Kwadjo Boaitey

Archive for 2010|Yearly archive page

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Race and what truly matters

In Published Articles, Spirituality on September 21, 2010 at 6:17 pm

I had the great opportunity to write this piece for the Christian Science Monitor. It was published today. Here’s an excerpt. Enjoy

A recent Monitor feature considers racial progress in the United States. Mary Baker Eddy, who founded the Monitor, wrote this about measuring progress: “To ascertain our progress, we must learn where our affections are placed and whom we acknowledge and obey as God” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p.239).

Ten years ago I found myself parked on the side of the road, pacing up and down a stretch of sidewalk, wrestling with that fundamental fact of progress, asking, “Where are my affections placed and whom do I acknowledge and obey as God?”

I had relocated to Atlanta from New York City, and on this particular morning was to be received as a new member of a dedicated and loving church of Christian Scientists.

As I headed to church that morning, I was blindsided by an overwhelming sense of dread and fear. I was suddenly asking myself if I could honestly be an active member in a congregation that looked nothing like me. I am black and the congregation was predominantly white.

Click here to read the entire piece.

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No, I meant to say Big Rock, Arkansas

In Uncategorized on July 16, 2010 at 3:27 am

QUESTION: I am fairly new to Little Rock. I have lived here for a couple of years now. My parents were visiting from Massachusetts and while driving along Rebsamen Park Road Dad pointed out what he called a gorge in the Arkansas River. We couldn’t quite see the river from where we were sitting (in my car) but because I wasn’t aware of a gorge on the Arkansas River as it passed through Little Rock, I asked him, Mom, my two brothers and sister to provide alternate explanations for what we saw. Now, what we saw was a rather large outcropping of rock that looked almost like a canyon wall on the North Little Rock side of the river. It’s stunning. What is it? Thanks Zeb.

SCUTTLEBUTT: According to Little Rock photographer, Brian Cormack the story goes something like this: “The Big Rock was noticed by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de La Harpe in 1722, who called the hill “Le Rocher Français” or “French Rock.”  Le Harpe is also the guy who called a nearby smaller outcrop along the Arkansas River “little rock,” a name that stuck around….when the French explorers were sailing up the Arkansas River, Native Americans [Quapaws] told them of a massive green rock along the river…the explorers thought that it must be a massive jewel-encrusted rock…the large green rock they had been dreaming about was just a bluff with trees on it.”

SKINNY: Zeb, thank you for the question. I know the spot where you and your family were on Rebsamen Park Road. You were heading east past the Rebsamen Golf Course and just before Rebsamen becomes Riverfront Drive there it is that great wall of rock on the North Little Rock side of the river…..

For more on Big Rock, Arkansas check out The Plainclothesman at Sync Weekly.

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Little Rock’s South End public watering hole

In Uncategorized on July 16, 2010 at 3:20 am

QUESTION: Earlier this year I took part in the Martin Luther King Jr. Marade and discovered what seemed to be a site where the general public or people in the know can access spring water. It is located right next to the Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage and Enrichment Center (3012 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive). Is this a public watering hole? What can you tell me about it?

Thanks, -Free Water

SCUTTLEBUTT: Jessie Garrett, Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage and Enrichment Center informed the Plainclothesman that for the past 100 years people have been coming from all over to this Pulaski County spring to drink.

SKINNY: FW, your question touches my heart because I know the spot, the spring you speak of that’s accessible to the public on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. In fact, it was one of the first places I visited upon my arrival to Little Rock. I passed it on my way to the infamous Sim’s Barbecue which until the past year or so was located in the Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood (Little Rock’s South End) on West 33rd Street…….

For more on Little Rock’s South End Public Watering Hole check out The Plainclothesman at Sync Weekly.

In defense of fair housing

In Uncategorized on April 23, 2010 at 5:24 am

42 years after passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act Arkansas enacted its substantially equivalent Fair Housing Act in 2001. The Arkansas Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents of legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and disability. Because April is National Fair Housing Month I thought it fitting to republish an opinion piece written about fair housing and the Ninth Annual Arkansas Fair Housing Conference at The Peabody Hotel (in downtown Little Rock), April 29-30, 2010.

Check out the plainclothesman to read this piece and more!

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Arkansas’ most famous front doors

In Plainclothesman on February 28, 2010 at 5:28 am

QUESTION: I drive by the Capitol on my way home from work every day and I can’t help but admire its incredibly shiny front doors. What can you tell me about them? Thanks, Crosstown traffic

SCUTTLEBUTT: According to Richard Adcock, keeper of Arkansas’ State Capitol Doors, when President George W. Bush’s labor secretary Elaine Chao came to town she raved about them. She said that she wished our doors [U.S. Capitol] could look that shiny and good.

SKINNY: First let me say that Crosstown Traffic happens to be one of my favorite Jimi Hendrix tunes. I’d wager you like the song too…..

For the answer and more check out The Plainclothesman at Sync Weekly.

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Capon Anyone?

In Plainclothesman on January 30, 2010 at 6:23 am

QUESTION: Hey Plainclothesman, I’ve been burning to ask you this….over the holidays…Thanksgiving to be exact, I waited til Thanksgiving morning to go shopping. The only fresh bird Kroger had left was a Capon, which I later learned was a neutered Rooster. Thank goodness I chose Salmon! Anyway, a friend of my Mom’s told me that  it actually tastes pretty good. Go figure. What can you tell me about Capon? Have you had it? Is it good?

Signed,

Capon For Thanksgiving 2010.

SCUTTLEBUTT: A well informed Arkansan who has lived in this state well over 50 years told Mrs. Plainclothesman that Governor Winthrop Rockefeller introduced Capon to Arkansas and had it imported here from New York.

For the skinny and more check out The Plainclothesman at The Sync Weekly.

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