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Haiti before Israel: A Pan-African Perspective

Kazembe Batts
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By Jeffery Kazembe Batts
IG: @kazbatts
The Black perspective and interests must become part of American officials’ foreign policy and international relations agenda. Black people of African ancestry can be found on every continent, all over the world, often in the worst socio-economic conditions.

As is the case in the USA. Nonetheless, one might argue convincingly that Black people living in the USA collectively have more education, influence, and resources than any other group of Africans located in one nation on Earth.

That is why, in the tradition of Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Queen Mother Moore, African Americans must be more assertive and speak truth to power regarding the USA’s foreign aid and diplomatic engagement with Black places and spaces. The world is big but only ninety miles from Florida, which is a great place for African leaders to start and prioritize. Haiti can use Black people’s Pan-African assistance, including forcing the US government and corporations to do the right thing regarding the development of Haiti.


Recently, congress approved $100 billion dollars in foreign aid coming from our tax dollars. $65 billion for Ukraine, $26 for Israel, $ 9 billion for Taiwan. It is as if African people don’t exist and pay taxes. With the genocide in Sudan, exploitation and underdevelopment in large parts of the Congo, and violence and kidnappings in Nigeria, to mention a few areas, little money is set aside for Black development and humanitarian assistance!

We need $100 billion dollars for humanitarian assistance for Black nations! Many parts of Africa and other parts of the world where people of African ancestry dominate need attention, but in this essay, I will focus on Haiti. Contrasting the USA government’s relationship with Haiti compared to Israel.


There are some similarities between Haiti and Israel. Haiti has a population of about 11.5 million people. Israel’s population is about 10 million people. Haiti’s geographic area of 10,710 square miles is slightly above Israel’s area of 8,019 square miles. The Haitian state and people are often in conflict with the neighboring Dominican Republic state and people. The Israeli state and people are often in conflict with the Palestinian people both in Israel and in neighboring places.


There are major differences. Haiti’s GDP is a meager $25 billion with a per capita of $2,125. Haiti is a poor country. Israel’s GDP is a whopping $553 billion, with a per capita of $55,533. Israel is a much richer country. Haiti has a constitution, although it is often ignored and disrespected. Israel has no constitution!

Haiti is a mostly Christian country. Israel is a mostly Jewish country. Haiti is a nearby country that is the second republic in the Western Hemisphere, founded in 1804. Israel is located on the other side of the world and was founded 144 years later in 1948.


During the American Revolutionary War hundreds of free Black men, the Les Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint Domingue, fought to capture Savannah, Georgia from Britain in 1779. Some of these soldiers would soon lead the revolution that created Haiti. At that time, what is now Israel did not exist. The land was part of the Ottoman Empire. In modern versus biblical times, Haiti came before Israel. Nonetheless, American respect and engagement with the states of Haiti and Israel has been and continues to be completely different.


Although General Jean-Jacquess Dessalines proclaimed Haiti as an independent and sovereign state on January 1st, 1804, the USA refused to recognize Haiti’s independence until 1862. Having many Black people in chattel slavery the USA establishment was terrified of the implications of a state controlled by free Africans. Fifty years later the USA occupied Haiti from 1915 – 1934, stealing resources and retarding the growth of the Haitian state.


The Zionist movement that eventually led to Israel started in Russia and was facilitated by England with the Balfour Declaration on November 2nd, 1917. Not in the lead, the USA played a supportive role during the building of Israel. On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the independence of the State of Israel. On that very same day, President Harry S. Truman recognized Israel.


Economically, although not recognizing Haiti’s independence, the USA nonetheless, during the mid-19th century, exported more goods to Haiti than to any other country in Latin America. But now, the economic relationship between Haiti and the USA consists mostly of the USA providing limited humanitarian aid. At the same time, U.S.-based corporations exploit the extremely low wages of the masses of people toiling in sweatshops.


Conversely in 1985 the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), became law, adding to several treaties and agreements that foster a strong bilateral economic relationship between the USA and Israel. The annual $50 billion trade relationship is encouraged by universities, elected officials, political action committees and prominent American and Israeli persons.


In recent times, the USA overthrew the only popularly elected Haitian president, Jean Bertrand Aristide, and has continued to trample and interfere with Haitian sovereignty ever since. Allowing weapons to be smuggled into Haiti and shot-calling who wins fraudulent elections. Meanwhile, Israel is by far the largest recipient of American foreign aid year after year.

The mid-East state disregards American priorities and policy with imprudence, such as regarding Palestinian control of the West Bank and Gaza. “Now is the Time” for African-American leadership and all justice-seeking people to stand with Haiti.


A coalition of progressive activists, led by pan-Africanists like myself, is calling for political action. The NYC metropolitan area has more people of Haitian ancestry than any other American metropolitan area, including Miami! New York City can help facilitate a USA foreign policy that uplifts people of African ancestry, including Haitians.

We are pushing for the City Council and Mayor Eric Adams to have a hearing about the future of Haiti at City Hall before Labor Day. Whatever comes out of such hearings should then be forwarded to the Congressional Black Caucus to be discussed at their annual weekend gathering in mid-September.


Haiti before Israel when it comes to diplomatic focus and allocation of foreign aid from a pan-African perspective. Let’s make Malcolm, Martin, and Marcus proud.

Dr. Maulana Karenga on Frederick Douglass, July 4th, Juneteenth and Us*

Editor, Our Time Press
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Dr. Maulana Karenga on Frederick Douglass, July 4th, Juneteenth and Us*

Whether we discuss emancipation in June, independence in July, revolt and revolution in August, Kwanzaa and cultural and political liberation in December, or achievements against the odds, resilience and resistance in February, the issue, imperative and urgency of freedom and struggle are always with us. Indeed, it runs like a red line through our most ancient, awesome and humanity-revealing history.


It is a central concern in the ancient ethical teachings of our honored ancestors in the Sacred Husia in the Four Good Deeds of Ra which foreground and emphasize that humans are divinely endowed with certain capacities, conditions and associated rights related to and reflective of freedom.


And it is found in the continuing courageous questioning of and critical judgment on American society by our people and in their ongoing striving and struggle to achieve and constantly expand an inclusive realm and reality of freedom, justice and other shared good.


Thus, every Fourth of July we are morally compelled to stand again with Nana Frederick Douglass when he gives his classic speech on the meaning of July 4th for Black people in this country at Rochester, New York in 1852. And we do this first because of the pressing immediacy and compelling urgency of the issues involved: issues of freedom and unfreedom; justice and injustice; inclusion and exclusion; the affirmation of human rights and their denial; and the severe and sustained suffering that the lack of freedom and justice imposes on us and the oppressed peoples of the world, and indeed, the world itself.


The immediacy and urgency of these issues is clear given our conversations and struggles around reparations, the abolition of prisons, the end of systemic and police violence, the simple and clear right of freedom of expression at the ballot box, the right to be free from the Europeanization and destruction of our neighborhoods and communities under the euphemism of gentrification, the rights to clean water and food security, and the rights to guaranteed income for a life of dignity and decency and a quality education, as Nana W.E.B. DuBois says, “not only to make a living but also to make a life.”


Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of the Department of Africana Studies at California State University-Long Beach, is an philosopher, author, holder of two PhDs, one in political science and the other in social ethics and creator of Kwanzaa. Karenga’s essay is titled, “Frederick Douglass, July 4th and Us: Freedom, False Claims, Bad Faith and Unavoidable Struggle”.

L. Joy Williams: Leading the Brooklyn NAACP and Impacting Social Justice for All New Yorkers

Fern Gillespie
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L. Joy Williams: Leading the Brooklyn NAACP and Impacting Social Justice for All New Yorkers

By Fern Gillespie
Since it was chartered in 1922, the Brooklyn NAACP has garnered a reputation as one of the NAACP’s largest and most effective branches. Under the leadership of L. Joy Williams, President of the Brooklyn NAACP, it continues being a frontline advocate for issues facing not only Black Brooklyn residents by all New Yorkers. Recent successes include being key in abolishing the voters’ “Line Warming Ban” and establishing the New York State Reparations Commission. Our Time Press recently spoke to Williams on the organization’s impact.

What are the major issues that the Brooklyn NAACP is currently focusing on?
A major issue that we’re working on, is turning out voters for the upcoming election. This is also training and getting members ready for next year. Also, to engage in an electoral process when we won’t have the greater attention of the National Election. We’re asking all of our members and partners to commit at least four hours between now and election day in helping us to turn out voters and increase participation overall in the election cycle. There are about 550,000 to 600,000 Black folks registered to vote in Brooklyn. About 250,000, that’s about half, did not vote in the last Presidential election in 2020. In working with Ms. Hazel Dukes, I’ve gone to every region within the State of New York, in training other branches to develop detailed plans on how we can turn out more Black folks in this election. We’re targeting those 250,000 people that didn’t vote last election and including those people who were not yet eligible.
We want to make sure we put a significant dent in increasing the turnout in Brooklyn. The four hours can be helping register people to vote, phone banking and texting. Even canvassing we will be doing in certain neighborhoods, where there is historically low participation.
We are gearing up for our Black Brooklyn Agenda in January. Reviewing what we’ve accomplished from the last legislation agenda. We’re also talking to people about the issues that are of concern to them and feeding that into what our legislative agenda is going to be for at the top of the year.

The Brooklyn NAACP successfully won a lawsuit against New York State’s Line-Warming Ban that prohibited giving food and water to voters in lines. What are the Brooklyn NAACP’s plans for voters’ comfort on Election Day in November?
It was designed to prevent people from giving people something in exchange for their vote. But most recently we’ve seen long lines at poll sites–from a greater turnout at presidential elections or just problems at the polls. Brooklyn NAACP is present and engaged during Election Days.
We are thinking about how else we can support voters, but we were banned from doing something as simple as giving people water or snacks. Like if children are there, or if they’re seniors. It was important for us to be able to provide comfort to voters during this time. We’re immediately operationalizing that for the November election.
In our plans for Election Day support are those poll sites that we know where there’s a heavy concentration of Black voters. Where there have been lines and issues before to make sure that we have voter support captains, who are not only there to help people in case they run into issues, but to also be able to provide comfort and support to people if lines get long. We will be running that as an Election Day operation and people will be able to report and call in those issues so that we can address it.

What do you think about a recent poll by the New York Times and Siena College Research Institute that stated 30 percent of the Black people they surveyed were “leaning” to vote for Trump?
NAACP is nonpartisan. We do not prioritize one candidate over the other. What we’re doing is having conversations with people about issues that matter to them and how to choose a candidate that will best meet those issues. This is based upon their record, what they’ve done, what they said they’re going to do, and the reality and the facts. Being the source of accurate and factual information is a role that we take very seriously.

Studies have said that 70 percent of Gen Zers (ages teens to 30) are involved in social justice issues. Have you observed an increase in younger members?
Our Youth Council is very active. They just had their elections and they’re engaged. We have a Young Adult Committee that is very active. The age for our Young Adult Committee is under 30. The candidate forum that we did was completely done by our Young Adult Committee. We’ve been very intentional in Brooklyn about having a generationally diverse branch because Black Brooklyn is generationally diverse. We’ve been providing opportunities for people to lead no matter where they come from and what age they are.

Why was it important for the Brooklyn NAACP to be involved in the New York State Reparations Commission?
The Brooklyn NAACP was intricately involved in helping to pass the legislation to establish the Reparations Commission, which has passed. We also were involved in helping to lift up the names of people who should serve on the commission. Anything related to Black life in New York, the NAACP and Brooklyn, the Brooklyn NAACP should be at the center and engaged in it. We thought it was extremely important, given our county and the large population of people of African descent in the state, to be involved in that process.

What are the benefits of joining the Brooklyn NAACP?
What you get, as a member of the Brooklyn NAACP, is an organization that is making real concrete change in our community. You get to take leadership and volunteer hours on the issues that you care about.

Budget Engineering and the NYC two-step dance

Nayaba Arinde
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Budget Engineering and the NYC two-step dance

By Nayaba Arinde
Editor at Large
New York City’s budget negotiations with City Hall’s 51 council members and Mayor Eric Adams concluded with an on-time $112.4 billion budget. Yet, it is still controversial. The adopted budget was announced on Friday, 28th June, 2024.


“Happy new fiscal year… We stayed up late last night, popping corks,” said Mayor Adams.
All beaming and glad-handing on Friday City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Adams announced the full $110 billion restoration of funding to libraries and cultural institutions in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.


But, if ‘We told you so’ had a face, it might look something like all the vocal and active opponents to the Mayor’s proposed budget cuts in November 2023
The People’s Plan (TTP) Director Zara Nasir stated, “The Mayor deserves no credit for such a cynical tactic. The Mayor’s last-minute reversals don’t fool us. Funding cuts for libraries and other key programs should never have happened.”


Public Advocate Jumaane Williams told Our Time Press, “Announcing services will be slashed, then reversing course months later, is not a sign of strong administrative management; it’s playing politics with programs that people depend on. We need to lead with fiscal and moral responsibility, consider the human cost of cuts, and move forward as strong stewards of not just the city’s finances but the city’s people.”


When Mayor Adams introduced his November Plan he announced a city-agency-wide 5%, with an additional $7 billion cut in January this year.
Education spending was decimated, and all-important libraries shuttered on Sundays; originally, the FDNY and NYPD were subjected to financial cuts. The uproar was immediate with people stating that city departments like Social Services, and education needed an increase in funding, not vice versa.


Perhaps Mayor Adams heard the outcry.
With a sudden summer surprise, he announced that some of those devastating cuts did not need to happen after all.
Is it creative accounting or surreptitious pre-election prospecting? Our Time Press asked Mayor Adams.


He did not respond by press time.
Political observers weighed in. Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, Co-Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education, told Our Time Press that every year the Mayor wants to “take the victory or look like the hero when the handshake comes when the reality is we wouldn’t be here with the speaker and everyone else, if he hadn’t proposed morally bankrupt budget proposals and cuts in the first place.


“We cannot do this budget dance every year. Our schools are struggling.”
In a statement, Adams said, “We have reached an adopted a budget of $112.4 billion. We guided the plane through all the turbulence…Adams and Adams United is here to say we have a deal. The budget is about making life in the city affordable for New Yorkers because we know there is an affordability crisis.


“Our actions have helped us arrive at a strong and fiscally responsible budget and have allowed us to partner with the Council together, invest in our early childhood education, cultural organizations, libraries, parks, public safety, housing, and healthcare.”


Ansari, a staunch fighter for NYC schools, charged, “What this mayor is doing is gaslighting, which he does really well. If he did not spend as much time creating and bringing props and his corny one-liners and, was instead listening to the people, then we would have a budget for the people. When this mayor stands up there and chuckles, and laughs, and makes plane metaphors and analogies, it is a slap in the face to educators who are watching with fingers crossed that there is money coming to the public schools – but now they know that they have to cut staff.”


“As a woman majority and the most diverse Council in our city’s history, representing every unique corner of this city, we understand the multitude of challenges that our communities and constituents face, the services they rely on, and what they need from city government,” Speaker Adams declared. “In my State of the City, I said, let’s get back to basics…It’s also important to recognize the fiscal realities we are up against. The expiration of significant pandemic-era federal funding meant we needed new funding resources to supplant the loss of federal funding. The Council also acknowledged the economic uncertainty we faced amidst new challenges that we had to confront, leading to budget gaps and the out-years that must be confronted.”


Adams said that the budget reflects the pressing need for the families and residents of this city for affordable housing and early childhood education. “Our students need support to continue recovering from historic learning loss from the pandemic, and we must prioritize resources for mental health care, community safety, cultural institutions, libraries, parks, senior services, and so many other vital programs. The Council worked hard to secure investments for these priorities within this budget.”


With his “fiscal conservative approach,” Mayor Adams said that with over $7 billion in savings, “We restored $349 million out of $7 billion.”
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams thanked the Council and the Speaker for an on-time budget agreement “with many important initiatives intact…such as affordable housing,” but, at the same time, he said vigilance is needed for “other unnecessary, less-visible cuts in this budget.”


TTP Director Nasir determined, “This year’s budget stops far short of reversing the Mayor’s multiple rounds of cuts, which have decimated core City services and harmed millions of New Yorkers who need and rely on the social safety net and public education, to CUNY, to make ends meet and help make our economy thrive. Mayor Adams pushed through many cuts to foundational services and programs, like CUNY (-$80M), universal childcare (-$150M), parks, and senior services, while favoring a $225M cop city that will further criminalize New Yorkers.


We must ensure future budgets won’t be dictated by revenue underestimations and budget games.”

Juneteenth Phenomenal Moment

Bernice Elizabeth Green
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Juneteenth Phenomenal Moment

There’s nothing that can break the bond when spirit melds with genius. And so, it happened at the Cooperative Culture Collective’s Juneteenth event in Von King Park’s Almira Coursey Amphitheater, Saturday, June 15. Host Wright called audience members to embrace and pray for a young man who had just found out he would be attending college in the fall. Wright, impromptu, called on all to form a circle of protection around the young brother. Other graduates joined the circle for the Juneteenth experience.

Obediah Wright, event host, transformed an amphitheater into a sanctuary. Historian/scholars Weatherspoon, Wright and others on this page will have their say in future editions of Our Time Press. All photos by Barry L. Mason

Graham B. Weatherspoon, an event speaker, quickly picked up the frequency, and joined the group to offer prayer. The moment was unscripted, unrestrained, unchoreographed and liberating. Mothers wept. Young people, too. Wright called it later “a phenomenal power moment.” But how did it happen? “I am in touch with my spiritual self all the time,” he responded. “I download from the Most High.” B.Greene
(All photos: Barry L. Mason)

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