Mother's Day Around the World

Habari,

Yesterday, Mother’s Day was celebrated in the United States and in many countries around the world.  One thing I have discovered is that people in the United States take this holiday very seriously.  This is particularly true in the African American household.  I asked my driver this week, “What are you getting your mother for Mother’s Day?” He looked at me and said, “When is it.” I looked at him like he had two heads.  I quickly explained to him that he wouldn’t last very long in an African American household.

You can forget a lot of things, but Mother’s Day is not one of them.  Many mothers have raised their children on their own for one reason or another and you better believe they expect their children and everyone else, for that matter, to acknowledge their efforts.

I made the near fatal mistake of not acknowledging Mother’s Day for my mother once when I was a teenager.  The matter was made worse when throughout the day all of my friends who came to visit quickly acknowledged her by saying, “Happy Mother’s Day Ms. Rose.” I called myself being angry with her for some reason I no longer remember.  The resulting lecture I received from my mother and every other female relative I had at the time guaranteed that I would never forget this important day again.

Here in Kenya the day went on peacefully enough, but there wasn’t the same fanfare you see in the States.  There wasn’t a rush on the card or flower store that you see in the States and you could easily get into the restaurants, which is impossible States-side.  I know we tend to overdue everything in the States (that is more clear to me now than ever), but I couldn’t help but feel that more emphasis should have been placed on Mother’s Day here in Kenya.  The sacrifices are no less great here and in many instances, much greater than in the States. 

My Mom

My admiration runs deep for mothers because of my own mom, Rosalie Godfrey.  Her herculean efforts are what made my brothers and I what we are today.  I am eternally grateful to her and in awe of her achievement of raising five god-fearing, good citizens of the world, on her own…not to mentioned the dozens of children who passed through our home over the 29 years she served as a Pennsylvania state certified daycare provider.

Mom, every day that I breathe, I realize more and more what you’ve really accomplished.  I thank you for the role you’ve played in my existence.  I love you and have the utmost respect for you.  Happy Mother’s Day Mom!  To all the other mothers in my life, I hope you enjoyed you day yesterday.  My hat is off to all of you.  You really do keep the world turning.

I will see you all here next week.

Asante Sana,

Della Rochelle

Copyright © 2013 by Della Rochelle Williams

The American Invasion That Shouldn’t Have Happened

Habari, 

This past week was very interesting.  I encountered something I thought I left back in America.  Now I’m sure many of you are already familiar with the item I’m about to discuss, but I was shocked that it has actually invaded Kenya.  How many of you are familiar with ‘Sweet Brown’ and ‘Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That?’ One of my trusted employees brought this clip to my attention. 

She said she hadn’t seen people like this when she lived in America.  Now we all know we have seen people like Sweet Brown.  Hell, some of us have folks like this in our neighborhoods and even in our families.  Everybody has a ‘Ms. Mary’ in their neighborhood who wears a du-rag on her head and dons her housecoat outside on the porch.  Now, the gold tooth is an element that’s native to certain areas of the country, particularly in the south. 

We have all watched, in horror, in the past as incidents happen in an urban area that finds its way to the nightly news, and a ‘Sweet Brown’ type becomes the primary witness the reporter interviews.  There could be a young man or woman right in front of them wearing a suit on their way to work and they will chose the ‘Sweet Brown’ character every time.  SMH

I was a bit relieved that this wasn’t the image my employee held of all African Americans, but I wonder about those who have never been to America.  You know it doesn’t take much for a stereotype to take hold.  One thing is for sure, Sweet Brown has definitely taken hold here in Kenya.  They think it is hilarious and I hear the term, “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That,” all of the time.  I have to admit, when I first saw the clip, my mouth was hung open.  I’ve forgotten how ghetto, ghetto really is.  After the initial shock I had to laugh, especially when I hear my employees using the slang. 

Kenya was colonized by Britain so they are very careful about the use of the ‘King’s’ language.  We often laugh at the way they stress the pronunciation of certain words, such as, “spear” which they pronounce ‘spe-ar.’ So hearing them mimic Sweet Brown by saying “It’s a farrr,” sends me into hysterics.  I’m always astounded by the images that may their way out of the US and how that forms people’s perception of us.  I’m glad there are enough of us to combat the image of ‘Sweet Brown’ here in Kenya.  But, this has all given me an OMG moment and a good chuckle. 

Well, in typical American fashion, Sweet Brown got her 15 minutes of fame.  Hell, she doesn’t even look like Sweet Brown anymore.  There is hope for us all. LOL.  I’m going to cut this short, but I will see you here next week.  In the meantime, enjoy Sweet Brown in, “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That.” Forgive me for spreading this further, but you had to see it to understand.  Enjoy.

Sweet Brown - Ain't Nobody Got Time for That (Autotune Remix ...

Asante Sana,

Della Rochelle

Copyright © 2013 by Della Rochelle Williams