BY Gloria Dulan-Wilson Hello All: I warn you that if you're not accustomed to going 24/7-365 - you might want to run for cover - because we are now fully under the sign of Aries and things are moving at a fast pace - with as many as 5 to 10 things going on simultaneously - all over the community - especially in NYC (of course), these next few weeks are not for the faint of heart or dull of wit. I just celebrated my Birthday, Monday, March 21st, and am still in motion - So let's go - I'm starting with
NYC - SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2016: THE SCHOMBURG RESEARCH CENTER FOR BLACK CULTURE will host a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Marcus Garvey's UNIA. The most profound and far reaching impact ever on African Americans was through the great Marcus Garvey, when he came to the US as a Jamaican Immigrant, and emerged as a charismatic leader who showed Black people that they could stand up, stand together, and ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY WILL! too bad we don't have him or anyone close to him around today - it's just what's needed to move us out of this mess we appear to be in today. Be that as it may, a celebration of Garvey is fitting and proper - for more information, contact the Schomburg Center for Black Culture:
515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135 & MALCOLM X BLVD)
New York,
NY,
10037
(917) 275-6975
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Brother William Molette, a Genetic
Counselor and a Sickle Cell Outreach and clinical genetic service
provider will share his perspective on Sickle Cell Disease, Myths,
Treatment and Consequences.
CEMOTAP INVITES ALL TO HEAR THIS DYNAMIC YOUNG BROTHER PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY ON THIS DISEASE.
ADMISSION IS FREE .
WHEN: SATURDAY MARCH 26, 2016 at 2:00 PM
WHERE: CEMOTAP CENTER
135-05 Rockaway Boulevard
S. Ozone Park, Queens NY 11420
MARCH 3-APRIL 5- Celebrating Charlie "Bird" Parker click on the link: http://gloria-dulan-wilson.blogspot.com/2016/03/event-alert-schomburg-center-for.html#.VvNjwLFho04.gmail
SATURDAY MARCH 26: Monarch Rooftop & Indoor Lounge’s Easter Egg Decorating contest on Saturday, March 26th from 1pm to 4pm.
Patrons can enjoy several springtime cocktails, games, and raffle
prizes, with proceeds from the cocktails donated to Friends of Karen, an
organization that provides financial, emotional, and advocacy support
for children with a life-threatening illness and their families, in
order to keep them strong, functioning, and able to cope.
Admission to the event is free and children are welcome!
Easter
Sunday we're serving a Special Menu along with our Regular Menu. If you
like Lamb Chops you must try Chef Armando's. They are so tender and
juicy.
MORE EASTER IN NEW YORK: Some things are just for fun and I always enjoy participating in them: The area around St. Patrick's
Cathedral is the ideal place to see the EASTER PARADE which runs from 10 a.m.
until 4 p.m.
On
Easter Sunday, you have the opportunity to see Easter
bonnets to the New York City extreme as "paraders" wander along Fifth
Avenue from 49th to 57th Streets - and you know how much I love hats!!!
Join the Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ) for a full day of workshops to discuss...
Sankofa (The Past) Black Hair & the Law: Restricting the Beauty of Blackness 9:00am - 10:45 am | The Impact of the Law on Black Hair
Ujima (The Collective) Is Natural Hair Professional? 11:00am - 12:30pm | Black Hair Politics in the Work Place
Kujichagulia (The Present) The Power of Today’s Black Beauty Industry 1:00pm - 2:30pm | Harnessing the Power of the Black Beauty Industry
Nia (Our Purpose) Creating Our Own Standard of Beauty 2:45pm - 4:00pm | Redefining Beauty on Our Terms
Kuumba (Creativity) Nu Wave Kultural Kreations Spring Hair Collection: Texture, Textiles & Tones 4:15pm - 5:00pm | Crown Culture & Runway Show
"The Beauty of Blackness
and the Law" Symposium will take place at Medgar Evers College, CUNY Edison O. Jackson (EOJ) Auditorium 1638 Bedford Avenue • Brooklyn, NY 11225 (In the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Click HERE for Directions)
This Event is Free and Open to the Public. Find this Event on Facebook HERE!
For more event information, send an email to info@CLSJ.org or call 718.804.8893 during CLSJ business hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 6:00pm Learn more about the Center for Law and Social Justice at www.CLSJ.org
Put On BLAST! | POB 250553 | Brooklyn, NY 11225 | United States
PHILLY :
THURSDAY, MARCH 24 6:30 - 9:00PM
Subject:
You're invited to The Future of Black America: Real Problems Real Solutions
One hundred and thirty one years ago,
Christopher James Perry recognized that there was no vehicle to identify
and articulate the concerns of those who were denied equal citizenship.
Perry started a newspaper that reflected the African-American
experience. His vision, The Philadelphia Tribune continues in that
tradition today. As such, we will host “The Future of Black America,
Real Problems, Real Solutions” program. We expect this to be a
compelling question in view of what our history has recorded; therefore,
we will reflect in our discussion where we were, where we are, and
where we need to go to achieve full participation and inclusion.
Moderator: Reverend Marshall Mitchell
Panelists Include:
Dr. Anthea Butler
A. Bruce Crawley
Dr. Julianne Malveaux
Dr. Khalil G. Muhammad
Dr. William Spriggs
When
Thursday, March 24, 2016 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Where
Pennsylvania Convention Center - 1101 Arch Street Lecture Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19104
-
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 http://gloria-dulan-wilson.blogspot.com/2016/03/philly-cops-allegedly-overstep-bounds.html#.VvNkEVF349E.gmail
SATURDAY, MARACH 26 NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK/PHILLY presents the 2016 Living Legacy Awards Gala, the VIEW Banquet Hall, 800 North Broad Street (entrance on Brown), Philadelphia 19130 - 6:00 PM until For info and reservarions contact Ms. Paula Peebles ( peeblespaula@gmail.com)
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MARCH 26 & 27TH The 12th Annual BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURE EXPO AT THE PHILLY CONVENTION CENTER -
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter will have a booth at the Black History and Culture Showcase - Please stop by and say hello to me and my Sorors - we are also in the midst of celebrating Sisterhood Month.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27:
After you leave the Black History and Culture Showcase on Sunday, make sure you head for the grand opening of my friend Youma Baa's Restaurant YOUMA (from Senegal) - her African Cuisine is superb - This is the link. She has successfully run Kilimanjaro for 10 years - widely known for African and African American Cuisine - so popular that she had to expand to another restaurant. Come savor and enjoy!! Opens at 4:00 PM
This is just for fun - I googled some of the other Easter Celebration Opportunities and this is what I found - go check it out for the kids or for the kid in you!!
The Philadelphia Easter Promenade
returns to South Street for the 85th year with a parade, live music,
special guests and more...
Looking for a good Easter egg hunt in or around Washington, DC? Enjoy
some Easter family fun in the city and around the region in Maryland
and Virginia. See the schedule for this year's events.
In Washington DC
White House Easter Egg Roll -
March 28, 2016, 8:00 a. m. - 5:00 p. m. White House Lawn, 1600
Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC (202) 456-7041. Bring the kids to
hunt for Easter Eggs and enjoy a morning of storytelling and a visit
with the Easter Bunny. This is a special Washington, DC tradition that
dates back to 1878.
Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place
- March 19, 25, and 26, 2016, 10 a.m.-noon. 1644 31st Street NW
Washington, DC. Children of all ages enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt and a
thrilling Egg Roll Contest. After the exciting games, spend the morning
decorating festive eggs and building a spring basket. Visitors also
enjoy a self-guided tour of Tudor Place’s gardens. Bring your own
basket, spoon, and one hard-boiled egg per child. Admission: Member
Children: $7, Nonmember Children: $10, Adult Chaperones: $3.
Easter Sunday is the day of Resurrection - not only of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the Resurrection of your dreams deferred, your hopes, your plans, your wishes - renewed energy, strength, blessings unbounded - here's wishing all the best for you and your family.
Stay in faith and Stay Blessed & ECLECTICALLY BLACK
-->By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
It was with a great deal of shock and sadness that I learned about the passing of my friend Eddie Ellis. This was a brother that got knocked down by the system, but refused to stay there. You might say that Eddie is a prime example of a Black man who would not be denied, no matter what they did.
A member of the Black Panthers, Eddie was falsely arrested for a crime he did not commit, and served 25 years in prison, but still emerged with a will and a determination to help brothers and sisters not suffer the same fate.
Eddie was "deep" - he had a way of observing you without your knowing it, and then, when he was ready, he'd speak to you, let you know what time it is, as well as letting you know whether or not you were on point, or "full of it" without being offensive.
We basically ran in concentric circles, with friends who were involved with Black education, empowerment and develoment. But, in 2009, that changed drastically, with the inauguration of a new president at Medgar Evers College to replace the former 20-year president, Edison Jackson.
It was during that time that I really go to know Eddie Ellis - so when I say he was "deep", I mean it. Now, of course, I was on the late show with this revelation. There had been so many others who were more than well aware of Eddie, and how impactful and important he was to the Black community: brothers who were formerly incarcerated, and were returning to society to make new lives for themselves owe Eddie Ellis a great deal of gratitude for all that he has done to pave the way for them to get higher college degrees, enter new careers, and become viable, valuable members of society.
It nearly came to a complete halt with the inception of William Pollard as president of Medgar Evers College in 2009. During the battle to save Medgar Evers and the Center for NU Leadership, I got to know him pretty well, and had the pleasure of serving with him on panels, rallies, and broadcasts centering on the reinstatement of the center, and getting rid of the ersatz president of Medgar Evers. I am happy to say we were successful on both counts.
In tribute to Eddie Ellis is a reprint of an article I posted on my blog on March 7, 2011:
Update:CUNY
Chancellor/MEC Pres Mock the Memory and Legacy of Medgar Wiley Evers:
Attack on Center for NU Leadership and the MEC Black Think Tank By Gloria Dulan-Wilson 03.07.2011
I'm going to start this off with a quote from Dr. Divine Pryor. It’s so
heavy I didn’t want to leave it to the end of this article: “For
the past seven years, The Center for NU Leadership on Urban Solutions
has successfully created opportunities for people entangled in the law
to access higher education as a way to transforming their lives. Our
attempt to secure a multi-million dollar grant was only an effort to
formalize what we have been doing informally over the past seven years.
It’s unfortunate that President William Pollard and his administration
could not appreciate the fact that members of the Center for NU
Leadership are living, breathing examples of what is possible when an
individual decides to transform their lives after making a mistake.
It’s
ironic that we can be proud of the fact that New York City has one of
the most effective garbage recycling systems in the world, but somehow
President Pollard doesn’t believe that a human being can be recycled.” Dr. Divine Pryor, March 6, 2011
Now
for those of you who have been following these issues, or who are
embroiled in the task of saving the school, the Medgar Evers College
situation continues “to get curioser and curioser” - to paraphrase Alice
in Wonderland. Speaking of which, given the specious assertions and
allegations on the part of CUNY’s legals, one has to wonder what they’re
up to really.
It kind of pivots between “here we go
again,” and “oh no! Not that stupid stuff again!” You can decide after I
outline the facts.
Fact:
Center for NU Leadership was founded by Dr. Divine Pryor and Eddie
Ellis some 7 years ago to help those who had run afoul of the law, lead
better lives by providing them with a college education, so that they
could make a positive contribution to society and their communities.
Fact:
Dr. Edison O. Jackson, then President of Medgar Evers College, in
wanting to provide services to a broader range of the population in and
around Brooklyn and the greater New York Area, invited Dr. Pryor to
establish an office for the Center for NU Leadership, so that those
previously incarcerated who were looking to change their lives could
matriculate at Medgar Evers College. Additionally, they maintained an
open door policy, so that applicants and participants could come in from
the street and be assisted in obtaining the education needed to provide
them with career strategies and goals. Fact:
Over the past 7 years Center for NU Leadership has successfully
assisted over 200 applicants graduate from Medgar Evers and enter into
such arenas as legislative offices, corrections, the court systems,
district attorney’s offices and non-profit organizations.
Fact:
For such a small staff that’s a major track record - particularly
since they are still fully employed, and continuing to make positive
contributions to the community, setting a positive example for the youth
and peers with whom they interact.
Fact:
President William Pollard doesn’t get it. His allegation that the
program exposed the campus to criminal elements, which, by the way, has
not been a problem in the entire seven (7) years they have been affiliated with
the campus, is a sad indictment on a person who looks like us, has a
similar pigmentation, but it all stops there - scratch that surface, and
there is something completely different lurking underneath. Howard
Johnson, who serves as provost, is equally culpable, as evidenced by his
hostile and aggressive actions against Center for NU Leadership, the
Bunche DuBois Center, faculty, staff, and students. But, in addition to
his not getting it - is the even sadder (read sicker) fact that he
apparently doesn’t care. Fact:
Chancellor Goldstein apparently really doesn’t care - about Pollard,
about Medgar Evers College, about the Black students, about the Brooklyn
Community. He is about the “my way or high way” approach. The only
thing is that the strings are showing and the puppet and puppet master
are both about to be caught up in them. Fact:
The eviction of Center for NU Leadership on Urban Solutions from
Medgar Evers College was heinous and unconscionable. It was based on
racism and stereotypes. It was an affront to the men and women who have
worked diligently to turn their lives around. And an even greater
affront to Dr. Pryor who has dedicated his time, talent, intelligence
and energy to developing what the prisons systems could or would not do,
a viable program that spoke (speaks) to the needs of those in our
community who have been disenfranchised by a system that would rather
criminalize them than provide them with the education they deserved. Fact:
The confiscation of the Center for New Leadership’s computers (which
they owned outright), and the confiscation of their hard drive was not
only egregious, but criminal on the part of CUNY and Medgar Evers
College. It not only violates their rights as an organization, but
there are certain intellectual property laws, copyright infringement, as
well as other rights to privacy that have been trampled in this newest
racist attempt to denigrate this organization.
Fact:
The allegation of a criminal investigation being their cause for
seizing Center for NU Leadership‘s property, as alleged by the legals of
CUNY, has no basis in fact. Not only were there no presentations of
warrants, or any of the other protocols that would precede a search and
seizure procedure, there has never been any necessity for an
investigation of any type until the fabrication on the part of MEC’s new
administration. Fact:
There is so little regard for Black people on the part of the CUNY
administration, that they apparently disrespected the Black elected
officials who tried to meet with them to ameliorate the problem and
bring, what they had hoped would be a positive solution to a problem
that has now mushroomed out of proportion. One community leader stated
very matter of factly: “White people having no regard for Black people
is not new. We’ve lived with that all our lives. But to have a person
who is supposed to be Black, participate in the dismantling of an
institution that has been built by the efforts of a community dedicated
to educating their youth, and providing them with a legacy, goes to very
heart of self-hatred; and cannot be tolerated.” Fact:
State Supreme Court Judge Kramer, who presided over the hearing,
Friday, March 4, 2011 in the Supreme Court in Brooklyn, could not
believe that the legals of CUNY were refusing to return the hard drive
from the Center for NU Leadership’s computers. (Judge Kramer had ordered
Medgar Evers to return to NuLeadership computers that the
administration had confiscated in
mid-December but that were purchased independently by the center). Fact:
Subsequent hearing date set for April 8, 2011, during which time the
CUNY legals will try to make those allegations hold water. While we put
nothing past their trying to justify their actions, and prove their
allegations (given the nature of the individuals involved), through
manufactured evidence, the fact still remains that there is not now, nor
has there ever been any reason to seize the materials, equipment,
supplies owned and operated by the Center for NU Leadership. Fact:
The Medgar Evers faculty issued a vote of no confidence in Pollard,
stating he is betraying the mission of a college presumably dedicated to
the academic needs of the urban poor and working class.
Fact:
On March 8, 2011, the New York City Council is holding hearings on
academic excellence and the necessity of cultural programs to round out
the educational millieu. The hearings will be held at 250 Broadway,
14th Floor hearing room at 2:00PM. We are holding a press conference
on the steps of City Hall at 1:00pm. Would like to have as many people
from the community present as possible. Fact: MEC/CUNY’s stupidity Brooklyn's loss and SUNY’s gain.
SUNY has offered to house the Center for NU Leadership, blowing holes
in the allegation that they presented a criminal element on the MEC
campus. If there was so much danger, why would SUNY offer them a
considerable increase in funding as well as space and support. What
Goldstein, Pollard and Johnson have essentially done is deprived the
Brooklyn community of an essential program that has provided services
for the growing number of ex-offenders who are returning to the
community. *(see press release below) NB: While SUNY will be housing the program on their campus, that should not obviate the demand
that a branch of the center be re-established at Medgar Evers with full
staff and equipment, immediately, if not sooner. In fact, faculty,
staff, programs that were in existence upon Pollard’s arrival, must be
completely reinstated and MADE WHOLE, WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Fact:
Under the leadership of President Edison O. Jackson, Medgar Evers
College had amassed some of the greatest minds in Black culture,
politics, history and leadership, including former New York State
Assemblyman Roger Green, Congressman Major Owens, Dr. Zulema Blair, Dr.
Brenda M. Greene, Dr. Betty Shabazz (deceased), Ambassador Pursoo. It
was a magnate for some of the greatest minds and leaders who frequented
the campus affording the students an opportunity to be involved in
leading edge issues and endeavors. The underhanded manner in which
these and others have been treated has left a stain on the schools
reputation as a center for higher learning and a magnate for genius. Fact:
Under the tyranny of Goldstein, Pollard and Johnson, more damage has
been done to revert the campus back to pre-Jackson days when the school
was floundering for an identity and direction. Fact:
If the Brooklyn Community, and the greater New York Community, the
elected officials, and the students, parents, and faculty, don’t act
immediately and take a stand for Medgar Evers College, the dream and
goal of a COMMUNIVERSITY will have been destroyed, right along with so
many other important programs and institutions we and our predecessors
have fought long and hard to establish in the Black community. THAT
MUST NOT HAPPEN. Fact:
My father used to say, “there’s nothing worse than an educated fool,
or the person who knows the cost of everything but the value of
nothing.” There is also nothing worse than a people or a community who
will sit idly by and allow the educational and cultural future (and
present) of their children to be trampled on, with out taking a stand. QUESTION: NOW THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Contact and support the MECCoalition@gmail.com
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
PS:
I could not close this article without quoting someone else that Ive
admired for a long time, Dr. Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral in
California. He always spoke about "Turning your scars into stars." And to me that is precisely what Dr. Divine Pryor and Eddie Ellis have been doing with the Center for NU Leadership on Urban Solutions.
*IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS, I'M APPENDING IT TO THIS BLOG:
Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions Finds New Home at SUNY Old Westbury College
Brooklyn,
N.Y. – In a visionary move, SUNY Old Westbury College, under the
leadership of its president Dr. Calvin O. Butts, has invited the Center
for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions to leave embattled Medgar Evers
College (MEC), relocate its operation on the Long Island campus and open
a SUNY satellite site in Brooklyn, thus allowing them to continue
working there. The leadership of the Center concluded that as long as
President William Pollard and Provost Howard Johnson are in charge of
MEC, they will never provide a favorable work environment for them.
Senior officials at SUNY Old Westbury say that NuLeadership has accepted
their offer and submitted a detailed proposal which “is being given
serious consideration.” The invitation by SUNY Old Westbury allows
the college to extend its reach into New York City, through Central
Brooklyn, and to provide greater opportunities for its students to
acquire internships, engage in community oriented research and have an
urban office that serves as a direct pipeline for future enrollments.
In addition to the invitation from SUNY, NuLeadership has received
offers to work with one of the largest labor unions in the city and to
further collaborate with a faith based academic institution. Both
these offers are being considered as part of an integrated and
comprehensive restructuring of their capacity building. The move to
SUNY comes on top of two outstanding Court victories for NuLeadership in
its multi-count lawsuit against CUNY which is pending in Brooklyn
Supreme Court. The suit challenges CUNY for their illegal attempt to
evict the Center, invasion of the Center’s privacy, theft of their
computers and confiscation of personal and intellectual property. In a
stunning defeat for CUNY and Medgar, the Honorable Justice Herbert
Kramer refused to grant their motion to dismiss the case. Instead, he
granted the Center for NuLeadership, represented by attorney Ron
McGuire, a temporary restraining order against the eviction, declared
the seizure of their computers unconstitutional and ordered CUNY to show
cause. The case is scheduled for additional hearing on April 8, 2011. The
Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions is headed by Dr. Divine
Pryor, Eddie Ellis, Kyung Ji Rhee and Chino Hardin, who are all
plaintiffs in the lawsuit. It is the first and only public policy,
research, training, advocacy and academic Center in the country,
conceived and operated by formerly incarcerated professionals. It was
established ten years ago as an inter-disciplinary forum for scholars,
policy makers, legal practitioners, law enforcement, civil society
leaders, clergy and those previously incarcerated who are seeking to
influence and impact urban contemporary social, economic and criminal
justice issues. Its innovative policy and advocacy initiatives cover
both adult and juvenile systems from a community level perspective. According
to Dr. Divine Pryor, executive director of the Center, “this move to
SUNY is a major achievement. It is a natural evolution that allows us
access to the state university system. Since our involvement with the
criminal justice/punishment system is both national and statewide, our
moving to SUNY Old Westbury greatly and further facilitates the work.” The
Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions will continue and expand its
public policy development, lead the national debate regarding the need
for a “nu-justice paradigm” in the adult and juvenile justice systems,
and offer instructional services, counseling and support to the formerly
incarcerated community in Brooklyn and throughout the state, with a
special focus on those seeking higher education. Eddie Ellis,
co-founder of the Center for Nuleadership noted, “We have worked with
SUNY Old Westbury’s President, Dr. Calvin Butts and Vice President Hakim
Lucas, for many, many years. Their commitment to justice policy
reform, system realignment and support for the social service work of
our Center has deep roots and is a perfect fit. We are honored to
accept their invitation. The possibilities before us are unlimited.”
NOTE: Subsequent to this, the Center for Nu Leadership was given space on Gates Avenue, where they continue their wonderful work of making sure brothers and sisters continue to pursue higher education and play a viable role in the community
Edwin Eddie Ellis served 25 years in
prison for a murder he did not commit, but he never let that get in the
way of living a life of purpose. In prison, Ellis became an advocate for prison education and,
following his release, went on to have a distinguished career and helped
other formerly incarcerated people find stability and success.
The former director of Community Relations for the Black Panthers in NYC, he was falsely accused of killing James Howard, whom he had never met, nor was there evidence to prove his guilt (but that's never stopped the NYPD before, has it?) He was sent to Attica, where he witnessed the riot of 1971.
He was later transferred to Greenhaven Correctional Facility, a
maximum security prison, where they actually had an electric chair called “Old
Sparky.” Instead of falling with the negative elements at Greenhaven, Eddie lobbied to have college programs made available to inmates. The warden allowed them to be in separate quarters from the rest of the prisoners so they would not be intimidated or disturbed. He and several prisoners began studying college level courses (Eddie had dropped out to join the Panthers). During that time he earned two associate degrees, a
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Marist College
Greenhaven (magna cum laude) and a master’s degree from New York
Theology Seminary (summa cum laude)!!
So, instead of doing time, Eddie Ellis, along with other inmates was using their time wisely, looking for they day they would return to society. But more than that, Eddie Ellis began putting together advocacy organizations for those former inmates who were likewise looking to return to society, but were having difficulties because of their previous criminal records. He once remarked that Parole Officers were more cynical than helpful, so if you were looking for resources, you either had to make them yourself, or stumble around on your own.
Eddie co-founded the Community Justice Center and became executive director The center
provided housing, education opportunities funded by the state and
federal government and assistance from social services programs. In 2002, it morphed into the Nu Leadership Public Policy Group, and began to focus primarily on justice and prison conditions. They recruited employees who had post-graduate and PhD degrees to work with them.
Their work did not go unnoticed. It was Esmeralda Simmons, director of Medgar Evers' Center for Law and Justice who invited them to move onto the campus. When it became the Center for Nu Leadership on Urban Solutions, Dr. Divine Prior, PhD became it's executive director, leaving Eddie with time to travel, do his radio show, "On The Count," on WBAI.FM, write his seminal book "The Real War on Crime," and participate in panels and forums. "On The Count" is the only weekly radio talk show produced solely by former incarceratees who have post graduate degrees.
In "The Real War on Crime," Eddie states that there are thousands of formerly incarcerated people who have received higher education degrees, but don't get the respect they deserve because others still define them by their past mistakes.
In addition to so many other achievements, Eddie Ellis received the Joseph (Joe) Galiber Award from the New York State Black and Puerto Rican Caucus; The Human Justice Award, presented to him by Harry Belafonte, among others. He also served as director of Metropolitan Prison Ministry at the historic
Riverside Church in New York.
While Eddie has made his transition, he left guideposts in how to carry on, and keep moving on the way forward. He is a brother who truly walked his talk. There are many who have him to thank for being able to live viable, positive, successful lives. We all owe him a debt of gratitude.
I guess I'll miss his calling me "Queen Gloria," as much as I'll miss that raspy voice of his that never ceases to "nail it" when it came to speaking truth to power. Eddie Ellis was a king among men and a FBM. We're all blessed to have known him.
My condolences to his family, CNUL, the Brooklyn Community, New York, and the brothers and sisters he inspired through his caring and leadership.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson This is a tough week for me - having lost two friends on the same day, immediately after having memorialized Malcolm X, our BLACK SHINING PRINCE - and roughly a little over a month since my own mother's passing - Elombe Brath and Sam Greenlee's transitions have made me feel especially sensitive. Each, in turn, have catapulted me down a sort of memory lane/rewind. I think I mentioned in an initial statement that I dropped my cell phone upon hearing of Sam Greenlee's demise, and it literally went "dead" on me for two days. That silence has given me an opportunity to really do some reflecting about this wonderful, charismatic brother. So this, then, is a personal homage to Sam Greenlee:
Sam Greenlee: Author, Educator, Poet, Movie Producer
I first "met" Sam Greenlee through his epoch making book - THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR. I picked the book up at the then Michaux Book Store in Harlem, which used to be at the corner of Adam Clayton Powell (7th Ave) and 125th Street, where the State Office Building currently stands. The book was, in fact, recommended to me by Dr. Michaux himself, who was, at the time, the go to person for Black books - he had all the Black books you ever, or never, heard of. He had read them all, and was conversant on the books, authors, issues, whatever. He was a delight for a book worm such as myself - who would literally spend almost all of my meagre salary on books (or fabrics). He had the entire collection of J.A. Rogers WORLD'S GREAT MEN OF COLOR; Frantz Fanon's BLACK SKINS/WHITE MASKS; you name it, he had it! or he'd order it. It was Dr. Michaux who brought Sam's book to my attention. So when I say I "met" Sam Greenlee, it was via Dr. Michaux's admiration for his work, that I became initially aware of this great brother. It was an exciting read, but at the time I thought it was a work of fiction - and I was more into historical information - so I enjoyed it, but kind of passed it off as not in the realm of possibilities. The next time I became aware of Sam Greenlee was when the movie was released. Having already read the book, I wanted to see how close the movie was to it. Also, during the 60's and 70's, we were supporting any and all Black movies,
regardless of their genre, because it was an opportunity to help our
other Black brothers and sisters stay employed and "relevant" in the
Hollyweird movie industries.
Having seen Ivan Dixon in "NOTHING BUT A MAN," with Abbie Lincoln (Aminata Moseka), we definitely wanted to support his directorial efforts. And, I will definitely say that the movie version did not disappoint. We were keenly aware of the fact that this was about as close as it came to having a "blueprint for revolution" played out on the big screen. There were discussion groups around the movie, and whether those were real possibilities, or just a work of fiction and fantasy. This was during the waning years of The Black Power Movement, and many of the leaders, who were still trying to set up community based organizations, were beginning to buckle under the challenges of Black communities being deliberately flooded with drugs. THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR seemed to them a ray of hope. Instructive and constructive in its scope, many were determined to have their teams view it as such. The fact is, however, that those plans never saw the light of day, and Black communities and organizations were subsequently eviscerated by a combination of drugs on the one hand, and gentrification on the other.
Fast forward to 1998, the 25th anniversary of the release of the movie - and the first time I actually met Sam Greenlee - through the good offices of my sister/friend/activist/artist Maxine McCrey Montano - who had known Sam for decades. She introduced us at Perks Fine Cuisine (our favorite Harlem Hangout Black in the day), as a "poet." She thought it would be a "good thing for me to interview him for the New York Beacon," which was the publication I wrote for at the time.
I almost turned down the opportunity to do so, because we had so many Black poets at the time, and unfortunately, Black newspapers were not paying for innovative, unsolicited articles. However, Sam was so comical and down to earth, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I was talking to The Sam Greenlee, author of THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR!! I initially didn't believe it was really him. I had to pinch myself a couple of times to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Then I silently thanked God for this wonderful opportunity. Sam Greenlee was an easy going, plain spoken, not afraid of anything or anybody sort of brother. He was what most would have called "straight with no chaser." He said what he had to say, and if you couldn't handle it, he was making absolutely no apologies - he's just smile and continue with his statement - he didn't deny the fact that you might not like what he said, he just continued and you had to handle your personal reaction as though it was your own personal problem, not his. PERIOD! I told him how thrilled I was when I first saw the movie, but was disappointed that the main character, Freeman, was "killed." To which he responded that he was not necessarily "killed." That there was originally a plan for a sequel to the movie, with the consideration for a possible TV series - however, all that was dashed when the CIA and FBI had the movie pulled and canned. Though I knew it was in the realm of possibility, I wanted to make sure I heard him correctly, so I asked him: "Did you just say the CIA and FBI had your movie pulled?" To which he responded, "You damned right they did." So of course my question as to why ( a dumb question, but you have to ask it), met with one of his intense answers: "Because it was a blueprint for Black insurgence. They were afraid that the Black liberation groups would use it to get reparations and stop victimization and spread of drugs."
When I asked him on basis had he originally written the book and movie, he explained that his experience in the USIA (United States Information Agency) for eight years, and was one of the only Black men in the agency at the time, he began to develop an awareness of the undercurrent of racism and discrimination during that time. It inspired him to write the book, but then he couldn't get it published in the US, at a time when there was a proliferation of Black authors. He knew his book was being turned down systematically in the US because of the content.
Since it had been over twenty years since I had read the book, or heard about the movie, my recollection of it was sketchy at best - I just remembered that I loved the fact that the hero, Freeman, showed vividly how to use white's racist assumptions against them; and how play lw key, and keep your own counsel, in order to learn their secrets; and, in turn, teach what you know to those brothers and sisters who didn't have the opportunity to learn first hand, was exemplary.
It gave new meaning to "each one reach one; each one teach one." Something that, by that time, few, if any of us, were even remotely practicing. He liked the fact that I got the essence of the book and the fact that, whether we were working together for "revolutionary purposes," or for just the expansion of knowledge, our working together as a well oiled team is the key to success. And that is what frightened the CIA and FBI more than anything else - the possibility of unity among Blacks, that would then be translated into international (African) unity (especially at the time he wrote the book) -- where Africans and African Americans were beginning to work together.
For the uninitiated, who has neither seen the movie or read the book, I'm including a caption from the Oxford Companion to African American Literature: "In The Spook Who Sat by the Door, Greenlee presents a
satirical novel that criticizes the racist atmosphere of the United
States by examining the life of a fictitious black CIA
agent, Dan Freeman. It is evident that Greenlee creates his images from
his experience in the military and United States Information Agency.
References to Freeman as a ““spook”” in both the title and the novel possess a sense of duality
or double consciousness: spook is used as a racial insult directed
toward Blacks, in addition to being a slang term for spies. Greenlee
uses this duality to establish a connection between Freeman's character
and the African American experience during the turbulent 1960s, which
parallels Greenlee's service time. With this multifaceted character,
Greenlee begins to examine the mask that has been worn by African
Americans for generations to hide their true feelings. Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/sam-greenlee#ixzz32fZ0lSla"
When I said Sam would speak his mind and let the chips fall where they may, it was never more evident than when he spoke of his angst in trying to get the movie completed. His anger at Jesse Jackson for not having "greenlighted" the backing of the movie was palpable, and problematical for me, because I considered (consider) Jesse Jackson a hero. He reluctantly admitted that he considered "early" Jesse a hero, but "sell out" Jesse, "I can't stand him." Couple that with the fact that his movie was pulled from all the theatres at the same time throughout the US, and it was only because a hand full of boot leggers actually copied the movie on handheld videos that they were even seen at all after that time up until 2000, had made him somewhat bitter.
Of course I pointed out that during the 70's we were all being watched by the CIA and FBI, and many of our actions were more of a defense/self-preservation nature, than against each other. That cast in that light, Jesse himself may have been caught between a rock and a hard place in making the decision to not back him at that time.
Apparently he liked what I said, because he gifted me with an autographed copy of the book - which I still cherish to this day. It was the beginning of a long friendship. Though I can't say I saw him on a regular basis, whenever he was in New York, he would give me a call to let me know where he would be speaking. If I could make it, I would - if not, we'd spend at least twenty minutes on the phone catching up.
During one of our many conversations, I asked him how people received the movie now that it had been re-released and was now in the public domain and on Youtube - and he laughed: "They can show this movie over and over to these kids today - they wouldn't act on any of this because they're too comfortable. They have their designer jeans, their playstations, and the only time many of them know they're Black is if they accidentally look in the mirror. Nobody's afraid of Black people these days, except other Black people. Back in the 70's when we were real, we were Black and we knew it, they (whites) definitely felt they were in danger of Black dissidents putting this into action."
When asked if he was finally getting paid serious royalties for his movie, he responded, "Nah! Just the book sales - but I have to practically hand distribute them myself. Our people don't read anymore!" The movie can be seen on YouTube in its entirety - either with or without the various interviews with Sam that have taken place since it was re-released in the year 2000, nearly forty years after it was taken off the market. Though he had recently done a series of lectures, he also
is quite candid about being forced to go on welfare for a while, because he was
denied the opportunity of teaching, or being gainfully employed in any of the many areas of his specialty - a fact
he feels can be attributed to the FBI profiling him as being a
potential dissident. The last time I saw Sam was at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY where they were honoring his work and showing the movie for the student body. As always, Sam hit the ground running - with several things on his agenda, including hanging out in "what's left of the jazz clubs in Harlem. They just keep disappearing." That was the Fall of 2012. They've called the movie a "cult classic" which generally means that it's now being dismissed as being anything serious, and is only followed by a certain genre of people. I find it offputting, when in point of fact there is so much of intrinsic value in both the book and movie that are more than relative today. His other works include include Baghdad Blues about the 1958 Iraqui revolution and his experiences traveling in Iraq in the 1950s; and Blues for an African Princess - a collection of poems, and Ammunition. He also wrote the screenplay for a film short called Lisa Trotter (2010).
Sam had been named Poet Laureate of Chicago in 1990, a wonderful honor bestowed upon him for his years of work encapturing the heart, spirit and aspirations of Black people. Always one to have his eye on the relevant and impactful subtleties of life, it's of no small importance that he chose to make his transition on Malcolm X's birthday. No doubt he, Elombe and brother Malcolm are having quite a conversation right about this time. Wouldn't it be great to have a "Spook" sit in on that conversation, and bring back to us still wandering around in confusion, the wisdom those three could impart??!! My condolences and congratulations to his family and friends on Chicago and the world over. Sam Greenlee is truly one of our treasures. Stay Blessed & ECLECTICALLY BLACK Gloria Dulan-Wilson www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com/ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS
This
is part of an indepth interview conducted with Rev.
Conrad Tillard, newly declared candidate for Bedford Stuyvesant's 36
Councilmatic District.The
interview took place at Peaches, Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, Wednesday, April
24, 2013.
* You
might say that Conrad Tillard is following the time honored saying of
"better late than not at all." At least that's
the word on the street from Brooklynites in Bed Stuy who thought they
were facing a three way race for the soon to be vacated seat of
Assemblyman turned City Council maven Al Vann. The race has now expanded to six since his entry into the fray.
Al Vann has
had the enviable position of living his life in service to his
constituency, and now having done an extremely great job, is
preparing to step down - though not necessarily walking off into the
sunset just yet. However, he is leaving some mighty big
shoes to fill, and some great footsteps to follow Foot steps
Rev. Conrad Tillard feels he is more than capable and prepared to
fill. His opponents are none too happy about this "late
entry into the fray."
Comments/complaints of "why
now?" can be heard all over. However
according to the clergyman and former Nation of Islam leader, the
Minister Conrad Muhammad, of Harlem's Muhammad's Mosque No. 7:
"I watched and waited for the current candidates to come
forth with platforms that would really speak to the needs of
Brooklyn, Bedford Stuyvesant, education, and the youth. But
there was so much lacking until it was frustrating. I have been
attending all the meetings of relevance to issues that confront Bed
Stuy, and they weren't there. I stood in solidarity with people
in the community whose children had been gunned down; who had been
raped or robbed; I was at Boys and Girls High school for the hearings
on the possible closing of the school. They just weren't there,
or any of the other several hundreds of meetings and events I've
participated in over the past few years. Where have they been,
and what is it that they now bring that will really address the
issues that face Brooklyn over the long haul?”
He
continued with confident solemnity:
“I searched my heart; I spoke with the Almighty, and I was told
that if it was to get done, I would have to be the one to do it.
I could not wait for someone else to do the job that has yet to be
done to make Bed Stuy whole. And that's why I'm entering; and
that's why I will win."
Anybody who knows
his or her Bible knows it's not about when you enter, but
why. It's not about whose backing you politically; it's about
who the people feel will really work for them; and who has their
backs spiritually, mentally, physically and visibly. Conrad Tillard
has consistently been that person. Not just for the past three
or four years; but for nearly three decades, since the 80's when he,
as a college student, worked with the Reverend Jesse Jackson in his
first campaign bid for the Presidency of the US. "I've
cut my teeth on the issues that drive our people, that matter to us
most." Subsequent to Rev. Jackson's defeat
in his bid, Tillard signed up with the Nation of Islam, and quickly
became the right hand for Min. Louis Farrakhan in helping to reach
out to constituents in Central Harlem. Later he formed an
organization CHHANGE, that reached out to the Hip Hop Generation, and
got them involved in being more responsible to their community via
their votes and support for community organizations.
Not one
to be pigeonholed, or put in a box of limitation, Rev. Conrad
Tillard, has always put the people first, regardless of the opinions
or consequences. This has made him both popular - someone to be
reckoned with - and at times, a target of his detractors. Since
his emphasis has always been on the people, communities,
neighborhoods, where the people live, work, worship and play, you're
more likely to find him out among the people, interacting,
supporting, teaching and participating - whether it's fashionable or
not, popular or not. He is comfortable in his community,
whether it's behind the pulpit, in an audience, on a picket line, a
panel, dealing with rap and spoken word artists; mediating gang
activities, or participating in children's program activities.
When asked what some of his plans were for the future of
Brooklyn's Bed Stuy community, he replied: “I've
been working with the communities of Brooklyn and Bed Stuy since
coming to New York in 1989; when I first had my radio show on WBLS.
I am more than familiar with the issues confronting Brooklyn,”
Wanting
to be clear that he has garnered the educational creds to go along
with the street credentials, he stated: “I really
need to illustrate my educational background. There are a
generation of us who didn't join the nation of Islam from prison, but
who were well educated. I came out of college in Philadelphia;
first worked with Rev. Jesse Jackson when he ran for President.
After that, I joined the Nation of Islam and worked as Minister
Farrakhan's head of Muhammad's Mosque No. 7 in Harlem. So we
were on college campuses; we were heavy students; we were the crème
of the crop; and we joined the nation.”
In
fact, Tillard's dedication to the African American community is quite
impressive, stemming from his days as an adolescent. He received his
BA from the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, PA. In
African American Studies in 1983, at a time when the colleges were
all but phasing the department out. and worked with Rev. Jesse
Jackson's bid for presidency through 1984. “I was one of the few
African Americans studying our history during that time. It was
deliberately being phased out of the schools as well as the colleges
and the universities. This was before (Henry Louis) Gates and that
crew came up with a different version of African American studies,
and it was more acceptable – I was really doing the unadulterated
research.” Additionally, Tillard posses an MA Divinity from Union
Theological Seminary; a ThM from Princeton.” He also has his degree
from Harvard Divinity School. Couple that with the 17 years of
discipline under the Hon. Louis Farrakhan, and you've got a force to
be reckoned with.
He
states: “The beautiful thing about life is that I've had
exposure to life at a lot of different levels – from the poorest of
the poor, to the elite. There are not a lot of people, in terms of
the human condition, that I cannot sit down and talk to. I have been
in crack houses, in prisons, in populations – not in the waiting
rooms, when I go I go into the populations. Gang meetings, but I've
also sat down with the elite of society. I've sat in classrooms, I've
sat in meetings; and so I really understand life in a broad way. All
my life I've been involved in issues of importance and concern to
African Americans. People ask how I'm going to attract white voters;
I don't think white voters are any different than anyone else. They
evaluate people's experience and credentials. And they just want to
know that a person can serve. My experience allows me to engage
people at every level of life.”
Rev.
Tillard may have come “late to the game” by politically correct
standards, and might not be part of the established "clubs" but he is just what the doctor ordered for the salvation of Brooklyn.
One
of the hottest topics in BedStuy is the threatened dismantling of
Boys and Girls High School, something which Tillard strongly opposes,
have recently hosted a hearing for the Education Department and the
Bed Stuy Community as to why the current mayor should back off. “I
would advocate for the end of mayoral control of our schools. To not
give our children a quality education is sentencing them to poverty
and jail and death. So it's a form of child abuse. And that's why I
will use the bully pulpit. I'm going to get in trouble with some
people in City Council, because I'm going tell parents, don't
complain about teachers alone; it's a partnership. It's not a baby
sitting service. You've got to work with the teachers to make sure
your children get an education. My wife and I both work in Bed Stuy.
My youngest son goes to school in Bed Stuy – little Barack -- and I
spend a lot of time volunteering my time at Boys and Girls High
School. The Bedford Academy, and the Community Stakeholders Board.
Emma Jordan Simpson and Bryan Favors, and the community and I work
together trying to improve the educational standards in District 16.
And I am the number one fan of Boys and Girls High School Basketball
team. Two years ago, when they won their first state championship,
working with Congressman Ed Towns, I made sure that the families had
a bus to go up there and celebrate the first state championship ever
in the history of Boys and Girls High School. We took two buses up to
Albany with the good help of Congressman Ed (Edolphus Towns, D.
Brooklyn, US Congress, Ret'd) and I made that happen.”
Tillard, likewise took a stand when Medgar Evers College
faced the threat of dismantling under Pollard, after 20 years of
successful progress under former Pres. Edison O. Jackson. He, along with the late, great activist Brother Jitu Weusi, Dr. Brenda Greene, Esmeralda Simmons and yours truly, were part of an ongoing coalition that early on identified the dangers of pollard and the super imposition of CUNY over Medgar Evers University. He volunteered the use of his Church hall for necessary strategic meetings.
He
advises Brooklyn's voters, from those residents who have been there a
life time to the newcomers to consider carefully the impact on the
future of the community if they don't carefully scrutinize the
candidates for this soon to be vacated seat. . To the youth who have not gotten involved because they
don't see the relevance to their lives, he stated emphatically: “WE
CAN'T BE GIANTS WITH GRASSHOPPER MENTALITIES! The person who
succeeds Al Vann is of major pivotal importance to us all. Everyone
takes their cue from that seat. We need visionary strong leadership.
That's what I offer; that's who I am.”
