Dear Reader,
The Coup Magazine has evolved from mere thoughts into a vehicle to which we'd never imagined we'd be holding the reigns. We praise you! Thank you for your support and your fellowship. Where We're Coming From is our first issue of seven online 2007 issues. We hope you enjoy these chronicles, as all of them mean something very special to us.
For
our feature article, Builders. A Conversation with Majora
Carter, we received an opportunity to interview revolutionary
environmentalist, Majora Carter, who is making an international name
for herself working in the ecological restoration of the South
Bronx. We hear from Miss Black New York, Shade Ogunleye, on the
discovery and embrace of her identity in Nigerian Independence
Day Parade. Shade has a stunning beauty, inside and
out, and we are overjoyed at her success and spirit. We were also
pleased to receive work from Imani Bazell, a provocative voice,
and extremely talented writer. Her story, entitled Distant
Memories, chronicles her childhood experiences as her family
travelled through black America’s various socio-economic
circles. Screenwriter Onyinyechi Okoronkwo expounds on the Ugandan
conflict and turmoil. Onyinyechi’s intimate voice and innovative
prose in Bedtime Stories, give light to a struggle overlooked by the international community for decades.
Also, we were graced with a special health piece from one of our dearest
advisors, Mwansa Mandela, in Why Black Women Should Practice Yoga. Last but not least, we welcome Wendi Muse, the newest addition to
our family as an Associate Editor. Wendi’s work, entitled Black Immigrants: The New Model Minority, is a commentary
and exploration of recent statistics hailing the educational progression
of black immigrants as grounds for the proclamation of a new model minority.
We welcome Wendi’s wit, her graceful intelligence, and voice.
In columns, we celebrate the photography of Brazilian artist Raquel
Rocha. The Male Perspective, Teachers, is composed
by a friend of The Coup, Ryan Duffy. The Line Up explores
an alphabetical organization of the world’s republic polities.
Also,
visit our blog at www.thecoupmagazine.blogspot.com to share your input and commentary.
Thank you again for your support. Keep reading. We’ve
only just begun.
Black Immigrants: The
New Model Minority?
"Studies show that
Black immigrants and their children make up a significant percentage of Blacks
enrolled in higher education institutions and take home the most degrees out of
any other ethnic minority. While this is a considerable achievement, could the
results of these studies further complicate the relationship between Black
Americans and their immigrant counterparts?"
Bedtime Stories: A Nightmare Reality
"We stand idle as a
devastating war has raged in Uganda for the past two decades –
indiscriminately destroying the lives of all – men, women, and more
specifically, children. Not knowing allows us the liberty to continue not
caring, and so we subconsciously evade knowing so that apathy may endure."
Builders. A Conversation with Majora Carter
"I was greatly
empowered by the fact that this woman (who has only just begun) is not what
most would picture as an environmental leader.
This beautiful black woman, a city girl from the South Bronx, disregarded all social norms of
characterization, saw something that displeased her, and acted."
 Dominant Memories
"There was a high level of racial and cultural
consciousness in my home, neighborhoods
and communities of the sixties and seventies. Certainly
no one was opposed to civil rights. Let's just say if you were to juxtapose popular understandings of King to Malcolm, I come from more of a "Malcolm" family, if that
makes sense."
Why Black Women Should Practice Yoga
"There are several
factors that have contributed to this downward spiral: lack of accurate
health information, lack of interest in health matters, lack of financial accessibility to health care facilities, familial belief systems that
are counter to healthful practices, and an economic, social, and in some
instances, educational climate that does not promote healthful practices in the
black community."
Nigerian Independence
Day Parade: A Celebration of My Independence
"I hadn't expected for
this parade to be such a landmark in my life; I had simply wanted to go, have a
good time, pull out my traditional garb and eat some good food with my friends.
But something happened that day that has never, ever happened before. I was
recognized."
Teachers
"Therefore I refuse to
offer a clear solution. What I ask is for conversation. What has been lost is the community as a whole. It has been
fragmented, and the stories told are of hoop and microphone dreams."
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