Remarks before the Fort Greene Council, Inc. Black History Awards Event
Friday, February 28, 2025 Brooklyn, NY

It is an honor to stand before you today as we celebrate Black history—not just as a reflection of the past but as a recognition of the resilience, creativity, and power that continue to shape our present and future. And when we talk about Black history, we must talk about Brooklyn.
Brooklyn has been home to some of the greatest movements, minds, and moments in Black history. From the early days in 1827 when freed slaves migrated to downtown Brooklyn to build homes, churches, and businesses – to the establishment of independent Weeksville in 1838 — to the thriving neighborhoods of today, our borough has stood at the crossroads of culture, activism, and progress for centuries.
Brooklyn has been home to some of the most fearless and groundbreaking figures in Black history. For example

Brooklyn-based educator and activist, Maritcha Lyons taught in public schools for 48 years and was the second Black woman to serve as an assistant principal in the borough. As an outspoken advocate for racial and gender equality, she co-founded the Women’s Loyal Union of New York and Brooklyn in 1892 – a women’s rights and racial justice organization.
Dr. Susan Smith McKinney-Steward was the first Black female physician who provided medical care to those who were denied it, and She also paved the way for future generations of Black doctors and healthcare professionals.

Jackie Robinson made history when he broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier right here with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He reminded us, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” His impact stretched far beyond baseball as he became a national symbol of resilience and justice.

Shirley Chisholm, a proud Brooklyn native, was not only the first Black woman elected to Congress but also the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s nomination for President. She once said, “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” Her service to Brooklyn and beyond continues to inspire generations far beyond her contributions.
James Haughton Jr. was a Brooklyn-based labor organizer who fought to eliminate discrimination in hiring. In the 1960s, he founded Fight Back, an organization that pushed for fair hiring in construction, transit, and public-sector jobs.

The Notorious B.I.G, JAY Z and countless other artists who used their voices to share Brooklyn’s Black story with the world. As Biggie once said, “Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way.”
Brooklyn has always been flush with cultural hubs. One of the most significant cultural hubs in Brooklyn’s Black history is Fort Greene. This neighborhood has long been a center of Black intellectualism, creativity, and activism. Fort Greene was home to some of the greatest Black artists and thinkers of the 20th century—people like Richard Wright, who wrote Native Son, filmmaker Spike Lee, whose work has captured the spirit of Black life in Brooklyn and beyond.
During the Harlem Renaissance and beyond, Fort Greene was a gathering place for Black writers, musicians, and visionaries. It is here that institutions like the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) flourished, giving Black artists the ability to shape the cultural fabric of Brooklyn and the world.

We cannot talk about Fort Greene without mentioning the Fort Greene Council, founded by Dr. Sam Pinn, Pat Dugal, and Ed Carter. Fort Greene Council is an organization that has been a lifeline for the community for decades. The council has worked to serve Black older adults, youth, and families by providing value added services, education, and cultural programming. Their work has ensured that Fort Greene remains a place of empowerment, where Black history isn’t just preserved—it’s lived.

But Brooklyn’s Black history isn’t just something of the past—it’s alive and thriving in the present. It’s in the entrepreneurs building businesses along Fulton Street, Pitkin Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, and other corridors. It’s in the educators uplifting the next generation in Brownsville. It’s in the activists marching for justice in Crown Heights, ensuring that progress does not stop with us.

And let’s not forget the role of community organizations – past and present – like the Brooklyn Caregivers Program, Black Vets for Social Justice, Brooklyn CORE, Black United Front, VIDA, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp and countless other grassroots organizations that did and continue to uplift and empower Black Brooklynites every single day.

In closing, as we honor Black history, let’s remember that Brooklyn’s story is Black history. It is a story of struggle and success, of community and culture, of strength and spirit. And it is a story that is still being written—with all of us as its authors. So today, let’s celebrate; but let’s commit ourselves to continuing this legacy—by supporting Black businesses and investing in our Black communities by nurturing and teaching our children, by supporting our religious institutions, by honoring and celebrating our older adults.

In the words of Shirley Chisholm, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Let us bring our chairs, our voices, and our power to ensure that Brooklyn continues to be a beacon of Black excellence for generations to come.