Henry (Hank) Williams teaches in the African and African American Studies and English
Research interests include the Black Arts and Black Power Movements, African American popular music (particularly jazz and hip hop and the literary and cultural connections) and film, and Black and Latin@ students in Higher Ed and the CUNY system.
He is currently a PhD candidate (ABD) in English at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY: pronounced “kew-nee”) and has graduate certificates in Africana Studies and American Studies. His dissertation research is a profile of the early years of The Last Poets, a performance poetry/activist collective as a case study of how artists engaged as political activists during the Black Arts Movement of the late 1960s – early 1970s in New York City. It places their work in the context of the Black Arts Movement, Harlem, and Black – Puerto Rican political and cultural connections. He was also a Diversity Fellow for the 2011-2012 academic year at SUNY Purchase.
Professional affiliations include the Association for Scholars of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC), College Language Association, Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement, Jazz Journalists Association, and the National Council for Black Studies
Dr. Leonard Jeffries, a political scientist, historian, educator, and Pan-Africanist, is a founding director and a former Vice-President and President of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC). Jeffries, known for his African-Centred scholarship, achieved national prominence in the early 1990s for his historical statements about Jews and European people. In a 1991 speech he stated that Jews financed the slave trade, used the movie industry to hurt Black people, and that whytes are “ice people” while Africans are “sun people”. Jeffries was discharged from his position as chairman of the black studies department at CUNY, leading to a lengthy legal battle, before he was reinstated. Jeffries remains a leading voice and theoretician in African-centered education.
Leonard Jeffries was born January 19th, 1937 in Newark, New Jersey. As a teenager, Dr. Jeffries sensed he was on a mission. He said, “I grew up with the idea of becoming a lawyer to save the race in the civil-rights movement and to be mayor of Newark.” Like other Black youngsters coming of age in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Jeffries faced racism from his whyte schoolmates as well as from some of his teachers, but he buried his rage and strove to excel. His formal education came from the Newark Public School system were he became President of his graduation class at Sussex Avenue School, January 1951. His later schooling was at McKinley Jr. High School and Barringer High School where he graduated with honors.
Jeffries took his first trip to Africa with the Crossroads program. His leadership abilities and proficiency in French made him an asset to the program. By the summer of 1962, he became the group leader of a trip to Senegal. By 1964, he had traveled to Africa a dozen times. To date (though he has stopped counting) he has traveled to Africa more than 100 times—usually leading groups of young people whose lives might be touched as his was.
Dr. Jeffries is a founding director of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC) and is a former president of the African Heritage Association (AHSA). His scholastic exploits have taken him to Ghana, Brazil, Switzerland and throughout the Caribbean.
Dr. Obari Adéye Cartman is a father, son, brother, uncle, thinker, writer, therapist, photographer, and drummer. He is a Chicago native, where his cultural and educational foundations were firmly planted by several African-centered institutions and communities. He received his undergraduate degree from Hampton University and a Ph.D in clinical & community psychology from Georgia State University. He has worked as a therapist is a variety of settings ranging from a family center to a women’s prison. He has worked as a professor of psychology at Georgia State University and the Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern University. Currently Dr. Cartman works as a restorative justice coach with H.E.LP., LLC (Healing Empowering and Learning Professions) in Chicago Public Schools. He also conducts trainings for adults and workshops with youth about maintaining good mental health, critical analysis of hip-hop and media, racial and cultural identity, developing authentic manhood, and healthy relationships.
Dr.Cartman’s new book is called Lady’s Man: Conversations for Young Black Men about Relationships and Manhood. It is a critical thinking guide that addresses historical trauma, hip hop, emotional intelligence, intimacy, communication, power, purpose and a variety of other topics. It has been received with great critical acclaim: “.Cornel West referred to him as ..one of the wise and visionary writers of his generation.” The book is called “…penetrating, poignant and personal...” by Na’im Akbar, and an “instant classic” by Jessica Care Mooore. Jawanza Kunjufu says is does a “brilliant job in empowering Black males to reach their full potential.” The book is a tool for families, teachers, mentors, and coaches to help young men think critically, and build character, discover their purpose, love themselves and each other, communicate with clarity and intention, understand the need for proper education, relate to women with integrity, express their emotions, understand their place in history, develop healthy coping strategies, and learn how to build a world where all people are truly free.
Brother Sababu Plata, edited most of Amos Wilsons Books. He has continued the business African World Infosystems. He insured the publication of Blue Print for Black Power after Amos Death. There is no one who knows more about Amos Wilson, his plans, his day to day routine, his study habits and his organizing than Brother Plata
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Brother Raymond Dugue is the 2nd Assistant President General of the UNIA.
More info will be shared in future emails about the event.
New York City Jericho Movement
View this email in your browser
M4BL Family,
Today we are writing in support of the fight to release former Black Panther and elder Sundiata Acoli. This year, on January 14th, Sundiata spent his 84th birthday in a prison cell and his health is deteriorating in his late stage of life. The Bring Sundiata Acoli Home Alliance (BSAHA), has regrouped and is committed to utilizing this moment to bring Sundiata home this year after 48 years of tortured incarceration. Sundiata is an educator, mathematician, poet, profound visual artist, mentor, and grandfather.
Sundiata suffers from advanced dementia, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, emphysema, post COVID 19 symptoms and glaucoma. He also still suffers from lingering COVID-19 symptoms. His life and health are in jeopardy as he continues to battle harmful prison conditions.
Sundiata Acoli was convicted in the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerester in 1973 and sentenced to life in prison. A life sentence in New Jersey means that he was eligible, by law, for parole after serving twenty-five years. Sundiata has repeatedly expressed his heart-felt remorse for decades. In his 2016 appearance before the full parole board he said; "I offer my deepest remorse and sincerest apology to Trooper Foerster's family for my crime and I hope it will be accepted in the spirit offered and provide them with a measure of solace and peace.”
The BSAHA is calling for NJ Governor Phil Murphy to release Sundiata Acoli immediately! We are calling on allied organizations and institutions to support Sundiata by signing and sharing this petition. We welcome collaborations and partnerships to help secure Sundiata’s release. Sundiata’s life depends on us. We must #BringSundiataHome now!
Toward justice,
The Movement for Black Lives
P.O. Box 670927
Bronx, NY 10467
Donate to Help Free Our Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War!Free All Political Prisoners!
Send Money by PayPal to National Jericho:
Go to https://thejerichomovement.com/donate
Click on the donate button
nycjericho@gmail.com • www.jerichony.org
In the Spirit of Nelson Mandela https://spiritofmandela.org/
Donate at: paypal.me/spiritofmandelaEndorse the Campaign
 |
| Gloria DULAN-Wilson |
