New York Amsterdam News May 25-31, 2023

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SIMPLY THE BEST ICON TINA TURNER PASSES

(See story on page 30)

Bodies of missing boys Alfa Barrie and Garrett Warren recovered from local rivers

(See story on page 6)

What’s the plan: NYC & NYS volley asylumseeker crisis

(See story on page 3)

Gibson hosts prom season giveaway

(See story on page 28)

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INDEX

Arts & Entertainment Page 17

» Film/TV Page 18

» Jazz Page 24

» Theater Page 21

Caribbean Update .........................Page 14

Classified Page 32

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

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST’S MURDER IN LESOTHO BLASTED BY MEDIA GROUPS WORLDWIDE

for Ts-enolo FM radio station and covered government, agriculture, and corruption.

He was shot at least 13 times on May 14 by unknown assailants as he left the studio at 10 p.m. after his Sunday evening show.

The Lesotho chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) responded within hours, calling Joki’s death an attempt to silence journalists. He was often critical of politicians and government policy and had received death threats.

for every 100,000 people. El Salvador recorded 52 and Jamaica 43.8.

For now, police minister Lebona Lephema has revoked all firearm licenses, saying killings “seem to have skyrocketed.” In January, Chief of Police Holomo Molibeli stopped any new firearm licenses from being issued.

However, a rampant gun culture does not feature prominently in the discussions about ending gun-related murders that have increased in recent years.

lenders face painful repayment demands that threaten their budgets for schools, power, food, and fuel.

After nail-biting negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ghana’s Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced this week that $600 million was scheduled to arrive soon—the first tranche of a $34 billion bailout approved by the lending institution. The remaining funds will be available over the next three years.

(GIN) — Rarely does an attack on a journalist get worldwide attention and provoke alarm and outrage from the newswriting community, who cite threats to freedom of expression in a young and fledgling democracy nestled in the tip of South Africa. But the murder of radio journalist Ralikonelo “Leqhashasha” Joki of Lesotho has stirred commentators from shore to shore.

Joki, host of the current affairs show “Hlokoana-La-Tsels” (“I heard it through the Grapevine”), worked

Kananelo Boloetse, chair of MISALesotho, said phantom Facebook accounts were created in Joki’s name in the months before his death.

“The killing itself is alarming and paints a frightening picture of Lesotho in the international community,” said Boloetse. “From Sunday, Lesotho is now being seen as a country where journalism is risking your life.”

Another little-known fact is that Lesotho has the third-highest homicide rate in the world, behind El Salvador and Jamaica, according to the latest World Population Review report, with 43.5 murders

Screening of award-winning documentary “The Durban 400”

Organizers of the December 12th Movement International Secretariat have put out a call for folk to see the award-winning documentary “The Durban 400,” which recounts the organizing by Black folks from around the world that helped produce the historic Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA) at the 2001 UN World Conference Against Racism. The DDPA declared that the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery were crimes against humanity and reparations are due the descendants of the victims. It represents what Malcolm

X called for and is one of Black people’s greatest victories in the international arena. Reparations remain unresolved in New York State, the U.S., and around the world, so the organizing lessons from “The Durban 400” are relevant today. Presentations will be made by David Comissiong, Barbados’ ambassador to CARICOM, and Efia Nwangaza, an attorney with the Malcolm X Center for SelfDetermination. Human rights attorney Roger Wareham of the December 12th Movement will emcee the discussion session.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli put it aptly last September when he said that “owning a gun in Lesotho is like owning a blanket.”

Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas commented: “African journalists are dying. They need the world’s help to hold power to account.”

POOR COUNTRIES FACE COLLAPSE OVER UNSUSTAINABLE BORROWING

(GIN) — African countries that borrowed billions of dollars from international creditors and private

“I believe we have some excellent news to discuss today with the approval yesterday of a $3 billion three-year program for Ghana,” the minister said. “As you know, Ghana has been facing a severe economic and financial crisis with a debt burden assessed as unsustainable.” Ghana faced soaring inflation, high debt, and a weakening currency when negotiations began with the IMF for a bailout package last July. The IMF agreed to the bailout after a two-week visit to the West African country.

The IMF funds should help Ghana emerge from a financial crisis made

NYC to host 2nd U.N. Forum on people of African descent

The second session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) is set to take place at the United Nations’ New York headquarters from May 30 to June 2, 2023.

PFPAD brings together activists, non-governmental groups, governmental agencies, and human rights institutions to strategize about ways to promote human rights for Black people on a global scale.

PFPAD’s first session, held this past Dec. 5 through 8 in Geneva, Switzerland, was enthusiastically attended by several hundred delegates and livestreamed on UN Web TV. Dr. Carol Ann Dixon, a London, England-based postdoctoral researcher and heritage education consultant, attended that session and wrote a summary of the meeting on her Decolonial Dialogues website.

Dixon said that within the first month of publishing a 1st Summative Report of the meeting, she received 2,450 readers/website visitors from more than 70 countries.

“More than five months after publi-

cation, visitors to the Decolonial Dialogues website are still continuing to engage positively with that summary and the posting has now been viewed by more than 4,600 readers, of which 1,234 unique site visitors were viewing from IP addresses in the USA; 1,233 from here in the UK; 226 readers from Guyana; 219 from Canada; and 149 from the Netherlands, etc.,” she said.

There’s a continuing desire for information about how Black communities function in different parts of the world. PFPAD is one event that gathers various groups in a single place to exchange information.

The theme for this second PFPAD session is “Realizing the dream: A United Nations Declaration on the promotion, protection and full respect of the human rights of people of African descent.” PFPAD panels will detail how data collection can be used to document systemic racism. There will be discussions about transnational migration and talks about how to pursue global reparatory justice, particularly when it comes to reparations for slavery.

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Ralikonelo ‘Leqhashasha’
The
Tuesday,
Baruch College of
New York
and
Avenues). For more information, call 718-398-1766 or go to www.d12m.com
Joki (GIN photo)
documentary will be screened on
May 30th, 6:30pm at the
the City University of
(151 E. 25th Street, between Lexington
Third

Jordan Neely laid to rest in Harlem send-off

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Harlem celebrated the life of Jordan Neely—the unhoused Black New Yorker killed on the subway by white passenger Daniel Penny—in a homecoming service last Friday, May 19, at Mt. Neboh Baptist Church. He was laid to rest in a pearlwhite coffin while family and friends remembered him as a promising basketball player and joyful street performer.

Rev. Al Sharpton eulogized Neely, lambasting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for calling Penny a “good Samaritan” in his remarks. Sharpton pointed toward the actual biblical passage where an outsider assisted a starving man, but when Neely yelled that he was hungry while on the uptown F train, Penny didn’t feed him. Penny choked him. Sharpton also blamed the city for failing Neely.

“He’d been choked much of his life,” said Sharpton. “The agencies that failed to keep him and give him mental health choked Jordan. Those

that let him go even though they had his record of needing help—they choked Jordan. The city agencies choked Jordan. He’d been choked most of his adult life. He’s an example of how you’re choking the homeless [and] the mentally ill.”

Neely was reportedly registered on a “top 50” list of unhoused New Yorkers most in need of services. In typical Sharpton fashion, the reverend stirred the church into a “No justice, no peace” chant that went on for almost a minute and was loud enough to shake the nave’s foundations. Poetically, his words also brought mourners to their feet almost 14 years ago at the memorial service of Michael Jackson, who Neely idolized since age 7 and made a living impersonating.

Neely’s mom Christy was memorialized at the same church. The two shared an unbreakable bond, according to his great-aunt Mildred Mahazu. Neely’s mental health decline is attributed to the murder of his mother when he was just

passing through lower Manhattan, it cost him his life.

Penny was charged with manslaughter more than a week after killing Neely with a chokehold on May 1. He was initially released by police after the incident. The next court date is July 17.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez—the first public official to call the death a murder—told the Amsterdam News there was a notable difference between Penny’s manslaughter charge and the terrorism charges for protesters against the killing, but also pointed out the outpouring community support for Neely at the service.

“Today shows that Jordan was loved, [he] was cared for, [he] was seen, [and he] contributed to his community,” said Ocasio Cortez after the funeral. “[His] family and the community around here rallied to recognize [and] cherish his life and make sure it’s honored and respected, both in public and [in] the processes.”

A fellow Michael Jackson impersonator named Rocco credited Neely for inspiring his own

Second detainee dies on Rikers Island this year

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Rubu Zhao is the second person to die on Rikers Island this year. The 52-year-old was “severely injured” while detained at the George R. Vierno Center (GRVC) jail and was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital two days later last Wednesday, May 16.

“I am saddened by the circumstances that led to Mr. Zhao’s passing and I offer my condolences to his family,” said NYC Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner Louis Molina. “The health and safety of everyone in our custody is a top priority and a full investigation is underway to determine how this unfortunate incident occurred.”

Zhao came into DOC custody last December and was reportedly awaiting trial. His lawyer, Jonathan Fink is currently unavailable to speak but agreed to talk to the Amsterdam News after press time. The story will be updated online to reflect any such changes.

person to die on Rikers this year, passing in February. He was 65 years old and suffered from seizures. Last year, 19 people died in or immediately after release from DOC custody.

According to the New York Daily News, Zhao’s injury stemmed from falling in a mental health unit. Rikers Island is often regarded as the city’s “largest psychiatric care facilities.” The Mayor’s Office reported half of the city jail’s population were diagnosed with a mental health condition last year.

16.2% of detainees had serious mental illness. Jordan Neely— the unhoused Black New Yorker killed on the subway by white

performances. He added that Neely was a legend in the local world of “King of Pop” imitation and known for his showmanship.

Neely’s family lawyer Lennon Edwards called the service an opportunity to celebrate his life publicly and push for policy preventing homelessness.

“It was an incredible turnout by our elected officials, who recognized that Jordan’s life mattered and it will continue to matter and have meaning—to use this time of celebration as a springboard to actions that need to take place next,” said Edwards. “It’s one thing to talk about change, it’s another to affect change.”

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.

African Liberation Day

The December 12th Movement will host the annual African Liberation Day event on Saturday, May 27, from 3 p.m.–6:30 p.m. ET at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza Plaza (1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn).

This year’s theme is “Africa’s War Against Poverty and Underdevelopment.” Africans are central in the global fight to protect human rights, address climate change, resist war, and design equitable economic trade initiatives. We must come together on African Liberation Day to ensure that our voices are heard.

WHO representatives from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Namibia and Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cuba, as well as Cinque Brath of the Elombe Brath Foundation, will speak. The event is co-sponsored by NYC Councilmember Chi Osse and the December 12th Movement. For more information, call 718-398-1766 or email D12m@aol.com.

Rep. Espaillat’s summer Career Fairs

Rep. Adriano Espaillat will hold the first of three summer Career Fairs on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at BMCC/ CUNY in The Heights (5030 Broadway, New York, NY 10034).

vigilante Daniel Penny earlier this month—struggled with his mental health and was formerly detained on Rikers for over a year.

Jail population review bill Int 0806-2022 was passed by the City Council earlier this month. If signed by Mayor Eric Adams, the proposed legislation would allow the city to evaluate detainees eligible for release which would include accessing their mental and physical health.

The bill is just the most recent move to clear the city jail population with Rikers’ slated and legally-mandated closure in 2027, according to sponsoring councilmember Carlina Rivera. Replacing the complex will be four

borough-based jails with significantly less detention capacity.

“Streamlined case processing is just one way we can reduce unnecessary, even harmful jail time, imposed on New Yorkers,” said Rivera in her statement.

“The city’s failure in managing the jails on Rikers Island and the historic number of deaths last year is partly driven by hollowed out healthcare and social services systems that leave too many vulnerable to crisis.”

This Thursday, March 25 also marks the 30th birthday of Kalief Browder, the Black New Yorker held at Rikers as a teenager over a missing backpack. Browder ultimately took his life two years after release.

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.

“Now is a great time for networking, skill building, and growing,” said Espaillat’s office. “We look forward to welcoming attendees ranging from a variety of skill levels, backgrounds, and expertise. While university students and constituents of my district will be present, all residents of NYC are also encouraged to attend.”

Free tickets are available at https://t.co/ AxwdfgNwjC. For questions or concerns, email Espaillat at ny13careerfair@gmail. com and a member of his team will contact you as soon as possible.

“Brown Folks Connect” promotes tourism to Nevis

The Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) held a Brown Folks Connect-themed event designed to attract more people of color to Nevis.

“This is the first direct initiative the NTA has made in targeting people of color,” said Pamela Martin, chair of the NTA’s board of directors. “There will be many more such initiatives as we seek to tap into this demographic.”

According to the NTA board chairperson, the event is designed for senior-level executives and on-air talent of color. It is held quarterly at various locations in the United States.

Among those who attended the event were executive producers and on-air talent from ABC News, ABC/GMA, Sony, ESPN, WABC-TV, CBS, TheGrio, as well as Patrick Riley, producer and celebrity chef; Carla Hall, former co-host of “The Chew”; and William Kedar Massenburg, former president of Motown Records.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 3
Metro Briefs
See METRO BRIEFS on page 25
Advocates and electeds rally at City Hall Park to close Rikers last month. (Tandy Lau photo)

Invoke the 14th Amendment?

Utter the words “14th Amendment,” and most Americans know it as a Reconstruction act that guaranteed citizenship, particularly to Black Americans who had been enslaved. But now it’s once again part of the current discussion, economically speaking, as a possible resort by President Biden to solve the debt ceiling crisis.

On Wednesday, Biden got a surprise announcement from Sen. Bernie Sanders for him to invoke the amendment to avoid a default.

“In my view, there is only one option. President Joe Biden has the authority and the

responsibility under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution to avoid a default,” Sanders wrote. “This is not a radical idea. Making sure that the United States continues to pay its bills regardless of whether the statutory increase in the debt ceiling is raised or not is an idea that has been supported by Republicans and Democrats.”

Sanders’ reasoning is that the proposed cuts by the Republicans passed in their debt limit bill last month would be a “disaster,” and, to his mind, equivalent to a default. He insisted that Section 4 of the amendment, known as the public debt clause, must be utilized to “continue to pay its bills on time and without delay, prevent an economic catastrophe, and prevent huge cuts

to healthcare, education, childcare, affordable housing, nutrition assistance and the needs of our veterans.”

In effect, the constitutional amendment authorizes by law the public debt and it “shall not be questioned.” At that time, it referenced debts incurred during the Civil War. On Tuesday, the White House seemed to balk at exercising the amendment, fearful that it would create a constitutional crisis. Even so, Biden said last week from Japan, “The question is could it be done and invoked in time that it would not be appealed as a consequence past the date in question.” That remains a question.

What’s the plan: NYC & NYS volley asylum-seeker crisis

New York State and New York City are dog gedly trying to coordinate in their handling of asylum seekers, but continue to meet road blocks at every turn. One thing is certain: People are united in their demand that the federal gov ernment do more.

Nearly 30 upstate counties have declared states of emergency over Mayor Eric Adams’s relocation plan to offset the city’s burden to shelter individuals. Adams was also forced to walk back plans to house asylum seekers in school gyms and possibly on Rikers Island last week because of backlash.

So far, leadership has surveyed state- and city-owned properties and schools, dorm rooms, empty hotels, former correctional facilities, former psychiatric centers, vacant buildings, and even large parking lots to house the thousands of asylum seekers arriving daily.

This Monday, May 22, Governor Kathy Hochul and Adams held a press conference calling for expedited work authorization for asylum seekers and more coordination with local municipalities across the state.

Adams spoke about the history of the city in accepting early Irish, Italian, Greek, and African immigrants. He said that people who came here did so in search of “the American dream.” He called on action from the federal government and proper immigration legislation to be passed in the “Republican-controlled Congress.” He added that there should be expansion in access to humanitarian parole for asylum seekers already in the United States and processed at the border.

“If these asylum seekers cannot work,” said Adams, “it is going to be a major impediment and interruption in the pursuit of that dream. And that is all they ask for.”

Adams echoed advocate sentiments that the city has been running on “emergency mode” too long and that is not a long-term solution to managing a crisis.

Hochul has expressed disappointment with various state counties’ resistance to house

Working papers for teens

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has announced a new online application for teenagers who need working papers at MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov, launching June 1. Minors who need working papers to start a job—and any employer who hires a worker under age 18 in New Jersey—will visit the site and register, following prompts to complete the working papers application online.

NJDOL will administer this digitized, streamlined process in accordance with A4222/S2796, a law that Gov. Murphy signed last year to enhance protections for the state’s young workers. Schools will no longer be involved, but minors, employers, and caregivers all play a role and will receive email notifications when it’s their turn to take action. The minor and employer will receive an email letting them know the application has been approved or rejected. https://nj.gov/labor/youngworkers/find-ajob/working-papers/getstarted.shtml.

Mayor Baraka celebrates 1 million rides on NewarkGo

Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced that NewarkGo, the city’s first-ever shared e-scooter and bike program, has surpassed 1 million rides since its 2021 launch.

asylum seekers. She said the influx of migrants, as well as expedited work permits, would be a boon for local economies. She added that much of the resistance at the federal level stems from the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which has employer sanctions and a process for asylum seekers getting legal work status.

“I also do want to make a point that there are some voices on the right that are trying to say that this effort here would take away jobs from other people,” said Hochul. “I welcome them— anybody [who wants a job]—to come to Union Square today, go up to a farm. I’ll drive you there personally if you’re looking for a job, because there are so many jobs unfilled right now. I want to take that narrative [that migrants will take jobs away] and push it right back at everybody because that is false.”

Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), applauded the unified message from the mayor and governor to President Joe Biden to provide a better pathway for individuals to get work permits.

“Both acknowledged the opportunity that asylum seekers offer to help the state fill its labor gaps, and the desire of asylum seekers to get to work and become self-reliant,” said Awawdeh in a statement. “We appreciate the governor and the mayor’s acknowledgment of the much-needed coordination with local municipalities to promote a welcoming culture for asylum seekers and reject the racism and xenophobia of the past.”

Meanwhile, electeds like Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso are putting forth

their own plans to address the need for immediate shelter and long-term, affordable housing, as well as craft a comprehensive response to the influx of asylum-seekers.

Reynoso has been joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Councilmembers Alexa Avilés, Rita Joseph, Chi Ossé, and Lincoln Restler; and representatives from the offices of Senators Andrew Gounardes and Julia Salazar, and Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest.

“Immigration is a national issue and must be met with a national solution,” said Reynoso. “ Just because President Biden is declining to show up in any real way for the cities that are taking in thousands and thousands of people seeking asylum, and just because we here in Brooklyn can’t do everything, doesn’t mean we can’t do something.”

Reynoso suggested the City Council, mayor, and governor take legal steps to end “warehousing” and move people who have been in the shelter system the longest into the tens of thousands of vacant apartments to free up space for those just arriving. He also said the city should pass legislation directing Adams to use government power to solve the homelessness crisis through the private sector and declare a public emergency in homelessness in general.

A breakdown of the proposal includes legislation that would add the arrival of migrants as an emergency under the Administrative Code, direct the mayor and city to lease market-rate apartments for housing homeless families

“Providing up to 2,000 affordable scooters and bicycles to Newarkers, the program has attracted more than 70,000 individual riders between the two operating companies––Bird Rides and Veoride,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.

New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards

The New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition is accepting nominations for the 2023 New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards. There is no fee to enter, and nominations close on June 1. Awards will be given in these categories: Growth, Advocacy, Innovation, Sustainability, Leadership, Nonprofit Entrepreneurship, and Entrepreneur of the Year. Go to https://njbusinessimmigration.org/ nominations/ to nominate an entrepreneur.

––Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

toward creating space in the shelter for new arrivals, require landlords to prioritize renting to the city at the market rate to alleviate the burden, and ban the refusal to rent apartments to the city during an emergency or crisis.

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.

4 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
NewJersey News
Migrant in Newburgh NY (AP Photo John Minchillo)

Barry Cooper on young men’s mental health and the B.R.O. Experience

THE URBAN AGENDA

The MTA Offers A New Approach to Enforcement. But Will the NYPD Go Along?

Early in my tenure on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board, I was offered a strange explanation from transit police brass as to why there seemed to be wide concentrations of police enforcement of fare evasion in poor Black and Brown communities of the city.

“We go where the crime is,” is what I was told at the time by the then ranking transit chief. The problem with that claim was that data on fare evasion arrests told a different story. Namely, that the enforcement policies of the NYPD punished poor New Yorkers of color in ways that did not appear to be driven by, or connected to, legitimate public safety concerns or criminal complaints.

report makes several recommendations the city should embrace: expanding eligibility for the city’s `Fair Fares’ transit discount program to New York City residents with incomes up to 200 percent of poverty; streamlining the administrative processes for obtaining and renewing Fair Fares discount MetroCards; and increasing outreach and education efforts, especially in neighborhoods with high need, to increase awareness and enrollment in the program.

But the report also calls for a major shift in enforcement strategies on its buses and subways emphasizing equity and efficiency. Whether the NYPD will embrace this new approach remains to be seen.

Young Black men and boys have a resource for mental health help: Community organizer Barry Cooper, 41, has created the Brothers Redefining Opportunity (B.R.O.) Experience Foundation, a nonprofit that addresses young Black men’s and boys’ mental health and education.

“In my vision of visions, the B.R.O. space will be a space that young men know that they can come to outside of home, and it’s safe, and it’s curated by them and for them,” said Cooper.

At its brick-and-mortar center at 7 Marcus Garvey Blvd., the B.R.O. Experience offers extensive programming, including conflict resolution talks, cognitive behavior and empowerment summits, implicit bias workshops with youth and NYPD officers, a free six-week “Little BRO Summer Camp” that supports third- and fourth-grade boys, literacy programs, STEM programs, and meditation and yoga classes.

Cooper often uses music and other methods to help students feel vulnerable enough to let down their guards and connect with one another.

Cooper grew up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and continues to live in the district. He began his career as a mental health advocate when he was a barber at 18 years old. “Seeing all different ages of men, I always

wondered where were the safe spaces outside of sports and the barbershop that men can go to,” said Cooper.

He has observed the shift of the neighborhood into a “multicultural” community, but feels there’s a growing “charge” to arrest young men for the sake of public safety.

“We perpetuate, consistently, that young men are the hypermasculine, angry, dangerous individuals that have been plaguing our communities for decades,” said Cooper.

He eventually became the dean at one of the Eagle Academy for Young Men locations in Brooklyn, serving in that role for about 10 years. Cooper was still an educator when the pandemic hit in 2020. He had to pivot quickly to online Zoom sessions to connect with students, and was inspired to delve further into advocacy work. By 2021, he had launched the B.R.O. Experience.

“Just a small speck of support consistently can give a young man the stability that he needs to grow in life,” Cooper said.

Cooper’s next goal is to expand the B.R.O. Experience to other cities and states, and eventually other nations.

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

The Community Service Society of New York (CSS) would go on to produce a report based on an analysis of fare evasion data in Brooklyn showing that fare evasion arrest rates at stations located in Brownsville and East New York were considerably higher than at other Brooklyn subway stations located in areas with similar or even higher numbers of nearby criminal complaints, but which were not predominantly Black. In other words, high rates of farebeating arrests were not merely incidental to the deployment of police to high crime areas. It was intentional; part and parcel of a criminal punishment system condoning the over-policing and over-prosecution of low-income Black and Brown people that policymakers in New York and elsewhere are trying to address through measures like Clean Slate.

Of course, discriminatory policing of poverty is nothing new. It was an inherent feature of the Giuliani administration’s “Broken Windows” policing. Unfortunately, we are still dealing with the perception of a causal link between violent crime and fare evasion that “Broken Windows” helped perpetuate.

With last week’s release of its long-anticipated report on fare evasion, titled “Playing Fare”, the MTA took a quantum leap forward on fare evasion enforcement compared to only a few years ago, when 96 percent of all fare evasion arrests and summonses involved Blacks and Latinos.

The report [Full Disclosure: I served on the panel that authored the report] estimates that fare evasion on the subways and buses will cost the authority around $535 million in revenue in fiscal year 2022. It also estimated that roughly 400,000 fare evaders enter the subway system each day, many of whom are then summoned to court and even arrested.

Perhaps most notably, the report echoes CSS’s long-standing contention that fare evasion is largely a socioeconomic challenge and not one of criminal compulsion. To that end, the

As prior CSS research has shown, fare evasion arrests are more common at subway stations near high-poverty Black neighborhoods; and, that poverty alone does not explain racial disparities in fare evasion arrests. By committing to a strategy of equitable distribution of enforcement personnel, such that “The risk of a summons or arrest should be just as great for evasion on the Upper East Side as in East New York,” the report gives the public both hope and reason to expect less inequities in fare evasion enforcement in the near future.

It makes sense that the MTA focus enforcement strategies away from aggressive punishments of fare evaders to a less punitive approach, implemented more by civilian personnel and less by police. Our police resources should be concentrated on combating violent crime and targeting repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to public safety.

Instead of a summons or arrest, the report recommends that first time fare evaders be served with an official warning. CSS’s Unheard Third survey of low-income New Yorkers shows that one in three low-income NYC households have less than $100 in rainy day savings. To expect that someone who is trying to evade a $2.75 fare would somehow be able to pay the $100 fine is highly unrealistic. Based on our survey, more than half – 56 percent – of New Yorkers favor punishments that do not involve paying a fine. Among those who favored alternatives to paying the fine, the most popular option was performing community service followed by meeting with a caseworker to determine eligibility for Fair Fares.

Fare evasion is a net loss for everyone involved – for the transit system and for its users. Through a combination of enforcement measures, fare adjustments, new faregate design and public outreach, the MTA has produced a fair and equitable plan for combating it. All stakeholders in the system should get on board.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023• 5
David R. Jones, Esq., is President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), the leading voice on behalf of low-income New Yorkers for more than 175 years and a member of the MTA Board. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer. The Urban Agenda is available on CSS’s website: www.cssny.org.
Black
New Yorker Barry Cooper (Photo provided by Barry Cooper)

Unspeakable tragedy: Bodies of missing boys Alfa Barrie and Garrett Warren recovered from local rivers

The apparent drowning deaths of two young students—Ala Ousmane Barrie,11, and Garrett Warren, 13—have rocked NYC all the way to Africa’s west coast.

“We just want clarity and closure,” said Ahmadou Diallo, family spokesperson. He told the Amsterdam News, “We can’t have closure without clarity. We want to know exactly how Alfa ended up in the water.”

“My heart breaks for these young boys and their families in the wake of this tragic incident,” Mayor Eric Adams told the Amsterdam News. “These innocent two were loving sons who had bright futures ahead of them. While the investigation remains ongoing, the thoughts and prayers of all New Yorkers are with the loved ones of Alfa and Garrett during this unimaginably difficult time.”

There are so many unanswered questions in this case of the two uptown youths, who went missing on May 12, 2023, and whose bodies were found in the Harlem and Hudson Rivers—opposite sides of the city.

Speaking with the Amsterdam News, activist Kadiatou Diallo said that the family just wants to know what really happened. “We all unite when tragedies like this happen…The family is devastated. Alfa’s mother just keeps crying ‘my innocent baby.’”

On Saturday morning, May 20, 2023, the heartbreaking news was announced that a body recovered under the Madison Avenue Bridge over the Hudson River Saturday morning was 11-year-old Barrie, who had been missing for over a week. On Thursday, May 18, 2023, 13-year-old Warren’s body was recovered from the East River. Both boys were pronounced dead at the scene.

They disappeared on May 12 and were reported missing by their families soon after.

They were last seen at a Harlem fish market at 143rd Street and Malcolm X Blvd. Published reports state that the boys climbed through a broken bridge close to the 145th Street Bridge. Another 13-year-old boy is said to have told police that the boys were

playing by the shoreline, and Warren attempted to push Barrie into the water.

The medical examiner determined that Warren died from accidental drowning. Barrie’s family is currently contemplating a second, independent autopsy. They are also pushing elected officials to encourage immigration services to grant an emergency visa for the drowned boy’s father, Abdoul Barrie of Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, at least one leading city official is rejecting news reports that the boys drowned after Warren pushed Barrie into the water and lost his own footing as they played by the river’s edge.

“The community is very upset about that,” Diallo told the Amsterdam News. “...I don’t want to confirm anything [until we know for sure].”

Family members told the Amsterdam News that when Alfa’s body was retrieved, “it was intact, except for a small mark beneath his left eye. It was not bloated at all.”

Multiple vigils were held for the boys throughout uptown, including a pair at Barrie’s middle school, Democracy Prep Harlem. The first was on Monday morning for both children, led by Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Assemblymember Inez E. Dickens.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of Garrett Warren and Alfa Barrie following this heartbreaking news that no parent should ever have to face,” said the electeds in a joint statement. “Our community embraces the families and friends of these two young men, and we pray for their strength and comfort during this time of grief.”

The second vigil was held for the Guinean-American Barrie on Tuesday evening, May 23, where his family, friends, and classmates sent him off in unison with a loud “we love you, Alfa.” He was remembered as a “magical boy” with a penchant for engineering and dance.

Democracy Prep New York Superintendent Emmanuel George said Barrie’s schoolmates—including the boy’s sister—are coming to terms with his passing. Classes were canceled last Friday, although the semester runs through June. Grief counseling is being provided, according to school officials.

“They’re doing the best they can

[with] getting in touch with their feelings [and] understanding this process of grief,” said George. “They’re craving normalcy. They’re doing the best they can, given what they’re experiencing.”

Street Corner Resources’ Iesha Sekou demanded the city look into fixing gaps in a park fence next to the Harlem River near where the two were last seen. The Harlem-based violence interrupter assisted the two families throughout the search. Police are still investigating how the boys got into the water.

“We have to make sure we don’t just let this happen in vain—that we celebrate Garrett [and] Alfa in the way to make change,” Sekou said. “We need to fix the places that are open that give children access…to play [and] do what regular kids do.”

Warren reportedly attended the Lower East Side’s New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math (NEST+m), one of the city’s exclusive Gifted & Talented

(G&T) middle schools. He lived in Harlem and is reportedly remembered as a science wiz, star athlete, and board game aficionado. Warren’s family told CBS News a memorial will be held for him next week.

Diallo told the Amsterdam News, “The family wants clarity and closure. The only time we’ve got closure is when we’ve got clarity. The only time we get clarity is when we find out exactly, exactly, how did Alfa end up in the water…a guy with a strong determination and a good intention to be successful [will not for] fantasy reasons say, ‘I want to go play in the water.’ The question is, ‘How was he lured to follow those friends to go through that hole as the NYPD said—to go under the bridge?’”

Kadiatou Diallo, mother of the police-slain Amadou Diallo, said, “I know that the family is really anxious about knowing more about the details.”

About a third boy who came forward and claimed he was with

them and saw Warren push Barrie in, she said, “Well, I don’t know what happened. This story keeps changing.”

Some people close to the case are saying that the boys were just wrestling and play-fighting.

“I don’t know if they have video [that] captured that scene, or is the boy just saying that,” said Kadiatou Diallo. “I don’t think that Alfa’s family know [Garrett]....The family have more questions. They have found comfort in the fact that the body was found, but they don’t have peace because they are wondering what happened to their boy. They have no answers right 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

6 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
(Bill Moore photos)

Go with the Flo

Exclusive: Hot New Couple alert! Word on the curb is that Trevor Noah and Tessa Thompson are an item. The comedian/ former “Daily Show” host and “Creed: 3” actress were spotted enjoying an afternoon together at the 11th edition of the Fair Frieze New York at the Shed in Hudson Yards in the Big Apple, which took place from May 18–21. The exhibit featured 68 galleries, in which a $300,000 painting by artist Ernie Barnes was up for sale. Thompson has been a guest on Noah’s former show several times over the past few years…

The 8th Annual Black Music Honors was a night of unparalleled glamor and style, held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. The evening was a celebration of music legends and their incredible contributions to the American music landscape. Jeffrey Osborne received the Legends award, while Evelyn “Champagne “ King was honored as the R&B Music Icon. Other winners included Missy Elliot and SWV. The 8th Annual Black Music Honors premieres on the Stellar Network on June 3, followed by national broadcast syndication from June 10 to July 2, with a special airing on Bounce TV on June 19…

Golden Globe winner Idris Elba and his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, are co-producing a documentary about racism in the music industry with the BBC and CBC, reports UPI. First reported by Variety, “Paid in Full: The Battle for Payback” revolves around the plight of Black artists who have been exploited and denied royalties and payment for their work. The three-part docuseries is being produced by Idris Elba’s Green Door Pictures and Sabrina Elba’s Pink Towel. Says Idris, “This is a story that touches all of us.”…

Former “GMA:3” anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach finished the Brooklyn, New York, Half Marathon together on May 20, reports OK! Although they are unemployed, the disgraced lovebirds ran the race smiling side-byside in matching running gear…

“Master of Reverence,” devotees visit famed gravesite on Malcolm X Day

Prolific civil and human rights activist Malcolm X, aka El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, was assassinated in 1965. To this day, a loyal group of followers and students of his make a pilgrimage to his gravesite in upstate New York on his birthday to honor his legacy.

It’s been unofficially dubbed in the Harlem community as Malcolm X Day and has continued for almost 60 years, even through the pandemic, said attendees. It was first organized by the Organization of Afro-American Unity (O.A.A.U.) members: Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Dr. James Small, and Ella Collins, the sister of Malcolm X.

“Reparations are long overdue,” said Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan at the gravesite.

Every year the group gathers on the corner of 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. They piled into a bus and drove upstate to the famed Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum, where X and his wife are buried, in Hartsdale, NY. Jordan’s office helped cover traveling expenses and arranged free transportation for those who couldn’t afford to make the trip on their own.

“It’s about a sense of community. Sense of pride for the sacrifice of the fallen,” said Garifuna drum instructor Alex Kwabena ColonOlaniyan, 55. He said that he has taken the ride to the gravesite every year since his time attending City College in 1986.

For a few passengers, like Shatema Williams, an education advocate that created TheSchoolGirl LLC, this year was their first time taking the trip. There was also a fresh caravan of young students on a field trip from East New York Middle School of Excellence, a school whose principal is directly related to Small.

“For one day, out of the year we come to pay respects to the symbol of what all of us are trying to be. Dedicated human being to human rights and other human beings,” said Small.

The route to the gravesite was lively and scenic, filled with views of the river and trees tucked into the cliffside. As the bus arrived, it

was easy to spot the ever-growing crowd at the cemetery. The place was well manicured and a lush green, but still unassuming considering its reputation for housing famously dead people. A ways from the entrance, laid a simple plaque embedded in the grass with a few plants on top that marked X’s grave.

In all, there were about 200 people at this year’s memorial service.

Small and the brothers, as they call themselves, organized the attendees and performed a number of traditional ceremonies on top of the grave. These Sons of Africa did their usual rolling and unfurling of the Pan-African flag, placed stools to symbolize X and Dr. Betty Shabazz at the plaque, and had eight young men dress in white robes to silently encircle the grave. Elders sat in chairs. Kids crowded the grounds. Others stood close by.

“An element of white means life,” said High Priest Babalawo Ifakunle, “It honors the ancestors.”

Ifakunle said a few words, recited from the Koran, and poured libations. Afterwards several spoke about the complex impact X left behind and about passing the torch onto the next generation.

After the rituals were completed, most of the group returned to the 125th Street main corridor in Harlem for the annual Shut ‘Em Down Boycott and March, which is a Black Power memoriam for Malcolm X that demands that

8 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS GO WITH THE FLO
FLO ANTHONY
for three hours businesses shutter their store fronts.
Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam https://bit.ly/amnews1
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 Photos of Malcolm X memorial day (Ariama C. Long photos)

Malcolm X celebrated on 125th Street

On Friday, May 19th, 2023, in honor of what would have been Malcolm X’s 98th birthday, the December 12th Movement organizations were joined by community and activist groups such as Lifecamp and Man Up Inc. as they marched along 125th Street. They asked stores along that stretch of Harlem’s busiest thoroughfare to adhere to the 34 year annual tradition to close from 1 to 4 p.m.

The action—with pro-Black self-determination chants aloud, and a sea of red, black, and green flags hoisted high—celebrated the words and works of the great icon. Just about every store and bank closed, as usually has been the case for the last 34 years, with only a few defiant holdouts.

One was the seafood stand on the corner of Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and 125th Street. The owner argued with protesters for most of the three-hour event, saying she had to make money, it was her business, and closing for 3 hours would be

financially harmful. Rally attendees said every other store had closed, and at 4 p.m., most of the seafood-eating demonstrators probably would have patronized her stand. They also pointed out that Malcolm X had spoken often on that very corner, demanding Black liberation and freedoms, and his sacrifice ultimately afforded her the ability to even have a business and defy this community request.

Several events occurred that day. Folk returning from visiting Malcolm X’s gravesite with the annual caravan to Ferncliff Cem-

etery joined the 125th Street rally and attended various other evening events, such as one at the Schomburg Center Speakers at the Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center— formerly the Audubon Ballroom, where Malcolm was gunned down on February 21, 1965, included Dr. Ilyasah and Malaak Shabazz, two of the six daughters, honored their parents. Spike Lee was the keynote, followed by author Nikole Hannah Jones, activist Gwen Carr, and attorney Benjamin Crump.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023• 9
OUT & ABOUT
(Daniel Goodine photo) (Bill Moore photos)

Union Matters

Elmhurst Hospital settles with striking physicians

After setting out on a 5-day unfair labor practices strike on Monday, May 22, medical doctors at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens were able to come to a tentative new contract agreement as of Wednesday, May 24.

SEIU’s Committee of Interns & Residents (CIR-SEIU) , the union representing the hospital’s interns and residents, had been trying to gain pay parity, hazard pay, and workplace protections in bargaining sessions that began with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which operates the Elmhurst Hospital Center, last July.

According to the tentative agreement “in addition to wage increases of 18% over three years, retroactive to November 2022, [the] tentative agreement includes a $2,000 ratification bonus, an enforceable agreement to negotiate on hazard pay, a meal allowance that reaches parity with Mount Sinai Hospital residents, and the creation of a transportation committee. The doctors also won a chief differential pay of $3,500, holiday pay, and ACGME leave. The contract will expire on June 30, 2025. Residents will return to work at 7 a.m. on Thursday, May 25.”

Elmhurst Hospital Center physicians went on strike because they were being paid $7,000 a year less than their non-union counterparts at private Mount Sinai Hospitals in Manhattan. Mount Sinai was refusing the pay parity proposal even though the healthcare facility brings in annual revenues of $11.3 billion from its eight hospitals.

Before it went on strike, the union claimed that representatives from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai were bargaining in bad faith. CIRSEIU filed several complaints with the National Labor Relations Board against Mount Sinai, alleging unfair labor practices such as unnecessary bargaining delays and an unwillingness to supply information requested by the union.

“While bargaining consis -

tently in bad faith, Mount Sinai continues to refuse to bring the physicians’ salaries up to parity with Mount Sinai Hospital residents or to agree to hazard pay language for the doctors who brought Queens through the worst of COVID,” the union had stated in a press release. “The physicians say that this behavior from Mount Sinai feels both

racist and anti-union.”

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which operates the Elmhurst Hospital Center, is based in Manhattan, yet it employs the physicians at Elmhurst, a public hospital that serves the ZIP code hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens is 59% Latino, 19%

dealt with the pandemic, ABCNews wrote : “Elmhurst had a patient roster that was over 230% capacity during the last week of February and the first week of March of 2020. Nearly all of those patients were critically ill with COVID-19. Within those walls, essential workers were overwhelmed with treating these patients. Staff witnessed extensive devastation as well as hundreds of lives lost.”

As the strike continued, 30 elected officials signed a letter calling on Mount Sinai to end it by agreeing to union calls for pay parity. “These doctors are deeply dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to their patients but we cannot expect them to continue to be able to do so at the expense of their own well-being. We have heard from many of these doctors that they are struggling to meet their basic needs on their current salaries. Considering they are working often 80 hours a week, we find this unacceptable, especially given their importance to the operation of Elmhurst Hospital and the overall health and well-being of the community they serve,” their letter stated.

While workers were on strike, they were joined on the picket line by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.; Councilmembers Tiffany Cabán, Carmen De La Rosa, and Shekar Krishnan; and Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams.

Asian, 11% white, 8% Black, and 3% other. Immigrants make up 33.54% of Elmhurst’s population.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Elmhurst Hospital Center was hit so hard it wound up having to rent a refrigerator truck to serve as a morgue for its overflow of dying patients.

In an article about how Elmhurst Hospital Center staff

Other members of other unions also joined the effort: the New York State Nurses Association (NYSA) (who held a three-day strike at New York City hospitals from January 9 through 12); 1199SEIU; Starbucks Workers United; Writers Guild of America, East; Teamsters Local 804; and Queens Branch of Democratic Socialists of America.

“It’s not enough to bang pots and pans as a way to thank our healthcare heroes,” said Richards when the strike began. “The best way to celebrate them is to treat them with dignity and respect by finally paying them the fair wage they deserve––not a penny less.”

10 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
“As the strike continued, 30 elected officials signed a letter calling on Mount Sinai to end it by agreeing to union calls for pay parity. “These doctors are deeply dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to their patients but we cannot expect them to continue to be able to do so at the expense of their own well-being. We have heard from many of these doctors that they are struggling to meet their basic needs on their current salaries.”

george benson

Fri, Jun 2 @ 8PM

An evening with jazz guitarist, NEA Jazz Master and 10-time GRAMMY® winner George Benson.

avery*sunshine

Sun, Jun 4 @ 7PM

Let Avery*Sunshine melt your blues away with playfully creative lyrics, bright ‘n’ easy grooves and soulful vocals.

earthquake’s father’s day comedy show

Sun, Jun 18 @ 7PM

Earthquake hosts his annual Father’s Day Comedy Show with Donnell Rawlings, Nephew Tommy, Tony Roberts and Vanessa Fraction.

daymond john

TechUnited:BetterX Summit Keynote A Better Future for All

Starts with Entrepreneurship Jun 22 @ 7PM

Daymond John comes to North to Shore to share the philosophies and practices that have helped him in his continued success.

jammins reggae fest

Sat, Aug 12 @ 8PM

Feel-good reggae with GRAMMY® nominee Beres Hammond (“One Love, One Life”) and special guests Romain Virgo and Louie Culture.

stephanie mills and the whispers

Sat, Jan 13, 2024 @ 8PM

Welcome “Home” to GRAMMY® winning songstress Stephanie Mills and R&B supergroup The Whispers

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 11 @NJPAC • 1.888.MY.NJPAC • njpac.org Groups of 9 or more call 973.353.7561 One Center Street, Newark, NJ North to Shore is sponsored by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, New Jersey Travel and Tourism, NJM Insurance Group, OUTFRONT Media, PSEG RWJBarnabas Health and United Airlines. Visit NorthtoShore.com for more info.
& jhené aiko jazmine sullivan
prudential center
queen
jun 23 |
with
naija

Lift the debt ceiling and lift our spirits!

Many Americans, particularly our senior citizens, are worried about the current impasse between President Biden and House Leader McCarthy over the nation’s debt ceiling and a possible default.

If they do not reach an agreement by June, millions of Americans—and other parts of the world— will experience an economic tsunami. The average person in this country is perplexed that the world’s leading economy could face a default. One respondent viewed such an outcome like Rockefeller going broke.

Okay: If a default arrives, there’s no telling its overall impact, since it will be the first time it has ever occurred, and something President Biden would not want pinned to his legacy.

A recent statement from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen provided some sense of what might happen: “If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, it would cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position, and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests,” she wrote.

Readers can support father of child who drowned

Ahmadou Diallo, spokesperson for the Alfa Ousmane Barrie family, said they are reaching out for support for an emergency visa for his father, Abdoul Barrie, who lives in Sierra Leone. The

family is asking supporters to reach out to any electeds, activists, and officials they may know to help them secure an emergency visa for the drowned boy’s father.

One simple understanding of the complexity of the chaos is that anyone expecting a check from the government could be in for a delay. That will be common anxiety for some 66 million retirees, disabled workers, and others who depend on Social Security benefits. Not having that allotment arrive as it usually does will be devastating for those dependent on the check for food, rent, and medical expenses.

According to the latest news, the two sides have offered optimistic reports, although that’s something we have been hearing for months. We have even heard discussions about President Biden invoking the 14th Amendment, which adds another incomprehensible action for the American public.

Who do we blame for this possible economic disaster?

Clearly, there’s enough blame for both parties to share, especially for the situation to reach this doomsday moment.

Folks depending on government allotments are Republicans and Democrats, so lift the ceiling and lift our spirits!

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

To Whom it May Concern:

My name is [fill in]. l am [title]. I am writing this letter in support of the non-immigrant visa application and waiver of inadmissibility filed by Abdoul Barrie pursuant to INA Section 212(d)(3).

Mr. Barrie was ordered removed on April 7, 2006, after the denial of his application for asylum. He was physically removed in 2018 after exhausting his available appellate options. Mr. Barrie’s spouse and six children remained in the United States. Unfortunately, his son, Alfa Barrie, went missing for 11 days, and on May 20, 2023, the child’s body was found in the Hudson River.

His family is devastated by this tragedy. Mr. Barrie has applied for a visa and waiver so he can return to the United States to grieve with his family.

There is no risk of harm to the community in allowing Mr. Barrie to return to the United States. In light of the aforementioned tragedy, he has a very compelling reason to return to the United States temporarily while his family recovers from this tragedy.

Sincerely, [Insert name and title]

A Black Life: Daniel Penny’s marine training taught him that Jordan Neely would die

(TriceEdneyWire.com; edited fo r Amsterdam News style)—

The recent death of a New York homeless person, Jordan Neely, is not merely a reflection of two individuals caught in a Shakespearean tragedy—one, the victim, Mr. Neely and the other, Daniel Penny, the perpetrator of the crime. Rather, this incident is a microcosmic reflection of many white Americans’ view of Black lives.

The solution to this subliminal reality will not be defined by the conviction of the perpetrator, Daniel Penny. His 15-minute strangle hold suffocation of Neely was a clear and concise example that revealed the death of Neely was never even considered in the mind of Penny, or few, if any of the white observers on the scene.

This incident reinforces the long-held belief (since slavery) that a Black person’s life is immaterial or three-fifths, at best, the value of white lives.

As a Marine, I was trained to execute what was called a naked stranglehold on an opponent. We were also fully advised that beyond

two and a half to three minutes, a successfully sustained stranglehold would result in the death of the individual being strangled.

Marine Corps training is complete, thorough, and explicit. There are no exceptions or excuses for not understanding the consequences of behavior. In the Marine Corps, the consequences of a mistake are brutal and severe punishment. I distinctly recall the practice of mass punishment by drill instructors—that is, if one Marine in a platoon made a mistake, the entire platoon was punished. This ensured the unlikelihood of any Marine forgetting their training.

It therefore goes without saying that, if Penny learned the naked stranglehold in the Marine Corps, he also learned the consequences would be death if maintained longer than two and a half to three minutes.

While the experience of viewing a homeless Black person acting strangely can be traumatic for most white Americans, it is no reason to suspend common sense behavior. Penny suspended the use of his knowledge that his hold on Neely would kill him. He

was taught this fact emphatically and as effectively as he was taught to execute a naked stranglehold.

It is possible, but highly implausible, that Penny did not realize that Neely could very well die. But Penny is unable to plead ignorance—ignorance of the law is no excuse. However, he could plead a subliminal lack of value and respect for the life of a Black person. Therefore, he felt no compunction to release Neely after three or four minutes.

While I loathe any references to the hypothetical, I would venture to say that had Neely been a blonde-headed white homeless person, Penny most certainly would have thought about releasing him before he expired. Penny fully realized that there are consequences to the death of a white man.

The larger implication here is that Daniel Penny is the culprit of Jordan Neely’s death. But the real killer is yet at large: a racist and subliminal mentality.

Chuck Richardson is a decorated Marine veteran with two Purple Hearts and a Vietnamese cross for gallantry.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS 12 May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023
EDITORIAL
Alliance for Audited Media Member Opinion

Let us not forget, it is 2023, not 1963

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

Nestled within the nation’s capital, the historic Howard University stands, its hallowed halls echoing with the pulsating hopes and dreams of a generation eager to carve out their niche in the world. This illustrious institution, a historically Black university, has always been a beacon, a lighthouse guiding ambitious, capable minds to the shores of success. In its classrooms, future engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and industry titans are forged, eager to script their unique narratives in the annals of American history.

When President Biden took to the podium at Howard’s 2023 commencement, one would have reasonably expected him to inspire, to offer words soaked in wisdom and insight, to breathe life into visions of a future shimmering with promise. But the president chose a different path, deciding to dwell on race—a significant, yet singular aspect of our shared experience as a nation.

There is no denying that race forms an integral part of our national tapestry, but it is not the whole picture. The young men and women at Howard are not just “Black” students. They are, first and foremost, individuals— each with a distinct set of aspirations, a unique set of challenges to overcome, and a personal catalog of triumphs. They are America’s next generation of leaders, a diverse cohort whose interests and concerns span far beyond the confines of race.

As such, their graduation ceremony shouldn’t be about race; it should not be marred by the president of the United States declaring “white supremacy” as the “most dangerous terrorist threat”

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to the nation. Remarks that categorize individuals as threats based on their race, ethnicity, or beliefs are not suitable for a graduation event—a time meant for rejoicing in accomplishments, rather than delving into divisive topics.

By placing such an unwavering focus on race, we risk minimizing these young people to a single facet of their identity. We subtly imply that their most pressing concern should be the color of their skin, rather than the weight of their thoughts, the grandeur of their dreams, and the potential impact of their actions. We seem to forget the variety of subjects that could, and should, be addressed: economic policy, global diplomacy, technological advancements, climate change. These are the challenges and opportunities of their era—the real concerns that need addressing.

Let us not forget, it is 2023, not 1963. The world around us continues to transform, and our conversations need to reflect this evolution. We must acknowledge the complexity and diversity of thought that exists within the African American community, and not confine them within the walls of an oversimplified narrative that fixates on their race.

As we step into the future, our demands from our leaders must grow. We must demand an acknowledgment and appreciation of the full range of our experiences, the richness of our dreams, and the diversity of our identities. We must strive for a discourse that values us not just for the color of our skin but for the quality of our ideas, the depth of our character, and the breadth of our potential.

The horizon is just opening up for the Class of 2023. Each one of them is embarking on a journey that is unique, challenging, and filled with promise. To them, I say: You are more than a label. You are more than the color of your skin. You are the embodiment of the American Dream. This Dream is as varied, as complex, and as wonderfully unique as each one of you.

Each one of you carries within you the power to effect change, the potential to shape the future, and the capacity to redefine the narrative. And that narrative should not be one that is confined by the color of your skin. It should be a narrative that is shaped by the breadth of your ideas, the depth of your insights, and the strength of your resolve.

The world is waiting to hear your stories, so go out there, challenge the status quo, break the stereotypes, and rewrite the narrative. Show the world that you are more than just a label, that you are a force to be reckoned with.

In doing so, remember that your journey is not defined by your race, but by the power of your intellect, the tenacity of your spirit, and the purity of your ambition. It’s not your color that determines your value, but your values themselves, your commitment to excellence, and your willingness to stand for what is right.

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 was recently on a panel at Reverend Sharpton’s National Action Network convening and shared the stage with Twyla Carter, attorney-in-chief and chief executive officer of the Legal Aid Society. My mind is still reeling over some of her detailed analysis.

I always thought of the Legal Aid Society as a place where people went if they had a run-in with the law and needed a lawyer. I had no idea of the work they are doing to provide justice and equity for thousands of people. As their mission clearly states, “The Legal Aid Society works throughout New York City to ensure everyone has access to justice. Our expert teams work across practice areas on nearly every area of law that impacts New Yorkers.”

I did not know that the Legal Aid Society tackled issues pertaining to advancing LGBTQ+ rights, advocating for financial rights and assisting entrepreneurs, defending the accused and incarcerated, empowering people with disability and health issues, engaging and investing in communities, fighting for racial equity, lifting the voices of children and adolescents, preventing homelessness and saving homes, pursuing justice for juveniles, reforming law and policy, standing with immigrants, supporting survivors of violence and navigating divorce, and upholding worker’s rights.

In a system that often favors those with money and privilege, the Legal Aid Society is working tirelessly to change that and to guarantee equal access to justice for all New Yorkers. In doing so, their civil, criminal defense, juvenile rights, and pro bono prac -

tices work in and outside the courtroom. The goal of the Legal Aid Society is to defend their clients and “dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving in New York City.”

In some recent cases, I discovered that the Legal Aid Society has fought to secure a settlement expanding dental coverage to millions of New Yorkers, fight against the Rent Guidelines Board’s preliminary vote to increase rents, address bail reform, and tackle tenant harassment, to name just a few. The services provided by the Legal Aid Society has helped thousands of New Yorkers in every facet of their lives.

Those of you who read my column know how I feel about community and supporting people, groups, businesses, and institutions that work to make our society better and more just. It is imperative we support the work of the Legal Aid Society so they can continue to provide this invaluable service to so many people who lack resources to fight on a level playing field.

If you want to learn more about the work of the Legal Aid Society, go to www.legalaidnyc.org. You can also find out more about their diverse employment opportunities, fellowships, internships, and training programs. We must contribute to creating the city we want to see.

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

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 13 OPINION
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CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.

Caribbean Update

Nearly two dozen children die in Guyana school fire

Not for the first time in recent years, a major fire has consumed a public building in the Caribbean Community headquarters nation of Guyana, killing more than a dozen people. This time, however, the victims are all schoolchildren between the ages of 12–18 years old.

Most were asleep late Sunday in dormitories at the Mahdia secondary school in the southwestern jungle and mountain community near the Brazilian border when the fire broke out, trapping dozens of students in concrete buildings secured by iron grills that limited them from escaping.

According to authorities, the fire at the school—which had been designed and built mostly for indigenous students living in villages far away from Mahdia—began just before midnight and burned for several hours. By the time it died down and the smoke cleared, with the help of the area fire service, at least 19 high school students were killed and at least seven were badly burned and rushed by air to the city, about 200 miles away—14 died at the scene, while five others succumbed at the nearby district hospital.

Fire service headquarters in the city said officers and residents rescued at least 20

other students by punching holes into the building, saving them from certain death.

Students who live in villages beyond the mountains often return home only at the end of the academic term, while those from places closer to the gold and diamond mining town would visit parents and relatives at weekends. Police said keys to locked doors could not have been found in time to rescue those who perished.

No one has so far been arrested or held responsible for this tragedy.

The deaths of the children have

plunged this oil- and gas-rich republic of nearly a million people into deep mourning, reigniting a debate about whether iron grills should be used to secure buildings of this nature, especially those used to house restless youths with minimum adult supervision.

The latest disaster also brings back memories of a May 2016 fire at the maximum security Georgetown Prisons in the capital that killed 17 inmates and injured eight others. Back then, prisoners, protesting a slew of complaints from poor food

to overcrowding to long delays in court trials, had set fire to mattresses in cells. Officers say the fire raged so badly out of control that there was little they could have done to rescue prisoners and that they were badly outnumbered at the facility that had housed 1,100 prisoners guarded by less than 70 officers. That was the worst prison inferno in living memory.

Government officials, including President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips, journeyed to Mahdia on Monday, hoping to get explanations about what exactly happened and to comfort grieving relatives and friends. Officials said they are extremely worried about parents who live outside mobile phone signal areas and might not hear of the news for a few days yet.

The main opposition coalition said in a statement that is demanding “a thorough investigation into this horrific incident that has resulted in the loss of innocent young lives. In light of this tragedy, we wish to call on all to make this independence day (May 26) a day of mourning in solidarity and support with the families, friends, relatives, and the citizens of Mahdia.”

President Ali said in a statement that “we have lost beautiful souls in that fire. It was a big battle for us.”

Let’s say a prayer for these immigrant parents

FELICIA PERSAUD IMMIGRATION KORNER

The death of a family member is always a hard pill to swallow, but especially for a parent who is preceded in death by a child. This past week, two immigrant parents were forced to face this tough reality that some refer to as “vilomah,” a Sanskrit word that is gaining acceptance to describe a parent who has lost a child. It means “against a natural order”— that a child is supposed to bury a parent, not the other way around.

On Saturday, May 20, the Guinea parents of Alfa Barrie, 11, who had held out hope that their son would be found alive,

had to face the reality that Alfa was gone— snatched away, it seems, by the waters of the Hudson River.

Alfa disappeared with his friend Garrett Warren, 13, over a week ago. His body was recovered in the waters off Manhattan, according to the NYPD.

The finding marked more than a week of prayers, searches, and hope that Alfa, who lived in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx and was last seen on May 12, would be found safe and sound. Fatoumata Diallo, his mother, had only one message for the community last week, according to Africa In Harlem: “Help me find my son. I miss my son. My kids miss my son.”

Sadly, that was not to be. His body was recovered from the Hudson River at West 102nd Street. An autopsy is expected to be conducted to determine his cause of death.

Another immigrant family mourning a child is the Honduran family of Anadith Danay Reyes Alvarez. On Wednesday, May 17, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) announced that Anadith had “experienced a medical emergency” while at a CPB facility with her family. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to a CBP news release. The release added the agency is conducting an investigation and has notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the Harlingen Police Department.

The child’s parents have been released from immigration custody and will be headed to New York to meet up with family, the Honduran Foreign Ministry told CNN, to await a complete autopsy and ideally some closure.

With these deaths also comes the eco-

nomic task of burial rites “back home.” It’s an expensive proposition and additional burden for many immigrant families who are already struggling to get by.

A GoFundMe has been set up for Alfa’s funeral at https://www.gofundme.com/f/11year-old-alfa-barrie-funeral. It has already raised $39,693 of its $100,000 target. Anadith’s family has not asked for support to date, but I’m sure they will need it.

Life will never be the same for these parents. As you go about your life this week, please spare a thought and a prayer for the families of Alfa and Anadith. They will certainly need all the love and light they can get at this time of great testing.

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

14 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
“Government officials, including President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips, journeyed to Madhia on Monday, hoping to get explanations about what exactly happened and to comfort grieving relatives and friends.”

Community urged to file objections to Navy Yard Clubhouse closing

“Oh God, we come praying to you right now to ask that you help to save 240 and the services to our community,” the Church of The Open Door’s Rev. Dr. Mark V.C. Taylor professed before a small crowd in front of the Navy Yard Madison Boys & Girls Club at 240 Nassau Street in Brooklyn.

The crowd had come out to attend a rally called by the church and the newly formed Fort Greene Farragut Coalition. They came together to protest the imminent closure of the clubhouse, long a staple in the community. “God, we know that nothing is impossible to you. God, we know that nothing is too hard for you. God, we know that you do the unseen and the unknown, so we ask you to bless our effort here today. Thank you, Lord, for these people who have come because we see the beauty and the love in our community. Thank you, Lord, for these people who have come, who refuse to be silent when things are taken away.”

The Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation, the notfor-profit that owns and operates the Navy Yard Clubhouse, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to close the clubhouse by June 27. It’s a result of hundreds of child sexual abuse lawsuits filed under the New York State Child Victims Act (CVA) against a former Foundation volunteer; claims were that the volunteer abused children beginning in the year 1948 and continued doing so up until 1984.

So far, the Foundation claims to already have spent $22 million in litigation on the case. It filed for Chapter 11 restructuring in June of 2022 to save itself. To finally settle the claims, the Foundation says it found it could get the most money from selling the clubhouse. The building could be sold for between $15 to $25 million.

But this means nearly 100 school-age children in Downtown Brooklyn will be left without needed extracurricular services. There is word that some other not-for-profit groups have promised to step in with after-school services that could help, but as of now, nothing has been finalized.

Many of the kids attending the Navy Yard Clubhouse come from the nearby NYCHA Farragut Houses. The clubhouse is directly across the street from Farragut,

which made it a convenient location for parents to pick up their children. The clubhouse is also directly across the street from the Church of the Open Door, which sits on the same grounds as Farragut; many of the church’s parishioners also live in Farragut.

Samantha Johnson, a local activist, spoke of the shock and surprise community members were faced with when they learned the Navy Yard Clubhouse was planning to close. “We were told about this closing…and we knew

that we had to mobilize quickly because capitalism does what capitalism does: They limit our access to power. We need to make sure that we mobilize continuously and so we did that, and we met, and we’ve talked to the community.

“We asked what we want, and we found out that what we want is our community: We want our voices to be at the table––and forget to be at the table, we want to build the table.”

Another local activist, Dorian

not-for-profits. “And we have jurisdiction over not-for-profits when they sell a substantial portion of their assets,” she added.

According to the “Guide to Sales and Other Disposition of Assets by Not-For-Profit Corporations,” published by the AG’s office, “New York law governing notfor-profit corporations provides certain protections against the inappropriate transfer of assets of such corporations, including internal procedural rules for authorizing transfers. The law also provides for review by the Attorney General and/or by New York State Supreme Court for certain transactions.

“Because of the important and unique role and responsibility of not-for-profit corporations in the lives of our citizens and communities, and because of their legal responsibility to safeguard their assets and provide for the interests of their members and beneficiaries, the law requires the court’s or the Attorney General’s approval of certain transactions by such corporations.”

Technically, the attorney general’s office cannot step in to do anything about the sale of the Navy Yard Clubhouse until it is triggered to do so by actions in the bankruptcy court, but James said her office is monitoring the situation.

However, because the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation case is set go before a bankruptcy judge on June 12, anyone who wants to see the building remain open can file objections to the building’s sale in bankruptcy court.

The attorney general’s office can assist individuals who want to file objections. “And we will provide forms to the Church of the Open Door so that all of you can sign them,” said James.

Muller, said, “We are hoping that anybody else that invests in this building keeps the same services. We don’t want a high-rise and that somebody has a pool in the gym or gymnasium. We want the people of Farragut and Fort Greene to have the same service that the Boys Club was giving— or maybe better. That’s why we’re out here today.”

State Attorney General (AG) Letitia James joined the rally and explained that her office has jurisdiction over all New York

As James explained, “A significant number of people brought cases against their abuser. It resulted in judgments against this organization. They’ve got to pay these victims and as a result of that, they decided to sell this building.

“But they have other assets. And the question is whether or not the other assets that they have––the other buildings that they have––have limitations on them. Whether or not they have the ability to sell them. We don’t know. The point is…why are they selling this building in a community which is underserved?”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023• 15
Attorney General Letitia James joins Rev. Dr. Mark V.C. Taylor and community activists Samantha Johnson, Open Door Church Deacon Jeffrey Flowers, and Dorian Muller to protest the closing of the Navy Yard Madison Boys & Girls Club (Karen Juanita Carrillo photos) Church of the Open Door’s Rev. Dr. Mark V.C. Taylor leads rally in front of Navy Yard Madison Boys & Girls Club

Health

Q&A with Lisa McCorkell, Long COVID researcher and patient

The Amsterdam News interviewed Lisa McCorkell, one of the co-founders of the Patient-Led Research Collaborative, who has a background in public policy, public health advocacy, and research. She is a coauthor of the article “Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendation.” This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

AmNews: Please tell us about your background and your work ?

McCorkell: The Patient-Led Research Collaborative is a group of Long COVID patients who conduct research on Long COVID and do advocacy for people with Long COVID and associated conditions. I got COVID in March of 2020.

AmNews: Tell us about your COVID experience.

McCorkell: I inherently knew (I had COVID). I wasn’t able to get a test but I…felt different in my body than anything else I had before. It was right when people were talking about it…I was at Berkeley at the time for graduate school. I got the alert that someone on campus tested positive and then that night, I started feeling symptomatic. I think I got

it traveling, so I got it pretty early on and then wasn’t able to get a test because I didn’t meet all three of the main symptoms you had to have at the time: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It wasn’t severe enough to be hospitalized, so I didn’t get a test. My doctor said I’d be better in a couple weeks—”Just isolate from your roommates and you’ll be fine.” I was annoyed at how long it was taking me to recover, but when I got to a month of not being better and actually feeling quite significantly worse than at the beginning, I really started to worry because this wasn’t being talked about in the media at the time.

Around this time, Fiona Lowenstein wrote an op-ed in the New York Times that described their experience having these prolonged symptoms from COVID. They started the Body Politic support group, so I joined that. A group of us who had [an] interest in data and data backgrounds put together a survey to document everyone’s experiences and the result of that survey was the first research on Long COVID. That was published—we just posted it as a Google doc in May of 2020.

We documented [approximately] 60 symptoms. We showed that it wasn’t (just) a respiratory illness—that there were a lot of neurological symptoms. Things that I think became more commonly known in late 2020/early 2021, we identified right away.

That work kept going and we ended up doing a second survey, a longer-term survey, that was published in the Lancet eClinicalMedicine journal in July of 2021 and documented over 200 symptoms of Long COVID. We have been doing a variety of different research projects consulting on Long COVID research and advocating for people with Long COVID since then. Now we’re a full organization. I work there full-time now.

AmNews: Given all the work that you’ve done, do you have thoughts about ultimately what Long COVID is?

McCorkell: It is likely several different things. I think we have good clues as to what some of the underlying mechanisms are. When we examine known persistent reservoirs of viruses, reactivations of old viruses, we see that in many other chronic conditions like MS that have some overlapping symptoms. I was able to get my blood tested for microclots and that’s something (found in) the small studies that have been done: 100% of Long COVID patients have microclots.

That’s kind of a middle step, (but it’s) obvious that’s not the cause. Something is causing the microclots, but I think that’s going to be a good clue to what’s going on with blood clotting and endothelial dysfunction. I think it’s going to end up being a few different

things. If we’re having endothelial damage consistently to our bodies because of these microclots, that’s going to potentially lead to fairly significantly bad outcomes later on.

AmNews: Where are we currently with Long COVID?

McCorkell: I think especially in the

High blood pressure—‘silent killer’ among Black adults

May is National High Blood Pressure Awareness Month, which makes it a good time to recognize a serious health concern for the Black community: According to stats from the American Heart Association (AMA), Black Americans have the highest rates of high blood pressure in the world

The AMA concluded that over 50% of Black adults will develop high blood pressure, also known as hypertension (HBP) earlier in life. This condition is considered a “silent killer” among healthcare professionals.

The AMA notes that Black people face “disproportionately high rates” of obesity and diabetes, which can increase the risk for high blood pressure. The AMA also recognizes that a number of “historical and systemic factors” play into these risks and can increase an individ-

ual’s social and economic stress, especially among Black and brown people.

“I’d say just over 4 million adults [in the state] are being diagnosed with high blood pressure,” said Johanne Morne, deputy commissioner of health equity and human rights at the New York State Department of Health. “When we talk about disparities or distinctions between races, in common with many health professions, we do see increased rates of diagnosis among individuals who identify as Black, as well as Hispanic.”

Morne, who is 50 years old, had her own bouts with HBP when she was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2015.

“Every time I walked into a doctor’s office, my blood pressure would go over 200,” said Morne.

The baseline for most people is

120/80 in terms of a normal heart reading, she noted. She is currently in remission, takes medication to manage her blood pressure, and gets regular screenings.

Morne said that the “social determinants” of health, such as access to food, nutrition, and healthcare, definitely affect the function of the body and heart.

“If you think about the full self, think of things that contribute to our stress,” said Morne. “If we live in communities that are not feeling

safe to us, then that contributes to stress.”

Morne said that chronic HBP is based on blood and heart beats: When the heart pumps oxygenated blood into a body’s circulatory system, it creates pressure through arteries, veins, and capillaries. If the workload for the heart and blood vessels remains high for too long, the network is damaged, which could eventually lead to an arrhythmia, heart attack, and stroke.

“Most often, high blood pressure doesn’t have symptoms. It’s when you have very high blood pressure that you start to see headaches. Others report blurred vision, and there may be chest pains,” said Morne.

If not controlled and monitored, HBP can also lead to heart failure, kidney disease, and even death, according to the AMA.

“Adults are busy, but if there was ever a month for us to be reminding people about the fact that they matter, and they matter enough to take the time to do these screenings and check in, then we would definitely have done well,” said Morne. The AMA recommends having a healthy weight, diet, and exercise regimen to help lower blood pressure on a personal level. In affected neighborhoods, the AMA advocates for more access to “social support, safe environments, and affordable, high-quality medical care and medications” to help communities of color become better at managing blood pressure.

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.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS 16 May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023
See LONG COVID on page 31 Lisa McCorkell (Courtsey of Lisa McCorkell) Healthcare worker measures her own blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer (cottonbro studio/Pexel photo)

Arts & Entertainment

Celebrated South African choreographer fuses ballet and African dance

Dada Masilo, the South African chore ographer-dancer whose re-imaginings of classical Western European ballets have captivated the international dance world, is returning to New York’s Joyce Theatre with one of her own works, “The Sacri fice,” from May 23–28. The highly praised piece, inspired by the late German neo-ex pressionist dance artist Pina Bausch’s Rite of Spring,” fuses the rituals of Masi lo’s South African Tswana dance form with ballet and modern dance to create an icon oclastic evening-length work that will be performed by Masilo’s company of South African dancers and musicians.

In the past, Masilo’s work has amazed audiences and critics with its passionate re-envisioning, re-telling, and deconstruc tion of dance’s sacred cows, capturing the essence of their narrative while injecting the original fairy-tale scenarios involving swans, sylphs, and such with a contem porary sensibility that grapples with rel evant issues such as racial, class, gender inequality, discrimination, and resistance to oppression.

The plot twists are conveyed by using movement that blends ballet’s devel oppes, arabesques, and jetes with an Af ricanist presence that grounds the story in a new, more diasporic reality as Masilo wrangles the classic canon into a contem porary mode.

While her fusion of classical ballet and African dance forms have been applauded internationally, Masilo said, “Some people have gotten annoyed when I pick the classics. They say, ‘How dare you!” But I’m like ‘Do you have copyrights on this work? I’m not taking anything away from you, I’m just introducing something different. Something that opens your eyes a little bit. That’s all.’” Her defiantly innovative approach to dance comes both from love of the art form and years of study.

Born in Soweto, South Africa, Masilo started training at the Dance Factory at the age of 12 and after matriculating from the National School of the Arts, trained for a year at Jazzart in Cape Town. At 19, she was accepted to study at the Performing Arts Research and Training Studios in Brussels. After two years, she returned to South Africa and in 2008, she was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance.

Three commissions from the National

Arts Festival resulted in her versions of “Romeo and Juliet” (2008), “Carmen” (2009), and “Swan Lake” (2010),. In May 2017, she premiered her “Giselle” in Oslo and in 2021, ”The Sacrifice” in Vienna. Since 2012, her works have been performed in 25 countries and 150 cities around the world. She has been nominated for or received a Bessie Award (“Swan Lake,” 2016); Danza&Danza Award for “Best Performance 2017” (“Giselle”); Prince Claus Fund Next Generation Award (2018, Netherlands); and UK Critic’s Circle 2020 National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Modern Performance in the title role as Giselle.

Discussing her unique approach to ballet classics and shared passion for the art with American Ballet Theatre Principal Ballerina Misty Copeland, a fan of her work, Masilo described how she “fell in love with ballet” at a very young age and “stumbled

into choreography” after being told that her body was not right for ballet. Finding that the types of ballets she wanted to do just weren’t there, she decided to create them.

In a recent conversation with the Amsterdam News she said, “What I try not to do is limit myself. I don’t like being put in a box. I suppose as Black people, we’re always put in that box. I saw an opportunity of [asking] what happens if we get out of our boxes and just try and see if things can co-exist without going into the mode of ‘Oh, you can’t touch that.’ For me, fusing different dance styles, breaking down the barriers, is more challenging.”

Masilo’s “The Sacrifice” is an example of what happens when her indomitable spirit takes on that challenge. The piece first grew, she says, out of a dance exercise that involved learning a 3-minute segment of the Bausch work set to Igor Stravinsky’s masterpiece.

“I remember listening to Stravinsky’s music, thinking ‘this is wild,’” she said. “I became very intrigued about the music. I like working with complex rhythms. I started improvising to the music and I found it incredibly difficult and frustrating, but then I thought, I’m not giving up on this one, so I did a 20-minute version using some of the Stravinsky score.”

The result was shown in New York several seasons ago during the annual Fall for Dance concerts at City Center. But that wasn’t the end of it. Masilo wanted to do a full-length work of “The Sacrifice,” but the Stravinsky score was too short, “so I had this idea to work with live music and ask the musicians to listen to the Stravinsky score and then react to it. With the musicians, you’ve got voice, you’ve got keyboard, you’ve got violin, and then percussion. I played them the music and they said, ‘Oh, my God what is this!’”

The result was a work of music that wraps her dance into a vibrant rhythmic package, pulsating with African music and dance.

“What I wanted was to infuse the work with a dance from my South African heritage,” Masilo said. “It’s called Tswana, a traditional dance of Botswana. It’s a dance that is very much about rhythm. In fact, the whole thing is about rhythm. Not just rhythm, but also ritual—the rite of spring, the preparation of the earth and mating. I put ‘The Sacrifice’ in a South African rural context where there are so many different cultures and traditions… In South Africa, we have ritual celebrations for deaths, birth, for anything really, because ritual is very sacred. Even in ‘The Sacrifice,’ we have to honor our ancestors because that’s part of the ritual and the fact that in the African culture, ritual and religion are intertwined. They’re not two separate things. Working on this piece has been very interesting, but also very challenging and rewarding.”

Asked what she wants the audience to come away with after seeing this new work, Masilo smiled and said simply, “You know in the beginning [that] when I started work on ‘The Sacrifice,’ I was very angry and I wanted to comment on the state of the world, and then I did a 360. ‘The Sacrifice’ is about grief and healing, and I want the audience to be moved, I want them to laugh, I want them to cry because I feel like we’re so desensitized that we don’t feel anything anymore. I want to touch people.”

For more info, visit www.joyce.org.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 17
Dance pg 17 | Flim/TV pg 18 | Theater pg 21 | Jazz pg 24 Pg. 20 Tarotscopes
Dada Masilo’s “The Sacrifice” (John Hogg photos)

“The Little Mermaid” is an ode to love, tolerance, and acceptance

“He’s a human!” bellows King Triton (Javier Bardem), an underwater sea god, who mistrusts those who live on land. “That doesn’t make him our enemy,” exclaims Ariel (Halle Bailey), his mermaid daughter, as she defends her love for a prince who is a mortal.

“Our worlds were never meant to be together!” declares Queen Selina (Noma Dumezweni) to her open-minded son Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). “I’m trying to reach out to other cultures, so we don’t get left behind,” he says in response to her phobia, affirming his liking for merpeople and the need for their kingdom to be progressive.

The characters, dialogue, and narrative in this film version of the classic story are extensions of Disney’s brand, which champions love and inclusion, as opposed to fear and exclusion. This live-action adaptation of the 1989 animated Oscar-winning film dives deep into current culture wars. It encourages audiences to be accepting of people who are different from the ones they know—a fitting companion to Disney’s 1960s theme “It’s a Small World After All.”

Ariel is an 18-year-old mermaid who lives somewhere under the Caribbean Sea with her many sisters and widowed father King Triton. She roams around the local waters with her fishy sidekick Flounder (Jason Trembly, “Room”); a flighty, dizzy seabird named Scuttle (Awkwafina); and a Jamaican crab named Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), who is an advisor and a spy for her father.

Up above, a ship in a storm is wrecked by winds and waves, and a gallant fellow, Prince Eric, is thrown overboard. Ariel saves his life and brings him ashore. He is semiconscious but able to feel her presence and hear her bewitching singing. He is taken, mesmerized, and haunted by her beauty and voice.

Ariel is smitten too, so much so that she makes a deal with her evil Aunt Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), a sea witch: She can become a human with legs, visit the surface land, and pursue the one she loves— Prince Eric, but it’s an agreement that comes with poisonous tentacles from her cunning, duplicitous, octopus-looking auntie. Watch out!

Director Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) and the film’s producers have pulled together a stellar tech crew that makes the “merpeople’s” swimming as thrilling as Superman flying, with speedy, graceful, and mercurial movements that capture the eye. The pastel colors in Ariel’s fins are captivating, and watching her swim is as thrilling as viewing the beings in “Avatar.” Seamless

VFX and SFX technology is also on display. Anyone connected to the visuals should be proud: Cinematographer Dione Beebe, production designer John Myhre, art di rector Lauren Briggs-Miller, costume designer Colleen Atwood, and set decora tors Diana Samuila and Gordon Sim. Alan Menken’s original songs and music from the animated film hold up well. Lin-Manu el Miranda wrote a clever, catchy rap tune for Scuttle, called “The Scuttlebutt,” which is about hot gossip. Editor Wyatt Smith keeps your attention glued to the screen for its entire two hours and 15 minutes with only a few lapses.

Bailey’s casting was a genius choice— sweet voice, angelic look, loving personal ity. McCarthy dials her mean bitch factor up to the max—she’s campy, hysterical, and devilish all at once.

It’s fair to say that this very multiracial, multicultural version has strayed far away from its original 1837 source: a Danish fai rytale written by Hans Christian Anders en. The interracial mix of the sisters and entire cast speaks for itself. The ensemble moves around nonchalantly as if having a Black queen, white prince, an Asian bird, a Spanish sea god, a Pakistani butler (Art Malik), and a crab with a thick Jamaican

18 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Halle Bailey in “The Little Mermaid” (Courtesy photos) Melissa McCarthy in “The Little Mermaid”

“Fast X”: An explosive reunion of high-speed thrills

It has been two decades since the first of what has become the “Fast and Furious” franchise roared onto the global pop culture scene. Now, in its thrilling 10th installment, aptly titled “Fast X,” this lucrative franchise brings back familiar faces, villains, and friends to ignite another adrenaline-fueled adventure.

If you’ve somehow forgotten, these movies revolve around international espionage and intricate multimillion-dollar heists, delivering a straightforward yet exhilarating formula since 2001, firmly establishing itself within the crime thriller genre.

At its core, “Fast X” revolves around the origin story of an undercover cop, Brian O’Conner (played by the late Paul Walker), whose mission involved infiltrating a Los Angeles street-racing ring. His main obstacle? Dominic Toretto (portrayed by the charismatic Vin Diesel), the man he sought to bring down. Their intense rivalry manifested on the road, transforming former allies into sworn enemies. With their passion and expertise now divided by the law, they engaged in a saga of rage, deceit, and meticulous planning. However, their eventual reconciliation, marked by a spectacular display of mutual respect, opened the door to endless possibilities within this beloved franchise.

As the series progressed, Brian and Dom formed an unexpected alliance, stealing supercars and assisting the authorities in a multitude of plot twists. By this point, if you’re a fan of the franchise, you’re undoubtedly devoted. “Fast X” may not boast the strongest storyline, but let me stress this: For fans, it hardly matters.

This installment serves as a grand reunion, uniting all the A-list characters who have breathed life into the previous nine movies. The villain, Dante (played by the formidable Jason Momoa), is a diabolical new character, the vengeful son of a Brazilian crime lord, Hernan Reyes. His sole obsession is to make Dominic Toretto and his “family” suffer.

When the imminent declaration of a war shakes their world, sides are chosen, and loved ones face the harsh reality that not everyone will make it through unscathed. Enter Cipher (brought to life by the talented Charlize Theron), a brilliant hacker and unequivocal villain. When it comes to picking sides, one tends to choose the “devil they know best.”

Director Justin Lin, known for helming five films in the franchise, takes a step back for this installment, allowing French director Louis Leterrier (“Clash of the Titans”) to take the reins. Leterrier’s strength lies in delivering captivating action sequences while the storyline may falter. As expected, this fuel-injected action film propels

its characters in and out of speeding cars, with thrilling fights and a plethora of colorful language sprinkled in between.

Nevertheless, the story in “Fast X” can be challenging to follow. We are left wondering why Dom and his extended family find themselves entangled in this “war.” However, the film compensates with a long and exhilarating opening sequence that almost feels like a climactic moment: Dante is launched off a bridge in Rio, and from that point on, he devotes the next decade to studying Dom’s life and every move.

“Fast X” delivers the anticipated eye candy, treating the audience to extended montages of beautiful women clad in booty shorts, engaging in lively twerking before each street race. Joining the franchise are two new female characters: Isabel (played by Daniela Melchior) and Tess (portrayed by Brie Larson), both intricately linked to Dom’s friends from previous films, effectively making them part of the family.

Dom has a penchant for expanding his family circle, regardless of the vulnerability it entails. It’s almost as if he thrives in the midst of chaos. For instance, he unleashes a colossal rolling neutron bomb in Rome, nearly obliterating the Vatican. Explosive scenes abound in Brazil, Portugal, Los Angeles, and even Antarctica. In Dom’s mind, he will stop at nothing to

protect his 8-year-old son (played by Leo Abelo Perry), even if it means losing many of his old friends along the way.

“Fast X” is designed for those who crave fast cars and explosive action, and care less about intricate storytelling. It operates like a well-oiled (pun intended) money-making machine, catering to the desires of its devoted fan base.

Directed by Leterrier and featuring a screenplay by Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau, based on the characters created by Gary Scott Thompson, “Fast X” showcases the visual prowess of cinematographer Stephen F. Windon. The editing skills of Dylan Highsmith and Kelly Matsumoto, along with the exhilarating musical score composed by Brian Tyler, heighten the excitement of the film.

Directed by Louis Leterrier. Screenplay by Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau, based on characters created by Gary Scott Thompson. Camera: Stephen F. Windon. Editors: Dylan Highsmith, Kelly Matsumoto. Music: Brian Tyler.

Starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Scott Eastwood, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Rita Moreno, Jason Statham, Jason Momoa, Charlize Theron.

“Fast X” is now playing.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 19 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“Fast X” (Courtesy photo)

TAROTSCOPES By K

May 25, 2023—May 31, 2023

FOR ARIES/ARIES RISING/ARIES MOON:

Four of Swords: It’s time for a re-set, fiery Aries, so take a break from your usual, charging-ahead way of being. You may have been on an intel lectual treadmill recently, and feeling inundated with circular thoughts and mental chatter. Put your phone on silent, shut off the other devic es, and give yourself some quiet time to rest, reflect, and decompress. You may also feel like a door is closing in a particular situation and, after some much needed rest, you’ll be able to see why that’s a good thing.

FOR TAURUS/TAURUS RISING/TAURUS MOON:

Five of Wands: You might feel some conflict in a work or a creative sit uation, where it feels like too many folks are only out for themselves. It’s possible that someone involved could be an excellent ally and that there could be a way to work together for the benefit of all concerned; so rather than digging your heels in, in that particular Taurean way, remove yourself from the fray and observe others’ actions—you’ll be able to discern what’s going on with them much more easily, and be better able to identify with whom you can work most productively.

FOR GEMINI/GEMINI RISING/GEMINI MOON:

King of Pentacles: Your mind’s on your money and your money’s on your mind, and for now that’s totally okay: There are times when the fi nancial aspects of a situation should not dictate your actions, but this week is not that week. Determine whether things are literally worth your time before investing your energy any further. An earth sign person (Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn) could factor into things.

FOR CANCER/CANCER RISING/CANCER MOON:

Nine of Wands: Not yet but almost: You’re in the last leg of the race, and while you may have been handling something for what seems like ages, you’re almost at the finish line. Gather your forces and reserves of energy, and keep going. Your guides are cheering you on.

FOR LEO/LEO RISING/LEO MOON:

The Magician: Every tool you could possibly need is right at your fin gertips, but what’s needed is to clarify your goals and identify what really needs your immediate focus. Whatever it is, you can make it happen, so just make 100% certain that you know what “it” is and whether it’s really right for you. Use your imagination as a starting point if you need some inspiration.

FOR VIRGO/VIRGO RISING/VIRGO MOON:

Knight of Wands: Caution and care are your usual code words, but consider adding a dash of fire and flair to your efforts this week. This is a time to let loose a little and have some fun. Look to the horizon, literally and/or figuratively, and see if you might want to embark on something new. Fire sign folks—Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius—could be an influence this week (good or bad is up to you).

FOR LIBRA/LIBRA RISING/LIBRA MOON:

Judgment: “Calling” is a keyword this week. What’s your calling? What are you being called to do? Divine inspiration is calling—listen with an open heart to what it wants to say to you. Also, take some time this week to assess where you are right now, what you may want to leave behind, and what you might want to bring forward with you into the near future.

FOR SCORPIO/SCORPIO RISING/SCORPIO MOON:

Four of Wands: It’s time to celebrate. This card often shows up right after a lot of hard work has been completed, and can also indicate cele brations with family and friends around graduations, promotions, etc. You may still be in the middle of an extensive project, but it’s impor tant to take note of the milestones, big or small, as they occur, and give thanks for teamwork and support along the way.

FOR SAGITTARIUS/SAGITTARIUS RISING/SAGITTARIUS MOON:

Knight of Cups: Lead with your heart and not with your head this week. Being idealistic is sometimes called for and can generate com passion and creativity. See the good in others, but be careful: this is very different from seeing things with rose-colored glasses or projecting un realistic archetypes onto folks. A Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces person could be involved.

FOR CAPRICORN/CAPRICORN RISING/CAPRICORN MOON:

Seven of Pentacles: This card can be kind of a Minor-Arcana version of the Major-Arcanas Judgment card that showed up in Libra’s scope this week: it’s a good time to stop and take stock of where you’re at. Are you happy with what you’re building? What seeds are you planting this season? What’s growing from your current efforts? You also might re ceive an interesting offer from someone, so see whether it fits with your goals and with your ideal bigger picture.

FOR AQUARIUS/AQUARIUS RISING/AQUARIUS MOON:

King of Wands: You, or someone around you, has the potential to act as a charismatic and inspiring catalyst for something. Like Virgo’s Knight of Wands, this is an indication that it’s time to let loose and tap into some fiery energy. If given the option to join the background actors or take center stage, it’s pretty clear which way you should choose. A fire sign person, Aries, Leo, or Sagittari uses, might want to share the spotlight with you (and we all know how rare that can be!).

FOR PISCES/PISCES RISING/PISCES MOON:

Page of Wands: Keep your eyes and ears open for messages to come through, especially via phone, email, or text (though a good old-fash ioned letter could show up too). A creative project might be coming your way but if it does, it will need a lot of nurturing. Try to resist the urge to skip town if you’re trying to avoid doing something, because it might end up being better, and a lot more fun, than you expected.

FOR QUERIES: A&E@AMSTERDAMNEWS.COM
Read below for tarot guidance for your sign, rising sign, and/or moon sign for the week ahead.

“Shucked” is musical comedy at its best!

“Shucked” is kernels of laughter and joy on Broadway! This new musical comedy has jokes coming at you as fast as you can pop corn.

This hilarious musical comedy has a lot of dirty jokes, but they hit the spot and sizzle in your mouth as you laugh out loud, over and over and over again. This musical has a scrumptious book by Robert Horn and creative, fun music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, with absolutely delicious direction by Jack O’Brien and knee-slapping, entertaining choreography by Sarah O’Gleby.

This musical tells the delightful fairytale of a town called Cobb County, where everyone loves corn. Corn grows... tall enough to create a wall around the county, and everyone’s livelihoods depend on corn. To the people of Cobb County, corn is the greatest thing that God ever made.

But one day, the corn not only stops growing, it begins to die.

The people of Cobb County have never stepped outside of their community and outsiders have never stepped in. Desperate to find a solution to the corn conun-

drum, Maizy, one of the county’s young women, decides to venture outside the walls and search for help—a quest her cousin Lulu and fiancé Beau tell her not to pursue.

She goes to Tampa and is amazed at the things she sees. She meets and brings back Gordy, whose business sign reads “Corn Doctor”—but Gordy is not what he appears to be.

This play has laughs galore, as well as lies, betrayal, romance, and some of the best “Hee-Haw”–style one-liner jokes you’ve heard in decades. The jokes are rapidfire, especially out of the mouth of Peanut, Beau’s brother. Lulu

is also known for her quick wit, spicy responses, and delightful confidence.

Everything about this musical screams “a good time.” The cast is absolutely perfect: Caroline Innerbichler as Maizy is funny and charming. Andrew Durand as Beau is adorable and humorous. Kevin Cahoon as Peanut is offthe-charts crazy: He says some of the most funny, disgusting oneliners you will hear in a Broadway musical comedy. Every time he spoke, the audience perked up to not miss a word—hilarious.

Alex Newell as Lulu is absolutely stunning. Newell takes on that

humor, and just has a mesmerizing stage presence. Dwayne Clark plays Grandpa and is a smoothtalking, dancing riot.

Rheaume Crenshaw played Storyteller 1 at the performance I attended and she was a gem. Her comedic timing was unbelievable—and forget facial expressions and gestures. The same can be said for Storyteller 2, marvelously played by Grey Henson, who is positively delightful. John Behlmann was quite amusing as Gordy. Scott Stangland is entertaining as Tank.

All aspects of this production

If you’re looking for a great time at the theater, full of laughs, joy, and dirty jokes, then shucks, you better come on down to “Shucked,” playing at the Nederland Theatre (W. 41st Street). It is not surprising that this musical has been nominated for nine Tony Awards and 12 Drama Desk Awards.

For tickets, visit ShuckedMusical.com.

Black folks are abundant in 76th annual Tony noms

When it comes to nominations for performers, playwrights, and productions for the 76th Annual Tony Awards (to be held Sunday, June 11, at the United Palace, 4140 Broadway), Black folks are truly abundant, receiving 25 varied nominations. The productions that stood out are “Some Like It Hot,” “Topdog/ Underdog,” “Between Riverside and Crazy,” August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson,” “Fat Ham,” and “Ain’t No Mo.”

In the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category, Black men took four of the five nominations. Both actors in Suzan-Lori Parks’s “Topdog/ Underdog” earned nominations. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Corey Hawkins distinguished themselves in this Broadway production, as they brilliantly and powerfully portrayed Parks’s characters of Lincoln and Booth.

Stephen McKinley Henderson is nominated for his performance in “Between Riverside and Crazy” in the role of Pops, which he originated. Anyone who saw the power of that performance knows that it is a nomination richly deserved.

Wendell Pierce, as the first Black man to star as Willy Loman in the Black-focused Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” is the fourth nominee. His performance was breathtaking.

The nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading

Role in a Play goes to Audra McDonald for her stunning performance in “Ohio State Murders.” McDonald brought great intensity to her role.

J. Harrison Ghee is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his role in “Some Like It Hot.”

Lorna Courtney, who stars in “& Juliet,” is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.

Two men who gave it their all were nominated in the Best Per-

formance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play category: Jordan E. Cooper for “Ain’t No Mo,’” which he also wrote and is also nominated in the Best Play category, and veteran thespian Samuel L. Jackson is nominated for his incredible performance in “The Piano Lesson.”

Nikki Crawford is absolutely delightful in “Fat Ham,” and Kara Young was riveting in “Cost of Living.” Their performances earned them nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a play.

In the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, the nominations recognized three superbly talented individuals: Justin Cooley for “Kimberly Akimbo,” Jordan Donica for “Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot,” and Alex Newell for “Shucked.” A lady who has some amazing vocal pipes is up for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: NaTasha Yvette Williams is nominated

for her phenomenal performance as Sweet Sue in “Some Like It Hot.” Best Costume Design of a Play has two people nominated for three shows: Dominique Fawn Hill for “Fat Ham” and Emilio Sosa for “Ain’t No Mo’” and “Good Night, Oscar.”

In the category of Best Direction of a Play, Saheem Ali is nominated for his sterling work on “Fat Ham” and Stevie Walker-Webb for his dynamic direction of “Ain’t No Mo.’” Best Orchestrations got Daryl Waters a nod for “New York, New York” along with Sam Davis. “Ain’t No Mo’” is up for Best Play, joined by James Ijames’s “Fat Ham.” Best Revival of a Play has spotlighted Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” and Parks’s “Topdog/Underdog.”

This is truly an exciting season and a great time to go to the theater. The Tony Awards are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. I can’t wait for the awards! They are scheduled to be broadcast on CBS and Pluto TV.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 21
Scott Pask, costume design by Tilly Grimes, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by John Shivers, and wig design by Mia Neal.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Audra McDonald and Bryce Pinkham in scene from “Ohio State Murders.” (Richard Termine photo) Cast of “Shucked” (l-r): Alex Newell, Caroline Innerbichler, Kevin Cahoon, and Andrew Durand. (Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman photos) Alex Newell in “Shucked” on Broadway.

Planning a California road trip adventure

With near-endless sunshine, worldclass theme parks, and abundant outdoor experiences, California is an ideal destination for an unforgettable adventure.

To make it easy for travelers to plan their trips, the 2023 California Road Trips guide includes 13 action-packed itineraries that each begin and end at one of the state’s 27 commercial airports, highlighting how easy it is to fly into any region of the Golden State and hit the road.

“California’s natural beauty, diverse topography, and culturally rich communities are the perfect backdrop for an epic road trip experience,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California, a nonprofit organization that partners with the state’s travel industry to develop and maintain marketing programs that keep California top-of-mind

as a premier travel destination. “This year’s guide showcases how the state’s vast network of international and regional airports provide travelers with convenient access to every corner of the California Road Trip Republic.”

The guide’s cover star, Dwyane Wade, a three-time NBA champion, dad, and owner of the Napa Valley winery Wade Cellars, moved to Los Angeles after his retirement in 2019. Wade said California granted him a soulful landscape and much-needed quiet time.

“I like to find moments where no one can expect anything of me, and California allows me to have those moments,” Wade said. “I’ll drive to the beach and walk next to the water. I’ll drive all over to find those moments to connect with myself... I get my energy from that.”

While California’s world-renowned coastline provides a dramatic backdrop, adventures can be found in every region of the Golden State. Featured drives take travelers to both cities and classic small towns; family attractions; and far-reaching, otherworldly landscapes. A few sample road trip itineraries include:

1. “Animals, Desert, and Offbeat Art” combines kid-friendly experiences like LEGOLAND California and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park with the rich arts culture and stargazing opportunities in Borrego Springs.

2. “Cactus and Cocktails” explore both the cosmopolitan pleasures of Palm Springs and the rugged sceneries of Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve.

3. “National Park Adventures” is a 412mile adventure that begins at Fresno Yosemite Airport and explores the wonders of Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks.

4. “Road to Gold” is a four-day trek that begins in Sacramento, explores Lake Tahoe, and meanders back through Gold Country with photo opportunities at every turn.

5. “Innovation and Agricultural Bounty” features a San Jose-based itinerary that showcases cuttingedge arts, charming seaside villages, and bountiful farmlands on a 238mile journey.

To order a guide, go to VisitCalifornia. com/Travel-Guides.

(Family Features)

22 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
(Photo courtesy of Visit California/Places We Swim) Joshua Tree National Park (Image by sspiehs3 from Pixabay)

AmNews Food

Break out brunch favorites for spring celebrations

Deck your kitchen, dining room, or patio with bright decor and fun, festive springtime frills— brunch season is here. Whether your weekend morning meal is shared with that special someone or friends, family, and neighbors, these warm, sunny days can bring out the best of brunch.

Impress your loved one(s) with these Mini Banana Rice Pancakes for two, a healthy and satisfying meal made with Minute Brown Rice & Quinoa Cups. This recipe allows for more moments together at the table because the wholegrain combination is ready in just 1 minute and prep time is minimal.

Pairing the crunchiness of red quinoa with the chewy texture of

Mini Banana Rice Pancakes

Servings: 2

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup Minute Brown Rice & Quinoa

1¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed

lemon juice

2 bananas, divided

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup pure maple syrup, divided

4 teaspoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

Heat rice and quinoa according to package directions.

In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In medium bowl, whisk milk and lemon juice. Let stand 5 minutes. Mash 1/2 banana. Transfer to milk mixture. Add egg and 1 teaspoon maple syrup; stir to combine. Stir in melted butter. Pour milk mixture over flour mixture. Whisk just until combined; do not overmix. Fold in rice and quinoa. Let batter rest

10–15 minutes.

Preheat large nonstick skillet over medium heat; brush with 1 teaspoon oil.

Once skillet is hot, reduce heat to medium-low. In batches, adding oil as necessary, scoop 1 tablespoon batter per pancake into skillet and cook 3–4 minutes or until bubbles start to form. Flip and cook 1–2 minutes until golden on bottom.

Slice remaining half and whole bananas. Serve pancakes with remaining maple syrup, banana slices, and cinnamon.

brown rice, these cups earned a spot on the “Men’s Health” Best Foods for Men Awards in 2022. Plus, because it’s packed in single-serve portions, you can eat the grains right out of the BPA-free cup for a simple lunch or snack that provides a good source of fiber, with 55 grams of whole grains in each serving.

For a dish that feeds a crowd, put this Hearty Bacon and Egg Breakfast on the menu. Ready in 35 minutes, it can satisfy brunch cravings for a group of up to 12 as a main course that easily pairs with other morning favorites. As an ideal complement to the eggs, bacon, and cheese, Minute Rice & Quinoa can make this family-style recipe a breeze. In just 10 minutes, the tasty blend of brown rice, red rice, wild rice, and quinoa cooks up light and fluffy for a slightly chewy, nutty flavor. It’s also a dependable replacement for oatmeal in other breakfast dishes, so you can complete your mission to make meals quick and enjoyable.

The bag is BPA-free and recyclable via store drop-off in most communities, while the carton is recyclable curbside.

Find more brunch inspiration for spring celebrations at MinuteRice.com.

(Family Features)

Hearty Bacon and Egg Breakfast

Servings: 12

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray

1½ bags Minute Rice & Quinoa

9 eggs, lightly beaten

5 bacon slices, cooked and

Instructions:

crumbled

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 325 F. Coat 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Prepare rice and quinoa according to package directions. In medium bowl, combine rice and quinoa, eggs, bacon, cheese; salt and pepper to taste.

Divide batter between prepared cups and bake 18–20 minutes or until eggs are just set.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 23

Harlem International Film Fest

Why take an extravagant flight to the Cannes Film Festival (France) or the Sundance Film Festival (Utah) when you can get star treatment in Harlem, and be seen on the red carpet at the Harlem International Film Festival (Hi)?

This film festival introduces some of the finest filmmakers from Harlem to Hong Kong with a featured Harlem Spotlight highlighting films produced or directed by Harlem residents, films shot in Harlem, or films about Harlem and its legendary history.

The Harlem International Film Festival began on May 18 and will run through May 28 at Maysles Documentary Cinema (343 Malcolm X Blvd). Some of the 20-plus films to be screened include the following:

May 25

“Hargrove,” a documentary about the life of innovative jazz trumpeter and composer Roy Hargrove, filmed during his last tour across Mediterranean Europe. Directed by Eliane Henri, 108 minutes. (It is important to note that Hargrove died before the film was completed and never got to approve this film, and his wife and daughter never authorized the film on behalf of his estate.)

May 26

Actor and comedian John Leguizamo performs his one-man Broadway show “Ghetto Klown,” live at Rikers Island Correctional Facility, directed by Elena Francesca Engel, 26 minutes.

In “Down’s Paradox,” a teenage boy living in Harlem succumbs to the bad influences of his new friends. Directed by Red Rodgers Truss, 14 minutes.

The NYC premiere of “Bonnie Blue James Cotton’s Life in the Blues.” Born in 1935 on the Bonnie Blue plantation in Tunica, Mississippi, James “Super” Blue Cotton became a mentor to harp players around the world as he brought the delta blues into mainstream rock and roll. Directed by Bestor Cram, 86 minutes.

Short documentary focused on Moe’s original 16 mm film footage of the last NY Giants baseball game played at the Polo Grounds stadium in Harlem, in 1957. Directed by Janko Radosavljevic, 19 minutes.

“Orange and the Blues,” an inside

look at devoted New York Knicks fans who support the team despite its dysfunction and lack of success. Director Keif Roberts, 82 minutes.

May 27

“AJASS Pioneers of the Black is Beautiful Movement,” chronicling the journey of AJAZZ (African Jazz-Art Society and Studios) from the Bronx, where they hosted jazz concerts in Harlem while promoting Black is Beautiful and Black self-determination. Influenced by co-founder Carlos Cook and Elombe Brath. Directed by Louise Dente, 120 minutes.

“One of the Wonders of the World, Dr. William R. Harvey,” about Harvey’s 44year legacy as president of Hampton University. Directed by Phill Branch, 48 minutes.

“Move When the Spirit Says Move,” about Dorothy Foreman Cotton, a bold and effective teacher who educated thousands about their citizenship rights. She was a key player in the Civil Rights Movement who was consistently overlooked. Directed by Ry Ferro and Deborah C. Hoard, 89 minutes.

“Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes,” about the music professor, bassist, composer, and author. A brilliant documentation of Ron Carter’s life. It could have very well been entitled “The genius of Ron

Carter,” but the humble gentleman stated his life is still committed to finding the right notes. A superb film worth seeing—watching an incredible musician at work as he drops pearls of wisdom as he continues an illustrious life. Directed by Peter Schnall, 102 minutes.

Earlier in the week, the festival held the world premiere of “The Sacred Place Between Earth and Space.” For me, it rates as one of the best jazz documentaries to be produced over the years and definitely for this Harlem festival. This documentary is a culmination of Harlem Stage’s “Afrofutur-

ism” series featuring Craig Harris’s Nocturnal Nubian Ball for Conscientious Ballers and Cultural Shot Callers (the performances took place at Battery Park, Marcus Garvey Park, and the Harlem Stage). The film is a mix of behind-the-scenes concert and historical footage that highlights Harris’s reunion and performances with legendary jazz instrumentalist and fellow Sun Ra Arkestra member Marshall Allen. For that brief week in the summer of 2021, trombonist, composer, and arranger Harris and his Nation of Imagination were able to provide live music relief for a fatigued New York City, still weary from battling a national COVID-19 pandemic. During the film’s Q&A, Harris noted, “Coming out of the pandemic, we were ready to perform live and the audience was ready to get inside the music and groove.” Marshall Allen, at age 99, couldn’t make the world premiere due to a performance engagement.

What makes this jazz documentary so different from others is that “The Sacred Place Between Earth and Space” is the spiritual stage for Black music without boundaries. It’s more than jazz because the composer Harris refuses to be categorized. He is a visionary like his mentors Muhal

Richard Abrams, Sun Ra, Marshall Allen, and Amiri Baraka.

Harris discusses his approach to music: “I always look for the impossible, not sure how it’s going to turn out and don’t really want to know, but it will be good. I like to bring all the music together— gospel, R&B, jazz, and blues. I listen and learn.”

Harris plays on the edge of the pendulum, which is his bond with Harlem Stage, as executive director Pat Cruz noted: “We have commissioned visionary artists like Craig from the inception, which has almost been 40 years. Craig’s work has always brought us to heaven.”

The film includes clips of Sun Ra Arkestra performances and discussion of his music cosmic philosophy, his theatrical performances engulfed in eclectic sounds of avant garde bebop, fusion, and big band. Sun Ra is the epitome of the Afro-futurism movement. His legacy is entwined in Harlem Stage’s evolution, whose programs represent Black artists as a spiritual unity between Earth and space, from music, avant garde, thought, dance, films, and spoken word. This is why Harlem Stage is such a significant asset to the community: It brings authenticity with raging creativity to the forefront with the same intensity as their collaborative partner, trombonist Harris.

This is a testament to experiencing the spiritual soul of live music in the moment that encompasses the genres of Black music into one song. It’s the perseverance of Black musicians staying focused and creating during exasperating times. “The spirit is always on my mind,” said Harris. “These are sonic vibrations that have allowed Black people to survive—it lifts us up.”

The editing is seamless—it seems as though you are actually in the room during conversations and you will clap your hands after each performance clip. Directed by Patrick Heaphy, 92 minutes.

The Harlem International Film Festival showcases features, documentaries, shorts, animation, youth projects, episodic work, and cutting-edge music videos. Other events include noon lunchtime screenings, panel discussions, and the Renaissance Awards gala.

For a complete schedule of remaining films, visit the website harlemfilmfestival.org.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS 24 May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
(l–r) Eric Oberstein, Harlem Stage; Craig Harris; Pat Cruz, Harlem Stage executive director; and Patrick Heaphy, director of “The Sacred Place Between Earth and Space. (Ron Scott photos)

Metro Briefs

Continued from page 3

Harlem Chocolate Factory

Jessica Spaulding, founder of Harlem Chocolate Factory, recently launched a GoFundMe to install a new security system after a recent robbery at her store. “We are here because we were victims of a smash-and-grab,” she said. “We must upgrade our security system. Every single dollar of our current budget has been allocated to our damages and keeping us moving forward. The man

INVITATION TO

Invitation to Prequalify and to Bid

that broke in is a serial burglar that continues to hit the Black-owned businesses in Harlem and is continuously released. We need a more robust security system and need your help to do so.”

The Harlem Chocolate Factory’s GoFundMe is at: https://gf.me/v/c/y5mm/ fksnwj-new-security-system

AND TO BID

Rehabilitation and Flood Mitigation of the New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, NY: Turner Construction Company, an EEO Employer, is currently soliciting bids for the Rehabilitation and Flood Mitigation of the New York Aquarium from subcontractors and vendors for the following bid packages: BP #041B - Plumbing

Rehabilitation and Flood Mitigation of the New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, NY : Turner Construction Company, an EEO Employer, is currently soliciting bids for the Rehabilitation and Flood Mitigation of the New York Aquarium from subcontractors and vendors for the following bid packages:

Only bids responsive to the entire scope of work will be considered and, to be successful, bidders must be prequalified by Turner. Certified M/WBE and Small Business (13 CFR part 121) companies are encouraged to submit.

BP #041B - Plumbing

––Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

Only bids responsive to the entire scope of work will be cons idered and, to be successful, bidders must be prequalified by Turner. Certified M/WBE and Small Business (13 CFR part 121) companies are encouraged to submit.

In order to receive the bid packages, potential bidders either (1) must initiate the prequalification process by submitting a Subcontractor/Vendor Prequalification Statement to Turner, or (2) must be prequalified based on a prior submission to Turner. (Note: Prior prequalification submissions that remain current will be considered as previously submitted or may be updated at this time.) All bidders must be prequalified by the bid deadline: July 6th, 2023 and initial submission of a prequalification statement not later than July 6th, 2023 is strongly encouraged. All bidders must have an acceptable EMR, and will be subject to government regulations such as 44 CFR and Federal Executive Order 11246. Successful bidders will be required to use LCP Tracker compliance verification software. Note that while this is a New York City prevailing wage project, union affiliation is not required for BP #041B

A Webcast about the above Bid Package/s will be held on June 8th, 2023. Attendance is optional for all; the Webcast is designed to assist potential M/WBE subcontractors/vendors.

In order to receive the bid packages, potential bidders either (1) must initiate the prequalification process by submitting a Subcontractor/Vendor Prequalification Statement to Turner, or (2) must be prequalified based on a prior submission to Turner. (Note: Prior prequalification submissions that remain current will be considered as previously submitted or may be updated at this time. ) All bidders must be prequalified by the bid deadline: July 6th, 2023 and initial submission of a prequalification statement not later than July 6th, 2023 is strongly encouraged. All bidders must have an acceptable EMR, and will be subject to government regulations such as 44 CFR and Federal Executive Order 11246. Successful bidders will be required to use LCP Tracker compliance verification software. Note that while this is a New York City prevailing wage project, union affiliation is not required for

Link: Please join this meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ NTVjNmZlMTctODdjNy00YWRmLWJmMmYtZjI4NzNjMzcwNWVi%40thread.v2/0?context= %7b%22Tid%22%3a%2220e27700-b670-4553-a27c-d8e2583b3289%22%2c%22Oid%2 2%3a%22732a90ce-24b7-42eb-bf78-d638e2a629ac%22%7d

To obtain further information about contracting opportunities and/or the prequalification package and bid solicitation package/s, please contact Lyndsey Spangel, lspangel@tcco. com 646-842-1659.

The date for the virtual public opening at the Turner Construction Company office located at 66 Hudson Yards, New York, New York, is July 7th, 2023 10 AM

Link: Please join this opening meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

A Webcast about the Webcast

Link: Please join

00-b670-4553

To obtain further information about contracting opportunities and/or the prequalification package and bid solicitation package/s, please contact https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup join/19%3ameeting_NThmN2MzNDctNGEzNC00MTA5LWE2NjYtZTI0ZWVjZGVmM2Nj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid% d638e2a629ac%22%7d

Beginning 6/1/2023, a limited number of 1 bedroom applications (1,000) will be available for persons 62 years or older

Completed applications must be sent by regular mail only to the address printed on the application and must be received by 6/30/2023. Applications received after the deadline will not be processed.

Do not mail more than one application per household. Applications may be obtained by any of the following methods:

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 25
join/19%3ameeting_NTVjNmZlMTctODdjNy00YWRmLWJmMmYtZjI4NzNjMzcwNWVi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2220e277
PREQUALIFY
By telephoning: 212-375-1201 Picking up an application at: 711 E. 6th Street, New York, NY 10009 (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Grand Street Settlement HDFC 711 East 6th Street New York, NY 10009 Sending an email to: JChung@mmsgroup.com Writing to: Grand Street Settlement HDFC 711 E. 6th Street NY NY 10009 JOIN THE NY AMSTERDAM NEWS FAMILY! Support our 113 years of racial equity work. Reporting the news of the day from a Black perspective. Subscribe today! amsterdamnews.com/product/subscription/ OF THE EDITORIALLY BLACK

CLASSROOM IN THE

Jessie Coles Grayson, actress, singer, and activist

In a recent issue of Cineaste , the film review publication, Jessie Coles Grayson was mentioned in a story about Bette Davis. It was another new name for me and my curiosity was fueled when I learned that Grayson appeared in a number of classic films, including The Little Foxes and Cass Timberlane . Who was this actress, singer, and activist?

She was born on March 7, 1886, in Albia, Iowa, a small town in the southern part of the state. From the age of 8, she lived in Los Angeles, and not much is known about her early years. After her marriage to Garner Van Grayson, they moved to Portland, Oregon, with their daughter. In Portland, she studied voice with William Belcher. This experience proved rewarding and she was soon performing as a contralto on stage and radio during the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1929, she was promoted as “Portland’s Famous Contralto” before a concert performance in Seattle. According to a review in a local paper, “Mrs. Grayson proved herself an artist in every sense of the word. She is a master of contralto voice which she uses effectively and without exaggeration.”

The stage and radio were just a portion of her activities, which included her participation in civic organizations. In 1928, she was elected a secretary of the National Association of Colored Women, and she was on the Portland committee of the NAACP. She was also associated with the YWCA in California, and in 1944, she was named “Outstanding Woman of 1943” by the Xi Alpha chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority in Pittsburgh.

Grayson also found time to pursue her hobby of collecting

ACTIVITIES

ing Grayson, noting, “They play naturally in settings that seem authentic. If the rest of Syncopation reached their level the [movie theater] might have had something to shout about.”

There apparently was something to at least exclaim in her next film, Cass Timberlane. Ebony magazine and the 1948 edition of Negro Who’s Who in California both noted that “the Negro maid [is] called for the first time on screen ‘Mrs. Higby.’” The Pittsburgh Courier quoted the director, George Sidney, as saying, “I think six years ago we would have cast a comedy performer in it. But the war has made us more conscious...more aware that Negro comic and mammy roles, like Jewish comics and Italian pushcart peddlers, have become unfair, dangerous symbols. So... we wanted a normal, intelligent character actress…’ hence Mrs. Grayson.”

FIND

OUT MORE

Several articles in the Pittsburgh Courier focus mostly on her acting career.

DISCUSSION

What happened to her singing career after she became an actress is among the pressing questions.

PLACE IN CONTEXT

She was born just as the dawn of the new century was looming on the horizon and lived for half of the 20th century.

rare American pottery. These endeavors, however, were often overshadowed by her film career, which began in 1939 in the all-Black film One Dark Night , intended as an African American version of the Hardy films. In The Little Foxes , with Davis, she was cast as Addie, a role she got via a phone call to the casting director, who was so taken with her voice that he arranged a screen test for her. She was given the role, competing against a number of seasoned performers. As Addie, she portrayed “a wise aristocratic”

servant who dominated the film in many scenes.

She was equally compelling in Syncopation , this time closer to her metier as a blues-singing servant in 1942, whose young son is a musical prodigy. According to a review in this paper, her role was not that of an “Aunt Dinah” and was perceived as a move away from the limiting stereotypical roles for African Americans. Even so, one reviewer wrote that the best acting in the film that otherwise disappointed was from the African American actors, includ -

When Deep Are the Roots by Arnaud d’Usseau and James Gow began its fourstate touring production, Grayson was cast in the role of Bella Charles, the terrified mother of an African American veteran. A Chicago review once again singled her out as one of the best roles in the play. She reprised the role in the San Francisco and Los Angeles productions in 1948. (Readers may recall that the play’s title was Gordon Heath’s memoir, and the profile we did of him many years ago. In fact, he played the lead role with Evelyn Ellis as his mother, who was succeeded by Grayson.)

Like many other Black actors and actresses, Grayson had a number of uncredited roles in films, mainly as a maid or housekeeper.

Grayson was 66 when she died on February 27, 1953, in Los Angeles. Further research failed to disclose what happened to her two children.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY

May 22, 1940: Broadcast pioneer Bernard Shaw was born in Chicago. He died in 2022.

May 24, 1918: Coleman Young, Detroit’s first Black mayor, was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He died in 1997.

May 25, 1926: Miles Davis, the jazz legend, was born in Alton, Illinois. He died in 1991.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS 26 May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023
Portrait photo of Jessie Coles Grayson published with her obituary in Jet magazine, 1953

HARD LABOR

THE FIGHT FOR INCLUSION IN SKILLED TRADES THE FIGHT FOR INCLUSION IN SKILLED TRADES

JOIN US FOR A WEBINAR ON THURSDAY, MAY 25TH NOON EDT bit.ly/hardlabor5

JOIN US FOR A WEBINAR ON THURSDAY, MAY 25TH NOON EDT bit.ly/hardlabor5

Education

Communing with the ancestors at the Shabazz Center

Lamont Hill spearheaded the third call for action, so to speak. Like a seasoned auctioneer, he asked if anyone in the crowd was ready to donate $25,000. It didn’t take long for Spike Lee to take care of that request, and Hill himself followed up with $10,000.

“It’s time to put down the fake crowns,” Arnstar recited, and then rapped that Malcolm had “found a sound that existed before I was born.” He was followed by Drew Drake, who exuded words with a similar pace and insight, saying that “the ancestors are watching.”

Trumpeter Keyon Harrold and his guitarist and bassist provided a musical interlude, with the leader putting his horn aside and singing about “finding your peace.”

Before Frederick Joseph offered his appreciation for being saluted as a Vanguard award recipient, he asked for a moment of silence in memory of Jordan Neely, among our more recent ancestors. Joseph, straight out of Yonkers, has penned two bestsellers: The Black Friend and Patriarchy Blues: Reflections on Manhood. “I owe my life to Dr. Betty Shabazz,” he said.

“Ancestors” was a word that resonated from speaker to speaker Friday evening at the 98th Annual Birthday Celebration for Malcolm X (El Hajj Malik El Shabazz) Day at the Shabazz Center. It was a tribute to Malcolm in words and music that evolved into something much more than honoring him. Dr. Betty Shabazz, his wife, was cited on numerous occasions, along with other long-gone and recent ancestors.

Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz established a tone of reverence with her opening remarks, after the Afrikan Healing Circle and remarks delivered by Rev. Dr. Mother Khoshhali, and she continued the Circle call to the ances-

tors. As expected, Malcolm was the main ancestor summoned again and again, his name and memory musically evoked in song by soprano Brittany Logan—her voice as resplendent as her gown—of the Metropolitan Opera, accompanied by pianist Katelan Terrell. The song was Anthony Davis’s “Golden Day” from the X opera composed with his cousin Thulani Davis.

Dr. Regina Jackson, chair of the board of trustees, issued the Call to Action, and it was duly answered by Gwen Carr, the mother of the slain Eric Garner. She recounted how our ancestors gave their lives for us to have the vote today, and when she announced that the State Assembly had passed the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold

PUBLIC NOTICE

Dated: Thursday, May 18th 2023

DEMOCRACY PREP NEW YORK SCHOOL MEETING OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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 May 30th, 2023 at 8:00 am., local time, + 1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 872 1204 8191, Password: 746010.

Act, she received a standing ovation.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) may not be a well-known entity, but Dr. Jocelyn Imani, the first national Black history and culture director at the helm of TPL, demonstrated that it will get wider recognition as she recounted how “our ancestors endured unthinkable horrors” in the quest for self-determination.

JoAnna Leflore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation in Omaha, Nebraska, said she makes it clear to all who ask whether there were African Americans in her state that “Malcolm X was born in Omaha.” She piggy-backed on Imani’s aim to preserve trusted land, noting that Omaha was among the sites earmarked for such recognition. She was the first of several honorees to receive a Vanguard Award.

When the Repair American Collective was called to the stage, it was as a quintet that included a tiny tot, who was animated while Aziza Robinson-Goodnight, chair of the Boston-based organization, and colleagues Saskia Vann James, Jaylyn Conway, and Harrison Clark provided a semi-PowerPoint presentation to highlight the role they play in the reparations movement.

Dreisen Heath represented another region of the West—Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been a driving force in the realm of reparative justice, and reminded the overflow audience of the significance of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, particularly the survivors and rebuilding of the Greenwood district that was destroyed.

As master of ceremonies, Dr. Marc

In her remarks at the podium, Nikole Hannah-Jones, perhaps best known nowadays for her anthology 1619, quoted Malcolm X and his comment that “we didn’t land on Plymouth Rock—Plymouth Rock landed on us.” She mentioned the influence the late historian and journalist Lerone Bennett had on her career and closed by promising that right to her last breath, “they will not bury our history.”

It was wonderful to see and hear Carol Jenkins, communicator and media commentator. She too praised Betty Shabazz, saying that “she was a real true leader...and there will be no peace without freedom,” she concluded.

Filmmaker Spike Lee presented the keynote address, and he took time to honor the recent deaths of Harry Belafonte and Jim Brown. “They were freedom fighters,” he added. Most of his time was devoted to the backstory of making the bio-pic of Malcolm’s life; the money hassles with Warner Brothers; and how a number of wealthy African Americans, including Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Peggy Cooper-Cafritz, Tracy Chapman, Janet Jackson, Prince, and Magic Johnson, came to the rescue. He drew laughter when he recounted what he did when Cosby said he would mail the check: “I went to his place and knocked on the door.” There was extended praise for Denzel Washington’s performance as Malcolm, even though “he didn’t get the award.”

Before he could leave the stage, Lee was presented with a Vanguard award, as was Hill.

Imam Muhammad Jaaber and the Afrikan Healing Circle brought the educational evening to a close, their drums matching the marching footsteps descending the stairs as participants chatted to each other about communing with their ancestors.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS 28 May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023
(l-r) Malaak, MET Rep. Brittany Logan, Katelan Terrell and lyasah Shabazz (Bill Moore photos) Rapper Arnstar Spike Lee Ilyasah presenting award to Frederick Joseph and Nikole Hannah Jones Imam Muhammad Jaaber

Gibson hosts prom season giveaway

To cap Bronx Week, Borough President Vanessa Gibson and partners hosted their first-ever prom dress and suit giveaway last Friday at Bronx Borough Hall. Hundreds of Black and brown teens lined up around the block to get gear-and-glammed out for free.

“This is a wonderful time to celebrate young people,” said Gibson. “Many families face hardships and can’t afford to go hard at prom for their kids, especially if they have more than one kid. It brings such joy to my heart to see these kings and queens. I want them to look and feel beautiful.”

Inside the borough hall, about 2,000 prom dresses and hundreds of young men’s suits hung on racks along the walls. Down the middle of the space were tables adorned with free jewelry, shoes, and accessories. Adjacent to that was a huge red carpet runway lined with festive balloons. In the back, volunteers led students to changing rooms where they could try on the donated outfits.

District Attorney Darcel Clarke’s office donated about 300 dresses and more than 100 suits to the event. She said everyone from staff to vendors and community members was eager to donate outfits. From a public safety angle, Clarke said that the giveaway gets teens engaged during a crucial time for them.

“They want to look their best—to be encouraged and valued,” said Clarke. “It’s empowering for them.”

Every student who found an ensemble they liked got the chance to be introduced in the outfit to the buzzing crowd, strut down the runway, and be crowned as they posed for pictures. The event had a giddy energy that blended seamlessly with the vibrant dance music. Wide smiles were in abundance.

Rahmatu Sulley, 20, was the first person to find a dress she liked. She skipped down the runway and then hugged volunteers before searching for matching shoes. According to her aunt, who accompanied her, Sulley is autistic and her mother had died.

“I’m going to cry,” said Sulley’s aunt.

Destini Nixon, 17, a student at the Bronx High School of Business, modeled a long black gown with her white braids pinned up. She laughed and waved at the cameras on the carpet when it was her turn to walk. “Black is my favorite color,” she said about why she chose the dress.

Lesly Calixto, 18, is a student at Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics. She came to the giveaway with her father, who chose a bright-magenta dress for her. She said he’s been choosing her clothes all her life and she trusts his fashion sense.

Barbers offered free haircuts and a beauty glam van parked outside offered free makeovers, lashes, and henna tattoos.

The event was sponsored by Gibson and community partners, and mainly coordinated by Not On My Watch Executive Director Pamela Damon.

Damon said she’s been working in prom impact and nonprofit events centered around

youth empowerment for more than 10 years. She began organizing her first prom dress giveaway with a girls’ group in Queens. It grew so much in popularity that eventually the NYPD assisted in sponsoring and hosting with her. When she moved to the Bronx, she continued her work at the girls’ empowerment center.

Eustace Collens, an over50 male model and former correctional officer, was assisting on the boys’ side. He said he turned to mentorship because he feels nobody is teaching and listening to kids.

Someone who has not had much feels left out, Collens. “I didn’t have name brands and kids laughed at me, but with a new dress or a suit, you can just feel like a new person.”

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.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 29
EDUCATION
Bronx Borough President Gibson hosts prom dress and suit giveaway on Friday, May 19, at Bronx Borough Hall. (Ariama C. Long photos)

Religion & Spirituality

Jim Brown––nonpareil athlete, actor, and activist

Several years ago, in 1994, to be exact, Robert Allen and I collaborated on the anthology “Brotherman––The Odyssey of Black Men in America.” We both agreed that a section from Jim Brown’s autobiography “Out of Bounds” with Steve Delsohn was absolutely essential. After we both pored over his engrossing book, we decided to use a segment where he talks about others rather than himself. Brown was an extraordinary athlete and on the gridiron, he was peerless with the pigskin tucked under his powerful arms.

By now, most of the news outlets in the

civilized world have weighed in on Brown’s remarkable football legacy, the plethora of statistics that only recently have been challenged or broken. It is still inconceivable that he played in 118 games over nine seasons and never missed one. He meted out as much punishment as he took.

No need to repeat here his legendary accomplishments with the Cleveland Browns––and the team’s name was fitting, because it was basically his team. As the media denotes, he was one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL, and it will take pages to do justice to the man who died on May 18, at 87 in Los Angeles.

Somewhat presciently, Robert and I selected a portion of Brown’s book that focused on his un

The Central Park Conservancy staff and Board of Trustees mourn the passing of former State Senator and New York City Council Member Bill Perkins, a true champion of Harlem and a great friend of Central Park. Mr. Perkins played a significant role in transforming the Park’s north end and helped lead the funding for the Harlem Gateway at 110th Street and Frederick Douglass Circle, which remains a celebration of African-American culture as well as a testament to the power of community-building. A lifelong resident of Harlem, Mr. Perkins was dedicated to ensuring justice and equity for his community and constituents throughout his career. We’re grateful for his immeasurable impact on Central Park and on our city.

I had to run through those guys every day at practice, and they’d be talking their own talk. My linemen were my lifeblood.”

Once they opened a hole, one that was expanded when Brown blasted through it, there remained but the hopeless and helpless linebackers and safeties. And they had to deal with his speed and power, to say nothing of his menacing straight arm.

Another thing that the mainstream press only gave a passing nod to was Brown’s versatility, particularly as a student-athlete at Syracuse University. To be sure, he excelled on the football field, but he was equally capable on the basketball court, the track field, and most rewardingly as a lacrosse star. During his three years of competition, he amassed an incredible record, and for many authorities of the sport, he was one of the greatest lacrosse players in history. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983. His prowess on the field was so overpowering that they had to change rules about carrying the ball in

And while the press will undoubtedly mention his abuse of women––and rightfully so, though he was never convicted of any of these charges of mistreatment––there will probably be nothing said about

his admiration for Malcolm X, which he believed was one of the reasons he was blackballed in Hollywood. “Deep in my gut,” he wrote in his book, “I think the primary factor was activism. I was increasingly perceived as a militant. I had spent time with Malcolm X, made no attempt to hide that fact, and Malcolm made many people nervous. Even after Malcolm was killed, many people believed I was a Muslim, despite the fact I was never a Muslim, though I had Muslim friends, and despite the fact that Malcolm himself had broken with the Muslims.”

Unavoidably, and to their credit, most of the obituaries cited Brown’s activism, including most famously his appearance with Muhammad Ali after he was stripped of his title for refusing the draft. That photo with him and Ali with Bill Russell is all he needs to certify his standing among Black Nationalists.

Obviously, Robert and I could have written a book about Jim Brown and his legacy, but that’s not necessary because he chronicled his own stay among us, and no one documentary, collection of film clips, or lengthy obituary can capture his outstanding athletic feats, his political activism––but it’s certainly worth a try.

Tina Turner, Queen of Rock’ n Roll, dead at 83

Special to the AmNews

Twelve-time-Grammy award winner Tina Turner, whom Rolling Stone ranked as one of the greatest artists of all time, died on May 24. Her spokesperson issued a statement, “Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’ n Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”

Born Annie Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee, in 1939, Turner became a cit-

izen of Switzerland in 2013, relinquishing her American citizenship. After meeting Ike Turner in St. Louis, Missouri, the singer, dancer, actress, and author became a worldrenowned performer as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue before becoming a solo artist following a tumultuous abusive marriage to Ike, which ended in 1978. The prolific performer married Erwin Bach in 2013 and remained with him until her death.

Turner’s solo career made history with the 1984 multi-platinum album “Private Dancer,” which boasted “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” the hit single that won a Grammy for Record of the Year and became the title of the biopic about Tina’s life. Angela Bassett was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars for her portrayal of the icon.

Tina has a star on the Walk of Fame in Hol-

lywood and St. Louis. She was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, with Ike Turner in 1991 and as a solo artist in 2021.

In 2018, Turner revealed in her memoir “My Love Story” that she had suffered several life-threatening illnesses, which included a stroke in 2013, intestinal cancer in 2016, and hypertension, which led to kidney failure. At the time, the mesmerizing musician considered assisted suicide. However, her husband, Bach, donated his kidney and she underwent a transplant in 2017.

Also a successful actress, Turner will be missed, but her legacy and magnificent body of work are timeless.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson tweeted, “Rest in peace one of my favorite artists of all time, the legendary queen of rock n’ roll Tina Turner.”

30 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

U.N. Forum

Continued from page 2

Dr. Claudia Mosquera RoseroLabbé, a professor at the National University of Colombia, told the AmNews she plans to give a presentation about the importance of reparations. Mosquera explained in a recent interview that historical reparations––or the phrase she prefers, “Afro-reparations”––are a way of looking at justice. There is social justice, environmental justice, and ethnic-racial justice.

Afro-reparations is a look at the reparations due to Black people. It’s not based solely on the past and the trans-Atlantic slave trade, said Rosero-Labbé: “When we place too much emphasis on history, that is, when we say ‘historical reparations,’ we run the risk of not inviting a dialogue, because generally, our debaters always say, ‘but that is the past.’

When we talk about historical reparations, people think we are staying in the past, but there is nothing more contemporary than this discussion, because what this discussion seeks is the future. It is anchored in contemporaneity and understands the complexity of contemporaneity.”

Shereen White, director of advocacy & policy with Children’s Rights, said being able to use the mechanisms of the United Nations to further the concerns of Black people in the United States is vital. Children’s Rights will be working with JMacforFamilies and the American Civil Liberties Union to host the virtual PFPAD side event, “Healing Historical Trauma: The Vital Role of Family Integrity In Restoring Health and Wellness for People of African De-

Long Covid

Continued from page 16

scent,” on Wednesday, May 31, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“There is much work to be done in educating the world about the discriminatory and ongoing forced separation of Black children from their parents, and to stop it,” White explained. “This is a human rights issue that deserves attention and justice on the international stage. We hope that our side event will continue to help people in the U.S. understand the gravity of this issue and also create a space for people in other countries to reflect and share on the status of Black families in their countries.”

Last year, Children’s Rights worked with JMacforFamilies and the ACLU to bring the subject of anti-Black racism and discrimination by the U.S. child welfare system to the attention of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). “Following our testimony and advocacy in August 2022, for the first time ever, CERD included discrimination and disparate treatment of Black children and families by the family policing system in its concluding observations,” White said.

“There was power in building relationships across borders and learning what is happening in other countries.”

Conrad Bryan of Ireland’s Association of Mixed Race Irish also plans to present in New York. “For many years, we have been calling on our government to recognize the racial abuse experienced by children of African Irish descent in childcare institutions and orphanages in Ireland,” Bryan told the AmNews. “Unfortunately, at every step of the way, the state has denied or disbelieved what we were saying. Two judge-led statutory commissions of investiga-

context of this study, it’s clear that Long COVID is a very serious outcome of a COVID infection and other studies have shown that re-infection increases your likelihood of getting Long COVID. The best way to not get Long COVID is to not get COVID.

AmNews: What else do you want our readers to know about COVID?

McCorkell: Especially if people aren’t online or don’t want to join online groups, there is a book called “The Long COVID Survival Guide”. It has stories and advice from 20 people with Long COVID, including myself, and it’s like a support group in book form. It also walks through how to get a diagnosis, common symptoms, best ways to treat, and how to deal with stigma, so I think this is a good resource and we’re trying to get it into libraries, so it’s more available.

tion have been carried out into child abuse in these institutions and orphanages, and no recommendations were made to redress the serious wrongs done by racial discrimination and racially motivated abuses, such as illegal non-consensual vaccine trials and long-term incarceration and institutionalization.

“The second investigation into mother-and-baby institutions went even further and concluded there was no racial discrimination, when in fact, elsewhere in its own report, the findings contradicted its overall conclusion. We were particularly concerned that this was a grossly misleading narrative and we needed to seek external and independent experts to review this situation and to help us to correct this false narrative. This also had judicial implications for our community [because] it obstructed our ability to seek remedies in domestic courts.”

Bryan said that with the support of the U.N. Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, members of the mixed-race Irish community finally felt heard: “[I]t gave our community a strong sense of self-belief and validation,” he said. “The effect these words had was to lift our heads and give us our voice. It also provided the helpful human rights language with which we could articulate our plight and struggles, as well as call on the government to provide reparations. This is where we are now, but we have more work to do to achieve full atonement from the state.”

AmNEWS: Are there any final words you would like to say to our readers?

McCorkell: So many people are forgetting about Long COVID. In Black and brown communities, there’s a lag in terms of resources, so even if COVID were starting to dissipate, there would still be a lag in Black and brown communities. We would still need to keep up with it. It’s not going away.

If you are recovering from #COVID19 or experiencing #LongCOVID, you can call 212-COVID19 to receive specialty care or visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/services/covid-19 to learn more about NYC’s COVID-19 Centers of Excellence in Tremont, Jackson Heights, and Bushwick. For additional resources about COVID19, visit www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/ index.page. COVID-19 testing, masks, and vaccination resources can also be accessed on the AmNews COVID-19 page: www.amsterdamnews.com/covid.

Continued from page 2

worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, but will require changes to the country’s tax system and public spending.

According to the World Bank, Ghana is one of the most indebted countries on the continent, with a debt of $58 billion representing 105% of its GDP. Other countries with heavy debt loads are Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Tunisia, and Zambia.

“We focus a lot on the external debt to international creditors, but it is important to bear in mind that most of Ghana’s public debt is domestic debt held by the country’s commercial banks,” said Marc Raffinot of Paris Dauphine University, a development specialist.

Back in January, 26 civil society and aid organizations penned an open letter calling on international creditors to cancel Ghana’s debt. It stood at over $46.7 billion by the end of September 2022, of which 42% was domestic debt.

According to the World Bank’s International Debt Statistics, 64% of Ghana’s scheduled foreign currency external debt ser-

vice between 2023 and 2029 is to private lenders, 20% is to multilateral institutions, and 6% to other governments. Notably, while mainstream reporting on Ghana’s debt scenario tends to emphasize China as the country’s “biggest bilateral creditor,” only 10% of Accra’s external debt service is owed to Beijing.

Meanwhile, Catholic bishops serving in the humanitarian and development arm of the church in Africa appealed to the Group of Seven (G7) countries who met recently in Hiroshima, Japan, to support African countries that are struggling with poverty, including the possibility of canceling debts that are “unpayable.”

“Last year, over 300 million people experienced food insecurity, exacerbating drivers of conflict and social tension in many African countries and making governance more fragile,” they said.

“There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce, in its turn, an economic reform to benefit everyone,” Pope Francis was quoted as saying. “We are all debtors: to God, who is so generous, and to our brothers and sisters. We are all ‘in deficit’ in life. And we need mercy.”

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NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- JEREMIAH J. TYRRELL, TIMOTHY TYRRELL, JR., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated November 15, 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 June 7th, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-incommon 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 1.4182% 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 September 22, 2014, October 6, 2014 as CFRN # 2014000330111 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 1303.

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, UNIT HU2, NEW YORK, NY

Approximate amount of lien $35,267.20 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850036/2022.

BRUCE N. LEDERMAN, ESQ., Referee

DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK

HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Pedro D. A. Alvarez Arenas, if living and if dead, the respective heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignors, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, purchase, inheritance lien, or otherwise or any right, title or interest in and to the premises…; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 28, 2022 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Portico of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre St, New York, NY 10007 on June 7, 2023 at 2:15PM, premises known as 15 William Street, New York, NY 10005. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block: 25 Lot: 1503. Approximate amount of judgment $792,245.73 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 810049/2012. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the First Judicial District. Mark McKew, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 4304792

Dated: February 7, 2023 75149

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff, vs. JAMES S. COHEN A/K/A JAMES STERLING COHEN AS CO-EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF CYNTHIA PRICE COHEN A/K/A CYNTHIA P. COHEN A/K/A CYNTHIA COHEN, DECEASED, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on May 11, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the portico of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on June 28, 2023 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 35 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024. 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, County, City and State of New York, Block 1197 and Lot 18. Approximate amount of judgment is $2,460,113.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850141/2015. Cash will not be accepted. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale.

Paul R. Sklar, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff

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

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR WELLS FARGO ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION MORTGAGE ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-PA, V.

PAULA RICE, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated November 9, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR WELLS FARGO ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION MORTGAGE ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-PA is the Plaintiff and PAULA RICE, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE, at the PORTICO OF THE CIVIL SUPREME COURTHOUSE, LOCATED AT 60 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10007, on June 7, 2023 at 2:15PM, premises known as 316 W 116TH ST, UNIT 3A, NEW YORK, NY 10029: Block 1848, Lot 1107: THE UNIT KNOWN AS RESIDENTIAL UNIT NO. 3A (THE "UNIT") IN THE BUILDING KNOWN AS 374 MANHATTAN CONDOMINIUM, 316 WEST 116TH STREET, IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850130/2018. Joseph F. Buono, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. ABISOYE FAGADE, Defts. - Index # 850219/2019. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 18, 2021, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.01517100000% 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 $53,825.28 plus costs and interest as of January 26, 2021. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

PIVOT ADR LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/06/2023. Office: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to U.S. Corp. Agts., Inc., 7014 13TH Ave BK, NY 11228. Business Add: 228 Park Ave S #701467 NY, NY 10003, USA. Purpose: Any lawful activities or acts.

Notice of Formation of TRAVEL THE ARTIST WAY, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/05/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 200 Park Ave. S, Fl. 8, NY, NY 10003. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Josh Work at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of SKHH HOLDINGS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/11/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 270 W. 17th St., #20A, NY, NY 10011. 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: To purchase, own and sell real estate in New York.

Notice of Qualification of MONASHEE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/01/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/19/11. Princ. office of LLC: 520 Madison Ave., 19th 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. DE addr. of LLC: The Corporation Trust Co., Corp. Trust Center, 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste.4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of JMBS23 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/01/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 520 Madison Ave., Ste. 3501, NY, NY 10022. 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, regd. agent upon whom and at which process may be served. Purpose: Real estate investment.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of Cauthorn & Shapiro LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 2/11/2023. 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 the LLC, 301 W 57th st Apt 21B, New York, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Application for Authority of Men of Steel Enterprises, LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/22/2023. Formed in NJ 7/21/2004. Office Loc.: NY County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail copy of process to and the principal office address is 2500 State Rd., Unit A, Bensalem, PA 19020. Cert. of formation filed with the State Treas., 33 W. State St., 5th Fl., Trenton, NJ 08608. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

WEARBARE L.L.C. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/17/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 2816 SCHLEY AVENUE, APT 4D, BRONX, NY, 10465. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of ZM88 LLC. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/07/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/28/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Seward & Kissel, Attn: Hume R.Steyer, One Battery Park Plaza, NY, NY 10004. DE addr. of LLC: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., Federal & Duke of York Sts., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

32 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
100 PUBLIC NOTI CES 100 PUBLIC NOTI CES 100 PUBLIC NOTI CES 100 PUBLIC NOTI CES 100 PUBLIC NOTI CES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES

T&S COLLECTIVE LIVING LLC

NOTICE

OF

FORMATION of Presser Compliance LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 1/24/2023.

SSNY designated as agent for service of process on LLC. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Steven Michael Presser, 140 Wadsworth Ave, Apt. 43, New York, NY, 10033. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of RECHARGE CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/24/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/22/22.

Princ. office of LLC: 10 E. 53rd St., Ste. 140, 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. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of RECHARGE CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/24/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/22/22. 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 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of NIMos, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/12/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/20/21. Princ. office of LLC: One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111. 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 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 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: US-based limited liability company offering a variety of integrated tools.

Firstbase Agent LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 8/9/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to: 447 Bdwy, 2nd Fl 187, NY, NY 10013. Purpose: any lawful act or activity

ALPHA PRISTINE CLEANERS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 03/23/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail process to: United States Corporation Agents Inc., 7014 13th Ave., Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY, 11228. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Art of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/07/2023. 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 the LLC. SHANNON CHANG 404 E 66TH STREET, 4N, NEW YORK, NY, 10065.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

VASILIKI LIV RE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/05/2023. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 50 West Street, No. 27B, New York, NY, 10006. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

KnowledgeGuru LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 3/28/2023. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to: 250 W 94th St, Apt 9C, NY, NY 10025. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of MILLEL LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/02/23. Office location: NY County. 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: Any lawful activity.

LEGAL NOTICE

KRISTIN RENEE LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State (SSNY) on 12/28/2022. Office Location: 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 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 228 PARK AVE S #624872, NEW YORK, NY, 10003, USA. R/A: UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC. 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 202, BROOKLYN, NY 11228, USA. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Royale Administrative Touch LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 01/19/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 12117 194th Street, Springfield Gardens, NY 11413. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

4929NY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/15/23. 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, c/o Young Ok

FUTURA EGG DONATION, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/03/23. Office: New York County. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 177 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 101, Greenwich, CT 06831. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

RIVERSIDE PAINTERS LLC

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/14/2023. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: P.O. BOX 230474, NY, NY, 10023.

Purpose: Painting of interiors and any lawful act or activity.

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Vette GPS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 01/21/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail process to: 20 River Road, Apt 22H, NY, NY 10044. Purpose: Human Resources Consulting or any lawful activity.

LUDAS REALTY LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 03/21/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail process to: 228 Park Ave S #676342, NY, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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All Season Fit LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 3/16/2023. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to: 228 Park Ave S #402852, NY, NY 10003.

Purpose: To provide fitness and eating coaching or to engage in any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of SKYROCKET SYSTEMS GROUP LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/2/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 228 PARK AVE S, #805685, NY, NY 10003. R/A: US Corp Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave, #202, BK, NY 11228. Purpose: any lawful act.

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 33 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 110 SERVICES 110 SERVICES
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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 35 Celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop NEXT PRINT ISSUE amsterdamnews.com

8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE.

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36 • May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun, often found in the home.

Jim Brown, a towering American figure, leaves an indelible complex legacy

Jim Brown was unapologetically Black.

Favored with unsurpassed physical gifts and notable intellect, the iconic American forged a paradoxical legacy of exquisite greatness and contemptible flaws that complicated the stances many took on Brown’s life of exceeding celebrity.

Brown passed away at the age of 87 last Thursday in his home in Los Angeles. His wife Monique posted on Instagram: “To the world he was an activist, actor, and football star. To our family he was a loving and wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken...”

During the 1960s and 1970s when the Civil Rights and Black Liberation Movements converged and non-violent protest

and armed struggle were both viewed as efficacious means to achieve equity and justice in turbulent times, Brown represented unwavering strength among both factions.

He was a towering figure. Born in Jim Crow St. Simons Island, Georgia, in 1936 and reared in Manhasset, New York, where racism and segregation were more nuanced than in the deep South but correspondingly injurious, Brown went on to become one of the greatest athletes in history.

Brown earned All-American honors in both football and lacrosse at Syracuse University. His professional football career, spanning nine seasons from 1957-1965, was illustrious. Playing for the Cleveland Browns under head coach Paul Brown, one of the most revered men in the game’s annals, Brown won

eight rushing titles, was a threetime MVP, and an eight-time All-Pro. He retired at 29, still a dominant player as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. He was equally impactful off the field as an activist and actor. He was the organizer of the Cleveland Summit, also known as the Muhammad Ali Summit. The meeting was held on June 4, 1967 in Cleveland and was attended by some of the most powerful Black athletes of that time, including Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Willie Davis, and Ali, among others. They convened to discuss Ali’s refusal to not accept mandatory military service through the draft to fight in the Vietnam War. Brown was also a proactive advocate of Black economic empowerment and was a co-founder of the Black Economic Union of Kansas City in 1968. He received 53 acting credits in memorable

movies such as “The Dirty Dozen” and “100 Rifles.” In the late 1980s, Brown emerged as a leading presence in curbing gang violence and rehabilitating formerly incarcerated men through his Amer-I-Can Foundation, founded in 1988. His wife Monique became

the organization’s president. Contradictory to his positive work, Brown was arrested multiple times for assault against women. It has left a pervasive mark on his otherwise shining biography, one that cannot be stricken.

Haney remains undefeated with controversial victory over Lomachenko

LAS VEGAS — In a highly contested fight in front of a sold-out crowd of 14,436 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Devin Haney (30–0, 15 KOs) remained the undisputed and undefeated WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, and WBO lightweight champion with a unanimous 12round victory over former three-time champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (17–3, 11 KOs.) The judges scored the fight 115–113 (Tim Cheatham), 115–113 (Dave Moretti), and 116–112 (David Sutherland).

For the 24-year-old Haney, who was born in San Francisco, spent much of early years in Oakland, then moved to Las Vegas at 14 with his father and current trainer, Bill Haney, the boisterous fans in the building were overwhelmingly supporting his 35-year-old challenger even though Haney was fighting the Ukrainian Lomachenko in America. However, Haney’s detractors left disappointed, expressing their emotions with loud “boos” after the controversial decision was announced. An angry fan even threw what appeared to be a beer bottle at Bill Haney.

“(Lomachenko) was my toughest opponent by far,” Haney acknowledged. “He’s a crafty fighter. He turns it up in the championship rounds. I just have to take my hat off to him. He’s a great fighter.”

The fight was close throughout, with Haney dictating the terms early with a steady jab and piercing body shots. Lomachenko, one of the most skilled fighters of this generation, who had a legendary amateur career, winning two gold medals

at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, came on strong at the end and seemingly closed the gap on the judges’ scorecards. But the three judges who had the final say had Haney winning by a much wider margin than many concluded.

“I don’t want to talk about the decision,” said Lomachenko afterward. “All [the] people see what happened here

today.” Lomachenko cried in his locker room in frustration.

Haney hinted that he might be moving up in weight class. “I’ve been here at 135 since I was 16 years old,” he said. “We’re going to go back to the lab and figure out what’s next.” Undefeated former Olympian Shakur Stevenson was not only at the fight, but

stepped into the ring after the fight to issue a challenge. “Me and Shakur are on a collision course,” Haney asserted. “We’re definitely going to get it on when the time is right.”

He also discussed a potential mega fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, who previously held multiple world titles in three weight classes.

“Me and Tank is a massive fight,” said Haney of a potential matchup against Davis, who defeated previously unbeaten Ryan Garcia three weeks ago in Las Vegas. Lomachenko and his team were mildly complimentary of Haney. “Before, I thought he would be better,” said the bitter adversary, who was once known as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. “He’s a tough fighter. He’s a good fighter. But he’s not a pound-for-pound fighter.”

Egis Klimas, Lomachenko’s trainer, deemed the decision unjust. “I’m gonna say it just like it is,” Klimas declared: “This is the biggest robbery in the middle of the day. For [Haney’s team], Christmas came in the summer…I guarantee we’re gonna appeal.”

Earlier in the evening, Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, battled journeyman Danny Rosenberger (13–9–4) to a 77–75, 76–76, 75–77 draw. Ali is now 9–0–1 with five KOs. It was the first time the 22-yearold Walsh fought an eight-round fight.

In other combat sports news, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou signed an exclusive deal with the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) that will see him both box and engage MMA contests. Ngannou, who is from Cameroon, will also become chair of PFL Africa.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 37
SPORTS
Jim Brown, pictured in 2000, passed away at his home in Los Angeles last Thursday (John Mathew Smith photo & www.celebrityphotos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA) Lightweight world champion Devin Haney (left) and former Division Three World Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko will meet this Saturday in Las Vegas. (Top Rank Boxing photo)

Taj McWilliams-Franklin honored by Connecticut Sun SPORTS

During the team’s home opener, an 80–74 win over the Washington Mystics, the Connecticut Sun celebrated the career of one of its founding members, Taj McWilliamsFranklin, who began her 14-year WNBA career with the Orlando Miracle (the team that relocated to Connecticut in 2003). Her time with the franchise—four of those years in Connecticut—included five WNBA All-Star appearances, two-time All-WNBA Second Team, and the WNBA Sportsmanship Award.

The ceremony included hanging her No. 11 jersey in the rafters of the Mohegan Sun arena alongside those of her former teammates, Nykesha Sales, Katie Douglas, Lindsay Whalen, Asjha Jones, and the late Margo Dydek.

“It’s a little overwhelming to know it’s been 20 years since we came to Connecticut, and the fans have been amazing and embraced us—seeing those faces that I haven’t seen in a number of years and knowing that they still appreciate what they meant to me but also what I meant to the franchise,” McWilliams-Franklin said.

McWilliams-Franklin was already a veteran of professional women’s basketball when she came to the WNBA in 1999, having played overseas and in the ABL. To this day, she and only two other WNBA players played at NAIA schools. She praised the Sun’s coaching staff, which was headed by Mike Thibault, who took the team to the WNBA Finals twice during her time in Connecticut.

“It’s really hard to be self-reflective for me because I really never put myself in that spot

or position,” said McWilliamsFranklin, who played with the New York Liberty in 2010 and won WNBA titles with the Detroit Shock and Minnesota Lynx. “It’s surprising to have this honor bestowed upon me, but when I look at the wider lens of the women’s game and the trajectory of it from when I was playing and when I was part of this franchise, [I’m] just amazed. Women’s sports have come so far.

“[The coaches in Connecticut] instilled in us the ability to do it all and do it well,” she added. “Besides being a leader, that’s what I was able to take into all the other teams.”

Today, McWilliams-Franklin is the WNBA manager of player relations and player development, helping former and current players transition and figure out what they want to do after pro hoops. “I help them solidify what’s next,” she said.

St. John’s Tatyana McKenzie closes her collegiate track career

Earlier this month, St. John’s University track and field achieved its best finish at the Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships in more than three decades. Among the brightest stars was sprinter Tatyana McKenzie, who reached the podium in three events: the 200-meter dash, 400meter dash, and 4x400 relay. She was named Big East Women’s Track Most Outstanding Performer and High-Point Performer, equaling the honors she received at the Big East Indoor Championships, which were her goals for the year.

“It was a pretty good season, but a pretty rough season, too, because I got injured two weeks before the conference championships,” said McKenzie. A pulled right hamstring curtailed her practice time and kept her from being at peak form at the Big East Championships.

“[Highlights this season included] being consistent with everything that’s been going on,” said McKenzie. “When I got hurt, I was a little frustrated with the injury…that happened two weeks before the championship.

I’m not really satisfied because what I wanted to accomplish, I didn’t get to accomplish. I played

the races smart, so I couldn’t go to the full extent that I know I could have. But I’m grateful that I get to finish the season healthy.”

For her accomplishments, McKenzie was also named to the All-Big East Outdoor Track and Field Team. Unfortunately, she did not qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships Preliminary Round, which kicked off yesterday in Jacksonville, Florida. She planned to travel to the Championships to support teammate Jamora Alves, a thrower, who will try to qualify for the NCAA Championships next month in Texas.

McKenzie attended St. John’s graduation last Sunday, receiving her degree in liberal studies with a minor in entrepreneurship. She is training in anticipation of returning home to Jamaica, West Indies, next month to run in the trials to pick the team for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August. After that, she hopes to find a track club where she can train and launch a professional track career.

“I want to be the athlete that I can be,” said McKenzie, who also hopes to open a hair salon one day. “I’m excited to receive my degree. It took patience and really hard work. You come out of your comfort zone and do things you never thought you could have done.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS 38 May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023
Tatyana McKenzie (r) runs in one of her final relays for St. John’s(St. John’s Athletics photo) Connecticut Sun retires Taj McWilliamsFranklin’s jersey (Chris Marion/ NBAE photo)

Historic Hinchliffe Negro Leagues stadium officially reopens

Last Friday in Paterson, New Jersey, political, community, entertainment, and athletics dignitaries were among the large contingent of attendees at historic Hinchliffe Stadium for a ceremony to rededicate the renovated Negro Leagues Baseball venue.

Among those taking part in the day’s celebration were junior U.S. Senator Cory Booker; Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh; New York Yankees icon Willie Randolph, a five-time World Series champion; Tony Clark, executive director of the MLB Players Association; actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg; and former Mets general manager Omar Minaya.

Hinchcliffe is where the New York Black Yankees, New York Cubans, and Newark Cubans once called home. Today, it is the domain of the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league. The renovated facility will also host football games featuring local high school teams in the fall and winter, as well as track and field events, and a museum to honor

Larry Doby, the great Negro Leagues and MLB Hall of Famer who moved from Camden, South Carolina, to Paterson at the age of 14.

“This is not a state landmark— this is an American landmark,” said Booker, speaking from a podium on the field. “This stadium is a testimony to the best of who we are in America. This stadium was first built during the Great Depression...Our Paterson forefathers and mothers decided the Depression was exactly the time for us to show that the American pastime can live, and that not just a field will be built, but it will become a sanctuary for those who cannot yet see the dignity, the divinity, and the humanity of all people.” Construction on Hinchcliffe, which sits on 5.7 acres of land, began in 1931 and was completed in 1932. Since then, it has undergone three renovations, the most recent taking place between 2021 and 2022, and costing $103 million. It was condemned in 1997 and had no official use for 24 years.

Mets and Yankees reverse course and stack up wins

The Mets have found new life.

On May 16, they were 20–23 after losing 8–5 to the Tampa Rays at Citi Field in Game 1 of a threegame series. One week later, the Mets began a three-game set on Tuesday versus the Chicago Cubs on the road, in second place in the National League East division with a record of 25–23 riding a fivegame winning streak.

The Mets took two out of three games versus the Rays, then swept three against the Cleveland Guardians during their May 16–21 sevengame home stand. (Last Saturday’s game was postponed due to heavy rain.) Over that stretch, Mets’ AllStar first baseman Pete Alonso hit a homerun in each of four straight games, including a walk-off threerun homer on Wednesday night against Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks in the 10th inning in a 8–7 victory.

On Friday, Alonso blasted a game-tying grand slam off Guardians reliever James Karinchak in the seventh inning to help the Mets earn another 10th-inning win by 10–9. It was the Mets’ first series victory since taking three from the Oakland A’s on the road April 14–16. The home stand also saw breakout performances from

rookie catcher Francisco Alvarez, who hit a game-tying homer against Rays closer Jason Adam with two strikes in the count in the bottom of the ninth inning in last Wednesday’s win and a game-evening single off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth on Friday.

Fellow rookie infielder Mark Vientos tied Wednesday’s game at 2–2 in the 7th inning with a two-run home run off Rays reliever Ryan Thomson. Every Mets’ win during their five-game streak was by one run.

One of the more welcoming sights for the team over that period was the strong pitching performance from their starters, beginning with Kodai Senga on May 17 (6 IP, 3H, 1ER, 12Ks), Max Scherzer (6 IP, 3H, and 5Ks), and Justin Verlander (8 IP, 3 hits, and 5Ks) going into the Mets’ doubleheader last Sunday. It could be a turning point for the team, coming at the right time as they chase the divisionleading Atlanta Braves—the Mets trailed the Braves by 4.5 games before facing the Cubs on Tuesday.

After the Cubs, the Mets will face the Colorado Rockies for three games tomorrow through Sunday, then host the Philadelphia Phillies in Queens next Tuesday through Thursday.

The Yankees are also ascending. They went 6–1 in their roadtrip from May 15 through this past Sunday and 3–1 against the Toronto Blue Jays, then capturing three over the Cincinnati Reds. Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has led their resurgence, hitting seven home runs in seven games dating back to May 13 against Tampa Bay. His power surge was tinged with some controversy when he took a few glances in the direction of his bench before hitting his second homer of the game in the eighth inning in the May 15 game against Toronto. The Blue Jays broadcast team accused Judge of cheating, alleging he was receiving pitch information from the Yankees bench. Judge denied he was getting intel.

“I’m kind of like, ‘Who’s still talking here?...Let’s get back to playing ball,” he said after the game when asked about the incident. The Yankees bench was still chirping at home plate umpire Clint Vondrak after he threw out manager Aaron Boone during Judge’s at-bat for calling what he thought was a questionable strike against the slugger.

The Yankees have gone from 15–15 to open this month to 29–20 when they began a three-game series on Tuesday versus the Baltimore Orioles in the Bronx. They

had the fourth-most wins in the American League, yet were still in third place (the Orioles were in second at 31–16), six games behind

the 35–14 Rays. The Yankees will face the San Diego Padres at home for a threegame series this weekend.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 39
Mets starter Justin Verlander threw a gem in his last outing, going eight innings and giving up just three hits in 2–1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday (Wikipedia photo)
SPORTS
Cory Booker, junior U.S. senator from New Jersey, was among political, community, and athletics dignitaries on hand last Friday for rededication ceremony of historic Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey (Elinor Tatum photo)

Sports

The Nuggets head to the Finals while the Celtics hang on versus the Heat

A healthy and dynamic Jamal Murray has provided the supremely gifted 7’ Nikola Jokic the necessary sidekick to finally lift the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA Finals in franchise history, defeating the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals Monday night by 113–111 on the road.

As one of four American Basketball Association (ABA) teams to merge with the NBA in 1976, the No. 1 seed Nuggets joined the Indiana Pacers, the then-New York Nets, and the San Antonio Spurs to make it to the NBA Finals with a 4–0 sweep over the embattled Lakers.

The 28-year old Jokic, a two-time league MVP (2021, 2022), bolstered his resume by earning the Earvin “Magic” Johnson trophy as the conference finals most valuable player,

capping the series with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, his eighth triple-double this postseason. The 6–4 Murray, who lit up the Lakers for 30 points in the first half—he finished with 37—of the Nuggets’ 119–108 Game 3 victory on Saturday, followed up with 25 in Game 4.

The 2023 playoffs have been an emotional validation that Murray remains one of the most electric backcourt performers in the league. After tearing his ACL in his left knee in April 2021, the 26-yearold University of Kentucky sharpshooter’s outlook on his future was permeated with doubt. He didn’t return until October 2022.

“When you’re hurt, you’re in the unknown. You don’t know what’s going to happen, if you’ll recover or what the results are going to be,” Murray said in a January interview with Men’s Health Magazine. “I was very fearful of the unknown before,

but now I embrace it.” Murray and the Nuggets await the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics and No. 8 seed Miami Heat. Down 3–0 entering Game 4 in Miami on Tuesday, the Celtics got the series back on their home court for a Game 5 tonight with a 116–99 win. Jayson Tatum had 33 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, all team-highs, as the Celtics lived to play another game.

“We were just trying to save our season,” said Tatum.

If Boston takes Game 5, Game 6 will be in Miami on Saturday. The NBA Finals begin on June 1.

Breanna Stewart sets Liberty scoring record in home debut

One of the narratives entering this WNBA season has been shaped by the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces forming what are being called super teams as both made significant acquisitions this past winter, including the Liberty signing two-time Finals MVP Breanna Stewart and the Aces adding two-time league MVP Candace Parker.

All five Liberty starters—Stewart, Betnijah Laney, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu—have been a WNBA All-Star at least once. They are coached by Sandy Brondello, who is in her second season with the Liberty and guided the Phoenix Mercury to their 2014 title. While the Liberty have the pieces to win a championship and some prematurely see a potential dynasty, personal accolades cannot fast-track team chemistry. Their 80-64 season opening loss last Friday to the Washington Mystics’ on

the road is evidence.

The Mystics’ disruptive perimeter defense and transition game drove them to a comfortable win and exposed the Liberty’s need for defensive toughness. It also showed the WNBA’s 11 other teams will be prepared for the challenge. The Aces opened their 2023 season with a dominant 104-65 win against the Seattle Storm. The Liberty did not have the same outcome.

On Sunday, the Liberty gave a glimpse of why they have so much hype. Facing the Indiana Fever at the Barclays Center in their first home game of this season, New York dismantled Indiana by 90-73, displaying the level of defense that will be consistently required to reach their goal of being the last team standing when all is said and done.

Stewart provided the offense. She was sensational in setting a new single-game franchise record, scoring 45 points on 15-21 shoot-

ing, including 6-9 on 3-point attempts. The Liberty led by 36-14 after the first quarter on 65% shooting from the field. Stewart outscored the Fever by herself, posting 19 to the opponent’s collective 14. As the game moved on and her points kept piling up, the former University of Connecticut star said she was unaware of her record pace.

“I didn’t know I broke any record. I looked up at the scoreboard at one time and had 37,” said Stewart. “I was like ‘I didn’t know what just happened.’ I wanted to be more aggressive after [the] last game.”

Stewart added she wanted to “set the tone and be confident.” Against the Mystics, she was 3-10 overall and 0-5 on threes for just 12 points.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS May 25, 2023 - May 31, 2023 • 40
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Jamal Murray (right) the Denver Nuggets have moved on the NBA Finals out of the West while Jayson Tatum (left) and the Boston Celtics are down 3-1 to the Miami Heat in their Eastern Conference series (Bill Moore photos) In her New York Liberty home debut, Breanna Stewart scored a franchise record 45 points on Sunday at the Barclays Center in a 90–73 win over the Indiana Fever (New York Liberty photos)

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