Author: Dr. Celucien Joseph

Call for Papers: Approaches to Teaching the Work of Edwidge Danticat

Dr. Celucien Joseph African American Literature, Uncategorized , ,

Call for Papers

Approaches to Teaching the Work of Edwidge Danticat

Suchismita Banerjee, Marvin E. Hobson, and Celucien L. Joseph (editors)

The goal of this book is to provide a pedagogical approach to teach Edwidge Danticat’s collection of works. The project has a twofold objective. First, it will explore diasporic categories and postcolonial themes such as gender constructs, cultural nationalism, cultural and communal identity, problems of location and (dis) location, religious otherness, and the interplay between history and memory. Secondly, the book will investigate Danticat’s human rights activism, the immigrant experience, the relationship between the particular and the universal, and the violence of hegemony and imperialism in relationship with society, family, and community. We envision this book to be interdisciplinary and used in undergraduate and graduate courses. We are particularly interested in the teaching of her major works including but not limited to the following:

  • Krik? Krak!
  • Breath, Eyes, Memory
  • The Farming of Bones
  • The Dew Breaker
  • Claire of the Sea Light
  • Brother, I’m Dying
  • Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work

If you would like to contribute a book chapter to this important project, along with a brief bio, please submit a 300 word abstract by Monday, December 19, 2016, to Celucien Joseph @ celucienjoseph@gmail.com and  Suchismita Banerjee @ banerjeesuchi@gmail.com

Contributors will be notified of acceptance on Monday, February 13, 2017. We are looking for original and unpublished essays for this book.

About the Editors

Suchismita Banerjee is a Professor of English at Indian River State College. Her teaching and research interests include Postcolonial literature and film, Third World Feminism, British Literature, and South Asian Diaspora.

 

Marvin E. Hobson is a Professor of English at Indian River State College. His teaching and research interests include British Literature, Modernism, and African American Literature.

 

Celucien L. Joseph is a Professor of English at Indian River State College. His teaching and research interests include African American Literature, Caribbean Culture and Literature (Francophone and Anglophone), African American Intellectual History, Comparative Black Literature and Culture, African Literature (Francophone and Anglophone), Postcolonial Literature, Critical Theory, Religion.

 

On the growth of Christianity in Africa

Dr. Celucien Joseph African Christianity, Uncategorized ,

On the growth of Christianity in Africa

Nine years ago, Thomas C. Oden, in “How Africa Shaped The Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity” (2007), wrote about the tremendous growth of Christianity in Africa toward a half billion African Christians:

“There soon may be almost a half billion Christians in Africa. Now estimated at over four hundred million (46 percent of the total African population of 890,000, according to the Pew Forum), and rapidly growing, a significant proportion of global Christian believers at this time are residents of the continent of Africa. David Barrett projects the continuing growth rate to 2025 as 633 million Christians in Africa.”

Interestingly, as Christianity is/has declined in Western societies, Christianity is growing exponentially in African societies. I’m wondering about the contributing factors to this “Christian increase” in continental Africa. Many thinkers believe that Africans are going back to their “Christian roots.”

I, too, am Human!

Dr. Celucien Joseph Human solidarity, Humanism, Uncategorized ,

I, too, am Human!

I have met many PhD holders in conferences, workshops, and other venues. Some of these individuals are very arrogant and boastful about their academic achievements and publications.

While one should be proud of any kind of personal or group achievement, academic achievement should never be the intellectual compass to measure and vindicate one’s humanity. While trophies can boost someone’s self-esteem, they can’t humanize a person. Humanity simply means existence.

Do not define and associate your humanity with success, wealth, power, influence, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or race.

The mere fact that you are and you exist is what it means to be human–nothing else.

Updates about Hurricane Matthew Relief Efforts

Dr. Celucien Joseph Uncategorized
Updates about Hurricane Matthew Relief Efforts
 
I thought I would give you guys an update about the support you have provided for the Hurricane Matthew Victims in Southern Haiti.
 
I want thank everyone for the contributions you made. Although our goal is/was to provide 1000 rechargeable solar lanterns to 1000 Haitian families in Les Cayes, with your donations, we purchased 510 lanterns. We will also bring basic care supplies to the victims such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, bathing soap, shoes, and clothes (most of the victims have nothing to wear; they lost their clothes and household items in the hurricane.)
lamp
 
Once again, we thank you for your contributions. We will take lots of pictures after the distribution!
You still can make a donation by clicking on the link below:

Presidential Election and Friendship: Some Words of Advice!

Dr. Celucien Joseph Uncategorized
Presidential Election and Friendship: Some Words of Advice!
As we continue to experience this very sensitive topic we call “Presidential election” and the battle for the White House between Mr. Donald Trump and Mrs. Hillary Clinton, allow me to quickly share a few words of advice with you on the subject matter: Presidential election  and friendship.
  1.  It is okay (Should I say tolerable) for you and your friend to hold competing perspectives about politics.  All of us hold different ideologies and ideas about  social, economic, and political issues–even cultural and religious ones. We are firm about our beliefs and will not let them go. Some of them are helpful and human uplifting; others are unhealthy and unconstructive.
  2. Do not unfriend your friend on Facebook or stop following him/her–on whatever social media:twitter, wordpress, blogger, instagram, what have you?-because you just found out on a  post that he/she will vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in this year’s presidential election. Mrs. Hillary Clinton or Mr. Donald Trump will be elected as our next President for only 4 yrs, if lucky, 8 yrs in reelection. Good and genuine friendship endures and lasts a little bit longer than the temporary presidential post.
  3. Watch your tongue! Keep your heart pure! Have I said to control your temper too?
  4. Do not demonize your friend or shame him or her on a public post! Be respectful and kind to all, especially your friends. After all, he/she is your friend. Donald or Hillary is not and probably will never befriend you.
  5. You have been trying to persuade your friend to vote for Hillary or Donald for a while now. It is not working. Give it up! Let the person choose and vote according to his or her conscience to the glory of God.
  6. Do not let your friendship with someone you love and care for fall apart because of  political difference or over this year’s presidential choice. It takes a lot of time to nurture and cultivate genuine friendship.
  7. It is okay to be a Christian and  be a democrat. Remember your faith is in no one or nothing else but in Jesus Christ.
  8. It is okay to be a Christian and be a republican. Remember your faith is in no one or nothing else but in Jesus Christ.
  9. It is okay to be a Christian and be an independent voter. Remember your faith is in no one or nothing else but in Jesus Christ.
  10. If your conscience is not clear about a particular presidential candidate, it is not unbiblical if you decide not to vote  in this year’s presidential election. There’s no biblical mandate that you have to vote in order to fulfill your civic duty as a christian of the Kingdom of God and citizen of the United States. God will not send you to hell nor will he disown you as his child.  In the same line of thought, always remember God is not a republican or a democrat.
 * This essay has previously been published elsewhere. This  is a re-post. For propositions 5-10, I take for granted most of my readers are followers of Christ.

Rechargeable Solar Lanterns Needed for Hurricane Victims in Haiti

Dr. Celucien Joseph Uncategorized ,
Rechargeable Solar Lanterns Needed for Hurricane Victims in Haiti
Good morning, Readers & Friends: I just want to give  you an update about our relief efforts for the Hurricane victims in Haiti. So far, We have purchased 300 Rechargeable Solar Lanterns for the Hurricane Matthew Victims in Haiti.
We still need to get 700 more. We will distribute 1000 Lanterns to 1000 households in Les Cayes, Haiti.
lamp
If you can help out, please click on the link below to make a donation.
 
Thank you,
Dr. Joseph

“Haiti has been cursed by the Devil: A Reminder by The Weather Channel Senior Meteorologist Stu Ostro”

Dr. Celucien Joseph Uncategorized ,

“Haiti has been cursed by the Devil: A Reminder by The Weather Channel Senior Meteorologist Stu Ostro”

Below is the haunting and devilish image of Hurricane Matthew which The Weather Channel has constructed. This image has gone viral in the social media. The image is a very scary human skull with only 3 top teeth–no bottom teeth are noted; it is nothing less than the angry devil, with a terrific one red eye starring at the miserable people in Haiti. Its colors are red (eye), gray, and black.

screen-shot-2016-10-05-at-9-41-30-pm

(screen-shot-2016-10-05-at-9-41-30-pm)

What is the significance of this caricature?

What is the significance of this devilish image and that one red eye looking down upon Haiti–from the top?

The Weather Channel Senior Meteorologist Stu Ostro, who claimed to have taken the Satellite shot, decided he was going to make Hurricane Matthew look like a skull. Chiefly, it is the devil’s image on that skull that best shows Haiti’s spiritual warfare and theodicy. Mr. Ostro has also decided this is a fair representation of Haiti as a country that has been cursed by the Devil himself. He is unapologetic about this ideological representation, which tells a pseudo-narrative about the Haitian people: the demonization of Haitian history, and American media’s projection about the plight and spiritual crisis of the Haitian people.

Interestingly, this same Meteorologist did not represent (equally) visually the destructive intervention of Hurricane Matthew in Cuba, Jamaica, Miami, the Florida Treasure Coast, St. Augustine, Georgia, and South Carolina–which have also been affected by the same Tropical Storm. Why Haiti?

Seven words summarize Mr. Ostro’s racist attitude toward Haiti: Haiti has been cursed by the Devil!

This is another example of American media and scientific racism which shows no empathy to black tragedy and the suffering of the Haitian people.

*Interestingly, Paul Meyer, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Earth Science Office, told CNN that the skull’s “teeth” are cold convective clouds.”

http://www.cnn.com/…/05/health/hurricane-matthew-skull-trnd/

 

Writing in the Dark in the Midst of the Storm: Theological Reflections about God, natural disasters, and the inevitable aftermath human suffering?

Dr. Celucien Joseph Uncategorized

Writing in the Dark in the Midst of the Storm: Theological Reflections about God, natural disasters, and the inevitable aftermath human suffering?

 I couldn’t sleep Thursday night while Hurricane Matthew was passing by–with  incredible violence and aggression–in Fort Pierce, Florida where I live; rather than sleeping, I was writing in the dark of a category 4 storm. Rather keeping my eyes closed, on that dreadful night, writing about the fragility of life  and the certainty of death in this world has suddenly become a therapeutic moment for me to express my frustrations, disappointments, a sense of hopelessness–giving the fact that science and we humans cannot STOP natural disasters.  My ultimate problem was not/is not science or human knowledge; it was/is God himself. God has become THE PROBLEM in the dark in the midst of the Tropical Storm. 

On the other hand, I must confess that I’m a Calvinist theologically in the sense that I believe firmly in the comprehensive sovereignty and total control of God over natural disasters and human history, and that even natural disasters like deadly and powerful earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, tropical storms, etc. do not take God by surprise, threaten his exhaustive power and sovereignty, and lessen his glorious majesty and overarching governance .

 Why did our prayers fail God’s attention? 
We prayed to God to save our lives, our friends, and safeguard our belongings.

In the case of Haiti, for example, Hurricane Matthew has taken both the lives and belongings of Christians and non-Christians, theists and non-theists, Vodouizan and  non-Vodou practitioners? 

How to think theologically about God, natural disasters, and the inevitable aftermath human suffering?

How to help Hurricane Matthew Victims in Haiti by Dr. Bertin Louis, Jr. 

Dr. Celucien Joseph Uncategorized

How to help Hurricane Matthew Victims in Haiti by Dr. Bertin Louis, Jr. 
In addition to my previous post about how to help Hurricane victims in Haiti, allow me to share a few more words of advice about donations from a friend, Dr. Bertin Louis, Jr.

” Some people have asked me about Haiti and what you can do in light of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Matthew.

Here’s what you SHOULD NOT DO:

DO NOT DONATE A CENT TO THE RED CROSS.

Here’s a quote from a recent article about the Red Cross’s “efforts” in Haiti: 

“Since the 2010 Haiti earthquake NPR and ProPublica went in search of the nearly $500 million and found a string of poorly managed projects, questionable spending and dubious claims of success, according to a review of hundreds of pages of the charity’s internal documents and emails, as well as interviews with a dozen current and former officials.

The Red Cross says it has provided homes to more than 130,000 people, but the number of permanent homes the charity has built is six.”

DO NOT COLLECT IN-KIND GOODS TO SEND TO HAITI. 

Lessons learned from 2004 (Hurricane Jeanne) and 2010 (earthquake) is that these in-kind donations:

a) Destroy the local economy and destabilize the communities. Despite the media portrayals of Haiti, many of the goods you find here in the US can be found in Haiti. Merchants sell rice, canned goods, clothing, etc. So, how can they compete with free? 

b) Cause logistical and financial problems. You will need to collect/ package the goods, get them through customs in US and Haiti, and have a mechanism for distribution inside the country. Many groups in 2010 were stuck with a stockpile of goods that never made it to the intended people. Use your money, time and energy wisely.

c) Lead to an overabundance of some goods and a short supply of others. We see a number of well-intentioned organizations, churches, politicians hosting collection drives but without an official assessment of what is needed on the ground, the collections may end up being futile and leading to same problems as mentioned above. So, if a decision is made to take in-kind donations, the advice given is to wait for the official assessment of needed items.

Here’s WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Donate. Preferably to an organization on the ground with a solid reputation of delivering on its mission.  Here’s a list of Haitian NGOs that you can donate to.  I list Haitian NGOs here because, as the Haitian Embassy has mentioned in a previous Tweet sent out after Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti: 

“Hold off on clothes & food drives until assessments have been completed by those on the ground to avoid past mistakes”.  

Those “past mistakes” refers to donating to international aid organizations like Red Cross.  If you donate to a Haitian NGO, that aid will get to those affected on the ground.

HAITIAN-BASED ORGANIZATIONS:

MADRE (https://www.madre.org/)

Lambi Fund of Haiti (http://www.lambifund.org/)

Sowaseed (http://sowaseedonline.org/)

Haiti Communitere (http://haiti.communitere.org/)  

Sakala Haiti (http://www.sakala-haiti.org/)  

SOIL Haiti (https://www.oursoil.org/)

Konbit Solèy Leve (http://www.konbitsoleyleve.com/)

Volontariat pour le Développement d’Haïti (http://www.vdhhaiti.org/)

Fondation Aquin Solidarité (https://hibiscus-haiti.org/projects/fondation-aquin-solidarite-fas-park-design/)

GARR (http://www.garr-haiti.org/)

Hope for Today Outreach (https://hopefortodayoutreach.org/) 

If there are any other Haitian organizations that you know of, please tag them and/or add them to this list and share with others.  If you know of any Haitian NGOs that are in Jeremie, Port-à-Piment, Les Cayes, Port Salut, Dame Marie, Pestel, Aquin, St Louis de Sud, and Leogane, please post links for them so people can direct funds to places where aid is needed and can get in the hands of those who need it most.

Here are some non-Haitian organizations with proven track records of helping and partnering with Haitians:

NON-HAITIAN ORGS WITH PROVEN TRACK RECORDS IN 

HAITI:

Doctors without Borders (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/)

Roots of Development (http://www.rootsofdevelopment.org/)

Partners in Health (http://www.pih.org/)

Border of Lights (http://www.borderoflights.org/)

Nova Hope for Haiti (http://www.novahope.org/)

IJDH (http://www.ijdh.org/)

Thank you for your time and attention. My hope is that whatever aid that is intended for helping Haitians in this dire time will get directly to my people.  

Keep Haiti and others in the path of Hurricane Matthew in your thoughts.”—Bertin Louis

How to Help Hurricane Matthew Victims in Haiti

Dr. Celucien Joseph Uncategorized

If you want to make a donation to those affected by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, please send your donations to the address listed below:
Hope for Today Outreach (HTO)

P.O. Box 7353

Port Saint Lucie, FL 34985

Or you contact us below:

By Phone

772-985-0696

• By Email

customers@hopefortodayoutreach.org

By the way, among the other items we’re taking to the Hurricane Matthew Victims in Southern Haiti (i.e. Les Cayes: Chardonniere), we just purchased 300 “185Lumens Waterproof Portable Outdoor Camping Lantern solar Lamp Rechargeable Emergency Tent Light with USB Hook” for $ 1374.00 at Dhgate.com. Our goal is to purchase 1000 of them to distribute to 1000 Haitian families.

lamp

If you want to make a donation toward this goal, please click on the link below for further instructions:

https://hopefortodayoutreach.org/…/post-hurricane-matthew-…/

* We’re sorry that we will not take to Haiti any items that are already available in Haiti or American goods that will weaken Haiti’s agriculture, economy, and market.

Thank you very much
Dr. Celucien Joseph (“Doctor Lou”)
President of Hope for Today Outreach