Nelcina Garret celebrates 107 years
Living right is her key
On Feb. 10, Nelcina Garret celebrated her 107th birthday with friends and family in Los Angeles.
“Mother Garrett,” as she is affectionately called, attributes her long life to eating right, living tobacco and alcohol free and serving God.
Garret, a native of Natchitoches, La., is a devoted Christian, who arrived in California in 1937 and immediately joined Saint Paul Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. H.B. Braniff.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that nearly 46.2 million Americans now live in poverty, an increase of 2.6 million people since 2009 and the highest figures on record. The poverty rate for children under 18 increased to 22 percent (16,401,000 children) in 2010. Among children under 5, the poverty rate increased to 25.9 percent (5,467,000 children).
It’s Sunday morning and you normally sleep in, but this morning is special. Like a bear coming out of early hibernation, you rise uncharacteristically because you want to attend Easter services at your local church. In fact, many others all over the nation have the same idea. There’s something about the Easter holiday—or what many call Resurrection Day—that draws out the non-church-goer. It’s the day that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the head of the Christian church.
April 22 - 24
L.A. Zoo’s Big Bunny Spring Fling
The Los Angeles Zoo celebrates Spring with three days of pettable rabbits, funny bunny ears, crafts, and special entertainment for the whole family from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles. Cost: Free with Zoo admission, $14 Adults, $9 Children (2-12). Info: (323) 644-4200 or www.lazoo.org
Saturday April 23
Easter Festival at the Orange County Marketplace
A few weeks ago, we covered demon possession, but from the Christian world view. This time around, we want to look at demon possession from an ancestral and native land world view.
Scholars, Pan-Africanists, and traditional worshippers agree that the Black religious perspective has been influenced by colonialism and White supremacy. When Africans were kidnapped and enslaved in the West, their world view, spiritual traditions, and unique way of connecting with the Creator were stripped, altered, and demonized.
African Americans are a colorful people, who claim some of the most phenomenal talents, elaborate philosophies, and eccentric belief systems. One thing about Black religion and spirituality is that we know how to have us some church.
From the dancing and singing to the worshiping and preaching, when we get down, we get down. It would almost be appropriate to say that in church, temple, mass, mosque and whatever other service you can think of, we always seem to welcome in the spirit of the Higher Being, the ancestors, or respective spirits.
