Friday, 8 June 2007 - 3:09 PM EDT

I remember Mother Franklin primarily through my
participation in ASCAC. I attended my initial ASCAC
meeting in New York in 1998 (where I met Bro. Runoko
for the first time), when during the various plenary
sessions I would hear someone shout from the back of
the auditorium 'TEACH.' I learned later this person
was the esteemed elder Mother Franklin. I would
subsequently see her at other ASCAC conferences or
gatherings where the business of African history,
culture and liberation were being discussed. I don't
recall the particular meeting but I do remember Mother
Franklin holding audience with a group of us while
lunching and detailing some of her activist encounters
that had many of us laughing and learning as she also
shared key lessons from her life experiences. I'd been
missing her presence at ASCAC gatherings and didn't
realize she was ill. Though I never had a personal
connection with her I often felt I did as her presence
and energy was always welcoming and radiated strength
and warmth.

Nnamdi

Friday, 8 June 2007 - 3:25 PM EDT

I'm sharing these emails with the list. We have lost a Great Champion for our People, Mother Melva Franklin. She was at all the forums, lectures, attending every meeting she could. She could be out all day and all night seven days a week attending meetings and working with African People. She never seem to tire and or get disappointed. She was always there for us all. She is a tremendous loss for us all here in NY and in Ghana. Ghana was her second home and she would go there every year.

Sincerely,

Linda Fletcher 

In Her Own Immortal Words,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Tell It"

Thanks so much for the words.  When Mother Franklin would say -- Teach you could feel the word coming from the depth of her being along with the words Tell It. I can remember when my sister came to live with me and I took her to a UAM forum and she would keep turning around to see who was saying Teach -- she could not believe that the words were coming from Mother Franklin. She said it sounded like someone about fifteen years of age was saying Teach.  Elder Franklin knew when the teaching was on point and it would feel good to her and she would testify "Tell It" or "Teach".  Learning was a religious experience for her and it should be the same for us all,  Tell It and Teach in the Spirit of our Great Mother - Mother Franklin.

Please email me anything you want to share regarding Mother Franklin.

In Her Own Immortal Words,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Tell It"

For all those who did not know Mother Franklin, I would like for those who did know her, to please email me so that I can post any fond memories that you would like to share on the Ghana Nkwanta's website. We want to share the beauty and spirit of our Beloved Elder Mother Franklin who was so active and instrumental in our community. She could be out all day and all night going to meetings and forums seven days a week. She was active with the United African Movement, National Action Network, Ghana Nkwant Project, The Harlem Knitting Circle, strech classes at National Action Network, African Union for the Diaspora 6th Region as a member of the Council of Elders.  She was always going to Ghana and other parts of Africa. She is a  history book, and she was always ready to learn. 

She asked the first question during the AU6th Region for NY elections in March of 2007.
http://au6ny.tripod.com/id17.html

Also, she worked with the Ghana Nkwanta Project towards building community in Ghana.
https://nkwanta.tripod.com/

Sincerely,

Linda Fletcher

I checked my voice mail this morning and found out Mother Franklin is now an ancestor. I am just so glad that I was able to at least hug and embrace her when she was at St. Luke's, and she mumbled something to me, a mumble of endearment and I could feel her energy in my hands.

What a spirit - our beautiful Elder Warrior Mother Franklin.

We must all continue and follow Elder Franklin's example. There is no time to waste....WE MUST ALL BE AGGRESSIVE LEARNERS AND ACTIVIST....AND STAY INVOLVED...MOVING FORWARD -- in the Spirt of our Beloved Mother Franklin.

Her activisim in learning, knowing, traveling to the Mother Land,  and Just Doing, and Being there for all of us was supremely rightous joyous in spirit. She embodied our reality, our predicament with her whole self for and had no boundaries that through knowledge, skill and determination we will make a difference.

She is Our jewel! She had no hesitations in getting the knowlege the information and no limits in her love for US and wanting to see us Get It Right and to repatriate. Also to step up to plate and get involved with our HOME land as we approach, guide and create our future and reality. Enough of this colonialism and a lackey existence.

More information as I get it from Elder Adunni. 

TEACH!

Sincerely,

Linda

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 10:40 am
Subject: [Luv4self_Network] Re: Mother Franklin

I checked my voice mail this morning and found out Mother Franklin is now an ancestor. I am just so glad that I was able to at least hug and embrace her when she was at St. Luke's, and she mumbled something to me, a mumble of endearment and I could feel her energy in my hands.

What a spirit - our beautiful Elder Warrior Mother Franklin.

We must all continue and follow Elder Franklin's example. There is no time to waste....WE MUST ALL BE AGGRESSIVE LEARNERS AND ACTIVIST....AND STAY INVOLVED...MOVING FORWARD -- in the Spirt of our Beloved Mother Franklin.

Her activisim in learning, knowing, traveling to the Mother Land,  and Just Doing, and Being there for all of us was supremely rightous joyous in spirit. She embodied our reality, our predicament with her whole self for and had no boundaries that through knowledge, skill and determination we will make a difference.

She is Our jewel! She had no hesitations in getting the knowlege the information and no limits in her love for US and wanting to see us Get It Right and to repatriate. Also to step up to plate and get involved with our HOME land as we approach, guide and create our future and reality. Enough of this colonialism and a lackey existence.

More information as I get it from Elder Adunni. 

TEACH!

Sincerely,

Linda

Do you know when the funeral will be held

and where?


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 4:32 pm
Subject: Re: Mother Franklin

I will add your comments to the list. 
I just love all of our Warrior Mothers.
Sincerely,

Linda


-----Original Message-----
 
Sent: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 2:41 pm
Subject: Re: Mother Franklin

I am happy to have connected with Elder Mother Franklin during her last

years on this physical plane. When remembering the heydays of First World

Lectures at Convent Avenue Baptist Church, etc. I can still hear her strong,

clear voice shouting out,  "Teach! Teach". What an inspiration, what a testament

of strength and what love she had for us and Mother Africa!  The Uqdah/Hameen
family sends our warmest feelings of love and comfort to her family and friends.   
What a Mother Warrior, always vigilant and ready to work for the good of us all. 

   Iman Hameen

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 10:40 am
Subject: Re: Mother Franklin

I checked my voice mail this morning and found out Mother Franklin is now an ancestor. I am just so glad that I was able to at least hug and embrace her when she was at St. Luke's, and she mumbled something to me, a mumble of endearment and I could feel her energy in my hands.

What a spirit - our beautiful Elder Warrior Mother Franklin.

We must all continue and follow Elder Franklin's example. There is no time to waste....WE MUST ALL BE AGGRESSIVE LEARNERS AND ACTIVIST....AND STAY INVOLVED...MOVING FORWARD -- in the Spirt of our Beloved Mother Franklin.

Her activisim in learning, knowing, traveling to the Mother Land,  and Just Doing, and Being there for all of us was supremely rightous joyous in spirit. She embodied our reality, our predicament with her whole self for and had no boundaries that through knowledge, skill and determination we will make a difference.

She is Our jewel! She had no hesitations in getting the knowlege the information and no limits in her love for US and wanting to see us Get It Right and to repatriate. Also to step up to plate and get involved with our HOME land as we approach, guide and create our future and reality. Enough of this colonialism and a lackey existence.

More information as I get it from Elder Adunni. 

TEACH!

Sincerely,

Linda