Spirituality

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Dec 23 2010

After death life begins again

Have you ever met someone and they thought out loud, “We must have met in a former life.” Perhaps you did, if they adhere to some African and Asian traditions. Reincarnation is a topic that remains mysterious and unclear, but the lingering thought of it teases us from time to time when we meet familiar faces or come in contact with an “old soul.”

Spirits revisiting the material world is not a New Age concept accepted only by spiritual gurus and hippies. In fact, many African brothers and sisters have deep roots in the subject.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Nov 18 2010

Womanist theology missing at church

“Go touch three people and tell ‘em ‘God can.’” the preacher says on Sunday mornings in a congregation full of God fearing, hand clapping, tongue talking, praise dancing women. Children in the pew watch as Mother So-and-So and Sister Shout compete for the “who can pray the best” title for the week. But in the same instance, the two competitors kneel together, in spiritual arms against wicked and unseen forces.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Nov 11 2010

Carrying on the spirit of our ancestors

African Americans are a colorful people, who claim some of the most phenomenal talents, elaborate philosophies, and eccentric belief systems. One thing about Black religion and spirituality is that we know how to have us some church.

From the dancing and singing to the worshiping and preaching, when we get down, we get down. It would almost be appropriate to say that in church, temple, mass, mosque and whatever other service you can think of, we always seem to welcome in the spirit of the Higher Being, the ancestors, or respective spirits.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Oct 28 2010

Cleansing the body with the soul

Good health typically incorporates mind, body, and spirit. At times, it can be a balancing act trying to maintain all areas of health, but in the end it turns out to be worth the work, patience, and prayer.

One technique many holistic doctors, spiritualists, and mediators recommend is fasting, which has the potential to address all components of health at the same time.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Oct 21 2010

Similarities, differences evident

The Ambo people in Zambia call the Creator Cuta; the Bacongo people in Angola call him Nzambi; the Digo people in Kenya call God Mulungu; the Kpelle people in Liberia call the Almighty Yala; and the Ndebele people in Zimbabwe call the All Knowing Unkulukulu. These are but a few names our brothers and sisters in the Motherland call the being whom most of us call God. Living worlds apart, yet connected through ancestry and even spirituality, African Americans have long been consciously disconnected to whom we used to call God.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
California
Yvette Hollingsworth was recently named chief compliance officer for Wells Fargo & Co. Hollingsworth, who most recently served as managing director and global head of operations compliance and financial crimes compliance & risk management for Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank, will begin her new role on June 1, 2012. Hollingsworth will be based in San Francisco, and will report to Caryl Athanasiu, executive vice president and chief operational risk officer in the corporate risk group. As chief compliance officer, Hollingsworth will be responsible for ensuring that all areas of the company meet compliance management responsibilities and abide by all applicable laws and regulations. Her team will continue to provide independent oversight of business-based compliance management activities.
District of Columbia
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Los Angeles attorney Paul Watford to serve on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: “It is great news that the Senate has confirmed Paul Watford, an exceptionally talented attorney, to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has a breadth of experience as a former prosecutor and a top appellate litigator and will make an excellent addition to the federal bench. However, I am very disappointed that more of my Republican colleagues did not join us in backing this highly qualified nominee.” When Watford is sworn in, he will be only the second African American serving on the Ninth Circuit.