EP 89 - THE AFRICAN DREAM

 

In This Episode:

 
When you hear the phrase "The American Dream," at least 5 things come to mind, and I bet you 4 out of those 5 things would also come to the next persons' mind. But, when I say 'The African Dream' ... *silence*. We, especially Africans both at home and in the diaspora, are so overtaken by our need to survive the hardships in Africa that we sometimes forget to stop and DREAM. What is your dream for Africa and the children of Africa? 
What is THE AFRICAN DREAM?

Mentioned In This Episode:

1. Nigeria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria

2. Montana State University (A Night in Africa 2.0): https://www.msuexponent.com/culture/a-night-in-africa-challenges-the-single-story-of-a-continent/article_53921eda-a0b5-11ec-8333-cbe1c48baf62.html

3. Wilmot Collins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmot_Collins

4. Umu Igbo Unite Dllas: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbD3SaKrBXE/

5. Aba Women’s Riot: https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/aba-womens-riots-november-december-1929/ 

Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excusemyafrican 

EP 73 - African Children In The Lockdown (Part 2)

In This Episode: 

In the last episode, I raised my concerns about the less privileged children in Africa, and how they can’t get an education due to the Coronavirus lockdown. These children do not have internet access, so how do we expect them to be able to participate in online learning?

Here in the USA, most families have internet access and laptops. Several states have also decided to dedicate certain hours during the day to teach children via television. Is this something we can do as well in Africa? 

Mentioned In This Episode:

1 Coronavirus- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

2 Zoom- https://zoom.us/

3 Tynker- https://www.tynker.com/

4 WFAA Academy - https://www.wfaa.com/

Connect:

Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com

Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/

Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com

Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/ 

EP 72 - African Children In The Lockdown

In This Episode:

When the Coronavirus lockdown began, my kid's schools in America reached out to us and asked if we needed laptops and help with internet access so our kids can continue to do their school work from home.

This got me wondering about the less privileged children in Africa. How are they getting their work done? What are we doing to help? What is the government doing to help?

Mentioned In This Episode:

1 Coronavirus- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html 2 Zoom- https://zoom.us/ 3 Tynker- https://www.tynker.com/ 4 Khan Academy- https://www.khanacademy.org/ 5 United Nations - https://www.un.org/en/

Connect:

Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/ Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/

EP 37 - Can Your Kids Survive?

 
In This Episode:

I was watching a documentary a few weeks ago and was surprised when I found out that a lot of children between the ages of 9 & 13 could not tell the time on an analog clock, only on a digital clock. It made me wonder whether the advancement in technology is doing our children more harm than good.

Growing up in Africa, we are taught to handle things with and without the assistance of technology. This is what informed the quote ‘Throw an African man anywhere and he will learn to adapt’ to life.

Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/

EP 36 - Gender Neutrality

In This Episode:

About a week ago, my daughters went to an ‘anti-prom party’ in the city and they had a blast!

However, of all the memories they made that night, the one that would probably never leave her mind was when she had to use the bathroom only to realize that the bathrooms at the venue were gender neutral.

I believe that everyone should be allowed to live their truth and be themselves freely, but do you think maybe allowing young boys and girls, who are in the stage of discovery and curiosity; use the same bathroom at the same time might just be taking it too far?

Mentioned In This Episode:
1. Anti-Prom Party: https://www.nypl.org/education/teens/anti-prom
2. NYC Public Library: https://www.nypl.org/
3. Gender Neutral Bathrooms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unisex_public_toilet

Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/

EP 35 - Teaching Your Kids Your Language

In This Episode:

I am talking about the importance of teaching your children how to speak your local African language, especially if you live outside of the continent of Africa.

It is important that our children stay connected to their roots because there would come a time where the world would turn back to Africa, and you do not want them to be considered the lost ones when that happens.

Mentioned In This Episode:
1. Pidgin English: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English-based_pidgins
2. Igbo Language: http://aboutworldlanguages.com/igbo
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
4. Obyno Daddy Muna: https://www.instagram.com/obynodaddymuna/
5. ESL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language

Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/

EP 31 - American Schools

In This Episode:

A lot of American School Students are very privileged and sometimes, I think some take it for granted. We have some very great schools in Africa, but a majority of the schools, especially those funded by the government; aren’t the best.

So you can imagine my shock when I hear that some students in this First World Country complained about ‘their rights being violated, and the school authorities not caring about them’ because their SODAS had been reduced, and they were given more vegetables at their FREE lunch.

Sometimes people need to see what others are going through in other parts of the world so that they can value where they are and the privileges they have.

Mentioned In This Episode:
1. Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com/

Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/

EP 9 - Cartoons & Pornography

In This Episode:

I found out something about a month ago that absolutely blew my mind. It is crazy what our kids could be exposed to.

Some sick individuals decided to create a porn industry out of cartoon characters. What kills me the most, is that some even sicker individuals decided that it would be a great idea to create porn using cartoon characters from shows that our children love.

This episode is aimed at parents and guardians. We need to be very careful and do what’s necessary to protect our kids from the evils of this world.

Mentioned In This Episode:
1.  Stella Damasus Blog - (THIS POST IS FOR 18+ ONLY) http://www.stelladamasusblog.com/2017/08/why-your-child-could-be-watching-porn.html
2. Youtube - https://www.youtube.com
3. iPad - https://www.apple.com/ipad/
4. App Store - https://www.apple.com/ios/app-store/
5. Google Play Store - https://play.google.com/store?hl=en

Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/

EP 6 - WRONG PARENTING

In This Episode: 

“My 4 year old told me he is gay” … 

How can a 4-year-old, who hasn’t been involved in any sexual activity know his sexual preference? 

These are the exact thoughts that came to my mind when I heard a couple on TV make that statement. What could this child have been exposed to? What have these parents allowed their child to see or even do? It’s a whole different case when it’s a young adult or an adult, that fully understands what sex and sexual preferences are, but with a child, I think that’s just not right. 

As parents, we should not forget that our first job is to raise our children before anything else. Call me old-fashioned, call me a typical ‘African Parent’, but there are somethings that I just can’t agree with. 

Mentioned In This Episode:

1. Mental Health 

2. Doctors

3. Pediatrician 

4. Psychology 

5. Sex Education Expert

Connect:

Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com

Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/ 

Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com

Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/

EPISODE 4: TALK ABOUT SEX

In This Episode:

Growing up in Africa, parents hardly ever talked to their children about SEX. In fact, sex is probably not even brought up until you are married.

So of course, a lot of us children went exploring this mysterious thing called Sex. Some of us where lucky but others made grave mistakes that cost them too much.

It is important for us to have this conversation. Talk about sex, you might just be saving your children from some of the horrible things that come with having unprotected and casual sex. 

Mentioned In This Episode:
1. Sex Education
2. Sex Education Center - http://www.sexedcenter.org
3. MTV Shuga - http://www.mtvshuga.com
4. Youtube - www.youtube.com

Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/

EPISODE 3 - SLEEPOVERS

In This Episode:

When my kids were much younger, we had this on going battle about sleepovers. They always got invited to different people’s houses for sleepovers, but I wasn’t a fan of the idea. Especially if I didn’t know a lot about the person's family.
To many, I was being overprotective, but to me, I was doing what I felt was right.

I’m going to share some of the reasons why I made this decision, and hope that it will be of help to someone out there.

Mentioned In This Episode:
1. Stella Damasus Blog - http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
2. Baileys

Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/ 

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