Today is Saturday, August 12. Tuesday, August 15 is Feast of the Assumption for Christendom. This holy day marks the occasion of the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascent to heaven at the end of her life.
Quote of the Week:
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots… Marcus Garvey; Jamacian born, American,founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and a Black nationalist that believed in racial separatism; August 17, 1887 – June 10, 1940
Who was Marcus Garvey? See information below.
Marcus Garvey (August 17, 1887 – June 10, 1940) | National Archives
EVENTS:
Here is what is going on in the Rochester area:
1.The Black Culture Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, August 11 and 12 from 12:00 PM – 10:PM at the City of Rochester’s Parcel 5 site. See article in the News, History &Resources section.
2. Music & Chill: 8/12/23 from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of the Sibley Building, EXP Studio, 250 East Main St., Suite 3003. FREE!
Join us at the EXP Studio Music & Chill! This in-person event is the perfect opportunity to share your music, original beats, poems, and more!
3. George Yeoman suggested the “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts”, a Local, USA Special on Tuesday, August 15 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV.
Explore the complex history of Black Americans who enlisted in the U.S. military as a path to citizenship, a livelihood, and greater respect, and how they fought in military conflicts abroad and civil rights struggles at home.
4. There are 2 Clarissa Street celebrations next week.
a. Clarissa Uprooted Pythodd Tribute Mural Unveiling, Thursday, August 17, 5:30 – 7:00 PM at the Corner of W. Main St. at the corner of Broad St. (see link below)
b. Clarissa Street Reunion, Saturday, August 19
25th Clarissa Street Reunion, Saturday 8/19, 10am-8pm, back down on Clarissa Street (see link above)
5. Women of Color New York 2nd Anniversary Celebration: 8/19/23
Women of Color New York is celebrating 2 years in business! Let’s celebrate the women of color doing business together at their location at 539 South Avenue. More information to follow.
6. The Urban League’s annual Interrupt Racism Symposium should be on your calendar for September 19 & 20, 2023. Tickets go on sale Monday, August 7. See below:
https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/summit
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
7. Bill Wynne shares a 3 items again this week.
a. Two pieces on Alvin Mitchell originated from Madeline Schmitt. (Alvin has created a program to deal with the City’s violence through his basketball program. He could use your help.).
[The mayor’s introduction to the Choose Wisdom campaign and the showing of the 3 minute video that includes Alvin
https://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?id=21474852520
[The piece in the Minority Reporter that describes the program and has a 30 sec section of the 3 min video]
b. A piece by Heather Cox, “Letters from an American” ( Provides a history on Black voting rights from the time of President Garfield to it’s erosion in the present day).
c. Kimberle Crenshaw on Black Women Killed by Police (Many killings occur after call for police aid).
8. Here is a piece from the Pink Elephant Newsletter by Dr. Janice Gassam Asare; “Is Artificial Intelligence Anti-Black?”
(27) Is Artificial Intelligence Anti-Black? | LinkedIn
9. Dr. Frederick Jefferson shares a program from Mary Frances Winters; “What Successful Organizations Will Do in Response to the Affirmative Action Ruling”.
Racial Justice at Work: Let’s Stay Focused on Systemic Change | The Inclusion Solution
10. Here is information on the Black Culture Festival being held this weekend from last week’s Beacon.
11. One article is provided below from this week’s Beacon; (There was a strategic reason Blacks located in Rochester prior to the Civil War).
Rochester’s strategic location near Canada was vital to the Underground Railroad.
12. We are sharing just 1 item from the latest edition of the CNN Newsletter Race Deconstructed this week (there are 2 more, go to racedeconstructed@newsletters.cnn.com):
a. Alabama brawl turns spotlight on Montgomery’s racial history.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/08/us/montgomery-riverfront-brawl-history-reaj/index.html
13. Here are 7 of articles that deal with Race, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week. We list in order of appearance:
a. Bookstore on wheels to hit road (A Black non-binary entrepreneur to bring books to the people).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0277ac6ae_134acba
b. I took someone else’s college spot (Opinion piece; a different view of Afirmative Action).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=005e4085b_134acba
c. PUERTO RICAN CULTURE SHINES (Although the Puerto Rican parade was canceled the community still held a celebration).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=2dac13e81_134acbb
d. EDUCATED (A history on the Rosenwald schools built to educate African Americans when state governments would not adequately fund schools for Blacks).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=1746509c9_134acbb
e. Museum returns Oneida remains; more to follow (Interesting article on the White communities past disregard for Native Americans remains).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=3961776e8_134acbc
f. Appeal filed in dismissed Okla. reparations case (If reparations are warranted anywhere it would be the Greenwood neighborhood).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0bf084b0d_134acbc
g. A MEMORIAL, SADLY, GROWS EVER LARGER (The memorial is a response to the gun violence in Rochester)
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=057541496_134acbe
OPPORTUNITIES:
14. Seeking a scholarship or funding for your organization? Check out grant opportunities at the Rochester Area Community Foundation.
Grant Opportunities – Rochester Area Community Foundation (racf.org)
Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
15. Support the Black Community by supporting their businesses. Please share Black businesses you support and value. A good resource is “Black Owned in Rochester”
Black Owned Businesses Rochester NY Black-Owned In Rochester (blackownedinrochester.com)
a. Do you like Cajun food? Check out The French Quarter restaurant!
That is all for this week!
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon Fridays.