THE ASBURY VOICE
Journal of the People
|
|
You are not voiceless but are often unheard
We can change that together
July, 2020 # 11
|
|
Keep
an eye out
for Kokopelli's
message
|
|
In This Issue:
Introduction and Purpose
The Time is now - Renaming Springwood Park
Don't Erase Our History - Dan Harris
Black Music Month - Charles Trott
*Kokopelli - Charles Trott
A Statement from Trinity Church
Let's Get Educated
Black Trans Lives Matter
Letters to the Editor
Did you know..
Archives
A Conversation on Police and Prison Abolition
|
|
Introduction and Purpose of The Asbury Voice
|
|
|
|
The Time is Now -
Renaming Springwood Park
|
|
Several years ago a committee appointed by the City Council of Asbury Park wanted to name the new park on Springwood Ave. “The Dr. Lorenzo Harris Park” in honor of a Black Doctor from the City who was also the first Black City Councilman.
This suggestion from the committee was turned down by the City Council. Naming the park in memory of Dr. Harris would have been an excellent gesture that would have meant so much to the Black Community of Asbury Park. I think now would be a great time to correct this.
Rev. Nicolle D. Harris
That move made by the City Council was a resounding message to black people that we don’t count. It was not subtle racism. This was an act of overt racism. It is sad that present black representatives went along with it. Just another way of erasing contributions of people of color. This is not the only City Council that has not named something after a black contributor to the city. THE REIGN OF OUR EXCLUSION CONTINUES.
A sad statement of so called “inclusion.”
Dan Harris
|
|
Don’t Erase Our History
by Dan Harris
This past week I had a chance to reflect on the past. I remembered the deaths of JFK, MLK, Malcom X and RFK. I remembered marching next to my father on the Asbury Park Boardwalk for Civil Rights. I thought of how students sat in Neptune High School demanding Black History Courses. And then Springwood Avenue burned.
The beginning of close to 50 years of neglect. The stores and jobs were gone. No investors stepped forth and the main strip of the Southwest Side became a wasteland.
So now there is a partial rejuvenation of Springwood Ave. There is the Senior Center, new housing, the return of a bus stop and a park. Oh yes, the park. When the city was about to open the park a group of citizens was assigned by the City Council to come up with a name for the park.
A committee was formed and names were entered. In the end the name of Dr. Lorenzo Harris was presented to the city. This was based on the fact that he was the first black councilman in the city. He served as the doctor for the Asbury Park Board of Education where he also helped place many young students in college.
But during that summer of the Asbury Park Uprising he stepped out in an act of courage and kindness. Many people of color were shot by police and State Troopers. Local people were afraid to go to Fitkin Hospital aka Jersey Shore Medical Center. Dr. Harris proceeded to set up a triage center at the West Side Community Center. No one will know how many lives he saved.
Based on that act of bravery and a lifetime of dedication, the committee decided to name the park in his honor. The council, many who were not here during those tumultuous times, said no.
Little did they understand the underlying message of their decision. First, that this man’s effort should not be known and his act of bravery should be forgotten. Second, that the riot be remembered as a nameless act of the downtrodden. Third, just forget who did what.
Dr. Harris’s practice remained located in the southwest quadrant of the city. I remember him coming to our house when we were sick. We called those house calls. And if you didn’t have the $8.00 for the house call you could pay him when you got it.
I refuse to accept their decision. I have watched the park become the centerpiece of a social and cultural renaissance. People of all cultures and religions take part in these activities.
We now have another chance. At this time when history is being rewritten everywhere the council needs to step up and correct their oversight. How many of us just learned about Juneteenth? Who has read “The Miseducation of the Negro” by Carter G. Woodson or “Forty Million Dollar Slaves” by New York Times writer William C. Rhoden?
How easy would it not be for the council to rewrite history through the renaming of a new cultural landmark after Dr. Lorenzo Harris?
|
|
Black Music Month
by Charles Trott
June was Black Music Month. Well, as the first two words define, Music made by Africans in the Americas. In the U.S. we tend to think of the music created by those who resided here but, not necessarily in the rest of the Americas. The music, of course has its roots in Africa. The music developed and created there was transported here by the enslaved brought here. We need to remember that Africa is a continent of many countries what includes many ethnicities. Most of them with different traditional musical instruments and compositions.
Listen to the harmonies of the South African sounds of Ladysmith Black Mambasa or Miriam Makeba. Or, listen to the sounds of North Africa, some call Arabic music. Many of those sounds came to be an integral part of the more contemporary music we are familiar with.
Jazz, a completely American creation is spawned from Gospel and Blues musical forms. Similarly, the Rock ‘n Roll that some might equate with Rhythm ‘n Blues is another American creation that stands on the shoulders of its African ancestry. Many people believe Elvis Presley to be the King of Rock ‘n Roll but, if it weren’t for Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and others, he wouldn’t have a genre to be king of. Or, it wouldn’t be called Rock ‘n Roll.
The Musical sounds and compositions of the Latino, Anglo and Franco Caribbean are an evolution of African sounds. This is not to say that Afro Americans are the only ones capable of creating or performing these genres well. It’s merely to say, that the Dismissed, Demeaned and continually Misrepresented Africa, was the Progenitor and inspiration of the music we are celebrating and discussing.
As you look at other musical genres here in America, you’ll find Afro Americans, though perhaps not the majority, certainly capable and many times revered by their colleagues and fans. So, in this month try to hear or look into what traditional sounds and songs come from Africa and how they’re intrinsically linked to contemporary Music.
The Music World lost many in the first six months of this year and we mourn for them All. I would not want to quantify pain, in any way but, a good number were a part of this African American Musical tradition; of that racial and ethnic type.
Charles Trout - Arts Educator/Visual Artist
|
|
THOSE SYMBOLS THAT KOKOPELLI POINT TO ARE ADINKRA SYMBOLS THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THIS SITE
CHARLES TROTT
|
|
A statement from Trinity Church
concerning George Floyd and Solidarity
!
In light of recent events in our nation and in our own community, Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, New Jersey proclaims our conviction that God is Love and that loving our neighbors means treating one another with justice. We want to express our love and solidarity with all who are organizing for compassion, justice, and peace on the streets and in our communities. We believe that there is no place for systemic violence and racism in our hard yet beautiful world.
We value the role the Asbury Park Police Department plays in protecting our community, and we commend the officers who knelt in solidarity with protestors at Monday evening's demonstration.
To all our black, brown, and indigenous siblings; to all our neighbors who are persons of color; to all who have suffered injustice; and to our police and first responders, we are praying with and for you and we are committed to working together to create a city and world where justice flows like a river for all.
#GeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter
instagram: @Trinitychurchap
Derek Minno-Bloom
Social and Food Justice Director at Trinity Episcopal Church
503 Asbury Ave, Asbury Park, NJ, 07712
Asbury Park Education Justice Collective Member
Transformative Justice Project Director
|
|
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS SHARED BY JENNIFER LEWINSKI:
Eisha Love sits down to discuss her views on gender, her journey to self-acceptance, and the issues and injustices black trans women face every day.
Eisha Love was incarcerated in a men’s jail after acting in self-defense. Now, as she rebuilds her life and continues to process the impact of her incarceration, she faces the challenge of trying to get a steady job as an out trans woman with a criminal record
If you would like to support two amazing groups for their outstanding work for the Black Trans Community, check out these two sites:
~
One in Texas who work with Black Trans women who are in need of housing and health care
Click Here
~
And one local Jazelle is from Asbury and still works and lives in Monmouth County and does education and advocacy work for the Black Trans Women
.
Click Here
|
|
LET'S GET EDUCATED
ON HOW TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST
|
|
Letters to the Editor:
What we are watching and whom we are watching
|
|
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLATFORMS OF CONSTANT CONTACT OR MAIL CHIMP TO HELP OUT WITH PUBLICATION OF THE ASBURY VOICE - CONTACT US AT "theasburyvoice@gmail.com" Come Aboard. Thanks
|
|
Did You Know
... that Lisa Leslie (Basketball Hall of Fame) wrote an open letter: "Dear America"
Click Here
... that former NFL player, Emmanuel Acho, has started a series, "Dear White People"
Click Here
... that you can join, share and spread the word about the Asbury Mutual Aid Network at a new Facebook group page
Click Here
... that Rev Caldwell spoke at a Capital District Rally cry at the NJ Annual Conference
Click Here
... that the AG wants to hear from you. How should NJ reform when police can use force?
Click Here
... where your voting place is: Mount Carmel Church Community Center AP 1,2, 8 and 9; Municipal Building AP 3,4,5 and 6; Asbury Towers AP 7.
... Three black men got out of prison and started A Neptune prep business - Macrobites
Click Here
...
That Bryan Stephenson's TED Talk entitled "We Need to Talk About an Injustice" was viewed by 6,700,000
Click Here
...
That these Black teens are turning 18 in Tamir Rice's America
Click Here
...
That Senator Vin Gopal shared recent COVID-19 recovery news
|
|
Tell your story in THE ASBURY VOICE. The staff of The Asbury Voice hope that you are receiving and enjoying our email Journal. We try to tell stories about “us” that are not normally published. We would like to print some of your Pandemic experiences, Racism in Policing experiences, or any other stories you would like to share. So tell us in approximately 200 words. We’d like funny, sad, sweet, hard, simple or convoluted stories to share. Please send them to
theasburyvoice@gmail.com
If you would like to start receiving our news journal let us know at that same email address. Stay safe everyone.
|
|
All articles we print are the experiences and opinions of the authors. An editorial board reserves the right to make any changes they deem necessary to submitted articles that will keep The Asbury Voice from any liability. Authors will be informed of these changes to give them the opportunity to change or withdraw the writing.
|
|
Editorial TAV Staff:
Derek Minno-Bloom, Rev Gil Caldwell, Sheila Daly, Walter Greason, Dan Harris, Pam Lamberton, Jennifer Lewinski, Tracy Rogers, Felicia Simmons, Bill Stevens, and Charles Trott and Photographer Jessie Ricks
|
|
Let us hear from you.
All comments and submissions are welcome.
theasburyvoice@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
