EVENT ALERT: Colored Girls' author Ntozake Shange and Ifa Beyaza At Book Signing at Bed Stuy Restoration, Sunday December 19

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

You’ve seen the movie, “For Colored Girls Who Consdered Suicide…” now come meet the author! Ntozake Shange and her sister Ifa Beyaza will be at Bed-Stuy Restoration’s Skylight Room* for a gala reception and book signing Sunday December 19, 2010, from 4pm to 7pm.

These two very talented and accomplished sisters, each iconic successes in their own right, have co-authored a novel entitled “Some Sing, Some Cry” (568 pp. St. Martin’s Press) The book chronicles the quasi-fictional story of the Mayfield family, and traces them from slavery through to modern times. It focuses on the life and times of these women and their decendents.

Ms. Shange’s epoch making choreo-poem “for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf”, is the only poem of its kind to translate successfully to Broadway (according to the New York Times). In Zulu, Ntozake means "she who comes with her own things, and Shange means "who walks like a lion."

Those of us who were in New York City, back in the day, vividly remember what a controversy it was on Broadway; in much the same way it is now with Tyler Perry’s movie version.

Shange’s equally talented sister, playwright Ifa Beyaza authored “The Ballad of Emmett Till”, about the brutal 1955 murder of the innocent teen who went south to visit his Mississippi relatives, and was beaten and murdered for allegedly looking at a white woman.

Together these two sisters, who originally hail from Trenton, New Jersey, will be on hand to sign “Some Sing, Some Cry.“ At nearly 600 pages, this promises to be a good read. It is an epic novel designed to capture the lives of women who have faced major challenges - from rape, to betrayal, to unemployment, to racism, and beyond, but persevered because of and in spite of these seeming obstacles. The dichotomy of success followed by failure, followed by success/failure down through the generations, are issues many Black women can relate to. The Mayfield women are hilarious and sexy, gorgeous and strong. They all work the same refrain: “Never go backward. Always be movin’, movin’ forward. Life is in front of me, not behind.” After every near defeat, these women pick themselves up, sometimes literally off the ground, and take the next impossible step. And while they all take that step differently — choosing to run or to work, to curse or, yes, to sing — not one of them spends much time crying.( NYTimes Kaiama L. Glover)"

The reception and book signing event is being sponsored jointly by Women of Faith Advocating For Change; Women for Annette Robinson, and Lori Cumbo, founder and curator of MOCada Art Museum. Hostess for the evening is NY State Assemblywoman Annette M. Robinson.

The book purchase and signing offered at a discount of $25.00.

*Directions: (1368 Fulton Street, between New York and Brooklyn, take the A train to Nostrand, the C train to Kingston, the 25 bus to Fulton & New York, the South Bound 43 to Brooklyn and Fulton; the 44 Bus to Fulton & New York Ave.)
For additional information call (718) 399-7630

Ms. Gloria Dulan-Wilson is available for public appearances, panels, hosting events, etc., for info email her at gloriadulanwilson@gmal.com


Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Medgar Evers College Faculty Issues Vote of NO CONFIDENCE for President and Provost

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

A controversy and confrontation that has been brewing under the surface is about to come to a head. It has been roiling since President Edison O. Jackson stepped down from Medgar Evers, and his mantle was passed on to William Pollard, who now serves as its current president.

In assuming the position of president, it is natural for the new executive to make some changes in order to brand the college under his leadership. It is natural, also for them to bring in new programs that would enhance what the college has to offer.

What is not natural is for a Black college president to come into an environment where the students and faculty are predominantly Black, and lay waste to programs that have been of benefit to the Black student body and surrounding community. However, over the past year, this appears to have been Pollard's scorched campus policy. He has evicted Dr. Divine Pryor, founder of Center for Nu Leadership on Urban Solutions, an outreach program that helped ex-offenders get back on their feet. And has sent letters of eviction to what can only be called Brooklyn's African American Think Tank.

Thus far the following people have been either sent termination or eviction notices:

Hon. Roger L. Green, Founder and Executive Director of the DuBois-Bunche Center, was appointed a Distinguished Lecturer at Medgar Evers College within the City University of New York in 2006. From 1981-2005 served in the New York State Assembly, and was an expert on educational reform; children and family policies. chaired the Committee on Science and Technology, and the Committee on Children and Families. A longstanding advocate of civil and human rights, Green was MEC’s professor of Public Administration, bringing to the students his vast array of knowledge and experience. The DuBois-Bunche Center for Public Policy is in jeopardy of being excised from the campus, as are the founding members who are integral to the organization.

John Flateau, Ph.D.: Professor of Public Administration, received his Ph.D in American Politics and Public Policy from the City University of New York Graduate Center.  He served as Chief of Staff to Mayor David Dinkins; Senior Vice President of the NYS Urban Development Corporation; Dean of the School of Business, and Dean of Institutional Advancement at Medgar Evers College. He also served as a Commissioner, of the NYC Districting Commission; Advisor to the NYS Legislative Advisory Task Force on Demographics and Reapportionment; Chairperson of the US Census Advisory Committee on the African-American Population; and Executive Director of the NYS Black and Hispanic Legislative Caucus.  He is a generalist and strategic thinker, with expertise in urban policy, economic development, voting rights, legislative redistricting, census demographics, campaigns and elections, diversity management, and governmental processes (whether or not Dr. Flateau is on the hit list remains to be seen, however, MEC's Black Think Tank is definitely under siege). 

(NOTE: to their credit both Green and Flateau worked to resolve the problems in Albany under Governor David Paterson, as well as providing advice on an ongoing basis on State, City and National issues.)
 
Hon. Major Owens served as a member of Congress representing Central Brooklyn from 1983 to 2005, and brings a wealth of expertise. Former New York City Commissioner, and a NY State Senator. Congressman Owens is widely respected for his lifelong commitment to reduce poverty in the United States and throughout the developing world.  He is also respected for his legislative leadership which fought to eliminate barriers to educational opportunity. His position appears to be safe for now. But with the lack of insight on the part of the current Administrator, I wouldn't turn my back or relax if I were him.

Zulema Blair, Ph.D.:was Chair of MEC's Public Administration Departmentin 2007. Dr. Blair’s focus is organizational theory and it’s applications to public administration. She has produced research which studies low income populations and their participation in the political process. Dr .Blair directs the American Democracy Project at Medgar Evers College. Dr. Blair was not returned as chair of her department.

Hon.Ambassador Eugene Pursoo became a Distinguished Lecturer at Medgar Evers College. after serving with distinction as the United Nations Ambassador and Permanent Representative with plenipotentiary powers for Grenada, from 1991 to 1995. During his tenure at the United Nations he was elected Vice President of the General Assembly in 1993, Chairman of the United Nations Decolonization Committee, and Chairman of the Organization of Small Island States in 1994. He earned his Bachelor's and Master’s degrees from Fordham University. Ambassador Pursoo is the Director of the International Affairs Center. He as been commited to the mentoring of students and scholars who seek to advance diplomatic approaches for the expansion of peace and justice throughout the World Community. His contract was not renewed. Why????

Divine Pryor, Ph.D. has established a national and international reputation as an expert in the field of criminal justice reform .Before receiving his undergraduate degrees and a Ph. D. in forensic psychology Dr. Pryor was incarcerated for several years. In the tradition of Malcolm X (El Hajj Malik El Shabazz), Dr. Pryor rediscovered his love for learning and a passion for justice during his incarceration and developed a commitment to reverse the disproportionate number of African Americans in prison. Dr. Pryor has served on the National Re-entry Policy Council for the Council of State Governors board of directors of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, and the Community Justice Center. Nu Leadership is the only organization in the nation that was founded and is currently directed and staffed by formerly incarcerated individuals who possess advanced degrees (masters, doctorates) in the areas of criminal justice reform. Pryor's eviction from MEC was covered on WRKS-FM, where he revealed that Pollard had begun to dismantle many of the programs that had been successfully serving the community for nearly 20 years.

During the selection of MEC's next president, a search committee had narrowed the candidates down to three women. They were all extremely competent, heavy hitters. Any one of them would have been a wonderful choice for the campus. Dr. Pollard was not initially on that short list, and was only added at the last minute. Each of the candidates had to participate in a public hearing, where the community had an opportunity to ask key questions to ascertain which of the candidates appeared to have MEC's wellbeing and expansion at heart. Dr. Pollard's answer was the least satisfactory. In fact, if memory serves, Dr. Pollard did not appropriately or adequately answer the question.

After the final interview session, the consensus was that any one of the three female candidates would have been an excellent selection, and would lead MEC into the 21st century. Imagine the shock when it was announced that Pollard was given the position. At the time it was conjectured that perhaps individuals had used undue influence (and threats) to bring get him the position. There were several of us who were not happy with the selection.

Those of you who remember your Roman mythology still remember the Trojan Horse. In the story, a beautiful horse was led into a community. The people accepted it as a gift. They took it inside their gates, and begin to "rejoice" over such a wonderful present. However, while they slept through the night, soldiers, killers, evil intentions climbed down out of the horse and invaded the community, catching the citizens unawares and destroying all that they had developed.

We are now facing a modern version of the Trojan Horse, and we need to wake up before it's too late. The faculty and staff of Medgar Evers are beginning to take steps, as well as elected officials and national figures. The evisceration of Medgar Evers will not be tolerated. The policies could reverse all that has been accomplished and put MEC back to pre-Edison Jackson days. Medgar Evers belongs to the Black community of Brooklyn, and it's up to the community to make their voices heard.

The divide and conquer methods that were the basis for our being sold into slavery and brought here over 400 years ago, is still in effect in this situation. If the Brooklyn community continues to sleep on this, they may well find they no longer have a Black college in Brooklyn.

Below is a resolution from the Faculty and Staff of Medgar Evers College. Please print, post and pass it on. Make sure your neighbors and your children know what's going on, and that you lend a voice to speaking out against Pollard's and Johnson's policies.

Medgar Evers is considered to be a predominantly Black college, and the only one of its kind in New York. Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania is the only Historically Black College/University in the North. Both were formed because of a need to provide the Black community with quality education. Of all the colleges in the City University system, MEC is the only college whose policies were determined by the Brooklyn Community.

Brooklyn has stood out unique in the world as being the only community that actively participates in the direction of Medgar Evers. A privilege and a right that may well be under threat at this point.

This is the beginning for the battle of the soul of Brooklyn and the well and expansion of Medgar Evers. While it is hoped that things can be resolved amicably, it must be made clear that the Black community will not allow MEC to be destroyed.

STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

MEC FACULTY RESOLUTION FOLLOWS:

Resolution on President’s and Provost’s Leadership & Management of College
December 7, 2010

Whereas, the faculty of Medgar Evers College has attempted unsuccessfully to
engage the administration (Office of the President and Provost) into collegial
dialogue regarding the affairs of the College, and
Whereas, the faculty of Medgar Evers College has observed and obtained evidence
of the egregious acts by the Office of the President and Provost listed below, to wit
1. Administration, as represented by the Offices of the President and Provost
demonstrate poor or questionable leadership decisions with regard to effective
governance as ratified by the faculty and PSC, ex.
 President’s failure to Chair Personnel and Budget Committee as required by
College’s governance plan (this committee is chaired by President as defined by
Governance Plan and oversees reappointments, appointments, promotions and
tenure)
 Irregularities in protocols for College Wide Personnel & Budget Committee
 Provost’s confrontational and dictatorial style with faculty, students and staff
 Dissemination of notices of non reappointment to faculty, staff and CLTs via
security guard, email, and visits to classrooms and offices.
 Questionable non reappointments of faculty and College Lab Technicians. (CLTs
perform highly skilled tasks such as lab work, computer work and provide support
for administrative and academic units. CLTs follow a tenure track).
 Irregularities in the process by which faculty and staff reviews were voted on in
personnel committees.
 No announced Master plan or direction for MEC, after an entire year. The
college-wide assessment report and recommendations were never shared
 Removal of Chair of Education for spurious and unsubstantiated reasons. (Per
PSC Contract, Chairs in CUNY elected by faculty not appointed by President and
Provost). Chair of Education had been elected by faculty in department for 3 year
term.
 Citing of “budget” as rationale for reduction of services but hiring of additional
administrators and consultants.
 Lack of transparency and lack of communication with respect to the search for the
Provost.
 Provost’s statement that a reduction in adjunct costs will provide OTPS for
faculty.
 President and Provost more concerned with initiatives such as getting an athletic
field than with providing support for resources to support student instruction,
tutoring, and scholarships and faculty hires and professional development.
2. Administration, as represented by the Offices of the President and Provost
demonstrate a discrepancy between their declared student-centered philosophy and
activities that undermine and mitigate against student success by removing support
mechanisms and faculty resources integral to student success. Data reveal that MEC
student satisfaction with academic support services is substantially lower than
CUNY average. Removal of support mechanisms and faculty resources include,
 Elimination of Writing Center.
 Elimination of Center for Teaching and Learning
 Reduction of tutors in Learning Center budget
 Reduction of staff in College’s library
 Reduction of staff in Student Computer Lab
 Reduction of resources and research opportunities for Psych Lab.
 Blocking of funding supporting faculty/student research and the mission of the
College.
 Refusal to fill faculty positions in academic departments (yet hired high level
administrators).
 Ending the position of NCATE Coordinator while Department is involved in
Accreditation activities.
 Elimination of the position of Pre-Med Advisor in January 2010. Numerous MEC
students have been accepted to Medical schools over the years, some to MD/PhD
program, because of the work of the pre professional advisor. When students
confronted Provost re: this, he stated that “to his knowledge there was never
anyone who had the title of pre-med advisor at MEC, and that students could not
have a letter from a pre-med committee nor a pre- med advisor since the school
never had neither one. This is a direct misrepresentation of the facts; the College
has had a pre professional advisor since 1975.
 Withdrawing of reassigned time for Coordination of Writing. The composition
classes in the English Department are service courses that serve close to 2,000
students (70+ sections) per semester. The Coordinator is responsible for
developing common midterm and final exams; norming sessions; cross grading
sessions; faculty development workshops; orientation for new faculty; securing
grants and serving as liaison to other CUNY colleges. Coordinators in all CUNY
campuses have reassigned time.
3. Poor Leadership and Management Skills of the President, contributing to poor
morale, questionable legal activities, and institutional demoralization, as evidenced
by
 Rigid viewpoint and inability to entertain or appreciate alternative perspectives
 Poor relationships with elected officials ( demonstrates a dismissive attitude, and
has portrayed elected officials as “interfering,” and having “too much influence
in the College”)
 Questionable appointments of additional administrators in midst of a severe fiscal
crisis:
 Lack of Diversity in President’s Administrative Senior Leadership Team (all Vice
Presidents are males.)
 Failure to meet with senior faculty and student leaders – only responded after
CUNY Central and elected officials’ intervention
 Inability & failure to hold College Council meetings (cancelled two meetings in
Fall and failed to get quorum in Spring at three meetings in 2009-2010 AY. Has
only held one meeting in current year and subsequent meeting cancelled because
of failure to document membership of council and thus did not have a quorum.)
 Holding of Town Hall meeting for faculty during last week in May –few faculty
present
 Holding governance plan meeting in summer when faculty and students are on
leave.
 Holding of Retreat in summer without key administrators, e.g, Deans.
 Lack of Understanding of Funding and Grant Initiatives
 Leadership team’s lack of understanding of the nature and process for obtaining
multiple streams of funding from public and private sources;
 Leadership’s team blocking of funding opportunities and funding obtained- Nu
Leadership, NIH grant and STEP grant, SPCD Programs
4. Poor Leadership and Insensitivity of the Provost
 Irrational and explosive behavior that is unbecoming of an academic leader.
 Questionable non reappointments of faculty and College Lab Technicians (CLTs)
(reasons for non-reappointment were not provided to Chairs)
 Blocking of funding supporting faculty/student research and the mission of the
College
 Lack of respect for the academic knowledge and expertise of faculty (disparaging
and reductive attitude towards faculty scholarship, leadership and counsel in
matters of academic affairs)
 Removal of support mechanisms and faculty resources integral to student success,
e.g., the Writing Center and Center for Teaching and Learning.
 Accusations that faculty are responsible for low retention rates and performance
of students when most recent data indicate that student satisfaction with faculty is
higher than CUNY average with respect to quality of course performance, ability
of faculty to communicate clearly and frequency of faculty feedback on course
performance.
5. Administration, as represented by the Offices of the President and Provost,
demonstrates a lack of commitment to the “community–oriented” mission of
Medgar Evers College and to Central Brooklyn and its residents, as evidenced by
 Lack of institutional memory.
 Continual statements referencing the need to change the mission without
demonstrating an understanding of the special niche of Medgar Evers and the
integral nature of Medgar Evers College to all community entities.
 Disregard for relationship and value of the Centers to the mission of MEC
 Eviction of Center for NuLeadership
 Disregard for role of Center for NuLeadership in serving as advocate and resource
for formerly incarcerated individuals in college and community.
 Refusal to recognize Center for NuLeadership as Center in College although the
Center is highly regarded in CUNY and nationally, has been functioning as a
critical Center for the last six years and was formerly approved by the College’s
governing body.
 Ignoring of Harry Belafonte’s offer to work with President in resolving Nu
Leadership issues.
 Removal of Carver ATM machines & substitution of Citibank ATMs. Issue of
Carver Bank’s removal from campus still not resolved.
 Lack of an understanding of the value of a comprehensive college for students.
 Pays “lip service” to support of Medgar Evers College’s Preparatory School.
Despite awards and accolades from College Board, Department of Education and
President Obama, the Administration has withdrawn support for the Medgar
College Preparatory School’s Dual Enrollment Program.
 Use of questionable and erroneous data as a justification for changing the mission
 Attempt to change the venue of commencement and cancel Jazzy Jazz series
without consultation and understanding of the importance of these programs to
students and the community. (Reinstitution of these programs only after student
and community protest).
 Lack of awareness of the importance of Medgar Evers’s role in helping to sustain
Black institutions that support and serve the students and residents of Central
Brooklyn.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Medgar Evers College do
affirm a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE in the current Administration, and
specifically, in the Office of the President, Dr. William A. Pollard, and in the Office of the Provost, Dr. Howard Johnson.
A vote of no confidence by the faculty signals to the college leadership and CUNY Board that there is a major lack of confidence in the leadership of the college and that actions must be taken.

The time to act is now before it's too late.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Molefi Asante is the NY Black Community's Selection for the Schomburg

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Brothers and sisters, I just received this communique from Brothers James McIntosh and Omowale Clay in reference to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. And it looks as though the gauntlet has been thrown down - again.

I probably don’t really have to say anything, because their letter stands for itself. But that would be too easy, particularly when I, myself, as a New Yorker, have some very strong opinions and concerns about the future of one of the greatest repositories of Black Culture ever.

So, prior to my sharing their letter with you, allow me to make some simple statements (and you know that with me, nothing is ever “simple”).

In the first place who tells your story (our story) and who shapes your history (our history) has a great deal of control over you/us. It was for this reason that Arturo Schomburg started the Schomburg library in the first place. Not because he wanted the New York Public Library to control it, but because he wanted to be sure that our truth about us was in our hands and under our control. When he started the Schomburg collection, nobody was telling our story, and when they did it was distorted, full of lies, and as an afterthought.

Secondly, when it came to who would be the lead factor in the continuation of that truth and the flow of information for and about the Black community, we have been more than adequately served by Dr. Howard Dodson from 1982 to the present. Not only was Dodson a scholar, but he had flair, panache and a love of the Black community of New York and the world that could not be denied. And of course, we in turn loved him back. Under Dodson the Schomburg expanded, grew and became the central gathering place for scholars, students, celebrities -- all wanting to be a part of the very rich and live history that is ensconced within those walls.

We, the Black community, was very clear when we stated that Dr. Dodson’s stepping down would leave a hole in the community, and some very big footsteps to follow. Very big indeed. We were also very clear when we stated that in order for the progress that has been made under Dodson to continue unabated, we had already done our research and selected Dr. Molefi Asante, scholar, historian, and lover of Black people and their history to fill those considerable shoes.

As usual, as is their wont, it seems that white folks just can’t refrain from trying those divide and conquer games. They’ve been doing it since slavery, and they have it as a habit somewhere deep in their subconscious minds. Even though they don’t say it, it’s obvious that they still operate under the Plessy v. Ferguson case where Supreme Court (in-)Justice Roger B. Taney stated that a Black man had no rights that a white man was bound to respect.

And the New York Public Library’s ersatz search committee is operating under the same rubric. Even though a panel was held to discuss the upcoming selection of the successor to Dr. Dodson, and the Black community clearly expressed their selection (read choice), under LeClerc, they pretended to work with the Black community, having brought Dr. Asante to New York four (4!!!!!) times for interviews. Then, schizophrenically they turned in another direction and chose a complete and totally different candidate.

Then, adding insult to injury, they had the temerity and the gall to promulgate the announcement under the signature of Henry Louis “skip the truth” Gates!!
Gates of all people, who had the nerves to say that Black did not deserve reparations; followed some inanities stating that African had brought slavery upon themselves. If my memory serves me correctly - and it does - the Black community castigated Gates for not being or acting in the best interest of Black people It was obvious that Gates has drifted to the “white side” (not unlike Darth Vader’s drift to the dark side - same sinister meaning). In fact, I think we, the Black community, made it clear that Gates was not to have anything to do with the selection of our next head of the Schomburg because he had clearly shown his insensitivity to the needs of Black people (Gates defection to the “white side” is a story for another time - check www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot for additional commentaries on Gates). His involvement in the affairs of Black New Yorkers was not welcome or desired.

Those wishes clearly were not honored either. So, thinking they can play their modern version of “divide and conquer,” the NYPL search committee (and those that back them who are the real culprits) are looking to pit two equally competent scholars (Asante and Muhammad) against each other, with the possibility of the Black community falling on either side of the line.

But the Black community has already spoken. And we did not stutter!! Just as we did not stutter in 1982 when we stood for Howard Dodson over the white selection for the Schomburg!

However, we are not going to play diversionary tactics with the vapid New York Public Library, either. The Schomburg Library is one of Harlem’s finest centers for Black History and Research. It was not designed by the NYPL. It will not be mismanaged by the NYPL, or those who only deign to show up and make decisions that are not in our best interest when it pleases them.

The Black community is solidly behind Dr. Asante, and will back up the Save the Schomburg Coalition in ensuring that our selection for head of the Schomburg, Dr. Molefi Asante, is the one who is hired. It’s our library; it’s our research center; it‘s our community. And Dr. Asante is our choice.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

THE LETTER FROM THE COALITION FOLLOWS:

As many of you might know, The Save the Schomburg Coalition is engaged with the New York City Library in a battle for who will direct the Schomburg. Because we stepped to the library with a candidate of indisputable credentials of the highest order, Dr. Molefi Asante, they choose the familiar course of divide and conquer. After giving Dr. Asante four interviews the New York Library Administration (led by President Paul LeClerc) announced this past week the selection of Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, who they (the library) made great efforts to point out is the Great Grandson of Elijah Muhammad.

Although we can appreciate this young developing scholar, we thought it necessary to engage him in the context of what is at stake in Harlem today and the role WE must play in its defense and development.

The letter to our young brother follows - we will not be divided in this battle to Save The Schomburg.   Please Forward far and wide, inclusive of whatever press contacts you know. A Luta Continua


Subject: SAVE THE SCHOMBURG: A CONVERSATION AMONG BROTHERS  
November 24, 2010
Greetings Dr. Muhammad,  

We know you are a person of quick understanding so we will be as brief as we can. In 1982, the NYC Public Library announced the appointment of a white curator of The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.  We of the Schomburg Coalition let them know that this was unacceptable.

Demonstrations were held at the home of the appointee. Two of our members, Charles Barron who is currently a NYC Councilman, and Preston Wilcox, now an ancestor were arrested during that struggle.  A lawsuit was filed against the Library by Attorney Alton Maddox and after a protracted struggle, the Library was forced to appoint Dr. Howard Dodson, selected by the Schomburg Coalition from the resumes that the City had previously thrown in the garbage.

When it was announced this year, that this position would soon again become open, we sent an open letter to Paul LeClerc, NYPL Board Chair.  We informed Mr. LeClerc that America's foremost scholar in African/African-American History was making himself available for the Directorship of the Schomburg.   A coalition once again formed (Save the Schomburg Coalition) to demand Dr. Molefi Asante's appointment.

The (New York Public Library) engaged in a public relations battle --writing letters to the Amsterdam News, New York City’s largest Black secular newspaper, claiming that some members of the Black community were responding to rumors that whites wanted to move the Library and dismantle it etc. They hired the foremost Black PR firm in the city to hold a community forum to assuage these concerns and the Coalition’s alleged response to “rumors”.  

All of this was done to avoid dealing with a united effort to support Dr. Asante's selection.     At that community forum, the coalition showed up in numbers and made the same demand.  A few days after that a small meeting was held between NYPL Board Chair Paul LeClerc, officials from the library, the Mellon Foundation  and 5 representatives of the Schomburg Coalition-- Dr. Adelaide Sanford, Charles Barron, Camille Yarbrough, and the two of us whose signatures appear at the end of this letter.  Board Chair Paul LeClerc was given Dr. Asante's sixty page curriculum vitae, which documented his scholarship, administrative experience and teaching credentials; all evidence of a history of professionalism that has encompassed the publication of seventy books, over 400 published papers and being named by an international conference of African scholars as "one of the top ten greatest minds in the African world today”.  

At that meeting, Mr. LeClerc was again informed that the Black community was poised to fight if Dr. Asante was not invited to apply for this position. Within 48 hours, Dr. Asante was invited to an interview - and so began an amended search process which involved Dr. Asante being interviewed a total of four times.  

History informs our firm belief that the selection of Dr. Asante for the position of Director of the Schomburg Center, backed by an united Black community, inclusive of a united front of his colleagues (who declined their own consideration for the directorship in support of Dr. Asante’s candidacy), presented a formidable dilemma to the New York City Public Library System and the Bloomberg administration. Those candidates that had an inside track to the directorship, now had to compete with a Black man whose life’s work presented an insurmountable hurdle to overcome.

The NYPL eventually settled on a course of action they felt would divide our community by selecting a young Black man, with a blood linkage to a historic figure (Elijah Muhammad) of the Black Nationalist Movement in this country.   We recognize you as a young and gifted African historian. As such, we thought it critical to put your selection to the Directorship of the Schomburg in the context of the history that has defined our struggle for community control over this valuable institution. In this context we would ask that you carefully review and evaluate the Schomburg struggle. 

Most importantly, it is our hope that you understand that outside of the context of a Black community demand, Library officials such as, Mr. LeClerc, Henry "Skip the truth" Gates and their associates, would have attempted to choose a non-Black, as they did the last time this position became open.     This letter is an open communication between the Schomburg Coalition and you. It is our request that you discuss with us the way forward in this situation, having been informed of the process that occurred before your appointment. 

We recognize that you have been placed in a difficult situation. Let’s have a conversation that puts the integrity of our community first.   We plan on sending an open letter to Paul LeClerc which will reflect the Coalition’s position on this critical community issue. We hope that at that time we/you will have a better insight into the history and direction of this fight to Save the Schomburg.     Respectfully, James C. McIntosh, M.D. and Omowale Clay Co - Chairs, Coalition to Save the Schomburg(Formerly known as Schomburg Coalition)

FootNote from GDW:

Now that you’ve read the letter, there are several things that we must consider going forward. Both Dr. Asante and Dr. Muhammad are wonderfully talented, intelligent, empowered Black men. So we are not trying to set up any sort of situation that would dignify one while denigrating the other. We likewise are no longer willing to allow others to make key decisions for us, when we are perfectly capable of making them for ourselves.

When they purport to make these decisions it becomes “his-story” not history - or their story, not our story. When they try to keep us off balance, playing keep away with our rights, we have every right not to adhere to their edicts.

In case you haven’t been watching the international (world) news lately, it may be of interest to note that the rest of the world is likewise finding this out for themselves. In London, where there have been proposed massive cutbacks in education, the student, from elementary to college level have turned out enmass on the steps of Buckingham Palace to let it be know that “they’re mad as hell and aren’t going to take it any more. The surrounded the police, turned over a few police cars, and got the message across.

Not only are we facing the Schomburg leadership issue; Bloomberg is trying to foist Kathie Black on the community as the next Chancellor, even though the community has made it clear that she is patently unqualified. In New York we’re facing cutbacks in education, including public, charter and head start programs. We’re witnessing massive layoffs in our schools on both the public and charter school levels; and threatened job layoff at the city and state level, while at the same time they increase MTA and Transit costs; water bills, utilities, all increasing, while the needs of the people, of those who truly make up the communities are ignored. Why aren’t we as mad as hell like they are in other parts of the world. While Wall Street gets bonuses, we are getting banged. It’s time to do some “banging” back; make some national headlines.

Make it known that we are not sheep to be herded about while they take liberties with our liberty. So, after reading this, make sure you pass it on.

More importantly, though, get in touch with Dr. McIntosh and Omowale Clay to find out what you can do to help bring Molefi Asante on board as head of the Schomburg; and beyond that what do we need to do to shape our the Black community into a viable, supportive, empowered environment for us and our families.

In fact, if we can get the various groups who are objecting to the way things are being run (read, ruined) around here, to gather and not only protest, but shut down the city and the state simultaneously, we too might get some national and international attention.

The time for side lining, half stepping, fence sitting, or sending long distance support is past. It’s really time for visibility and viability.

The Schomburg is only emblematic of so many egregious acts perpetrated by the infrastructure against the Black community. It has to stop NOW. We not only have to stop it, but we have to make sure that we get what we want NOW.

Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

EVENT ALERT: WATER BILL HELP NIGHT SPONSORED BY BRIDGE STREET DEVELOPMENT & COUNCILMAN ALBERT VANN DECEMBER 8

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Many of Brooklyn's home owners have been faced with the daunting task of maintaining the roof over their heads. It has become even more of a challenge because of the rising costs of utilities, including electrical, gas/oil and water.
For the first time home owners may lose their homes not only because of tax liens or mortgage delinquencies, but for water liens as well. In an effort to assist in bringing these charges under control, Bridge Street Development Corporation, in conjunction with Councilman Albert Vann and CIBS will sponsor a hands on workshop bringing the Department of Environment Protection to sit down and meet with you and try to restructure these payments so that they are manageable.

I strongly suggest that you get all your water bills together, big or small, and bring them along with your most recent readings with you. I also urge you to contact your neighbors, particularly the senior citizens who may be living on fixed incomes and really facing some challenges, and turn out en masse for this. This is for you, but you have to take advantage of it. We have to form a critical mass - i.e. a sufficient number of residents turning out is a clear indication that there is a need for parity in these bills.

It's up to you so show up. We are all great in breaking down the issues and problems to each other, but now we have to be as visible, viable and active in making sure we communicate those same concerns with the Water Company. The information below is for you, but make sure you forward copies to friends, families, associates. See you there.


WATER BILL HELP NIGHT DEP IS COMING TO YOUR COMMUNITY! Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Please join Council Member Albert Vann, Bridge Street Development Corporation, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford Stuyvesant for a Water Bill Help Night.

At the event you can:
Discuss your water bill one on one with a DEP Customer Service Representative.

Learn about other payment options.

Learn about the Water Debt Assistance Program: Customers who meet the eligibility
criteria can defer their unpaid water and sewer bill until the property is sold.

Sign up for the direct debit program: Customers who enroll in the direct debit
program will receive a 2% discount on their bill.

Learn about Automated Meter Reading (AMR) and what it means for you.

If you require additional information, please contact DEP at 718-595-7000 or visit DEP’s website at nyc.gov/dep.

TIME:
6:00 - 8:30 pm

LOCATION:
Boys and Girls High School
1700 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11213
TRANSPORTATION:
A or C train to Utica Avenue,
B25 to Schenectady Avenue, B46 to Fulton Street

AFRICAN UNION MOVES TO ESTABLISH STRONGER TIES WITH THE AFRICAN DIASPORA

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All: My friend and colleague, Dr. Chika Onyeani sent me a press release recently that I am sharing with you in a slightly altered form. I’ve woven some of my own comments in with the release, in hopes that you will receive the message and be willing - no, compelled - to play a role in the liberation of Africa, that leads back to the ultimate liberation of African Americans and people of Black African heritage:

Somewhere back in the 1960’s Africans and African Americans began working to re-establish their linkages after 400 years of separation and cultural deprivation. During that time, the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements were running concurrently with what was then called African Liberation from Colonialism. Many African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Liberia, among others got their liberation from the colonial monsters of England, Germany, Italy, France, etc.

It we were on the path to reunification, as we African and African American Black men and women began to honor our lost African heritage. In the US we began wearing our hair “natural“, wearing African colors, and traditional African clothing and jewelry; reading African authors, studying African philosophy, learning to speak Yoruba, Ibo, Swahili, Lingala, and other African based languages; and making trips to the motherland to meet our long lost sisters and brothers.

We began studying, quoting and following quoting Nkrumah, Azikewe, Senghor, Frederick Douglass, Sekou Toure`, Chinua Achebe, Malcolm X, Jomo Kenyatta, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Frantz Fanon, Soyinka, Carter G. Woodson, and other great African and African American writers and philosophers, who were popular during that time, and marveling at all the wonders of Africa that we had not been told about as a result of the pariah of slavery that had separated us for 400 + years.

It looked like we were on the right track and that things were coming together for us. Africans and African Americans united together again at last! What wonderful days they were!!

Unfortunately, while we were basking in the glory of our mutual admiration, love and respect for each other, the age old perennial enemy was busy putting together a formula that would undermine any further progress and reunification plans we may have had in mind. That formula and tactic was and is called DIVIDE AND CONQUER. And it is just as lethal today as it was then.

The next 40 years our African brothers and sisters were embroiled in bogus wars on our continent where Russian and American spent millions in dollars and rubles, flooding their economies to buy off those heads of state who were woefully unaware of the ploys in place to destabilize our efforts for unity and autonomy.

Russia and America brought the cold war to Africa, battling in Angola, Mozambique and other areas, that had nothing to do with the people who lived there, but more to do with the neo-colonial powers who wanted to keep us off balance while they continued to exploit us and rob us of natural resources.

{NOTE: I use 'w and us", interchangeably with "my and our" when it comes to Africa, because as far as I’m concerned we are really still one. To me geography does not change family.}

Simultaneously those same 40 years in America witnessed a concomitant loss of our moral compass here in the US, as our youth descended into drugs, guns, gangs, thugs, and a dumbing down of our educational system, to the extent that many of our children (and a goodly number of adults) are functionally illiterate, unskilled, semi-skilled, or “indigent.”

In an effort to rectify the massive problems we face both on the Continent and in the Diaspora, a recently held two-day African Diaspora Conference took place on October 21st and 22nd. Hosted by African Union Permanent Observer to the UN, and the African Union Embassy to the US in DC, it was initiated by the Addis Ababa Headquartered African Union Commission, and The African Diaspora Meeting Committee. The theme of the meeting was "Building Bridges Across the Atlantic."

Ambassador Amina Ali of what the DC-based African Union office had accomplished since opening in 2007. She aggressively delivered the essence of the AU Diaspora Initiative by traveling across the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Central/South American countries. The message was the need for the Diaspora to recognize its important role to Africa and the African Union, especially as the Sixth Region of the Union. Ambassador Ali stayed throughout the two-day meeting, helping to guide the deliberations of the meeting.

Consequently CIDO Director, Dr. Adisa, provided more reasons of why the meeting had been convened, calling it a "precedent setting event, which we hope will set the pace for an annual consultation process with the African Diaspora in US, the Caribbean and Central//South America, Europe and the Middle-East, amongst others. In organizational terms, this is also an exercise in inter-collegiality that serves as an inspiration for the Commission and various organs of the Union to work together as one in the spirit of cooperation and solidarity that underpins the purpose of the African Union."

Dr. Adisa discussed the different sectors of the African Union, including "Objectives of This Dialogue," "The Initiative Within the Context of the Development of the African Union," "Rebuilding the Global African Family," "Definition of the African Diaspora," "Engagement Strategies,""Organizational Processes," ending with the "Global African Diaspora Summit."

Dr. Adisa covered the processes that led to the recognition of the Diaspora as a Sixth Region of the African Union. "Soon after the launching of the African Union in Durban, South Africa in 2002," he said, "the Assembly of Heads of States met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to establish, among other things, a legal framework that would create the necessary and sufficient conditions for putting this decision into effect. Hence, it adopted the Protocol of the Amendment to the Constitutive Act of the Union, which in Article 3(q) invited the African Diaspora to participate fully as an important component in the building of the African Union.

In adopting the decision," he continued, "the Protocol symbolically recognized the Diaspora as an important and separate, but related, constituency outside the five established regions of Africa - East, West, Central, North and South. Thus, although there is no specific legal or political text that states this categorically, it, in effect, created a symbolic sixth region of Africa."

Regarding the definition of the African Diaspora, Dr. Adisa said that a meeting of Experts from Member States had met in 2005 and adopted the following definition, "The African Diaspora consists of peoples of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and building of the African Union."

Dr. Adisa stated that many debates and disagreements on the definition of diaspora had taken place. There were those who felt the need for "academic" and "intellectual" aspects to the definition, while others thought it should be related to the political needs of the Union.

Another group preferred the need to add "permanently" to "living outside the continent. "Others," he said, "argued that the phrase "willingness to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union" should be left out. Nothing, they felt, should be demanded or expected from the Diaspora.

According to Dr. Adisa, the African Union preferred its earlier definition, which encompasses the following:
(a) Bloodline and/or heritage: The Diaspora should consist of people living outside the continent whose ancestral roots or heritage are in Black Africa;
(b) Migration: The Diaspora should be composed of people of Black African heritage, who migrated from or are living outside the continent. In this context, three trends of migration were identified - pre-slave trade, slave trade, and post-salve trade or modern migration;
(c) The principle of inclusiveness: The definition must embrace both ancient and modern Diaspora; and
(d) The commitment to the African case: The Diaspora should be people who are willing to be part of the continent (or the African family).

A special African Diaspora Task Team, elected by the constituency, is in the process of formulating a progress report detailing the accomplishments thus far. The Task Team consists of six members. Five elements had been identified as a guide to what the Task Team should consist of: Afro-Latinos, Community, Gender, Media, and Youth. Members of the Task Team, include Dr. Georgina Falu for Afro-Latinos, Mr. Sidique Wai and Mr. Omowale Clay, for Community, Ms. Kathy Jenkins Ewa for Gender, Dr. Chika A. Onyeani for Media, and Engr. Daniel Ochweri for Youth. The Task Team was later given their terms of mandate within which to work, report and conclude their assignment within three months.

Dr. Chika A. Onyeani, noted economist, author, and publisher of the African Sun Times, and chair of the African Diaspora Task Team, voiced concerns about several challenges Africans and African Americans face, both on the Continent and in the US Diaspora:
1) Being victimized by the media’s portrayal of Africans and African Americans in the news (which is not helped by the fact that there are still internecine wars in the Sudan and other areas, with children being pressed into service and women being beaten and raped);
2) Leaders and heads of state who pay millions of dollars to mainstream white media to write about them, while I gnoring their own Black and African news media;
3) Not having the necessary basic and professional trade skills to fulfill the current demands for building, repair or development services (here and in Africa).

Stated Onyeani, “If you need to build something, or if something needs to be repaired in Africa, we have to rely on whites (and now the Chinese) to do the job. Their prices are usually overly high, and you really don’t know if they are doing the job properly or not because you don’t have the skill or experience yourself.”

One of the key things Onyeani is hoping will come of this new collaboration between the Diaspora and Africa, is a broader based coverage of African and African American news via our newspapers. Training programs that can be exported to Africa by skilled and licensed tradesmen in the fields of plumbing, electricity and electronics, agriculture, green technologies, health and hygiene and educational programs.

“This is the 21st Century. If we have to develop some kind of boot camp so that this training is spread throughout all of Africa, then that’s what we must do. The Diaspora has a great role to play in this, because many of them have those skill sets that we need,” stated Onyeani intensely.

Likewise, the attention to the need to collaborate on business development and support was covered at the conference. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malawi Mr. Brian Bowler, Chairman of the African Ambassadorial Group, exhorted his colleagues to be more creative in doing business with the Diaspora. "For example," he said, "during the UN General Assembly meeting each September, let's assume that each of the 53 African countries spend just $500,000 (with a Black business), we are talking $25 million that could go to an African Diaspora company. That's $25 million in less than one month!"

As Chairman of the African Union, Ambassador Bowler represents President Binbu wa Mutharika of Malawi. He challenged his colleagues to look for African Diaspora companies to do business with. He also felt the relationship with the Diaspora should not be a one-way street, "especially as a businessman who owns three breweries in three different African countries."

Finally, in regards to the importance the African Union attached to the Diaspora, Dr. Adisa stated that sixty per cent of the AU Recruitment Committee consisted of individuals from the African Diaspora. and how he himself attained his present position after interviewing with two recruitment committees chaired by African Diaspora.

On October 21, an Award Dinner, organized by Nation to Nation Networking (NNN) CEO Ms. Abaynesh Asarat, in collaboration with the African Union was held at Club 51st Street. In attendance was His Excellency Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security.

Award recipients included Elinor Tatum of the Amsterdam News; Dr. Kwame Akonor, Director of the African Development Institute; Dr. Muriel Petioni, M.D., the "Mother of Medicine in Harlem"; Dabney N. Montgomery, of Harlem Community Board 10; and Mr. Seri Remy Gnoleba, Chairman of the African Chamber of Commerce in the U.S.

Other AU officials participants included Mr. Anthony Okara, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Bureau of the Deputy Chairperson, Dr. Jinmi Adisa, Diaspora Director of the African Union Commission (Citizens And Diaspora Directorate (CIDO); Dr. Fareed Arthur, Advisor (Strategic Matters, Bureau of the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission), Mr. Wuyi Omitoogun (Expert, Diaspora Relations, CIDO) and Ms. Nadia Roguiai (Expert, ECOSOCC, CIDO).

Two African Union Ambassadors in the United States, who attended, were Ambassador Tete Antonio, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations; and Ambassador Amina Salum Ali, Ambassador of the African Union to the United States, Washington, DC. Much gratitude and appreciation to these two for their involvement in the planning and coordination of this first ever conference.

But it doesn’t stop there. We have a great role to play in this, both here in the Diaspora of the US and in our home continent of Africa. We have to put our considerably creative minds together and begin to unify. There was a saying, created by Alma Johns, “each one teach one, each one, reach one!” that has to be our mantra as we begin to reach out to our African brothers and sisters and reach in to our fellow diasporan brothers and sisters.

In much the same way other imigrants who come here support their “mother or father land”, we have to do the same. Otherwise, we will be the only race of people on the planet to not have supported their own mother land, and become the only continent in the world laboring under the heavy heeled boots of European and Chinese exploiters, instead of being in control of our own destiny and quality of life.

Yes, it’s a tall order, especially at a time when the US is undergoing an economic “crises”. But that does not mitigate the fact that it has to be done and done now. WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL SAVE YOU, SAVE YOURSELF.

As brother Marcus Garvey said, “Rise up, you might race, you can accomplish what you will!”

And let's not also forget that President Barack Obama is one of the brightest and the best ever produced by both Africa and the Diaspora, and can be an inspiration to us all in what we can do when we put our minds, our might, our discipline and our unity to it. And the time for that to happen is NOW.

Inquiries and comments should be addressed to Dr. Georgina Falu, Secretary to the ADTT Board at email: falug@aol.com or to African Diaspora Task Team of the African Union c/o The Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations, 305 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 Tel. : 212-319-5490, Fax: 319-7135; email: AUDTT2011@gmail.com

STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Vampires Take Congress in 2010 Midterm Elections

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Well Halloween just ended, but the night of horror lingers on in another, more heinous form. It’s interesting. I used to think that America’s fascination with vampires only extended to television and the movies. I used to try to figure out why all of a sudden we had a new spate of vampire oriented movies - even vampire love stories where mortals are actually involved romantically with these evil mythical characters. Worse yet, there are now actually TV vampires with a conscious who actually have scruples and fight each other to save their mortal counterparts from their blood-sucking peers.

But now I understand. Americans are fascinated with vampires! They keep bringing them back over and over and over again, because they are gluttons for these abusive blood suckers. Americans love abuse. It’s what they know. They lionize them, make TV series about them, write novels and diaries about them.

But the most serious issue yet is this: Americans elect vampires to Congress! Which is exactly what happened on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.

So it must be obvious that Americans love blood suckers. It’s perfectly clear to me now. They are suckers for blood suckers. This is why they could allow one to be elected president for 8 years and never complain. Oh, they might gripe and grumble, but take action against them. Absolutely not. They're too in love with the pain. Why else would they allow them to hold positions that bleed them dry in every conceivable way. They practically open and expose their necks to make sure they hit the right vein!

The ignorance and gullability of mainstream white america for Vampires is in their blood. The practice of such nefarious acts of racism, ethnic cleansing, greed, malfeasance, environmental desecration, unjust wars, and economic apartheid - under the direction of the former head of the CIA (who they “selected” president); and his offsprings - another blood sucker who was "selected" president (twice); who wrecked the economy, drained the nation of its lifeblood are characteristic of political vampires. These "Bushwhackers" have left us lifeless and listless, trying to get transfusions from any source possible to resussitate those who are now walking zombies.

So, of course, when a hero, such as President Barack Obama, comes through who would restore the mainstream back to health, they can’t handle it. He has done everything short of driving a stake through their hearts to provide America with a stability it has never had; while at the same time trying to rid them of the vermin and residual horrors that have permeated the government and contaminated the system under the previous administration, ever since they started using their powers for evil back in the 60’s.

Vampire lovers would rather go back to the bad old days and the enemy they know, who skillfully used the power of propaganda to lie to their face while stabbing them in the back, than to do the right thing. They would rather be sucked bone dry, down to the marrow. Like having Dracula in the middle of the night, those whose will has been bent under the psychological brain drain, find themselves going back for more punishment.

The Tea Party and the Republican Party message is literally: "I want to suck your blood." They may claim to be talking about taxes, but what they're really talking about is how to bring more pain, while they and their cronies get over like fat rats in a cheese factory. That's what they did when they broke the economy. That's what they did when they stopped unemployment payments. That's what they tried to do when they tried to block the health care bill. That's what they've done since they jumped ship from the Democrat party and invaded the Republican Party, which was originally the party of Abraham Lincoln, and began to cannibalize the members until it is now a mere shadow of its former self. Talk about vampires (Oklahoma got caught in that switcheroo, and by the time they found out what was going on, it was too late -- the vampires now roam the plains).

Their complaints that things are not moving fast enough are bogus. They took eight years to destroy the economy and take a surplus and turn it into a major deficit. Their complaint that the rich are getting richer, and we’re not getting anything, is because they can't get the under the table money they've been accustomed to receiving.

But we also have to face the fact that some of the Democrats who call themselves “blue dog” may actually be more racist than right wing Republicans. Some of these blue dogs have conspired against the President, putting U.S. in the middle of even more madness. These are the vampires' minions. They pretend to be with us while steering us into their lair; or openly block policies that would be beneficial, because they tbemselves are vampire wannabees. This leaves us open to even more ridicule as the rest of the world watch us get bogged down with infighting. So, if in disgust the voters throw out the baby with the proverbial bathwater to try to get rid of them, it's only natural. That's what the mid-term elections are about!

Here they go again. Talk about your self fulfilling prophecies!!

But, now that I understand what the real underlying problem is - America’s love of political vampires - I for one won’t be trying to defend or rationalize this situation any more. I will stop trying to put a hopeful spin on these issues. I will stop trying to show white America all the wonderful things President Obama has accomplished under these most difficult of times.

I now understand that vampires, when they’re going for blood, could care less about human benefits, humanity, love, equality, or anything else. They carry their coffins around with them so that they only have to have a very surface interaction with you - just enough to get your blood and go to the next victim.

No, my concern is now to continue to talk to our base - us, we, Black folks. I want to make sure that we are no longer on the late show. I want to make sure we have plenty of crosses to wear around our necks (Vampires hate God/Good); to keep garlic around the periphery of our domiciles, to always operate in the sunshine so we can see through the bull and maintain transparency. We have to keep plenty of mirrors on the walls. Remember, vampires have no reflection because they have no souls. We on the other hand, the people of soul, are required to make sure, as the man/woman in the mirror, that we “make that change” Bro. Michael Jackson sang about.

Like “Buffy” the vampire hunter, we have an obligation, locally and nationally to make sure that the Tea Party/Republican/Right Wing/Racist vampires know that we are not allowing them to suck our blood. We will not let them undo the good that has been done. We are protecting ourselves and our families, and expanding our bases of power.

We are gathering around our heroes, especially President Barack Obama. We will equip him (and ourselves) with the oak stake and silver bullets. We will continue to support him in his effort to keep America from becoming Transylvania.

We are, as Stevie Wonder says, “amused, but not amazed” by the things they do. While they may have made some interim advances in the so called mid term elections, to us it’s nothing more than the same propaganda you proffered when Clinton was president. It’s the same big business vampires as usual trying to undermine the people who are the life’s blood of this country.

But this time we see them for who they are; we really smell the sulphur! Their fangs will be broken, their wings will be clipped, and we’ll send them back to their lair in the caves from which they emanated. The cobwebs are being swept aside, and we’re burying the corpse of their last bankrupt administration with them.

We now know our power. We are strong and getting even stronger, despite your efforts to make it seem otherwise. We have already wrought miracles by electing the greatest President this country has ever seen -- Barack Hussein Obama. We know he is the greatest president because he is catching so much flack from the vampires who feel themselves being threatened by his power. They are pulling out all stops to keep us as their victims.

Now we have to pull out all the stops to stop them. As an old African Proverb says: “Snake at your feet, stick at your side!” (now I truly hope I don’t have to explain this to you; it should be obvious. But just in case you don’t get it, I’m not talking about physically beating anyone up. I’m talking about gathering our forces to be impervious to any further incursions on our intelligence, our souls and our lives). Vampires can no longer exert psychological warfare on our hearts, minds and soul -- or our livelihoods.

For starters, we will stop regurgitating chapter and verse everything we hear on the Continuously Negative News Network (CNN- uh N), or read in the white newspapers! Stop quoting stats, becoming part of their self-fulfilling prophesies (you know the ones that say that Blacks are more likely to lose, be poor, sick or unhappy, or what ever), and then we go about trying to make those predictions reality. We quote this crap as a way of showing that we are well read, not realizing that what we are really doing making ourselves fit into their narrow negative view of who they say we are.

Our words have power, because they mirror our thoughts. Thoughts are things. The things we see around us are a result of the thoughts we think. They manifest into reality. So if we let political vampires program our thoughts so that we are thinking the worst of ourselves, and then acting them out in reality, we have very much invited these vampire into our homes via our psyches.

On that note, I want to give kudos to my fellow New Yorkers, regardless of race and ethnicity. We’ve proven in New York that we are no longer part of the mass mind group think syndrome. We are no longer schizophrenic -- you know, predominantly Democrats in number, yet allowing our state to be run by Republicans (I.e. Pataki, Giuliani). We are well on the way to getting the vampires out of our midsts.

Yeah, I know - the Freedom Party didn’t fare so well this time around. But they took a major stand to shake off the vampires as well. That stand will be the basis for even greater accomplishments down the road. By the way, I think they should join forces with Brother Jimmy McMillan (The Rent is Too Damned High candidate), and begin to consolidate those efforts and energies to help even more people get out from under the influence of the vampire. His message was/is every bit as much compelling as that of the Freedom Party. Besides I love his wit and humor, laced with matter of fact veracities that can’t be escaped or evaded. Nothing like humor to get the point across - especially when you're serious.

Whatever we do, we must do it now, and keep it going. Now is the time to expand the numbers of our vampire slayers so that we can make it to 2012 with our souls and lives intact. We cannot walk around like zombies and disembodied souls, devoid of will or focus, allowing the vampires to think they’ve gotten away with anything. Already they're getting comfortable, gaining confidence. Bush came out from under his rock and is doing an interview with Matt Lauer. The 700 Club is getting bolder on TV with it's negative news couched in Christianity. It's a entire short time between now and the next election. We have to start now to make sure they are completely out again in 2012).

Like President Obama, we don’t give up and we don’t quit. Vampires, the embodiment of evil, have been made into heroes by Americans, while the real hero, has been miscast as the villain.

And since like their predecessors -- Nixon, Regan, Bush, Ford -- these vampires are up to their old tricks, it's up to us to treat them like the evil they really are. But instead of saying "be afraid, be very afraid," I will say be aware, be very aware. And then take necessary action to stop them before they spread and multiply.

It's time to tell the truth, shame the devil, and save the soul of America, in spite of themselves. And remember, the soul you save may be your own.

So Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Frederick Douglass Academy has NO Textbooks - Contact Chancellor

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

I received from Reverend Cheryl Anthony, which follows below, in reference to the Frederick Douglass Academy in Brooklyn. I would be very interested in your recommendations for how to deal with this problem, you can feel free to respond to both of us. This is not just a New York - Brooklyn - problem - it's a Black problem that is replicated throughout the US, Caribbean, Africa, South America - anywhere Black people are subjugated to whites and their racist policies. I would also like to interject that Frederick Douglass did not put things mildly or politely; he was front and center; he was a man of action. I should think that any institution that bears his name should not take that lightly, but follow the spirit and example Douglass set over 150 years ago.

My response is first, the letter from Rev. Anthony follows immediately after.

Dear Rev. Anthony (Cheryl):

Interesting how monitoring a situation is really a code word for not so benign neglect. It's like walking behind a person who is critically ill and measuring him or her for a coffin, as opposed to offering the appropriate life saving intervention that might actually save his life.

The fact that books have not been delivered to the school speaks to the fact that there is deliberate neglect on the part of the Board of Ed which has a vested interest in seeing the school fail(they get more money for charter schools).

I would also venture to say that the founding principal of the school was probably forced out because of allegations of improprieties, brought about by the deliberate undermining of her efforts to provide a quality education.

Believe me, as an educator myself, I have no great fondness for the current public schools as they manifest in our communities. Many of teachers, as far as I can tell, have no vested interest in the success of our children, just the regularity of their paychecks.

Nor am I bowled over by the overabundance of resources lavished on so-called charter schools. Because, as with anything else, what has been given can also be taken away once they have strategically decimated the public schools in the community -- eventually leaving us with no schools.

What frightens me is the parents. Our parents must be comatose! That's the only reason I can see for their not raising cain (I was going to say holy hell, but didn't want to offend my friends in the clergy) about the lack of resources in the schools.

Either our parents are comatose or they don't love their children, and so don't care whether they get a decent education or not -- also a reason for their apparent inaction.

Or, worse than my other two conjectures, they must be extremely ignorant, and therefore not aware of the fact that their children not receiving appropriate educational resources will handicap them for life -- making them illiterate, unemployable, and ripe for crime targets and stereotyping.

And perhaps the most tragic reason for the lack of action could be that the parents, and people of the community, feel that they are powerless against the system, and have given up making any effort whatsoever.

There are times I wish I had that proverbial two-by-four to be able to deliver the necessary whack upside our heads to wake us up from the somnambulism we find ourselves in. We watch the idiot box, we dress in the latest hoochie mama fashions, our kids are morbidly obese, our young males (and some of our hard-ankle females) are killing each other for the crappiest and most insipid reasons; and we look down our noses on those who try to help us help ourselves. Then we say it's the fault of the white overseerstructure. While this may be true, we are the ones who are co-signing their actions through our lack of Blackbone.

At a recently held meeting of the Freedom Party at the Nazarene Church, one of the presenters mentioned that our great grand and grand parents didn't have cell phones, computers, or televisions, but managed to provide us with better educations and better leadership than we have today. WE now have access to the most modern, up to date equipment, and are further behind than they ever were.

Yes, we must certainly let our voices be heard at the Board of Education, but I'm also for shaking us out of the lethargy, that complacency, complicity, and complaining, that has become the mantra for so many problems.

We must develop our own standards, a modus operandii, and consolidate our energies and efforts to provide our own education, write our own texts, and teach our own children, regardless of what they're doing at the bored of education. (Isn't that what the Jews, East Indians and Japanese are doing? Isn't that why they are autonomous? Why they don't fall prey to the economic ills that impact the rest of us?)

Isn't what the phrase "God bless the child whose got his own means? Not just the physical/financial, but the applied faith and spiritual/intrinsic wealth that God gave us? It comes from within, both individually and collectively - not just lip service, or recitation of a few scriptures, but applications of those principles in the areas of our lives where we are experiencing lack, loss or limitation.

We have a litany of tales of woe about who hates us, who did what to us, and how it keeps happening over and over again; what we don't do -- or haven't to date -- is take that mess and turn it upside down and proactively do what we need to do to help each other and save ourselves. Our favorite retort is that "we don't trust each other:" or "we don't have enough time;" or talk about how the enemy is keeping us from doing it. But in the spirit of the underground railroad, we have to do it anyway. By stalth as well as out front and in the open. We have to take back our power, as the Urban League says, empower ourselves, and do the job for our selves.

I recently spoke at a meeting of the clergy at Antioch Baptist Church, and called for a consolidation of the churches to develop our own educational system, regardless of denomination, based on the educational principles and criteria of Carter G. Woodson, coupled with Leon Sullivan's OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Centers), and other autonomous programs that have served Black people well.

I've not heard back from them, but the necessity is no less urgent. Even if it's just a Saturday School, the way the Japanese and other groups have done to maintain standards of quality, we need to stop talking about it and do it. Let each church tithe 10% of their Sunday contributions to establish the school and hire the educators. We have enough brilliant people in Brooklyn - in New York City -- to make it happen.

Why we still beg the people who hate us the most to provide us with services we should be providing for ourselves, I truly don't understand. They definitely owe us big time, but I don't think it wise to sit and hold our breath waiting for them to ante up -- besides, I doubt very seriously that we would trust them if they did -- we've been there before.

No, the time is now to let Mother Necessity give birth to the invention of a Black Board of Quality Education, and begin being the ones who we've been waiting for to save us.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

REV. DR. CHERYL ANTHONY'S LETTER:

From: DR CHERYL ANTHONY
Subject: Frederick Douglass Academy has NO Textbooks - Contact Chancellor
Date: Thursday, October 14, 2010, 10:11 PM

Below is the article from today's paper. How can it be that Frederick Douglass Academy has no textbooks and resources and a new charter school is being dedicated tomorrow? This is very much an educational disparity. Contact the Board of Education by email or phone to express our outrage (be polite but direct). Peace and Blessings
I Choose 2 Change "Live the Choice...Love The Change!
Rev. Dr. Cheryl Anthony, Judah International Christian Center, Inc.
141 Rogers Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11216-3978
718-771-0383 visit us on the web at: www.judahinternational.com

Five weeks into school year, Bed-Stuy school Frederick Douglass Academy still has no textbooks BY Ben Chapman DAILY NEWS WRITER Thursday, October 14th 2010, 4:00 AM

Students at a troubled Bedford-Stuyvesant school still don't have textbooks or after-school programs five weeks into the new academic year, the Daily News has learned.
The Frederick Douglass Academy IV earned an "F" on the city's progress report for falling test scores and a dismal learning environment last month - just one of eight schools across the city to earn the failing grade.
The school has also been thrown into turmoil in the last year over its leadership, losing two principals since September 2009.
Teachers and students at the Lafayette Ave. school said this year could be even worse.
"The school's an absolute mess," said a teacher who wouldn't give his name because he feared retribution. "We need books and classroom materials and strong leadership. We have none."
Many sixth-graders at the K-12 school lack reading, science and math books, forcing one teacher to use an overhead projector to deliver classroom lessons.
In other classes, students share textbooks and rely on online reading materials and photocopies instead of the real thing.
"It makes it harder to study when you don't have the books," a 10th-grader said. "Sometimes the Web doesn't work or you can't read the photocopies."
Students also said they're disappointed that the 508-student school has yet to offer any after-school clubs or sports.
"I know that times are tough, but it doesn't cost much to run a chess club," said senior Alamasi Ghullikie, 17, who lives in Bed-Stuy.
Teachers blamed turnover in the principal's office for the school's poor condition.
Principal Marian Bowden, who founded the school in 2002, resigned last November after being cited by the state for maintaining inadequate facilities for special-ed students.
Bowden's replacement, interim acting principal Claytisha Walden, resigned recently, said Chiara Coletti, chief spokeswoman for the principals union.
Department of Education spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said the city is monitoring the school closely.
"A grade of an F on its middle school Progress Report is serious cause for concern," said Morgan.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/10142010-10-14_5_weeks_in_still_no_textbooks_at_failing_bedstuy_ school.html#ixzz12O7unRWg

Okay, so now it's your turn to weigh in on this subject. I look forward to hearing from you. Whether or not you yourself have children, or yours are grown and gone, as my friend Sam Brown of Our Children's Foundation says, "these are our children and nothing is too good for them."

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

MEMORIAL SERVICES HELD FOR MIRIAM HOLDER MOTHER OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Most of what we see and hear in the media about Attorney General Eric Holder has primarily been of national importance. But an event infinitely more significant in his life took place on Saturday, September 25, when Attorney General Holder, along with his brother William (Billy Holder), paid tribute to their beloved mother, Miriam Y. Holder, who passed away quietly in the presence of her sons and family members at the sea shore of Martha’s Vineyard on August 13, 2010.

Though low profile in it’s scope -- the papparazzi was not invited or involved -- it was high intensity in its impact. Close lifelong friends and family turned out to celebrate the life of a lovely woman who successfully raised her children in the community of East Elmhurst, Queens, NY. She was the pillar of the community and the not so quiet storm credited with instilling in them a sense of quality, courage and purpose.

Each son is successful in his own right, making their mother extremely proud indeed. However, along their path to success, they never loss their ties to their community.

Miriam Rosalie Yearwood was born in Atlantic City, NJ in 1924, the daughter of William and Rosalie Harding Yearwood. She moved to Harlem and later to East Elmhurst after having met and married her husband, the love of her life, Barbados-born, Eric Holder (Sr.) in 1950. They were married for 48 years until his passing in 1998.

Miriam Holder was definitely no stranger to volunteering and community building, having been involved since childhood with programs in her Atlantic City community. While in high school she volunteered to help soldiers who were recovering from Second World War (WWII) by working with the USO. She also worked in the hospitals where many of the wounded were being treated.

A devoted mother, Ms. Holder focused on raising her sons throughout her life. The spirit of volunteerism and community building is reflected in the close ties that are still evident to this day. It's also evident that her devotion and encouragement as a mother is what led to Eric's entering a school for gifted and talented youth in the fourth grade.

While Eric Holder and his brother were infant/toddlers she volunteered in the schools they attended. Later, when they were older and more independent, she began working for the then Rector of Church of the Resurrection, Harold Louis Wright, serving as his secretary. She continued working with him throughout his career --from becoming the first African American Suffragan Bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, through his leadership at The Cathedral of St. John The Divine until his death.

Ms Holder worked with diocese til her retirement. Upon her retirement she focused even more on volunteering with the Elmcor Senior Center and being involved in the ever expanding lives of her sons and their families.

Attorney General Holder, who presided over the repast after the memorial services, greeted and exchanged hugs, greetings and well wishes from friends and family members who had grown up with him all their lives. There was a profound sense of intimacy, affection and respect, and they walked up to (Ricky) Holder, expressing their condolences, or shared a story or remembrance about having grown up with his mother. While all were proud of his having become the Attorney General, they were even prouder of the fact that he has never forgotten or forsaken his home grown roots.

No doubt the Secret Service Security detail that was evident in the room were exposed to something they hadn’t seen for a long time in their tour of duty -- an event where family, friends, love and closeness were the top priority of the day. As hug after hug was exchanged, with neighbors and relatives addressed the Attorney General as “Ricky” and his brother as “Billy”, it was clear that the heights to which he has risen has in no way diminished the soulful depths from which he has emerged. (“…If you can walk with kings nor lose the common touch...” IF by Rudyard Kipling)

The continuity is most likely part and parcel of what makes him one of the greatest Attorney Generals this nation has had to date.

The memorial services were presided over by Arch Deacon Bernard; Reverend Canon Haroldean Ashton delivered the Homily, and Rev. Pierre-Andre Duvert was the Rector. Ms. Holder is mourned and remembered by her friends, relatives and neighbors "for whom she cared a great deal, and who returned her affection in equal measure."

Our condolences to Attorney General Eric Holder and brother William Holder, and all the members of the Yearwood/Holder family.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

EVENT ALERT: HOUSING AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT” Harlelm Tenants Council Annual Conference at Schomburg October 15 & 16

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

I just received this press notification and thought it would be of great interest and urgency to those who are concerned about the dwindling numbers of affordable homes in New York (specifically Harlem), and the almost nonstop assault on Black families, communities, education by the media, police, city administration, etc.

If there was ever a time to show up at the Schomburg, this is is. Time to pack the joint. Be there and be prepared to be involved. No more time for sidelining and philosophizing; now is the time for action. Take this and pass it on. Moves being made are calculated, we have to be the same -- but we have to also utilize our Black solidarity in conjunction with all the legal forces we can bring to bear to stop them dead in their tracks. We built this city, we built this country. We will remain. And we will have decency, quality of life, and all the goods, services, peace and freedom in our communities that are accorded to other non-Black areas. GDW


Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Join us at the upcoming Housing Conference of the Harlem Tenants Council Annual Housing Conference  Friday, October 15th - Saturday, October 16th 2010
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
525 Malcolm X Blvd @ 135th Street
ADMISSION is FREE

Conference Theme: “WE DEMAND HOUSING AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT”

On Friday, October 15th and Saturday, October 16th at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture located at 525 Malcolm X Blvd at 135th Street the Harlem Tenants Council will host its Annual Housing Conference.

Our program will kick off on Friday, October 15th from 6 to 9 PM with a solution driven panel on Youth & Gun Violence: Harlem and the National Crisis moderated by Iesha Sekou, founder of Street Corner Resources with a diverse panel that includes community activists, parents who lost children to gun violence and youth members of Hip Hop Culture.

Following this panel we will screen the recently released documentary, "The Vanishing City" with an introduction by co-Director Fiore Derosa.

Glen Ford, Executive Editor of Black Agenda Report will deliver the keynote of the evening, The Crisis of Capitalism & Its Impact on Working People (Jobs, Housing, Education, Health Care) moderated by Jon Jeter, author of "Flat Broke in the Free Market: How Globalization Fleeced Working People. Panelists: Dr. Anthony Monteiro (Institute for the Study of Race & Social Thought at Temple University), Margaret Kimberley, Senior Columnist for Black Agenda Report and Author/Journalist Herb Boyd on "The Other Harlem, No Boom!'

On Saturday, October 16th from 8:45 AM to 5 PM we will have a series of workshop: Here are some of the highlights:

Workshop I:  9 - 10:30 AM: Know Your Rights (Housing activist Tom Siracuse takes on the New York State Division of Housing & Community Renewal sued by rent control tenants.) Other panelists to be announced.

Workshop II: 10:30 AM to 12 Noon: Our Struggles are Interconntected moderated by Attorney Joan Gibbs (National Conference of Black Lawyers) will panelists Mark Torres, Co-Chair of Coalition to Save Public Education; Dr. Mathews Hurley on the community struggle to preserve quality health care at Harlem Hospital; Chino Hardin of the Institute for Juvenile Justice Reform on the prison industrial complex decimating Black & Latino Communities; and  Christine Gauvreau (United National Anti-war Movement), We Demand Butter Not Guns!

The afternoon session of workshops under the title of " Communities Struggle Against Gentrification & Displacement"  from 1 PM to 4 PM and the Closing Plenary 4 to 5 PM.

Workshop III: 1 - 2:30  PM:  Columbia University's "Land Grab" & Its Impact on Harlem & Beyond: A case Study of Power, Greed & Corruption moderated by Nellie Hester Bailey (Harlem Tenants Council) with panelists Attorney Norman Siegel, Challenging Columbia University's eminent domain seizure of private property in the US Supreme Court; Christina Walsh (The Institute for Justice), The Abuse of Eminent Domain in New York State; Tom DeMott (Coalition to Preserve Community) The People Struggle Against Columbia University; Attorney Ruth Eisenberg, Environmental Racism: The Dangers of Columbia University's Proposed Bio-Research Laboratories and John Fisher, founder of Tenant.net, The Hype and Realities of Community Benefits Agreements.

Workshop IV: 2:30 - 4 PM: "Tenants: Battles Won and Struggles Ahead" moderated by Dr. Rosemari Mealy (District Council 37 Education Fund) with panelists Attorney Kim Powell (Buyers & Renters United), Challenging Predatory Equity Landlord in Federal Court; Attorney Seth A. Miller (Collins, Dobkins & Miller LLP), The Legal Impact of Roberts versus Tishman Speyer Properties; Filiberto Hermandez (Movement for Justice in El Barrio), Connecting the Local to the Global: How an immigrant led multi-issue organization defeated multi-national real estate corporation Dawnay.

Closing Plenary: 4 - 5 PM:
 "Don't Mourn, Organize & Build Communities: BEST PRACTICES: Lawrence Hamm, People's Organization for Progress; Ramon Jininez, Black & Latino Unity: Forging New Political Reaities; Rev Earl KooperKamp, St Mary's Church; Lumumba Bandela, (Malcolm X Grassroots Movement). Others TBA.
 
“The Vanishing City Directed by Fiore Derosa and Jen Senko (approximate time 50 minutes): Global trends in major cities around the world have changed rapidly in the last several decades. As cities become more interconnected, and less dependent on localized economic models, domestic issues of increased class inequality and sustainability have emerged as central components to city planning debates. These trends are perhaps best exemplified in the city of New York. Told through the eyes of city planners, developers, politicians, small business owners, landlords and tenants, the recent development boom in New York City is analyzed through a mix of archival footage, interviews, and personal stories. Issues of class formation, land use, rezoning decisions and the upheaval of longstanding neighborhoods (including Harlem) combine to provide a critical look into the deeply rooted policies of one of the worlds most iconic cities.
 
(*Organizations listed for identification purpose only) All workshops will take place in the Auditorium of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

We appreciate the generous support of Director Howard  Dodson of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture for making this conference possible. However, we are faced with cost for technical and staff support for both days. Your donations are appreciated to help defray cost. Please make checks payable to the Harlem Tenants Council (earmarked 2010 Housing Conference). Mail your check to Harlem Tenants Council, c/o Nellie Bailey, 507 West 111th Street, Apt. 23, New York, NY 10025. 
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SAVE THE DATES:
Post Conference Activities

October 26, 2010
7 - 9 PM
 The Maysles Cinema & Institute
545 Lenox Avenue (128th Street)
Screening: "The Rezoning of 125th Street"
Followed by a panel discussion:
"The Gentrification of Harlem: East River to  the Hudson River"

 November 6, 2010
A day in Solidarity With African people
"BEYOND OBAMA:
Seeking Real Solutions to the growing Racial Divide in the U.S"
1st Unitarian Church: Philadelphia
Visit the website:uhurusolidarity.org or call 215-387-0919

Saturday, November 20, 2010
"Let Us Not Forget Haiti"
Teach-in 2 to 5 PM
(Protest March & Rally 12 Noon to 1:30 PM)
St. Mary's Church
516 West 126th Street
(Between Amsterdam Avenue & Old Broadway)

Contact Harlem Tenants Council: harlemtenants@gmail.com/Telephone: 212-663-5248 or visit:harlemtenantscouncil.org We are a not-for-profit organization operating on a shoe-string budget with volunteer support from members of the Harlem community. We are looking for technical support to develop our website. Please contact Nellie Bailey at harlemtenants@gmail if you can offer assistance.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
 

NIGERIA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF LIBERATION FROM COLONIAL MONSTERS

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Nigeria is celebrating 50 years of liberation from British colonialism. They were liberated in 1960. Now to those of us who are part of the African Diaspora, I.e., offshoots of Africa, this may not have much resonance.

But to those brothers and sisters from Africa who have had to endure the invasion and desecration of their continent for over400 years, and invasion which spawned the transatlantic triangle trade known as slavery, which resulted in our being dropped off on islands between Africa and the US, as well as being thrown overboard when we suffered from the rigors of privation, rape and beatings - this means a great deal.

Which is worse - being stolen from your homeland, or having your homeland be invaded by racists who then proceed to dismantle your culture and superimpose their own?

In reality, there is no “worse;” there is no either/or. It’s really both/and. The fact that we African Americans supposedly got our freedom from slavery in 1865, and were at least on paper, supposed to now join the ranks of those free to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, was an illusive proposition, at best. It really was a hoax that we had to band together and enforce.

The liberation of Nigeria came after years and years of struggle, negotiations, and continuous rip off of Africa’s natural resources by the Euro powers, America and Great Britain. I have friends from Africa who, when were attending college, would not eat chocolate, because they or their family members were forced to work to harvest it for Cadbury and the others who then sold them as candy and confectionaries.

And how many of you realize that the empires of Goodyear Tire and Rubber emanate from rubber plantations that were plentiful throughout the entire region. What about gold, diamonds (don’t think the movie about blood diamonds is the only info about rip off of African resources); bauxite, emeralds, phosphorous, etc. But the king of king exploitation was and is petroleum -- better known as oil. Oil has made America rich, investors rich; but put Nigerians at peril.

50 years ago was also the beginning of the escalation of the Civil Rights Movement in America. It was the beginning of Black Power. It was the beginning of our attempt to reunite with our brothers and sisters from the Continent. It was the beginning of our ignoring the lies and the barriers that had been deliberately placed between Black Africans and Black African Americans, where we ourselves tore down the walls and begin a dialogue that would, in many ways destroy the lies and hostilities that had been fostered by whites between us. You know, the old divide and conquer tactics that have been used so effectively against for all these centuries. But this time, much to the amazement of the Brits, it wasn’t working, and the pressure was coming from both Africans and African Americans who were joining forces on both sides of the Atlantic to oust the colonial monsters (I call them monsters, others call them “colonial masters” - but I want to debunk that slave/master imagery that has so long haunted us on both sides of the ocean).

Nigeria has much to celebrate. It is the largest country in area and population on the Continent of Africa. It has produced wonderful leaders and concepts. It, along with Ethiopia, was one of the first African countries to have its own African president, Nnamdi Azikiwe, who graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (USA) -- my alma mater!! Zik, as he was called back in the day, was a Black leader from the very beginning, with many of his concepts solidified while at Lincoln. It was President Azikiwe who made it possible for Kwame Nkrumah (later the president of Ghana) to attend Lincoln University.

As with the Black Power movement, the voting rights act, and the Civil Rights Act, the liberation of Nigeria began with Azikiwe and his followers pushing against colonial rule and the status quo. Pushing against the go along to get along mentality. That spirit and energy is even more prominent and evident today, with Nigeria beginning to develop its own economic imperatives, and beginning to tell her own story from her own standpoint to educate and elevate her people and bring them competitively into the 21st century.

Likewise, as with the trans-Atlantic slave trade, a little matter of reparations has never been addressed nor reconciled. England and the US owe Nigera big time -- and in the aggregate, they owe all Black people of African heritage, big time. They don’t appear to be in any hurry to repay either one of us, or make good on the empty promises that have been made over the decades (but our American Indian brothers and sisters could have told you not to hold your breath on that one - they, like Nigeria, have been colonized for centuries. They now reside on reservations -- depleted land areas where they were relegated while the best of the lands were turned over the pioneers or invaders (depending on whose telling the story).

Despite the fact that Nigeria still has not received just compensation for the indignities they have suffered, this is never the less an occasion for celebration. And celebrate they are.

At the kick off of UN Week 50 Women of Nigeria were celebrated at a Fifty at 50 Event, displaying Nigerian designed fashions, jewelry, logos and themes. It was a wonderful event, which was sponsored by the wife of the current president, Goodluck Jonathan. From that time forward there have been non-stop festivities surrounding this wonderful occasion.

I say we, who are brothers and sisters residing in the diasporic African regions of the US, Caribbean, South America and anywhere else Black people are found, all join in the spirit and congratulate Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, and all the brothers and sisters who reside on both sides of the Atlantic -- whether they are here in the Diasporic USA, or at our continental home in Nigeria -- CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congratulations and please DO ONE HIGHLIFE FOR ME!!

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

PS: EVENT ALERT: TODAY, OCTOBER 9, 2010 The African Day Parade kicks off at 11:00 am at 54th Street and 2nd Ave, culminating in a street festival at 47th Street and 2nd Ave, Dag Hammerskjold Plaza. Wear your best and most beautiful traditional African clothing and come out to celebrate our heritage and their accomplishments.

Stay blessed
GDW