In a recent address to the Pan-African Unity Dialogue in New York, the African Union’s Ambassador to the USA, H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, called for closer collaboration between the countries on the African continent and the growing African Diaspora communities in the Americas. She argued that a fully engaged diaspora holds the key to the future development and empowerment of Africa which, in turn, will result…
By Jeffery C. Mays, The New York Times — Stephania Casimir, a first-generation Haitian-American, remembers her parents talking about Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a former slave who became one of Haiti’s founding fathers, but not all of the details. They came flooding back on Saturday on a street corner in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn as speakers explained why a stretch of Rogers Avenue was being co-named in honor of Dessalines, who declared…
Topics: Garvey’s Vision of Economic Development • The Green Party’s Candidate for Governor of NY • Victory in Ferguson. Guests: Rev. Dennis Dillon (Senior Pastor, the Rise Church, Brooklyn, NY), Howie Hawkins (Green Party Candidate for Governor, Syracuse, NY) and Melanie Randels (Community Organizer, Ferguson, MO (Invited))
The New York activist’s upset primary victory has fueled hopes – and boosted funding – for progressives in Democratic races across the US By Adam Gabbatt, The Guardian — One day in mid-June, Cori Bush, a nurse and activist mounting a progressive primary challenge against a well-established Democratic congressman in Missouri, took a look at her fundraising totals. She had raised $9 during the previous 24 hours. On the evening of…
The little-known history of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory in a New York primary hints at the coming transformation By George Monbiot, The Guardian — Even at first sight it is exhilarating. The overthrow of one of the most mainstream and senior Democrats in Congress by a 28-year-old Democratic socialist with a radical programme and one tenth of his funding is, you might think, interesting enough. The moment 28-year-old socialist beats top-ranking Democrat in…
Focus: “Elections Matter” Revisited, Part 2. • Update on Political Empowerment in Ferguson. • Addressing Gun Violence in New York. Guests: Mark Thompson (Host, Make It Plain, SIRIUSXM Progress 127, New York, NY), Melanie Randels (Political Activist, Ferguson, MO), Pastor Gil Monrose (67th Clergy Council, “The GOD SQUAD,” Flatbush, NY)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s primary win over Rep. Joe Crowley was no surprise to those who actually listened. By Joseph Neese, Salon — It quickly became the viral moment of Election Day….
(Brooklyn, NY) Friday, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte, Assemblymember Nick Perry, Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Council Member Mark Treyger, Borough President Eric L. Adams, and community leaders kicked off Haitian Flag Day with the announcement of the establishment of a Little Haiti cultural and business district in Brooklyn and the unveiling of the Nostrand Ave co-name to Toussaint L’Ouverture Boulevard. The Brooklyn lawmakers made their announcement at a Press Conference on…
The month-long celebrations will give the people in New York City a chance to recognize and appreciate Garifuna history and traditions. The New York City-based Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc, is…
Marijuana reform can help black communities. That doesn’t make it “reparations.” By P.R. Lockhart — New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon is facing criticism after suggesting that giving black people access to marijuana licenses could serve as a “form of reparations” for black communities. The controversy started after Nixon, who is challenging current Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the state’s upcoming Democratic primary, appeared at the NYC Cannabis Parade on May…
By Mona Zhang — “I don’t know whether you heard this or not, but I want to legalize cannabis in New York state,” said Cynthia Nixon on Saturday at the NYC Cannabis Parade. The crowd cheered for the candidate who is challenging Governor Andrew Cuomo. Nixon made marijuana a central part of her campaign when she announced adult-use legalization as her first policy plank in early April. On Saturday, she was one of…
Anti-fascist volunteer Canute Frankson explained his motivation in a letter home in 1937: “We will build us a new society—a society of peace and plenty. There will be no color line, no jim crow trains, no lynching. That is why, my dear, I’m here in Spain.” By Peter Carroll, BlackPast.org — Approximately 90 African Americans fought in Spain during the civil war that engulfed that nation between 1936 and 1939.…