I have talked before about living in Japan and in some blogs about race and the differences of living in Japan v.s. here in the U.S.. No one knows more about these challenges then Ray and Montana Rodney.

I have known these two kids and their parents since they were very young. Ray Sr. and Eudith or Momma-Monkey as I called her basically became my mom-away from home when I lived in Iwakuni, Japan on the Marine base. Their family was truly amazing.

African American parents who sent their children to Japanese school from the time they began school. I remember babysitting Mon-chan (Montana) when she was a wee-little thing. I was just forwarded a YouTube site link from Momma-Monkey and WOW I am amazed at how beautiful these kids turned out to be. Guess that is a sign that we all get old. Damn!

Anyhow, when I left Iwakuni in 1993, the Rodney's were still there and although we have gone our seperate ways we have always managed to stay in touch. They have since moved back to the U.S. and found their home in New Orleans well before Katrina.

They too have their nightmares from that event, however they are trying to do something rather unique with the situation. The children are out promoting various causes in the area both in the U.S. as well as Japan. After seeing this clip for a Japanese effort, you can understand why.

Ray doing Calligraphy with Montana 

Brilliant, Beautiful Children I am proud to know (and be able to communicate with in either Japanese or English!)

If you want to see more from these two or what they're efforts are these days please visit their site at:

ANTJA LLC (Access Network Trade Japan America) is focused on building a strong bridge between Japan and the United States with the New Orleans based Dillard University brother-sister team of Ray Rodney Jr. and Montana Rodney.