Post #425529 by hodadhank on Tue, Dec 23, 2008 2:20 PM

OK the Pan-Cultural Consumption Cycle is almost over...

Just take a deep breath with me and get your bearings. Christians should be wrapping presents right about now, Jews are already giving them and African Americans are gearing up for Kwanzaa. All is right in holiday illusion world.

Whether you get money from Santa or Gelt from Grandma, the Kwanzaa of Obama is THE perfect moment in history to expand your Exotic Ports of Call rumpus room to include a few curios from the "Dark Continent". Sure it couldn't be further from Hawaii but it's as good a place as any to start your international carving collection.

Oh? Don't got one?

Too bad.

Cuz it's down the street at your local swap meet unappreciated as being not tiki enough for some people's swell tropical den or jungle love pad. I must admit I've always been torn by appreciation for both original native culture and its culturally insensative plastic pop bastard. I don't know whether to blame Art College or WITCO so I'm just going to stop tearing. I dig it all maybe you will too. For a great while I have wondered how items from various points along the voyage of forced African diaspora would be received here. I guess I'm gonna find out.

Relax! I'm talking about the American illusions: Donn Beach's Carribean... the Saints, Jamaica, Cuba (my mom lives close enough to Cuba to be a GOP VP nominee) with maybe just one teenie little Marcus Garvey rap on the side.

As an artist I can assure you you can learn things from the undeniably talented carvers of Nairobi, Zimbabwe and the Congo.
(as well as being the best place to find really sweet leopard pelts).

When I can spoil myself I buy up any inexpensive carving that I like or might learn something from irregardless of ethnology.

Does this make me less Tiki than thou?

Absolutely.

***** HEAVY HISTORY *** WARNING *** GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS *** HANK AFRICA *****

Seriously...

Over three hundred years, eleven million or more people from diverse cultures throughout Africa were relocated against their will to the Americas. Some enslaved to work making rum which in turn was traded for... more slaves. In 1767 Caucasian Slavers could trade 130 gallons of Rhode Island rum for one African male, 110 for an adult women and 80 for a young girl.

Now, It wasn't always Europeans jumping out of bushes with nets...
As long as 3500 years ago African kings scoured newly conquered lands enslaving fellow Africans...seeking out artists and craftsmen to glorify his kingdom with their talents.

Of course the first European traders didn't value the most talented carvers and weavers in all of Africa. They just wanted someone else to bring the damn tea.

Many slaves having never seen the ocean before would spend three weeks or more lying chained in pitching seas tormented by captors who's language they could not understand. Usually English. The Colonies needed labor to build a nation and it's capitol from which slave owners might better pen self-evident truths.

Very heavy stuff. American STUFF. NOT just African American STUFF. Caucasian America, like one half of a DNA helix will alway be connected to THIS UGLY AMERICAN STUFF...

America has finally chosen an African American as President, # 44. Exactly forty four years since the bodies of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were pulled from the mud. The same year this quaint brochure was printed... the ebb of TIKI.

Do we really get a second crack at Camelot?
Will it be a Camelot where everybody gets their own damn tea?

As Americans regardless of our tone, we share the ugly road of the past as well as the road of possibilities. If I am permitted a wish this year for Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa is that we never forget what we've gone through to get to this very moment, and that we have learned.

• Hank Africa

***** TGIO *** TGIO *** TGIO *** TGIO *** TGIO *****

Whoa!!!! That was bumpier than the Matterhorn, huh?

Hey, I'm not trying to depress you man. Jeez stop throwing up already. Was the middle to mushy, the end too violent, or both?

Look, That's America's past & you're stronger than you think.

African culture flourishes anywhere it is persecuted, absorbing local traditions and creating itself anew without loosing the thread of heritage. You watch... Kwanzaa has arrived.

I grew up in a city with nearly 50% African American population, PhillyYo, preferred the African owned Pagano's to Geno's or Pat's Steaks and was welcome in the fascinating voodoo bodegas of the southwest where huge caucasian thugs are afraid to get out of their cars.
I KNOW black is beautiful,
I KNOW Mumia is innocent and
I KNOW you'll dig adding a little African flavor to your home oasis.
Already got some leopard print? See youre already on your way...
:wink:

A most well deserved Kwanzaa to you my friends.
Survival against all odds is truly something to celebrate.

-Hodaddy

(Yeah, I've havent written under this name since 1992. Check my incredibly boring 2-d thread to see more of this kind of crazy uncomfortable All American Trail of Tears, Japanese Interment STUFF you should remember at least once a year. It might even make you a better Non-African American).

"Some folks is even whiter than me
Some folks is even blacker than me
I got myself caught in the middle somewhere
And that's just where I want to be
I'm talking bout the outside
Talking bout the inside too..."

• Todd Rundgren, Upper Darby Soul Prophet

This version no longer sanitized for your convenience.

[ Edited by: hodadhank 2008-12-23 21:53 ]