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.

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.

Shellye Davis Acceptance Speech, Amistad Awards

The People's World Amistad Award was presented to Shellye Davis by former awardee Peggy Buchanan.  Saturday, December 8, 2018.  The acceptance speech by Shellye Davis follows:

Thank you, Peggy. I truly appreciate you. First let me say how much
I admire the other honorees, Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, and Louise
Simmons, for their courage and amazing leadership. I stand in solidarity
with Nelson Pino and his family. Also, I wish to congratulate Chaz
Cameron for providing opportunities for our young people in the performing
arts.
I give honor to God for those on whose shoulders I stand and for who
I have become. I want to thank my mother, my brother and my children,
whom I dearly love, Thank you for your love and support. And, finally, I
must acknowledge my union families, the Connecticut AFL-CIO, the
Greater Hartford Labor Coalition, the Eastern Area Labor Federation, AFT
Connecticut, and the Hartford Federation of Paraeducators.
I am deeply humbled by this honor. It is most unexpected. So let me
begin by thanking the People's World Amistad Awards Committee for
considering me worthy of such an award. I thank Joelle for her leadership
and commitment in the struggle. The story of the Amistad was the story of a
prolonged struggle for freedom, a struggle that took the forms of both
2
physical resistance and protracted legal battles right up to the Supreme Court
of the United States, where justice finally prevailed.
The struggle continues. I would like to quote from Martin Luther
King, speaking on March 8, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, the day after the
infamous Bloody Sunday:
A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is
right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A
man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is
true.
My mom reminds me often that I was born to stand and fight for
others. As I child I would often throw a rock in the pond and watch the
ripple. But in all of our lives there is a ripple effect that occurs from the
moment we are born, to how we are taught, what we learn, how we share to
the moment we die. And I have decided I had to be the rock and create the
ripple.
From the time I can remember- I was taught to treat people fairly, take
care of others, share knowledge and tell the truth no matter how painful or
complicated a situation might be.
My parents, Alice And Vern, were educators in Hartford. My father
was an elementary school principal for 4 decades. My mother was a teacher,
principal, and early childhood coordinator. She was also the oldest of 14
siblings. My parents also dedicated a lot of time advocating and fighting for
3
the rights of educators and families in Hartford. They taught me to care
about community and fight for equality.
My maternal grandmother was also a paraeducator at Waverly. And
my maternal grandfather was a plumber by trade - he was actually part of the
team that worked on the Civic Center when it was built. When I pass the
Civic Center today I am reminded of my grandfather’s contributions to
history.
My grandpa would often pick me up from school and share stories
with me. He would always say things to me that didn’t quite make sense
like- “sweetheart, if you clean toilets be the best toilet cleaner that you can
be”. Now back then, I wouldn’t dare talk back or say anything snide. I
wanted to tell him, “Grandpa I ain’t cleaning no toilets”. Little did I know,
I’d actually clean up a lot of other’s people mess on my journey.
Yes they taught me to be respectful and to take pride in everything I
did no matter what. It’s funny, my maternal grandparents use to call each
other ‘Ole Pal. When I was young I honestly thought they had the same
name. As I got older I realized it was a term of endearment and they vowed
to greet and call each other friend or Ol Pal everyday. They created a sense
of compassion with each other and everyone they came in contact with.
My maternal great grandparents were actually an interracial couple. I
4
never noticed. When I was younger we never talked about their interracial
marriage- when I saw my great grandpa I saw a 6 foot tall, blue eyed, big
eared grandpa. The ears got me all the time. My great grandma was a
Cherokee Indian. I only remember seeing a comfortable display of love
between great grandparents and grandparents.
I am so grateful for the loving support system that I had. I had Cross
generational discipline, a whole lot of teaching and pure unconditional love.
I received hugs and kisses.... and those who know me can imagine that
on occasion I may have done things that warranted discipline. On occasion I
would go and pick a switch from outside and receive a whipping from
grandpa. There was no DCF back then. My parents didn’t spank me thoughthey
had “intellectual conversations”. I would have to think about what I did
wrong and share other ways I could of handled myself. I don’t know what
was worse. Sometimes I wished they would have just spanked me and been
done. But they did teach me how to think through decisions and develop
better strategies in the future.
My family didn’t talk about race, nor hatred, nor make excuses. They
didn’t complain. They did not hide behind fear. Instead they said things like
“make your good better and make your better your best”, and “do the best
you can”. They fought for what was right, put family and community first,
5
and lead with dignity.
Because of my family, I knew who I was and what I could be.
Because of the contributions of my grandparents and parents I expected
peace and equality. They raised me to understand that with hard work,
following through on responsibility and accountability, saying please and
thank you - I could do anything. We can do anything. And We have!
Now, I’ve had my share of disappointments, I’ve had my heart
broken. I’ve had personal and professional moments when I realized that
people did not like me or include me for various reasons. I distinctly
remember my dream of being a ballerina in the nutcracker- I was 8-9 years
old. So excited. And then, my dance teacher erased that dream and killed my
spirit when she said- “There will never be a negro ballerina in my
nutcracker.” I was shattered and chose to stop dancing. Not telling anyone
why.
Now, I don’t know if that was what she truly believed or if she meant
to be malicious. What I do know- Words do hurt and words do matter it was
the first time words hurt me so deeply... and it came from my teacher.
The good news is years later I had the opportunity to speak with her
and she apologized. I forgave her but I never forgot how I felt and what I
lost with that interaction. I vowed to always stand up for others with things
6
that mattered. I vowed to support their dreams and desires, and fight
especially when given the chance to change the way things are done if there
is a better and newer way of advancing others- especially our children and
our community.
Unfortunately, many of our students, educators and the very systems
that are here to help us are in crisis! It’s time for those who can to step up
and declare Enough. No more unnecessary damage.
Like many of you, I’ve been energized by women stepping forward.
We saw far more women candidates in elections local and national- 117
women elected to Congress- 42 are of color and at least 3 LGBTQ.
While we are making strides there is more to be done. It is my
purpose and my destiny to make a stand and make a difference. I choose to
be a voice to those without a voice. I think back to what my grandfather
said - If you must clean toilets be the best toilet cleaner you can be. What
I’ve come to believe and understand was best articulated by another Martin
Luther King quote:
“No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has
dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking
excellence. “
Education is the key. We must commit ourselves to LEARN AND SERVE.
7
And we must call out the injustices that we see: the racial, religious, genderbased
and other bigotries and biases that throw a fog over rational discourse.
We must declare ourselves for justice and freedom, and ask others to declare
themselves.
As Michelle Obama said: “When they go low we go high!” Make every
day count. Remember to take your daily dose of 3C’s for success:
CONCENTRATION, CONSISTENCY and COOPERATION. Encouraging
words lift people up. We have the power to change lives and have a positive
impact in our community. Our history is important, our future is uncertain,
all we have is the moment.
And now I ask you, if you are united for immigrants, please stand up.
If you are united for universal health care, please stand up.
If you are united for education and a well-educated citizenry, please
stand up.
If you are willing to do your part to treat all humans fairly, please
stand up.
If you want to make sure our children will be OK, please stand.
Let’s create a ripple effect.
Let’s continue to choose excellence in all that we do. – I stand United
with you in the struggle for a better world. THANK YOU