New York State Black Caucus Weekend in Albany. SJ Dodgson MJoTA v6n1 p0219
Feb 19, 2013. I was traveling home last night from Albany New York, waiting for the final train in Camden, New Jersey, and reading a poster that covered a wall on the other side of the train track: pictures of Philadelphia and New Jersey in 1776 with the handwritten declaration of independence of the 13 states of the United States of America.
I went to school in Ireland, which only managed part independence in 1922; in New Zealand, which has never become independent; and Australia, which also still recognizes the head of state as the Queen of England. These countries do a good job of electing prime ministers and hosting garden parties for the queen, and relying on the military forces and equipment of the United States of America. Battle of the Coral Sea, anyone?
I generally cheerfully bat off criticism of how and where I live. My brothers, who all are based in Australia, believe fundamentally that all Americans are stupid and own guns, and that anyone hanging out with religious groups is deluded and probably mentally ill.
After 35 years living and working in the Delaware Valley, and enjoying the fellowship of other women and men of faith, I am beyond the comprehension of my brothers.
All I can tell them is that I live in a country where citizens don't have to waste their years complaining, here we gather together and make things happen. The Declaration of Independence. The Constitution. The Amendments to the Constitution. The Civil rights movements. The organizations of sons and daughters of Africa and the Caribbean that on this day have free speech and are constantly battling profiteers who build prisons, who build factories that poison our air, our waters and our lands.
Camden is the closest city to Philadelphia: the twin cities are divided by the Delaware River, over which the Benjamin Franklin Bridge has a walking path on which from 1988 to 1990 I saw homeless persons moving on Sundays to the Episcopal Sunday breakfast, and then back to Philadelphia in the afternoon.
Men and women not understanding money, not able to earn enough for shelter, suffering from mental illness, and former prisoners who have been stripped of the right to vote: homelessness has been part of the fabric of Philadelphia and Camden that increased in the Reagan administration when psychiatric hospitals were closed. Financial crash. Increase in prison population. A lot of things have caused homelessness. A lot of things cause despair.
I was in Albany to celebrate hope for the future during the New York State Black caucus weekend, which included a dizzying schedule of receptions, galas, concerts, exhibits, workshops. I tend towards the quiet and cerebral, so for parties, I limited myself to the annual CACCI reception and those going on nearby on Saturday night. And spent Sunday at the Albany Friends Meeting, talking about faith, about prisons, about the countries and peoples of Africa.
Saturday morning I walked through the Empire State Plaza, which is set up like the parliamentary buildings in Nairobi, in Kenya. Except more buildings and taller. And colder.
Albany was cold, gosh. During the weekend and on my way back by bus to Manhattan, I posted on Facebook thoughts: "Just when I thought Albany could not get colder, it did." "
|
How to fly through college and graduate school click here
|
Malicious, vicious and fraudulent. Macharia Waruingi. Janet Ogundipe Fashakin. Lookman Sulaimon click here
|
Sylvanie Joseph honored by Bed Stuy Volllies click here
|
Jan 21 2013 in DC celebrating the inauguration of the US president, the faith and hope of fighters for civil rights, and the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed click here
|
CACCI at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York click here
|
|
Follow Us On:
|
News from the countries of the Caribbean click here
|
News from countries with communities of sons and daughters of Africa click here.
|
I
watched the tour de force who is a daughter of Ireland and has raised
more than twice as much money as her closest competitor in the race to
become New York City's next mayor, Christine Quinn. She is a good friend
of the sons and daughters of the Caribbean, she celebrated with CACCI
and other leaders in Caribbean communities during the annual West Indian
Day parade on Labor Day 2012; I have seen her at CACCI functions. She
understands the political process, she is popular with her peers: as a
daughter of Ireland myself I am immensely proud of Christine Quinn and
wish her well in her quest to become mayor. Her competitor John Liu is
usually at CACCI events, he was there Saturday: I wish him well too.
I
spoke with Hakeem Jeffries, who, like Chris Quinn, greets everyone he
meets as if they are the only person he wants to be talking to at that
time. I went to Congressman Jeffries' Brooklyn inauguration celebration
in January: he is on his way to make his mark. I have also seen him at
CACCI events.
Senator Eric Adams is another candidate for office:
he is currently a senator in the New York State Legislation and wants
to be the next Borough President of Brooklyn. I hope so. He gave a great
speech during the Martin Luther King jr celebrations that CACCI hosted
at Borough Hall hosted in January. Senator Adams was a policeman before
he became a politician. Marty Markowitz is the current Brooklyn Borough
President and is popular and effective: he has a parrot he calls his
son, and has bubbling enthusiasm for all things Brooklyn. He raised
funds for the Bed Stuy Vollies headquarters, wonderful public servant.
We are expecting continuing good stewardship by Senator Adams.
Councilmember
Leroy Comrie hosted a party that was filled with friends and supporters
who had driven from Queens to support him. I first met him in July when
Saul Joseph took me with him to a celebration of the 50th anniversary
of Jamaican independence. Where I tasted rum punch. Lord, I don't drink
alcohol, but if I start, rum punch would be why I would. He was there
too at the West Indian Day Parade. He is up for re-election to New York
City Council.
My favorite elected officials who are on the path to
great things whom I follow avidly include Rodneyse Bichotte. She always looks professional and
gorgeous, and gave a rousing speech thanking CACCI leader Dr Roy Hastick
and delighting in the democratic process. She is a district leader, and
is not a candidate in the 2013 elections, but will be in the 2014
elections.
And of course, the enormously popular Councilmember Jumaane D Williams. He is up for re-election this year, and I urge everyone in his Brooklyn district to vote for him. It is anyone's guess what he will be running for in 2017. But I know it will be something big, and his loyal supporters will follow him.
|
|
