New York Amsterdam News August 24, 2023

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INDEX

Arts & Entertainment Page 17

» Astro Page 20

» Jazz Page 24

» Theater Page 23

Caribbean Update Page 14

Classified Page 31

Editorial/Opinion Pages 12,13

Education Page 28

Go with the Flo Page 8

Health ...............................................Page 16

In the Classroom Page 26

Nightlife Page 9

Religion & Spirituality Page 30

Sports Page 40

Union Matters Page 10

International News

Afro-spirituality and rebellion in the Caribbean

By JESÚS CHUCHO GARCIA

Special to the AmNews

Translated by KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

There is always a spirituality that accompanies us in the spaces we pass through in our daily lives and as we move toward other dimensions. Africa’s spiritual contributions to our continental and Caribbean diversity are the result of older, faith-driven rebellions that played out over several centuries. Today, thanks to Africa’s spiritual traditions, millions of African descendants––and other ethnic groups––are sheltered in religious practices they can use as the foundation to rebuild our humanity.

Vodun as a liberating energy

Haiti served as the largest enslaving engine of French colonialism in the Caribbean. To drive this productive machinery based on sugar cane, the French captured, kidnapped, and enslaved hundreds of thousands of human beings from Africa’s Fon civilization, the creators of Vodun.

Living in subhuman conditions under the harsh conditions of forced and continuous labor, the enslaved Africans agreed, on Aug. 14, 1791, in a Caïman forest ceremony, to start one of the most important rebellions of the African diaspora in the American hemisphere.

According to historians, the rebellion began with a prayer in the Fon language led by a mambo, or Vodun priestess, known as Cécile Fatiman. The ceremony’s prayer went like this: “The Vodun that has made the sun shine on us from on high, that shakes the sea, that makes the storm roar... listen to me, you, the good Vodun who is hidden among the clouds. There good Vodun beholds us and sees all that the whites do. The god of the whites commands crime, our Vodun requests

The religious traditions of Mali's Dogon people traveled, involuntarily, to the Americas (Jesús Chucho García photo)

good deeds. Our Vodun will lead our arms and give us resistance. Let us destroy the image of the god of the whites who thirsts for our tears...let us hear in ourselves the call of freedom.”

It was with these words of that Vodun priestess that all the enslaved men and women of SaintDomingue (former name of Haiti) rose up against the enslaving system. The island was burned from north to south, from east to west, until freedom was achieved on Jan. 1, 1804. That was the first triumphant African religious rebellion in the Western world where Vodun, the religion practiced by 90% of the population, was used.

The year 2024 will mark the 220th anniversary of Haiti’s independence, which was the result of that 13-year liberation battle (1791–1804), crowned by General Dessalines, who signed the independence declaration over the skull of a white French soldier.

For the first time in contemporary history, marriages were made official in the manner of Haitian Vodun. (Incidentally, the city of Wydah, Republic of Benin, erected a statue in homage to Toussaint L’Ouverture, leader of the Haitian rebellion, in 1994.)

Yoruba rebellion

The Yorubas, a civilization in the western part

Zimbabwe elections 2023: a democracy won, not given

By OMOWALE CLAY Special to the AmNews

As Zimbabweans once again go to the polls to elect their president and legislative leaders, the Western press and governments are already declaring the winners and losers, a judgment based on the failure of over 20 years of Western economic sanctions to tear the Zimbabwean people from their liberation party—the Zimbabwe African National Union (PF).

H.E. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seeking his second term and is confident that his first five years of leadership have brought Zimbabwe back to a productive path of devel-

opment in spite of the cruel impact of sanctions. Under Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has seen growth in food security, industrialization, agriculture, education, transportation, and energy production. A more in-depth analysis will follow after the 2023 elections are held.

of Nigeria, was one of the ethnic groups abducted and enslaved in large numbers at the end of the 18th century and well until the end of the 19th century, when slavery was finally abolished in Cuba (1886) and Brazil (1888). Yorubas had and have one of the most complex and complete religious orders in sub-Saharan Africa.

In the Americas, Yoruba men and women led several rebellions, such as the Afro Cuban rebellion that took place in Havana, Cuba, in 1812. According to Afro Cuban historian Pedro Deschamps Chapeaux, the epicenter of this rebellion was the Cabildo Shangó Teddún, presided over by the Yoruba known by the Catholic name of José Antonio Aponte––a son of Shango.

In 1835, Havana was again shaken by a Lucumie (Yoruba) uprising led by Hermenegildo Jáuregui, in which Juan Nepomuceno Prieto, who was foreman of the cabildo, was involved. In both of these emblematic rebellions, the spiritual center was the Yoruba religion, which was grouped and organized through cabildos that were basically Ilé Ocha.

The Abakuá Secret Society

Men and women from the Efik-Efok civilization entered Cuba and other places in the Americas as Carabali. In their place of origin, the Carabali formed secret societies that they reproduced in Cuba; these became known as the Abakuá Secret Society. They were organized in the most important ports of Cuba, such as the ports of Havana and Matanzas, where they contributed to the liberation process of Cuba. Through their Abakuá cabildos, organized from the 19th century onward, they reproduced the great god called Abasí in their religious structure.

Afro-spiritual re-reading

The time has come to reassess the religious contributions of Africans and their descendants to the liberation movements of our continent and the Caribbean islands. The efforts made by our ancestors through religious maroonage have today been projected in various religious manifestations, such as the Rule of Ocha (Cuba), Shango Cult (Trinidad and Tobago), Candomblé (Brazil), Regla Kongo (Cuba), Candomblé Angola and Umbanda (Brazil), Vudu (Haiti, New Orleans, and Tobago), and Abakuá (Cuba), among other religious expressions.

With every day that passes, African spirituality is gaining more strength in different corners of the American hemisphere.

(Omowale Clay photo)

Brooks-Powers hearing focuses on equity and congestion pricing in NYC

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

New York City subway and bus fares were raised by 15 cents, from $2.75 to $2.90, this weekend and prices for drivers could also go up by April 2024 when the state implements congestion pricing and tolls in midtown and lower Manhattan, a move that local city officials are understandably wary of.

Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, who chairs the City Council’s Transportation Committee, held an oversight hearing with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on August 17 to discuss how the city can prevent unintended hardships for vulnerable communities whose members might live in

transit deserts and ensure an equitable rollout of congestion pricing.

“Congestion pricing can’t solely be about revenue being generated. It has to also be about how communities that are marginalized are going to be taken into account,” said Brooks-Powers.

Essentially, the city will set up smaller versions of no-stop E-ZPass tolling equipment over streets and highways—the first of its kind in the U.S. Drivers will be charged a toll to enter Manhattan below 60th Street with some credits, discounts, and exemptions for residents in that zone making less than $60,000, emergency vehicles and those transporting people with disabilities, and frequent low-income drivers.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams testified to his support of congestion pricing as a tool to help everyday commuters

without access to cars, but urged leadership to consider public concerns as well as those held by already cost-burdened medallion taxi, Uber, and Lyft drivers. He said that ride-share companies should carry the fees, not drivers or passengers.

“It is my hope that they follow through to mitigate negative impacts to low-income, working-class New Yorkers,” said Williams.

Williams added that Black and brown neighborhoods in the South Bronx, Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and Harlem that experience high levels of air and traffic pollution should not have to suffer with additional drivers attempting to avoid tolls.

The coming of congestion pricing, first proposed by former Mayor Mike Bloomberg in April 2007 as a way to reduce traffic, produce cleaner air, and fund transit

See HEARING on page 25

BX Kingsbridge Armory gets $200M for redevelopment

By ARIAMA C. LONG

MoCADA KIDflix Film Fest Of Bed Stuy

MoCADA’s KIDflix Film Fest of Bed-Stuy, the longest-running kids’ film festival in Brooklyn, is back for its 23rd season! This annual, interactive summer program offers kids and their families access to a free outdoor film screening every Friday night in the month of August. MoCADA’s KIDflix is made possible thanks to the African Film Festival, NYC Coalition for Theaters of Color, and the Department of Youth and Community Development.

The festival, which features free snacks from MoCADA and ice cream from Creme & Cocoa Creamery, runs through September 1, 2023:

Upcoming showings are:

“Crooklyn” Friday, Aug. 25 at Lincoln Terrace Park, E. New York Ave., 7-10 p.m. and “The Wiz” (screening + costume party), Friday, Sept. 1 at Herbert Von King Park, 670 Lafayette Ave., 7-10 p.m. There will be prizes for the top 5 costumes.

Amsterdam

News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced their combined $200 million investment into the redevelopment for the historic and long-underutilized Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx. The push to reimagine the space has been a community-led project for decades that lacked funding.

The Kingsbridge Armory first opened back in 1917 for military use until 1994. The city has owned the landmarked building since 1996. It has recently been used as a temporary food distribution center during the COVID-19 pandemic and as storage for victims of the Twin Park North fire.

“The Kingsbridge Armory is a tremendous public asset that is not serving the

community. This project has the potential to unlock billions in economic impact for the city while creating over 1,800 good jobs right here in the Bronx,” said Adams. “And after sitting down with more than 4,000 Bronxites over the past nine months, we are proud to deliver their vision for the armory’s next chapter: a source for good union jobs and a beacon of opportunity for the Bronx.”

“After years of dwelling on the history of the Kingsbridge Armory, we are finally looking ahead to its remarkable future,” said Hochul in a statement.

The city will begin requests for proposals (RFP) next month for the redevelopment with an aim at creating over 1,800 jobs, including 1,100 construction jobs, and up to $10 billion in economic impact to the Bronx based on initial estimates.

The community effort to redevelop Kingsbridge Armory actually goes

back nearly three decades, mostly led by a grassroots organization called the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC). NWBCCC was established in 1974, and since 1994, has rallied local residents, small businesses, and faith and labor institutions to fight for the Armory. The group previously prepared two RFPs for the armory that failed to pass in City Council or receive funding. They managed to secure $31 million in renovations to save the building from further deterioration and organized against the site becoming a mall under former Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

In the last nine-months, NWBCCC, along with Councilmember Pierina Sanchez and others, have guided the community engagement efforts to get feedback on what residents want to see the armory become. The plan they came

See ARMORY on page 25

HEAT, HEAP: Cleare’s bill helps seniors stay cool this Senior Day

By ARIAMA C. LONG

Wells Fargo Homebuyer Access grants

Wells Fargo has launched a new homeownership down payment program designed to help buyers purchase homes in majority Black census tracts. The Homebuyer Access grant offers $10,000 toward home down payments in eight metro areas. In the northeast area, grants are available in eight metropolitan areas, composed of the following cities: New York City; Philadelphia, Camden, Newark, and Jersey City, NJ; Wilmington, De; Washington, DC, Arlington and Alexandria, Va; and the Maryland cities of Baltimore, Columbia, and Towson.

Amsterdam

News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Senator Cordell Cleare kicked off her second annual Senior Day during Harlem Week, an event she initiated more than 20 years ago. The entertaining event stands as a testament to improving the quality of life for seniors and fostering community connections while tackling one of the challenges the city’s seniors face: staying cool. Sustainable “beat the heat” legislation has been a priority for Cleare. In response to the depletion of state program funds for Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) during this year’s hottest month, Cleare has introduced a new bill, Senate Bill 7629, aimed at helping more seniors get access to Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Assistance benefits and fully funding the

program. At the moment, there is also a medical eligibility requirement for seniors that Cleare is advocating be removed.

As of 2021, NYU Furman Center statistics indicated that 13.6% of Central Harlem’s population is age 65 or older.

Cleare, who chairs the State Senate Aging Committee, held the Senior Day event in front of the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building on 125th Street. The plaza was packed with jubilant Harlem seniors. They honored the birth of hip hop and spoke about the importance of homeownership. Cleare bestowed a proclamation on 102-year-old Geri Fowler Mckee.

Mckee, who is white, was 8 years old when she moved to Harlem. She lived at 409 Edgecombe Avenue, the historic residence of Harlem greats like W.E.B. and Shirley Du Bois, painter Aaron Douglas, justice Thurgood Marshall and activist Walter White. Mckee said that in her

youth, she worked for an anti-Nazi league that also infiltrated sectors of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group in the U.S., to learn about and thwart cross burnings and other acts of terror committed against the Black community.

“Laughing all through the problems, dancing, and playing good music,” said Mckee, is her secret to staying young.

“Black music.”

The seniors in attendance enjoyed free food, live music, activities, and educational programming under tents to get out of the sun.

According to Amsterdam News research about the impacts of heat islands, Black neighborhoods like Harlem, Hunts Point, and East Flatbush have historically not been invested in. In 2021, “Harlem was nearly 10 degrees hotter than other neighborhoods surrounding Central

See BILL on page 27

“Homeownership is central to building wealth but has been out of reach for many minority families as a result of systemic inequalities in housing and finance,” said Kevin Reen, head of Wells Fargo Home Lending. “One of the biggest barriers to achieving homeownership is coming up with the down payment. We’re proud to make this dream a reality for families through our new $10,000 Homebuyer Access grant.”

The Homebuyer Access grant is part of the company’s Special Purpose Credit Program.

Potential homebuyers looking to purchase a home in any of the eight metropolitan areas and those who currently live in those areas can find out more about the program, including how to contact a local Wells Fargo Home Lending office in their area at https://wellsfargo.com/homegrant or they can call 866-327-6414.

Back to School Supplies

Join the anti-poverty non-profit Expecting Relief on Friday, Aug. 25th, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 2832 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207, for a school supply distribution! Your child must be present to receive school supplies.

See METRO NEWS on page 25

Mercenary leader possibly among those killed in plane crash in Russia

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

It was widely speculated that the days of Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin were numbered after an aborted coup in June. Now there’s speculation that he may be among those killed on a plane that crashed in Kuzhenkino, Russia.

At presstime, the most extensive reportage of the crash comes from Reuters via the BBC, where footage shows the plane, which Prigozhin owns, spiraling from the sky after an apparent explosion. According to early reports, Prigozhin’s name is on the passenger list, although there’s no conclusive evidence that he was actu -

ally on the plane.

Thus far, a Russian news agency reports that four bodies have been taken from the fiery crash. According to the passenger list, 10 were aboard the plane, which was en route from Moscow and possibly St. Petersburg, a frequent pattern of flight.

None of the social media accounts believed to be linked to Prigozhin have so far made any claims about whether he is dead or alive. Some are saying that another business jet owned by him was also in the air at the time of the crash, also having departed Moscow.

Several experts on Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, suggested that Prigozhin, 62, who was allied

Stories behind Grieving Families Act

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

A wrongful death in the Black and brown community is a tragedy that creates a ripple effect, affecting loved ones and the community at large. The Grieving Families Act would reform New York’s 200-year-old discriminatory tort laws to allow financial compensation for emotional grief and anguish in wrongful death cases.

Bruce McIntyre, 32, is just one of the family members dedicated to getting this bill passed by Governor Kathy Hochul. He is the founder of SaveARose Foundation and was featured in the award-winning documentary “Aftershock” on Hulu after Amber Rose Isaac, his 26-year-old fiancée and the mother of his son, inex-

plicably died after an emergency C-section was performed on her.

“Amber was a phenomenal woman— that’s the best way to describe her. She was someone her peers looked up to. Very intelligent and elegant,” said McIntyre.

Isaac wanted to be an art therapist for youth, he said, and was an educator in Harlem. She found out she was pregnant on September 27, 2019. She complained about months of neglect during her pregnancy at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, which coincided with the beginnings of the COVID pandemic. By December 2019, her blood platelet levels were dropping drastically enough to warrant her being considered a highrisk pregnancy.

McIntyre said that Isaac’s obstetriciangynecologist (ob-gyn) was very off-put-

with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, broke with Putin on a number of former agreements, including pay and military strategy. Many conclude that those issues precipitated the coup attempt that was halted once the forces and its leaders realized they would be slaughtered.

CNN, which showed footage of the plane falling from the sky, said it could confirm the authenticity of the video, but RIA Novosti claimed it was the moment that an Embraer jet fell from the sky in the Tver region of Russia. President Biden, back in the White House after a visit to Hawaii, has been briefed about the incident but had released no comments at presstime for this issue.

Newark People’s Assembly meeting with the mayor

The Newark People’s Assembly, responsible for “bridging the gap between the community and City Hall,” will hold a community meeting to discuss public safety on Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m. at Vailsburg Assembly of God, 962 S. Orange Ave., in Newark, New Jersey, 07106.

Residents are invited to come out and voice their concerns directly to the mayor. For more information, call the Newark People’s Assembly at 973-733-3265 or email newarkpeoplesassembly@ci.newark.nj.us.

1st Annual Memorial Service for Bernard Placide Jr.

The North New Jersey Black Caucus for Social Justice will hold its first annual memorial service for Bernard Placide Jr.

ting once Isaac became pregnant and treated her differently to the point of ignoring her pain. Her doctor did not follow up with tests or blood work, and continued to deny Isaac’s requests for in-person visits or time off from work.

“We weren’t getting clear answers from the ob-gyn. All of [Amber’s] concerns were always being taken lightly and brushed off. She was always being told that these were regular pregnancy symptoms,” said McIntyre.

Weary of the hospital and doctor, the frustrated family sought out a midwife instead. A midwife is a “trained health professional” who can deliver babies at birthing centers or at home. The tradition of Black midwifery in the U.S. is deeply rooted in systematic and racist practices, but is viewed as a viable and holistic solution to alarmingly

As migrant shelters expand, so does scarcity mentality

By TANDY LAU

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Emergency migrant facilities are popping up all over town as the city now records more than 100,000 asylum seekers arriving in the Big Apple since southern border officials began chartering buses last year. Roughly 58,000 people remain in New York City currently.

Randall’s Island returned as a location housing migrants this week after another shelter was shuttered following opposition last year. Another site housing up to 1,000 adult men was erected outside Queens’ Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, which drew resistance from residents and figures like Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa and Rep. George Santos (R-NY).

Earlier this week, Mayor Eric Adams announced state government approval for another facility at Floyd Bennett Field in the southeast corner of Brooklyn.

“Because we haven’t seen meaningful policy changes that would alter the course of this crisis, we’ve been forced to play an unsustainable game of ‘whacka-mole,’ opening new site after new site as asylum seekers continue to arrive by the thousands,” said Adams this past Monday. “We will continue to advocate for expedited work authorization for asylum seekers, a federal declaration of emergency, and a national and state decompression strategy, and we’re committed to making today’s announcement the beginning of a new era of enhanced partnership between our local, state, and federal governments.”

Sliwa — who lost to Adams in the most recent mayoral election — protested the Floyd Bennett Field plans this past Tuesday. He was arrested twice last week rallying under the slogan, “No Tents, No Migrants.” But even proponents of the city absorbing incoming asylum seeker populations are critical of the emergency shelters, albeit for different reasons. Grassroots activist Power Malu — who greets arriving migrants at the bus terminals — believes the city is better served helping unhoused New Yorkers move into permanent housing to free up shelter space for new arrivals. So while under-resourced residents are pitted against migrants in a scarcity mentality, Malu says the new arrivals should pressure officials to fix pre-existing housing inequalities.

Placide Jr. is the 22-year-old who was killed on Sept. 3, 2022, by members of the Englewood, New Jersey police department. The event will feature Rev. Al Sharpton as its keynote speaker and will honor three civil rights leaders: Rev. Herbert Daughtry, Global Ministries; Larry Hamm, People’s Organization for Progress; and Min. Baba Zayid, Newark Communities for Accountable Policing.

The event, which also features food and vendors, takes place Saturday, Sept. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Milton Votee Park Bandshell, Palisades Ave., Teaneck, N.J. For more information, contact Scott Jenkins at 732.773.7362 or Lori Goodman at 201.736.2209.

United Panther Movement sponsors U-Haul truck full of food in Trenton

Members of the United Panther Movement (UPM) brought a U-Haul truck full of food to Trenton, New Jersey, on Saturday, Aug. 14th. The event was an opportunity to serve poor people in New Jersey, UPM chair Zulu Sharod said.

“We were invited by the Black Lives Matter New Jersey (BLMNJ),” Sharod explained in a note to the AmNews. “They have no connections with the Global Network. They are a poor organization serving a poor, neglected, and often exploited constituency the Democrats or Republicans consider scum of the earth. Every year BLMNJ hosts this community event with no help from politicians or monopoly corporations. They are a donation-based organization.”

“The purpose of the United Panther Movement (UPM), its intent and impact was as an ancillary unit. Our job was to assist them. We did this as a way to build a foundational unity across the state of New Jersey with organic and grassroots organizations serving the people mind, body and soul. Panther Power!”

For more information about UPM, contact Zulu Sharod at zulusharod9@gmail.com

Joshua Brown presents Pushing Forward Realty

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Joshua Brown is the founder of Pushing Forward Realty, a Brooklyn-based real estate company committed to the economic advancement and financial education of Black and brown homeowners in New York City.

Brown believes that building more housing to address the city’s housing crisis is only part of the solution; the other is “access and affordability.” He emphasizes homeowners of color knowing their home’s worth, following housing trends, making a will, and learning about tax and water liens.

“Our company focuses on the education of the community through ongoing series workshops teaching estate planning as well as deed fraud to give homeowners the tools to protect themselves,” said Brown.

A Crown Heights native, Brown’s father is a retired pastor for Historic Stuyvesant Heights Christian Church in BedfordStuyvesant, and his mother is a retired teacher. He said he grew up watching his parents serve the community. The church owned his childhood home.

Out of college, about seven years ago, Brown decided to take the licensing test to become a real estate agent. He started out selling rental properties and homes and progressed into selling investment properties, commercial real estate, and church-

es last year. He said most of the real estate deals he has made have been with church members and others in the local community and also involve pooling money to purchase and renovate properties.

“In the Black community, a lot of people are house rich and cash poor, so that’s an instrument for people to withdraw money, equity, save them in times of crisis, if they need to get a loan, they use the house for collateral,” said Brown. “It means family, togetherness, and security.”

Brown serves as the vice chairperson of Community Board 4 in Bushwick, counseling the housing and land use committee. In this role, he loves to help facilitate street renamings of important figures in the community. “Our most recent naming was on Eldert and Knickerbocker Avenue here in Brooklyn for Ms. Mae Phillips,” he said.

At the moment, he’s working on a market rate $7 million project building with a focus on sustainable green infrastructure in Bed-Stuy. Pushing Forward Realty is a proud sponsor of the Bushwick Film Festival every year, supporting local filmmakers.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1

Joshua Brown, founder of Pushing Forward Realty. (Joshua Brown photo)

City considering landmarking enslaved African burial site in the Bronx

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

In its most recent session, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (NYC LPC) met to consider landmarking Joseph Rodman Drake Park’s burial ground for enslaved Africans. The park is in Hunts Point, Bronx.

“We are pleased with the news that the NYC LPC is considering the Bronx’s own Joseph Drake Park & Enslaved African Burial Ground for designation as a landmark,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson in a statement. “From the moment a group of students and administrators at P.S. 48 pieced together a tangible link between the park and our nation’s colonial history in the discovery of an enslaved African burial ground in 2013, it brought to life a critical piece of our past that should never be forgotten.”

According to LPC researchers, the site contains two Colonial-era cemeteries: one for the area’s early colonist families and another for African and Indigenous people enslaved by those families.

The neighborhood’s land was first settled by the Munsee-speaking Siwanoy native American tribe. They were violently displaced in 1663 by white settlers.

The beginnings of a town were established in 1720, and the park was built in 1910. It was named after American poet Joseph Rodman Drake, who was a “friend” of the enslaving families and was buried in the park. The Hunts Point neighborhood was colonized by the Hunt, Willett, and Leggett families.

“During the 1700s, New York’s enslaved population was the largest in the north. By 1750, half of the households had enslaved people who made up 20% of the population,” said the LPC.

It’s believed that about 16 unidentified enslaved individuals were buried in haphazardly marked graves at the cemetery on

the southside of the park, according to information found in the Hunt, Willett, and Leggett family wills. This cemetery lacked fences and was largely forgotten. By 1920, the accounts of the grave sites’ few headstones were either relocated, destroyed, or buried, said LPC.

“This discrepancy and treatment of the two burial grounds exemplifies the erasure of enslaved people from the city’s history and the

elevation of their enslavers,” said LPC. About 10 years ago, the Department of Education (DOE) ran a state-funded archeological study for students at the nearby P.S. 48 (the Joseph R. Drake School) that helped unearth the African and Native burial site. Reflecting the new research and community input, the park was renamed Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved African Burial Ground in 2021.

7th person held on Rikers dies this year

By TANDY LAU

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Donny Ubiera is the seventh person held on Rikers Island to die this year and the eighth to die in or immediately after NYC Department of Corrections (DOC) custody. The 33-year-old was found unresponsive in his cell at the George R. Vierno Center (GRVC) jail this past Tuesday, Aug. 22. He entered DOC custody this past March, and his death is currently under investigation as of press time, according to a department spokesperson.

The Legal Aid Society said Ubiera was a client of the practice and called for a “sweeping investigation” that would be fully transparent for the deceased’s next of kin.

“Close scrutiny should be paid to whether correctional staff and supervisors were actively engaged in supervising the housing area and conducting required tours,” wrote a Legal Aid spokesperson. “The federal monitor has found that staff and supervisors’ chronic failure to perform basic custodial duties has been a factor in many of the recent deaths. We await an immediate response from DOC on this tragic passing.”

Legal Aid also represented the plaintiffs who sued the city over jail conditions in the Nunez litigation, which ultimately led to ongoing reforms at Rikers. Earlier this month, the federal judge presiding over the case opened the door for a third-party receiver to take over Rikers and implement the improvements legally mandated in the consent decree. Such a move would

take control of the complex out of the city’s hands temporarily.

A Campaign to Close Rikers organizer—Freedom Agenda’s Ashley Conrad— recalled knowing Ubiera when they were youngsters living in Queens.

“Growing up together in Jackson Heights, I saw Donny suffering from mental health issues and being thrown in and out of jail most of his life,” said Conrad. “He deserved help and love. He deserved to grow old surrounded by people who cared about him, not on Rikers Island, a trash dump in the backyard of this city that failed him. This place is devastating families and taking people from everyone’s hood – my hood, your hood, it doesn’t care.”

Ubiera’s case was highly publicized last year by bail reform opponents after he

The LPC says it will hold a public hearing about the possible landmark soon.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

was released from custody shortly before he was arrested for two separate, alleged knife attacks.

Last month, three people died in Rikers, including two Black New Yorkers also held at the GRVC. Another Black New Yorker— Ricky Howell—also died in DOC custody in July but at a Manhattan hospital facility due to terminal cancer.

Rikers Island is legally scheduled to close by the end of August 2027, just roughly four years from now.

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1

Current photo of Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved African Burial Ground site in 2023 (New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) photo)

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Go with the Flo

FLO ANTHONY

TMZ reports that Rihanna and Harlem native A$AP Rocky are parents to a second child. Sources tell the outlet that the billionairess entertainer/businesswoman gave birth to another baby boy on August 3 in Los Angeles, California. Like his older brother RZA, the baby’s name starts with an “R,” just like his parents’ names, although the full name is unknown …

In other baby news, Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, welcomed their second baby girl, Adira River Ohanian. The proud mother and father announced the news on TikTok on August 21. “Welcome my beautiful angel,” Williams captioned a video of herself and Alexis with their 5-year-old daughter, Olympia, before presenting the new bundle of joy. Ohanian posted, “Welcome, Adira River Ohanian. I’m grateful to report our house is teeming with love: a happy & healthy newborn & healthy mama. Feeling grateful,” reported US Weekly ...

It has been awhile since anyone has seen Arnelle Simpson, O.J. Simpson’s daughter, in public or had knowledge of what she’s up to these days. On August 20, the gorgeous Howard University alumna was spotted at the Black Party Tour in Nashville, Tennessee, which features Jodeci, SWV, and Dru Hill. A source told Go with the Flo that Arnelle is the wardrobe stylist for Jodeci and has been on tour with them throughout the entire tour. Working as a stylist for artists and actresses is what she has always loved to do. Other celebs in that night’s audience included Jill Scott and Taj from SWV’s husband, former NFL star Eddie George, who is currently head football coach at Tennessee State University …

“CBS Mornings” host Gayle King jetted to Martha’s Vineyard recently, where she hung out with the bigwigs. Sources tell Go with the Flo on August 19, King watched the elite community’s annual fireworks with former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, along with DJ Nice, at the home of Obama’s former senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett ...

Black Panther Way unveiled in Harlem

By MAL’AKIY 17 ALLAH Special to the AmNews

The grassroots community came out this past Sunday afternoon to witness the unveiling of the Black Panther Way street co-naming sign on the northwest corner of 122nd St. and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. It’s near where their Harlem headquarters were once located, at 2026 Seventh Ave., and Brother Shep said it serves as a symbol of Black selfdetermination and resistance against systematic colonialism and oppression dating back to the Black Power era. Several dozen veteran activists were present.

Claudia Chester-Williams opened the event by welcoming attendees to “this historic moment”, and Brother Bullwhip poured libations for “the fallen comrades we lost in the streets and also in the prison system.” Then Chester-Williams named some Panthers who came through that branch, including Zayd Shakur, Safiya Bukhari, Afeni Shakur, and Assata Shakur.

Sister Jasmin named some who were political P.O.W.s who transitioned in captivity.

New York State Senator Cordell Cleare presented a proclamation, and read, “I am justly proud to honor all distinguished members of the Black Panther’s Harlem branch on this occasion.”

Current Harlem City Council member Kristin Richardson Jordan urged: “When we’re organizers, activists, advocates, you can get anyone in any seat to do anything, if you’re organized. With people power all things are possible and that is the true power.”

Bullwhip asked all Panthers and Young Lord members who were present to stand and be accounted for. Then the same for Panther cubs and grandcubs. One can only wonder if Tupac were still alive, if he would’ve attended?

Elected-activist, Charles Barron, called in and recalled living in the Lower East Side and frequently visiting the Harlem office after being recruited by Mark Holder and Tony Martin, and becoming politicized. He then said: “This is a glorious day, long overdue.”

Rosemary Nealy, the women’s liberator, recognized the Panther women: “We were at war and still. Standing tall on the shoulders of our ancestors and shared our love for our

brothers and with our children.”

The Panthers advocated their 10 Point Program and provided food, healthcare, education and other needs to their communities by implementing African socialism.

Jamal Joseph, the original Panther baby, said, “the government unleashed total terror against us. It was because of that class struggle that we were building a united front against fascism.”

The Young Lords’ Felipe Luciano urged, “The Black Panther’s philosophy is going to be popular again when people get tired of getting shot at without doing anything in return. We have to fight back. Defend yourself.”

Several former Political P.O.W.s attended, including Sundiata Acoli and Tarik Haskins.

Shaba Om said: “I learned so much about myself and my people because of the Panthers.”

Brother Bilal said, “There were no offices in NYC. We used to meet in LIU. It was the Bronx and Harlem office.”

Upon the sign being unveiled the crowd erupted in repeated chants of “All Power to the people!”

(Bill Moore photo)

Mary J. Blige hosts Harlem Day as community celebrates Harry Belafonte

Harlem Week ended with a superstar finale as Mary J. Blige introduced Wanmor, the new group on her label. There was a

magnificent tribute to Harry Belafonte, with a “Key to City” presented to his wife, Pamela Frank Belafonte, in his honor.

Pamela Frank Belafonte and Voza Rivera (Bill Moore photos)

Stephanie Mills

WanMor

Mary J Blige

Union Matters

At a time of soaring inequities, we must be race-conscious

elements of students’ resumes that colleges rely on when considering applicants.

Labor flexes solidarity: Protestors join SAGAFTRA, Writers Guild of America, East rally

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw affirmative action in higher education is a cruel, racist, and deeply harmful attack on people of color in this country. Affirmative action has, over four decades, made a significant positive impact on the diversity of college campuses, allowing many Black and Brown students to overcome systemic barriers which restrict access to higher education.

We’ve already witnessed the dreadful consequences of various states eliminating affirmative action programs in years’ past—case studies which paint a dark picture of what may now happen nationwide, absent a major overhaul of how colleges conduct their admissions process.

For example, immediately after California outlawed affirmative action through a voter referendum in 1996, the number of enrolled students from underrepresented groups plummeted by over 60% at UCLA and UC Berkeley, with a 12% overall reduction across the University of California system, according to University of California’s own study. Fewer students of color in prestigious universities meant fewer highearning job opportunities after graduation, and thus a longterm decline in wages after they entered the job market.

The notion promulgated by right-wing media and politicians that affirmative action somehow disadvantages white and Asian students over Black and Latino students is not based on reality. Black and Latino students already face major obstacles to accessing higher education—a reality which affirmative action was designed to help counteract. Students of color in lowincome school districts, for example, often lack access to high school AP courses and extracurricular opportunities—

The fact is, race-blind admissions do nothing to overcome racism—on the contrary, they reinforce existing inequities.

It is not just Black and Brown people who will suffer from the elimination of affirmative action programs in higher education. Take, for example, how it could impact our nation’s healthcare system, today in dire need of additional caregivers to rebuild a workforce depleted from three years of the pandemic.

In her dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor points out that “increasing the number of students from underrepresented backgrounds who join ‘the ranks of medical professionals’ improves ‘healthcare access and health outcomes in medically underserved communities.’” We cannot build a healthy society if we do not create a truly diverse and representative healthcare workforce able to provide equitable and culturally-competent healthcare. In a nation where only 5.7% of physicians are Black, it is essential that medical schools do more, not less, to actively recruit a more diverse student body.

The sad fact is, the attack on affirmative action is based on a strategy as old as history itself—those in power attempting to pit working people of different backgrounds against each other to preserve their own wealth and privilege, at the expense of everyone else. We must not fall into this trap. All working people have a mutual interest in joining together, across races and ethnicities, in common struggle to build a fair and just society. A corrupt Supreme Court must not deter us.

George Gresham is president of 1199SEIU, the nation’s largest healthcare union representing 450,000 members in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida, and the District of Columbia.

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

Hollywood’s unionized actors and writers rallied outside the Manhattan offices of Amazon and HBO on Tuesday, Aug. 22, with a few hundred of their unionized friends, in an effort to show their labor muscle.

Picketing members of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGA) completely covered two long blocks—between 31st and 33rd Streets on 10th Avenue—with posters, placards, horn-honking trucks, whistles, megaphones, drums, and enthusiasm. A serious and determined group, they chanted “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Corporate greed has got to go” and “Who’s got the power? We’ve got the power! What kind of power? Union power!” and marched while calling for attention to their ongoing strike.

SAG-AFTRA and WGA leaders had called on other unions to join them in this “National Day of Solidarity” in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In New York, several other unions were quick to join the rally. Mem-

bers of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC), New York State Nurses Association, American Federation of Musicians, LIUNA (Laborer’s International Union––Laborers Local 79), NewsGuild of New York, and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) were among the more prominent picketers taking part in the rally.

“This contract is about healthcare,” said SAG-AFTRA member Alphonso Walker Jr. “I want to be sure I’ll be able to take care of myself when I’m not at work. Most times as an actor, you’re not on set all the time—you have what I call survival jobs. Acting is not necessarily what everyone is able to do full time. People are trying to make a living at this, trying to support their families.”

WGA members began their strike on May 2 and SAG-AFTRA members stopped work on Hollywood projects on July 14. Negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have remained stalled over issues such as fair compensation for work that ends up on streaming video services like Netflix, Amazon, and HBO; how artificial intelli -

gence will be used; and sustainable health and retirement funds.

Jose Cruz, who is now retired but still a supporter of his LiUNA Laborers Local 79, said he knew it was important to come out and support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA workers after coming to New York in the 1980s and working here for decades. He said it’s important for union workers to show their strength in situations like this. “We have to show that we are fighting for the city,” he said. “If we want to keep it, help it to grow, we have to support unions, or we’ll be in very bad conditions.”

Alphonso Walker Jr. said the day of protest was energizing, but not working has been tough. “What I’ve been trying to do is stay my course, keep my faith, remembering who I am outside of what I do. Because it gets lonely and it gets confusing; you have to think about ‘how am I going to eat, how am I going to put food on my table?’

“Listen,” he added, “I’ve been praying a lot, I’ve been praying a lot! God is good; God is good all the time. And look, when they see us out here, all these numbers of all these people out here, they have to concede and give us what we need.”

GEORGE GRESHAM

Alphonso Walker Jr. poses with another picketer at SAG-AFTRA, WGA protest. (Karen Juanita Carrillo photos)

Protesters showed up with posters, placards, hornhonking trucks, whistles, megaphones, drums, and enthusiasm.

An undetermined death in Mississippi?

Maybe it’s because the grand jury didn’t have enough evidence. Maybe it’s because the police officers were white and the victim was Black. Maybe it’s because there was no video recording of the incident. Maybe it’s because it happened in Mississippi.

Whatever the cause of Damien Cameron’s death while in police custody, it did not receive the public outrage that Geoge Floyd’s tragic encounter received, even though the two Black men died in a similar manner: their necks compressed by a knee.

At least, that was the conclusion of new evidence from three renowned pathologists that contradicts the state’s chief medical examiner after the completion of her autopsy. She ruled that Cameron, 29, died of “undetermined” causes, which led the grand jury not to indict the deputies involved.

This is not the place to question the credentials of the white doctor and her forensic verdict; still, it’s hard to ignore this fact and other presumptions posed in this editorial.

We wonder to what extent other medical examiners were consulted and if such a practice was possible after Cameron’s death was defined as undetermined.

Dr. Michael Baden, a

former New York City chief medical examiner, who performed an independent autopsy of George Floyd, said of Cameron, “This person died of asphyxia because of neck compression.” He declared that it was “a homicide, absolutely.”

His assessment was in accord with Dr. Zhongxue Hua, chief of the forensic pathology division at Rutgers University, who said, “There's really nothing to be undetermined about.”

One more “maybe” should be added to our query: Maybe in some cases, additional experts are needed to determine the cause of death, particularly when Black men die in police custody. We have no idea how this process works from state to state, but now we are waiting to see the state’s response to the new evidence, which bolsters the family lawsuit, according to Malik Shabazz, the family’s attorney.

It should be noted that one of the deputies involved in Cameron’s death, and allegedly the one who pinned his neck to the ground, was also one of the officers involved in the home invasion, torture, and shooting of one of the victims in the mouth, as we reported in an editorial two weeks ago.

Something is terribly amiss with law enforcement in Rankin County.

Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief

Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor

Nayaba Arinde: Editor

Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor

Damaso Reyes: Investigative Editor

Siobhan "Sam" Bennett: Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising

Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009): Chairman of the Board, CEO and Publisher Emeritus

Black Americans face beach access disparities

By CHRIS LEE

Beach access remains one of the most segregated areas of public accommodation in the U.S. Beaches are, in theory, open to all under the Public Accommodation Law of 1964. Congress and state governments have ruled that the Public Trust Doctrine means that the shore is owned by the people. Yet beach access is unavailable for many Black Americans. Access to beaches is something white Americans take for granted. In New Jersey, where I live, we have all heard many a white co-worker say, “We’re taking the family down the shore” for the weekend. We can only dream. Is it safe? Are their people like me? Can I play my music?

What they mean is that they have a connection, or a deal, for some beach time in a place where Black people cannot go. Blacks must rely on public beaches with transportation or parking, such as Jones Beach, Sandy Hook, or Coney Island. Some Black people have given up on trying to go to the beach in the U.S. and travel to places in the Caribbean, like

Puerto Rico, for beach access.

Municipalities continue to restrict access through “custom,” such as high fees, limited access, limited parking, general unfriendliness, or outright intimidation—as recently as five years ago, I was called the n-word while playing miniature golf with my kids at a lily-white beach town in New Jersey.

Taxpayer funding supports beaches

Many U.S. beaches are funded, nourished, and protected through federal and state taxpayer dollars, not just local taxes. Yet most beach access is for local people in an area who own or rent property in a given area.

There are many examples of federal and state spending on local beaches. Beach replenishment is done by the Army Corps of Engineers, state Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) measure water quality and look for needles and red tides. Shark sightings are a state responsibility and high surf warnings come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And Con-

gress and the Supreme Court ruled long ago that beaches are a natural resource that belongs to everyone. Black tax dollars are going to support these beaches, yet Black people cannot go there.

What can you do?

• Go to a Black beach. Get food and ice cream.

• Go to the local beach. The more Black people who show up and spend money, the more open beaches will be.

• Go to the beach, in general. If you have never been, what are you waiting for?

• Show up at a white beach—80% will ignore you, 10% will be hostile, and 10% will come over and talk.

• Learn to swim or wade, or fake it— the water is great.

• Play sports on the beach like football, soccer, frisbee, or that paddle thing.

• Call your state representative. Call, don’t write. Have your rep See BEACH ACCESS on page 15

Black Greek letter orgs: pipeline for diversification, retention

By TERRANCE J. LEWIS

The National Panhellenic Council (NPHC) consists of four sororities and five fraternities, better known as the “Divine Nine.” The history of the Divine Nine began in 1906 with the founding of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on the campus of Cornell University. African American male students could not become members of white fraternities at that time, so the seven founders of Alpha, also known as the “Jewels,” founded their own fraternity in a form of resistance and unification, with a mission to prioritize scholarship and provide service to their community.

Like the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, other Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs), including sororities, would be founded and begin to establish chapters on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and another predominantly white institution (PWIs) across the nation.

Six organizations out of the nine were founded at Howard University, the first HBCU after the Civil War to be established by the Freedmen’s Bureau: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1908, followed by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 1911,

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1913, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity in 1914, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority in 1920, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority in 1922. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity was also founded in 1911, but on the campus of Indiana University, while the most recent NPHC Fraternity, Iota Phi Theta, was founded on the campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

While unique, each organization is similar in prioritizing its commitment to continuous scholarship and service to each other, the organizations, and the greater communities where they exist.

As BGLOs continue to position their missions to meet the needs of people of color living in modern society, scholars believe they also continue to play an important role in providing campus leadership opportunities that increase engagement, which directly correlates to retention and graduation. This trend is considerably more pronounced among Black students attending PWIs. However, BGLOs are not without criticism, because hazing and partying cultures are some of the less-discussed but still prevalent and unfortunate aspects of all Greek life. However, I believe that colleges and universities are well-positioned to act as training grounds for students by

raising awareness and providing resources for how to positively lead BGLOs and other campus organizations. Such training equips all students to be better leaders, capable of meeting the needs of a society that is becoming increasingly diverse and reliant on innovative and revolutionary concepts.

As the nation desperately seeks to attract, recruit, and retain a diverse teaching force, I believe BGLOs serve as a viable option in the creation of a pipeline that would have a national and sustainable impact. Every BGLO had at least one founder or early member(s) who were educators in K–12 spaces and in higher education. More importantly, in those spaces, they taught students to believe in themselves and their excellence.

Dr. Derrick Alridge, a member of a BGLO, and his “Teachers in the Movement Project“ at the University of Virginia have been documenting the pedagogical beliefs and approaches that closely align with culturally responsive teaching. Many students of those teachers later attended college, and many of those students joined BGLOs themselves, carrying on each organization’s legacy and commitment to scholarship and service.

The crisis in liberal cities: The tug-of-war between ideals and realities

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the New York Amsterdam News. We continue to publish a variety of viewpoints so that we may know the opinions of others that may differ from our own.

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS

America’s cities have always been the melting pots of change and progress. Historically, they have welcomed migrants and refugees with open arms, offering them a chance at the American dream. However, as recent events have unfolded, there’s a palpable tension in some of the country’s most liberal cities caused by the very policies that made them bastions of liberal ideals. As waves of migrants seek shelter within their jurisdictions, these cities grapple with the growing disparity between their welcoming rhetoric and the gritty realities on the ground.

Massachusetts, for instance, has become a poignant emblem of this dilemma. Despite its deeprooted ethos of openness and acceptance, the state has been pushed to its limits; the welcoming rhetoric and policy of the state has caused its governor, Maura Healey, to declare a state of emergency. With over 20,000 families in the state shelter system and a monthly expenditure soaring to $45 million, the crisis is reaching levels that the state was grossly unprepared for.

New York City, another liberal stronghold, echoes Massachusetts’s challenges, with their mayor, Eric Adams, calling for a state of emergency and additional federal funds. These are no longer just requests for these embattled “sanctuaries;” they have become necessities.

But what draws so many to states like Massachusetts and New York? The answer lies in the state’s liberal policies. As Governor Healey remarked in her appeal to the Department of Homeland Security, Massachusetts has always been a “beacon to those in need.” This compassionate stance undoubtedly became its Achilles heel. Its policies, aimed at providing a safe haven for migrants, have unintentionally made it a magnet for an overwhelming influx of migrants.

Celebrating Hip Hop

This crisis brings to the fore two uncomfortable realities: Liberal cities were unprepared for the ramifications of their policies, and the consequences of their actions may lead to their own party’s undoing.

Reading through the news, combing through social media, and speaking to people on the ground, it is clear that the phrase “sanctuary city” is likely at its death. It was easy for governors and mayors of liberal states and cities to decry states like Texas for their perceived inhumanity for refusing to allow more migrants to stay in their towns and for advocating for closed borders. But now that the problem is in their backyard, they see the grave issues that it can pose in their own communities. They see the unfairness in treatment compared to their state’s own needs.

This current situation should offer a moment of reflection for these cities and for the people who support the policies that have destroyed them. It is a stark reminder that we can’t help everyone, and if we’re going to try, we should do it the right way. Though, the right way is not always the compassionate way.

Unfortunately for Democrats, they are now discovering that their approach of compassion through open borders and free services may be less humane than the alternative. When newcomers receive treatment far superior to that of existing citizens, it raises a painful question: Why are so many in dire circumstances within our borders ignored –is it because they are Americans, like me? These disparities are becoming more apparent, and the generous conditions provided to migrants may only serve to encourage more to come into the United States. Friends and family hear of the services provided and

are drawn to make the journey. No doubt the countries that these migrants come from face a gamut of issues that may make them eligible for asylum – conflict, persecution, and death. Yet, instead of offering aid to their countries to encourage them to stay where they are, the United States seems content to accept the citizens of those countries.

The discrepancy in aid distribution is striking. The United States has sent $113 billion to Ukraine, a distant country that has little connection to our own and is relatively stable in many of its regions. In contrast, we’ve failed to provide even a fraction of this aid to the countries that migrants are coming from. While I don’t believe that the United States should act as a charity to every poor and conflict-ridden nation, if we’re going to spend the money anyway, we should at least put it to a use that will actually have a positive and clear impact on our own country.

The unfolding situation in liberal cities like Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City reflects a broader national challenge. It represents a tug-of-war between ideals and harsh realities. Perhaps these cities will learn from their experiences, perhaps they won’t. Regardless of the outcome, the current conditions are undoubtedly opening the eyes of Democrats to the true consequences of their party’s policies. More than ever, this situation exposes the lies that the democratic elites tell their supporters.

Armstrong Williams (@ARightSide) is manager / sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the year. www.armstrongwilliams.co | www.howardstirkholdings.com

I cannot believe hip hop turned 50 years old this year. Some of my earliest and fondest memories are looking at Run DMC and their shell toe Adidas sneakers and big gold chains. As I got older I fell in love with the likes of Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest, Outkast, Missy Elliott, and my ultimate favorite, the Notorious B.I.G.

I was recently cleaning out some closets and bookshelves and realized there are certain artists where I have purchased their album on tape, CD, and even vinyl. I have traveled all over the globe and heard hip hop music blasting from restaurants and car stereos from Iceland to Vietnam to southern Africa, and all over Europe. The reach of hip hop is global and to think, it all began in New York City with turntables, MCs, break dancers, and graffiti artists.

I often think of the genius of some of my favorite rappers. The way they can take simple words from the English language, rearrange them, and make pure poetry. I often wonder what Langston Hughes would think of some of the creativity of the language, similes, metaphors, and double entendres used in so much of hip hop.

As we reflect on the past 50 years of this important artistic contribution, I am allowing myself to (re)discover some of the regional diversity that exists. When Andre 3000 famously said, “The south got something to say!,” it made me think about all of the locales in

which Black people reside throughout this country. It also made me think of my time living in the suburbs with very few Black people and hip hop was my lifeline and connection to a Blackness that I knew existed and felt connected to, even though I was not in proximity to my people.

I get nostalgic thinking of the first time I heard Snoop Dogg’s first album in a tape in my car leaving school. Or the first time I listened to Old Dirty Bastard’s solo album and realized he was my favorite member of the Wu Tang Clan. Or better still, cutting class and leaving school early to get The Fugees’ first album from the mall and ripping open that large plastic CD casing to play it in my car on the way home on a snowy afternoon. There are so many ways that hip hop has been the soundtrack of my life and I am so thankful for the genius that begat a genre that has changed the course of history. So, for the remainder of the year I am going to revisit some of the classics, listen to some of the new artists who are making music (I have been quite reticent), and celebrate hip hop turning 50. We made it!

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an Associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”, and the co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio.

CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.

Caribbean Update

Descendants of British slave owner to apologize to Guyana

By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews

The descendants of a British family that hadowned, demeaned, and brutalized hundreds of enslaved plantation workers in the Caribbean Community headquarter nation of Guyana centuries ago, are headed to the country this week to formally apologize for the sins of their foreparents and pay an undisclosed sum in reparations to fund research into the impact of slavery, the University of Guyana has said in a statement.

Planter John Gladstone, described by today’s generation of Gladstone descendants as a vile and greedy man, had owned more than 2,500 slaves in Jamaica and Guyana and was considered one of the most brutal plantation owners in the Caribbean. He owned several coffee, sugar, and other estates along Guyana’s east coast and in the western Essequibo Region in the early to mid-1800s. Profits from unpaid slave labor have been primarily attributed to the vast wealth of Scottish-born Gladstone, whose son became a four-time British prime minister in the colonial era.

Either affected by the mounting pressure

from Caribbean governments for former European slave trading nations to pay reparations for this genocide, or simply by their consciences, the current generation of Gladstones has said the time has come to apologize for the wickedness of their foreparents and to be part of any movement that could repair the situation and lead to amelioration.

“The Gladstone family, which includes several historians, have today confirmed that they will in fact offer an apology given the role their ancestors had played here,” the university said in a weekend statement, unveiling its plans to engage with the family this week.

The Guyana apology will be the latest in a string of significant similar attempts at remorse in the past year, starting with the one in late December of 2022 by outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the role the Netherlands played in Suriname and other Dutch linkages in the Caribbean. Rutte also committed the Netherlands to future talks about slavery and reparations while offering $200 million to help with research about the lasting impacts of slavery. Several Dutch cities and a few western uni-

versities have also apologized for their roles in slavery.

About two months later, another United Kingdom family—the Trevelyans—traveled to Grenada to apologize for their ancestors owning more than 1,000 slaves and six plantations in the Eastern Caribbean island, which the U.S. had invaded in 1983 after the government had collapsed owing to an internal rebellion, among other factors. More than 40 of today’s Trevelyan family members have also signed a letter of apology for the atrocities of their foreparents. Former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan, who made the trip to Grenada, is also slated to be in the visiting delegation to Guyana.

Meanwhile, in July, Dutch King Willem Alexander followed PM Rutte’s move and apologized for the role of the Dutch in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and asked for forgiveness for that crime against humanity.

“Of all the ways in which a person can be robbed of their freedom, slavery is surely the most painful, the most degrading, the most inhuman,” he said.

On the other hand, current Hindu Prime Minister of England Rishi Sanuk has stout-

ly refused to say sorry for Britain’s participation in slavery, taking a similar stance to that of former PM Dave Cameron when he visited Jamaica eight years ago.

The Gladstone saga is significant in British and Caribbean history, because he was one of those who had campaigned for slave owners to be compensated for losing their “property” when slavery was abolished in the 1830s. Records show that he was awarded nearly 100,000 pounds at the time. Historians reckon that this is equivalent to about 10 million pounds sterling today.

The effort to atone for their colonial-era actions coincides with the 400-year anniversary of the August 1823 slave rebellion in coastal Demerara, Guyana. It was led by a Black slave named Jack Gladstone, in keeping with the practice of enslaved people taking the name of plantation owners, and his father, Quamina. More than 200 slaves were killed, along with some whites, while about 50 were sentenced to death. Guyanese activists say surviving slaves were brutally tortured, with heads slashed off and planted on poles to frighten others from rising up again. In all, more than 10,000 slaves had revolted.

Three headlines making immigration news this week

As is customary, this week brings a wealth of immigration-related news, with five prominent headlines commanding attention. Here are my top 3 picks.

1: TPS for Ukrainians/Sudanese

On Friday, August 18th, the Biden administration took significant strides to expand an immigration relief initiative targeted at individuals from Ukraine and Sudan who are residing in the United States. This expansion was motivated by the ongoing conflicts in both of these countries.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made clear its intention to extend an additional opportunity to 166,700 Ukrainian individuals in the U.S. to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS serves as an immigration relief mechanism that allows individuals from countries grappling with crises to obtain work permits and protection against deportation.

Originally introduced in the spring of 2022 in response to Russia›s invasion of Ukraine, the TPS program for Ukrainians has been prolonged by the Biden administration. Around 26,000 Ukrainian indi-

viduals who have already applied for and received TPS will be granted the ability to maintain their enrollment in the program until April 2025. Additionally, the administration has modified the program›s eligibility criteria, shifting the cut-off date from April 11, 2022, to August 16, 2023. This alteration permits recently arrived Ukrainian individuals to also qualify for TPS protection.

In a parallel move, the Department of Homeland Security announced an 18month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudanese nationals. This extension, effective from October 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025, is attributed to the extraordinary and temporary conditions prevailing in Sudan, which render the safe return of individuals implausible. Furthermore, DHS disclosed the redesignation of TPS for Sudan under the same premise. This allows Sudanese nationals (and individuals without a nationality who last habitually resided in Sudan) who were residing in the United States as of August 16, 2023, to become eligible for TPS.

Accompanying this announcement is a Special Student Relief notice aimed at F-1 nonimmigrant students hailing from Sudan. This provision enables these students to request employment authorization, work increased hours during the

school term, and reduce their course load while maintaining F-1 status throughout the TPS designation period.

The extension facilitates the retention of TPS for approximately 1,200 current beneficiaries through April 19, 2025, provided they continue to meet TPS eligibility criteria. An estimated 2,750 additional individuals may qualify for TPS under the Sudan redesignation. This group encompasses Sudanese nationals (and individuals without a nationality who last habitually resided in Sudan) currently in the United States under nonimmigrant status or without lawful immigration status.

Beneficiaries looking to extend their temporary protected status must ensure timely re-registration during the 60-day re-registration window, spanning from August 21, 2023, to October 20, 2023. This process guarantees the continuity of TPS and employment authorization without any interruptions.

Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the previous designation of TPS for Ukraine or Sudan, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through April

19, 2025, and issue an EAD valid through the same date.

Initial, first-time applicants for TPS under the redesignation of Sudan and Ukraine must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the initial registration period that runs from August 21, 2023, through April 19, 2025. Applicants may file Form I-821 online. When filing a TPS application, applicants can also request an EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821, or separately at a later date. Applicants may also submit Form I-765 online.

2: Immigrants entering at southern border spikes again

Once again, there has been a surge in the number of migrants entering the United States unlawfully through the southern border. Government statistics unveiled on August 18th reveal that U.S. Border Patrol agents registered 132,652 instances of apprehensions for migrants who crossed into the U.S. without authorization between designated entry points during July. This marked a substantial 33% increase in illegal crossings. This escalation followed a twoyear low in June, when around 100,000 such apprehensions were recorded.

The most notable surge in unauthorized

Greek letter

Continued from page 12

Currently, the Divine Nine has undergraduate and graduate chapters across the nation and abroad, serving students and graduates who are working toward a degree or have obtained a degree. While each organization considers acceptance for those who meet established qualifications, a great majority of BGLO members are people of color, most identifying as Black or African American.

Every American state requires at least a bachelor’s degree to begin the certification and licensing process to become a state-certified teacher. A similar requirement exists to become a member of a BGLO. Every member either has or is working toward at least a bachelor’s degree. In terms of meeting the basic requirements to become licensed teachers, the legacy of BGLOs has prioritized and valued the attainment of such a requirement through its commitment to scholarship.

Research suggests a correlation between teachers of color and the positive academic achievement of students of color whom they teach, so efforts and calls have

been made to attract, recruit, and retain more teachers of color in American public schools. BGLOs are in a prime position to serve in that recruitment effort. However, great intentionality among BGLOs and school district leaders will be needed to make that a reality. Therefore, in the immediate future, I suggest the following:

1. Collaboration—School district leaders must collaborate with local undergraduate and graduate chapters to speak about the staffing needs of their districts. Conversations could also include promotional opportunities, work-life balance, or commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This effort would require local undergraduate and graduate chapters to invite school district leaders to formal or informal meetings of the chapter.

2. Networking—Each Divine Nine organization has local, district, and international meetings where official organization business is discussed and decided upon. Recently, however, organizations have begun to set aside space and opportunities for members to network with potential employers. This presents a prime opportunity

for district leaders to network and engage with organization leaders while recruiting for a range of positions that might be vacant in their districts.

While these two suggestions only scratch the surface of what organizations and districts should do in the short term, I suggest for in the long term:

3. Formal Partnership—Given the number of undergraduate and graduate chapters each organization has across America, a more formal partnership should be considered and explored between the federal government, state governments, universities, and nonprofits that prioritize the recruitment and retention of diverse teachers. While these partnerships can and should look different based on the individual needs of states and districts, at their core, I believe a formal partnership should assist with financing the education of undergraduate students or career changers who want to pursue careers in education. Explicit, intentional, and worthwhile coaching throughout education programs and in the first five years of teach-

ing should also be a part of these formal partnerships.

It is important to note that partnerships with BGLOs might require certain districts to, first, facilitate conversations and wrestle with how some policy and procedure might cause harm or negatively affect Black students. While difficult, I believe such conversations are critical and demonstrate an intentional commitment to truly viewing BGLOs as partners in diversifying the teacher pipeline.

As colleges continue to search for ways to increase the graduation rates of students of color, the nation’s school districts continue to fight to reduce the number of teacher shortages throughout its schools, and the NPHC and BGLOs continue to position their purpose in serving and meeting the needs of people of color in the current generation, I believe this to be an initiative beneficial to all parties.

Terrance J. Lewis is a former Georgia public-school teacher who now serves as a presidential research fellow and graduate assistant at Auburn University. He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Beach access

Continued from page 12

on speed dial. Beaches are controlled locally, but they are governed by the state. In the age of the internet, email is not taken seriously. A real call makes all the difference.

We all deserve access to a beach Access to recreation is our birthright as citizens. And that includes beach access. Beaches also serve a unique purpose: They are a “public forum” guaranteed by the First Amendment. In real life, the beach is a rare place where everyone—Black, white, or Latino; rich or poor; new immigrant or seventh generation—can mix with the sole purpose of doing…absolutely nothing! There are few greater joys than lying in the sun, taking a dip in the ocean, or watching kids collect shells while running from the waves. The joy of the beach should be accessible to all. Beach access is a great measure of our democracy. It is something we all deserve.

Chris Lee is founder of the Black Economics and Business (BEBN) website, https://blackeconbiz.com, which is designed to promote Black economic success and happiness.

Health

Americans not sure what’s true in the age of health misinformation

By DARIUS TAHIR KFF Health News

Around 3 in 10 Americans still believe ivermectin is an effective treatment for Covid. What’s more, few place significant trust in any form of news media or official institution to accurately convey information about health topics, from covid treatments and vaccines to reproductive health issues, a new poll from KFF shows.

The confusion about what’s true—and who’s telling the truth—is of critical importance to public health, experts in political science said. “Misinformation leads to lives being lost and health problems not being resolved,” Bob Blendon, a professor emeritus of public health at Harvard, said in an interview. Blendon was not associated with the survey.

Such misinformed beliefs are strongly held by only a sliver of the population, according to a KFF poll out today. Nearly a third of the 2,007 respondents said the dewormer ivermectin was definitely or probably an effective treatment for Covid-19. (It’s not: Numerous randomized controlled trials have found otherwise.) A mere 22% thought ivermectin was definitely ineffective.

A fifth of respondents thought it was definitely or probably true that the Covid19 vaccine had killed more people than the virus itself. (Multiple studies examining different data sets have found lower death rates among vaccine recipients than among those who didn’t get the shot.)

But nearly half, 47%, thought that claim was definitely false.

Nevertheless, said Brendan Nyhan, a professor of government at Dartmouth College who has spent years studying the transmission of false information, the prevalence of vaccine misinformation is “alarming.” And, while not necessarily resulting entirely from misinformation, 30% of respondents thought parents should not be required to vaccinate their children against measles, mumps, and rubella.

More than a third of respondents also thought using birth control, such as intrauterine devices, made it harder for most women to get pregnant once they stopped.

For Lunna Lopes, a senior survey analyst at KFF and one of the poll’s authors, the results show wide exposure, but limited uptake, of false claims. “A lot of people have heard about these health misinformation claims. Just because they’re exposed to it doesn’t mean they’re buying into it,” she said. Still, the din of misinformation might

Around 3 in 10 Americans still believe ivermectin is an effective treatment for covid, according to a new KFF poll. (Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg Via Getty Images)

leave the populace unsure of what to believe. “You might be less trusting and less likely to outright reject false information.”

The limited embrace of outright misinformation may be cold comfort for public health advocates. The study also found only grudging trust, at best, for media sources of all kinds and the federal government. The limited trust the survey recorded is colored by wide partisan gaps, noted Nyhan.

Respondents did not have “a lot” of trust in the information relayed by any news media institution, and just over a quarter had this high level of trust for local TV news stations. And that was the highest mark of the institutions tested, which ran the ideological and stylistic gamut from MSNBC to The New York Times to Fox News and Newsmax. More people had “a little” trust in each of these institutions.

For Blendon, however, mild support is a problem. It suggests that “we are short” of trusted sources of news about health.

Journalists and editors, he said, should consider there’s “something about the way you’re presenting information that’s not seen as credible by viewers.” Seventy percent of respondents said the news media

wasn’t doing enough to limit the spread of health misinformation.

The public conversation tends to focus on the often extreme declarations and wild claims featured on social media, and both corporate and government attempts to regulate the medium, Blendon noted. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said social media companies were not doing enough to limit the spread of false or inaccurate information.

But the poll shows that while the public frequently tunes into social media, they have very little faith in the health information they see there. No social media outlet enjoyed a double-digit percentage of respondents saying they had “a lot” of trust in it.

Even so, said Lopes, a significant slice of the public—about a quarter—turn to these platforms for health information and advice. “That stood out to us,” she said. Latinos and the young are especially likely to use the forums.

The picture is similarly bleak for official institutions. Around a quarter of respondents had “a great deal” of trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations. That response rate

dropped to a fifth when it came to the Food and Drug Administration. The Biden administration, Donald Trump, and state and local public health officials lagged behind.

Those findings, combined with the partisan gaps in trust, were especially discouraging for Nyhan. “They will be essential sources of information in future pandemics despite their errors and misjudgments during the pandemic,” he said of public health institutions.

By far the most highly trusted source of health information? One’s own doctor. Forty-eight percent of respondents had a great deal of trust in their recommendations.

The survey, the KFF Health Misinformation Tracking Poll Pilot, was conducted May 23 through June 12, online and by telephone, among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults in English and Spanish.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Black lit titans: New books from Zadie Smith, Walter Mosley

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH

Special to the Amnews

2023 brings new books from two literary titans: gifted wordsmith Zadie Smith and groundbreaking veteran novelist Walter Mosley. Both writers have brought game-changing, best-selling books to the world over the course of 20 years. Mosley’s debut, “Devil in a Blue Dress,” entranced readers with its entrancing, compelling and vivid storytelling. Smith’s first book, “White Teeth,” garnered critical acclaim and a six-figure deal for the first-time novelist. Both authors bring nothing less than wildly creative plot lines for their larger-thanlife (although presented as seemingly small and ordinary to onlookers in the beginning of each tale) lead characters. These authors outdo themselves when it comes to their ability to challenge themselves with new and innovative ways to approach real events from the past and produce genre-bending writing.

“The Fraud” by Zadie Smith (Penguin Random House)

Smith's anticipated period piece, "The Fraud," combines real and fictional accounts of the 1873 "Tichborne case," where a lowly butcher claims to be the heir to a fortune. The book's main characters' lives intertwine while captivated by the highprofile trial that still intrigues English and global litigation and pop-trivia buffs alike. Smith takes a leap in creating a world through the eyes of a Scottish housekeeper, her flailing and failing author of a cousin, and a formerly enslaved immigrant.

“Touched” by Walter Mosley (Grove Atlantic)

The legendary Walter Mosley shows no signs of slowing down or a waning imagination at 71 years old with his new book, “Touched.” The protagonist is Martin, a wealthy Black husband and father whose familial clan is the only Black family in a neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills. If this isn’t enough pressure, he wakes up believing that he is the cure to human existence, which he

considers a “virus.” The family is stalked by a death-like tormentor while Martin manages his confusing inner (and possibly outer) reality and grapples with gaining superhuman strength after what he thinks was a century-long deep sleep.

It’s always wonderful to read consistent authors who create new and interesting stories for their readers to enjoy. It goes to show that things do get better with

time, or at the very least, tried-and-true authors show their adept gifts in ways that surprise and intrigue.

Two new Black essay & story collections to consider

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the Amnews

Collections and short stories are sustaining highlights in Black literary realms like they never have been before. Memoirist Athena Dixon’s essay collection, “The Loneliness Files” and award-winning author Lisa Teasely of “Fluid: Stories,” find vastly different entry points and avenues to reveal their unique views— whether it be through their own experiences or that of the characters they create. Collections are attractive to adventurous readers who want to delve into different story structures. Essays and short stories are quite underrated when it comes to the genius of post-modern Black writers. It is, though, exciting that more of these books are emerging as they can be just as poignant and pivotal as long-form books.

The Loneliness Files by Athena Dixon (Tin House)

Dixon’s searing vulnerability shines as she writes a collection of writings that grapple with her deep loneliness. While working a full-time job from home, and living far away from family, Dixon begins to reflect on the choices she made that caused her to end up without any close

relationships after stumbling onto a story of a woman who lay dead for three

years in front of her television without so much of a true inquiry of her whereabouts or safety.

Fluid: Stories by Lisa Teasley (Cune)

“Fluid is a fascinating collage of short stories that explore a kaleidoscope of intriguing characters with vastly differing perspectives, as they navigate their lives within society’s most challenging contemporary issues,” writes Teasley’s publisher. Though vague in its description, the richness of the book’s content glimmers with unique and fascinating stories that explore the fabric of life in a way that can only be done by such an extolled writer as Lisa Teasley.

There is no question that Black writers are being uplifted and encouraged to express themselves in a myriad of ways. Collections are answers to the serial novels of the past, where pieces of novels were published and shared with the public. Though not always in chronological chapters like serials of old, new energy is being emitted into the short story and essay genre. It will be exciting to see what new collections will come next.

‘Playback’ personifies time during its Hip Hop Film Festival screening

By BRENIKA BANKS Special to the AmNews

The concept of time is something no person can escape. This continuous sequence of events is how humans differentiate between the past, present, and future. Director, writer, and producer P.R. Bryan personified time in his new feature, “Playback,” at the 8th annual Hip Hop Film Festival. The 22-minute short film premiered at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture during the festival on Saturday, August 19, where it won Best Social Horror Film.

The Schomburg has had a significant impact on Bryan, 34, and his creativity growing up in Harlem. He was born at Harlem Hospital, right across the street from the Center, and visited the Schomburg library many times as a kid. “It’s an honor to have our film screened at one of the many pillars of Harlem’s history, such as the Schomburg Center,” said Bryan. “It’s an even greater honor to have it be screened there during a celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary.”

Hip hop is at the core of the film. The feature was about an obnoxious recording artist, Kid Kay, being stuck in a time loop while trying to record an impressive hiphop verse for a big-time record owner. The main character, played by Beyonca Banks, was baffled by the cause of the time warp and how she could stop it. A memorable quote from the film is, “You think you can outrun time; in the end, time always wins.”

Kid Kay’s never-ending day forced her to race against time, frantically trying to figure out how to end the Hip Hop Groundhog Day. Time became personified through Sofie, played by Erika Mays, which strengthens the message of the essence of time. “Time is the most valuable thing—it’s more valuable than money, it’s more valuable than currency,” said Mays. She said a lack of time can change people’s thoughts and attention to detail. She added that this project gave her a better grasp of the importance of time.

During the post-film talk, Bryan said the message of his movie is not to waste time. “Time is also a gift, because time allows you to see things from one perspective from a point in time, to another perspective of a different point in time,” he said. He enjoyed the antagonistic personification of time: “[Regardless of the person], you can always relate to time going against you or time being for your benefit.”

Mays shared her perspective on how Sofie was aware of time’s paramount value. Sofie once dreamed of being an artist and a star like Kid Kay. “Over the course of time, she aged out of that opportunity,”

said Mays. “Now, she has to pass the buck on [that] because it’s too late for her.” Mays said Sofie was easily possessed by time because much of it had escaped her. Mays appreciated Bryan’s writing and vision, which aims to create Black stories in the sci-fi genre.

Bryan included outtakes as the movie credits rolled to represent having fun while working. His favorite part of filming was the collaborative family vibe behind the scenes. Collaborating with his wife, who is co-producer, taught him much about the value of scheduling and time management. Syner-

gy with the actors and crew was key. “My goal was to surround myself with a cast and crew who could help bring the story to life, but also have fun while we did it,” he said. Bryan said there isn’t enough time when shooting on a less-than-extravagant budget. Time must be sacrificed for scheduling and completing the film punctually. “I believe every project is a learning experience so that the next one will be even better,” he said.

Bryan enjoyed attending the Hip Hop Film Festival and seeing the audience react to his work. “It’s like having a child graduate from college or a high school; now your baby’s out there in the world.” He emphasizes his happiness about enabling all to experience his art. “Although audiences have been very positive on it, I appreciate any feedback that can help me improve as a filmmaker and apply it to my next projects,” he said.

During the post-film talk, Bryan said he wants to transition into creating a series. He views the current Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strike as an opportunity for the television and film industry to examine the global impact of entertainment culture. “I believe it’s time to take chances on more original films,” he said. “Everyone has a perspective, everyone has a story to tell, and the quality of these stories [is] just as important as the quantity.”

Bryan strives to produce well-executed, entertaining films with relatable themes and impact. For more information, visit https://hiphopfilmfestival.org/ and https://instagram.com/thephilmclub.

P.R. Bryan at Hip Hop Film Festival (Brenika Banks photos)

P.R. Bryan during post-film talk at Schomburg Center

“Sound of Southside” declares ‘jazz ain’t dead’ at 8th annual Hip Hop Film Fest

By BRENIKA BANKS Special to the AmNews

Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary is a perfect time to highlight jazz and its contributions to the world. The 8th annual Hip Hop Film Festival hosted screenings at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture from August 11 to 20. Novelist and director Tyrel Hunt’s film, “The Sound of Southside,” was one of the main featured presentations.

The one-hour and eighteen-minute movie won Best Feature Film at the festival.

Hunt, 30, was thrilled to have his first visit to Schomburg Center during the preview screening of his film. The movie, produced independently by Gritty Vibes Studios, aimed to highlight jazz’s rich history throughout Queens. It’s a story of a young jazz musician named Maliki continuing his father’s legacy by reopening his famous jazz club. “I wanted to do something different because there’s a lot of hiphop movies out there, but I wanted to go to the origins of it,” said Hunt.

Jazz is known to be the grandfather of hip-hop and has been used for samples countless times. In one eye-catching scene, Maliki writes, “Jazz ain’t dead” on a marker board. “This film is my attempt to blend [the community and jazz] together,” said Hunt. “Having that jazz and Queens connection is something I wanted to create.”

Hunt was ecstatic winning at the festival, especially growing up in Rosedale, Queens, where he unconventionally learned how to become a director. Prior to filmmaking, he had a background in writing. Working at Jamaica Center for Arts and learning with jazz musicians inspired him to create his novel-turned-film.

Hunt deliberately approached his film unexpectedly from a hip-hop route. “Once I saw that there was a Hip Hop Film Festival, I was hoping with ‘The Sound of Southside’ being jazz-centered, that the connection would be made,” said Hunt. Despite the challenges of steadily pivoting with uncontrollable scenarios and rewriting the script, “The Sound of Southside” was well received and earned a nomination for “Best Sound Editing” from the Festival of Cinema NYC.

CR Capers, founder of Harlem Film House and leader of the Hip Hop Film Festival, praised Hunt for capturing the simplicity of love. The main two characters, Maliki and Afeni, never showed any physical touch beyond a short dance scene. Capers commended Hunt for how eloquently the love grew and wasn’t sexualized. “I am almost speechless at this film,” she said during the post-film conversation. “I loved this love story in its purest essence.”

Capers commended Hunt for casting his wife Amanda Morris Hunt, who is a darkskinned Jamaican woman with natural, thick, curly hair, as his lead lady. Represen-

tation of darker women on screen is “super important,” according to Capers.

Amanda Morris Hunt said she is proud of her husband, especially because she witnessed this project go from an idea to a full-length feature. “If I could retire and be his fangirl forever I would,” she said. “I love supporting him.” Although she did play the leading lady in his first movie, she was still thrilled to, once again, lead in this awardwinning film: “I love putting Black love out there.” She praises her husband for his brilliance in writing a novel and then an accompanying film. “His drive is out of this

world

– he inspires me.”

According to Hunt, it cost $50,000 to make the film and this project employed an estimated 20 people; most of the money went to the actors and crew. The Schomburg audience was very enthusiastic and interactive about the film. Hunt described the crowd’s reaction as “surreal.” “It’s a little nerve-wracking at times, hoping that the jokes connect, and that people are receiving everything you are writing,” he said. He expressed feeling “amazing” as people gave him their feedback in person. Hunt is grateful for the opportunity to

watch his work on the big screen.

Hunt ideally wants a distribution plan with a company like HBO that will help him reach a large audience while maintaining ownership. His next few scripts will spotlight Queens. “I want to continue to bring light to Queens because it’s a borough you don’t see represented a lot in media,” said Hunt. He credits Spike Lee’s “Mo’ Better Blues” as a huge inspiration while directing this movie.

Hunt intends on leaving behind a body of work that is thought-provoking and entertaining to watch. “It doesn’t have to reach a million people, but the people it does reach, I want it to have an impact on.”

“The Sound of Southside” perfectly reintroduces jazz to the world by creating a love story fueled by passion and art. Hunt encourages people to support more Black independent films and keep jazz music alive. For more information, visit https://hiphopfilmfestival.org/ and www.thesoundofsouthside.com.

Main character Maliki, played by James Ross, in front of a white board that reads, “Jazz Ain’t Dead” (Brenika Banks photos)

Tyrel Hunt (Landon White photo)

Tyrel Hunt with CR Capers during the post film conversation

Tyrel Hunt with CR Capers during the post film conversation

HOROSCOPES BY KNOWYOURNUMB3RS

By SUPREME GODDESS KYA

WWW.KYAFRENCH.COM | CONSULTATIONS 866-331-5088

AUGUST 24, 2023—AUGUST 30, 2023

Rebirth of A New Nation: There is a saying “Let the games begin.” The end of August is full of tumbling, roaring, gusty winds speaking a message; fire blowing to ignite the minds of humanity; the earth quivering to keep you bound to nature, activating your DNA code; water rising to purge what needs to be cleansed. Do you feel those great, great, great ancestors coming through silently, showing you things right in your face and guiding you to do this and that? Cherish the memories of your ancestors to keep you and them afloat to assist in clearing generational paths. What kind of money is showing up in your daily aspects, be it a quarter, dime, nickel, penny etc? Mercury retrogrades in Virgo—time to focus on health, the things you value, what’s on your mind, and surround yourself in nature while drinking water. Put your phone down, turn the TV off, tuck your computer away and go without it for one day. “Every day is a bank account, and time is our currency. No one is rich, no one is poor, we’ve got 24 hours each.” Christopher Rice

What a busy productive month it has been. Going here, there, traveling, running errands, and most importantly taking time out to center yourself. Be inspired and inspire others along the way within your daily aspects. During mercury retrograde in Virgo things will unfold naturally and will allow people to assist you and vice versa. From around 9:05 a.m. on August 26th until 10:30 am on August 28th make a move, decision, or agree to make the commitment and see it through. Follow your heart. What is revealed to you is meant for you to know or see.

You are building a new foundation that requires you to move in a new direction. This includes the people you are building with, and the material and resources used to build the foundation. It’s a time to get out of your comfort zone, learning how to operate differently as you open your eyes to new worlds besides your daily in-and-out. From around 10:32 a.m. on August 28th until 9:56 a.m. on August 30th, inner-stand to trust your gut instincts and act accordingly with honesty, while paying attention to who is in your environment. Not everyone is your friend.

This last week of August is time to make power moves and let go of all that old stuff that no longer serves a purpose in your life. Plant the seed, nourish it, and watch it bear fruit in due time. Be clear about what you need and ask for it, as you will receive your blessing. Just know there is no need to be flashy, gossiping, or talking stuff; all you need to do is remain quiet about your plans and do your part. From August 30th around 9:56 a.m. until September 1st around 9:00 a.m., reach out to those who can guide or counsel you in times of uncertainty.

What is it that you need? Are you willing to seek out the services you need to make it happen? This weekly cycle involves old and new obligations, and things from the past will visit you. Trim the fat to make space for the new. Get more organized in your homeland business affairs, and schedule “me” time. The feeling of an ancestor making their energy known is them putting you on notice about something that occurred in your life to assist you. From August 24th around 4:07 a.m. until August 26th around 9:00 a.m., your life is swinging in a new direction and as you grow, invest your time, energy, and sweat in the game you will see your progress over time.

What is being revealed is only for your eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to touch, and heart to feel. Everyone has something to say about how you should do something, however, utilize your imagination to reel it into existence. Your weekly forecast consists of long/short distance travel, partnerships, memberships, or your association with clubs or groups is in high demand. Do what you came to do or are called to do. Motivate others to realize their potential lies within, not outside. From around 9:05 a.m. on August 26th until 10:30 a.m. on August 28th, whenever a new assignment shows up there is a mission, experience, lesson to gain and learn from to sharpen you up.

The water and wind flow in different directions assisting with the flow of traffic to get on course. What course are you focusing on to get you back on track and to be more strategic in the way you operate? Structure is needed to build a solid foundation. Most importantly, you are your brand. Folks who have it going on in their personal and business affairs are being true to themselves. What you do the best is the reason why folks come to you due to the results they received. From around 10:32 a.m. on August 28th until 9:56 am on August 30th, you will know exactly what you need to do as the information, finances, and resources are at your fingertips. All you need to do is say the magic word.

Planning, organizing, and reconstructing the home are part of your forecast this week. Those ah-ha moments in the times cherished with your kinfolk will put a smile on your face. During those moments, great ideas are ignited to put it to the test. Certain messages surround you as reminders to do something or address a situation dear to your heart. When you do, you feel great relief and things in your life will begin to flow differently, all due to you changing your approach. From August 30 around 9:56 a.m. until September 1 around 9:00 a.m. the things we do differently will benefit us the most with a feeling of satisfaction.

What’s all this commotion going on, with things up in the air intentionally? It’s time to do things on purpose with good intentions. This is not just about a partnership, as you know people come and go for journey, season, reason, lesson, blessing, or a limited time like an angel appearing then is suddenly gone. The jubilant feeling from within you makes you move and act accordingly. You need permission, just allow yourself to be and what you need to know will show up in signs, messages, conversation, songs, and more. From August 24th around 4:07 a.m. until August 26th around 9:00 a.m., trust is a vital key in any relationship.

Let’s just say something went missing only to find it later. In the midst of searching for the missing item what were your experiences, as it was a sign to get in order? Did it make you organize a bit better or emphasize areas of your life that need straightening up? If you apply the work, sweat, time, and investment, there is a reward coming through for following up. Contribute or donate things you have outgrown to make space for the new. From around 9:05 a.m. on August 26th until 10:30 a.m. on August 28th when your heart is set on a goal/mission you work on it until completion. It’s about making it happen without complaining.

A time to show and tell and also see what can be done better as you progress on your journey. Life is not complicated, it’s the people and how humanity addresses situations. What’s your story for people to get to know you better? What’s the inspiration behind your story of mission? Semi-legal matters can pop up in something simple as parking a ticket. Inner stand it’s time to cross the bridge to elevate yourself and position yourself accordingly to your plan/agenda. From around 10:32 a.m. on August 28th until 9:56 a.m. on August 30th, believe it can happen, speak it into existence, and play your hand with applied footwork.

A lot of options, people cheering you on to assist in advancing to the next level. A new beginning or life is changing fast. You have been preparing for this journey ahead and now the opportunity is here. A decision needs to be made within a short timeframe. Inner stand your power you possess as your gift. You can utilize it at will or keep it tucked away and keep waiting for something else to show up or pop up when all you need is you. Listen to your spirit as it will guide you and show you things you only imagine. From August 30th around 9:56 a.m. until September 1st around 9:00 a.m., in fact it’s within our imagination that we can see other windows of words of ourselves as a reminder of this life.

You are the person with a plan carrying out a mission. Who cares about what people think of you?

As long as you know who you are, you can only build your self-esteem. It’s a cycle to get uncomfortable as you walk with faith to position yourself in a new comfortable position. Changing positions has an effect on your environment and the people or community there are a resource. Inner stand you are guided, protected, and never alone. From August 24th around 4:07 a.m. until August 26th around 9:00 a.m., folks say America is the land of milk and honey, yet milk spoils quicker while you get more bees with honey.

Vinateria

On Vinyl: Nicki Minaj, Kid Kudi offer Afrofuturist albums

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the Amnews

Introducing a groundbreaking fusion of music and imagination with Afrofuturist albums, Nicki Minaj’s “Beam Me Up Scotty” and Kid Cudi’ s “Man On The Moon III: The Chosen.” Imagine a universe where vibrant beats, captivating melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics transport you to a whole new dimension. These visionary artists have come together to create an experience unlike any other, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation into a world where music meets science fiction, as these visionary artists combine their talents to create an immersive experience that will leave you in awe. The albums create an unforgettable experience that transcends boundaries and takes you on a thrilling sonic adventure as Minaj’s debut single off the album, Seeing Green brought the Young Money dream team back together and Kudi’s otherworldly sonic touches continue to bring beautifully hazy futuristic sounds to the hip hip musical canon.

Both albums are now available on vinyl, and make for amazing gifts for any hip-hop enthusiasts and vinyl collectors who work to combine their love of new contemporary hip-hop with the old-school manner of listening to music.

Nicki Minaj’s “Beam Me Up Scotty”

6. Beam Me Up Scotty

Kid Cudi’ s Man On The Moon III: The Chosen (Republic Records)

Tracklist:

DISC 1

SIDE A

Beautiful Trip

Tequila Shots

Another Day

She Knows This Dive

SIDE B

Damaged

Heaven on Earth

Show Out

Mr. Solo Dolo, Pt. III

DISC 2

SIDE A

Sad People

Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback)

Sept. 16

The Void

Lovin’ Me

SIDE B

The Pale Moonlight Rockstar Knights

4 da Kidz

Lord I Know

Two YA novels your teens will devour

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH

Special to the AmNews

The young adult book market is growing more than ever, particularly books for Black readers. But it takes work to shop for teen readers. They are hungry for compelling stories with complex plotlines that will keep them interested from beginning to end, so it is important to find books that not only display intricate and socially complicated problems for the book’s protagonists to solve but also deal with race, class, and gender. Navigating these intense issues will help empower teens to grow as adults. “Promise Boys” and “This Town is on Fire” have these elements and more.

It is critical to keep our teenage readers in mind just as much as our own tastes and interests. With so many amazing Black YA stories hitting bookstores and library shelves this year, never underestimate the power of the written word as seeds for inspiration and aspiration for young adult readers.

“Promise Boys” and “This Town Is On Fire” have been flying off the shelves, and there are wonderful reasons why.

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks (Macmillan)

“Promise Boys” is a powerful YA mystery that includes the narratives of three Black students who are profiled when darkness

arises within the walls of their school. “The prestigious Urban Promise Prep school might look pristine on the outside, but

deadly secrets lurk within. When the principal ends up murdered on school premises and the cops come sniffing around, a trio of

students — J.B., Ramón, and Trey — emerge as the prime suspects. They had the means, they had the motive . . . and they may have had the murder weapon. But with all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. Or is the true culprit hiding among them?” writes the book’s publisher. Young readers will be enthralled as the book unravels a heavy mystery page by page.

This Town Is on Fire by Pamela N. Harris (HarperCollins)

Protagonist Naomi Harris is a Black teen navigating a complex life. Not only does she have to deal with losing her spot on the cheer team after wearing her hair natural for the first time in front of a crowd, but her white best friend, goes viral for calling the police on two Black teens in their community. Naomi must handle the outrage and embarrassment her friend has caused her along with the social and cultural outcry of her Black community. “Town Is on Fire” is a relatable book for Black students with friends in a privileged culture.

Celebrating dance legend Gus Solomons Jr.

By CHARMAINE PATRICIA WARREN Special to the AmNews

Dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer, director, actor, and puppeteer Gus Solomons, Jr. (born Gustave Martinez Solomons Jr. on Aug. 27, 1938, in Cambridge, Massachusetts) died Friday, Aug. 11 at 84.

Gia Kourlas in the New York Times writes: “His death, at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, was confirmed by Robert Gerber, Mr. Solomons’s friend and health proxy, who said the cause was sudden heart failure after several months of declining health.” The dance world has lost a legend.

A student of architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the ‘50s, he also studied dance at the Boston Conservatory of Music, and dance drew him in. He soon moved to New York to study dance at the Martha Graham School, joining experimentalists in the avant-garde scene. He performed with Donald McKayle and Pearl Lang, then in 1965, Merce Cunningham asked him to join his company. He founded his own company, The Solomons/Company/Dance, in 1972, and in 1996, he founded PARADIGM with Carmen de Lavallade and Dudley Williams. Solomons was a consummate teacher and served on various panels as a choreographic mentor to many young dance artists. There have been many tributes in honor of Solomons’ passing. Dancer and choreographer Kyle Abraham wrote the following in a post:

“I first saw Gus Solomons Jr. when I was auditioning for undergraduate programs in ‘96. I’d just cut my chin-length hair in an effort to have an easier time getting into a good dance program or appear more ‘professional.’ Gus stood in the front of the room, leading the audition with a salt-and-pepper version of the haircut you see in this photograph. Seeing him in that moment brought the biggest smile to my face. It made me realize I could in fact be ME…and still have a career in dance. Throughout my college years, I had several piercings and tattoos… and a clearer understanding of the spaces I was interested in occupying in this world. Ironically, by the time I worked with Gus in grad school in 2004, he was puzzled by the septum ring and head tattoo I adorned. I told him how seeing him in the 90s inspired me, and we laughed about our various looks and styles, etc. Over the years, we stayed in touch and checked in on one another. And years later, we had an opportunity to perform together at both Harlem Stage as part of their Legends and Legacy program, and at Danspace Project, where Gus invited me to be a guest on his company Paradigm’s 15th Anniversary presentation. I’m grateful that we got to connect on the phone during the height of the pandemic. And I’m grateful to have known you and call you a friend and mentor. So much more to say and share. But in this moment, I’ll just say, “Thank you, Gus.”

There was no information about arrangements at press time.

Rest in power, dear Gus!

‘Mecca is Burning’ is powerful NEC production

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

“Mecca Is Burning,” a Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) production that recently closed at the Harlem School of the Arts, is a perfect example of what NEC is famous for: creating work that sounds a clarion call throughout the Black community—in this case, the Harlem community, to address the serious and worsening issue of gentrification.

Of course, because it is NEC, this play took the audience on an apocalyptic journey. It delved deeply into the history of Black Harlem, how that history is kept by the older generation, but how the present generation will not be able to have similar, incredible memories: memories of community as a Black family, memories of the elders, and of cultural connection. This raw work called out all the catastrophes that have overwhelmed Harlem, with white people deciding that this is now their home and working to make Black folks feel unwelcome in their own community.

With a deliberately vivid, candid, raw, and ruth-filled script created collaboratively by Cris Eli Blak, Lisa McCree, Levy Lee Simon, and Mona R. Washington, under the leadership of director Karen Brown, this play hit home in so many ways.

“Mecca Is Burning” gave audiences a beautiful history of Harlem, its people, events, and cherished legacy. This production put on blast the murders of Black people by police. It put on blast the degradation of Black people in their own communities, and the disrespect given by some whites in a neighborhood that they have infiltrated, and the audacity with which they boldly declare that this is theirs.

The audience received the story of four very different families and the racism they face from the changing of the neighborhood. These are families that include professionals like college professors; laborers

paying for a roof over their heads and high tuition to send their child to college; a young couple born and raised in the community who realize that it is not what it once was and it could be time to go; and two sisters who are just trying to survive and thrive while living under their parents’ roof. There was so much rich Black history in this play—a history of Harlem that residents would be very familiar with. Often, people in the audience could be heard agreeing with the descriptions of places and events that were recounted in the production, along with dismay at the recollections of the violence that was committed as a result of deep-seated racism. This play threw everything at you in a way that at times was overwhelming, but that also needed to be said.

It was incredible to be in an NEC audience and get my vessel filled with knowledge, wisdom, and outrage, but also realize that my people are shouting out our names—they are making sure that the atrocities we have experienced are remembered. We as Black people will not go silent into that good night! I truly hope that NEC brings this play back, because

it is something to be experienced by everyone and multiple generations.

The actors were absolutely incredible. Benjamin Rowe was complex and conflicted as Marcus, a man who cherished his heritage and the legacy of the Harlem community. Joy Renee, who played his wife Candace, was absolutely marvelous as a “Sista” who was not going to take the racism anymore and was ready to save her community by any means necessary. Reginald L. Barnes played Henry, a widower father, raising his collegestudent daughter Dominica. He delivered the role with the seriousness required, but also showed that while he had a softer side, he also, as a Black man, always had to be on guard. He showed a love for his people and community that was on another level.

Tatiana Perry gave a stirring performance as Dominica. She was the perfect example of a young person trying to grasp and put into poetic words what was happening in her community. Comparing herself to a blackbird, she wanted to fly and feel safe and explore. But she also realized that this world doesn’t value blackbirds—only white doves.

Kenya Wilson was powerful as Dee’ JaRay, the pregnant wife of Abrian, who was played by Alton Ray. Wilson had moments of joy, love, sadness, regret, anger, and fear. She is an actress whose eyes are one of the most stunning parts of her instrument. She was able to wear her emotions on her sleeve in a way that gripped your soul.

Ray is someone to look out for in the future. This actor had great stage presence and delivered his role with spot-on accuracy. You could enjoy his love and dedication to Harlem, but also understand his deep love for his wife, who was ready to leave to give their baby-tocome a better chance at a safe life.

Ashlee Danielle was delightful as Kyla, the sister to Alicia, who was played by Sharell Williams. Danielle was funny and had a certain charm in the role, while also showing confusion and vulnerability. Williams was captivating as Alicia, the sister who was trying to stay level-headed and calm when the racist actions of white supremacists came to a violent peak in the Harlem community.

“Mecca Is Burning” was a monumental feat to be cherished and revived.

‘The Shark Is Broken’ takes a bite out of Broadway

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

“The Shark Is Broken” will take you on a huge wave of laughter, so just ride it! It is a bite in the right direction. This brilliant comedy is one of the funniest things on Broadway. The hilarious brainchild of Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, it tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of “JAWS,” with all the problems that came with making what became a classic oceanic horror film. It looks at the abusive, friendly, respectful, and disrespectful relationships that existed between the three movie co-stars, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw.

The personalities of these actors were quite entertaining. It is funny

to watch Roy Scheider, portrayed by Colin Donnell, who had to be the one to keep the peace. He respects acting veteran Robert Shaw, but also sees how he takes pleasure in bullying and demeaning up-and-coming actor Richard Dreyfuss. Donnell has Roy down to a science—his walk, voice, and mannerisms. Alex Brightman, as Dreyfuss, is quite an energetic, anxiety-filled, insecure actor, a newcomer trying to find his road to stardom. His performance is priceless. Co-writer Ian Shaw portrays Robert Shaw and is nothing less than outstanding. He comes up with the zingers every time.

This play is enlightening on a personal level, and it's amazing to see the self-inflicted abuses and weaknesses and the serious issues these actors faced in their person-

al lives while making this movie. But what is consistent throughout is that it’s swimming with humor, frustration, and the ups and downs of the movie business.

Guy Masterson’s direction is stunning. Every element of this production, from the detailed Orca boat set by Duncan Henderson, who also did costume design, to the lighting by Jon Clark, sound design and original music by Adam Cork, and detailed projection design by Nina Dunn For PixelLux brings the audience into this totally believable environment of being on the ocean. This sharp-witted play is being presented at the Golden Theatre on W. 45th Street. If you cast your line in for a ticket, you will pull back a boatload of laughs! For more info, visit www.thesharkisbroken.com.

Ashlee Danielle and Sharell Williams in scene from “Mecca Is Burning.”

Joy Renee LeBlanc and Benjamin Rowe in moment from “Mecca Is Burning.” (Jonathan Slaff photos)

(L-R) Alex Brightman, Ian Shaw, and Colin Donnell in a scene from "The Shark Is Broken," a hilarious Broadway comedy. (Matthew Murphy photo)

Kenya Williams and Alton Ray in scene from NEC’s “Mecca Is Burning.”

Charlie Parker Fest, Berta Indeed Day, March on Washington

Charlie Parker. “Bird.” “Yardbird.” After saying his name they shout “amen” and holla “Hallelujah.” He’s revered like a saint (the jazz saint of improvisation). After him there is no other. If Frankie Crocker was the Eighth Wonder of the World, surely Bird is flying high at number nine, no ifs or buts. Damn, maybe even number one depending on the source. You know he inspired a trove of memorable compositions named in his honor, even a jazz club; musicians wanted to play like him. But that’s impossible, his playing style had a wizardly aspect—fast tempos with varied chords had more speed than Satchel Paige’s pitch, and those complex harmonies and rhythms captivated audiences similar to pilot Bessie Coleman’s daredevil maneuvers of figure eights and loops. And while listeners were holding on to their seats, Parker laid out intoxicating blues tones prompting grown men to weep in their tea cups. (listen to “Charlie Parker with Strings” (Vols. I & II, Mercury, 1950/Verve 1995 compilations). Yes, he did have a terrible habit that eventually led to his demise, but during his time on this planet, man what a whirl! That Bird was a revolutionary, a genius, it’s easy to see why his name is synonymous with bebop; it was his furious notes that gave the sound life, a unique movement for hipsters and beyond. A sound the squares and critics couldn’t grip, they just weren’t hip. Charlie Parker, sometimes Bird or Yardbird, damn, what a cat.

In his honor, the annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival returns to New York City, now in its 31st year, for a three-day celebration of live jazz in the neighborhoods near where Parker improvised and lived, including Harlem’s historic Marcus Garvey Park (124th Street and 5th Avenue) and Tompkins Square Park in the East Village.

The festival kicks off on Aug. 25, 7p.m. at Marcus Garvey Park (in association with Jazzmobile) with pianist and composer Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band featuring Grammy award winning vocalist Lisa Fischer, who for many years was a background singer for Luther Vandross, Tina Turner, and the Rolling Stones. (She is replacing Dianne Reeves in the lineup). Also on the roster will be T.K. Blue and "Latin Bird'' in tribute to Charlie Parker. “Latin Bird” (Motema Records) was recorded in 2010 for the 90th birthday tribute to Bird. The same band will perform at the festival which will include: alto saxophonist and flautist T.K. Blue, Steve Turre on trombone and shells; Benito Gonzales on piano; bassist Essiet Essiet: drummer Willie Martinez: and percussionist Roland Guerre-

ro. T.K.’s entire repertoire will be devoted to Parker’s compositions, with the saxophonist’s arrangements.

On Aug. 26, the Parker celebration continues (3p.m.-7p.m.) at Garvey Park with a line-up featuring The Cookers septet, a concerted collaborative of established allstar band leaders and composers, consisting of saxophonist Billy Harper, bassist Cecil McBee, pianist George Cables, trumpeters Eddie Henderson and David Weiss, drummer Billy Hart, and alto saxophonist Donald Harrison. Also on hand will be bassist Endea Owens and the Cookout; some may know her as the house bassist for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Many in Harlem will never forget the Detroit native and the Cookout for their great music and altruistic community cookouts giving out hundreds of free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pianist Nduduzo Makhathini was acknowledged as an intriguing talent in his native home of South Africa in jazz, art, and academia long before coming to the states. He brings his latest trio to perform selections from “The Spirit Of Ntu,” his 2022 album for Blue Note Africa. Rounding out the bill is Akua Allrich and The Tribe, led by the jazz and pan-African vocalist offering deep roots in the blues, and R&B.

The finale takes place downtown at Tompkins Square Park (7th Street and Avenue A) on Aug. 27, at 3p.m.. Featured artists will include iconic alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, whose well-documented playing ability definitely deserves much more attention, having performed with Charles Mingus and recorded ensemble renditions of Charlie Parker works for the soundtrack to the 1988 Parker

biopic “Bird.” He performs here with Terell Stafford, a veteran of his quintet and versatile trumpeter with adventurous expressions of lyricism. Vincent Herring’s Septet, Something Else!, takes its name from Cannonball Adderley’s 1958 classic “Blue Note” LP. Chelsea Baratz’s HERA collective—named after the Olympian queen of the gods—is a unique group of female artists and bandleaders assembled to showcase original works, like featured vocalist and Growing Up Jazz founder Andromeda Turre. The trumpeter Michael Mayo offers genre movements of jazz, pop and classical music that’s in the groove. There will also be DJ sets by Uptown Vinyl Supreme.

Berta Indeed, Harlem’s consummate jazz producer/promoter, recently celebrated her first anniversary of Berta “Indeed” Alloway Day as proclaimed last year on Aug. 8, 2022 by Mayor Eric Adams. The celebration took place at Harlem’s Ralph Ellison Memorial Park on 150th Street and Riverside Drive, the site of her weekly Sunday jazz series (2p.m.5p.m.), that was filled with jazz-loving friends.

The trio performing on that sunny Sunday afternoon included seasoned bandleaders: drummer Willie Martinez, keyboardist David Brand, and bassists Belden Bullock and Melissa Slocum.

It was a busy afternoon for the trio as they accompanied a string of noted singers that included one of Harlem’s favorites lady Catrese, who was mentored early on by the sassy Irene Reid. Her repertoire ranged from “Pennies from Heaven,” to Ruth Brown’s bluesy “Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean.” Theresa Phillips kept the audience moving with her version of King Pleasure’s “Moody’s Mood for Love,'' Barba-

ra Jean English’s reputation dates back to the 1950s and 1960s when she was a member of the popular New Jersey girl group the Clickettes. Her repertoire included standards and her version of Frankie Lymon’s the popular doowop song “Goody, Goody,” Kim Austin swung through “Night and Day,” and Annette St. John, grabbed the audience with Ray Charles’ “Let the Good Times Roll.” As a native of Harlem, St. John currently leads her own band but in her early stages, she was a back-up singer for Al B. Sure, saxophonist Lou Donaldson, and George Benson.

Berta’s Sunday jazz series continues to September 3. On the final day, the featured guest will be vocalist Ghanniyya Green and Friends.

On a more serious jazz note, one of the most significant events of the year will be happening on Saturday, Aug. 26, the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The ATU is partnering with the AFL-CIO and the National Action Network, and the family of Martin Luther King Jr. for the commemoration/ continuance and rally in Washington, D.C.

The struggle for civil rights is still in full force with the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade; voting rights being attacked and disassembled; books being banned; and affirmative action, diversity programs, Black studies curriculums all being attacked and dismantled. All that our elders fought and died for and everything that Black people have fought ever since is now hanging by a string, a frayed thread. The March on Washington is a necessity, an obligation—it's compulsory!! Visit the website nationalactionnetwork.net for more information.

Lisa Fischer (Jonathan Chimene photo)

Hearing

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goals, has been foretold for decades in the city. The proposal was ultimately blocked by the state assembly, but the idea lingered with city and state officials until it was picked back up by former Governor Andrew Cuomo and former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2019. The MTA was grappling with a transit crisis that was exacerbated by the COVID pandemic in 2020. This led to final approval of congestion pricing in New York City on a federal and state level in June of 2023.

Congestion pricing, referred to as the Central Business District (CBD) Tolling Program, has a surprising amount of support from local environmentalists and transit groups, such as WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Regional Plan Association, Citizens Budget Commission (CBC), and Reinvent Albany.

Representatives of these groups testified that the tolling program will be a great opportunity to fund, expand, and improve train and bus services for everyday New Yorkers who are dependent on reliable mass transit. The program is expected to raise at least $15 billion for critical transit projects, such as upgrading to the signaling system, accessibility improvements, and expanding access to the transit system, according to the MTA.

An environmental assessment study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration, New York State Department of Transportation, MTA Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and Department of Transportation (DOT), said congestion pricing would have “widespread benefits” for the city’s finances and regional air quality.

The study found that “85% of existing

Armory

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up with is called the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision.” Sanchez also allocated $12 million from the City Council for capital improvements, maintenance, and other purposes.

“The Kingsbridge Armory is a majestic, incredible structure that could be activated to deliver so much to our community and the Bronx,” said Sanchez in a statement. “It could represent a catalyst for economic transformation in one of the neighborhoods hardest-hit by the pandemic, and that was already struggling economically prior to the pandemic. It could represent hundreds of good paying, union jobs.”

NWBCCC said the group is “encouraged” by the commitment of government funds to the community, but they are waiting to see if community values are responsibly implemented by the city and state. The community vision for the armory calls for “prioritizing youth, wel-

Metro Briefs

Continued from page 3

NYC Council Member Sandy Nurse is sponsoring a school supply and backpack giveaway on Sunday, Aug. 27th, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Highland Park (Lower Playground) located at Jackie Robinson Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11208. Sign up to attend at tinyurl.com/backpackD37.

work trips to the CBD are made by transit, 5% by car from New York City, 3% by car from New York suburban counties, 3% by car from New Jersey, 0.2% by car from Connecticut, and 4% by other modes, including taxis, for-hire vehicles, bicycling and walking.”

The MTA testified that it is prioritizing CBD funds to the city’s transit deserts, service improvements, more electric bus fleets, and meeting the mandated climate goals set by the state.

Richard A. Davey, president of the New York City Transit Authority, said at the hearing that ridership totals have swung back up compared to COVID numbers and subway crime is down. The congestion pricing program was included in the $35 million enacted state budget for transportation for fiscal year 2024, and the MTA and Authority are “moving full steam ahead on” after completing the federally mandated environmental assessment. Cameras and detection points are currently being installed, he said.

coming older adults, creating sustainable jobs and wealth for existing workers and communities, growing a regenerative local economy, maximizing community ownership, and putting the Bronx on the map.” Residents are also interested in seeing the massive space used for local film and TV, sustainable manufacturing, urban agriculture, vocational training, and a small business incubator.

“Public investment of this scale at the Kingsbridge Armory is significant given the decades of public and private disinvestment and displacement that grassroots groups across the Bronx have organized to disrupt and transform,” said NWBCCC.

“Yet the traditional economic development playbook will yield short term gains and exacerbate the systemic challenges faced by community members.”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson added that she is firmly committed to working with the community to adhere to their plan. “This vision plan is not only a labor of love but is the result of months of planning, collaboration, input, and sup-

“As president of New York City Transit,” said Davey, “I need to say that I am an enthusiastic supporter of congestion pricing, and we need it now.”

Many of the council members were for congestion pricing but worried about the impact to working-class drivers and how the revenue generated will benefit communities disproportionately affected by under-investment.

Meanwhile, some council members were very vocal about their absolute disapproval. “It’s robbing the middle class once again,” said Republican Councilmember Vickie Paladino. “Congestion pricing doesn’t work. Period.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

port from various stakeholders dedicated to ensuring Bronxites have a say in the future of the largest armory in our nation,” said Gibson in a statement.

Congressmember Adriano Espaillat said that he has advocated for the redevelopment of the armory throughout his career in public service along with his constituents. He announced that he secured federal House funding for capital improvements, like waterproofing, ensuring it’s free of hazardous materials, and structurally reinforced. “These actions are a testament that revitalization of the Armory is a priority for every level of government and that we are all committed to executing the communities’ vision for the Kingsbridge Armory,” said Espaillat.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Family Health Centers at NYU Langone will be providing back-to-school supplies like backpacks and school materials at a fair on Wednesday, August 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Martin Luther Playground, 2nd Ave. and 55th St, Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The event will also provide health screenings and information, assistance from Empire BlueCross BlueShield team with applications for health plan eligibility recertification, special entertainment for kids, demonstrations, and an adult activity area.

Also, on Wednesday, Aug. 30th, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the New Lots Library will host a backto-school event with free crafts, snacks, community resources and giveaways. Children will receive free backpacks and books. There will also be a science show at 3:30 p.m. This event will take place at 665 New Lots Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11207.

Minority Enterprise Development Week begins Oct. 10

Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week) will take place beginning on October 10th at the Town of Hempstead Pavilion, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York 11550.

MED Week offers a venue for minority-owned firms to access information, tools, and resources to grow their businesses both domestically and internationally through networking events, workshops, and forums. The events that compose MED Week are meant to raise awareness among minority business owners and the larger business community and support these businesses in their efforts to grow to scale.

The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is asking those interested in participating in MED Week to register in advance so that they can get all updates for MED Week 2023.

Online registration is available at: https://liaacc. org/events-calendar/#!event/2023/10/10/minority-160-enterprise-160-development-160-week160-medweek-set-for-oct-10th-2023-at160-town-of-hempstead-pavillion-on-long-island

Surplus vehicle & highway equipment auction

New York State’s Office of General Services will host a surplus vehicle and equipment auction on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 9:30 a.m. at the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities – Staten Island, 930 Willowbrook Road, Staten Island. For information about specific items up for auction, and terms of sale, visit ogs.ny.gov/nysstore or email state.surplus@ogs.ny.gov, or call 518-457-6335.

––Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

Traffic and congestion in Central Business District on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. 42nd St. near Vanderbilt Avenue (Marc A. Hermann/MTA photo)

CLASSROOM IN

Clarence Avant, acclaimed mogul in the entertainment industry

ACTIVITIES

Clarence Avant’s powerful influence can be found from filmdom to the mythic, and perhaps most reliably on HistoryMakers.

DISCUSSION

What about his relationship with the legendary Rodriquez and the truth that would dispel the rumors?

PLACE IN CONTEXT

Avant’s presence among us for nearly a century was splendid and extremely productive.

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

He was dubbed the “Godfather of Black Music,” but the deluge of tributes for Clarence Avant from a bevy of prominent people is tantamount to ones delivered for a head of state. And to some degree, Avant, who died on August 13 in Los Angeles at 92, deserved all the acclaim as a mogul in the entertainment industry, particularly as a record producer and executive.

As has been declared on many occasions in this column, you don’t have to wait a century or so to profile a distinguished Black American, although in this case, we can hardly claim Avant is unknown and unheralded. In fact, quite the contrary: He rose from being a “roadie” for Little Willie John to the helm of Motown Records.

Avant was born on February 25, 1931, in Climax, North Carolina. Other than his attendance at a one-room schoolhouse and later as a student at James Dudley High School in Greensboro, North

Carolina, very little is known of his early years. He was a teenager when he moved to New Jersey to live with his aunt and cousin. One of his first jobs was working at a lounge owned by Teddy Powell, and it was there that he met Little Willie John, who asked him to be his road manager.

From this fortuitous meeting and subsequent employment, Avant came into contact with other performers and music notables, including William Stevenson, whom he helped to sign with MGM, thereby facilitating the merger of an artist with a major company with the incorporation of Venture Records. In effect, according to an interview with HistoryMakers, Avant the “deal maker” was born. In 1968, Al Bell enlisted his help to sell Stax Records to Gulf & Western, a deal completed for $4.5 million.

These successes set the stage for Avant to start his own record company, Sussex. The recent death of singer Rodriguez, who recorded for the company, reminded us of

the less-than-successful venture. Avant’s musical passion and ambitions morphed into the quest to own a radio station. That became a reality by 1973 when he bought KAGB-FM, although it, like Sussex, closed within two years.

Tabu Records was Avant’s next endeavor, but his interest shifted to promoting performers and materialized most dramatically in 1987 when he helped put Michael Jackson’s first tour on the map— it grossed $125 million. Consequently, he was named chair of the Board of Motown Records.

Among those who praised Avant and his legacy was the Rev. Al Sharpton, who said, “Clarence Avant was a revolutionary. When people in the entertainment world were delegated to a near master/slave relationship, he broke through that wall of exploitation and made us respected business people. I can’t count the enormous amount of situations that he negotiated.”

Along with his accomplishments in the music industry, Avant also

formed business alliances with major corporations, such as Pepsico to erect a bottling plant in South Africa. In 1997, he, along with Quincy Jones, was the recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award. Morehouse College presented him with an honorary doctorate in 2003; he was inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame in 2010.

Former Presidents Clinton and Obama were among those saluting Avant, including condolences to his wife, Nicole, and their children. But Sean “Diddy” Combs summarized Avant’s remarkable career: “Clarence Avant was an irreplaceable force in the music industry. He was a mentor and a personal friend whose influence is unparalleled. His visionary approach and unwavering dedication broke barriers for Black artists, propelling them to new heights. As we honor this trailblazer, we are reminded of his enduring legacy that continues to live on, inspiring a generation of artists and shaping the industry.”

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY

Aug. 20, 1930: Actor/ dancer Geoffrey Holder was born in Trinidad. He died in 2014.

Aug. 20, 1942: Grammy Award-winning singer and composer Isaac Hayes was born in Covington, Tenn. He died in 2008.

Aug. 25, 1927: Tennis great Althea Gibson was born in Clarendon, S.C. She died in 2003.

Bill

Continued from page 3

Park” and had fewer public cooling centers compared to other neighborhoods.

“Air conditioners are not a luxury—it’s a health necessity for our seniors, and they shouldn’t have to struggle to get cool,” said Cleare from the podium.

“Extreme heat—especially when com-

Shelters

Continued from page 4

“The migrants are inadvertently shining a light on how horrible the system is,

Immigration

Continued from page 14

border crossings transpired within the Border Patrol›s Tucson sector, an expansive and remote area encompassing a significant portion of Arizona›s border with Mexico and segments of the Sonoran Desert. In this region, where temperatures have consistently reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the summer, nearly

bined with high humidity—is the deadliest impact of climate change. But it does not impact everyone equally. For example, in New York City, Black residents are twice as likely to die from heat-stroke as white New Yorkers,” said Justice Caleb Smith, resiliency coordinator at WE ACT for Environmental, in a statement.

Smith said that removing the medical requirement barrier for access to the HEAP program would make all vulnerable seniors eligible regardless of their

and because of that reason, they’re being punished,” said Malu. “As [migrant] advocates, we need to think about how we can get together [to] can we unite and how can we support the housing advocates that have been fighting but dignify housing for the people who have been

40,000 apprehensions were documented in July. This figure stands as a sector record. Additionally, U.S. immigration authorities reported an unprecedented high of 50,851 migrants processed at official ports of entry. This increase is primarily attributed to a system that enables asylum-seekers in Mexico to utilize a mobile app for requesting appointments to legally enter the United States.

3: Backlogs Continue

The U.S. State Department has just unveiled the September Visa Bulletin, and

health conditions.

Harlem officials like Assemblymember Inez Dickens and Councilmember-elect Yusef Salaam in attendance were behind Cleare’s bill.

“A bill such as this is so important, to not only the senior population but those that are disabled and physically challenged,” said Dickens at the event. “It is incumbent on us to try and fight, and today, our senator is fighting for us and for HEAP to be properly funded on all

in the shelter for so many years.

“And how can we use this moment in our history, to not get caught up in the divide and conquer rhetoric, but actually to unify. To be able to push forward in helping people get housing that have been neglected for so many years.”

notably, the F2A category is no longer categorized as current. This signifies a departure from the trend of recent years, indicating that the spouses and minor children of green card holders will now encounter extended waiting periods for the approval of their green card applications. Concurrently, the latest data provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reveals prolonged processing times for U visas. These visas are designed for individuals who have been victims of crimes and have aided law enforcement, al-

levels of government.”

Salaam said that seniors are “near and dear to [his] heart.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/ amnews1.

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

lowing them to remain in the United States. The current situation highlights increasingly protracted processing periods. The backlog for U visa applications has now exceeded 300,000, leaving those caught in this backlog in a state of limbo without legal status, or the authorization to work within the U.S. as they await resolution.

The writer is publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com – The Black Immigrant Daily News. She can be reached at felicia@caribpr.com

Educator/activist Sam Anderson honored at 80

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

Family, friends, and colleagues took part in a birthday celebration for famed educator/activist Sam Anderson on Saturday, Aug. 19. Anderson recently turned 80, and several people came to celebrate that milestone at a party on the block in front of his house in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

The day featured music from a hired deejay, food catered by Just Soul Catering, and speeches from guests who have known Anderson and his wife, the journalist/ activist Rosemari Mealy, for years.

Many were able to talk about the years of camaraderie and the efforts they have all made to make changes in the world.

Anderson was a founding member of Harlem’s Black Panther Party, which prioritized the struggle for community control over schools. He was the founding chair of Sarah Lawrence College’s Black studies department in 1969; worked with other progressive educators to design the formation of SUNY Old Westbury in 1970; and has taught at Brooklyn College, City College of New York, New York University, and Rutgers University.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Dated: Monday, August 7th 2023

He was a founding member of the Coalition for Public Education and the National Black Education Agenda, and remains active with the NYC Coalition to Finally End Mayoral Control of Schools

Those attending the party took time out to recognize his life’s work.

Bronx-based poet Mariposa Fernández and Sister Lisa Muhammad delivered spoken-word presentations. San Francisco State University’s Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi recalled Anderson signing on to a statement condemning racism in Israel—and losing his chairmanship at Sarah Lawrence University for his bravery.

DEMOCRACY PREP NEW YORK SCHOOL MEETING OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

“The toll that it takes on people who speak up for truth and justice: Some people get assassinated, people lose their jobs, but they continue,” said Abdulhadi. “Sam Anderson continued. But that statement is one of the most important statements that doesn’t even get noted about the

history of Black-Palestinian solidarity, but we’re speaking about it.”

Syracuse University African American studies scholar Horace G. Campbell said he met Anderson 55 years ago at the Montreal Congress of Black Writers. “Sam had the wind behind him, coming out of the struggles for freedom,” Campbell reflected. “In this conference, the Black writers’ conference, Sam said to me, ‘We’re going to civilize the United States of America.’

“Those words stuck with me, from then until now. Because as a young man coming and going to university, [it was striking] to meet someone so supremely confident about their ability to change society. It is this confidence that Sam has carried for the past 50 years that I’ve known him and I want to wish [him] a happy 80th birthday.”

Carmen Santana said it was Anderson who made her aware of the historical archivist Arturo Alfonso Schomburg. “Sam taught me who Arturo Alfonso Schomburg is. And, to this day, I will not give up the fight…to see him posthumously honored, not because he’s a Puerto Rican, but because he’s a Black Puerto Rican that put history on the map,” Santana said.

Dr. Shadidi Chase Kinsey, vice

chair of National Association of Kawaida Organizations, presented Anderson and Mealy with plaques from this year’s 54th annual Malcolm X Black Unity awards program. Dr. Kinsey said they were being awarded “for all the work and the love and the struggle that they have given to our people.”

Anderson recognized all those who took time out to attend his party: “I’d like to thank all of my comrades who were in the Black Panther Party who are here. It’s important that [we] who have survived that struggle and laid the foundation for the movements that we see today––not just the Black movements but liberation movements in general––be acknowledged.”

Anderson told the AmNews that he has never separated his work as an activist from his calling as an educator. When he was a student at Lincoln University in the 1960s, he became an activist on campus. He helped desegregate the Wilmington movie theater in the early 1960s and joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), all while majoring in math and looking forward to a future of becoming a math teacher.

Ana Juarbe, Sam Anderson, Jaime Veve, Chris Choy, Esperanza Martell, and Angel Roman enjoying

birthday celebration (Karen Juanita Carrillo photo)

Pursuant to Section 104 Public Notice of the Open Meetings Law, and pursuant to Executive Order 202.1, this notice is to inform the public that the board of trustees of Democracy Prep New York School will hold a remote meeting by teleconference on

EDU

“I began to think more in terms of, ‘Okay, I’m majoring in math, and we need teachers, Black teachers, so my plan was I’m going to teach at the university level and try to encourage other students coming into college to go into the math and science fields. I thought it would be a breeze, you know? But there’s so many people who are just afraid: they have this internalized, inferiority complex in terms of, ‘I don’t have the intellectual capabilities to do math,’ and so on, so on.

“That was a whole new learning process for me, and I had to eventually develop an approach to detoxify Black minds in terms of our being able to do math. And so, you know, that became a central part of my ‘professional work.’”

One of Anderson’s most revered works is his 2007 book, “The Black Holocaust for Beginners.” The book documents the origins and treatment of enslaved Africans in the Americas from the 1500s up until 1865.

Now retired as a teacher, Anderson is still part of efforts to end mayoral control of New York City’s

public schools. He and his wife also remain fierce advocates for ending the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

Those interested in saluting Sam Anderson for his 80th birthday

may consider donating to IFCO/ Pastors for Peace, the organization that sponsors Friendshipment caravans to Cuba at ifconews. org/donate (tax-exempt). “There

are things that they need that are on the world market, that, if they could negotiate for it, they would be able to do that,” Rosemari Mealy told those attending the

party. “We encourage you to go to Cuba with IFCO/ Pastors for Peace and any of the other organizations and see for yourself what is going on there.”

You remembered their books.

You remembered their forms.

You remembered their schedules.

Be sure to remember their vaccines.

Vaccines are required for children to stay in school and day care.

They’re safe and reduce the risk of severe preventable illnesses, like measles, polio, chickenpox, flu and COVID-19. Talk to your child’s health care provider to make sure they are up to date with their immunizations. For more information, visit nyc.gov/studentvaccines or call 311.

Eric Adams Mayor Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD Commissioner

Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi salutes Sam Anderson for his bravery (Karen Juanita Carrillo photos)

Syracuse University African American studies scholar Horace G. Campbell recalls that Anderson once told him, “We’re going to civilize the United States of Ame

Dr. Shadidi Chase Kinsey presents Sam Anderson and Rosemari Mealy with awards

Religion & Spirituality Minister Clemson Brown, ubiquitous documentarian, passes at 83

By HERB BOYD Special to

the AmNews

One visit to Minister Clemson Brown’s basement in his home in Brooklyn is the best introduction to his dedication and commitment to the Black struggle. For more than a half-century, he and his camera witnessed and recorded a veritable warehouse of Pan-African activism, which he later named Transatlantic Productions. His inexhaustible coverage of Black nationalism will be missed since he made his transition this past Aug. 7. He was 83.

What most people in his political orbit remember about Brown is his face behind a camera, mainly as a videographer, and nowhere more present than at the House of Lord Church in Brooklyn. It was at the church that he was ordained in 1978, and where he served for more than 20 years.

Born Clemson Grover Brown in Lancaster County, South Carolina, on Aug. 25, 1939, he was the son of Clemson Brown and Lucille McDow Brown. He was educated at City College of New York, where he majored

Grief

Continued from page 4

high Black maternal death rates in the U.S. In New York City, Black pregnant women are far more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts in wrongful death cases.

In preparation for a home birth, Nubia Martin, president and founder of Birth

From the Earth Inc, ran standard checks to make sure that Isaac was in full health. She discovered that Isaac’s blood platelets were low, which meant that they hadn’t been clotting properly, and doctors should have done tests for liver enzymes to rule out severe complications like Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome. She immediately contacted the family and told them about the missed condition.

“I’m a mother of five,” said Martin. “I became a midwife because of the way that I was treated in the hospital—the immediate separation and the behavior

in fine arts and Afro-American studies, receiving his BA in 1973. Three years later, he and his family attended a bicentennial celebration with the Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry and many community activists. Thus began his long association with Daughtry, where he was present to record nearly all the intrepid reverend’s activities.

Documenting Daughtry’s tireless endeavors was the springboard into Brown’s general coverage of African American political and cultural events. Hardly a momentous occasion escaped his camera, which was soon indispensable to the movement.

At his funeral services, conducted by Reverend Charles Crockett and Reverend Andrew Teagle Jr. at the Camp Creek AME Zion Church in Lancaster, the program noted that Brown taught art, directed community activities and athletic programs, and served as a youth counselor.

His three-dimensional fine art, sculpture, and jewelry creations won him wide acclaim. “His poetry has been collected and published, leading to his inclusion in the ‘International Who’s Who in Poetry’

displayed to me, and just knowing that the hospital is a place to make money. They try to push inductions and C-sections on Black women [that are] not medically indicated.”

Martin said these unnecessary C-sections often result in infections or injuries, but are preferred by ob-gyns because they can be scheduled, are quick, and generate reimbursements.

Martin didn’t have further direct contact with Isaac because she was no longer a good candidate for home birth. At this point, it was April 2020 and Isaac was supposed to be due May 30, at the height of the pandemic. On April 18, Isaac entered the hospital where her mother worked as an administrator. She was still afraid, and because of social distancing rules, had to be alone.

When McIntyre attempted to join Isaac at the hospital, “Security comes up to me, they call me out by name disrespectfully, and they call me Mr. Baby Daddy, and they tell me to calm down,” he said. “I wasn’t making a scene. I just wanted to make sure

published by the International Biography Center of Cambridge, England,” according to the obituary.

During his energetic lifetime, Brown was honored by the NAACP for creating on-thejob training programs for young people in the construction industry when he served

she got the care that she needs.”

By April 20, it was confirmed that Isaac had HELLP syndrome. The hospital decided to induce labor early and do an unplanned emergency C-section without a blood transfusion, which resulted in severe blood loss. McIntyre said that from where he was quarantined, he saw doctors rushing blood to her room.

He learned from a nurse that since they didn’t know where the bleeding was coming from and that doctors also performed an emergency and unnecessary hysterectomy on Isaac. Then they cut her open a third time, he said, to massage her heart.

Isaac died. McIntyre’s son, Elias, survived.

“I wasn’t able to hug or kiss Amber goodbye,” said McIntyre. “The last words that we were saying to each other was that we were going home. That’s all she kept repeating to herself: ‘The three of us are going home.’”

McIntyre began his advocacy work in the course of raising funds for Isaac’s funeral and demanding the city not bury her with COVID victims in a mass grave at Hart Island. He experienced discrimination in family courts as a single Black father trying to get custody of his son and get his name on the child’s birth certificate. He also learned that there was little support for families who lose loved ones when it came to finances as well as mental healthcare.

“New York’s backward wrongful death laws, crafted in 1847, are exceedingly dis-

as president of ReCap Construction Inc. He applied his innovative vision to rebuilding neighborhoods, especially those occupied by marginalized residents.

Brown expressed a global interest in the diaspora, documenting the culture and lifestyle of people from the Caribbean, Africa, Central America, and Europe. One of his often-unmentioned preoccupations was promoting the ideas of physicist Gabriel Oyibo and his concepts that extended the work of Albert Einstein, asserting a theory of everything. In Ghana, a street has been named after him.

Those left to cherish his loving memory and continue his legacy are his wife of 62+ years, Lady Viola Brown; two children: Clemson Rupertis Brown (Margaret) and Herlinda Vaness Brown Thompson (Bobby); five grandchildren: LaToya LaShanté Fortson, Ashley Diandrea Aset Brown, Justin Gregory Thompson, Clemson Hannibal Brown, and Bobbi Imaneé Thompson; one great-grandson, Asar Jaydin White; and a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

criminatory and racist by design,” said Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, sponsor of the Grieving Families Act.

The wrongful death law excludes close family members from receiving any money from wrongful death suits. Lawyer advocates for a change in the law argue that this reflects an “outdated belief” that falls most harshly on children, seniors, and people of color and women who have significantly less sustainable income.

“Actuarial tables are used by big insurance companies to price the cost of life, and for people of color and women, the calculation pales in comparison to white and male victims. It is our job as legislators to protect all victims’ families in their worst days, and to reform this deeply prejudicial system,” said Hoylman-Sigal.

Hoylman-Sigal said the use of race and gender in pricing the value of a life is an “atrocious” practice that must stop.

The bill passed in the state Senate and Assembly in 2022. The updated bill is awaiting Hochul’s signature, although she already vetoed a previous bill version.

According to her office, Hochul “will review this legislation.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

(Clemson Brown Family photo)

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101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NEW YORK

INDEX NO: 850257/2022

D/O/F: 12/02/2022 & 01/18/2023

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Premises Address: 61 West 126th Street, New York, NY 10027

Plaintiff designates New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the property is situated.

101 LEGAL NOTICES

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

INDEX # 158597/22

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND AMENDED NOTICE

Plaintiffs designate New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the liened premises is situated. Tax Lien Foreclosure of: 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019 (Block: 01042, Lot: 1419).

USALLIANCE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION BY MERGER WITH NEW YORK METRO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, -against-

Unknown heirs at law of JAMES MCCASKILL a/k/a JAMES MC CASKILL, his next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained; KAMILAH MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; EDNA MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL; EDNA MCCASKILL AS NATURAL GUARDIAN OF JAMES MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL;

“JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendant(s).

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn, III, a Justice of the Supreme Court, New York County, entered July 20, 2023 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the New York County Clerk’s Office.

THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the New York County Clerk’s Office on Jan. 20, 2006 in CRFN: 2006000037104, covering premises k/a 61 West 126th Street, New York, NY 10027 a/k/a Block 1724, Lot 11.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

The following notice is intended only for the defendants who are owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security.

YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

PLEASE BE AWARE:

TO THE DEFENDANTS, except The Estate of James McCaskill a/k/a James MC Caskill: The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action.

TO THE DEFENDANTS: The Estate of James McCaskill a/k/a James MC Caskill: If you have obtained an order of discharge from the Bankruptcy court, which includes this debt, and you have not reaffirmed your liability for this debt, this law firm is not alleging that you have any personal liability for this debt and does not seek a money judgment against you. Even if a discharge has been obtained, this lawsuit to foreclose the mortgage will continue and we will seek a judgment authorizing the sale of the mortgaged premises.

Dated:

Sandy J. Stolar, Esq.

Margolin, Weinreb & Nierer, LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff

165 Eileen Way, Suite 101

Syosset, New York 11791

516-921-3838

#100634

NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST and The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian, Plaintiffs, against Wen Deng, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Lu Tang, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.; CitiMortgage, Inc.; The Board of Managers of 310 W. 52nd St. Condominium; Forte Express Plumbing & Heating Inc.; CCG Construction LLC; DNJ Industries Inc.; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; United States of America; and "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #100", inclusive the last 100 names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiffs, it being intended to designate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premises and/or persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the liened premises described in the complaint, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint herein. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the attorney for the Plaintiffs within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where is made in any other manner than personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT. THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Tax Lien pursuant to: (1) a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on August 23, 2018 in CRFN: 2018000284174; and (2) a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on March 4, 2022, in CRFN: 2022000097158, both liens covering premises known as 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019 (Block: 01042, Lot: 1419). The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the tax lien described above. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT To the above named defendants: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, J.S.C. of the State of New York, and filed along with the supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on 7/20/2023. This is an action to foreclose on a Tax Lien. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of the New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 01042 and Lot 1419, said premises known as 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019. THE DELLO-IACONO LAW GROUP, P.C., Attorney for Plaintiffs, 312 Larkfield Road, Lower Level, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-861-3001. Our File # 20-000140

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -against- TREVOR C. MORAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated April 22, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 13th, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. The Unit known as Residential Unit No. 10A in the building known as The Heritage at Trump Place, 240 Riverside Boulevard, in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, Together with an undivided 0.7911% interest in the common elements. Block: 1171 Tax Lot: 2111. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 240 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD, UNIT 10A, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $5,673,292.89 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney.

Index Number 850110/2019.

THOMAS KLEINBERGER, ESQ., Referee

David A. Gallo & Associates LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030

File# 5025.1930

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. VERNDELL H. GILDHOUSE and NIHAT A. SURGUT, Deft. - Index #850093/2021. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 22, 2022, I will sell at public auction Outside on the Portico, NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an undivided 0.0519144314871446% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as HNY CLUB SUITES –PHASE I located at 1335 Avenue of Americas, in the County of NY, State of NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $120,199.18 plus costs and interest as of October 21, 2021. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Paul Sklar, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell & Novitz, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. TAX REVOLUTION INSTITUTE, INC., Deft. - Index #850169/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 20, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside on the Portico, NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an undivided 0.00986400000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57th STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, in the County of NY, State of NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $73,772.32 plus costs and interest as of January 4, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell & Novitz, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. JACQUELINE M. TILLAR and BARBARA ANN WYNN, Defts. - Index # 850029/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 9, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 14,000/16,783,800 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 2 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $100,534.95 plus costs and interest as of March 27, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Georgia Papazis, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF CINEMAINTENANT LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 20 March 2023. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the served upon him/her is: 1850 Amsterdam Avenue New York NY 10031. The principal business address of the LLC is 1850 Amsterdam Avenue New York NY 10031. Dissolution date: perpetual. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Galeriana LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/14/2023. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Galeriana LLC C/O Victor Tafur, P.O. Box 1642, New York NY 10163. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Bomber Jacket Productions LLC filed with the SSNY on 7/05/2023. Office Location: NY County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 119 Waverly Place, Apt 1, New York, NY, 10011. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Bomber Jacket Productions LLC is an independently run film/television and media company, with particular focus on documentary and nonfiction projects.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of FASHION BY SABINE LLC, Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 06/12/2023. Office location: New York County. Principal office of LLC: 548 West 28th Street, Suite 645, New York, New York 10001. The New York Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to Fashion By Sabine LLC c/o Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, PC, 21 Main Street Ste. 200, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Lobo Creations LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 5/20/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail copy to: 165 West 91st Street, #11A, NY, NY, 10024. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

199 Bowery 10C LLC Arts of Org filed with the SSNY on 7/27/2023. Office: Albany County. NW Registered Agent LLC designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to NW Registered Agent LLC, 90 State St.,Ste 700, Off 40, Albany NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Lounge Kat Studios LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/09/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: Lounge Kat Studios LLC, 1412 Broadway, 21st Fl., Ste. 21V, NY, NY 10018. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

MBSSM, LLC filed Articles of Organization with the NY Department of State on August 3, 2023. Its office is located in NY County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom process against it may be served, and a copy of any process shall be mailed to 767 Third Ave., 38th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The purpose of the Company is any lawful business.

Notice of Qualification of KEPPEL US MANAGEMENT LLC

Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/11/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/27/22. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 850 New Burton Rd., Ste. 201, Dover, DE 19904. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, 401 Federal St., Ste. 3, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT

NOTICE of FORMATION of a DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP

Name of LLP: ZAHN LAW

GROUP LLP. Date of filing of Notice of Registration with the NY Dept of State: 11/20/2019.

Office of the LLP: NY County.

The NY Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. NYSS may mail a copy of any process to the LLP at: 757 Third Ave., 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Purpose of LLP: Any lawful purpose. The LLP will have a perpetual existence.

Notice of Qualification of S + B READE STREET, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/04/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Maryland (MD) on 07/12/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 1000W, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Cert. of Form. filed with Michael L. Higgins, Jr., Director, Dept. of Assessments and Taxation, 301 W. Preston St., Rm. 801, Baltimore, MD 21201. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of YES WE DID! LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 02/01/2023. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to YES WE DID! LLC, 130 Jane Street, Suite 5J, New York, NY, 10014. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV SUB 2 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., NY, NY 10017. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate.

Notice of Qualification of PROMETEON TYRE GROUP COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/29/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/22/16. Princ. office of LLC: 100 Pirelli Dr., Rome, GA 30161. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Holistic Flavors LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/29/2022. Office Location: NY County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 150 W. 140th St., #2E, NY, NY 10030. Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT- COUNTY OF NEW YORK

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAMP TRUST 2005-AHL2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-AHL2, Plaintiff, AGAINST

NILLIE JACOB, et al. Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on May 4, 2022.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre St, New York, NY 10007 on September 6, 2023 at 2:15 PM premises known as 203 West 81st Street 4E, New York, NY 10024.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for the First Judicial District, New York County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County, and State of New York. Block 1229 and Lot 1039. Approximate amount of judgment $1,401,190.22 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #850133/2016.

Mark McKew, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLP - Attorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

HNY CLUB SUITES OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff -against- ELAINE BAIRD, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 21, 2023 and entered on February 23, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 13th, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY; known as The NYH Condominium. Together with an appurtenant undivided 0.0381% in common interest percentage. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 27, 2003 and November 3, 2003 as CFRN # 2003000442512 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1006 and Lot 1302. The Foreclosure Sale will be conducted in accordance with 1st Judicial District’s COVID-19 Policies and Foreclosure Auction Rules. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK. Approximate amount of lien $19,657.96 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850240/2018.

THOMAS KLEINBERGER, ESQ., Referee

DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

LOANCORE CAPITAL CREDIT REIT LLC, Plaintiff -against- 111 E. 59TH STREET JV SUB LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated March 31, 2023, as amended on July 31, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 20, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the northerly side of East 59th Street, distant 105 feet easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the northerly side of East 59th Street with the easterly side of Park Avenue; RUNNING THENCE northerly and parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue a distance of 100 feet 5 inches to a point on the center line of the block between East 59th Street and East 60th Street; THENCE westerly along the center line of the block between East 59th Street and East 60th Street a distance of 5 feet to a point; THENCE northerly and parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue a distance of 100 feet 5 inches to a point on the southerly side of East 60th Street; THENCE easterly along the southerly side of East 60th Street a distance of 60 feet to a point; THENCE southerly and parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue a distance of 100 feet 5 inches to a point on the center line of the block between East 59th Street and East 60th Street; THENCE southerly and parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue a distance of 100 feet 5 inches to a point on the northerly side of East 59th Street; THENCE westerly along the northerly side of East 59th Street a distance of 60 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 111 E. 59TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $256,425,133.24 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850195/2022.

HAYLEY GREENBERG, ESQ., Referee

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

250 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

INDEX # 157000/22

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND AMENDED NOTICE

Plaintiffs designate New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the liened premises is situated. Tax Lien Foreclosure of: 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003. (Block: 00870, Lot: 1347).

NYCTL 2021-A TRUST and The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian, Plaintiffs, against Alvin Wong, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Board of Managers of the One Union Square East Condominium;; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; United States of America; and "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #100", inclusive the last 100 names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiffs, it being intended to designate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premises and/or persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the liened premises described in the complaint, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint herein, Defendants. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the attorney for the Plaintiffs within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where is made in any other manner than personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT. THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on March 4, 2022, in CRFN: 2022000097156, covering premises known as 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003 (Block: 00870, Lot: 1347).

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the tax lien described above. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT To the above named defendants: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, J.S.C. of the State of New York, and filed along with the supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on 7/3/2023. This is an action to foreclose on a Tax Lien. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of the New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 00870 and Lot 1347, said premises known as 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003. THE DELLO-IACONO LAW GROUP, P.C., Attorney for Plaintiffs, 312 Larkfield Road, Lower Level, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-861-3001. Our File # 20-000009

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

USC 171 BOWERY LLC, Plaintiff -against- 171 BOWERY PROPERTY OWNER LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Consent Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 21, 2023 and entered on March 28, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 13, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the easterly side of Bowery, distant 20 feet 1 inch southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the southerly side of Delancy Street with the easterly side of the Bowery, which said point is opposite the center of a party wall, standing party on the premises herein described and the premises adjoining on the north; being a plot 127 feet 1 1/2 inches by 20 feet 6 inches by 125 feet 10 1/2 inches by 20 feet 6 inches. Block: 424 Lot: 11. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 171 BOWERY, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $9,602,236.05 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850125/2022.

CLARK WHITSETT, ESQ., Referee

KRISS & FEUERSTEIN LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

360 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10017

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- ADEWALE GEORGE, ENATA GEORGE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated May 5, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 27, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an undivided 0.00986400000% interest in the common elements. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37. Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $38,780.17 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850060/2022.

PAUL R. SKLAR, ESQ., Referee

DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #1368431 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & liquor at retail in a restaurant under the ABC Law at 158 9th Ave., NYC 10011 for on-premises consumption; Mongkol 88 LLC

Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #1368379 for beer & wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer & wine at retail in an event space under the ABC Law at 171 Canal St-3rd Fl., NYC 10013 for on-premises consumption; Italia Like Locals Inc.

Notice is hereby given that a license number 1365328 for a beer, wine, liquor, and cider license has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine, liquor and cider at retail in a Vessel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control law at Pier 78 W38th & 12th Ave, New York, NY 10018, for on-premises consumption. Three Brothers Baking Inc D/B/A Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Notice of Formation of 302 BEACH 149TH STREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 22 W. 66th St., Apt. #13, NY, NY 10023. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Supreme Court – New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. v. Any unknown heirs to the Estate of JAMES A. SCOTT, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, creditors, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest, as well as the respective heirs at law, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest of the aforesaid classes of persons, if they or any of them be dead, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff, et al., Deft. – Index # 850073/23. The foregoing supplemental summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 19th day of July 2023 and duly entered the 24th day of July 2023 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY, 5165868513.

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of: An undivided 6,000/16,783,800 tenants in common interest in Phase 2 of HNY Club Suites located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY. Section: 4 Block: 1006 Lot: 1303. Mortgage bearing the date of March 6, 2015, executed by James A. Scott to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $37,161.60, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on December 4, 2015 in CRFN 2015000430738. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. NESTOR I. CHAVEZ, Defts. - Index # 850268/2022. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 8, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0,00986400000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57th STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $16,870.38 plus costs and interest as of March 27, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Allison M. Furman, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., NY, NY 10017. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Real estate.

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 1 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/27/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 11/13/17. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 60th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 2 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/01/21. Princ. office of LLC:

152 W. 57th St., 60th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 3 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/17/21. Princ. office of LLC:

152 W. 57th St., 60th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Broadway & 166th, L.L.C. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/08/00. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 3956 Broadway, New York, NY 10032. Registered agent address c/o Herbert Wetanson, c/o The BBQ Restaurant, 27 W. 72nd Steet, New York, NY 10023. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of 109Co MGMT, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/24/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/21/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 79 Laight St., Apt. 2F, NY, NY 10013. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV SUB 1 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., NY, NY 10017. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate.

THE CLARK STANDARD LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/18/2023. Office loc: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 1988 Newbold Ave, Apt 2B, Bronx, NY 10472. Reg Agent: Nelson M Clark Jr, 1988 Newbold Ave, Apt 2B, Bronx, NY 10472. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of GERHARD PRODUCTIONS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/03/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 207 W. 25th St. - 6th Fl., NY, NY 10001. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Pros & Cones LLC filed Articles of Organization with the NY Department of State on August 3, 2023. Its office is located in NY County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom process against it may be served, and a copy of any process shall be mailed to 767 Third Ave., 38th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The purpose of the Company is any lawful business.

Coeus Digital Media LLC. Filed 12/22/22. Office: NY Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: C/O Firstbase Agent LLC, 447 Broadway 2nd Fl #187, New York, NY 10013.

Purpose: General.

ARWA PROPERTIES GROUP NY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/21/2023. Of-

fice: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 237 Eldridge St., Apt 2, NY, NY 10002. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Tea Teasse L.L.C.. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on July 26th, 2023. Office Location:New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process may be served. The Post Office the address to which shall mail a copy of any process against the L.L.C. served upon him/her is 7014 15th Avenue,Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228.The principle business address of the L.L.C. is 212 East Broadway, G1507, New York, NY 10002

Notice of Formation of Jacquelyn Trimlett LLC filed with SSNY on 202308-9. Office: New York County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC.: 7014 13TH AVENUE SUITE 202 BROOKLYN, NY 11228. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of formation of HUDSON YARDS 5701 LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/10/2023. Office located in NEW YORK. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 5 Half Moon Isle, Jersey City, NJ 07305. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of RGNMCA AMHERST II, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/03/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/28/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Operate an executive suite business center.

Notice of Qualification of GV MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/05/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/01/09. Princ. office of LLC: 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy., Mountain View, CA 94043. NYS fictitious name: GOOGLE VENTURES MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of EDIFICE PARTNERS LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/28/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/20/23. Princ. office of LLC: 1 Rockefeller Plaza, 11th Fl., NY, NY 10020. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Management of real estate.

Notice of Formation of MGHE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/23/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 65 E. 55th St., 31st Fl., NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543.

Purpose: Hospitality.

Notice of Formation of E. CASCADE VENTURE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/04/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 780 3rd Ave., Ste. 4203, NY, NY 10017. The regd. agent of the company upon whom and at which process against the company can be served is Brian Conroy, 780 3rd Ave., Ste. 4203, NY, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of FRIEZE US HOLDINGS, LLC

Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/07/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/21/15. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Thomas V. Lopez, PLLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on July 25, 2023. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the PLLC served upon him/her is C/O the PLLC: 207 East 120th Street, PH, New York, NY 10035. The principal business address of the PLLC is: 207 East 120th Street, PH, New York, NY 10035. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Human Creative Services LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/27/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to 251 West 117th St, Apt 6I, NY, NY 10163. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Open Concept NYC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/23/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to 408 E. 83rd St., 5A, NY, NY, 10028. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Goat Getters Entertainment LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 7/11/2023. Office location: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S #573402, New York, NY 10003.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NORTH 43rd, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/04/01. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2099. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 147 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of BRODAR LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/27/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 13-14 W. 54th St., 1st Fl., NY, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

23RD & 8TH, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/17/01. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2099. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 261 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

ADAE HOLDINGS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/07/23. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 121 West 17th Street, 2B, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of TUNGSTEN HEALTH HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/19/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/25/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of SCOPUS GROUP, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/26/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/17/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of BAUDELAIRE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 445 Park Ave., Ste. 1401, NY, NY 10012. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

FOSTER AGENCY SERVICES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/19/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to 228 Park Ave S #675149, NY, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Stone Way Trucking LLC

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/10/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S, PMB 541359, NY, NY, 10003. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Skin Therapy By Susan LLC

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/17/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 1123 Bdwy, Ste 712, NY, NY, 10010.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

L.A. Opulence LLC Arts. of Org. filed 10/20/20. Office: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 1074 East 73rd Street, Apt. 1, Bklyn, NY 11234. Purpose: General.

SVG Plan Trucking LLC. Arts. of Org. filed on 03/23/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to 228 Park Ave S #536671, NY, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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Chuck D named music ambassador for MLB Hip-Hop 50 celebrations

By RON AGERS, MLBbro Special to the AmNews

On Aug. 11, 2023, Major League Baseball launched a business partnership with Mass Appeal’s Hip-Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium, home of the 27-time World Series champion, New York Yankees.

The stadium is located in the Bronx, which is well-known as the birthplace of rap music, one of the core elements of hiphop culture.

With this one-year partnership continuing into the 2024 season, the MLB along with all 30 teams will provide baseball and rap music fans a variety of things such as content creation, merchandise, and other exciting giveaways to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the marriage of the music genre and culture to the city of New York.

The choice to be the music ambassador for this year-long extravaganza turned out to be an easy one if you're a hip-hop fan.

Chuck D (born Carlton Douglas Ridenhour on Long Island, NY) is the leader of the iconic group Public Enemy.

One of the more recognizable voices of the hip-hop generation, Chuck D has always been an ambassador to this music, so adding the title music ambassador, which will include his overseeing special content and programming, allows Major League Baseball to educate its fanbase to the overall impact of the music and culture while enjoying the historical game of baseball and its impact on African-Amer-

D

icans. It kind of brings Jay Z’s partnership with the NFL to mind.

Chuck D showed his humility as the first rap artist to work exclusively with MLB.

“As a longtime baseball fanatic, I am beyond honored to be the first hip-hop artist to work with Major League Baseball in this exciting new way - connecting sound and culture to the stories of the game,” said Chuck D. “Thank you MLB for adding me to the lineup… and the pitch is on the way.”

Chuck D’s love of baseball is not just for today’s game or just the MLB. He is a student of the game with knowledge dating back to the Negro Leagues. Just last year he took to social

media to honor the Philadelphia Stars.

Look for Chuck's exclusive content on all of MLB’s platforms; MLB.com, MLB.TV and the MLB Network as well as social media handles like @MLB and @MLBLife. The cerebral rapper's resumé shows that Baseball got the most-qualified man for the job.

Besides producing iconic albums, Chuck D and Public Enemy have been the recipients of numerous honors including the group being 2013 inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.

Just this year, Chuck D released “We Wreck Stadiums” which is a collection of

songs honoring some of baseball’s players from the past and their impact on the game of baseball and society.

He also developed and executive produced “Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World,” a four-episode documentary series covering the evolution of the music genre and its significant impact on society and the World. It premiered on PBS in 2023.

With his love for baseball cards, Chuck has also taken up drawing. One standout piece is his illustration of the old Shea Stadium—formerly home to his beloved Mets. (He hated the Yankees!)

Marcus Semien on pace to break MLB leadoff hitter RBI record

By MALIK WRIGHT, MLBbro Special to the AmNews

Over a year ago, Marcus Semien and the Texas Rangers franchise hit a crossroads.

Both the manager and the general manager were fired as the team was on pace to finish with what would end up being its sixth consecutive losing season. Now, thanks to one of the best offenses in baseball, led by Major League Baseball’s most expensive middle infield and some new additions to the pitching staff, they have a shot at the first World Series in team history.

The turnaround from a year ago for the Rangers is the stuff sports movies are made of.

Last Friday, the team matched their 2022 win total of 68. Going into Tuesday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Rangers had the second-best record in the American League at 72–53 behind the Baltimore Orioles, which were 77–47.

The Rangers also had the third-best home record in MLB at 42–24 in games played in Arlington. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers (43–21) and Atlanta Braves (42–22) held a better record in their own stadiums.

The Rangers went 12–2 from the August

1st trade deadline through August 15 after acquiring some key pieces, including threetime Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer from the Mets. But they took a step back, losing five straight before facing the Diamondbacks in Arizona on Tuesday. The Rangers are in a tight race with the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in the AL West.

Players up and down the Rangers’ 26-man roster have stepped up when called on. Yet the team's success can in large part be attributed to the half-a-billion-dollar middle infield tandem of American League All-Star starters Semien, 32, and 29-year-old Corey Seager.

The pair has earned every penny they signed for in the winter of 2021. Semien inked a seven-year, $175 million contract and Seager a 10-year pact for $325 million.

Playing shortstop, Seager ranks near the top of the Majors in OPS, slugging, batting average and on-base percentage for all hitters. Semien, the Rangers’ second baseman and team captain, bats in front of him in the leadoff spot.

He has played in 253 straight games dating back to May 12th of last year. Over the past three seasons, Semien has missed only one game.

“He has a killer instinct,” Rangers general

manager Chris Young told MLBbro.com.

“He is aggressive to kick the game off and puts on a show from the start. With Seager behind him, it makes it that much tougher to pitch to him.”

Case in point: On August 14, in a 12–0 win over the Los Angeles Angels, Semien drove in a season-high five runners, three by way of his 19th homer of the year.

Between May and June of this year, Semien reached base in a career-high 33 consecutive games, grinding out a 25-game hitting streak over the time that ended as the third longest in club history.

“My goal is always the same, swing at strikes and get on base,” Semien told MLBbro.com.

This season for Semien could end up as one of the greatest ever for a second baseman in league history, competing with his own record-breaking 2021 when he hit an MLB-record 45 homers for the Blue Jays and won the 2021 MLBbro Player of the Year award.

He is the front-runner for both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and is on pace to finish with 107 RBI. That would be the most in Major League history for a leadoff hitter, passing Charlie Blackmon’s 103 runs driven in 2017.

Iconic rapper and activist Chuck

Texas Rangers All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien is putting together another stellar season for club that's in a tight race in the AL West (MLB.com photo)

New York Liberty make a powerful push to the playoffs

Liberty forward

Betnijah Laney was the game’s high scorer in New York’s 85–63 road win  over the Phoenix Mercury last Friday (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty photo)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

The New York Liberty didn’t get much time to bask in the Commissioner’s Cup victory over the Las Vegas Aces. Two days later they again faced off against the top-ranked team in the league, and this time the Aces prevailed 88–75. The Liberty had no time to lick their collective wounds because the next night they played the Phoenix Mercury, putting New York back on track with an 85–63 win.

“We know what’s at stake,” said Betnijah Laney, who with 22 points was the Liberty’s leading scorer in the win. “Regardless of any obstacles, we try to stay together and be our best.”

Liberty coach Sandy Bron -

dello referred to the victory over the Mercury as a “take care of business game.” In fact, it was Brondello’s first victory in Phoenix over the Mercury, the team she coached for eight seasons, winning a WNBA Championship in 2014 and reaching the Finals in 2021. This win also marked Brondello’s 205th coaching victory, tying her with the late Anne Donovan for the eighthmost wins in WNBA history.

Asked about fatigue after a busy and intense week, Marine Johannès, who had 18 points off the bench in the Phoenix win, said, “We knew it was an important game for us. Playing backto-back is not easy. After the game yesterday, we just have to switch and be ready for today, and I think we did a good job.”

Laney noted that the Lib -

erty players are starting the second half of games with increased intensity. “That’s been a big emphasis for us, and we’ve taken on the challenge of being able to come out and just make it a point to be great in the third quarter,” she said.

Sabrina Ionescu contributed 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals in the win. Ten Liberty players saw action in the game, with nine scoring.

At 25–7, the Liberty remain the second-ranked team in the league. They’re in action tonight at the Connecticut Sun. The team returns to Barclays Center on Monday for the fourth regular season match up with the Aces. Las Vegas currently holds the edge at 2–1, and the Liberty are looking to even that score.

The first U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team joins the HOF

BY LOIS ELFMAN Special

to the AmNews

This year’s Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (HOF) inductees had some high profile names. The women’s side included Gary Blair, who retired in 2022 after 37 years as one of the top women’s college coaches. In 2011, he coached Texas A&M University to the NCAA Division I Championship.

Also, inducted was Becky Hammon, now coach of the WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces, who began her 16-year professional playing career with the New York Liberty. After eight seasons with

the Liberty, Hammon spent eight seasons with the San Antonio Stars. A place in the upper echelons of the game—sixtime WNBA All-Star, two-time All-WNBA First Team and member of the 15th, 20th and 25th WNBA Anniversary Teams— seemed utterly unlikely for Hammon, who went undrafted and joined the Liberty after being signed to training camp as a free agent.

Another inductee on the women’s side was the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team, who claimed the silver medal in the inaugural Olympic women’s basketball tournament. Several members of the team as well as the coaching staff have been in -

ducted individually, including the late Lusia Harris-Stewart and Pat Head Summitt, but this was the first women’s team to enter the HOF. Team member and New York native Gail Marquis was on hand for the induction ceremony. Marquis said reconnecting with her Olympic teammates was incredibly special. Hugs were given and stories exchanged.

“What I take away from it was not only the way Naismith HOF treated us, but how the other athletes were,” said Marquis. “The male athletes, they’re all high echelon. Everyone was down to earth, talking to you, taking pictures, having conversations. The camaraderie was all

around. I appreciated all of us enjoying the whole basketball moment.”

U.S. women’s basketball teams have won nine Olympic gold medals. While the 1976 team took silver, Marquis said those who came after have shown appreciation for this team being trailblazers. Dr. Frank H. Wu, president of Queens College, Marquis’ undergraduate alma mater, was even in attendance.

“The Naismith Hall of Fame is the epitome,” said Marquis. The other inductees were Gene Bess, Pau Gasol, David Hixon, Gene Keady, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Dwyane Wade and the late Jim Valvano.

Members of the 1976 U.S. Women’s Basketball team, including Gail Marquis (far left), at the enshrinement ceremony

Becky Hammon (Naismith Memorial/Basketball Hall of Fame photos)

Sha’Carri Richardson gains redemption at the World Championships

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has attained redemption.

After a series of high and lows on the track; personal struggles; and reported friction with some of her athletic peers, presumably due to her alleged diva-like behavior, the diminutive Richardson is now a giant of her sport, thanks to a stunning upset in the women’s 100-meter finals at the World Athletics Championships on Monday in Budapest, Hungry.

Her victory was shocking not so much because Richardson lacked the necessities to dethrone the Jamaican sprinters who have dominated the women’s 100 and 200 meters for the better part of the past five years. It was unexpected given her struggles in the semifinals.

Richardson, 23, labored to a clocking of 10.84, finishing third in her heat, and advancing to finals only after nervously waiting for confirmation that she had qualified based on her time being among the fastest of those who did not automatically (the top two in each heat) move on.

In the finals, Richardson was faced with an onerous challenge: facing five-time and defending

100-meter World Championships titleist 36-year-old Shelly-Ann

Fraser Pryce of Jamaica, widely regarded as the greatest women’s sprinter of all-time, and 29-yearold Shericka Jackson, also from Jamaica, the only athlete to ever win medals at the World Championships in 100, 200, and 400 meters.

Nevertheless, staring down the track from the far outside in lane nine, she summoned the inner strength and resilience to run the swiftest 100-meter time in the history of the event, passing Jackson in the closing 20 meters and recording 10.65 to capture the gold. Jackson took second at 10.72 and FraserPryce the bronze at 10.77.

Afterward, Fraser-Pryce and Richardson displayed mutual respect and camaraderie when the eighttime Olympic medalist jokingly remarked, “You know how long the USA [has] not [won] a gold medal?”

Richardson exuberantly and laughingly replied, “Because of you! Because of you!”

Indeed, it was Tori Bowie, who tragically passed away this past May at the age of 32 due to complications related to childbirth, who last won gold for the USA in the 100 meters at the World Championships in 2017.

On July 7 at the U.S. Track and

Field Championships at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, Richardson pulled off her bright-orange wig, tossing it behind her and onto the track to unveil long cornrows. It was a symbolic and cathartic moment for the 5-foot, 1-inch Dallas, Texas, native and Louisiana State University product, whose peaks and valleys trended from a blazing 10.75 seconds at 19 years old in the 2019 NCAA Division I Championships, setting a collegiate record in winning the 100-meter title, to being banned from the 2020 Olympics after testing positive for cannabis after her victory at the U.S. Olympic Trials in July of 2021.

(The 2020 Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo in July and August of 2021—originally scheduled to take place in July and August of 2020, but postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.)

Richardson’s exclusion was a polarizing issue, with hard-core track and field fans and those who had never heard of her before the issue weighing in on whether she should have been disallowed to compete in the sport’s most significant competition for a substance not considered performance-enhancing.

"I wanted to show you guys that

I’m still that girl, but I’m better,” Richardson said to a journalist named Tee on the day she discarded the wig. “I’m still that girl, but I’m stronger. I’m still that girl

but I’m wiser. I had to shed the old and present the new.” It came to fruition on Monday in Hungary, 5,700 miles from Hayward field.

Howard University takes holistic approach to the needs of student-athletes

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

As intercollegiate athletics takes an increasingly comprehensive look at well-being, Howard University has created the new position of associate athletics director for Student-Athlete Health, Wellness and Performance. The hiring of Collin Francis for this position is part of a broader holistic approach to student-athlete care and optimal performance.

Francis, who was appointed by Howard Director of Athletics Kery Davis, will oversee all aspects of student-athlete health and wellness, from nutrition to mental health. He credited Davis for moving Howard into a high-performance model.

“[Kery Davis] has created a structure based on innovation and creativity that allows the department to move in this direction,” said Francis. “The holistic approach to medicine is the future. Each division of this department—sports med -

icine, strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, and mental health and performance—is pivotal to the student-athlete experience and success.”

Francis has spent more than a decade as an athletic trainer in both the collegiate and professional ranks. He has also worked with USA Swimming and founded the Baltimore Area Sports Health Initiative, a non-profit organization with the mission of advancing the health care of athletes. He is originally from Prince George’s County, Maryland (right outside of Washington, D.C.) and is quite familiar with Howard.

“The ability to come back and give to the amazing student-athletes that are here really excites me,” said Francis. “The staff of clinicians in all of these departments are rock stars … and they’re fun to work with.”

With the landscape of intercollegiate athletics changing over the past few years due to name, image, and likeness (NIL) as well as the transfer portal, Francis

said it is incumbent on athletic departments to provide studentathletes with the resources they need to flourish athletically and personally.

“We have to be able to adapt,” Francis said. “We have to stay at the cutting edge of our craft and our field because the athletes are always getting better at staying at the top of their games.”

This includes addressing stresses that have previously not been identified. Mental health from both counseling and performance standpoints is now being prioritized. “For far too long, that aspect of athletics was ignored, but now it’s being embraced,” he said. Francis praised sports psychotherapist Dr. Lisa Daniels for her work counseling Howard’s student-athletes as well as providing team consults.

“My main job is to enhance the student-athlete experience for every student-athlete,” said Francis, who noted that fall sports are in play. “We’re rolling here at Howard.”

Howard University has named Collin Francis to the newly created position of associate athletics director for StudentAthlete Health, Wellness and Performance. (Howard Athletics Media Relations photo)

USA sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson won women’s 100-meters at World Athletics Championships on Sunday in Budapest, Hungary (USA Track and Field/USATA.org photo)

Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz lead youth movement at US Open

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

The US Open began on Tuesday with Fan Week, six days in which the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens are free and open to the public for a variety of events and activities. Players who will compete in the Open, wellknown music artists, celebrities of various cultural genres, and prominent chefs will be among those interacting with visitors.

Fan Week is highlighted by Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day on Saturday, celebrating the life of the late tennis legend who was an athletic trailblazer, inspirational humanitarian, and unwavering advocate for racial and social justice.

Fan Week ends on Sunday and gives way to the beginning of matches on Monday as the US Open is the year’s last Grand Slam of tennis’ four major championships, following the Australian Open in January, French Open in late May to early June, and Wimbledon in late June to early July. There is palpable excitement on both the men’s and women’s draws as young stars Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff come into Queens at the top of their games. Alcaraz, 20, is the defending men’s US Open champion and the world’s No. 1 ranked male player, having defeated No. 2 Novak Djokovic in an epic five-set Wimbledon final last month (1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4), stopping the 36-year-old Serbian’s 34-match winning streak at the tournament.

“To stay good physically and mentally for five hours against a legend, making history like I did today, it's the happiest moment of my life. I don't think that's going to change for a long time," said Spain’s Alcaraz after his enthralling victory. The pair may have foreshadowed another inevitable finals battle at last Sunday’s Cincinnati Open, in which Djokovic outlasted Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) to capture the title. Spanning three hours and 48 minutes, the match was the longest three-setter since the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) began organizing the world’s top men’s tennis tour in 1990.

The 19-year-old Cori Dionne “Coco” Gauff, who was born in Delray Beach, Florida, and raised in Atlanta, has never won a major but

was a finalist in last year’s French Open, losing 6-1, 6-3 to current world No. 1 Iga Swiatek from Poland. She looks to make the US Open her first and is favorably peaking ahead of the tournament’s start.

On Sunday, in Mason, Ohio, Gauff became the first teenager to win the Western & Southern Open since 17-year-old Linda Tuero in 1968 by defeating Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4. Gauff is the world’s No. 6 ranked women’s player. Gauff’s doubles partner, American Jessica Pegula, No. 3 in the world in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, is also a leading contender to win the Open.

Pegula has reached the quarterfinals of all four majors but has yet to break through to the semifinals and finals.

Rucker Park hosts HBCU All-Star Dream Classic

By JAIME C. HARRIS

AmNews Sports Editor

Of the 107 historically black colleges and universities in the United States, only nine are considered to be in the Northern region of the country: one in Delaware, four in Maryland, two in Pennsylvania, and two in Washington, D.C. There are none in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, although the three states have a plethora of natives and transplanted residents who are HBCU alums. Still, the culture of HBCUs is thriving in the Northeast.

Daryl K. Roberts and Rachel E. Naughton, producers of the HBCU All-Star Dream Classic, are committed to moving it forward and exposing numerous youth to the educational and athletic opportunities the college network offers. Roberts is a graduate of Lincoln University and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Naughten is a St. Paul’s College (Virginia) alumnus. The duo staged the Dream Classic on August 5 at Rucker Park through the Harlem-based nonprofit Bridging Structural Holes, founded in 2018 by its CEO, the Harlem-born and -bred Roberts. The event featured 40 men’s and women’s HBCU basketball players, live musical entertainment, step shows by Divine

Nine fraternities and sororities, marching bands, and cheerleaders.

The two men’s and two women’s squads were composed solely of ballers who collectively attended 28 HBCUs. New York City basketball point guard royalty Kenny Anderson, the current men’s head coach at Fisk University, served as one of the coaches. The Booker Tees won the men’s game 71-59 over the MLKings, with Yasim Hooker of Miles College earning MVP. SoJo’s Truth edged Althea’s Aces 51-46 in the women’s matchup and Bryanna Brown of Lincoln

University was named MVP.

“What I am most proud of,” Roberts told the AmNews, “is that all 40 of the players received their college degrees. We want to expand the message that student-athletes can gain a high-quality academic and athletic experience at HBCUs. They don’t have to attend PWIs (predominantly white institutions) to create prosperous career pathways after college.”

HBCUs are in Roberts’s DNA: Two of his grandparents attended HBCUs, as did his mother (Oakwood) and father (Morgan State).

Roberts is also the organizer of the HBCU Harlem Renaissance Classic. The games and activities were held at City College over the Thanksgiving holiday in the past two years but will move to the Gauchos Gym, scheduled for November 25.

Harlem basketball legend and longtime youth advocate Bob McCullough was honored with the inaugural Bob McCullough Community Icon Award. Sponsors for the affair included Northwest Mutual, M&T Bank,

Champion, and Wilson. KRSB Radio Philadelphia streamed the event live. HBCU Gameday and For Us By Us Network (FUBU) were also represented as prominent media partners of the Dream Classic.

Coco Gauff (Margot Jordan photo)

HBCU All-Star Dream Classic co-organizers Daryl K. Roberts and Rachel E. Naughton (both left) present Harlem legend Bob McCullogh and MVPs with special awards (Bill Moore photos)

HBCU All-Star MVPs