Carlyle McKetty, president of Coalition to Preserve Reggae is miffed as to why there is "no reggae representation" at the annual Caribbean American Heritage Month celebration organized by the New York Police Department Community Affairs Bureau New York Immigrant Outreach Unit in partnership with the New York CARICOM Consulates and West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA). The evening's program begins with "a cultural exhibition depicting various aspects of the distinct heritage of each Caribbean island," says the press release sent by Chris Castriota, the community relations officer at the Jamaican Consulate in New York. The release, further stated, "At 7pm sharp there will be a very entertaining concert featuring talented artists and performances from the islands and the infectious sounds of calypso, soca, coma, folk and gospel music, limbo dancing and more. MC's for the evening will be E. Wayne McDonald and George "Lion" Bartholomew and music provided by a popular local DJ." McKetty responded to the email sighting, " I note with interest that the music of Jamaica which is played and enjoyed throughout the Caribbean is not represented as included in the "very entertaining concert" to be performed in celebration of Caribbean Heritage. The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music wishes to know why." Mr. Castriota responded, "Dear Mr. McKetty, Thank you for your observation. Jamaica will be represented under the "folk" segment listed. Braata Folks Singers will represent Jamaica at the event." McKetty responded as follows, "Thanks for the response and the clarification. While I appreciate that the presence of Braata Folk Singers will represent Jamaica at the event, I ask that you convey to the organizers that reggae music has been one of Jamaica's and by extension, the Caribbean's most significant twentieth century contribution to world culture and any celebration of Caribbean Culture, especially in an international context is seriously lacking if it does not give reggae music the consideration it is due.
The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music is committed to seeing that this recognition is accorded to reggae music, and is proud to be instrumental in having Jamaica's Third World Band open the 43rd International African Arts Festival taking place in Brooklyn from July 3 to 6, 2014.
We ask that you bring the significance of reggae music in world culture to the attention of the organizers of the Caribbean Heritage Celebration and that this be given due consideration in future initiatives."
No sooner is the community recovering from the passing of Maya Angelou, word comes of yet another, in that of actress, screenwriter, poet, activist, humanitarian and mother of three, Ruby Dee. Her sudden passing on June 11th, caught many off guard. At 91, Dee was still active with a body of work that spanned a generation. On Facebook, many commented that they "had no idea, she'd passed." She died of natural causes, peacefully at her home in New Rochelle. She had been a long time citizen of the 325 year old community and was inducted in their hall of fame in November 2005. Though she was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 27, 1922, Ruby Dee lived in Harlem for many, many years before moving to New Rochelle. As a civil rights activist, she spoke at the historic "March on Washington" in 1963. Championing labor rights. Ruby Dee and her late husband, Ossie Davis who transitioned in 2005, were very involved in the civil rights movement at the time and were great friends of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. It was Ossie Davis who eulogized Malcolm at his funeral in 1965. Both would continue to champion the rights of the oppressed and the voiceless. Rudy Dee was a pioneer, in theatre and on screen as an actress and playwright opening the door for many to follow. Back in her early days, when she joined the American Negro Theatre, she hung out with the likes of Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poiter, both from the Caribbean. They would go on to act in ground breaking films like "A Raisin In The Sun" on stage with Poiter as her husband in 1959 and in the film version which was released in 1961 and 1971's ground breaking film, Buck and the Preacher which saw Belafonte and Poiter in starring roles along with Ruby Dee. In 1999, when African immigrant Amadou Diallo was shot repeatedly by NYPD, Ruby Dee and her husband was among the many protesters who were arrested that day at One Police Plaza. She got her first nod for an Oscar for her role as Mama Lucas in the 2008 film American Gangster. Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis were also featured well in Spike Lee's 1988 Do The Right Thing and 1991 Jungle Fever. Keeping true to their motto of being "in this thing together", Ruby Dee's body will be cremated and her asked placed in the same urn as her late husband.
Successful Asset Manager, Alsion, Roach, founder and CEO of the Alsion Roach Group LLC and The Alsion Roach Business Group Inc., was the recipient of the Entrepreanuer Award from the Long Island Caribbean American Heritage Ball on Friday, June 13th. Roach who continues to reinvent her self as a "renaissance woman" has just expanded her offices spaces in New York City at 45 Rockefeller Plaza to a more spacious space. The Alsion Roach Group LLC, source funding for emerging markets transactions. The Jamaican born business woman, is also a philanthropist who gives generously to the Guys Hill High School and Redwood Primary School in St. Catherine; Annotto Bay Basic School in St. Mary; Barrett Town Primary in Montego Bay and many others. The Alsion Roach Business Group Inc, handles high end entertainment transactions such as the upcoming Jamaica Open New York Golf Championship Tournament scheduled for Monday, August 4th at Marine Park Golf Course in Brooklyn, New York. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit two foundations that are close to her heart, the New York Urban League, a local affiliate to the National Urban League, a multi ethnic social service organization celebrating 90 years of serving underprivileged and underserved communities by helping to "improve social and economic conditions and opportunities for African Americans and other people who face barriers to full participation in American society" especially children and the Palmyra Foundation, registered in Jamaica. Their aim is to "eradicate illiteracy and promote a positive outlook of prosperity for children." Since their start up in 2007, the Palmyra Foundation has "donated more than 100,000 books to 25,000 children in over 125 schools across Jamaica's 14 parishes." To date the value of the books donated are in excess of $670,000 (USD). Alsion Roach continues to be lauded for her philanthropy both in America and back home in Jamaica. As sign of the time and her standing in the community, her Facebook announcement of her new her new office spaces, elicited enumerable inquiries of job opportunities in the company.
