The Great Migration: Then and Now

The Great Migration: Then and Now

45th People's World African American History March and Celebration

Guest Speaker: Chauncey K Robinson

"The Great Migration: Then and Now -- Fleeing Terror, Searching for Jobs and Equality," is the theme of the 45th People's World African American History Month celebration on Sunday, February 24, 2019 in New Haven. The day includes a march, arts and writing competition, guest speaker, drumming and dance.

To kick of the march, Pastor Bette Marks will tell her story, like the many African American families in New Haven who trace their roots in the city, during the great migration from the South in the 1930's and 40's when companies like Winchester recruited workers to come up from North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. They were fleeing Klan terror and looking for a better life.

Stories will also be told of the migrants from Central American countries coming to New Haven and the United States today, fleeing terror and economic devastation in their countries and hoping to find new opportunities for their families.

The "Jobs for Youth - Jobs for All" march will call on Yale to meet its signed commitment to hire from neighborhoods like Dwight, Dixwell, Newhall, Fair Haven and the Hill with high unemployment. The march leaves the New Haven Peoples Center, 37 Howe Street, at 2:30 pm and will wind through the Dwight neighborhood to Troup School, 259 Edgewood Avenue, for the 4:00 pm program.

Guest speaker Chauncey K. Robinson, journalist and social media editor of peoplesworld.org from Los Angeles, California believes that writing and media, in any capacity, should help to reflect the world around us, and be tools to help bring about progressive change. She says she seeks to make sure topics that affect working class people, peoples of color, and women are constantly in the spotlight.

The program will include drumming by Brian Jarawa Gray and African dance with Ice the Beef.

Prizes and acknowledgments of entries to the Arts and Writing Competition grades 8 to 12 will be presented. Students are asked to reflect in artwork, essay, poetry, rap or song about grandparents or great grandparents who came up from the South in the past, or about someone who came up from Latin America or elsewhere recently. "What did they find? How can we continue the struggle for good jobs and equal rights to fulfill the dreams of those who came and made New Haven home?  What are your dreams for a better life?" Entry deadline is February 14. For information visit ctpeoplebeforeprofits.blogspot.com or e-mail ct-pww@pobox.com

During the Great Migration (1916 to 1970), six million African Americans left the South. They moved to cities like New Haven in the North and the West. They were fleeing discrimination, lynchings, denied rights and a lack of jobs. They were searching for a better life for themselves and their children.

As they settled they found that segregation and racism were not just in the South. The migration gave rise to the Civil Rights Movement and before that to the art, literature and music of the Harlem Renaissance that stirred the country and the world.

Artist Jacob Lawrence created a series of paintings about the Great Migration in 1940. He said, "And the migrants kept coming...their struggles and triumphs ring true today. People all over the world are still on the move, trying to build better lives for themselves and for their families."

In 2018 famed activist and scholar Angela Davis said, “I believe that the major civil rights issue of the 21st century is the issue of immigrant rights.”

MLK Keynore: How to Survive a Shutdown

"Fifty years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, hate and fear are celebrated from the White House and seats of power and greed is extolled as good," decried Pastor Kelsey Steele at Varick Memorial AME Zion Church during a service and rally sponsored by New Haven Rising.

"I am tired of political theater. Trump wants a wall. We need a bridge. We have to unite and mobilize and educate people there is power in the vote," Steele emphasized.

"Progress report," said Steele. "Forty percent of the population in New Haven lives in low income neighborhoods and holds only four percent of the living wage jobs in this City."

"We are facing challenges associated with segregated development in our city and state." said Steele.

Tyisha Walker Myers, chief steward of Local 35 Unite Here at Yale, and president of the New Haven Board of Alders urged everyone to come to City Hall on February 21 for a public hearing at which Yale has been asked to present employment numbers.

April 1, 2019 is the deadline for the University to meet the agreement it signed in 2015 to hire 1,000 people who live in New Haven including 500 people who live in low-income, largely Black and Latino neighborhoods.

Steele linked the jobs struggle at Yale, New Haven's largest employer, to the national crisis, entitling his keynote call to unity and action, "How to Survive a Government Shutdown."

Addressing the long term struggle, Steele praised New Haven Rising as social justice warriors. "Where will we be on April 4, 2019, fifty-one years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr? We are on a path to move this city and country forward," he said leading the assembled in a passionate chant, "Jobs for Youth. Jobs for All."

The Connecticut legislature has enacted measures making available unemployment insurance and interest-free loans of up to $5,000 to federal workers during the shutdown and allowing towns to extend their property tax deadlines.

Emergency action and legislation is also required to bridge the gap for survival during the shutdown for thousands of Connecticut residents who rely on federal government administered SNAP for food security, WIC for their children's well being and Section 8 for housing.

The Great Migration: Then and Now -- 45th People's World African American History Events

"The Great Migration: Then and Now -- Fleeing Terror, Searching for Jobs and Equality," is the theme of the 45th People's World African American History Month celebration on Sunday, February 24 in New Haven. The day includes a march, arts and writing competition, guest speaker, drumming and dance.

Some stories will be told of the many African American families in New Haven who trace their roots in the city to the great migration from the South in the 1930's and 40's when companies like Winchester recruited workers to come up from North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. They were fleeing Klan terror and looking for a better life.

Stories will also be told of the migrants from Central American countries coming to New Haven and the United States today, fleeing terror and economic devastation in their countries and hoping to find new opportunities for their families.

The "Jobs for Youth - Jobs for All" march will call on Yale to meet its signed commitment to hire from neighborhoods like Dwight, Dixwell, Newhall, Fair Haven and the Hill with high unemployment. The march leaves the New Haven Peoples Center, 37 Howe Street, at 2:30 pm and will wind through the Dwight neighborhood to Troup School, 259 Edgewood Avenue, for the 4:00 pm program.

Guest speaker Chauncey K. Robinson, journalist and social media editor of peoplesworld.org from Los Angeles, California believes that writing and media, in any capacity, should help to reflect the world around us, and be tools to help bring about progressive change. She says she seeks to make sure topics that affect working class people, peoples of color, and women are constantly in the spotlight.

The program will include drumming by Brian Jarawa Gray and African dance with Ice the Beef.

Prizes and acknowledgments of entries to the Arts and Writing Competition grades 8 to 12 will be presented. Students are asked to reflect in artwork, essay, poetry, rap or song about grandparents or great grandparents who came up from the South in the past, or about someone who came up from Latin America or elsewhere recently. "What did they find? How can we continue the struggle for good jobs and equal rights to fulfill the dreams of those who came and made New Haven home?  What are your dreams for a better life?" Entry deadline is February 14. For information e-mail ct-pww@pobox.com

During the Great Migration (1916 to 1970), six million African Americans left the South. They moved to cities like New Haven in the North and the West. They were fleeing discrimination, lynchings, denied rights and a lack of jobs. They were searching for a better life for themselves and their children.

As they settled they found that segregation and racism were not just in the South. The migration gave rise to the Civil Rights Movement and before that to the art, literature and music of the Harlem Renaissance that stirred the country and the world.

Artist Jacob Lawrence created a series of paintings about the Great Migration in 1940. He said, "And the migrants kept coming...their struggles and triumphs ring true today. People all over the world are still on the move, trying to build better lives for themselves and for their families."

In 2018 famed activist and scholar Angela Davis said, “I believe that the major civil rights issue of the 21st century is the issue of immigrant rights.”

Arts and Writing Competition 2019

African American History Month 2019

Arts and Writing Competition for Students Grades 8 to 12

Sponsored annually by the Connecticut People's World Committee to remember the

lives and work of Dalzenia Henry and Virginia Henry who devoted themselves to the

young people of New Haven and to making a better future.

The Great Migration: Then and Now

Fleeing Terror - Searching for Jobs and Equality

During the Great Migration (1916 to 1970), six million African Americans left the South. They moved to cities like New Haven in the North and the West. They were fleeing discrimination, lynchings, denied rights and a lack of jobs. They were searching for a better life for themselves and their children. As they settled they found that segregation and racism were not just in the South. The migration gave rise to the Civil Rights Movement and before that to the art, literature and music of the Harlem Renaissance that stirred the country.

Artist Jacob Lawrence created a series of paintings about the Great Migration. He said, "And the migrants kept coming...their struggles and triumphs ring true today. People all over the world are still on the move, trying to build better lives for themselves and for their families." In 2018 famed activist and scholar Angela Davis said, “I believe that the major civil rights issue of the 21st century is the issue of immigrant rights,”

Express in artwork, essay, poetry, rap or song:

Do you know someone with a story about migration? A story about grandparents or great grandparents who came up from the South to flee lynchings and look for jobs and a better life in New Haven? Do you know someone who came up from Latin America or elsewhere in recent years? What did they find? How can we continue the struggle for good jobs and equal rights to fulfill the dreams of those who came and made New Haven home?  What are your dreams for a better life?

Requirements + Art work – Two dimentional (Drawings, paintings, collage, prints, photographs, etc.) Paper size not larger than 18” x 24”

+ Essay, poem, rap or song – Not longer than 2 pages

Deadline Entries must be received by 5 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2019

Name, address, phone, e-mail, age, school, teacher's name (where applicable) must be included

Submission Electronic: ct-pww@pobox.com

Mail: CT People's World, 37 Howe Street, New Haven. CT 06511

Prizes Gift certificates ($100 first place, $50 second place, $25 third place) and books

Presentation Prizes and recognition for all entries will be presented on Sunday, February 24,

2019 at 4:00 pm during the 45th Annual African American History Month Celebration

sponsored by the Connecticut People's World Committee.

Information e-mail to: ct-pww@pobox.com Phone messages can be left at: 203-624-8664

Amistad Awards Celebratory and Resolute

A celebratory and resolute crowd filled First and Summerfield United Methodist Church for the People's World Amistad Awards on Saturday, December 8. Community activists, union members, elected officials and leaders of immigrant rights and other movements came together for the event, "United in Struggle for a Better World."

Following an intense year of door knocking, marches and direct action rejecting division and bigotry that won many election victories, the event brought together diverse allies to recognize the awardees who represented a broad range of struggles in this period.

The spirit of unity that "we're all in this together" was expressed from the beginning of the program with solidarity for Nelson Pinos who has been living in sanctuary at the church for over a year. Daughter Arlly, age 13, speaking on behalf of the family shared the pain and hardships this year has meant. The audience was deeply moved and responded with an outpouring of financial support at the dinner held in their honor following the program.

Multi-cultural performances further uplifted the audience and brought people together, including Son Jarocho, Komposure, and the St. Lukes Steel Band.

Special recognition was given to Chaz Carmon for his tireless work as director of Ice the Beef, a performing arts anti-violence youth group, and his work with New Haven Rising's jobs campaign.

The three Amistad Awardees, Shellye Davis, Louise Simmons and Eva Bermudez Zimmerman gave powerful messages of hope and struggle on behalf of the needs of working class people for equality and social justice, which will be made available.

A call to action was delivered by State Rep. Robyn Porter who called for continued action to applause as she declared "the time is now for paid family and medical leave, the time is now for a living wage, the time is now for criminal justice reform."

The event was hosted by the Connecticut People's World Committee on the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the Connecticut Communist Party USA. In her remarks, Joelle Fishman, Chair of the Connecticut CPUSA, urged those present to continue to keep up the street heat and be the "wind beneath the wings" of people's representatives like Rep. Robyn Porter, State Senator - Elect Julie Kushner and others.

The event was opened with a welcome to the church by Pastor Vicki Flippin.