Public Employee Press

Part 1, Feb. 1-14, 2011
30th anniversary of Black History Month at DC 37
On the shoulders of giants

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS
Including reporting by Jane LaTour, Gregory N. Heires and Alfredo Alvarado

DC 37 recalled the triumphs and tragedies of the African American experience Feb. 1 as the union's 30th celebration of Black History Month began with the theme, "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants."

"Every time I think about Martin Luther King Jr. and the fight for civil rights," said Executive Director Lillian Roberts, "I am proud, because he stood up for labor and working people and died ghting for the dignity of others. To me, the labor movement and the civil rights movement are forever tied as one."

Hundreds of members celebrated the heroes who never let gender or adversity stop them from standing up for dignity and equity and the historic high point that President Barack Obama's 2008 election marked on the long journey from the slave house to the White House.

The annual ribbon-cutting ceremony included a blessing and prayer to the ancestors led by Local 420 2nd Vice President Togba Porte, the singing of the national anthem by Local 1549's Ayanna Gabrielle and "Lift Every Voice" by Local 299 President Jackie Rowe Adams.

"Our opening this year is somber and not as festive as in previous years," said DC 37 Black History Committee Chair Deborah Pitts, the president of Local 1113, which cosponsored opening night with the committee. " These are serious times with millions of people, including our members, being laid off. We have to refl ect on that."

"This year's theme accurately depicts how we arrived at this point," said Local 1113 keynote speaker Barbara Kairson, administrator of the DC 37 Education Fund. "The struggles and the victories have helped lay the foundation on which much of this country was built."

Kairson noted the similarities between DC 37's rst Black History Month event in 1981 and today. "Once again the city is in economic turmoil and our country is at war," she said. "DC 37 fought to protect jobs and prevent cuts that endanger all New Yorkers. We have the knowledge and ability to overcome these challenges again."

In a musical revue a talented troupe of staff members had the audience singing along Feb. 4 at the celebration of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549. The multimedia presentation produced by James McCray toured the roots of American music from the polyrhythms of Africa to traditional spirituals, blues, jazz, Motown and more. "These are the sound tracks of our lives," said DC 37 Associate Director Oliver Gray.

"From Struggle was the theme of the Political Action Committee's program, featured the Ballet International Africans and poet Ishmael Ish Isham. That same night Local 1930 held its rst Black History event, coordinated by President Val Colon and Nina Manning. PAC keynote speaker New York State Sen. Eric Adams encouraged members to change the course of history and "challenge the mayor every step of the way. This billionaire bully wants to dismantle civil service so he can hire his friends."

"The purpose of celebrating Black History is to remember those who shed their blood for the rights we enjoy today, and to inspire us to make a
difference in the lives of others," Local 420 President Carmen Charles said Feb. 11. Reading from her book "Guerilla Girl," former Black Panther Party member Dale Roscoe told local members how in 1970 she traded a tractable suburban life in Westchester for that of a revolutionary Panther in Oakland, Calif. She said, "I wanted war."

Local 1407's 13th annual Black History Month celebration featured as keynote speaker the rst Haitian elected to the City Council, Mathieu Eugene. He spoke of the tremendous odds Haitian rebels faced in overthrowing Napoleon and French oppressors in 1804. "The lesson," Eugene said, "is that it pays to ght. We've come so far - from the back of the bus to the White House." Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. he said that what matters is "not the color of our skin but the content of our character."

"As African-Americans, we can be proud of the advancements we've made in building our great country," Roberts said. "Each year we face challenges. Today our ght is for jobs and for the civil service system that provides a fair chance at jobs to provide for our families. No matter who is in ofce, they do not have the right to misuse their power, lay us off and take away what we've worked and sacriced to attain."

DC 37 Black History Month events held after Feb. 14 will be covered in the next issue of PEP.