African People and Money

Comment by a participant to "African People and Money,"

La Joya, St. Joseph, September 8, 2001

I have had an opportunity to thank those whose took part in and thereby made our conference, "African People and Money," a success. In my estimation, it was one of the biggest conferences that brought together many distinguished and sophisticated African persons, all concerned about looking at the economic/business dimension of our lives. Now, it's up to us to keep that flame going and find concrete way to expand what we achieved on September 8. As we go along we will outline ways in to which we should do so. In this regard, we would also expect you to send us your ideas about how we can expand. Incidentally, if there the names and e-mail addresses of others whom you feel should be included this mailing please do send them to me. We have to use every tool to stay together and organize African people's business.

I am sure you will like to know we have edited the conference tapes and are able to offer two versions of them: a thirty minute tape, made for TV; and a 100 minute tape of all the speakers, including the speech by Bill Campbell, Mayor of Atlanta. The cost of the 30-minute video is $100 (TT) or $19.95 (US); the 100-minute tape is $200 (TT) or ($35 US). The audio is $80 ($15 US). You can get copies of these tapes by calling NAEAP at 868-640-6482 or writing to NAEAP, 3 Bailey Street, Tacarigua, Trinidad, West Indies. Or, NAEAP, P.O. Box, 812098, Wellesley, MA 02482-0013. All checks should be made payable to NAEAP.

Also, we are compiling a list of all of the attendees and their business that will be reproduced in a directory called THE BLACK PAGES. Individual and/or business that would not like their names and/or businesses to be listed in this directory should write me at scudjoe@wellesley.edu and let me know. We intend to have the directory ready by January 2002. Persons/businesses/professionals, etc., who would like to take out ads in this directory, should write me at the email address above and let me know. I will let you know the cost of the various sizes (1/8; ¼; ½; full page, etc.,) within a week or so. We also intend to feature the biographies of about four to eight persons. If there is anyone who you would like to see featured, please let me know. If you would like to write a feature about any business, sports, academic, professional person in this directory please let me know by October 20. Also, please let us know if this directory should be available for a price.

Please let me hear from you on this score.

Also, I have just concluded a book, Afro-Trinbagonians: No Longer Blinded by our Eyes. Dr. Kwadwo Osei-Nyame, Lecturer of African Literature at the School for Oriental and African Studies, University of London, says in his introduction of the book:

"NAEAP's vision and ideology can be located within a familiar African existential landscape because its own struggle, a struggle to which the essays in this booklet are committed, is simply another dimension of the South African experience already mentioned.

This analogy of NAEAP's cause with that of the South African situation is not far-fetched. As an ideological project that calls for a transformative politics by affirming a clearly defined notion of self-empowerment for Afro-Trinbagonians, the organization is wrestling with very much the same kind of ordeal that Africans have experienced in South Africa."

Please order a copy of this book $80 (TT); $15 US. Make checks payable to Calaloux Publications, P.O. Box 812028, Wellesley, MA 02482. Or, 3 Bailey Street, Tacarigua, Trinidad, West Indies.

Also, you would be pleased to know that Bill Campbell, Mayor of Atlanta, will be have a function at City Hall, Atlanta, on our behalf on November 2, 2001. I hope that the Trinidad and Tobago Society of Georgia, Atlanta, will also host a reception for us on November 3. Those of you who would like to attend should let me know or call Dana Bailey Lewis at 868-640-6842. Such a visit, it seems, is a fitting follow-through for the marvelous conference we had at La Joya.

Please note that NAEAP is still looking for a home. We will like to rent (or buy) a building somewhere in the East (between Tunapuna and Barataria) to conduct our work. We have outgrown our present space and need to have a new place before the end of the year.

You may wish to send on this message to your friends for their information.

Please let me hear from you and allow me to remain,

Fraternally,
Selwyn R. Cudjoe, President

NAEAP

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