The Drum - Fall 1999

The July weekend gathering for initiates from Canada and the States was a time of relaxation, nourishment, and sharing. The gathering was held at the Umoja Sunrise Camp outside of Toronto, Canada. Paget Warner, Charmaine Prescod, and Sekou A. O. Ak-Bolan did an excellent job in the planning and coordination of the weekend.

The weekend consisted of good music, delicious West Indian Food such as: stewed Flying Fish, Fried Dumplings, Curried Mango, and etc.; fresh air, hiking, and good conversation. The Sunrise Village Camp was recently purchased by the Sunrise Investment Club with nineteen investors. Some of the investors are initiates of NROPI. The 103 acre camp has a rubberized tennis court, pond, barn, and three well-maintained air-conditioned facility/houses. The Investment Club, with 15 other investors purchased two other pieces of land totaling 393 acres in 1989 and 1991.

The total acreage including the camp is 496. The camp will be used for training, camping, conferences, meetings, weddings, and other family and community activities. Paget Warner, the Brandon Street Community Development Corporation and The Sunrise Village Investment Club are to be commended for their unity, community determination, cooperative economics and purpose in acquiring the property for development and family/community activity purposes. This example reflects a critical mass of brothers and sisters working together in the best interest of a community - theory and practice.

NROPI would like to thank Richard Talley, Redonda Beach, California for functioning as our web master for the site. His creativity and technical skills have resulted in a quality website that has provided initiates, supporters, friends, and the curious from around the world with information and a forum for sharing. As of January 1, 2000, Richard Talley will relinquish his responsibility as webmaster. Again, we want to thank Richard Talley for his invaluable time and services in creating a quality and current website.

The current edition of the Drum features articles and information on Afrocentric Rites of Passage; Mis-Education and Strategies for developing young people of African descent in England; Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa; How Africa Developed The West; The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Hr-434); The Human Rights, Opportunity, Partnership and Empowerment For Africa Act (Hope) - HR-772; Refuge Camps in Africa and Europe; African and African-American Relations; Former Inmates and the Right to Vote; American Race Massacre; Black Farmers Protest; and The Growing American Wealth Gap. The aforementioned articles and reviews represent a variety of information on topics and subjects of interest to NROPI initiates, friends, and supporters.

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