Oprah, Africa & Emmanuel's Gift

Confession time--I am something of an Oprah Winfrey fan, more to the point, I'm an admirer of Oprah the humanitarian. (Oprah the fawning celebrity interviewer is very hard for me to take for more than a few minutes--max.) But, I think Oprah's impact and the manner in which she positively uses her influence is hard to deny. Recently, she has been promoting the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa through a variety of media outlets and Oprah has long been involved with reinforcing the positive things that can be accomplished in the African continent, even before her current highly publicized effort.

While wandering through the New Releases section of my local DVD rental joint, in search of a film for viewing in my Language Arts classes, I came across a unique looking offering. As both a runner and movie buff, I'm always on the lookout for movies that appeal to both interests, and which are appropriate for my students--the very difficult to find G-Rated film. Produced and directed by Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern Emmanuel's Gift (2005) is a documentary that readily meets all these prerequisites.

"The ultimate measure of a man or woman is not where he or she stands at moments of comfort and convenience. It's where they stand at times of challenges and controversy. Emmanuel has tenacity and endurance and a strong heart. He has brought hope."--His Majesty, Osagyefuo Amoatio Panin, King of Ghana

Narrated by the aforementioned Ms. Winfrey, this film shares the struggle and eventual glory of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a native of Ghana who overcomes his disability to change, not only his own life, but the lives of millions.

Emmanuel's tale is told in three parts, beginning with his childhood in Ghana and decision not to succumb to the destiny of other disabled Ghanians--begging on the streets. Next we follow Emmanuel to America during which time he makes the decision to have his lame leg amputated in order to pursue the use of a prosthetic leg. The third movement of the film deals with his return home to Ghana, where takes upon himself the role of as an agent for social and political change. Emmanuel works on behalf of his disabled country-folk in hopes of improving opportunities for the disabled, as well as, opening sport to those who are disabled.

Many anecdotes are shared about Emmanuel's life including one story from his childhood when, as the only disabled child in his elementary school, he saved money to buy a soccer ball (a rare prize for any Ghanian). Emmanuel would then loan the ball to his peers only if they would include him in the game.

I could share Emmanuel's entire story with you, but in the interestate of your support of the film, I highly recommend you rent or purchase it.

I would like to mention briefly the foundations which have played an important role in Emmanuel's mission: CAF (Challenged Athletes Foundation). If you are so inclined, you can also offer financial support to helping the physically challenged in Ghana at CAF's Emmanuel Fund.

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

Flashback: A Reflection on My Days as a Collegiate "Activist"

In a previous post, I mentioned how, while taking on a recent roadie to a media presentation on Darfur, I could not help but be saddened by the memory of a past self I had forgotten. To clarify, there was a time that I thought I mildly, socially inept, English major could make a little difference in the world, and how at some point, I lost that sense of myself... at least as to its application to the world outside my window.

While an undergraduate English major at a local state college, I, along with some fellow students, and under the mentorship of a beloved English professor, began organizing a campus Amnesty International (AI) chapter. For those who are unfamiliar, AI is a letter writing organization in which members seek to promote social justice through participation in letter witting campaigns. At least that's how it used to work--I've been out of this particular loop for a while.

Watching the DARFUR/DARFUR exhibit, I remembered how I used to meet with four to six peers and together we would write letters to governments and officials around the world, in an effort to help fight for the human rights of peoples and political prisoners. Each week I would receive two to three Human Right Updates via snail mail(!). Upon receipt, I would carefully log the name and location of the person for whom we would be writing, before traipsing to the meeting room in the lower level of the campus student union. In some way, I felt I was playing a role in the bigger picture... you know, the whole "power of the pen" thing.

Sadly, most of the people on who's behalf we were writing were not famous or deemed "important," and as a result, were not covered my the mainstream media. Because of this, they and their tragic circumstances did not really exist in the American mindset.

Now, some twenty years later, I am ashamed to admit that I, too, in some way have forgotten about the fact that these terrible events are occurring, except even now they are closer to my home in the United States. While my recognition of, and disdain for, human rights violations surfaces while watching movies or reading news, I, like most Americans, forget minutes later when the next "important" television show or celebrity sideshow begins. Terrible.

But, rather than wallowing in self-pity, where do I go from here?

Adio, wli nanawalmezi.