M. NourbeSe Philip<\/strong> performs at the Words Aloud 7 Spoken Word Festival in Durham, Ontario, Canada, November 2<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n In this Pressbook, we capitalize the letter \u201cB\u201d when referring to Black people, the Black community, Blackness as an identity, and Black experiences to recognize, honour, and uplift the generations of wisdom and advocacy led by Black leaders, communities, and everyday people across the diaspora.<\/p>\r\n\r\n These are the colours of the Pan-African Flag, which has inspired the design of several national flags across Africa and the Caribbean. Although Pan-Africanism as a form of Black nationalism is not universally embraced by all Black individuals, we recognize and honour its intention and spirit of Black representation, community, and empowerment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Ghana\u2019s Adinkra symbols are ideographic scripts created by the ancient Akan people, a subgroup of the Asante. Each symbol expresses a proverb or philosophy understood within the context of Asante culture. Their meanings are originally conveyed in the Twi language (Danzy, 2009).<\/p>\r\nYou will notice the use of the following Adinkra<\/a> on the cover page and video interview graphics:\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Translating to \u201cHe who does not know, can know from learning\u201d<\/i> (Kojo, 2017), this symbol embodies the spirit of lifelong education. We hope it serves as a reminder to continually expand your understanding of Anti-Black Racism (ABR), while recognizing the strength and wisdom that the Black community brings to Canadian culture and society.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Proverbs are often used to teach moral lessons, critical thinking, and social values. Elders may use them to guide children and young people without directly criticizing or lecturing them. A proverb can communicate a complex lesson in just a few words.<\/p>\r\n For example, a proverb about patience may teach perseverance, while another about community may emphasize cooperation and responsibility.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details> Many African proverbs reflect the beliefs, experiences, environment, and histories of specific communities. They help preserve Indigenous knowledge, cultural identity, and ways of understanding the world. Because many African cultures historically relied heavily on oral traditions, proverbs became an important way to carry wisdom across generations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details> In many African cultures, proverbs are used in conversation, leadership, ceremonies, and conflict resolution. Speaking through proverbs can make difficult conversations more respectful, thoughtful, or indirect. A proverb may soften criticism, encourage reflection, or help people find common ground during disagreements.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details> African proverbs often emphasize collective well-being rather than individualism. Many highlight ideas, such as:<\/p>\r\n\r\n This reflects the importance many African societies place on relationships and shared responsibility.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details> Some proverbs express deeper philosophical or spiritual ideas about human nature, destiny, wisdom, suffering, or the relationship between people and the natural world. They are often layered, meaning that the same proverb can have different meanings depending on the situation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details> African proverbs are widely used in literature, poetry, music, speeches, and education. Writers and scholars often include them to connect readers to African worldviews and oral traditions. For example, Chinua Achebe<\/em> famously wrote in Things Fall Apart<\/em> that \u201cproverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten,\u201d showing how essential proverbs are to meaningful communication.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details><\/div>\r\n Black Canadians and allies across the country have contributed their experience, knowledge, wisdom and expertise by providing content for this Pressbook. This includes video recordings, testimonies, case studies, quotes, reflection questions, meditations and recommendations.<\/p>\r\n To recognize and honour their variety of expertise and lived experiences, we have made an intentional effort to allow them to speak for themselves. This also allows us to hold space for a variety of people who hold different perspectives, insights and even terms. Honouring the fact that although those of us involved in the work of anti-Black racism education and advocacy work towards similar goals, we are not a monolith.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The project team behind the development of this Pressbook has been intentional in the use of language, symbols, images, and partnerships to reflect, represent, and empower the Canadian Black communities impacted by this work.<\/p>\n M. NourbeSe Philip<\/strong> performs at the Words Aloud 7 Spoken Word Festival in Durham, Ontario, Canada, November 2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\nThe Use of Capital \u201cB\u201d for Black<\/h2>\r\n
Colours: Red, Black, Green<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2227\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"401\"]
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/abrdietetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/398\/2024\/08\/Pan-african-Flag-300x200.png\")
Image of the Pan-African Flag with a band of red on the top, followed by a band of Black and then a band of green. This image is embellished with a white graphic of the African continent and a Black power fist above the flag.[\/caption]\r\nRed<\/summary>\r\n
Black<\/summary>\r\n
Green<\/summary>\r\n
Learn more about the Pan-African Flag<\/summary>\r\n
NEA ONNIM NO SUA A, OHU :<\/h2>\r\n
![\"Akindra](\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/abrdietetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/398\/2024\/08\/Nea_onnim_no_sua_a_ohu.svg_.jpg\")
NEA ONNIM NO SUA A, OHU\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\r\nAfrican Proverbs<\/h2>\r\n
Teaching and Education<\/summary>\r\n
Preserving Culture and History<\/summary>\r\n
Communication and Diplomacy<\/summary>\r\n
Community and Relationships<\/summary>\r\n
\r\n \t
Spiritual and Philosophical Meaning<\/summary>\r\n
Artistic and Literary Importance<\/summary>\r\n
Images of Food<\/h2>\r\nAt the beginning of each chapter you will find an image of a meal. You may click on each image to be directed to a recipe, website or video about that meal or tradition. Our intention is to share some of the amazing dishes that Black people have been preparing and nourishing themselves and their people for hundreds of years.These are foods you can find across the world but, because of slavery and chosen migration, you can also find them in the grocery stores, gardens, cupboards, tables and plates of Black people across Canada.\r\n\r\nThe World Food Atlas<\/a> is fun and meaningful resource that\u00a0 you may use to learn about a variety of foods across the world.\r\n\r\nHowever, if you are looking to learn specifically about the cultural foods of Black people, we encourage you to do your own research. There are a variety of resources online, some noted in Chapter 4.5: Biases in Nutrition Care<\/a>, but you will learn best through interacting with friends, family, patients, grocers, restauranteurs, colleagues, food service workers who are a part of the Black community.\r\n
Authentic Voices<\/h2>\r\n
References<\/h2>\r\nArthur, G. K. (2017). Cloth as Metaphor:(Re) Reading the Adinkra cloth: Symbols of the Akan of Ghana. iUniverse.\r\n\r\nGarvey, M. (2021). Declaration of the rights of the Negro peoples of the world.\u00a0<\/span>Black Camera<\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>13<\/i>(1), 335-342.<\/span>\r\n\r\nDanzy, J. (2009).\u00a0<\/span>Adinkra symbols: An ideographic writing system<\/i>\u00a0(Doctoral dissertation, The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.).<\/span>\r\n\r\nNorth Northamptonshire Council. (2022, September). Black History<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWordsAloud<\/span><\/span>. (2011, February 5). M. NourbeSe Philip reads \u201cDiscourse on the logic of language\u201d from<\/em> She tries her tongue<\/em> [Video]. YouTube. https:\/\/youtu.be\/424yF9eqBsE\u00a0<\/a>","rendered":"