August 2005
Interview with author, Dr. Luticia Santipriya
The Ipuwer Chronicles, a new release by medical research psychologist and theoretician Dr. Luticia Santipriya, is named after the Egyptian sage, Ipuwer (pronounced Epu-ware or Epu-or), and is a metaphor answer to his Admonitions in which he describes a probable earthquake devastation of Egypt and the ensuing severe reversals of fortune. This new social conscience book is a biographical narrative and observational snapshot pertaining to the winter of 1999 through early 2005 capturing the psychological, spiritual, and economic devastation of the Bush regime over the populace and intensifying with the Iraqi war.
MsLo: Dr. Santipriya what inspired you to write The Ipuwer Chronicles and make it a published work?
Dr. Santipriya: What inspired me to write The Ipuwer Chronicles was what the I-Ching calls "undeserved misfortune". In this instance a sense of great anguish in experiencing the collapse of the American economic structure, being a witness to the viciousness of the Bush regime policies and extreme occurrences of the times in terms of people's malevolent intent and misbehavior, and lastly, trying to recover from the wickedness of two colleagues whose design was the utter destruction of my person fueled by toxic cruelty and personal psychopathology. In essence, the attempted theft of someone else's life force. The triumph is that I am still standing--but I would be untruthful in stating that the combination has not taken a toll on my person and family.
In terms of the mechanics of the actual writing, I had just finished Rebel Sunrise with a Twist of Sour, in press in 2006, a memoir. I had no intention of writing anything else for a time. But in this instance had no choice in the sense that The Spirit paid me a visit in that I began doodling on a small piece of paper in route to visiting a church one Sunday. I refer to this as a transmission and the beginnings of it appeared in two or three beginning 'chunks' as I call it. The rest, as they say, is history. I might add that owing to my sense of anguish and woundedness--and years long razor sharp political observations and astuteness-- that I was particularly 'susceptible' to a spiritual visitation. The timing was very much on point and due to country wide and even world wide upheaval against certain harsh policies, I very much saw my role as a chronicler of the times in which we live. Very critical as history has a way of being re-written and cynically tampered with, otherwise. In that regard, my true identity is as a shesheta or scribe. One with an extreme eye for detail who thinks of posterity and the survival of the truthful telling of events over Time. This is traditional for our race.
As for self-publishing, I have always taken it for granted that this method would follow as I have now lived too long and witnessed too much to be in any mood to tolerate having my works altered or tampered with. Or put another way, I have earned an allotment in earthly living and my summation of it (not thrilled, although I do see patches of beauty), to now do and say as I wish with absolute authority, a power I accord to myself.
MsLo: Please share your thoughts on the state of social awareness among African Americans in the last ten years.
Dr. Santipriya: I think that many who thought Clinton was harmless and were in denial about the wholesale incarceration of Blacks and doing away with financial safety nets under his regime have now largely awaken (I hope). Not only does anybody have money but we are treated dismissively and rudely. Not to mention that the jobs have flown overseas. But this is more of the same for us. In terms of inclusion (what does that mean?), the answer is not maybe, but never. The in-your-face hissing kind with saliva at the corners of the mouth. Mainstream White folks are not joking with us. They mean to do what they have always done. Debase, demoralize and take. What honor? What ethics? That is not the standard that they are on. Their position is that they don't have to listen to you nor pay respect.
Going along to get along is now coming at a serious spiritual price in that such a state is a new form of slavery and is psychologically arduous. In my role as a university professor I loved to project a sense of exuberance, excellence, confidence, vast knowledge and my own propaganda about being limitless--and making my students truly feel that. While I had great fun and am a born communicator, if I were still teaching, I would have grave misgivings. I wonder indeed, if I have not misled my students, ushering them into a mean and indifferent world. Indeed, I ran into two of my former students, one of whom works two menial jobs. That is not why I wanted to be her professor. I wanted better for her. Likewise, I am also disillusioned, badly so. But it is not the student's fault. Rather it is a testament to the dire collapse of the economic infrastructure which I deal with head on in The Ipuwer Chronicles.
Yet I am in a dilemma in that I still revere achievement and am accomplishment oriented, having been so since my earliest days on earth. I would now have to ask in whose context. The answer is it is better to seek approval of oneself. Or as my pastor said to me recently about another matter, but bears relationship here...when I can answer why God's approval is not enough in terms of my achievements and offerings, then I will be free, but that only I can answer it. Well put.
MsLo: How involved were you in the "struggle" as a result of your education of the Black Panther Party?
Dr. Santipriya: I was never a Panther but in my young days could be characterized as an observer being just a face in the crowd. Someone who would eagerly come home on the weekends from college and make a beeline for Bobby Hutton Memorial Park (formerly Defremery Park) and the rallies there. There is a certain internal ambiance that I still hold with great respect. It is something that I feel more keenly as I am a daughter of Oakland. And having said that, it is not that I do not care for Malcolm X, but my feelings run stronger and deeper for Huey, no doubt because of geography, as I am not from the East. In terms of the time line, I was still a child when Malcolm was very active. Therefore, there is a certain gap. But home turf is home turf and has a stronger influence.
The energy of Angela Davis has also rubbed off leaving me with a certain internalized ambiance. Although she is from the south, she was local in California. Therefore, her impact was felt as 'our own' up close. As a university professor at Medgar Evers College (The City University of New York), I did something about these feelings, rendering my knowledge of The Black Panther Party for Self Defense (its true proper name) into a two part lecture for my industrial/organizational psychology class. I tried to deliver its essence, warts and all. But it is clear that my heart was there for I did not fail to mention that my mother and I received groceries from The Panthers at The Oakland Coliseum. We were very touched by it for who gives a damn whether our people eat or not?
MsLo: What is the key ingredient missing in today's struggle, if you will, compared to years past?
Dr. Santipriya: In a word, we are lacking a singular razor sharp cohesion--even in the face of the ominous presence George Bush. We are exhausted, beleaguered and battle weary as a people. Our former belief that we are unstoppable---literally overnight---has eroded due to demoralization or feeling over powered by such raw evil coming from the White House. No one has ever seen anything of this magnitude and scope. Not in our lifetimes. We have no means of comparison. Too, the average citizen Black or White was taken off guard by the roughshod vehemence of all that has transpired over the last five years. Meaning that they were psychologically unprepared for a societal 'melt down' or gutting of the infrastructure on multiple levels simultaneously. People have been traumatized by being disinherited and alienated by a culture they thought would embrace them after the expenditure of hard work. The illusion of it all is destroying many a spirit, I'm afraid...
MsLo: Which published authors invoke your interest and why?
Dr. Santipriya: This question is a piece of cake. My current favorite three authors are Randall Robinson (Quitting America), Barbara Ehrenreich (Nickel and Dimed - On Not Getting By in America; and her new book, Bait and Switch - The Futile Pursuit of The American Dream), and lastly along a similar vain, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert’s just released, Promises Betrayed. I’d like to think that my work echoes theirs and will live on as a documentation of the radically disturbing times in which we live.
MsLo: Do you see the music genres of 'rap or hip-hop' sharing some of the activism or messages indicative of the struggles of the Panther years?
Dr. Santipriya: Frankly, largely no on both counts. But yes, we see that the Driving While Black phenomenon is identical to the one that The Panthers grabbled with—and in fact is responsible for igniting The Panthers in terms of being stopped in their automobiles for no good reason. But yes, these disturbing occurrences are reflected in some songs and I am aware of some young rappers male and female whose work is profound whom I have heard.
Yet truthfully, initially I was and still am not fond of rap for all of the obvious reasons, never having been impressed with the profane as an expression that could hope to have an enduring legacy. The real litmus test question is will whatever we create make people proud without shame 100 years from today. Why would anyone think that mediocrity and loudness will last? No, you’ve got to levitate me out of my seat---and do it with real substance. Bebop (where my heart lives), yes; rap, no. However, there are exceptions to every rule.
As for spoken word, I would place my bets with those who have really lived what they speak, namely Jane Cortez and Her Fire Spitters and Sonia Sanchez who has teamed with younger rappers of substance. I would also place a long, long bet on Lyndon Kwesi Johnson of whom I cannot get enough. Being an educator I have a ‘weakness’ for all that is articulate, beautiful, powerful, manly and dignified. And the fact that the brother has self-published all of his albums is a mighty statement on just what he thinks of himself. I had the good fortune to see him in person. Oh goodness, I was just too proud and thrilled. And yes, I loved the fact that he was properly dressed complete with vest sweater and tie (pardon my respect for a certain demeanor and self-respect). Corny to some, but on the money! And although it is more music than spoken word, my sentiments go ditto for The Mighty Sparrow whose social consciousness is indeed profoundly wide. My deepest regard follows him.
MsLo: What project(s) are you currently working?
Dr. Santipriya: With regards to current project(s), I'm getting ready for Rebel Sunrise with a Twist of Sour in 2006 (completed), a more full length standard memoir, and perhaps a shortened version of it for children. Two years from now I see a jazz album, called In the Land of Hi Fi (I play cornet). It is my way of paying tribute to the quality, eloquence, and non-mediocrity of our past. Jazz is my way of taking refuge from the sheer evil and extremes of the present era.
MsLo: When you take a podium in 2005, what is your overall message and do you feel people are listening?
Dr. Santipriya: My overall message is no message per se but rather to legitimize those apprehensions that people are really feeling---so that they will know that the alienation and alarm that they sense is not a figment of their imagination and that someone is listening, me. And to do that in my capacity as a psychologist. As for who will listen by way of audience, bluntly I say that I am not interested in speaking to those who need convincing. But rather, let water seek its own level. I wish to speak to my peers and contemporaries across racial lines who have a heart and are open enough to compare notes about what has just taken place in this country. I will go anywhere on demand, but not to argue (for with Time and Wisdom, I am much more selfish with where I expend my Life Force). To compare, yes, and to sanction each other and what is being said especially if things are honestly expressed. How could I turn that down? To examine the unapologetic use of might on a catastrophic level that is answerable to none is my main concern. In other words, that which purports to offer a "reward" for non-critical thinking. Wisdom says that the price will be just far too high for whatever hollow thing can be gained. For sure.
