From Denver to Africa & Back
A Plea for Understanding

by Patterson Benero
In The Black Magazine

"One picture is worth a thousand words," wrote Fred R. Banard in 1927.

Never have the words of Fred Banard been more proven than in a recently published book of black and white photography and collected poems and messages from Africa, aptly titled, A Love Poem: Final Breath.

Statistics are beyond frightening. The pandemic of AIDS on the African continent cries out loudly for help and compassion.

Home to only 10 percent of the world's population, Africa is home as well to 70 percent of adults and 80 percent of children alive in the world today infected with HIV. An estimated 600,000 infants are infected through mother-to-child transmission each year. The result: 12 million orphans, a number projected to rise to 15 million by 2010. These figures are a result of the caring homework of Michael Kelly of The Washington Post.

In June of 2000, four members of Denver-based The Children's Legacy, a non-profit group founded in 1987 embarked on a tour of orphanages and villages from Nairobi to Maasai Mara, Kenya. The trip was undertaken to build a bridge across cultural differences and acknowledge the human need for connection, forgiveness and love.

During their travels christened "Project Africa," the four witnessed story after story, learning of a different culture through word, song and dance. They were amazed that those with so little were willing to share whatever they could to participate in this informational project. Participants hoped that by doing so, the would help countless others by sharing their knowledge and experience to prove that the scourge of AIDS is global and must be dealt with on a global level with inexpensive, generic drugs (those which have prevented the spread in the United States) available immediately to all affected.

Honored by the fact that hundreds trekked miles to be photographed with their children asking only for food and medication for them, the Legacy group listened, took copious notes, snapped endless pictures and became the voice of the victims.

Representing Legacy were Mary Davis Hamlin of Breckenridge, Colorado who served as keeper of records and notes; LeRoy Ullman, who became a landscape photographer and printer of original photographs; inspired by what she saw and felt, Rebecca Lee wrote the beautiful, poignant poetry; and native Bostonian, Katy Tartakoff, an alumna of Colorado College and Denver Photographer, captured the unforgettable images featured in A Love Poem.

Back in the States, Denver Artist Lee Lee Leonard arranged exhibitions and book signings to promote sales for the charity.

All proceeds ($10 per copy) go directly to Kenya for educational purposes. Happily, a recently enacted law in Kenya will now allow women to attend school giving everyone a sense of renewal.

Miguel Cervantes in Don Quixote wrote "A good legacy wondrously alleviates the sorrow that men would otherwise feel for the death of friends." So be it.

Patterson Benero is a freelance writer based in Denver.