing she possessed and walked with that words can't describe?

While I was taking self inventory… the immediate answer was that I wanted some of what she possessed. She taught me that there is always a reason people come into your life and these reason may not be revealed immediately, but that there was always a reason and a lesson to be learned from everyone. There were even lessons from people we may not like. During the time when we met I was in a place in my life where I was searching for an outlet. I needed something different. I wasn't happy. I needed a place to retreat to and my relationship with this woman was very sacred and special to me. I would always protect our friendship with everything that I am.

We used to say that if we were lesbians we would be married. We joked like that all the time. But the reality is that we do have a union. We have a bond that is unbreakable. We have an unshakable connection that no man or woman could ever sever and people have tried. People come into our lives for a reason… some will show up who do not have the best intentions. Some will show up with ulterior motives. There are people who never show us who they are. Then there are those who enter our lives just to share love, life and wisdom expecting nothing in return. These people who have so much love, that it just overflows. And if you have never experienced this kind of love you don’t know how to receive it. If you’ve never loved yourself this deeply it makes sense that you would definitely not trust it. If you have never known unconditional love then you wouldn’t know how to recognize it when it shows up. There are people who exist who will NEVER judge you and love you no matter what you do. These people are gifts to the world. These are the people who come into our lives JUST for the sole purpose of leaving gifts expecting nothing in return. My spiritual soul mate is one of these people.

~

Please help spread the word. To help publish my memoir please visit: FINDING YOUR FORCE on kickstarter

Thank you for your support.

Peace, light and LOVE~
Alicia

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Africa Lives in Latin America / Africa Vive en America

ENGLISH / INGLES

Hey everyone,

Just a quick note to let you know what we’ve been up to. For the past two months we have been finalizing scripts and editing. After reviewing rough cuts we noticed that there is important footage missing such as reenactments of the African Diaspora in Latin America and additional original music.

This is where you come in…

Check out our INDIEGOGO page for information on how you can help:




(LINK) Africa Lives in Latin America

Hope you can be a part of this great project.

Thank you,

Renzo and Alicia

For information email us at: info@creadorpictures.tv

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPANOL / SPANISH


Saludos,

Ahorra para lo mas reciente, queríamos hacerle saber lo que hemos estado haciendo. En los últimos dos meses estamos terminando guiones y editando.

Después de revisar los recortes nos dimos cuenta de que hace falta materiales importantes como representaciones de la diáspora africana en América Latina y música original adicional.

Aquí es donde nos puede ayudar…

Echa un vistazo a nuestra página INDIEGOGO para obtener información sobre cómo nos puede ayudar.

(LINK) Africa Vive en América Latina

Esperamos que participen en este gran proyecto.

Gracias,

Renzo y Alicia

“La unión hace la fuerza”

Para más información, contáctenos en: info@creadorpictures.tv

Monday, July 18, 2011

SEEKING SUMMER INTERNS


The producers of the documentary Afro-Latinos “The Untaught Story” are seeking summer interns to assist with post production / social media.

We are looking for students or aspiring writers / filmakers interested in becoming apart of the Afrolatino team this role is for people who would like a career in film.

Positions are opened to high school, undergraduate and graduate students seeking writing, editing or audio visual experience. If you’re interested in working towards social justice, learning about Latin American communities and discovering what the social issues are that affect the afrodescendent communities throughout Latin America please apply.

This is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a project that aims to bring change to over 150 million afro latinos who are without voice.


SYNOPSIS

Afrolatinos “The Untaught Story” is a documentary television series independently produced by Creador Pictures, LLC. This is the story of the estimated 150 million invisible afrodescendants currently living in Latin America. Afrolatinos is a seven part series in English and Spanish, that shows the rich culture and shares the contributions of the enslaved Africans who arrived to the Caribbean, Central and South America.


The program aims to better understand religious connections and distinctions between the Catholic Church as well as the Yoruba and Voodoo traditions. We learn about the influence of Africa through dance and music. The drum is a very significant instrument used in Latin music but how many people know its history? We also have a segment on Afro-Latino gastronomy, which will show the many dishes with African influence seen in every day life. Identity and racial discrimination are just a few of the many social issues affecting Afrolatinos. We interview people from the U.S to Argentina about issues such as self-hate this idea of good hair, bad hair), interracial marriages, oppression and exploitation.


This documentary takes you on a journey to meet Afrolatinos throughout Spanish speaking nations, and we include Haiti and Brazil. Our mission is to teach the uninformed and initiate social change throughout Latin America.


AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story~


*These internships are non-paid (academic credit is available as well as credit for working on the film). All applicants must commit to 2-3 days per week working between 15-20 hours per week.

We are looking for people excited about being a part of a MOVEMENT… bring your energy, positive outlook and a willingness to learn. Please apply by sending a letter of interest and resume to afrolatinosintern@hotmail.com.

Openings:

· Administrative Intern

· Writing Intern (Spanish a plus – but not required)

· Editing Intern (Spanish a plus – but not required)

· Production Assistant Intern

*On the job training will be provided.

We strongly encourage people of color, of diverse gender identities and women to apply.

For more information or questions please send all inquiries to

Alicia Anabel Santos at: info@creadorpictures.tv

To join the Afro-Latinos documentary mailing list email us at: info@creadorpictures.tv in the subject line write ADD TO EMAIL LIST.


WWW.AFROLATINOS.TV


Friday, July 15, 2011

Meet Afrolatina Writer / Conosca Una Escritora Afrolatina




Check out a story featured in AFROCUBANAS~

Meet Afrolatina Writer, Alicia Anabel Santos a woman dedicated to ensuring that the history of Afro-descendants in Latin America is included in textbooks and taught in schools. In the article Two Cultures Marching to One Drum Alicia writes about the African influence in Hispanic culture.

READ STORY HERE~

~ Espanol ~

Conosca una Afrolatina, escritora, Alicia Anabel Santos una mujer dedicada a que la historia de los Afrodescendientes en Latino America sea incluida en los libros y enseñado en las escuelas. En el articulo Dos Culturas Marchando A Un Tambor Two Cultures Marching to One Drum, Alicia escribe sobre la influencia Africana en la cultura hispana.

PARA LEER MAS~

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Eso lo que ay!!! Choquibtown and Rita Indiana in NYC today~




Eso lo que ay!!!

What these two videos have in common and the inspiration behind the music they share with the world is that they sing about where they come from, about returning home and never forgetting who they are.

I am so incredibly proud of their work. I wish I could be in New York City to be a part of this historic moment for these two groups.

Please go out and support their music. This is a concert you do not want to miss. It’s FREE

ESPANOL

Lo que estos dos videos tienen en común y la inspiración detrás de la música que comparten con el mundo es que cantan sobre dónde vienen, de volver a su pais y nunca olvidar quienes son.

Estoy increíblemente orgulloso de su trabajo. Cuanto me gustaría poder estar en Nueva York para ser parte de este momento histórico para estos dos grupos.

Por favor, vaya y apoye a su música. Este es un concierto no se lo quieren perder. Y es GRATIS~


CHOQUIBTOWN

De donde vengo yo~







RITA INDIANA

Llego la hora de volver~



When/cuando: Saturday/Sabado July 9, 2011 at 3:00PM
Where/donde: Central Park/Mainstage

http://www.summerstage.org/

Peace, light and LOVE~
Always Alicia

Friday, July 8, 2011

Omaris Feeding the Future

This video was created by us to help a woman in the Afro Colombian community. Omaris Andrade Palacios supports many displaced persons in Bogota, Colombia.





To donate to this cause please click the following link:


Omaris Feeding the Future / Alimentando el Futuro










Visit us at: WWW.AFROLATINOS.TV


For more information email us at:

info@creadorpictures.tv
Omaris25@live.com
Omaris Andrade Palacios (Colombia: 011 57 320 256 2210)

"La union hace la fuerza"

Omaris Alimentando el Futuro

Este video es para ayudar a una mujer líder Afro Colombiana. Omaris Andrade Palacios ayuda a gente desplazada en la cuidad de Bogotá, Colombia.




Para ser tu donacion has click en este link:

Omaris Feeding the Future / Alimentando el Futuro








Visitenos a: WWW.AFROLATINOS.TV

Para mas informacion:

info@creadorpictures.tv
Omaris25@live.com
Omaris Andrade Palacios (Colombia: 011 57 320 256 2210)

"La union hace la fuerza"