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ANALYSIS Rising Tensions Between Blacks And Jews In Bed-Stuy

Stephen Witt
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23

City Councilman-elect Robert Cornegy Says
open dialogue needed now

 By Stephen Witt

Beneath the recent statement and subsequent apology by City Council-elect Laurie Cumbo for her Facebook statements weaving the “knockout game” with fears among some of her black constituents that they are being pushed out of their neighborhoods by Jewish landlords and/or Jewish families looking to purchase homes is the simmering tensions behind blacks and Jews.

And while much of this discussion is centered on the neighborhood of Crown Heights, which saw black and Jewish riots two decades ago, the tension between the two groups is ramping up in Bedford-Stuyvesant as the large and growing Satmar Hasidic sect is stretching out from Williamsburg and moving into Bed-Stuy.

As Our Time Press exclusively reported in August, this included a turf war over the use of the park attached to the Marcy Public Houses, which was settled amicably.  The story also reported complaints from African-Americans of Jewish predatory behavior in approaching homeowners at all hours to sell their property and Hasidic men approaching women of color with offers of money for sexual services.

On the other side, it reported complaints from Hasidic Jews of young men of color congregating and posturing in an intimidating nature.

The most recent incident occurred on Dec. 1 along Flushing Avenue – the border of Williamsburg and Bed-Stuy – where Taj Patterson, a gay black college student, was allegedly beaten by a gang of Hasidic men who also used antigay slurs. At press time, no arrests have been made in the beating.

“I literally have to go and begin to have sit-downs with leaders in both communities,” said City Councilman-elect Robert Cornegy, who helped mediate and ease tensions between the  two groups over the use of the playground. “Tension is on the rise and we can either deal with this now very quickly and succinctly or wait and let something fester.  Right now, we’re looking at the Bed-Stuy equivalent of what led up to the riots in Crown Heights and without responsible reporting and responsibility among the leadership this could be the new face of bad race relations,” he added.

Cornegy called for the immediate arrest of the people that beat Patterson, and said it is his understanding that often arrests of Hasidic men take place with local rabbis who serve as intermediaries.

Cornegy said, unlike Cumbo, he tends to be a little more reserved in his public comments about the relationship between blacks and Jews because as leaders, “we have a responsibility to inspire and not just incite behaviors”.

Anybody involved in the “knockout” crimes or any crimes should be arrested and prosecuted period, he said.

At the same time, Cornegy said he was appalled at the many derogatory and inciting comments on the blogs and stories revolving around Cumbo’s statements which included her being called a “porch monkey” and that she should be “knocked out”.

“Her statements shouldn’t have inspired blatant racism. Even if she was wrong those responses didn’t match Laurie’s sentiments. Some of those comments were the worst I’ve seen since Mississippi during civil rights,” said Cornegy.

“The whole thing is very scary and people should take a pause right now before something else happens. We’ve recently lost Nelson Mandela – someone who stood firmly to improve race relations. Something is wrong with race relations in this country if stories like these have to be written. This is not 1963, it’s 2013,” he added.

Celebrating Weeksville

Editor, Our Time Press
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78

The quiet voice of Ms. Joan Maynard, the artist-archaeologist-preservationist who devoted nearly four decades before her death in 2006 to preserving four wood-frame cottages, would be raised in delight yesterday when The Weeksville Heritage Center celebrated the completion of its 19,000 square-foot Education and Cultural Arts Building on Bergen Street in Brooklyn with a ribbon cutting attended by students of the Weeksville School/P.S.243, community leaders, government officials and supporters.

Student reporters from The Weeksville School/PS 243 will provide their coverage of yesterday’s ribbon-cutting in next week’s OTP. Their efforts will launch a recurring series of Weeksville stories.

The center, located at the east side of Weeksville’s landscape, on Buffalo, St. Marks and Bergen corners, embraces an extraordinary history of triumph and perseverance in the form of four buildings and 1.5 acres of outdoor landscape (on the west), the remnants of the largest and perhaps oldest self-sufficient pre-Civil War village — formed nearly two hundreds years ago.

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the City Council and the Brooklyn Borough President’s office provided funding for the $34 million dollar project.

“Today, we celebrate not only the completion of this beautiful new building, but the fulfillment of a vision for Weeksville Heritage Center as a nationally-significant center for African American history and culture,” said Timothy Simons, chair of the Weeksville board of directors.

“Weeksville is a unique and essential part of the story of the African Diaspora, and this new facility will not only preserve that history, but also activate it,” Mr. Simons’ remarks reminded some of us of the pennies collected by children 45 years ago to keep Weeksville moving along to its renaissance of today.

According to the press release, the “light-filled building features state of the art exhibition, performance and educational facilities. The main lobby leads to a 700-square foot gallery, a lecture and performance space for 200 visitors, classrooms for community education and a resource center for visiting scholars. Administrative offices are to be located on the second floor, and the cellar will include archival storage space as well as a studio for recording oral histories.”

Pamela Green, WHC’s former executive director, says in the press release: “inspired by Joan Maynard and the founders of Weeksville, we knew that we had to not only preserve this historical treasure, but continue to tell the story of the African American experience and write entirely new chapters with the help of the next generation.”

It was Maynard who saw the value in the remnants of the 19th century thriving Brooklyn settlement of early African Americans. She helped launch the serious effort to transform them into a museum for public education. The Weeksville Society, which Ms. Maynard directed, continuous to mount exhibits, and offer educational programs and tours. In celebration of this 175th anniversary year of the founding of Weeksville by James Weeks, a free African American from Virginia, Our Time Press will run recurring Weeksville-legacy stories from our archives ongoing through the official opening of the Center to the public in Spring 2014.

Students of The Weeksville School/P.S. 243, enlisted on the site with the permission of Principal Karen Hambright-Glover as student field reporters for Our Time Press, will launch the series. They will report on yesterday’s events in next week’s paper.

Of note: After the abolition of slavery in New York State in 1827, James Weeks, a free African American from Virginia, purchased land in the area now known as Bedford Stuyvesant. By mid-century the area was officially known as “Weeksville.” Institutions anchored the residential settlement, too, such as the Bethel Tabernacle AME Church, the Berean Missionary Baptist Church, and “Colored School #2 of Weeksville.” The four cottages at 1698-1708 Bergen Street are New York City landmarks and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information and to donate to Weeksville: www.weeksvillesociety.org

Nelson Mandela’s Legacy

Aminisha Black
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0

During the past week, Nelson Mandela’s death created the context for citizens of the world to appraise the life and contribution Mandela made to his homeland and mankind in spite of having spent 27 years imprisoned before being released in 1990.   A quote by Mandela, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived.  It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead”.

During Black History Month 1998, seven journalists from African-American media toured South Africa as the guests of the South African Tourism Board (SATOUR).  Three were from New York City – Rene Jon-Sandy (Black Diaspora Magazine); Elinor Tatum (Amsterdam News); Aminisha Black (Daily Challenge).  Visiting Robben Island and the cell where Mandela existed and continued his mission was an enlightening event – a greater appreciation for this man who endured so much and yet practiced respect and fairness for all.  In one of the articles covering the trip I wrote, “Nelson Mandela’s Legacy: Peace with Progress”.

Next year after one-term President Nelson Mandela will turn the reins over to his successor who will carry the politics of inclusion forward.  Moving the agenda forward requires a person with a moral commitment comparable to that of Nelson Mandela.  If a Help Wanted ad were to be written, it would probably read like this:  Wanted: Someone to replace a man who committed his life for the pursuit of justice for his people; who spent 27 years in prison because of that commitment; used that time to educate others; who established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate atrocities committed during the apartheid era to allow for healing; who was able to take some difficult but principled stands; who loves people and according to Sheila Sisulu, South African Consul General, will talk to anyone if they are promoting programs for children; who had the courage to follow his conscience and fight for what he believed to be right and the strength to forgive. (Daily Challenge 4/16/98)

Mandela inspired the masses for different reasons but if followed, his example ultimately leads to a humane world that works for everyone with no one left out.   Parents, family, teachers and community we owe the children a world that nurtures their innate intelligences and allows each and everyone to contribute.   Maulana Karenga has given us the Principles of Kwanzaa.  If there’s any question or doubt that our children need change….compare some “Then and Now’s”.

When we were colored – Giving birth was “as natural as breathing air”.  Infants arrived into the loving and trusted hands of a midwife.

Now – Babies now make their entrance in sterile settings attended by impersonal hospital staff.

Then – If its biological parents couldn’t raise a child, the child would live with another family member and be nurtured by the entire clan.

Now – There are thousands of children in the foster care system.  Although some may be placed in kinship homes, the money, the intrusion of caseworkers and the bureaucracy stresses the relationships.

Then – Children grew up being taught the ABCs of survival in a racist society from caring elders who kept protective, watchful eyes over them.

Now – Children grow up isolated from adults, encountering and reacting to racism and violent attacks with each other – too often losing the battles and their lives.

Then – In segregated, separate and unequal schools committed principals and teachers, having the respect of parents, encouraged and inspired their students to excel, in spite of meager resources.

Now – Labor unions negotiate for higher salaries and education is really big business.  However, excessive budgets do not automatically yield higher academic achievement, especially for our children.

Then – Teachers, students and parents lived in the same community – extending their relationships beyond the school.

Now – Teachers are employees of school districts and residency is not considered.  After school, teachers and students depart to different worlds and “parent involvement” is a problem.

Then – Children spent much of their time working alongside elders; the boys learning to repair cars, build, cut hair and other trades; girls learning to cook, bake, sew,  among other crafts. Children belonged to communities that had a vested interest in their achieving.

Now – Adults are afraid of young people and young people often disrespect elders. There is a serious breakdown in the transmission of values to the younger generation.

Parents, grandparents and others who interact with children are invited to join a conversation for honoring the life of Nelson Mandela by applying the practices that brought change to South Africa.  Comments, questions welcomed at parentsnotebook@yahoo.com.

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Highly Touted Gifted & Talented Program In Bed-Stuy Has Two Grades Cut

Stephen Witt
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20

City Councilman-elect Robert Cornegy holds summit with P.S. 3 Principal Beecher

By Stephen Witt

A Bedford-Stuyvesant public school is in danger of losing its highly touted Gifted & Talented program after its pipeline grades were dismantled, and the Department of Education (DOE) is steering its G &T students to programs in Prospect Heights and Park Slope.

P.S. 3, the Bedford Village School, on Jefferson Avenue between Franklin and Bedford Avenues, has had a G&T program for kindergarten through 5th grade for more than two decades. Two years ago, the DOE’s Portfolio Planning and Gifted and Talented Offices closed the school’s kindergarten G&T class, and this school year it closed the 1st grade G&T class.

P.S. 3 Principal Kristina Beecher said she has never been approached by anyone in either office or the DOE regarding this and was never given a reason for the closure of these classes.

Beecher said also unbeknownst to her, the Gifted and Talented Office informed parents of the school’s students who pass the 90% threshold of the G&T test that P.S. 3 is not one of the options for registering their child in a G&T class.  They are instead given the option to register their child at P.S. 9 (Prospect Heights) or P.S. 282 (Park Slope), despite the fact that they live in Bed-Stuy and are zoned for P.S. 3.

“I found out about this from a parent that wanted to keep her child in the program here,” said Beecher, adding not having a kindergarten and first grade G&T class will negatively impact enrollment and jeopardize next year’s second-grade G&T class.

The cuts to P.S. 3’s G&T program comes three weeks after Our Time Press exclusively reported that School District 16, which covers a large part of Bed-Stuy, was the only district in Brooklyn without a G & T program.

P.S. 3 is located in School District 13. Additionally, P.S. 93, also in District 13, has a G&T program for kindergarten and first grade.

Borough-wide, there are 34 Gifted and Talented programs at schools in every Brooklyn district except District 16. District 20 schools, which are mainly made up of Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, have 10 or slightly less than a third of the borough’s Gifted and Talented programs.

This includes the Brooklyn School of Inquiry, which is one of the city’s five magnet Gifted and Talented schools drawing children from across the borough and city. Seventy-five percent of the students attending this school are white and 13 percent Asian, six percent are black and six percent are Hispanic.

DOE spokesperson Harry Hartfield said the reason Bed-Stuy didn’t have many Gifted and Talented programs was because they lacked the students that could pass the test.

But Beecher’s current enrollment in G&T classes are full, and she maintains even more can be done to find G&T children in the community with outreach, transparency and accountability on the DOE’s part.

“In order to make the process for G & T fair, we should have a registration process where it’s publicly known, and schools in the community are aware of the benchmark so that a parent in Bed-Stuy has some kind of information and leverage to get to this program,” she said.

Beecher also suggested the DOE office should provide the schools and parents data regarding the number of students within the district that pass the G&T tests.

City Councilman-elect Robert Cornegy, who is making it a priority to put G&T programs back in District 16, said he visited P.S. 3 expecting to be pleased with the classes only to learn the DOE is trying to gut them.

“I’m not one given to conspiracy theories, but this appears insidious,” he said. “I’d thought I’d be happy to see a Gifted & Talented program here, but there’s an attempt to disintegrate the program based on the parents choice for this school in this district.”

Cornegy said he’s already had preliminary talks with Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio, and that  he is formulating concrete steps to present to both the City Council and the mayor regarding both the equitable placement of G&T programs and outreach to parents concerning when and where G&T placement tests are held.

Tawana Brawley Hosted At United African Movement

Mary Alice Miller
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6

By Mary Alice Miller

During the weekend of Thanksgiving in 1987, Tawana Brawley, a 15-year-old high school student, got off a bus in Wappingers Falls and began walking home. She says she was forced into a car and over the course of four days she was raped and physically abused. Tawana was found naked and unconscious. She was taken to a Poughkeepsie, NY hospital where a rape kit was performed. The rape kit was transferred to the custody of a local police officer and was never seen again. Hours after Tawana was taken to the hospital, police officer Harry Crist – who Tawana had identified as one of her attackers — was found dead of a gunshot wound. No gun was ever found. Local prosecutors recused themselves.  Robert Abrams was appointed special prosecutor then promptly declared Crist’s death a suicide and Tawana’s rape a hoax. Ten years later at the defamation lawsuit, the medical examiner who had conducted Crist’s autopsy publicly declared his death a homicide. Crist’s murder has never been thoroughly investigated and his murderer never found. No one has been prosecuted for Tawana’s rape and kidnapping.

It has been an eventful year for Tawana Brawley. Earlier this year, a Virginia court began deducting $300 every two weeks from Tawana to transfer to Steven Pagones, one of her alleged rapists. By early summer, Alton Maddox led a team of lawyers and a busload of supporters to Virginia to challenge the deductions. Pagones’ attorneys did not show up and the case was marked dismissed. Tawana lost her job.

As Tawana entered the United African Movement last Wednesday with her father Ralph and brother Tyice, she was greeted by a standing ovation.

On his way to host the Brawley family at UAM, Maddox said he got emotional… and cried. Thanking the Creator for allowing him to see the day Tawana would return to UAM Maddox declared, “We have not lost. We became the worst nightmare in Robert Abrams’ life. Everybody was afraid to sue Tawana. Remember, she was never served in any court.”   Maddox added, “We have already won this case. We won this fight over and over again. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help her pocketbook. Everything they told you about this case was wrong.”

Maddox told of how he went to Virginia to inspect the records supporting the garnishment of Tawana’s wages and found no records. “Not one record was produced when they took Tawana’s pay,” said Maddox. Meanwhile, court records of Tawana’s situation were “in disarray in New York.” Maddox went on to describe a dual system of justice with two sets of books: the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution applies to whites; the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 applies to Negroes. Maddox further explained that CPLR 5403 states the Full Faith and Credit Clause cannot be enforced if the person does not have their day in court, therefore, a foreign judgment from another state (New York to Virginia) cannot be enforced.

The Surry, Virginia Court marked the case “Dismissed”. “I thought that was appropriate because it should have been dismissed. Pagones’ lawyers did not show up. What we found out was dismissed didn’t mean what we thought it meant,” said Maddox. “It was dismissed alright. It was dismissed in Pagones’ favor… who had defaulted.”

Maddox told of his next steps before a Virginia judiciary committee “because my claim is that when these lawyers came to Virginia with a default judgment that was not signed by [Judge] Hickman… it was not signed by a judge but by a clerk, that was a false instrument. It is a crime to file a false instrument. That is what this is about,” Maddox said. “They are not winning on facts. They are not winning on law. They are winning on fear and stupidity.”

As usual, Maddox gave a history lesson on the Compromise of 1877, Dred Scott and the Sedition Act of 1798, then laid them as the foundation for the continuing legal abuse of Tawana.

Maddox then spoke about the grand jury transcript regarding Tawana’s rape. “There is no such thing as a grand jury transcript being sealed. This case has made a lot of history. One of the things this case did was it was the first time in the history of New York that the grand jury was chosen publicly. What that means is that the claim now that the grand jury minutes is sealed is impossible to make when the grand jury proceedings were public. One of our conditions to Abrams was that the grand jury not be secret and that the selection of the jurors not be secret. That was the first time in New York jurisprudence that that has ever happened. The grand jury proceedings belong to the public,” said Maddox. “There is no reason for them to be sealed or secret. We are not talking about a grand jury where only lay people come and testify. The only persons who testified in the grand jury were law enforcement agents.”

(Our Time Press recently asked NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman if his office would release Tawana Brawley’s grand jury transcript. “It is illegal to release grand jury transcripts,” said Schneiderman. “It is permanently sealed.”)

Maddox said he asked Rev. Al Sharpton and C. Vernon Mason to come to UAM and greet Tawana. Neither showed up, even though they (and others) promised on Dec. 12, 1987 to stand with Tawana the rest of her life.

Addressing Tawana directly Maddox said, “The powers that be – despite what we have done in the courtroom and out – continue to want to defame your name. That is not because we lost, but because they never won.”

To the UAM audience Maddox said, “We all have mothers, sisters, aunts. We love them all and we want them to be in a safe environment. What makes us strong is the caring we have for each other.” He added, “We want them to know this is a continuing struggle.”

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