Thoughts from Nubian Square to 2nd Suffolk
A few things I was just thinking:
How wonderful it would be to honor the grande dame of the African American arts community and a city and national treasure, by adorning the city’s newest state-ofthe-art and only school of its kind, Boston Arts Academy, after Elma Lewis. I don’t know anyone black or white who didn’t love Miss Lewis, my forever mentor who not only taught dance but dignity.
Word is also circulating that the school may honor former mayor and current Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. He absolutely deserves it. Marty’s story is one of survival. He survived cancer and went on to beat alcoholism. ■■■
The African American community lost a champion with the recent passing of former NAACP head Lennie Alkins.
My heart goes out to wife Carole and the entire Alkins family including Michael Curry, one of our city’s standouts during the early days of the pandemic. Curry may not be related by blood but Lennie was like a father to him. Lennie will always be remembered for his work carrying NAACP on his shoulders at a time when this 100-year-old branch needed the support to continue its work.
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This city is so lucky to have ABCD, an organization that fights hard for poor people and immigrants of all races in every neighborhood of the city
They have been on the front lines since the war on poverty was declared in 1965. Today unfortunately there seems no sign of retreat. Poor people are sometimes collateral damage. ABCD fights on against cuts to programs. ■■■
Someone needed to say something. I mean think about the dilemma of collecting signatures to qualify to run for office and not knowing the boundaries of the district you are running for so that the signatures you collect count.
But if you are charismatic minister Miniard Culpepper, who is running for the soonto-be fully reconfigured 2nd Suffolk District, you go to the source of the frustration. You ask Bill Galvin, secretary of state, when he plans to get it done before the May deadline. Meanwhile, I guess you hope that your signatures count? ■■■
The reparations movement seems to gain speed even in states like California, where slavery didn’t flourish as much as in the south and other more urban areas. In Cali, there was that little hiccup called the Japanese internment.
The Japanese did get reparations but for Tulsa’s Black Wall Street, which was gutted, there’s not much done for their descendants. It’s a complicated process but much has already been done. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
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There’s new hope for African American community economic revival in Nubian Square with a project underway now for Parcel 3. It’s been a blight not only on the community but on its progress writ large.
I am excited that the museum of African American history on Beacon hill may get to site a branch here in Nubian Square.
I remember inviting Stevie Wonder to visit the museum as one of the many efforts to support the historic renovation of the meeting house. Stevie was beyond intrigued and after speaking to the audience couldn’t stop talking about how he felt being there and knowing this rich history.
Sadly our kids who were there knew nothing about the wealth of their history housed there.
The African meeting house has always wanted a presence in the heart and soul of the African American community.
Long story short. Our kids need to know more than some are descended from slaves. We have a noble history. Some of it comes from blacks and whites working together. It is important to know that history and about the heroes and sheroes upon whose shoulders we stand upon.