On the 19th of June some thing really wonderful happened in Paterson, New
Jersey. The 5th annual African Heritage Parade took place. Every year the
parade grows larger and larger,bigger and better. I would love to say that
it is because of the velvet smooth operations of the parade committee but
that is not the case. the parade committee is more like a family going to an
annual outing. Everyone in the family knows what's supposed to happen and
some how it is delivered just in time for the event. the result is an annual
miracle.
Something happened this year that I think had a profound effect. As the
parade committee made it's way up Martin Luther King Way (Broadway) with a
DJ on the float it was the second tune that seem to activate the
crowd...everyone's favorite "I'll Take You There by the Staple singers. It
was an unexpected joy to see Black people dancing in the street (given the
economic back drop of today and the events on the world stage).However it
was the 3rd cut that really set it off! It warmed my heart to see it.
The 3rd tune was James Brown's "Say It Loud...I'm Black And I'm Proud" It
was great to see young and old in the streets dancing with their fist in the
air, not with malice or vindictiveness singing "say it loud...I'm black and
i'm proud.They were exhibiting the type of self pride that is the cornerstone
of self mastery.
Some people would like to take offense and call it militant or
nationalistic. It is however the basis of what has gotten us through the
roughest periods of our existence in this our adopted land.We found in
this what is in part the real value of The Honorable Marcus Garvey and the
UNIA-ACL (The Universal Negro Improvement Association-African Communities
League)
--
Kamau Khalfani
Producer
The Learning Tree Radio/TV Show
The Dred Scott Press News Hour
In New Jersey
24 Mill St (Ste 212)
Paterson, New Jersey
07501
973-684-5023
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