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I Believe In You My Sistah
(To my beloved women of color)
(Angela Lucas)
I believe in you my sistah
I believe in you my kin
I believe in the strength
that flows through your veins
I have faith in you my friend.
I believe in you my sistah
To rise above the storm
In spite of life’s tossing waves
We will soar above it arm in arm.
I have faith for you my sistah
to become all that your heart desire.
I believe in you my sistah
Never quench that burning fire.
I believe in you my sistah
I believe in you my kin
I believe in the strength
that flows through your veins
I have faith in you my friend.
I believe in you my sistah
In your gifts buried deep inside
I have faith for you my sistah
Like flowers in June they will rise.
I believe in you my sistah
I believe in you my kin
I believe in the strength
that flows through your veins
I have faith in you my friend.
I have faith in you my sistah
That you believe in me too
I believe in you my sistah
That you are for me, as I am for you
and nobody
and I do mean nobody
can convince me otherwise.
-Angela Lucas-
More about Angela:
www.myspace.com/morecozyconversations
Prothesis: The Dark and Light of It
(Marina Raime, United Kingdom)
It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it. Lena Horne
Information and facts on Prothesis:
My style my way, dark and lovely introducing shades that match.
After undergoing surgery for a Bi-lateral mastectomy, I was shocked and horrified to find that the surgical department Suggested I look for a pop sock that matched my skin tone.
When I enquired as to the purpose of the pop sock. I was told “So we can match it to you’re breast prosthesis”. I felt insulted and offended by the suggestion. I later enquired, about what the policy on prosthesis was for women of colour. I was informed. “That is the policy “. the policy is due to supply and demand. “What about the pop sock? “Is that how the process is explained for women of colour?
Due to the lack of black women requesting skin coloured prosthesis and the high costs of custom made Breast forms, some NHS Trusts fail to provide or even stock skin coloured breast for women of colour to view at their Prosthesis (breast) fitting. After carrying out further enquires, I discovered that coloured swatches are available and they come in various shades of browns. It is my understanding that It’s the breast clinics duty to make sure these swatches are available.
In addition breast forms should be available for women of colour to view on appointment. If that’s not evidence of inequality and cultrual insensitivity in service provision then I don’t know what is. What i do know is the pop sock policy which seemd to be in vouge at the time, appears as if it evovled from the paper bag test, in which you were asked to place your arm into a brown bag to see if it matched.
Soon after my negative treatment, I sought to highlight my experience in the black press. The article was met with disapproval from the trust and I was branded as giving an inaccurate portrayal of the services. In my defence I’d like to know, since when does a private breast prosthesis fitting appointment for a breast cancer patient, involve anybody else other than the person fitting the prosthesis?
My experience was an accurate portrayal of the services offered to me from the NHS whilst undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer. My fitting should have been a private affair for myself and partner.
Unfortunately this was not the case. My experience is not only evident of bad practise it highlights the lack of awareness, especially of other cultures. After delivering such an inexcusable service you would have thought the fitter would have been better prepared, not so. On this occasion an appropriate wig was not even offered the trust was ill prepared.
For me as a young woman it’s all about confidence, that’s why Black women need prosthesis that compliments there skin colour. When I wear them I want to be able to do things that don’t inhibit me, Sports, Running, Swimming, dancing, without fear and embarrassment. That’s why I want to feel confident, because were worth that added input. Betterdays has campaigned to help trust find you’re shade, African,Caribbean women need prosthesis made to match.
If there is one thing betterdays wants Black women to understand, it’s that better care is within their reach. I have proved it by responding to my diagnosis and addressing these gaps and establishing betterdays. Now betterdays are reaping the benefits because we are proactive, and didn’t succumb to the exploitation of the larger organisations. When I’m not researching for Black women I’m concentrating on writing my first novel.
More about Marina Raime:
Betterdays Cancer Care (United Kingdom)
LEGS OF STEEL
(Singer, actress, writer, and acting instructor, Diane Cameron)
As a singer, actress, writer, and acting instructor, Diane Cameron has devoted her career to the Diasjazzpora movement and promotion of African Art forms.
She is the USA Artist in Residence to the Republic of Benin, Executive Director of the Alabama Benin Forum and AfricaTown, USA Publicist. She will travel to Ghana in July to perform for Panafest and visit several orphanages to teach music and theater to the youth in Accra.
LEGS OF STEEL BY DIANE CAMERON
Joe ended his phone call and sat silently reliving the conversation of moments ago with Desiree. He was struggling choosing a direction for their blossoming relationship. They talked regularly by phone for nearly 8 weeks now. Theirs had been a chance meeting. A couple of months ago Joe was exiting the local grocery store and noticed an ad on the bulletin board. It read medical insurance available for the self-employed and listed a number to call for additional information. Joe was thrilled, he had been trying for some time to find an agent and quickly jotted down the number. Putting his groceries in the car he waited his turn to exit the parking lot.
He dialed the agent’s number and much to his surprise heard a phone ring in the car across from his. Looking over in the direction of the ring, Joe was charmed to see an attractive lady who answered warmly “Hello?”"Well, Hi”, Joe returned, “I’m calling in response to your ad for insurance and….. I think I am in the car next to you. Desiree looked up from the phone in Joe’s direction. They both laughed realizing they were talking to each other by cell phone. Pulling his car up next to hers they continued talking and concluded the conversation with Desiree punching his number in her cell phone promising to call him later in the evening with more information. Desiree called and gave Joe all the information on the company, the rates and how he could find an application online. The attraction was evident for they talked on for hours. Desiree told him a lot about herself and Joe liked all he heard. Joe learned Desiree worked as a dance instructor for the local Community Theatre.
She told Joe that because it was Community Theater the stipend was very low and went on to say she supplemented her income with her Insurance business. Desiree revealed to Joe that she came from a family of performers and had taken ballet since the age of 2. Laughing she asked if he had noticed that her license plates read “tippytoes2″. Joe smiled and confessed he had not but that he would be sure to check it out. Joe mentally revisited their conversation including Desiree’s invitation to join her at the theater tonight. She explained that a lot of folks from the neighborhood showed up for lessons and the hot Latin music. Joe had paused for a while before he revealed to Desiree that he wasn’t a very good dancer. “I’ve got Legs of Steel”he had replied. Desiree laughed exclaiming to Joe he would be in good company if he came because she had a lot of beginners in her class. Desiree had appealed once again. Joe didn’t reply to her query but shared that his materials and insurance card came in today’s mail. “Wonderful”she piped in before hanging up “Hopefully, I’ll see you in class?”
Joe wasn’t sure of how he should proceed with this relationship. It had progressed past the casual friendship level. They spent many many evenings sharing their dreams and ambitions by phone eagerly looking forward to the next time they would talk. Desiree was disappointed with his reluctance to join her for dinner or other social outings. At one point she asked him if he was married. Joe decided they had hit a crossroad, the relationship had to either progress or end. It could be no middle ground with this lady. She was attractive, creative and had a great sense of humor and obviously very interested in him. He was unsure if he could open up his heart and risk another rejection.
He didn’t know how to tell her he still woke up in the middle of the night sweating and shaking from the memories. How could he express to her the ten months spent recovering in the hospital? Would she understand if he confessed that a robber, a stranger who set out to take his wallet and credit cards that night almost took his life? How do you verbalize to someone that normal human beings don’t shoot you in the back after they rob you of your material goods. Joe could still hear and feel the piercing sound and paralyzing stillness as the robber shot him and ran off with his wallet containing $18.00 in cash.
There was nothing in the Americans with Disabilities Handbook that addressed how to communicate to a beautiful dance instructor with a childlike spirit that you will never be her star dance student. Joe surmised he would talk to Desiree tonight after her class. He had to. He had prepared himself for the possibility that she would lose interest in him. He had prepared himself to return to his world. He would tell her the truth.
At 9:00 the phone rang. Joe wheeled over to where his cell phone was charging and answered. It was Desiree. “I am right outside your door Joe, we had some extra enchilada salad left and I brought you some run out to my car and I’ll give it to you”Solemnly Joe replied “Can you bring the salad to the door?”Determined that once and for all he would get this over with and go on with his life. He heard her car door shut and the click click of her heels against the sidewalk. Finally Desiree was outside. Joe rolled his chair slowly toward the door each square inch seeming like a mile. Hesitantly he turnd the knob. “Come in” he said quietly. Desiree entered and caught her breath; she looked down at Joe in his wheelchair and said nothing at first. After a quiet pause Desiree took Joe’s hand and scolded “Why did you keep this from me Joe”? “I’m not some superficial party girl that you can’t talk to? Is this why we have never gone anywhere together? “I’m sorry Joe. can I come in?”"Yes”he said softly. He had prepared himself for quite a different reaction from Desiree.
She reached out and held him for a long time. It was the first time he actually heard someone’s heart beating. Gripping his hand tighter they began to talk….. about everything. Desiree told Joe about her ex-husband’s battle with Personality Disorder and how the destructiveness of his condition eroded the marriage. She spoke fondly of her grandfather who had been a double amputee from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Confessing it was Joe’s smile that captivated her during their first meeting in the store parking lot, she continued to hold his hand. He admitted he felt the same way, but was afraid. His wife divorced him while he was still recovering and he vowed he would never be in a relationship again. Joe told Desiree about the night he was coming back to his hotel after a seminar in Chicago and was robbed and shot. Desiree cried when she heard this. He told her that at one point he asked God to let him die. The conversation lasted for hours and hours and 2:00 a.m., they were still talking. A hush and stillness took over the conversation and Desiree drifted off to sleep on the couch. Joe took a long look at her. She was beautiful and her braids framed her cocoa skin like a priceless frame. She looked angelic like an African Princess with her dancing shoes curled up under her on the couch. Joe laid a blanket over Desiree and left her resting on the sofa.
Joe prayed often, but this time he would pray a different prayer. He told God that he knew there would be many challenges ahead but if he had truly placed someone in his life to love and build a future with he would give it all he had. Before he retired to his room he looked out of the window up at the stars. “God”, he said,”I’ve got legs of steel but I’ve got a heart of flesh. Thank you for sending me someone who could love them both.
More about Diane Cameron:
www.myspace.com/dianecameron
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