In the immediate aftermath, I wrote the song, "Waiting in the Water," using the Negro Spiritual "Wade in the Water" to describe the modern day Maafa (Swahili for 'tragedy').
Below is an excerpt from a performance of that song and the lyrics from the second verse.
Verse 2, I’m asking what would you do?/ If you were in the same situation, try to be true/ Could you loot? I know that I would/ Be getting food and water distributing it in the hood/ WalMart, in Aisle 3, that’s me assorting goods/ Getting everything I need from sporting goods/ Helping elderly with inflatable rafts/ Grocery bags for my nephews’ leg in the cast/ I’ve seen mothers crying, sisters and brothers dying/ Media lying while we watching choppers flying/ Over the disaster area surveying the damage/ Instead of taking people food, they taking pictures with cameras/ Not supplying people with their basic needs/ And feeding folks, they jive supplying news live feeds/ They got the tigers outta the zoo/ If you were there, do you think they would have saved you?/
I wrote a blog four years after Katrina that includes the complete lyrics and information about Hurricane Katrina Solidarity efforts among artists in the Bay Area.
Read more...
My masjid (see, mosque) in Alameda is holding a fundraiser Saturday, August 21. The fundraiser will be at the Chandni Restaurant in Newark. Featured speakers are: Imam Zaid Shakir, Amir Abdul Malik Ali, Dr. Mohammad Rajabally and Sister Ameena Jandali.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door - to purchase, call (510) 410-4006 or Email. Last year, the Islamic Center of Alameda (ICA) was able to purchase the building it's rented out for decades.
"Alhamdulillah, our prayers were answered and Allah (SWT) blessed us. We received donations from brothers and sisters from all over the Bay Area, across the United States and overseas," wrote Imam Musa Balde. "The $270,000 borrowed from generous brothers and sisters are due now, and hence the Fundraiser Iftar is being held to repay them as we promised."
After taking shahaddah nearly six years ago, I have seen our Ummah (community) grow.
"Our community has been doubling in size over the last few years, as more Brothers and Sisters accept Islam," Balde said. The center now offers many programs such as feeding the needy, a Madrassa (school for children), summer camp and Prison/Community Dawah (outreach).
The dinner is Saturday, August 21st at 5:00 PM at Chandni Restaurant 5748 Mowry School Rd Newark, CA 94560. Tickets available at www.icabayarea.org or by calling (510) 410-4006.
Even if you cannot make to the fundraiser, please consider a donation for the sake of Allah, which can be made through our PayPal link on our website.
Note: This originally appeared on the discussion board of the Lighthouse Mosque's Facebook page in August 2009.
At iftar at the Alameda masjid, I noticed we had a lot of fruit and vegetables and were going to just throw them out. I've been composting for a couple years and decided I'd collect the food scraps while there. All this month -- when I've been able to break my fast at the masjid -- i've collected food scraps.
One of the things that attracted me to Islam five years ago was reverance for the environment. I've often heard that "Green is the color of Islam." Well as the best of people, we should also be the best stewards of this planet.
So here are some "Greening Ramadan Tips" Water Conservation Since we're not drinking water during daylight hours, we can also conserve more water and waste less. Whether you use less water for wudhu or use "gray water" to flush your toilet, we can be mindful that there are others dying due to lack of clean water.
Plates and Eating Utensils One way people often waste water is washing dishes. One possible alternative is paper plates. Paper plates can be recycled, although you are still consuming paper. And instead of using a fork...use the original five fingered fork--your hand.
Clean your plates and lick your fingers, "You don't know in what portion of the dish your blessing (from Allah) lies."
Public Transportation I've always found it ironic how Muslims have a tendency to be late when we have to be on schedule to pray five times per day. You'd think we'd be more systematic. Well, one thing that may work for some folks is using public transportation.
Planning ahead, you can use public transportation opposed to driving and reduce pollution you put into the air. Use 511.org or call 511 to get bus/train arrival times (and the 15 18 bus goes by the Lighthouse masjid, and the 51A goes by the Alameda masjid). You can also use NextBus.com
Conserve Power We can also conserve electricity this month. For the entire month of August I watched just three hours of television (I ♥ PBS & History Channel). By turning off the TV, radio and other things will likely break your fast anyway, we can reduce the demand on energy.
These are just a few ideas off the top of the head, but Insha Allah, you can all find others to try this month and in the future.
CHeck out this book, GreenDeen. About Islam and the Earth.
*Additional Ideas*
Ride a Bicycle If you live within three miles of a mosque (or anywhere in Alameda), why not ride your bike? It is healthy for your body, good for the environment and will save you money.
Let us continue to guard this planet for our posterity.
As part of a political science class, we had to write a self-exploratory essay. Our first question was:
What is true and how is truth determined? Here is my response:
To be true is to be honest, genuine and sincere. True is the opposite of false, that being unreal, factually inaccurate or fake.
We typically determine truth based on our ability to “prove” it. How do you know that I am the author of this paper? You know it is true because you choose to believe it. Truth – although positioned as provable through the use of scientific processes, or mathematical expressions, is built on a system of faith and agreement upon values.
Unless you believe, or know, rather, that the number two is represents “two,” than you will not believe that two plus two equals four. You have to agree to the system of Arabic numbers that represent. These are just ideas. Therefore, while it is “true” to those who believe that system, it would be untrue to those who do not agree with that system or are ignorant of that system.
Therefore, there are different levels of truth. There is partial truth. This is where something is “partially truth.” For instance, I, Reginald James, and the author of these words and ideas being expressed; however, I am not the sole originator of this language or the thoughts I am expressing. So, am I truly the author, or is there some greater force manipulating me to produce this?
There is the concept of complete truth. This could be best illustrated when someone reveals all the knowledge they know to be relevant to a situation.
There is absolute truth. Absolute truth is the complete, utter, undeniable knowledge of the element of truth.
But truth is a non-tangible substance.
When individuals are sworn in at a trial, they are asked, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” This speaks to the manner in which truth can be manipulated. By omitting part of the truth, one can skew the facts in a manner that misrepresents the truth. Ironically, a person can gain credibility by admitting to partial truth, but mislead later with falsehood.
A person can also not know the whole truth, and believe that they do.
There is personal truth, relative truth and objective truth.
Our personal truth is those things that we hold to be self-evident. Our relative truth is based on our own perceptions, compared to what others know or believe. Lastly, there is the objective truth. This can be best described in the physical space. Other truths are often based on the unseen or not provable – I cannot prove to an atheist that God exists, just as one could not prove to me that God does not. That is because it is a personal truth that has been relayed to me through life experience.
However, it could be possibly proven that a person lived for a certain period of time. This could be done through birth records, photographs, etc. However, that objective truth stands alone on its own merit – although that too can be interpreted and manipulated.
Ultimately, truth is. Truth is a force that cannot be corrupted; we can only corrupt ourselves against it. We cannot erase the truth; we can only erase people’s memory of the truth.
Below is a message from the Imam of the Islamic Center of Alameda. This is the masjid (mosque) that I attend. ICA has rented this building for the past 10 years. The owner defaulted on the mortgage and we now have an opportunity to purchase the property.
This is ultra-important for a variety of reasons. One, ICA will own the building and not have to pay rent to someone else. Two, in light of the recent foreclosure on Masjid Waritheen in Oakland -- a major loss of a community institution -- it is of utmost importance that we protect this institution for Muslims in Alameda.
Since I embraced Islam five Ramadans ago, this has been my primary place of worship. Please support our efforts in buying our mosque.
Reginald James aka Brother Reggie
* * *
Urgent Appeal- Islamic Center of Alameda - Foreclosure Notice
Salam ale kum (Peace be with You) Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam,
"ALLAH has power over on all things"
Alhamdullilah (All Praises due to God), Islamic center of Alameda has been serving the community for past 10 yrs with five daily prayers, Weekend Madrassa (sunday school), Weekday Madrassa, Funeral services, Feeding the needy, Family nights, Aqiqas (like a bridal shower), Marriages, Summer school, Ramadan Iftars (breaking the fasts), Eids (festivals) and zakat distribution...etc.
Our souls are attached to this house of Allah (Islamic center of Alameda) and suddenly in this month of Ramadan, we got this notice of foreclosure on this Building. We were renting this building and the owner failed to pay the mortgage to bank and hence it is going to be auctioned on 29th of this month. This building was initially offered to us for sale for $500,000, but now on auction Allah made it for $260,000 ONLY.
"Lo! Those who give alms, both men and women, and lend to Allah a goodly loan, it will be doubled for them, and theirs will be a rich reward." (Al-Hadid:18)
We do not have time to do fundraisers, so we would like to propose these options:
26 Brothers and Sisters could loan 10,000 each as Qarz-e-Hasan(goodly Loan), Insha-Allah with a legal contract document which will be returned in 24 months from the date mutually agreed upon.
Donate atleast $100 for the sake of Allah, as this is an excellent investment with Allah in the month of Ramadan
YOU CAN DIRECTLY DEPOSIT TO ICA MASJID ACCT: WELLS FARGO BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1710350420.
Please pass this email to all Muslim friends and family in your contact list.
"May be a servant of Allah who has the means is JUST waiting for this opportunity to invest in the hereafter and attain the House in Jannah".
Masalam and make Dua in this blessed month of Ramadan.
In 2005, I watching on TV, in horror, tens of thousands of people fighting for their lives. But this was no movie or TV drama, it was real life. The set: New Orleans.
Later known as Hurricane Katrina, I can still remember feeling paralyzed watching the television. Not being able to move. I felt helpless. What could I do here in California?
There is a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) that says:
Whosoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; if he is not able to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith. (Muslim)
My hands were two short to box with the Bush Regime, so I spoke out. First, I wrote "Waiting in the Water" a tribute to the survivors of Hurricane Amerikkka (Katrina).
In fact, I performed it the very same day (w/ lyrics in hand) on stage at College of Alameda. A Katrina survivor was there and she told me, "You were there."
Then, I helped organize a Katrina event with youth in West Alameda called, Hear, Help and Heal. We raised about $125, but most importantly, we raised the consciousness of the youth and community. In fact, a young man who lives in the Esperanza who is in a polysci class with me at COA this fall asked about some of the performers who came through that night. Four years later.
By that time, I believe I had already recorded "Waiting in the Water" and posted it on my Music Myspace page. The song samples the Negro Spiritual, "Wade in the Water." It is still up. It says it has about 8,600 plays. But that is an understatement because at one point, I took the video down and uploaded another version. It is over 10,000.
I just remembered how I performed this song with a few live bands. Once at the 8th Annual Black Caucus Leadership Conference in Modesto. As well as at Dorsey's Locker and a couple other venues/events where there were bands. I think I performed it once with Hairdoo. Hearing the blues bands playing "Wade in the Water" while performing it is eiree. It is as if I connect with my ancestors who sang the song on their path towards freedom, dreaming for freedom, hoping for freedom, and jumping in the swamp, mississippi, delta, rivers on the path of freedom.
Later, I wrote this article for the SF Bay View with Wanda Sabir in 2006. Journalist Wanda Sabir hosted a Katrina Relief event at La Pena. She asked me to perform this song and I did. This time, however, images of the ravages of Katrina and the lack of response by the Bush Administration and the world played. The article was called Maafa Continues.
MAAFA is a swahili word for great tragedy. The Transatlantic Slave trade is a MAAFA. And Hurricane Katrina (aka Hurricane Amerikkka) is certainly the Black 9/11.
Finally, after performing the song through the Bay Area, California and even Washington, DC, I came home a year later and performed the song at La Pena again for Pam Pam's Harvest Peace Fest. This video below features the second verse of the songwith musical accompaniment. Javier Reyes of Colored Ink helped out on the vocals. It also features Malik Rahim, founder of Common Ground, a Katrina relief group.
Below, I've included the original lyrics from 2005. There outline is included, as I planned on uploading it to Hip Hop lyric websites.
Waiting in the Water By Reginald James
Verse 1 They call it a Hurricane, but I call it a murder, man/ All around the world, people saw and heard the way/ The United States left her own people to perish/ Wet in Ninth Ward, Dry in Jefferson Parish/ Seen hundreds of black bodies, wading in the water/ Waiting for help, just waiting in the water/ Most of Katrina’s victims were young or poor/ National Guard couldn’t save them because they fighting the war/ In Iraq, ain’t it about time we bring them troops back?/ Like Kanye said, “Bush don’t care about Blacks!”/ And I lack the skill, to express how I feel/ Watching human beings being murdered and killed/ By the aftermath, of Mother Nature’s bloodbath/ Her wrath, but my people too strong to just pass/ Away, remember “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday?/ They got some “Strange Fish” floating in N-O-L-A/
Chorus (Wade in the Water plays in background) Waiting in the Water Waiting for water, children Way in New Orleans Thoughts going come back and haunt us
Verse 2 Verse 2, I’m asking what would you do?/ If you were in the same situation, try to be true/ Could you loot? I know that I would/ Be getting food and water distributing it in the hood/ Wal-Mart, in Aisle 3, that’s me assorting goods/ Getting everything I need from sporting goods/ Helping elderly with inflatable rafts/ Grocery bags for my nephews’ leg in the cast/ I’ve seen mothers crying, sisters and brothers dying/ Media lying while we watching choppers flying/ Over the disaster area surveying the damage/ Instead of taking people food, they taking pictures with cameras/ Not supplying people with their basic needs/ And feeding folks, they jive supplying news live feeds/ They even cared to delivered the tigers from the zoo/ If you were there, do you think they would have saved you?/
Chorus
Bridge Waiting in the Water, we Waiting in the Water, they Waiting in the Water, you Waiting in the Water Waiting in the Water, I'm Waiting in the Water,
Chorus
Verse 3: Verse 3, now listen closely to me/ Next year I’m at Merritt to be an E-M-T/ So when the big quake come, in an emergency/ I’ll be prepared to care for my family/ O-P-D and Schwarzenegger ain’t gone to your rescue/ Last action Hero and Dubya already left you/ Behind, prepare your soul, body and mind/ The way they left our folks in the South alone, damn! It’s a crime/ To humanity, trying to cope with the insanity/ We need to get land, and stand against vanity/ Profanity, this Bushit government greed/ So please take heed, and follow after my lead/ We need to learn CPR and First A-I-D/ Create an evacuation plan for your community/ This government won’t save you, don’t be deceived/ Just put your faith in G-D, on the last day’s eve/
Chorus
Bridge This government won’t save you, don’t be deceived In G-d we trust, in the last day’s Eve If you tell me you still believe the government has our interested in mind I will tell you that you are naïve, blind, or just out of your mind Seek and we shall find, a solution, Together, we can achieve, rebuild and relocate, But we must relieve in the immediate Many have come to the Bay and been received I’m sure some have come, and have been conceived There are so many, who were not retrieved/ You’ve seen the President was on vacation Condolezza was shopping and Dick was on Sick leave So I grieve, And pray for our people, that they will find peace After being left for death, our kinfolk bereaved
Insight into my daily regimen. Obviously of a different specimen. Me, myself & I. So fly. Welcome to the Daily Regiment.
This blog is an outlet for me to write about my life experiences. While there will be consistent themes in my writing -- because I am what I project in written form -- the topics will vary from day to day, and post to post.
