Category: Edward G. Palmer

Raison D’être | The Daily Post

On By dancingpalmtreesIn Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Family History, Family Tree, Habakkuk 2:2-3, Lyrical Family Memories, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, Raison D’être, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir -You're My Praise, The Daily Post, Uncategorized2 Comments

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/discover-challenges/raison-detre/

DISCOVER CHALLENGE

Raison D’être

Why do you create? Publish a post about your artistic raison d’être.

 

I create and in creating give Praise to the Master Creator!!  All that I have and all that I am comes from God!!

I also give Thanks to my most excellent parents Edward & Mable Palmer who encouraged my creativity. Growing up during the 60s/70s I was a very active child. Actually if I was a kid now I’d probably be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.  During the PTA conferences the teachers would tell my parents that I was a very smart child but I kept finishing the lessons too early, going ahead in the books, helping the other kids in the class and reading the books in the small classroom library. My parents only heard or chose to hear the words smart and intelligent. Mom taught me to read, spell and write at an early age. I believe by the time I was three or four I was reading above and beyond grade level. By the time I was seven or eight I had created my own special alphabet/language and using construction paper and markers made a book about a character named Mr. X.

My parents encouraged me to read. Thank goodness there were no cell phones, PCs, tablets or computers back in those days.  I read voraciously!  I was a lean, mean reading machine!!  Still am!!

My parents and my paternal Aunts all felt I had artistic capabilities. Therefore Dad lavished me with all sorts of art supplies, drawing implements, sketch pads and when I became a teenager a drawing table. The ones that angle.  I also received many arts & crafts projects like Latch hook rugs and various other art kits.

Now along with my brother Stephen I create Photo Collages. Stephen and I are working on a joint collage project.  Below is one I created in 2012 as a solo project.

Family Photo Collage
Family Photo Collage

Then during High School I decided I wanted to be a writer specifically a poet. I created many poems. After I got out of the Army in 1981 I took video classes at a local arts center and made my first and only video poem.  Somewhere either in storage or among my messy room is a VHS tape with me acting out the poem.

Fast forward into the future after my beloved Dad passed away in 1995 at age 36 I returned to college. Attending and earning my B.A. in English at Marymount Manhattan College in May 2002 at age 43.  Over the course of eight years the professors at MMC worked me hard. The class work was demanding but I thrived on the challenge. My writing really began to bloom. Of course if you had to constantly write 25 page research papers on a regular basis you would either bloom or bust. I bloomed like a flower in the desert. My professors nourished me. I made the Dean’s List in 1999 and was recommended by then Dean Joan Brookshire for a special program called Women in Urban Leadership.  Dean Brookshire kept telling me that I had a gift for writing. I was honored but did not take her words seriously because I was moving up the career ladder. Not until I was laid off from my great managerial job and found myself in a much lower paid and lower position as a museum guard at age 49 did once again did I not only return to my writing but found that with all my trials and tribulations my writing had matured.  I suppose when you are struggling and barely getting by that gives you plenty of fodder and a new way of seeing the world.

No more fancy vacations. No more zipping around in my car. No more TV. Lost my apartment but at least I do have a place to live and my room-mate is an artist.  On the surface it all seemed like a loss.  But not so. I’ve gained more spiritually with each layer of material goods that has been removed. Everything happens for a reason and I believe the reason in my case was so that the following Bible Scripture Verse that the Lord gave me back in the late 1980s could come to pass.

Habakkuk 2:2-3

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Just Live by Faith

2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

 

Also my genetic gift and talents for photography has been growing by leaps and bounds. My Dad Edward G. Palmer was an amateur photographer. I still have his Kodak Koda Chrome slides from the 1950s up to the 1980s.  My genre is Street Photography. Please take a look at my photography blog Roaming Urban Gypsy.    https://roamingurbangypsy.com/

 

You’re My Praise!! You’re the Song My Heart Keeps Singing!! You’re the Reason why I’m Living!!

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir -You’re My Praise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Say Your Name ~~ The Daily Post

On 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

 

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DAILY PROMPT

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/
Canopic Jar
Canopic Jar possibly Queen Tiye

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

If I Could Turn Back Time ~~ The Daily Post

On By dancingpalmtreesIn DeBorah Ann Palmer, Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, If I Could Turn Back Time ~~ The Daily Post, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, Stephen Vincent Palmer, Tyrone Davis - If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time, Uncategorized2 Comments

 

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DAILY PROMPT

If I Could Turn Back Time

If you could return to the past to relive a part of your life, either to experience the wonderful bits again, or to do something over, which part of you life would you return to? Why?

First the musical interlude!

Tyrone Davis – If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time (Best Version)

 

Early childhood when my brother Stephen and I were little and both of our parents were alive. Those were the best days of my life.  Playtime. Carefree. No worries. Could eat anything I wanted. No bills. No debts. The Love of my Mom and Dad.  True Happiness.

Me and My brother Stephen December 1961
DeBorah had a Little Lamb
First Dance with My Father
Baby Me & Lamby Pie
DeBorah & Stephen 1961
Defiant precocious DeBorah
1961- A Very Good Year

 

 

Stephen, Me & Daddy 1977

Joy, Peace, Happiness of Soulful Struts

On By dancingpalmtreesIn Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, Brownsville, Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Grover Washington Jr - Soulful Strut, Pitken Avenue, Soulful Strut, Stephen Vincent Palmer, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized4 Comments

My little Thanksgiving mini-vacation is coming to an end.  I’ve been off from work since Thanksgiving and I had a great time being with Stephen and my New Jersey cousins. That was lots of fun. Always great breaking bread with those we Love.

Friday Stephen and I spend a rather quiet day together and Yes I had him outside walking with me on a Soulful Strut. He rather enjoyed it. Stephen had a big smile on his face as the two of us pumped arms and legs strutting proudly like peacocks along Fulton Street in Brooklyn.  I did not make him walk too far and we did stop so I could purchase him some much need clothing. So he got some goodies out of the deal as well as exercise.  When I retire Spring 2018 I will be taking photos full-time.

I Love My Soulful Struts. Part of my inspiration for taking long leisurely daytime strolls aside from my doctor telling me to exercise was reading the book Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit.  Excellent book. I highly recommend reading this book.

Every day I tell God and the Universe that I want to be able to do my Soulful Struts five days a week enabling me to not only get much needed exercise but present me with more photographic opportunities. As many of you know I have a Photography Blog called Roaming Urban Gypsy and that’s what I am, a Roving Street Photographer.

My Dad Edward G. Palmer was an amateur photographer. He used to have his photos made into Kodachrome Kodak slides. I still have the slides many dating back to the early 1950s in my closet. Let’s hope they are not dissolving!!  Dad also specialized in Black & White photos.  This was back in the days of film and having to get that film developed. Daddy had a great day of expertise and would have made an excellent photo-journalist.

I Love taking pictures of my Beloved New York City then showcasing them on Roaming Urban Gypsy.  Whenever I’m in photo mode I feel so happy, joyful and centered.  Anytime I’m doing either writing or photography I feel I’m in my Purpose, my reason for being.  Also the walks exhilarate me.  I can feel those endorphins pumping me up!  Walking exercise and taking pictures gives me a peace of mind and a sense of creativity.

Allow me to share the gems of my photographic excavations!

Pitkin Avenue Mural Dreams

Pitkin Avenue Mural Dreams

 

Pitkin Promenade

Pitkin Promenade

 

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

On 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
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)

”

4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading[a] Israel at that time. 5 She 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. 6 She 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. 7 I 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.’”

8 Barak 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. 10 There 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)

12 And 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

 

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

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

12 Then 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. 13 And 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.