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BP Adams Joins Yemeni Bodega Owners in Protest of Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban

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BP Adams Joins Yemeni Bodega Owners in Protest of Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban

 Tonight, at 5:00 PM, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams rallies for religious freedom alongside hundreds of Yemeni-American bodega owners and grocers on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall, in solidarity with a mass shutdown of businesses citywide today’s protest of President Donald J. Trump’s executive order banning the migration of citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. According to community leaders, there are an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 small businesses owned by Yemeni-Americans living in New York City, reflecting a population that has grown out of Downtown Brooklyn in the last half-century. As a result of the White House’s action, many local families have been split apart, with loved ones detained, sent back, or not allowed to enter on an existing green card or visa.

Borough President Adams will stand in solidarity with allies as Muslims in attendance observe their call to prayer at 5:15 PM. Following that, several local Yemeni-Americans will tell their stories about how they’ve been personally affected by President Trump’s executive order. Borough President Adams and other civic leaders will also share accounts on behalf of those who are too scared to go public with their concerns.

JAMES MORTIMER – June 29, 1941 – January 21, 2017

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JAMES MORTIMER – June 29, 1941 – January 21, 2017

 

James Mortimer, loving husband and father, exemplary community and youth empowerment advocate and pioneering entrepreneur, passed on Saturday, January 21 at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in the presence of his wife Doris and family members.

Mortimer, known as “Big Jim” to many throughout New York City, was so anointed the title because of his generosity of spirit, time and wisdom as much as for his demeanor and his height.

A leader before his time, Jimmy reached great heights in his lifetime against immense odds.

The Brooklyn-native, a long-time resident of Lower Manhattan, attended public schools in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Washington, D.C., as well as  Chamberlain Junior College in Boston, Massachusetts and The College of New Rochelle in Brooklyn.  His primary interest was mathematics and problem solving. Those gifts and his dedication to his family’s work-ethic traditions — which found him holding down several after-school jobs while at Decatur J.H.S. 35 and Wingate H.S. – carried him through life.

He served in the United States Army for two years, training at bases in Fort Dix, N.J.,  Aberdeen Maryland, Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and Nahant, Massachusetts where he became a missile man, “one of the guys that would in case of danger, shoot off the missile.”

He was one of the first persons of color to study IBM and computer science courses, including keypunch operations, and programming, during the early 1960’s.  His immense command of the field, at that time, landed him a position at the Olivetti Underwood Company, where he parlayed a job as night supervisor into recognition as a gifted programmer and then a professional evaluator of the company’s affirmative action programs.

Mr. Mortimer was always self-motivated.  He started Big Jim’s Trucking Company, later Big Jim and Edgar’s company, in 1972. Four years later he opened a thrift shop in what is now SoHo, at Spring and Broadway in New York City.  In 1978, he opened a furniture manufacturing company, making him possibly the first African American to manufacture redwood tables and clocks in the New York City area.

He also held positions with HRA, the Environmental Protection Department, and HPD as a Real Property Manager.

A man of prayer and a believer, Mr. Mortimer was a member of Mariner’s Temple Baptist Church, and its choir and men’s fellowship club.  He was most proud of being a member of the committee that selected the first woman to serve as a senior pastor an American Baptist Church. His work in community advocacy included his Board of Director work with his co-op Gouverneur Gardens. 

Mr. Mortimer leaves behind stories of his incredible journey, and spirit to his wife, Doris; his son James ; daughter Chantese (Jabron); and his grandchildren, James Mortimer IV, Bianca Marcelino, Jalin Sinclair, and Tyler Mortimer. His sisters and brothers who predeceased him were: Delores Brown, Freida Smith, Patricia Jones, Rhoda Barnes, and Jeffrey Barnes. His living siblings are Carolyn Moyer, Lee Jones, Marilyn Jones, Wanda Jones, Lynette Jones, Denise Barnes, and Melvin Barnes. To say he will be missed, doesn’t come close to the size of the void that has been created in the lives of his vast extended family but … When James “Big Jim” Mortimer, a leader in the grassroots community, passed, he left a gift behind for all of us. The similarities between Mr. James Mortimer’s story of his journey and author Willard Motley’s 1960 “Let No Man Write My Epitaph” end with the overall message of the book’s haunting title and overall theme: a lesson in how not to permit the sordid matters of life, inaction and silence, overpower dreams.

The similarities between Mr. James Mortimer’s story of his journey and author Willard Motley’s 1960 “Let No Man Write My Epitaph”  end with the overall message of the book’s haunting title and overall theme:  a lesson in how not to permit the sordid matters of life, inaction and silence, overpower dreams.

When Mortimer passed last Saturday, he left behind for his family HIS story written in his words. And I know that the man known to my siblings as “Big Jim,” a Believer, would want it known that his “epitaph” was forged by the pen-and ink of a Higher Power.

Mortimer’s story is a depiction of triumph in the face of adversity and he knew that an obituary item would not fully capture highlights of one Black man’s struggle in the racial world of the 50’s and 60’s, outside the spotlight of the Civil Rights Movement.

So in writing down his thoughts, honestly, he left a gift that details the journeys he took to affirm why he, his voice and his life mattered.  Next week, we present his story, written in his words.   (Bernice Elizabeth Green/Legacy Ventures)

 

The Shame of Black America Isn’t that Black Boys Can’t Read; The Shame Is that Black America Does Little to Help Them Learn to Read!

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The Shame of Black America Isn’t that Black Boys Can’t Read; The Shame Is that Black America Does Little to Help Them Learn to Read!

By Phillip Jackson, The Black Star Project

Nationally, about 10% of 8th-grade Black males read at or above a proficient level. In other words, on average, if you count any 100 young Black men, only 10 of them read at a proficient level.

In Detroit, only 3 out of 100 young Black men read at or above a proficient level. How is this acceptable to Black America? Where is the protest?  I (Phillip Jackson) have challenged Black people to tell me that these statistics are not accurate, but so far, no challenges. In fact, only silence!

How did we, Black people, allow this to occur on our watch? And what will we do about it?

Break the Cycle: Teach Black Boys to Read Well by the 4th Grade. Here’s How?

  1. Read to Black boys between birth and 10 years old.
  2. Emphasize the value of education–not sports, not entertainment, not games–when Black boys are 2 to 12 years old.
  3. Give Black boys books for their birthdays, holidays, and to reward them for jobs well done.
  4. Enroll Black boys in a Young Black Male Reading Academy at your church, park district, library or school.  (Call The Black Star Project at 773.285.9600 for assistance setting up your Black Male Reading Academy)
  5. Have Black boys between the ages of 5 and 15 years old read aloud to you for at least 30 minutes a week.
  6. Monitor and regulate the content of media your Black boys consume.
  7. Immerse Black boys in positive, education-based peer groups.
  8. Find a mentor or a mentoring group for your young Black men.
  9. Include culture, spirituality, history, economics, languages and critical thinking in the education of Black boys.
  10. Ask the White House to support The Black Star Plan to teach Black boys to read well by 4th grade.

 

WHAT’S GOING ON

Victoria Horsford
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By Victoria Horsford

POTUS DONALD TRUMP

 Like the rest of America, I have been swept away by an unusual destiny since January 20, 2017, when Donald Trump was sworn in as POTUS. Where the US republic is going is anyone’s guess. It is difficult to describe the national and global roller coaster ride whose course originates from the US White House. Some key words and ideas ,  referenced by the new Administration is “alternative facts; ” assertion that the Trump inaugural attracted the most viewers in US history; assertion that Trump really won the popular vote by 3-5 million votes.   Hillary Clinton’s 3 million popular vote majority was related to massive voter fraud, illegal voters, by undocumented immigrants! I looked with consternation at Trump’s inaugural address and wondered what dystopian American he was delineating. It is difficult processing Trump Era information.  Read “INDIVISIBLE: A Practical Guide For Resisting The Trump Agenda,” a paper written by former Congressional staffers. Visit indivisibleguide.com

POLITICAL NOTES

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 29: Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio attends “Koch” New York Premiere at MOMA on January 29, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump’s next order of business for NY is the ouster of Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo. It is rumored that those were his instructions to NYS GOP chief Edward Cox, who has a lot of work to do trying to re move two popular progressive Democrats in a state that is staunchly Democratic. Cox could not   facilitate a Trump victory in NYS in 2016.    Wonder if POTUS can have Cox expedite the ouster of his NYS Trump for President Chair, Carl Paladino, from the Buffalo School Board ! Paladino posted online racist remarks about President Barack Obama and mad cow disease, a few months ago. Paladino has not apologized……..and Cox said that no apology was necessary..

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 31: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo addresses the media while announcing a new bill with tougher penalties for texting while driving at a press conference at the Javits convention center on May 31, 2013 in New York City. The governor proposed additional penalties for young and new drivers ahead of the summer school break. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

The 2/14 Special Election for the Harlem City Council seat, vacated by Inez Dickens, is heating up; and debates are scheduled weekly until election day.   Endorsements are ubiquitous.   Larry Blackmon has been endorsed by Inez Dickens, NYS Assemblywoman, whose downstate inaugural celebration will be held on February 2 at the Harlem Hospital Pavilion. Senator Bill Perkins contends that he has Congressman Espaillat’s support. WGO cited Athena Moore’s supporters: Dale Brewer, Virginia Fields and Rev Calvin Butts. Campaign contours are becoming more Machiavellian.  The NY Post says that NYS Senator Perkins is fighting to insure that his name tops the 2/14 ballot of 13 City Council contestants.  Caroline Kennedy, recently retired US Ambassador to Japan, is poised to run for the US Senator from New York next year.

 

 

ARTS/CULTURE MEMO

Adger Cowans will debut PERSONAL VISION, a monograph of original photography spanning 40 years, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture,located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard, Harlem, on January 30 at 6:30 pm    Arts educator and photographer Danny Dawson joins Cowan on the journey of his prolific career as a fine arts photographer, a feature film photographer and a painter. Cowans’ works have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum Of Modern Art , the International Museum of   Photography, and the Studio Museum of Harlem.   Show is curated by Terence Jennings.

Adger Cowans

New Yorker Paul Linzy Johnson, journalist, filmmaker and winner of short documentary at the Sundance Festival, launched a $3000 kickstarter page through February 6, to fund a film short about “Race and Myth” in America. Visit kickstarter.com/9953775141. Johnson will moderate a panel on RACE at the Tribeca Barnes and Noble bookstore on February 9 at 6 pm.   Invited panelists include the following writers/journalists and their book titles…. David Reynolds, “John Brown Abolitionist,” Vicky Bynum, “A Free State Of Jones,” Harriet Washington, “ Medical Apartheid,” Abiodan Oyewole, and Leonard Pitts, “Grant Park.”

NEWSMAKERS

 Central Harlem’s Community Board 10 presented its first Community Service Award to Patricia Pates Eaton, founder of the Mt. Morris Park Community Improvement Association, a transformative organization.   The Award recognizes individuals for extraordinary acts of volunteerism and community empowerment.

 

AQUARIUS; Brandy, Adrian Council, Positive Community Magazine;   Dr. Angela Davis, Dr. Joyce Coppin   Mondesir,   Sanjeanetta Harris; Attorney Eric Holder; Michael Jordan; Alicia Keys;   Omarosa Manigault; Toni Morrison;   Chris Rock;  Faye Rodney, NY Carib News; Don Thomas, NY Beacon;   Danni Tyson, CB10;   Oprah; Gary Shapiro; Alice Walker; and Kerry Washington

RIP: Fine arts photographer Chuck Stewart, 70, died. Funeral arrangements follow.   On January 27: Viewing at 10 am and Funeral Service at 11 am at the Community Baptist Church , located at 224 First Street, Englewood, NJ.

RIP:   Harlem-based businessman/philanthropist Henry E. Greenup, 95, died.  Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,  he relocated to NY after serving in the Army, during WWII and discharged as a corporal. In NY he would cut his entrepreneurial teeth. He owned Henry’s Butcher Shop and Grocery on Lenox Avenue, Harlem’s first kosher meat market. He owned restaurants and nightclubs in Harlem and midtown Manhattan.    A Harlem real estate baron, for more than 40 years, his apartments were always affordable. A tireless community person, he partnered with Harlem Hospital in launching the WIC Baby Formula Program.  An indefatigable member of Abyssinian Baptist Church, he was a Mason and a member of 100 Black Men. His 1/24 NY Homegoing Service was held at Abyssinian   Baptist Church which was followed by a second line parade.    His 1/28 Homegoing service and burial will be held in Whigham, Georgia. The twice- married Greenup is survived by his daughter Valencia.

BUSINESS/CAREER

Laurie Cumbo

Brooklyn Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo hosts Community Exchange Series. HOW TO FORM A 501© (3) Organization, (non profit )    is the topic of discussion on January 28 from 12 pm – 3 pm at the cafeteria, Medgar Evers College, located at 1638 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn. Call Kera at 718 260.9191, X107 about the free discussion.

WANTED: The Harlem Business Alliance is looking for people, ages 18-24 to attend the next DISTRUPT HARLEM free computer coding workshop, for Harlem residents, preferred; ages 18-24; no GED required. Apply by February 3. Write to marketing@hbany.org or call 212.665.7010. Workshop from February to April.

 

 

Take advantage of Restaurant Week NYC, from January 23 to February 10. The package I includes handsomely discounted, three course meals… lunch is $25 and dinner is $38. Visit nycgo.com/restaurantweek.

 

 

 

 

A Harlem-based management consultant, Victoria Horsford can be reached at Victoria.horsford@gmail.com

 

Brooklyn History Matters – Weeksville & Magnolia

Editor, Our Time Press
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Brooklyn History Matters – Weeksville & Magnolia

Borough’s Early Progenitors of Village Matters

Saturday, January 28 marks the 40th Anniversary of an historic benefit event for two organizations founded by African-Americans in Brooklyn.

On that day in 1977, The Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford-Stuyvesant History, plus the Magnolia Tree Earth Center of Bedford-Stuyvesant were the beneficiaries of a fundraising concert by Pete Seeger, an internationally known concert artist.

Joan Maynard

A New York Times item announces the concert but little is known of how Joan Maynard, then-President of Weeksville, and Hattie Carthan, the founder of Magnolia Tree, arranged to have this happen.

But lessons have been learned about legacy and documentation from these two legendary women:  Weeksville, whose history originates from the 1830’s, and Magnolia, whose genesis is rooted in the 1950’s, are separately collecting data and stories related to their origins and incredible histories.

Tomorrow, Tia Powell of Weeksville and Magnolia Board members will accept for

Hattie Carthantheir respective archives — including flyers, correspondence and artworks from the Estate of Marcia Goldman –a former president of both organizations.

Our Time Press will keep you posted on public exhibitions and fundraising activities forged by these two historic organizations.

** Chad Cooper’s Black Lives Matter: All Lives Matter premieres
April  , 2017 at Medgar Evers College (www.thechadcoopercompany.com)
** 251st Anniversary of Bridge Street AWME Church occurs
February 25 (www.bridgestreetbrooklyn.org)

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