
Traditions of the Ancestors brings to life the wisdom, history, traditions, achievements, and stories of people and cultures from around the world. Here is where we connect people to cultural artists who can share their work and their culture in a healthy and respectful way.
This product can be purchased from our partner Alyce Smith Cooper
The GUMBO Pot Poems is a book celebrating food, friendships and family! Fantastic recipes for one of America’s most popular culinary dishes, GUMBO, are mixed in with poetry about the lessons we learn from our everyday life experiences. These poetic musings are divided into the different flavors represented in GUMBO, i.e. salty, bitter, spicy, sweet, sour, and savory.
The authors associate these flavors with metaphorically similar life experiences. What results is a creative way to represent the flavor salty with poems having to do with sensuality, bitter with poems having to do with tough lessons learned, spicy with poems concerning nature or talents, sweet with poems of love and family, sour with poems of grief or sadness and savory with poems of wisdom, friendship and character. What a tasteful way to make a meal with words having the potential to provoke, excite and heal. Through photographs and poems, the book also recognizes individuals who have made contributions to the San Diego community, particularly the African American community.
The poems and resources are ingredients in a recipe for community empowerment. Just as there are many ingredients in GUMBO, there are many individuals, groups and community-based organizations, working together to contribute to a successful community. It is hoped the resources will inform and empower individuals to take pride in their communities and see themselves as participants in the process of civic engagement. Reading a book is only part of the obligation of any reader.
Discussing the contents of what one has read with family, friends and colleagues encourages cross-cultural awareness and unity. Having courageous conversations on difficult topics, like race and ethnicity, fosters cultural competency and ultimately cultural proficiency, a worthy life-long endeavor for everyone. Like a pot of GUMBO, this book is a culinary delight, which will hopefully bring everyone to the same table to share, discuss and digest opinions on a range of topics, while enjoying a bowl of GUMBO.
Dr. Maya Angelou is considered by the authors to be a standard-bearer for this book. She was masterful in her use of words, in sharing her wisdom, as well as in her culinary skills. Dr. Angelou’s sense of social responsibility, cultural pride, and human awareness are beautifully evident in her writings, and will be savored forever. The authors of The GUMBO Pot Poems are particularly honored to dedicate this book in her memory.
This product can be purchased from our partner Alyce Smith Cooper
TOTA works with culturally diverse artists to promote their authentic creations We work with artists directly and strictly vet all products to ensure that they are accurate, authentic, and ethical. Celebrate the culture of others and support independent artists today.
Connecting through shared cultural threads is the most powerful way to understand and empathize with your fellow human beings because it allows you to see them not as the assumptions and stereotypes that you have unconsciously internalized. But instead, as people, just like you.
Michael Felts
Founder, CEO
We began this project with a vision to provide accurate and comprehensive cultural information in one easy-to-use website.
In our cultural research across the internet, we found that much information was inaccurate, disperse, and not easily searchable. Many credible sites and articles from scholars and experts were inaccessible to the general public.
TOTA is partnering with cultural organizations and experts to offer the broadest range of accurate and detailed cultural information to the general public and academics. We believe that such content will enrich our understanding of ourselves and our neighbors both local and global.
TOTA seeks to create a community where people can find and enrich each other through cultural interests and activities. Users will be able to join cultural groups, stay connected locally, and share information that inspires them globally.
Culture influences us all, from how we lead our daily lives to how we view ourselves, our families, and the world. In our own studies, it became clear to us that nearly all cultures share the same fundamental wisdom. It is our intent to present these similarities, as well as our differences, side-by-side to expand people’s understanding of their cultural identity and that of all peoples.
This is a monumental project that will never be finished. Many talented individuals have already contributed their time and energy to TOTA, but it remains incomplete without your unique perspective.
Please join us at tota.world today to help us connect people through culture.