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Space Shuttle Endeavor has nothing on Baba Amefika Geuka!!!
I must say, I will have many WONDERFUL stories to share with my children and grandchildren when I get around to having babies. But for now Baba Geuka is keeping me too busy changing the course of World History to worry about that any time soon :o)
July 15, 2009, the official ACE LAUNCH DAY will be a day that will live in infamy!! The smile on Baba Geuka's face when he arrived at the school, fearless as a lion, ready to take on a challenge no 69 year old man or woman has EVER dared to do, was energy that resonated out towards everyone in attendance to witness. His positive energy, his dedication and his undeniable genetics were the elements needed for lift off, like the rockets the Space Shuttle Endeavor needed to launch out of space! The interesting thing is that ACE Day and the Space Shuttle Endeavor launched the same day and we of course had not planned it that way. So the significance of those two major events taking place on the same day is no coincidence.
Baba Geuka is our Space Shuttle for African-centered Education, carrying by foot, the vital needs of children of African decent with him up the east coast of the United States, burning through the restraints of a Euro-Educational system and he will very soon be orbiting Washington, DC!
As I began this 1,000 mile plus walk with Baba Geuka, the students and the staff of JLNSCS, I felt an extreme rush of emotions when hearing the students chanting "Walk Baba Walk"!! It was such a powerful moment that I wanted to last forever because I knew this event would pave new ground for all African-Centered schools struggling to not only teach African students about their heritage, culture and history but also highlight the imperative necessity for financial assistance from the State and District for improving a suitable learning environment and curriculum for African students deserving quality education similarly to what is appropriated to Jewish and Catholic Schools. I was even more overwhelmed by emotions when I saw Baba Mawusi, who had literally walked out of the hospital and onto the streets to begin his first steps with Baba Geuka, even before getting the doctor's approval to do so.....and he's still going! Now that's LOYALTY!! Baba Mawusi you are the example for NO EXCUSES!!
When I reached my three mile mark, I was so pumped and energized that I felt like sprinting to state line with the group, then reality snapped me back to the reminder that I live three counties south, in Miami, and unfortunately had to report to the "plantation" that same night. Bummer!
As I gave my farewell hugs and departed, Baba Geuka's stride could not be matched by anyone, not even us young ones!
Eleven days later and now in South Carolina, I am bewildered as to how Baba Geuka & Baba Mawusi are still going? Just like the Space Shuttle!! Yet saddened that many more people have not joined him. Nonetheless, he has not let that slow his stride, because we see the bigger picture and those who can't join him now will have an opportunity to do so when he arrives in Washington, DC on August 12, 2009 (at the pace he is going he may get there earlier than expected). Now is the time for all ACE initiative schools to UNIFY!!!
I am excited to see how many Black Adults will actually step forward and WALK miles for their children's future with Baba Geuka, or see how many Black Adults will make a financial commitment to African-centered Education?....and how many will join Baba Geuka when he arrives in Washington, DC for the Official ACEED Day Celebration?
I can go on forever expressing my thoughts, but gotta get back to work!
Thanks to everyone assisting us in achieving a successful event, all the local Newspapers, Internet sites, NBC News in WPB, FL and Savannah, GA for covering this amazing journey thus far!
"Walk Baba Walk. Forward Ever, Backwards Never!!!" Zuri
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