Under the baobab: Neighbors strive to disagree peacefully, learn together
As neighbors we strive to learn to disagree and still live together peaceably. We even try to support each other’s right to disagree. We have just passed through the Thanksgiving holiday, which chronicles colonial settlers and indigenous Americans sharing a feast together. Many indigenous people refer to it as “a day of mourning” because millions of their ancestors were annihilated in systematic government run pogroms. Yet the survivors do not seek revenge but rather justice and correction of the historical narrative.
We are living in the context of other conflicting narratives. There is a four-day ceasefire in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Thousands of people have been killed. The warring parties have decided to stop shooting each other as they attempt to trade hostages and incarcerated political prisoners. They have stopped throwing bombs while they try to replenish essential supplies of water, food, medical supplies and energy for millions of Gaza residents. We can only hope and pray that saner hearts will prevail and the ceasefire will become permanent.
Israel has a right to exist. Yet the Palestinian people also have a right to live free, untethered by oppression. The State College Borough Council recently entertained a resolution by Gopal Balachandran to recommend President Biden support a permanent ceasefire. Many citizens attended the Nov. 20 meeting in Borough Council chambers and on Zoom to lobby for their positions on the resolution before and after it was withdrawn. This holiday season is crowded with wars and rumors of wars. Peace is not an answer. It is the only answer.
Other happenings
The 3rd annual Together at the Table, a multicultural event, was held at Heritage Hall, sponsored by Paul Robeson Cultural Center/MENA Caucus, APIDA Caucus, Latino Caucus and the Black Caucus. Multicultural catering was provided by Bare Hand Love, Carter’s Table, Pita Cabana Grill, Chew Chew Bun and Kaarma Indian Cuisine. Student group performances included Sirius Dance Group, the Belly Dancing Club, Caliente Dance Company and others.
In national news, the strike by the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA) is over. Union leadership did a good job. Our pay was increased across the board and we will be compensated for AI enhancements and streaming. We are not the only ones. United Auto Workers won their strike with the big three auto makers and other union and pre-union shops are settling. UAW compensation is a readjustment for the losses workers absorbed during the 2008 economic crisis and pandemic. These union victories move our country toward greater income equality. Most Americans (73%) agree that unions are doing a good job in helping to rebuild the middle class.
I will be going to Atlanta soon to play DeVille in the fourth season of Tyler Perry’s “All the Queen’s Men.” I will be portraying Queen’s father in three episodes of the series that airs on BET+. Unfortunately, I must leave the cast of “A Christmas Carol” produced by the faculty and staff of the Penn State School of Theatre, directed by Rick Lombardo, Dec. 18-21 at the Playhouse. Future theater fare includes New Horizon’s premiere production of my play, “Blues at the Root, The Willie Dixon Story” during Black History month, Feb. 8-18. Willie was my grand-uncle who, along with Muddy Waters, created the Chicago Blues sound at Chess Records. The show will be part of the Chicago Blues Festival this spring and is being considered for the National Black Theatre Festival in North Carolina. We project the musical will have its New York City premiere next fall season.
And congratulations to Penn State football coach James Franklin and the soon-to-be top ten team for their 10-2 finish, and the Lady Lions basketball team for their near victory against top ten USC in the Bahamas tournament.