blackgirl on mars: notes on a life in copenhagen (or how my alienation brings me closer to people).

I wonder if Columbus dreamed of me from aboard the shaky ship that sailed the seas was I upon his broken heart when he took the world apart? Did he see me reflecting in the Oceans daring to disband the shackles of humans? Or did he ask for forgiveness first devouring Paradises with an unquenchable thirst? I wonder if Columbus thought of me, as he set forth upon unsailed Seas how much a change to the destiny of me... I console myself remind myself that he was a disciple of God, that he could not know the infinity of love but still I wonder if Columbus dreamed of me as he set upon the Seven Seas a little girl on her grandmother's knees an island her home ...for ancestors never to be. Forgotten.

Different? What makes us different? Are we really that different, as we say we are? The way I am, the way you are, the way we are! For me different is our personality, our cultures, our identity, our looks. Different can mean a lot. But we are all the same no matter what we say we are. We all live in this world and go through the same things; it’s just about the way we go through it and that’s what makes us different from each other. I was born in Denmark, but my parents are born in Somalia and I’ve always thought about myself being different from the people I live next to. I call myself Somali even if though I’m born in Denmark. So are we really that different as we say we are? I don’t think we are. Written by Zanubia A. O

Gillion Granstaan (Surinam, the Netherlands, Denmark) Lesley-Ann Brown (USA, Trinidad & Tobago, Denmark)

phati’tude, an emphatic attitude towards contemporary literature, is a series of initiatives that foster understanding of and respect for cultural diversity through literature and media literacy. Born from the need to change a static mindset on the written word, our website provides a forum for poets, writers and educators with diverse voices and perspectives. phati’tude programs are the cornerstone of the IAAS. phati’tude Literary Magazine, is a quarterly publication that publishes poetry, fiction and essays written by both emerging and established writers of diverse origins whose works exhibit social, political and cultural awareness. Every issue offers readers riveting reviews, in-depth interviews, penetrating essays, a wonderful selection of artwork and photography; and a wide range of prose, short stories and poetry from the U.S. and around the world. phati’tude Literary Magazine is available on sale at amazon.com . www.phatitude.org This issue features essays by Marie Arana,...

Copenhagen Cool is a series of portraits about all the amazing people whose paths I cross during my sojourn here in Denmark. For the first portrait in this series, meet Barbara Berger: a spiritual sister whose path reflects light and truly inspires. 1. Where are you originally from? I’m from the US. 2. When did you come to Denmark? Why? My father worked in the Pentagon – he was a high military person – and when I was 17, I had a boyfriend who got drafted to go to Vietnam (it was during the Vietnam War). We were against the war and so I ran away from home with my boyfriend. We were underground for several years and ended up getting political asylum in Sweden. So I lived in Sweden for 2 years before I met a Dane and moved to Denmark. I’ve lived in Denmark since 1968. 3. Did you always know you would write books? Yes. I have written since I was a kid. My first published book was about this journey and the youth rebellion in the US against the Vietnam War. The book was called “The Journey...

This was back in 1997 and my girl Margarita Corporan took the shots. I will interview him again.