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Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 583
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 11:22 am: | 
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http://tinyurl.com/avdrr
A Place Where Women Rule:
All-Female Village in Kenya Is a Sign Of Burgeoning Feminism Across Africa
By Emily Wax
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, July 9, 2005; Page A01
UMOJA, Kenya -- Seated cross-legged on tan sisal mats in the shade, Rebecca Lolosoli, matriarch of a village for women only, took the hand of a frightened 13-year-old girl. The child was expected to wed a man nearly three times her age, and Lolosoli told her she didn't have to.
The man was Lolosoli's brother, but that didn't matter. This is a patch of Africa where women rule.
"You are a small girl. He is an old man," said Lolosoli, who gives haven to young girls running from forced marriages. "Women don't have to put up with this nonsense anymore."
Ten years ago, a group of women established the village of Umoja, which means unity in Swahili, on an unwanted field of dry grasslands. The women said they had been raped and, as a result, abandoned by their husbands, who claimed they had shamed their community...
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 2314
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 02:20 pm: |
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U Go, Umoja! Do your thing, sisters! |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 324
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 04:08 pm: |
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Hi Yvette,
I wrote about this village last year, but few people were interested.
Thanks for posting it.
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Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 586
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:10 pm: |
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Well, hopefully it'll get some conversation now. This was the first I had heard of this village. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3816
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:12 pm: |
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Sounds like a lesbo front to me, ladies.
But, hey. If THAT's your thing...' |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 588
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:15 pm: |
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Yeah yeah yeah... Hate-on, bro! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3817
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:18 pm: |
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No hate. Hey. If a bunch of chicks want to gather up and whine about men, PMS and their 'hur' all day and lick each other all nite, who am I to judge? |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 589
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:23 pm: |
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What if they asked you to be a judge? |
Snakegirl
Newbie Poster
Username: Snakegirl
Post Number: 16
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:30 pm: |
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LMAO at our resident Dennis the Menace.
You just go to hell ABM. Things are MUCH WORSE for those women than you're allowing.
I remember a year ago---Africana Magazine did a story about KENYAN GIRLS who were putting ads in the newspaper for "White" husbands
....but they left out the fact that those girls had no power over these ads. The FATHERS of those girls were making them put out ads for "British Chaplains" to pay a dowry for them.
My birth mother was purchased (dowry) at 14---her FATHER, of course, was PAID by my Arab father.
African women are tired of so many "rituals" against their bodies. Especially when the MEN advance monetarily from the suffering of the women.
***ABM, this doesn't remind you of my "Sula" women in Flesh and the Devil????
LOL (maybe that's why you called them lesbos!!)
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3819
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:33 pm: |
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'Vette,
Judge for what? An African wet titties contest?
If so, I'M IN! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3820
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:37 pm: |
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"Snake",
I hear yah. But you know a brothahs going to have kneejerk response to women shunning men.
And, yeah, I actually I did have a momentarily thought about "Flesh'" as I read this.
And really, let's be HONEST: Lesbianism would HAVE to be a prominent part of this kind of community for it to have a chance of holding together. |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 591
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:45 pm: |
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OK, scratch my post above--This wasn't the type of "conversation" I had in mind when I thought to post the link!
What do you think of the assessment that this is a form of "feminism"? My first instnct is that this should be seen as a "human rights" or "civil rights" struggle (and successfully progressing one at that). The term "feminism" just has too much baggage, Ithink, largely thanks to the missteps of old school Western White feminist movements.
But my second thought is, well maybe that's exactly what the term needs--an (re)injection of pragmatism, globablism, and true life-and-death issues. |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 592
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 06:46 pm: |
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to women shunning men
BTW, wasn't it the women who were shunned by the men??? Where's your "knee jerk reaction" to that? |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3821
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 07:11 pm: |
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'Vette,
Touché. |
Snakegirl
Newbie Poster
Username: Snakegirl
Post Number: 17
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 08:42 pm: |
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Yvette,
I don't see how Black women of the future are going to survive, much less thrive in this world without serious foundations of womanism and feminism in their character makeup.
Of course, "womanism" is the black feminist term which allows for a Black woman to fight EQUALLY for her sexual rights alongside her RACIAL rights----and as I told white feminists in a speech---I think that black women have ALWAYS BEEN more "womanly" than feminine (which is a kind of a play acting).
Feminism began in Africa, but was halted by black women after the continent was attacked from outside powers/forces. So I am glad to see the re-emergence of the African feminist. THIS...is the only way that we can "give birth to a new son"....is by changing ourselves and demanding better for ourselves.
And my belief has been that the black woman is "weak"...not strong (mules of endurance) and that in reality other races of women are actually "strong"--because of Christianity and White Supremacy, two institutions that SUPPORT all women but the black one--psychologically and socially.
If you saw my video, Yvette, then you know that I am a huge advocate of Black women embracing Womanist Feminism as a "Bedrock" to their character. Now if we could just get Western Black women to stop seeing "sexuality" through a Christian/Muslim lens--they would become super powerful.
There is ENORMOUS POWER in a woman's sexuality---which is why men created Christianity and Islam in the first place--to tear down what Goddess Religion had built up in women's favor. Through Christianity and Islam, women can be "dirty, inferior"....which is how men CONTROL women, through their sexuality......while the men get to do what they want to do.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3823
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 02:04 am: |
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Kola,
Does a proud male chauvinist pig like myself still get to have sex in a more womanistic world? |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 325
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 02:15 am: |
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Looking at Kola and Kola's life/world, ABM---what 'choo think?
LOL
Clarity:
Earlier, when I was saying that I don't see black women as "strong"----I'm referring to the fact that while we have been ENDURANCE women-- shouldering our people's survival, enduring insurmountable suffering, carrying the struggle on our backs, literally, etc. We still have not produced a SON who can navigate our people out of the cellar or managed to set templates for our people's survival WHOLE.
Other races of women have done that. So that's what I meant about being strong.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3824
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 03:06 am: |
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Kola,
HAHAHA!!!
Just checkin'. Cause you gals start to talk your hellraisin' women talk and a brothah starts fearing for his nutes.
But seriously, I concur with your point on Strong (or Strength) vs. Endurance. Moreover, I think the confusion and delusion on THAT issue within the Black community is a great source of our troubles.
You have everyone promoting and buying into this Mighty Black woman fantasy as we get our tails kicked in EVERY conceivable category.
I’m NOT blaming the sistahs for our circumstances. You’re probably the LEAST to blame. But the whole fallacious aura and fantasy about the indomitable Black woman distorts the allocation of responsibilities amongst Black men and women.
You know, in physics, Work is defined as Force times Distance (FxD). That basically means if there's no movement, no actual work is being done (no matter how much effort is being exerted). And Power is defined as Work divided by Time (W/T). And that basically means the more time it takes to get work done, the less powerful you are.
When I hear people exclaim how much work they do or how strong or powerful they are, I have a tendancy to reflexively measure their claims and deeds to those physical principles. |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 326
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 03:12 am: |
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Now ABM....
that turns me the fuck on when you talk about physics, because I'm the dumbest woman on earth when it comes to Math.
A shiver went all down my spine, through my nipples and a big grin flashed on my face when you said Force times Distance (FxD).
I'm actually talking to a man who KNOWS physics!!!!
You and Thomas are so alike, to be so different. 
I agree with your principle of measuring, too.
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Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 327
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 03:18 am: |
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You have NO IDEA how much I love smart black men who can conversate.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3825
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 03:57 am: |
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Kola,
HAHAHA!!!
Somehow, I knew the FxD would grab-hold of 'parts' of yah.
HAHAHA!!!
Btw: Why is it appears that Black people, especially Black WOMEN, have an almost kneejerk fear/loathing of 'rithmetic? I consider that to be IMMENSELY sad/unfortunate. Because you could argue that, perhaps more than ANYTHING else, skillful manipulation of math is what's been used to conquer us. If you examine virtuely EVERY weapon/strategem wielded against Black people, mathematics was at it's inception/execution. |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 594
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 10:41 am: |
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Why is it appears that Black people, especially Black WOMEN, have an almost kneejerk fear/loathing of 'rithmetic? I consider that to be IMMENSELY sad/unfortunate
Excellent point. Friend of mine is a tenured prof in engineering: She can likely count on one hand the other Black American female tenured profs at major research universities.
Somewhere on my bookmark list I have an article about a school system trying to teach "cultural math" or somesuch. While I support efforts to show how all cultures have had systems of recordkeeping, taxation, etc. I fear that these efforts will be one more way for Black and other kids of color to be diverted from the type of math that runs the current and future world.
If I find that, I'll start a new thread here so folks can judge for themselves. |
Roxie
Regular Poster
Username: Roxie
Post Number: 35
Registered: 06-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 11, 2005 - 02:03 pm: |
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Snakegirl:
--There is ENORMOUS POWER in a woman's sexuality---which is why men created Christianity and Islam in the first place--to tear down what Goddess Religion had built up in women's favor. Through Christianity and Islam, women can be "dirty, inferior"....which is how men CONTROL women, through their sexuality......while the men get to do what they want to do.--
I have something to add:
Women need to take back the power that was stolen from them by taking their rightful place in christianity and islam(and judaism). They should start speaking where they were silenced and take positions that were once off limits to them.They should clear the names of females whose roles in religion have been reduced to ill-reputed statuses, one-demensional accessories and romantic love intesests. And all of the scriptures that were altered to make women look weaker and inferior should be restored to their pre-patrirchal interpretations. Those interpretations still exist, just these archaelologists just need to start focusing on looking for them.
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Scullars
Veteran Poster
Username: Scullars
Post Number: 64
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 09:58 pm: |
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Just found this disturbing article at Pandagon. It seems that the village is being beseiged by local men in the surrounding area who are jealous of the prosperity of the all-female village. The men have attacked the village three times, beating the women with clubs.
Here is the link to the story:
http://www.pandagon.net/archives/2005/07/women-only_town.html |
Roxie
Veteran Poster
Username: Roxie
Post Number: 61
Registered: 06-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 05:06 pm: |
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Jeez, What some men will do to keep control. They sound like little boyswho can't have their way. What this world really needs to do is take power out of the hands of overgrown children. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 2341
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 04:53 pm: |
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Once again you have demonstrated your precocious wisdom, Roxie. Truer words were never spoken. LOL |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 623
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 06:20 pm: |
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Reminds me of a line from "Living Single": One of the characters says something to the effect, "What would this world be like without men?" Queen Latifah's character laughs and says "A bunch of fat happy women and no crime!" |
Roxie
Veteran Poster
Username: Roxie
Post Number: 68
Registered: 06-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 08:21 am: |
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[LOL at Queen Latifah's Quote]
Archeological evidence has proven that the world held women and blacks in high regard long before patriarchy and eurocentrism demonized them both.
The black queen's kingdom was stolen by her immature adolescent white brother and now the kingdom has since spiraled into disorder.
(how's that for a metaphor?) |
Renata
Regular Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 31
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 10:16 pm: |
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The more I know about men, the more I understand lesbians. |
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