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More Black People &More African Assistance Needed!

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More Black People &More African Assistance Needed!

By Jeffery Kazembe Batts
Policy and purpose can change, and maybe Brooklyn can lead the way. The population in NYC who identify as Black or African is declining. Building on the recent “The Need for a Pro-African Policy and Purpose from our Community & Elected Officials” essay, in honor and memory of Marcus Garvey, I offer some suggestions and possible next steps with the intention of building a mass movement for social justice for African (Black) people and nations.


One goal is to increase the number of Black people moving into Bed-Stuy, NYC, and the entire country. The other is to radically change the American government’s allocation of foreign aid to be more equitable and reflect the needs of Black nations. Because of America’s history of enslavement of African people, African migration should come first and be encouraged and facilitated. Because of the United States’ history of exploiting and undermining Black nations, resources should now be set aside for human development and infrastructure construction. How can Black people and others of good intentions facilitate the accomplishment of these two objectives?


African migrants are part of the tapestry of people who are crossing the border and entering the USA. With the support of the City Council, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs should set up satellite offices wherever large numbers of African migrants are settling. Whether in the Bronx, W 116th St. in Harlem, or in Bed-Stuy on Fulton St. Focusing on Bed-Stuy, only two blocks away from the intersection of Bedford Ave and Fulton St. sits the historic Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza. Here is a perfect location to provide a round-the-clock center for migrants to get services. Legal help, ID cards, healthcare options, food assistance, and language translation assistance can be provided at this new site.


36th Council member Chi Osse had a 4-hour “Migration Resource Day on February 1st.” 35th Council member Crystal Hudson faced a tense community meeting on May 7th regarding migrant shelters, although she has allocated funds for supply drives and trash removal. These two young city council members can come together and lead the creation of an Office of African Migrant Services at the Restoration Plaza.


Yes, we can specifically focus on African migrant needs. They have unique issues, for example. Most speak a variety of indigenous African languages. Not speaking Spanish puts them at a disadvantage compared to our Latino sisters and brothers, who are also migrating. The NYC social service system that they must use has long been built around the assumption that migrants speak Spanish.

Walking down Fulton St. between Bedford Ave and Franklin Ave, you will see dozens of entrepreneurial-minded young men selling clothes, providing carrier services with bikes, and networking to better themselves. The block is more alive than most blocks in the community. This Black energy must be supported as a counter to the mostly white gentrification of what was once the largest Black community in the United States, Central Brooklyn, with Bed-Stuy at the heart. Bed-Stuy is no longer a dark chocolate community, but it still has chocolate in it. Let’s add some more flavor and make sure in the future, we at least have milk chocolate!


Recently, President Biden signed a $95 billion aid bill that allocated $60 billion to Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific region for armaments or war-making. Wow! Do Black people pay taxes and exist in America? Where are the interests of African people in this allocation of our money?


Instability in Haiti, genocide in Darfur, war in the eastern Congo & northern Ethiopia, and underdevelopment of infrastructure and quality of life of people in many of the over 50 states that make up the African Union. Black people must demand that the US government “show us the money!” Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries and Majority Leader of the Senate Chuck Schumer signed off on this insulting allocation of funding.

Allegedly, there is money in the bills for “humanitarian” assistance for the rest of the world. Show us the money and specific dollar amounts for Africa and the Caribbean. Former President Aristide called on France to pay $21 billion to Haiti for the indemnity imposed on Haiti before he was overthrown. Thomas Sankara, Patrice Lumumba, and Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned a fairer international economic system before they were assassinated.

If we are not talking about dollars, it does not make sense! Black elected officials, led by the Congressional Black Caucus, must right this injustice. $100 billion dollars is the demand for African and Caribbean development aid. With no compromising, these nations have the right to determine their own destiny. The USA must respect their sovereignty and allocate the money which comes from our taxes.


In this crucial election year, these two congressional Brooklynite leaders, Schumer and Jeffries, must have a town hall meeting about foreign policy and come before the people to explain their signoffs and reimagine USA foreign aid with the interests of Black people on the table.

On Saturday, May 18th, the day before Malcolm X’s 99th birthday and a week before African Liberation Day is celebrated around the world, the “Pro-African Policy and Purpose” march will take place in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn at 2:00 pm starting at the intersection of Dekalb Ave and Marcus Garvey Blvd. Join us with your drums, bullhorns, boom boxes, signs, banners, etc., as we continue the legacy of Black people fighting and organizing for our proper place in New York City and the world. Policy and purpose can change.

Young Minds Matter

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Young Minds Matter

Thought Leaders & Readers: Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso, seen here at a ribbon cutting for the East Flatbush Library, has aligned with more than 2,300 schools, libraries and bookstores nationwide in his recognition of Children’s Book Week, May 6 to May 12, the longest-running celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading.

This week, the Borough President also offered his thoughts to Our Time Press’ on Child Mental Health Awareness Month and recent crackdowns on social media distractions.

In a message to parents and guardians, Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso, stated to Our Time Press, “As a parent, I know all too well that raising our children in a digital world can be stressful.

Phones and tablets have paved the way for many advancements in our society, but oftentimes, children are glued to their screens for hours on end.

Thankfully, as Brooklyn parents, we have so many spaces which give our children the opportunity to enrich their minds.

“Whether it’s getting lost in a book at your local Brooklyn Public Library branch or playing outside at your local park, I’m proud to represent a borough that gives our young people so many reasons to put down their phones and explore their community.

As we envision our city’s future, we need to prioritize investing in these spaces, keeping our libraries open, connecting kids to librarians, and getting great books into the hands of our youngest residents.”

Black Folks and May Mental Health Month

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Black Folks and May Mental Health Month

By Nayaba Arinde
Editor -at-Large
May is Mental Health Month. July is Black or ‘Minority’ Mental Health Month.
May 5 – 11, is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
All are opportunities to highlight the issues and solutions, say advocates and mental health practitioners.


Suffering in silence is such a norm, unfortunately. Post-pandemic re-adjustment, social media, augmented reality, and altered states factor into a mental wellness journey.


National Minority Mental Health Month was founded by journalist and author Bebe Moore Campbell, the co-founder of NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness. Her daughter, popular actress Maia Campbell is unfortunately now known for her mental health and drug addiction struggles.


Mental Health America developed a nationwide effort to highlight the various mental health challenges experienced by Black, brown, and Indigenous communities.
Facing daily racist micro-and-macro-aggressions is faced as normal by most people who endure them, as they engage in routine daily activities and interactions.


SAMSHA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said that “In the United States, 13.6% of the population (45.3 million people) identified themselves as Black or African American in 2021…only 39% African Americans receive mental health services.”
Yet, CVS Health and Morning Consult reported an 11% increase in African Americans reporting mental health concerns since 2020.


The report continued, “This disparity highlights the urgent need to address the barriers in accessing mental health care within the Black community.”


There are Black people navigating personal and community traumas, and tackling the stigma– walking around with tons of angst on their shoulders, shifting the weight daily.


Author of ‘The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health,’ Dr. Rheeda Walker, PhD, clinical psychologist, said, “While it is important to rest and recharge when you recognize you’re at the point of burnout, the flex is to STOP GETTING TO THAT POINT! What strategies can you implement to set boundaries and balance in your life?”


The professor, and author of “No Racial Elephants in the Therapy Room,” added that through her work she has sought to help people “identify practical things you can do to ensure that you are taking care of yourself and keeping your psychological fortitude high — because we need both to avoid burnout.”


Mental Health America (MHA) said, “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, about one in five adults had a mental illness. Without a doubt, the pandemic has affected the state of mental health in our country…It is rare that a family is not touched by a mental health condition.”


Mental Conditioning Movement co-founder and trainer Elliot Allen says that Black men are confronted by a myriad of challenges that can take a toll on their mental well-being.

The burdens can be overwhelming, from societal pressures to workplace discrimination and familial expectations. Black men persevere, regardless, he says, demonstrating resilience and strength in the face of adversity.


The author of ‘12 Rounds of Mental Conditioning: Us vs LIFE – The Big Fight,’ Elliot Allen believes that true empowerment begins with a resilient mindset, capable of navigating life’s challenges with clarity and confidence.


His methodology incorporates four fundamental principles that serve as pillars of strength for his clients: Self-Evaluation, Decision-Making, Big Picture Thinking, and Staying the Course.
“Life is really such a big journey,” said Allen. “Once you develop your big picture, you have to do a lot of self-evaluation. This is why the four principles are so very, very important because you must have that really honest evaluation of yourself. Sometimes it feels like things are out of control…life moves very quickly.”


“Sometimes it’s marriage,” Allen said, “then perhaps deciding to become a parent, finding a bigger home, juggling careers too. Sit in your car for a couple of hours, or take a long shower, create an opportunity to analyze your wins, analyze your losses, and take a deep breath.”
Divine Allah, community activist and health and wellness professional told Our Time Press, “Exercise is a therapeutic outlet for mental wellness.”


The founder of Mind, Body Activism, and member of Hassan ‘Giant’ Yasin’s Bartendaz fitness advocacy group, explained, “Bartendaz has a program called EAT – Exercise As Therapy, where we present a menu of mental empowerment, mental health tools a person can use as they exercise – like running in place while saying personal affirmations such as ‘I can do it.

I will do it respecting my health journey.’ It takes mental fortitude to decide to make a change, and sometimes people become advocates for physical training leading to an improved mental outlook.”


The New York City Council’s Mental Health Road Map stated, “New York City is in a mental health crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this crisis both in our city and in communities across the nation.

Yet, the crisis predates the pandemic, created by decades of inadequate public investments and ineffective policies. Decades of neglect and disinvestment have left too many New Yorkers without appropriate, holistic mental healthcare, and our systems overburdened and ill-equipped to respond to the current crisis.”


The solution? “Requires investments in comprehensive, proven, solutions, particularly within communities that have often lacked adequate resources. Success will also require all levels of government – city, state, and federal – to coordinate solutions to increase access and remove barriers to mental health care and services.”


Last month, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Members released their Council’s Fiscal Year 2025 Preliminary Budget Response and identified $6.15 billion “to help reverse recent budget decisions that have been destabilizing, and address underbudgeting in the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget,” including over $225 million for mental health services.

FindTreatment.gov
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Shelter Placements Continue to Rock Brooklyn

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Shelter Placements Continue to Rock Brooklyn

by Joe Gonzalez
One of the hottest issues in the whole of Brooklyn is where to put the waves of immigrants and the homeless.
With no prior notice to local residents, New York City cut a highly controversial no-bid emergency contract of $45 million dollars to open a homeless shelter in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Clinton Hill; the shelter is sited at 47 Hall Street. Shortly thereafter, yet another shelter opened, again with no advanced notice to residents. This one is located at 29 Ryerson Street, a mere one block away from the Hall Street shelter; both are sited directly across the street from the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard.


For months local residents were making many complaints about the sudden crush of people numbering about 4,000 living in the two shelters, hi-rise former factories.


The many complaints were heard by longtime resident and former District Leader Renee Collymore. Ms. Collymore scheduled a Community Town Hall meeting to receive the residents’ concerns. The meeting was set weeks ago for Monday May 6, 2024 at the historic Lafayette Masonic Lodge in Fort Greene.


Five hours before the 6 pm meeting was to begin, Ms. Collymore got a telephone call from a Lodge official, who without further explanation, canceled the meeting. According to Ms. Collymore, about 30 minutes later, she received a call from former city councilperson, resident, and now Attorney General Letitia James, who had heard that the meeting was canceled, despite the former support of the Temple.

Ms. Collymore said, “The Attorney General understood the importance of the voices of the community being heard,” and called Reverend Clinton Miller, Senior Pastor at the Historic Brown Memorial Church and secured the use of that Church’s Hall as an alternate meeting site.
(Publisher’s Note: See Ms. Collymore’s accounting of the ensuing drama of the last minute change in accompanying sidebar.)


The overflow crowd was stunning with over three hundred residents showing up. Indeed, over 150 more residents were turned away when the Hall reached capacity.


Ms. Collymore called in various NYPD Officials including Brooklyn North Patrol Chief Scott N. Henderson and 88th Precinct Commander Captain Michael Goodchild. Both spoke about the NYPD response to community complaints to low level crimes such as smoking marijuana, alcohol drinking, sleeping in the park overnight and homeless generally leaving trash around. There was not one City, State or Federal elected public official who bother to attend although some sent their staffers to read a written script of concern from a prepared statement.


Local residents lined up and over twenty-five railed about the various concerns of health and safety, including sometimes hundreds of homeless people milling about the City Park sited at Hall Street and Park Avenue.


The local Business Improvement District (BID) Office was represented by its Director, Amanda Zenteno, who ran off a laundry list of complaints from area stores and residents about the homeless situation. They included lack of English-speaking proficiency, lack of clothes and health supplies or even a locked storage lockers to secure their belongings.

This resulted in the homeless carrying around all of their property everywhere they went. Ms. Zenteno added that there remains the unresolved matter of the newly arrived getting Federal work permits. Because they are not U.S. citizens, they cannot get a social security number which in turn means they cannot open a bank account.


The problems abound and appear to not be going away any time soon—and indeed may even get worse due to reports that NYC will in the near term enlarge the current number of 4,000 homeless at those two shelters to 7,000.


It remains to be seen what will happen next but its certain Renee Collymore will be watching and organizing future meetings to hear residents concerns.

VIDA Rallies in Support of Community Empowerment

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VIDA Rallies in Support of Community Empowerment

By Mary Alice Miller
Vanguard Independent Democratic Association hosted a public town hall in front of their Tompkins Avenue office to push back against the DSA and “it’s view of our community as their enemies.” VIDA requested community support “in pushing back against the recent set of microaggressions against the Black community in Bedford-Stuyvesant, brought about by the Democratic Socialist Alliance (DSA).


On Wednesday April 17, 2024, DSA Candidate for State Assembly Eon Huntley hosted a meeting produced by the DSA at his campaign offices, located at 320 Tompkins Avenue. The title of the meeting was Know Our Enemies and the caption stated, “a series to know more about the community, the neighborhood and the people”. This event was posted on his campaign Instagram page in the Instagram Stories.


VIDA considers this an attack on Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman who is being challenged by Huntley, her supporters, and the historical Black community in Bed Stuy.


According to a statement from VIDA, “It is becoming clear that, as Eon’s flier stated, they see us as their enemies”, adding, “It is imperative that we serve as the Vanguard of this community, and push back against ideals or movements that look to separate us or pit us against one another. Because there is NO enemy in this community other than the source of the spread of separation and discontent.”


DSA is known for targeting “safe” Democrat-held districts all across the country. And once its members are elected to office, they seem to follow the DSA platform instead of the voices of their constituents.


DSA targeted and unseated Assemblyman Walter Mosley, who was recently appointed to NYS Secretary of State. And they targeted seats held by Tremaine Wright, Roxanne Persaud, and Laurie Cumbo. “They have a bad habit of targeting Black women.” said Henry Butler, president of VIDA.


Marlon Rice, founder of Good People NYC said, “Eon, you are a dishonest soldier for a machine that uses people like you to take the leadership from our community.”


“When new neighbors use the term enemy it bothers me because they are opposed to our way of life. Ain’t no enemies in this community except for those who are using their platform to spread discontent,” said Barry Cooper, founder, The BRO Experience. “We cannot be two Bed Stuys. We cannot be a community within a community. The assembly seat that we are protecting is our seat. You cannot bring an individual who is not part of this assembly district, who does not understand the political landscape of this district in this district and then call us enemies.”


Honorable Annette Robinson gave a historical context to the issue.
“We cannot allow people to come and impose themselves on our community. This is our community that we worked for, built up, provided resources for from the time we began the Empowerment Movement,” said Robinson.

“It is important to say these are our streets and we must protect them. I have been in Bedford Stuyvesant all my life. When we call on you to do voter registration, or knock on some doors, don’t feel it is robbery of your time and energy because we are trying to protect our turf. People protect their turf all over the world. We are going to be out here protecting our people and the resources they need and deserve. It’s us and them if they want to declare enemies. Do what you have to do to make sure we remain strong.”


Dr. Esmeralda Simmons made it plain: “This is about power. Forty years ago all of central Brooklyn was a plantation. DSA is a plantation. The ruler of DSA is out of state. They don’t vote what you want, they vote what their leader tells them to. The invisible hand tells them what to vote for, what to put out there, what to put into bills… They can’t even decide who they are going to align with. Their control is outside of our community.

That’s called colonialism. We fought like hell to determine our own way, to determine our own elected officials. Some were great, some were not so great. But they were ours. We do not need overseers. We do not need to go back fifty years. We need a record turnout at the election. Everybody needs to be registered. We will show them what 2024 looks like in Bed Stuy.”


“I have a record of protecting tenants in this community. I have a record of protecting homeowners in this community. You don’t have to take my word for it. You can go right to the NYS Assembly website and look at every piece of legislation I have introduced and passed,” said Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman.

“When you look up the record of every DSA member in the Assembly, you will see that every budget we have passed they voted against it. This is not about gentrification. This is about stripping Black wealth out of Black communities. I am not the enemy. What I am is the real Bed Stuy. We are welcoming to anybody who wants to come here and live here and be a part of the fabric of this community. But what we are not going to do is allow you to lie, steal, and cheat our legacy away.”


“A house that is divided against itself will not stand,” warned Rev. Robert Waterman. “When Bed Stuy was Do or Die nobody wanted to come in. Now it is Bed Stuy Stay Alive and everybody wants to live in Bed Stuy. Now they want to push you out.”


Waterman added, “Politics and elections are everything. Everything you do is about voting. How can you consider it affordable housing when they build 100 units and you only get ten? We have to do more than talk. This is about strategically putting people in place.

If the enemy can get Black people against Black people they just come in and whisper in your ear and you say it is ok. It is the back biting that keeps us down. If Malcolm was here he would call it the House Negro and the Field Negro.

In order to break Black communities it is all about making sure to put the right Black person in, without a voice who doesn’t speak for the people.”

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