Linda's Blogspot

James Hampton: A Narrative Biography James Hampton was born on April 8, 1909, in Elloree, South Carolina, the son of a Baptist preacher. Growing up in a deeply religious household, he absorbed the rhythms of the Black church, its sermons, and its visions of divine prophecy. Like many African Americans of his generation, Hampton left the South during the Great Migration, settling in Washington, D.C., where he lived for the rest of his life. In 1942, during World War II, Hampton was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Forces and served as a carpenter in Guam. He built huts, repaired barracks, and worked with salvaged materials. It was there, far from home, that he began to record spiritual visions he claimed were revealed to him by God, Jesus, and Moses. These visions would later form the foundation of his life’s work. After the war, Hampton returned to Washington, where he worked as a janitor for the General Services Administration. By day, he polished floors and cleaned government offi...

  James Hampton (1909–1964) is one of the most remarkable figures in American outsider art. He was a largely self-taught African American artist and janitor for the General Services Administration in Washington, D.C., who, over the course of fourteen years, secretly created a monumental work called “The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly.” Here are some key points about him and his work: Biography : Born in Elloree, South Carolina, Hampton moved to Washington, D.C. during the Great Migration. Served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, stationed in Guam. After the war, he worked as a janitor. In his spare time, he pursued religious visions and creative work. The Throne : Hampton created this immense, shimmering installation between 1950 and 1964 in a rented garage in D.C. It consists of about 180 pieces arranged symmetrically: thrones, altars, crowns, tablets, and other religious furnishings. Materials include aluminu...

  Don’t Believe Everything You Think: A Pathway Beyond Suffering In a world where information and self-help books often drown readers in techniques for thinking more positively or changing habits, Joseph Nguyen’s Don’t Believe Everything You Think offers a startlingly simple proposition: your thinking is both the beginning and the end of suffering. Published in 2022 and expanded in 2024, the book has become a widely discussed guide for readers who feel trapped in cycles of overthinking, self-criticism, and anxiety. Nguyen, drawing from spiritual traditions and contemporary mindfulness practices, reframes the way we understand the human mind. Rather than trying to fix, replace, or control thoughts, he invites readers to step back from them entirely, observing instead of identifying. The book’s title itself is a call to awareness: thoughts are not truths, and when we cease to believe every thought that arises, space opens for peace, joy, and clarity. Key Ideas 1. The Source o...

  What the U.S. Congress is doing (or has done) on stablecoin regulations.  Why Congress Is Acting on Stablecoins Stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to other assets (often the U.S. dollar)—have grown rapidly in usage and market capitalization. They now often serve as the bridge between crypto and traditional finance. Congress sees risks around: Reserve backing & transparency : How solid are the assets backing stablecoins? Redemption / “run risk” : If many holders demand redemption at once, can the issuer honor it? Regulatory gaps / legal uncertainty : Under which laws or regulators should stablecoins fall? Consumer protection & fraud risks Systemic risk : If stablecoins become deeply tied into payments or financial infrastructure, failures could have broader effects A Congressional Research Service report identifies key issues such as foreign‑issued stablecoins, reserve requirements, licensing, and transition periods. Key Bills / Legislative Efforts Her...

1. What is Community Data Sovereignty? Community data sovereignty is the principle that communities have control over data about themselves —its collection, storage, use, sharing, and governance. It asserts that data should serve the interests of the community, not just external institutions or researchers. Often applied to indigenous peoples, marginalized communities, or historically exploited groups . Focuses on ownership, consent, privacy, and benefit . 2. The Challenge in Open Data Environments Open data initiatives—like government datasets, open-source platforms, or academic repositories—make data freely available for anyone to access, analyze, or reuse. The tension arises because: Accessibility vs. Control Open data is meant to maximize transparency and innovation. Community data sovereignty emphasizes restrictions on access and control over who uses the data . Intended vs. Actual Beneficiaries Open data is often used by researchers, corporations, or policym...

  Edgar Cayce, sometimes called the “Sleeping Prophet,” gave thousands of psychic readings in the early 20th century. Much of his work focused on health, spirituality, and esoteric subjects like Atlantis, but in his life readings he also spoke about the destiny and role of various groups of people in history—including African Americans. Cayce’s prophecy and his views as they relate to African American history: 1. Spiritual Destiny of African Americans Cayce suggested that African Americans carried a deep spiritual mission. He often spoke of “souls” incarnating in different races and regions to fulfill certain purposes. About Black people in America, he indicated that they held a role in bringing balance, humility, and spiritual renewal to a world overly focused on materialism. He stated that African Americans would play a key role in the spiritual awakening of America . He connected their history of suffering and resilience with a kind of spiritual refinement—what he descri...

  Congressional Ethnic Caucuses and the Question of Party Unity In the U.S. Congress, caucuses organized around racial and ethnic identity have long been a force for representation, advocacy, and legislative influence. Two of the most prominent are the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) . While they share the mission of amplifying the voices of historically marginalized communities, their internal dynamics tell an important story about race, identity, and partisanship in American politics. The Congressional Black Caucus: Historically Bipartisan, Now All Democrats Founded in 1971, the CBC initially welcomed any African American member of Congress, regardless of party affiliation. Over the years, however, partisanship deepened. A handful of Black Republicans did join — such as Melvin Evans, Gary Franks, Allen West, and Mia Love — but most did not, either by choice or by exclusion. By 2025, the CBC is entirely Democratic , with 62 membe...

  Closing Knowledge Gaps Through Wikimmons and Wikidata Much of what happens in the world never makes it into mainstream media. Community gatherings, cultural events, panel discussions, grassroots campaigns, and local celebrations often unfold without reporters or television crews present. Yet these events carry meaning, reflect social movements, and shape communities. When they go undocumented, they risk being forgotten. One way to address this gap is through Wikimedia Commons and Wikidata. Together, these projects offer powerful tools to capture and preserve knowledge that otherwise might not be recorded. On Commons, photographs become lasting records. An image of a community event or a speaker at a panel discussion is more than a picture—it is evidence of participation, context, and history. Uploaded under a free license, these files are not locked behind paywalls or commercial restrictions. They can be reused, studied, and shared globally. Wikidata adds another dimension: struc...

Martin Luther King Jr. and the Circle of Great Minds Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered for his ringing sermons and marches through hostile streets. Yet behind the pulpit and the protests, he was also a man of letters — a thinker who carried on rich conversations with other great minds of his time. His correspondence and friendships reveal a web of dialogue that stretched from Buddhist temples in Vietnam to Catholic monasteries in Kentucky, from Harlem meeting halls to the dining rooms of Jewish rabbis. These exchanges nourished his vision of justice and gave it a global, interfaith character. A Monk from Vietnam In 1965, a letter arrived on King’s desk from a young Vietnamese monk named Thich Nhat Hanh . It was written in quiet, poetic prose, yet it carried an urgent plea: the war in Vietnam was tearing his country apart, and King’s voice could help end the killing. King read the letter with deep attention. When the two men met later, King found in Nhat Hanh not only a fellow ...

Love and Hate: Humanity’s Crossroads In the Spirit of Erich Fromm The Central Problem of Human Existence In The Art of Loving, Fromm argues that love is not merely an emotion, but an art requiring discipline, patience, and practice. Human beings often mistake infatuation, dependency, or desire for love, yet true love is an act of will and of being. It is the orientation of one’s whole personality toward affirmation of life, growth, and unity. If love is the answer to the problem of existence, then why does humanity so often choose its opposite—hate? Why do so many awaken each day with hostility in their hearts, ready to divide, resent, and destroy? The answer lies in fear, insecurity, and immaturity. But to understand this fully, we must look at love and hate across human traditions. Why Humans Cling to Hate 1. Fear of the Other Hate arises when we perceive difference as threat. The stranger, the foreigner, the one who believes differently—these become scapegoats for our anxieties. Hat...

  Nurturing Communities Through Local Artists: The Power of Canto Popular in South America Local artists are more than entertainers—they are cultural stewards, educators, and catalysts for community cohesion. Across South America, movements such as Chile’s Nueva Canción, Argentina and Uruguay’s Canto Nuevo, and Brazil’s Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) have demonstrated that supporting folk and popular artists does more than preserve traditions—it actively nurtures the social and emotional fabric of communities. Artists as Cultural Custodians Folk and popular artists carry the stories, values, and histories of their communities. In the Andean highlands of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, musicians play the charango and quena, sharing songs that honor Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the cycles of life in their villages. These performances are not mere entertainment—they are living lessons in heritage, identity, and collective memory. By celebrating indigenous and local culture, artists ensur...

  Modern examples and projects inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka’s methods (especially no-till, seed balls, natural farming) that show how his influence lives on—and what practitioners are doing in the 21st century.  Modern Projects Inspired by Fukuoka Attune Food Forest, Himachal Pradesh, India A regenerative “food forest” called Attune in Dehra, Himachal Pradesh, is directly inspired by Fukuoka’s The One-Straw Revolution . The project includes around 4 acres, planting ~2,000 trees and over 350 native species. Techniques being used: mulching, native species reintroduction, minimal disturbance, with an eye toward ecological restoration. While not exactly pure no-till (since many of Fukuoka’s techniques are very specific), the philosophy of working with nature, reducing disturbance and chemical inputs is very much in line. “Greening of Deserts with Clay Balls” Fukuoka himself initiated projects (and inspired others) to use his seed ball / clay-pellet technique for...

Masanobu Fukuoka Masanobu Fukuoka (1913–2008), a Japanese farmer, philosopher, and author who became world-renowned for his approach to “do-nothing” or natural farming. Some key points about him and his no-till farming practice: Background: Fukuoka was originally trained as a plant pathologist. After working as a researcher, he became disillusioned with modern agricultural science and returned to his family farm on Shikoku Island in the 1940s. Natural Farming / No-Till: He rejected plowing, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and even mechanized farming. Instead, he relied on natural processes—allowing weeds, straw mulch, and cover crops to enrich the soil and protect against erosion. No Tillage: He believed plowing disrupted soil ecology, destroying microbial and insect life that sustain fertility. Clay Seed Balls: He developed the practice of enclosing seeds in clay pellets, protecting them from birds and weather until they germinated naturally. Minimal Intervention: His farming emphas...

Masanobu Fukuoka and the Art of No-Till Farming Masanobu Fukuoka (1913–2008), the Japanese farmer and philosopher, is best known for developing a radical yet profoundly simple approach to agriculture often described as natural farming . At the heart of his method was the principle of no-till farming , a practice that sought to restore harmony between human cultivation and the natural world. Rejecting the Plow Conventional agriculture, especially in the 20th century, relied heavily on plowing and tilling the soil. This practice was thought to aerate the earth, control weeds, and prepare the land for crops. Fukuoka, however, saw tillage as destructive. He argued that plowing broke apart the natural soil structure, killed beneficial microorganisms, and accelerated erosion. Instead of invigorating the land, it weakened its long-term fertility. His solution was radical in its simplicity: stop tilling altogether . On his farm in Shikoku, Japan, Fukuoka grew rice, barley, vegetables, an...

The Quiet Revolution of Masanobu Fukuoka: Farming Without the Plow In the rolling hills of Shikoku, Japan, during the mid-20th century, a quiet revolution was taking place. While the rest of the world turned to industrial farming, heavy machinery, and chemical inputs, one man walked barefoot through his rice fields scattering seeds by hand. His name was Masanobu Fukuoka , and his radical idea was simple: stop tilling the soil. For Fukuoka, farming was not just about producing food—it was about living in rhythm with nature. His approach, later called natural farming , challenged centuries of agricultural practice and inspired movements across the globe. At the heart of it all was the principle of no-till farming , a way of growing food that left the soil undisturbed and alive. A Scientist Who Walked Away Born in 1913, Fukuoka trained as a plant pathologist and worked in agricultural research before World War II. He had all the makings of a career scientist, but a spiritual and in...

  When Opinion Leads to Violence: The Tragic Death of Charlie Kirk and What It Reveals About Our Fractured Public Life On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent voice in American conservative youth politics, was shot during a public appearance at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old.  According to reports: The event was part of his “American Comeback Tour,” during which he was engaging on campus in a “Prove Me Wrong” table format.  There were about 3,000 people in attendance.  The shot appears to have been fired from a nearby building (a rooftop), striking him in the neck.  He was taken to a hospital but pronounced dead.  Authorities are pursuing the investigation. Some individuals were initially taken into custody but later released, having no clear ties to the shooting.  A Reckoning: How We Got Here Kirk’s death is more than just the tragic end of one life; it raises urgent questions about the state of p...

This is a huge story across the U.S. — historians often call it the “ Highway Removal ” of Black America because interstate construction and “ urban renewal ” programs disproportionately destroyed African American neighborhoods between the 1950s–1970s. Here’s a list of major highways that displaced Black communities: Highways and African American Displacement Midwest & Detroit Region I-375 (Detroit, MI) – destroyed Black Bottom / Paradise Valley, the cultural and business hub of Black Detroit. I-75 (Detroit, MI) – cut through Hastings Street, another Black community with jazz clubs and thriving commerce. I-65 & I-70 (Indianapolis, IN) – bulldozed the Indiana Avenue district and Near Westside, a hub of Black culture. I-94 (St. Paul, MN) – displaced the Rondo neighborhood, destroying 700+ homes. I-90/94 (Chicago, IL) – cut through the South Side Black Belt, forcing relocations in Bronzeville. South I-10 Claiborne Expressway (New Orleans, LA) – ran through Tremé, tearing down oak...

Urban Renewal in Detroit vs. Other Cities Detroit Focus: Black Bottom & Paradise Valley (1950s–1960s). Method: Declared “slum clearance,” razed homes, and built I-375 freeway, Lafayette Park, medical facilities. Impact: Tens of thousands of African Americans displaced; Black cultural hub destroyed. Chicago (Bronzeville & Near West Side) The Dan Ryan Expressway and University of Illinois at Chicago campus cut through predominantly Black neighborhoods. Result: Tens of thousands displaced, forcing Black families into already overcrowded housing projects like Cabrini-Green and Robert Taylor Homes. St. Louis (Mill Creek Valley) Mill Creek Valley was a thriving Black district with 20,000 residents, businesses, churches, and jazz clubs. In 1959, the city demolished it under “slum clearance.” Outcome: Families scattered to segregated north St. Louis, losing their homes and community anchors. New York (Lincoln Square / San Juan Hill) San Juan Hill (predomina...

Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) in Africa Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) in Africa have a complex and controversial history. They were primarily designed and imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank from the late 1970s through the 1990s, as a response to economic crises faced by many African countries. Here’s an overview of their history and impact: 1. Background: Why SAPs Emerged 1970s oil shocks & global recession: Many African countries, newly independent, borrowed heavily to fund development projects, infrastructure, and social services. Falling commodity prices, rising interest rates, and the oil crises pushed them into debt crises by the late 1970s. 1980s debt crisis: Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and others were unable to repay loans. The IMF and World Bank stepped in with loans conditioned on implementing Structural Adjustment Programs. 2. Core Features of SAPs SAPs were designed to "stabilize" economies and ensure ...

  Advocacy Brief: Ogiek Land Rights and Carbon Credit Projects in Kenya Why This Matters The Ogiek are one of Kenya’s oldest Indigenous peoples. They have lived in the Mau Forest for generations, depending on it for food, medicine, and culture. Court rulings have confirmed their right to the land, yet they still face evictions and exclusion. Now, carbon credit projects —where companies make money from forests that store carbon—are creating new risks for the Ogiek. The Problem Broken Promises: In 2017 and 2022, the African Court ruled the Ogiek must get their land back. Kenya has not honored these rulings. Carbon Credits Without Consent: Projects are being launched in the Mau Forest without consulting the Ogiek. Loss of Livelihoods: Restrictions on hunting, honey-gathering, and forest use threaten Ogiek survival. Green Colonialism: Forests are being claimed for “climate projects” while Indigenous people are pushed aside. Who Is Involved? Kenya’s Government &...