From Dakar to Tokyo: A Senegalese Musician Dances All the Way to Japan!

This month, Black Eye is proud to present the story of a Senegalese Muslim - who just happens to bear my namesake. He came to Japan 14 years ago, and brought the rich culture, music and dance of Senegal with him. And Japan is the better for it.

Here's a sneak peak:

Baye Fall’s big break coincided with his graduation from the cultural center. Open auditions were being held to find 11 new dancers to join the National Ballet of Senegal. “One-thousand-five-hundred people auditioned for these positions. They only needed three male dancers and eight female dancers,” says Abdou. “But people came from all over the country, every town and village. Because if you became a part of the National Ballet, you can get great pay and many opportunities. And only through the National Ballet can you get a license to teach African dance anywhere in the world.” The judges chose Abdou as one of the three males. It was a very big deal in Senegal. The winners were in all the newspapers and became household names. As part of the National Ballet, in 2000 he toured Europe as a cultural representative of Senegal, performing in Italy, France, Germany and Portugal. And, in 2002, it was the National Ballet that brought him to Japan.

To read MORE of this remarkable gentleman's story: CLICK HERE

Enjoy. Please share if you dig it! 

Baye

From the "Harlem of London" to the Theaters of Tokyo, One Woman's Inspiring Journey

This time around, #BlackEye brings you the remarkable story of a British woman who came to Japan with little more than a plane ticket, a passport, and passion, and was able to turn that passion into a blossoming career in the Tokyo Theater. Allow me to introduce Reina!
 Here's an excerpt from her inspiring story:

“Originally I wanted to be an actress, because I was so in love with fantasy movies, magic, witches and theater. But my mom said, ‘No, acting is too difficult.’ By the time I was 14, I was obsessed with ‘The Simpsons.’ And then I heard Nancy Cartwright’s story — that she was considered too ugly to be an actress, and when she was offered a chance to audition for the voice of Lisa Simpson, was told she should try Bart. And she’s become one of the most famous voice actors in the West. Hearing her story was when I had the thought: ‘OK, I won’t become an actor. I’ll become a voice actor instead.’ “Later, when I was 16, I first saw the anime film ‘Fist of the North Star.’ In the U.K. it was rated 18, and I wondered why. Then I watched it and saw all the heads exploding and the blood spraying about, and I was shocked, excited and awed all at the same time. So that led to my love of Japanese anime.” But it wasn’t until she was preparing to enter university that she had the epiphany that would eventually lead her from London to Japan!

 For more on Reina's journey from the London Ghetto to the Tokyo Stage: Click Here
 Thanks guys! If you dig Reina's story, share it! Also available at your local newsstand.

Son of Zambian Freedom Fighter Makes His Home in Japan

It has been brought to my attention that Black Eye has been fairly African-American-centered. Time to rectify that! A review of the articles I've written over the past two years reveals that, while I have tackled Jamaicans in Japan fairly extensively, and once a British woman of African descent, the rest of the people I've profiled have indeed been American. I have covered a range of activities that has diversified the view of what people of African descent engage in here, but I focused on what these people were doing more so than where they were from. So, moving forward I will endeavor to share with you guys people from more diverse beginnings, beginning with this month's profile: Axson Chalikulima, a gentleman from the Nation of Zambia.

Here's an excerpt from the piece:

  In 1984, on Summer vacation following his freshman year at University, Axson made his first trip to Japan. “I had no interest in Japan, mind you,” Axson said. “I didn’t know anything about Japan, so I came here with an open mind and an open heart. And Japan blew my mind! When I'd gone to America, I thought I had seen The World, as far as advancement and technology are concerned, but Japan...my first thought was 'what is going on here??'” Axson ran off a list of observations that awed him, like highways that were actually above the streets, and unchained, unguarded vending machines that offered alcoholic beverages. By the time he returned to Connecticut, so taken was he with his summer in Japan that America lost its appeal. So he decided to alter the trajectory of his life once again. “I was intrigued by Japan, and I became really inquisitive. I wanted to know more, and decided I needed to be at ground zero. I've lived around the world and when you live in another country or another culture, you have to become a child again because only then can you learn without judging.”  This approach allowed him to see things about Japan that he feels some non-Japanese people who live here tend to miss.  For more on the valuable life lessons learned living in Japan and around the world, as well as the philosophy he developed to navigate life in Japan:

CLICK HERE

After 30 years in Japan, teacher from Zambia is still learning

The First Time President Obama Spoke To Me

You know, I was sitting here thinking why has this speech, this moment, moved me so much! And I think I've figured it out...

Bear with me.

This was not the first homerun speech I've heard the President make...not even close. In fact, his greatest homerun speech was also delivered in Philadelphia back in 2008, in the midst of that Jeremiah Wright "God Damn America" race scandal.

No, it wasn't just that he gave a great speech.

Let me explain.

I've gone thru phases with Barack.

Initially I think I was so taken with him because, well, he was a black man on the world's stage, holding his own and being taken very seriously as a candidate to lead the country, versus a candidate that by all accounts was a shoo-in to win. I'm talking Hillary, here.

He was taken seriously in places where I had believed it was impossible for a black man to be taken seriously. In that heartland he described in the speech. In places like Iowa! I was like 'get the eff outta here! He won in IOWA?" Yep, Iowa.

After that he had my, and the country's, undivided attention. This was no Jesse Jackson.

Then in New Hampshire, where he got licked by Hillary, even in defeat, he gave the speech that defined his campaign, the much vaunted "Yes We Can" speech...and then he was off to the races, taking a healthy number of the remaining primaries and caucuses along the way, and giving moving speeches throughout.

The crowds kept swelling, and the rhetoric kept soaring.

And I was rapt.

The next phase of my Barack adoration, was once I was over the "black" thing, and started focusing in on the message and how effective it was.

Change. Hope. America Made ME Possible. More Unites Us Than Divides Us. Yes We Can. We Are Not Blue States and Red States, We're The UNITED States. 

While there have always been black leaders, and scholars, and thinkers who were eloquent and thoughtful, most of them either for some reason intimidated the masses, were incapable of connecting with them, or were taken from us much too soon. Few sought the political top slot. So I was so thrilled that finally there was a black man that white people felt comfortable listening to, who was saying the things that needed to be said in a way that not only didn't result in people retreating to their racial silos, but actually galvanized people into activism on his campaign's behalf.

He was telling people who needed to hear it, and were indeed eager to hear it, that the time had come to embrace change, to insist upon it, even. That anything less was beneath the dignity of Americans. He implored them to find the audacity to hope, to unearth the courage to face the adversities ahead, and rise above the pettiness that has held us back and kept us divided. He inspired people to reject the notions that have deprived us of our best and brightest (which he clearly represented) for far too long. That only together can we accomplish this.

He utilized universal values and unifying principles, to sell people on the idea of a truly UNITED states. And people felt compelled to agree with him (or at least indulge him), or face up to the fact that they were hypocrites and that America was not a democracy, just an hypocrisy wearing the mask of a republic.

I LOVED that people had begun to actually listen and respond...In HUGE numbers, on all the stations, all over the internet, all over the world. People were showing him unprecedented love.

White people.

He was talking to them.

I never felt I was the target of those speeches. And if I were the target, then he was preaching to the choir.

  

Many black Americans (I wanna say most) knew (believed) that it was mostly the attitudes of many White Americans that was keeping the United States of America from uniting, from being the great country many a president had had the audacity to call it over the centuries. In addition to hard work and ingenuity, black Americans survived 400 years of tyranny and genocide due to our faith, the audacity to hope, and our prayers for change, imploring the Creator to show our oppressors the light so that WE, our country, might become a more perfect union. We prayed God would teach them, our former masters, the true meaning of freedom, and the error of their ways.

So, nah, he didn't have to tell us that change was imperative. That would be redundant.

******

When I went to Pennsylvania in 2008 to canvass door to door for the Obama campaign, in lily white communities, I was greeted fearlessly with open arms. I was the one afraid.

It was shocking. And beautiful. It felt miraculous, what he was accomplishing.

Saviour-type miraculous.

I began to feel pride at being an American...for the FIRST time in my life! Just like Michelle Obama had said in 2008. I felt the SAME way she felt. THIS was an America I had never seen before, and frankly didn't think was possible.

Today, marked a new first.

For today, I didn't listen to Barack and feel his eloquence was aimed solely at White Americans.

Well, yeah, there was a portion of that speech that was aimed at Republicans (majority white). That whole section about the values of his white Grandparents and of the heartland...that was, no doubt, aimed at republicans who aren't feeling Trump's bombast, braggadocio and utter lack of humility, and don't feel Trump represents their values at all. Barack clearly intended to snatch up some stray independent and republican votes for Hillary.

But for the FIRST time in 12 years, I felt a speech of his, THIS speech, spoke directly to ME!!

I was the democrat that he felt needed inspiration.

I was the one demonizing Hillary.

I was the one who entertained the notion of a Trump presidency longer than any rational person should.

I was the one unable to see that America IS in better shape than it was, focused as I was, almost solely and justifiably on issues of injustice and inhumanity against black bodies (issues which have not been resolved).

I was the one ready to throw out the baby with the bathwater, who was beginning to believe wholeheartedly that America needs an industrial-sized enema and Trump fits the bill.

I felt sad, cynical, angry, disillusioned, disenchanted.

My forecast danced dangerously and intimately with apathy and despair. I needed something I was beginning to believe did not exist.

Until today.

Until Barack spoke to ME, cut through my cynicism like a chainsaw through oak.

I don't wanna over dramatize it. But I felt the need to mark this as a turning point in my attitude towards the current state of my country and the world, and prospects for the future.

Leaders are supposed to find and bring out the best in people, or remind them that they too are leaders. And leaders should use their time and energy to bring out the best in themselves and others. Obama does that. And clearly Hillary has as well.

Today's speech did that for me. Just another reason to love the man, I guess.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Baye

To My White and Japanese Friends (Who are not Aliens):

Over the past days / weeks / months / hell, years (smh) quite a number of my white (and some of my Japanese) friends, upon reading my pieces or posts regarding ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬, or black feelings in general, say something to the extent of: "I sympathize with you but I can't truly empathize because I'm not black" or "I don't feel it's my place to be outraged or to express outrage over what's happening because I'm not black, therefore I'm racially incapable of fully grasping the situation emotionally." If these generalities are not you, then this is not meant for you. For those of you who these statements do represent to some extent the thoughts that go through your head, I wanna help you out because PERHAPS you are an ally, and BLM needs all the non-black allies it can get. Try this: imagine a close friend of yours, one of your black friends, a guy or girl you know to be of the finest quality person...imagine waking to find a Youtube video in your feed of him / her being stopped at a traffic light, getting into a dispute with a white police officer, in a heated exchange, saying something to the officer you might perceive as escalating the situation like, "Who the fuck do you think you are, talking to me like that??? Show me the same goddamn respect you'd show me if I were white! It's my motherfucking taxes that pay your salary, too!!"

And then suddenly having his or her brain splattered all over the car's interior (See John Travolta vs That Black Guy in Pulp Fiction -- or dig through the archives of black snuff films on Youtube -- there's sure to be one that'll help you with the visualization if you need visual aides)

 

Now imagine the district attorney, friend to the cops, refuses to indict. And your president refuses to instruct the justice department to get involved (though it's clear from the lines he drops in speech after speech that he gets it!). Now imagine that cop has been reprimanded in years past for brutality, or has been admonished for his unseemly (for a law enforcement officer working in a black community) ties to certain fringe white supremacist groups. And after a six month paid leave he's transferred to another area and resumes his career. Just in time for the one year anniversary of the "accidental" slaying of your friend.

How would you feel? Do you feel like there's been an injustice done? Do you feel like your friend would be alive now if not for his / her skin color? Do you think, knowing that no one is to be punished for this "accident", that their life was lost in a manner that indicated that it didn't really matter much? How would you feel if you checked the feed and every other story contains a video of your friend's demise? How would you feel if the biggest story on the network news that night is the ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE people feel over the killing of a lion by a fucking dentist? People are going absolutely apeshit because this guy took a picture with the lion and had the audacity to post it online for the world to see!

 

 How would you feel if the comments attached to the video of your friend's death say things like "N----r had it coming to him! Shoulda known better than to talk to cops that way! Betcha the next n----r'll show some respect for the badge!" Or if your liberal white friends say things like, "ALL Lives Matter!" "Blue Lives Matter More! They're heroes, and they've got a right to go home to their families every night!"

 How would you feel when you see your friend's mother, distraught, overwhelmed with grief, say to you something like, "thank you for your kindness, for being a friend to my baby. He/She really treasured your friendship, spoke of you often..." How would you feel if a couple of days / weeks later, there's a rerun of this incident / accident. Not your friend this time. Just some random black person. BUT, almost the same circumstances (traffic stop, angry compliance, same excuse - he/she reached for a gun, had a knife, wouldn't follow my orders, I was scared for my life!) same cellphone / street cam videos, same fiery protests, same indifference from your friends, same bullshit, and essentially the SAME outcome. Only thing different is your friends are done with the Lion story and have moved on Trump (the so-called new Hitler) or other current events of consequence...

 

Now this part I don't expect you to be able to imagine, but try. Imagine it happens again, and again, and again...imagine it has been happening since your friend was a child. Since his/her parents were children. Since his/her grandparents were children. Just that then it wasn't on video. Wasn't even televised, never made the news even. And it wasn't just cops doing the "accidenting" It was the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker, with white hoods over their heads. For almost the same reason...some n----g got uppity and lipped off, or had an uppity look in his eye...

How do you feel? Feel like you could cry? Feel like you could scream? Feel hopeless? Feel angry? Feel tired? Feel emotionally exhausted? Feel like fighting? Feel like you could destroy something...EASILY? Feel panicky? Fear for your family's safety? Fear for your own safety? Feel like you could kill somebody that actually matters, (cuz obviously your friend and people who favor your friend do not)? Feel like if this is as good as life gets, why would I wanna stay here?

Feel like LOVE is gonna come and save the day? Feel like Jesus is gonna come back and save you from this hellish earthly existence if you follow his word? Do you? Of course you do! Cuz you're human. You'd have to be a fucking alien not to feel this!

 So PLEASE stop telling me you can't identify completely. You can. Just takes an effort.

 So what you gonna do now?

Unpacking the Question: "Are Black People Safer in Japan than in The US?"

 As a black American living in Japan, I'm often asked questions like "Are Black People safer in Japan than in the US?" or "Wouldn't you rather be here in Japan in the throes of safety than in the US perpetually in harm's way?" I endeavor to address this and other very complicated questions with my latest #BlackEye! Check it out! Here's an excerpt:

At the age of 7, I learned that racist cops kill black people they’re supposed to serve and protect, including kids, and that an unjust justice system will serve and protect the killers. That was the year 10-year-old Clifford Glover was slain by a cop in Queens, New York. The police officer that did the killing was actually indicted and tried for murder (a first) but ultimately acquitted (not the last). And, upon his acquittal, I found myself in the midst of a protest on behalf of a previous iteration of Black Lives Matter. (There have been several in my lifetime, and more before then.)

This demonstration was attended by everyone I knew, including my entire extended family. Even my teachers, classmates, their parents and the headmaster of my school were in attendance — several of whom were outspoken leaders of the event. We were all in dashikis, gowns and gele head ties, combat boots and dungarees suits, Afros and cornrows — black, beautiful, and mad as hell that this cop was set free.

Click Here for MORE

If you can dig it, drop a comment on the Japan Times site with your thoughts! Loco

Taking a Stand for Refugees in Japan

Black Eye marks its two-year anniversary with the story of a refugee advocate who goes the extra mile for Asylum-seekers here in Japan.

 His name is Alex Easley, and his story is truly a remarkable one! Here's an excerpt:

The debate over Japan’s rock-bottom refugee recognition rate rages on. According to the Justice Ministry, out of 7,586 applicants in 2015 (up from 5,000 in 2014), Japan only recognized 27 as refugees (up from 11 the previous year). While supporters of asylum seekers condemn this high number of rejections, particularly of those applicants fleeing persecution or violence, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has argued that Japan needs to improve conditions for its own citizens — especially women and the elderly — before tackling the issue of refugees. Fortunately for these vulnerable people, though, there are organizations here like the Japan Association for Refugees that exist to help meet the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, provide them with relevant legal and social assistance, and advocate for their rights in this country. And then there are individuals who go the extra mile to help refugees in Japan — people like Alex Easley, an American expat who provides humanitarian support to recently released detainees via the prison ministry of Tokyo Baptist Church. A native of Pittsburgh, Easley originally came to Japan as a singer and fashion model more than 40 years ago.

Read More about Alex Easley HERE!

 

 We're celebrating two years of sharing black lives, enterprise and experiences in Japan for the world to see! Thank you all for continuing to support my efforts, this little labor of love. I'm very proud of the work thus far and as long as the need exists I will endeavor to continue to make our stories accessible to all!

 Love, Baye