Overcoming! with MaddyG

“It is not necessary that you believe that the officer who choked Eric Garner set out that day to destroy a body. All you need to understand is that the officer carries with him the power of the American state and the weight of an American legacy, and they necessitate that of the bodies destroyed every year, some wild and disproportionate number of them will be black.” ― Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me

Take this journey with your Bronx Warrior Goddess as you hear what happened to us in Baltimore, and the bonds of friendship that withstood extreme fear, danger, incarceration, and repression at every level. Judy, Turco and I had been in the Patriot Party/Rainbow Coalition where together we had faced much harassment by the police. We were also put in prison under martial law while living underground in Montreal. But it wasn’t until Baltimore that we felt the full and terrifying brunt of the brutality and intimidation tactics used by law enforcement.  It was also a time when there was a huge campaign to destroy the Panther Party. Neutralizing and discrediting them in every way possible, when in fact, they were providing protection and much needed community services to very underserved neighborhoods. We were all war buddies, and the harassment only served to bring us closer and create unbreakable bonds that time, distance and even death cannot destroy. Next week you will hear how my training and experience with the Rainbow Coalition gave me some of the skills and courage to help me save my daughter's life in her battle with cancer. So listen up! Talk about Kicking some Ass!

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. Thomas Aquinas

“You’re not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth and raging courage.” — Alex Elle

The saga continues... the Patriot Party fell apart and I was at a total loss.  I'd given up everything to be a part of this group and the Rainbow Coalition.  I had nothing now.  And then I heard from Judy and my "underground" life began.  Follow this Bronx Warrior Goddess as I talk about  living underground, being arrested, and then moving to Baltimore where Art was incarcarated in the Baltimore City Jail.  It was a surreal time.  A time of fear, courage, love, and deep friendships. It was the deep friendships that saw us through. We were all truly war buddies. Hear more about how life unfolded in some of the most tumultuous times in this country and the world.

“The caged bird sings with a fearful trill,

“We've got to face the fact that some people say you fight fire best with fire, but we say you put fire out best with water. We say you don't fight racism with racism. We're gonna fight racism with solidarity.”― Fred Hampton

This podcast is the second of a short series of how I became politically awakened and had the honor and privilege to be part of the millions of people who devoted their lives to end racism, oppression and injustice. Take this journey with your Bronx Warrior Goddess as I talk about being a member of the Patriot Party, and part of the Rainbow Coalition with the Black Panther Party and Young Lords. This series is a testament to people and a movement that overcame incredible odds, facing constant repression, murder and incarceration. We were a multi national/ethnic/racial coalition that served and protected our communities.  Hear stories of courage under fire, and how life unfolded in some of the most tumultuous times in this country and the world. And how we definitely kicked some ass! Please distribute, support, subscribe! These are also your stories! We are part of history!

“Being hungry is the hardest thing, & to this day I have prayers of gratitude for the Black Panthers, who made Breakfast for Children a thing that schools should do. We qualified for free lunch & breakfast, & without them I am almost sure we wouldn't have made it out of childhood alive despite my hardworking parents.”

If I hadn't "spoken up" time after time after time, month after month, year after year... or been nervous about speaking up to "authority," Cristina never would have survived the transplant, or survive as long as she did.   Speaking up comes first from my heart and some innate sense of "right and wrong"   My heart, then combined with the political education I received, led me to the numerous actions I took throughout my life. I have a thing about "fairness,” and what I did politically and really, my whole life, stems from that.  Over the decades, there has been, and still is, so much hardship, struggle and injustice... tumultuous times then and tumultuous times now. This makes me continue to "speak up." It's time, and I need to, tell my stories about my political awakening and how my life unfolded! No matter whether we like it or not, our lives are intertwined with world events.  So Listen up! and together we'll kick some ass!

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Maya Angelou.

DANCING IN THE MOURNING

“If you hit a wall, climb over it, crawl under it, or dance on top of it.” Unknown

Hi, This is MaddyG, your Bronx Warrior Goddess, with my very first podcast and, of course, it’s about Dancing! Take this journey with me from my very unhappy childhood to my young adulthood; to living my life’s dream; my own cancer diagnosis; my daughter’s illness and death, and now to the present time. Dancing has been the fountain from which I’ve found healing, processing and the ability (need) to transform adversity into joy and beauty.  I’ve had many walls to climb over and under but somehow dancing has allowed me to keep getting up over and over again. In my life dancing is connected with much trauma and pain, and it is also the medicine that tunes me into my inner Healer, Warrior and Goddess.  Whatever you need to overcome, no matter what life throws at you… Trust yourself! Believe in yourself! and DO IT! We can overcome anything together! So  Listen Up!

It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed. Doe Zantamata

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXnjy5YlDwk