Dear Reader,

One of the definitions of the word will in the modern dictionary is two words: purpose and determination. The word, commonly mistaken for having strength, is actually very different. Strength is usually the actual physical, emotional, or mental ability to carry out a task. Will is what it takes to actually follow through. It is realizing that a dream and strength have been placed for a reason, and pushing the fulfillment of one’s purpose.

Our will is to educate. Your enlightenment and inspiration are the fulfillment of our purpose. Your support is our strength. And we thank you.

For our feature interview, “A Conversation with Kona Nepay”, we spoke to the founder of Baltimore International Academy. Nepay has worked for ten years to open the charter school, a language immersion school that educates students in the Baltimore area with the languages of French, Mandarin Chinese, and Russian. We hear from Chester Asher in the Male Perspective in a piece exploring abortion and the male. Asher is the founder of Transform America, a non-profit organization created to alleviate and confront racism, sexism, and injustice. The piece is titled, “What Happens When Couples Disagree?”. It is a particular pleasure for us to feature the portfolio of Phyllis Taylor for Sika Designs. Sika is a London based clothing line that is inspired by Ghanaian fabrics. Phyllis’ work is innovative and brilliant, and we anticipate a long and successful career for Sika designs.

Thank you for your support. Visit our blog at www.thecoupmagazine.blogspot.com to share your input and commentary. We hope you enjoy. Happy Holidays.

____________________________________________________________________

MARK

 In This Issue:
 

A Conversation With Kona-Facia Nepay:    Baltimore International

Academy promises to be a rare model. At full implementation, we hope

to have at least five immersion languages at one school.

Music: Review:    If Meshell Ndegeocello’s career was a t-shirt it would

be a black shirt with reflective silver letters spelling “Love is Political”.

Depression In the Black Community:    A study conducted by The
Harvard School of Public Health, illustrated that 10.4% of blacks of

African descent and 12.9% of blacks of West Indian or Caribbean descent

have experienced depression.

 What Happens When a Couple Disagrees?:    In every other instance a

man is expected to play a part in their child’s life, but the most important,

and possibly the only decision, concerning a child is often seen as being

under the exclusive jurisdiction of women.

Will of Fortune:    I began to contemplate what force could be causing

the differences in black adolescent education in the United States compared

to Ghana.

Letters Never Sent:    In seventh grade there’s another girl, Roxanne, who

just came back from another African country. She really looks out of it; her

hair is pulled straight back in a ponytail, and her clothes are very plain and

don’t fit well. I’m sure I’m not as bad as that (am I?).

Bridging the Gap by Opening Doors?:    It’s difficult to fight for equality

as members of the black community but at the same time put our needs on

the backburner for the sake of men, often black, but nevertheless, men.

Columns:

*Comic: Monroe 1.1

*Line Up: Doing It For Themselves