source: Library of Congress
source: Library of Congress

The mediocre have no importance except through appointment. They feel invaded and defeated by the presence of creative folk among them.
Zora Neale Hurston

As the old schoolers used to say “She’s quite a pistol.” Folklorist, author, anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston was evasive about her true age for many years, but is estimated to have been about 69 when she died of hypertensive heart disease in 1960. That’s eight years before President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the medicaid and medicare bill into law. Her literary Harlem Renaissance soul brother Langston Hughes (poet) died at age 65 in 1967. Would access to quality and affordable health care have given them 5 to 7 more years to write the blues? Enquiring minds are wondering these days.

Speaking of Zora…and writers, my friend, poet and literary activist Ethelbert Miller has a message from author Edwidge Danticat on how you can help the people in Haiti suffering from hurricaine damages and losses.

I wrote to Edwidge Danticat and asked her to recommend an organization folks could make donations to in order to help the people of Haiti.

She mentioned The Lambi Fund. Here is a link to their site: http://www.lambifund.org/

What you do can make a difference.

I’ll post more information as I get it for relief programs for Florida, the Gulf Coast and other communities hit by Gustav, Hanna and now Ike. Probably the Equity and Inclusion Campaign is the best place for information on recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast, and the Red Cross for immediate relief efforts. Additional suggestions are welcomed.