Lucy Hurston Ruby Dee Alice Walker Sonia Walker Zora Neale Hurston Their Eyes Were Watching God is 75 years old. Five black women making declarations Mother-leaders all Talking together, speaking freedom into Existence for our time, Speaking stories into Existence for our time, Moms granting being for our time Moms giving blood and birth to the earth...says Sonia Sanchez And taking a risk to speak their experience for others Reminds me of Kaye Hayes 1972 Freedom Lecture which Walt E just digitized for the new Archives and Kaze Gadway whom Mike May just put on TV In the 21 C the Freedom Lecture seems to go public and declare in this way Exposed, Disciplined, Lucid, Sensitive... and on a podcast or video clip Fabulous story-making, grist for a new ICA spoken-word leadership style of story-makers for the future 50 ICA years, for the 20 somethings and 30 somethings not old white guys. Grist for those who can rise to the challenge that Brian Stanfield recounts in his book "the Courage to Lead" when the Joe Pierce is asked in the Lusaka Airport: Anything to declare, Mr Pierce? Know how to speak into the microphone with your own words? Got anything to declare these days? These black women-mothers definitely know how to risk and have something to declare Where to watch and listen; about an hour http://www.booktv.org/Program/13343/Panel+discussion+of+Zora+Neale+Hurstons+... I'm interested in learning how to speak declarations like Joe Pierce did in the 20th C but this for a 21st C global culture especially for the young ones, the children and their children. I'm interested in practicing my spoken word digital story-making skills to declare freedom into existence in this century, looking for a digital story-making workshop. Seems like an essential skill for the ICA-USA 50 year future to me. I just might have something to pay forward. How about you? Happy Mothers Day, -- Steve