Religion & Spirituality

The Force MD’s Jesse D joins ancestors

By MAL’AKIY 17 ALLAH Special to the AmNews

A memorial service was conducted Friday, Jan. 21, at Staten Island’s New Hope Community Church (77 Alaska St.) for Jesse D, founding member of the legendary soul/hip-hop group, The Force MDs. The pioneering musical troupe are known for delivering such 1980s classics as “Tender Love,” “Let Me Love You,” “Here I Go Again,” and “Forgive Me Girl.”

Jessie Lee Daniels was born July 4, 1963 in Staten Island. He became an ancestor Jan. 4; no cause was announced.

A fan posted on Facebook that Jesse D was “one hell of an entertainer with a strong passion for music.”

He formed The Force along with several relatives and childhood friends. He was an uncle to the Lundy brothers—Antonio “T.C.D.,” Khalil and Stevie, Charles “Mercury” Nelson, DJ Dr. Rock, Shawn Waters, Trisco Pearson, Damean Heyward, and Jesse

Ranie rounded out the group. Throughout the 1980s/’90s they were on the forefront of fusing a sound which influenced an entire generation of artists. During the 1980s they consistently performed uptown at the Apollo Theater as well as at Harlem

World and The Rooftop.

Pastor and recording artist, Montel Jordan moderated the memorial ceremony. He joked about New York City’s cold weather, being that he traveled all the way from warm Southern California to pay his respects because, “I wanted to come here for my musical brother.”

Various legendary musical artists, such as LA Sunshine from The Treacherous Three, were also in attendance. Numerous others expressed their condolences via social media.

Jesse D’s stepdaughter reminisced: “He was the father I never had. He used to make us sing and dance, as children. He took care of all of us. He loved his music and children.”

She expressed her gratitude for him “being the father that he was to all of us. Take that memory of Jesse with you, and he lives forever.” And explained, “The purpose of our ancestors recording their history,” and related it to his musical career.

The Force MDs were initially rappers known as The Force MCs, and conducted legendary battles against hip hop crews like Thee Cold Crush Brothers, prior to hip hop music being featured on commercial radio 24 hours a day.

His niece stated: “He was our Michael Jackson” and described how “he once ran up on stage during another act’s performance,” as a youth, and performed some of the ‘King of Pops’ dance moves, unannounced, before security dragged him off stage.

His daughter, Justina aka Harmony, sang her rendition of Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father” prior to Montel joining surviving members of “The Force,” Khalil and Steve, as they performed “Love Is a House” to close out the evening.

Trisco passed in September 2 016, from cancer. Mercury succumbed to a heart attack in 1995. TCD battled ALS before his 1998 death, and DJ Dr. Rock passed from natural causes in 1996.

Photo: Jessie Lee Daniels

“He was the father I never had. He used to make us sing and dance, as children. He took care of all of us. He loved his music and children.”

Native Brooklynite, Atiim Ferguson, joins ancestors

By AUTODIDACT 17 Special to the AmNews

The grassroots community was deeply saddened as news spread that longtime activist, Atiim Ferguson, 74, became an ancestor on January 17, 2022, after a prolonged stay in a Brooklyn medical facility.

He has been a staple in the community for several decades working alongside urban warrior Sonny “Abubadika” Carson, and fellow comrades Ali Lamont Jr., Rasheem Allah, Tarik Haskins, and others.

Located in the People’s Republic of Brooklyn, at Bed Stuy’s Restoration Plaza [1360 Harriet Tubman Blvd. a.k.a. Fulton St.], the Committee To Honor Black Heroes is responsible for conducting several street co-naming campaigns which commemorated the significant achievements of some prominent African American historical figures. They have also helped provide training and employment opportunities for local youths.

Atiim has always been willing to lend a helping hand to others in

the community, and always willing to provide advice to area youths so that they don’t fall into the many traps which lie throughout the concrete jungle. Whether tutoring teenagers in acquiring a formal education or working skills, or organizing cultural events and clothing drives, he always put his community first.

As part of the Black Men’s Movement Against Crack, they shut down many illicit drug dens. They also provided support and legal counsel for victims of police brutality, as well as for those being exploited by greedy landlords.

After Carson’s transition in December 2002, Atiim continued fighting on the frontlines, along with his comrades, for the overall betterment of his community. The humble warrior always shared advice on how to maintain one’s neighborhoods and helped organize street patrols to combat crime.

Memorial services are scheduled for this Friday, Feb. 4 at Woodard Funeral Home, 1 Troy Ave., Brooklyn 11213; viewing 2-4 p.m, funeral 4-6 p.m.

"Whether tutoring teenagers in acquiring a formal education or working skills, or organizing cultural events and clothing drives, Atiim always put his community first."

Photo, left to right: Ali Lamont Jr., Rasheem Allah, Atiim, and Basir Mchawi