Public Employee Press


35th annual Black History Month celebration
The Struggle Continues

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

'The Struggle Continues' was the DC 37 Black History Committee's theme for its 35th annual celebration of African American heritage and culture that kicked off with a ribbon cutting Feb. 1 and guest speaker Dr. Sophine Charles.

Local 371 celebrated Black Live Matters Feb. 5 with Asaye Yaa, a cultural arts foundation for African dance and drumming for children ages 4 to 12 based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The event drew hundreds to hear Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a former Local 1407 member, singer Alice Tan Ridley and Dr. Bob Lee of WBLS radio.

City Council member Vanessa L. Gibson was guest speaker at Local 1407's Black History program Feb. 8 with Anthony Harmon, president of the New York City NAACP branch.

"As long as there is a need in our community, we must not give up," said Gibson, who chairs the Council's public safety committee. "We have to engage our young people and empower them."

Civil rights and economic rights

Harmon said that the mission of unions and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are inextricably linked by a shared commitment to civil rights and economic justice. He said, "We often feel the people who attack the civil rights movement are the same ones who attack labor."

State Sen. Kevin Parker spoke to the Political Action Committee Feb. 11 about the people and traditions that survived Maafa, the African Holocaust that claimed 100 million lives in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Cody Childs and his all female Soul Legends Band had DC 37 members dancing in the aisles Feb. 12. Childs, Local 2627's 2nd vice president, sang, and told the history of Motown, one of the most successful black-owned businesses in America that Berry Gordy founded. Gordy, a Detroit auto worker who dreamed beyond the assembly line, culled a group of talented musicians, singers and song writers including Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and the Jackson 5. Childs said, "Motown is the soundtrack of our lives."

The band weaved a medley of megahits like "My Girl," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," "Dancin' in the Streets" and closed with "I'll Take You There," the '70s funk anthem that took Mavis Staples to greatness. The crowd begged for more, but Childs tipped his fedora and said, "See you next year DC 37!"

Dynamic peformances

A packed house at the DC 37 Women's Committee comedy, music and dance event celebrated singers Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald on Feb. 18. Francine Crawford of My Big Toe Productions and comedienne G.L. Douglass shook the room with laughter and dynamic performances.

At movie night Feb. 19, Local 420 members watched the Academy-award nominated "Selma" on the 1965 civil rights march for voting rights. Local 372 unveiled its new, blue mobile office Feb. 26. Keynote speaker state Assembly member Michael Blake thanked the schools local and said, "You are the reason city workers have the rights and benefits they do, DC 37 led that fight."

On Finale Night Feb. 29, DC 37 presented Mandela, a play by Yolanda Brooks, a Local 768 Public Health Sanitarian, and retired Firefighter John Ruiz, who studied with famed acting coach Lee Strasberg.

"Mandela" recounts South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela's lifetime struggle against apartheid, his 25-year imprisonment, the international campaign his wife Winnie led for his freedom, and his historic New York City visit in 1990.

Almost 900 DC 37 members, retirees and special guests attended two presentations of "Mandela," whose dynamic cast received standing ovations.