Dear Reader,

I would like to say thank you for your support of my blog for the past six years. I have decided to retire the Sankofa Newsletter Blog at this time to focus on new endeavors. The blog will continue to be online to serve as a resource for learning and intellectual curosity. But no new posts will be uploaded. Publishing this blog helped me grow and expand my knowledge base. I hope by sharing the information that it helped you grow as well.

The birth of this blog started by a chance conversation with a young lady in 2019. I arrived one morning to a retail chain store and gathered items to purchase. While the cashier checked me out, she asked permission to know my opinion about current socio-political events occuring in the United States. And how it would specifically effect the African American population. This unknown (to me) young lady posed very good questions and I was impressed with her search for knowledge. I answered her questions using different sources and my opinion on the matter. When I finished my explanation she said that she understood the subject better now. She ended by saying: “The Lord sent you to tell me that.” Then she added: “Where are you on social media? Why aren’t we hearing this?” I told her I was not on social media. But I have an email list that is sent to friends about pertinent news articles. I indicated would be happy to add her to the recipent list. She gave me her email address.

As I left the store, I found it interesting no other customers had entered until our conversation was over. For a few days after, I continued to think about that conversation. I had already planned to start a blog in the future that would talk mainly about science and my own research. I thought it was best to publish it once I was accepted to PhD college level studies. I began to question my plan. I prayed and asked the Lord his will for the situation. The Lord’s response to my spirit was loud and clear: “Start the blog now!” So I did. I recognized my encounter with that young lady in the store was not by chance, it was providence.

The word Sankofa originates from the Twi language of the Akan tribe of Ghana, West Africa. The formal definition of the term means: “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind” or more simply put “go back and get it.” The Akan people believe the past and the future are eternally intertwined and any pursuit of knowledge must demonstrate this philosophical understanding. Thank you for being a part of my sankofa journey. And thank you for allowing me to play a small part in your own sankofa journey.

Wishing each of you all the best!

LaSheba