Say Your Name ~~ The Daily Post

On February 8, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn 23andMe, Africa, African American Queen, African Goddess, African King, DeBorah, DeBorah Ann Palmer, Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, Say Your Name, Uncategorized5 Comments

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/say-your-name/

Feb 8, 2016

Say Your Name

Write about your first name: Are you named after someone or something? Are there any stories or associations attached to it? If you had the choice, would you rename yourself?

The name Deborah is a Hebrew baby name. In Hebrew the meaning of the name Deborah is: Bee. Deborah was the Biblical prophetess who summoned Barak to battle against an army of invaders. After the battle she wrote a victory song which is part of the Book of Judges.

http://www.behindthename.com/name/deborah

You may read about the heroic exploits of DeBorah (Judges) in my previous post. The Song of Deborah is Judges Chapter 5.

The Lioness of Judah Reigns

I’m not really sure who or what my Dad had in mind when he named me. Perhaps he was a fan of Deborah Kerr who was a popular actress during the 1950s. Once he told me that he wanted to avoid the traditional Palmer female family names and name me something different, a name he thought would be unique. However when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade there were about five (5) Deborahs, Debras, Debbies in my class!! So much for unique. Like most African-Americans born during the 40s, 50s, and 60s pretty much you either had a passed down family name or a Bible name. Later in the 1970s and thereafter African and Muslim names became popular I believe in an attempt for African-Americans to reconnect to the Mother Land.

About six or seven years ago I did a Free DNA screening given by 23andMe. Here are the results copied from an old document.

Through my maternal line my ancestors were from Mozambique. I belong to the maternal haplogroup I also probably have some Nigerian ancestors. My maternal genetic

makeup is 85% Africa, 12% Europe and 3% Asia.

Our ancestry and genealogy are traced through mitochondrial DNA which

is only passed down from mother to child. This is fascinating information.

By the way the study affiliated with Dr. Henry Louis Gates was free and they

were targeting African Americans mainly to ascertain my African Americans have such high levels of high blood pressure and diabetes. I wanted to have my DNA traced for

several years and when I saw the ad in Ebony or was it Essence along with

the word Free, I immediately signed up. I was so thrilled to find out this

news. Now along with my African co-workers feel a more direct connection

to the Motherland.

Naturally, I’ll never be connected to Mother Africa the way in which my co-

workers from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Mali are

since they were born there and have a direction connection with the

culture, language and respective tribes, I feel now more of a blood tie. Now

I can plan for my pilgrimage to this country of my ancestors in the next 20 years.

In a way I envy my fellow bloggers who were born and raised in Africa and who had the opportunity to retain their traditional African names, perhaps some indigenous belief system, culture and language. Sadly when my ancestors were kidnapped and brought here on slave ships all of that was stolen from them. Even when I do visit Mozambique or Nigeria I will never know my tribe and cannot speak any of the tribal languages. However I do feel a very strong spiritual connection to my African ancestors especially those who came here during the Middle Passage. This may sound strange to some people but from time to time they speak to me as do some of my family members long deceased some as long ago as from the Civil War. My paternal Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead served in the Civil War. Their voices rise up from ages past beckoning to me as a 21st Century Scribe to write about them so that they are not forgotten.

William H. Halstead name as inscribed on the Colored Soldiers Monument in Washington, DC

William Henry Halstead Headstone ~ Sleepy Hollow

In December of 1863 my Great Great Grandfather, William Henry Halstead, who

lived in Tarrytown, New York, traveled to New Haven, Connecticut to join the

29th Connecticut Colored Infantry. On his Volunteer Enlistment papers it notes

his occupation as a farmer. He enlisted for three years and was discharged on the

24th day of October 1865. He married and had five children. William Henry

Halstead passed away in 1888 and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in

Tarrytown, New York. His wife moved to New York City with her five children.

Her children grew up in Harlem and belonged to various organizations such as Odd

Fellows, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Daughters of New

York.

The same goes for my Native American ancestry.

Several years I wrote a blog post about that dilemma also called “The Cruelty of Christianity” basically when the Europeans first invaded America in 1492 or thereabouts the Native Americans had the land and the Europeans had the Bible. Now the Europeans have the Land and the Native Americans have the Bible. Perhaps their revenge are the casinos and tax-free cigarettes.

https://dancingpalmtrees.com/2012/05/05/the-cruelty-of-christianity/

Sometimes I get the feeling that she is me and I am she.

SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 5

On February 1, 2016February 1, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn A Better Balance, African American Queen, Eva Gordon Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer, FMLA, FMLA Inclusion Act, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Shinnyo-en Buddhism, Sylvester, Uncategorized, Vice President Joe Biden4 Comments

SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 5

If you had a shelf for your three most special possessions (not including photos, electronic devices and things stored on them, people or animals), what would you put on it?

My Grandmother Eva Palmer’s Musical Sewing Box. It plays “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” My collection of African-American figurines. Some special edition Collectors plates created by African-American artists.

Grandmother Eva’s Music Sewing Box

Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box

If you had a box labelled ‘happiness’, what would you put in it?

Happiness is spending time with my brother Stephen, my cat Sylvester, being outdoors in sunny warm weather, and photography. I don’t think either Stephen or Sylvester would like to be put in a box. On the other hand since Sylvester is a cat maybe he would like being in a box but definitely not Stephen!!

Sylvester in my old Laundry Bag

Sylvester Cat Yoga on the bed

Sylvester Cat Yoga Pose

What do you want more of in your life?

Free time and money!!

Daily Life List: What do you do on an average day? Make a list of your usual activities you do each day.

Since I still work a full-time job I spend Tuesday through Saturday at my workplace.

Working in the security field I spend a lot of time at work since the job entails generous amounts of overtime. So between my commute which is one hour going and another hour returning home, plus 8 to 12 hours spent on the job that’s pretty much the majority of my time. This is why I enjoy my Sunday/Monday weekends and look forward to retiring in Spring 2018.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Being invited by Gov. Andrew Cuomo the the Paid Family Leave Rally held last Friday at the McBurney 14th Street YMCA!! It’s not every day that a working class woman like me gets a call from the Governors Office!! Kudos for Gov. Andrew Cuomo for reading the New York Times article done on me and Stephen last year.

Hearing Gov. Cuomo and Vice President Joe Biden speak and endorse Paid Family Leave was an exhilarating experience!! As some of my long-time Followers know I’ve been fighting to get FMLA from my job so I can care for my developmentally disabled brother Stephen. Truly it has been a long and winding road but I owe many Thanks to Congressman Hakeen Jeffries, my legal Team from A Better Balance, Gov. Andrew Cuomo who I have faith will push through and make Paid Family Leave a reality for the citizens of New York and Vice President Joe Biden!!

(7) DeBorah and A Better Balance

Thank you.
http://nyti.ms/1BktTeP

Getting Our Blessing!!

http://www.twcnews.com/nys/capital-region/capital-tonight-interviews/2016/01/29/dina-bakst-012916.html

Looking forward to attending Buddhist Prayer and Meditation Services at Shinnyo-en New York City temple with my Japanese girlfriend. I thank all my Friends whether they be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist for their unwavering support and encouragement in my efforts to secure FMLA for Stephen.

Love in My Heart and a Sword in my Right Hand!

On November 21, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn 50+, Africa, African American Queen, African Goddess, African King, Afros, Black Panther, Buffalo Soldiers, Candace of Meroe, Cathay Williams, Caucasian, Christian, Christianity, Colour of Beauty, Dark Skin, Eartha Kitt, Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ethiopian Goddess, Eva Gordon Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer, Female Divinity, Feminine Divine, Goddess, Hair, Hair Texture, Hattie Banks, Hattie Finney Banks, Helen Garcia, Helen James, Mable Palmer, Malcom X, Natural hair, Nzinga Mbande, Nzingha, Queen Seshat Egyptian Goddess of Scribes, Queen Tiye, W.E.B. Du Bois

Nzingha African Warrior Queen & Priestess

Warning! This Post is Not PC. If you get easily offended stop reading now. Contains Brutal Language.

Judges 4-5 New International Version (NIV)

”

⁴Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading^[a] Israel at that time. ⁵She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. ⁶She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. ⁷I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

⁸Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

⁹“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. ¹⁰There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.”

Matthew 11:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹²And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

DeBorah The African Warrior Queen

I come with Words of Peace and Praise of Thanksgiving upon my lips

Along with a Sword in my right hand.

Third Eye Opened in the midst of a Changing Life,

I refuse to play the victim any longer!

Pale riders your rule has come to an end. StepandFetchIt and Mammy are long gone. Ethiopia and Nubia Rule once more.

I will defend my Queendom unto death for there be more with me than against me.

Though I be petite in frame, know this my enemies, Don’t sleep on the size!

Victory is mine.

All bullies shall feel sharp cold steel against their necks.

Negotiation has come to an end! This time all abusers shall be repaid 100 fold for their unholy acts.

Never again shall my precious temple of mind and body suffer desecration!

Arise My SiStars!! Arise My Warrior Queens!!

The Thieves shall be banished from my Holy Temple!

Ready for Battle!

Prince ~~ Thieves in the Temple

https://youtu.be/HfGrIaqYK8s?list=PLsgN5r88gaaW8gZbpGmowQdpqEatudZoC

Matthew 21:12-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

¹²Then Jesus went into the temple of God^[a] and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. ¹³And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’^[b] but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

Post Script ~~ Dear Folks of the Caucasian Persuasion. Do Not Touch my Hair. This is not a petting zoo. Do not ask me stupid questions like, “Do you comb your hair?” Do Not compare my braids, locs or cornrows to Medusa and I won’t say anything about your wrinkles, age spots or your open audacity and stupidity to think you can come up to any random Black person that you don’t know and just spew the first idiotic thing that issues forth from that pie hole in the middle of your face. And No you Do Not have the right to become offended if I call you out on your arrogance and foolishness. Keep your ignorant racist sexist dumb words and attitude to yourself! Don’t get it Twisted. Mammy and StepAndFetchIt are long gone. In fact do me a favor. Shut the Fuck Up and stop commenting on my appearance! Don’t Fuck with the African Goddess! I am a Proud Uppity Black Woman with Attitude. Don’t you forget it.

France

On November 16, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn 9/11, African American Queen, African Goddess, Bangladesh, Bigotry, Buddhism, Buddhist, Christianity, Edward Palmer, Eva Gordon Palmer, Evil, France, French, French National Anthem - "La Marseillaise" (FR/EN), Gay, Gladys Young, Goddess, hatred, Hattie Banks, Helen Garcia, Helen James, Hindu, Homosexual, India, Iran, Islam, Jesus, Jewish, Judism, Love, Love Train [Original 12" Version] - The O'Jays (1972), Muslim, Paris, Racism, Terrorism, William Henry Halstead, William Palmer, Winston Churchill - We Shall Never Surrender (Full Speech)3 Comments

This is a very long two part post.

French National Anthem – “La Marseillaise” (FR/EN)

My blogging buddy K.B. who lives in Paris is safe, alive and well. He is grateful to all Americans for their prayers, encouragement and support.

I totally disagree with the hate towards France being spewed on Facebook!! Yes we all know that France was a Colonizer back in the 18th and 19th Centuries but the people alive today, the people maimed and killed in those horrible attacks have nothing to do with with what happened centuries ago. Yes we do need to learn and heed the lessons of the past. Colonialism and Slavery must continue to be taught in schools so we recognize wickedness and choose another path. On that note yesterday I left a group that I thought was about the positive because of the evil statements made against France. People who return hate for hate are little better than the oppressors.

Winston Churchill – We Shall Never Surrender (Full Speech)

https://youtu.be/CyoMp2JceOw

Governments often make problems that make others suffer. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents went through racism and Jim Crow but they did not hate this nation, their country. As a Black woman I experience bias, racism and bigotry often but that does not give me the right to lump all white people in the same pot as an excuse to hate and spew venom. As a Christian I represent Jesus Christ so I can never do this. My spirit and soul do not allow me.

Love Train [Original 12″ Version] – The O’Jays (1972)

https://youtu.be/iTp0AlTuPNA

Many of those murdered in France and on the Russian airplane blast were innocent children. Hatred solves nothing. We cannot go back and change the past. Also keep in mind on 9/11 many French, European and other nations supported New Yorkers and Americans. Being Pro-Black does not give me the right to be anti-white or anti-European. Why? Because the Love of God and His compassion is in my heart. Most people of color have experienced bias and bigotry in some form but I refuse to deny aid, support or prayer to those in need. I pray for everyone. I’m still praying for the innocent Russian people killed in that airplane explosion. Hate is divisive. Please do not use this tragedy as an excuse to incite or fan the flames of hatred. I wholeheartedly and unashamedly support and stand with the people of France and victims of terrorism worldwide! Show Love to all.

‪#‎France‬‪ #‎Paris ‬‪#‎OneLove‬ #America

********************************************************************************************************************************************

I Rise Above hatred, bias, bigotry & racism.

I know what it is to be treated with the wide brush of stereotypes.
Working with the general public can be a challenge and if you’re a Black Woman wearing a uniform, a uniform that designates a form of authority more challenges come your way.

My Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead left his life as a Free farmer and joined the Union Army for the benefit of his enslaved sisters and brothers and for his descendants unseen and yet unknown. But maybe he did know that Stephen and I would reap the benefits of his sacrifice. My Dad Edward G. Palmer left City College and joined the Air Force to fight for an America that did not even consider him a man but duty and honor came first. Thanks to the sacrifices and Love from my ancestors my generation of Black Americans became the first generation to benefit from the Civil Rights Movement. I’m carried on the shoulders of giants.

My Mother, Grandmothers and Aunts rose above the indignities of Jim Crow.

Sadly some look at me and see only color or gender. I’ve been approached by white males thinking that I’m a drug dealer or available for sex. Obviously I had to set them straight. They needed to be firmly re-educated.

But I’m more than race, nationality or gender. Like most people on this earth Black, Brown, or white I’m a human being of complexity. That’s why I had to speak out against vile remarks being leveled at the French people. God created people. Humans created race & divisions.

I’ve come to think that the reason God placed me in the museum was to root out my preconceptions, illusions and delusions about people of other faiths.
Over the almost 8 years I’ve worked there the Ladies and Gentlemen I’m closest to are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu & Jewish. By being around and in close contact with co-workers outside of my faith I’ve learned a lot and mostly not to be judgmental. I’ve even visited their Houses of Worship and learned that these faiths are not so different from Christianity. If I had been born in Iran, Egypt, Bangladesh, India, I would be a practitioner of that faith. We are all people who want the same things in life.

One God. Many Paths.

Earlier this year I spent two weeks in the hospital. The reason I’ll keep private but the person who visited me and took me home is Gay. Again another lesson of acceptance. Every time I’ve prayed for help God sent someone from another race, faith, gender, or sexual orientation to assist me.

I could lower myself to the level of bigots, haters, slanderers & spew a fountain of venom and vindictiveness but I choose not to. I choose if not to Love everyone but to at least to respect all people regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation. When I make mistakes or say the wrong thing I go back and apologize. Nobody is perfect but these errors in judgement provide me the opportunity to examine myself.

I’m sure as I make my way towards March 2018 and retirement God will have even more Life Lessons on my path towards Enlightenment.

Still Rising.

The Aging Woman and Self-Validation

On October 18, 2015October 18, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn 50+, African American Queen, African Goddess, Ernestine Shephard, Jacky O'Shaughnessy, Jesus Christ, Woman2 Comments

Ernestine Shephard, 79 year old Body Builder

https://youtu.be/O_01VlQzN7s

I can definitely relate to what Jacky O’Shaughnessy says in her video about women, aging, body image and dating. Like her I’ve been dumped for younger women and/or rejected because I’m not thick or curvy. Traded in for a PYT (Pretty Young Things). Finally I had to tell myself I will never have boobs or butt like other women. I will always be petite and I am getting older. But you know even though I don’t fit in and I’m not the “flavor of the moment” Despite numerous rejections and declining social life I would not change anything about my body. I will never get enhancements or augmentations.

America is a youth obsessed culture that will never change and men buy into that when making choices regarding which women to date or not date.

Gradually as I’ve gotten older I’ve begun to accept my body and focus less on how men see me but I have to admit that it does bother me when men in my age group for for the 20 and 30 somethings. I’m human and want to be accepted but then again we live in a society where a woman loses value as she ages. Men focus entirely on looks, body type, youth & fertility. As a result I rarely date and no I’m not open to online dating. Where can I find self validation? Only through my writing, photography and spending time with my brother Stephen who loves me no matter what.

I also greatly admire 79 year old Body Builder Ernestine Shephard. As my readers know from my previous posts I try to keep up my exercising, mainly walking as much as my work schedule will allow. Readers know that the reason I’m staying in shape is for me not to please some man. The only man I must or need to please is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So despite my faults and flaws I’m staying fit for me and me only so I will have a better life as I get older. My objective is to stay healthy. A healthy life is all encompassing not a trend but a lifestyle so I will keep at it so I can feel better about myself.