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Mount Vernon’s Memorial Field Continued Construction Becomes A Sign For “Better Days Ahead Of Us” 

Olivia Barrios-Johnson
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Mount Vernon’s Memorial Field Continued Construction Becomes A Sign For “Better Days Ahead Of Us” 

As a newly retired United States Postal Service employee, Melvin Jones, 65, is excited to use his free time to once again run laps around the track and sit down on the bleachers of the newly renovated Memorial Field, to reminisce on the nearly 50 years in which he’s grown up in the city of Mount Vernon. 

After being closed down for over 10 years and going through four different mayors, the construction and rebuilding of Mount Vernon’s Memorial Field is currently in progress. In partnership with Westchester County, the field is now set to be completed by the late summer of 2022 and open in the fall of 2022 according to an interview with Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. 

Like Jones, many residents of Mount Vernon have long awaited the reopening of Memorial Field. A place where community members exercised as early as 5 a.m., gathered for events like concerts and cheered on their Mount Vernon Football team, the Knights, at games. 

Growing up, Jones considered Memorial Field a place where he would spend time with childhood friends to watch football games, “stay out of trouble” and even have his high school graduation ceremony. 

“Memorial field is a landmark,” Jones said. “It was a safe haven for everyone in the area to relax and unwind and let your guard down.” 

When Memorial Field closed down, Jones felt like it was a “big loss” to the community and created a disconnect between residents of Mount Vernon as they no longer had a singular place to commune. 

“Memorial Field was an eyesore,” Jones said. “When you get off the parkway the first thing you see is Memorial Field. I didn’t want everybody to look at Memorial Field and think Mount Vernon was that way and it’s not.” 

In efforts to make a difference and change the direction of the city, on July 15, 2020, Mount Vernon in collaboration with the County of Westchester, determined that The LandTek Group, Inc., submitted the low bid in the amount of $24,883,600 million to begin construction of Memorial Field, according to an official press release by Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. 

Two years later and day by day, the field is one step closer to completion. Jones believes that Mayor Patterson-Howard worked hard to “get the ball rolling” to make real progress on Memorial Field. 

The renovated Memorial Field will feature an NCAA regulation football field, an eight-lane track, tennis courts, locker rooms, a skateboard park, and seating for up to 3,900 people. 

Additionally, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the limitation of social gatherings and in-person events, the reopening of Memorial Field will also allow Mount Vernon residents to get back outside again and reconnect with one another.  

Nelda Bianca Bazil, 64, Founder and President of We Run Mount Vernon, believes that the reopening of Memorial Field will encourage residents of Mount Vernon to take ownership of their physical health and fitness. 

“For our survival, we must, absolutely must, have movement,” Bazil said. “And that’s what Memorial Field will bring back to our community, an opportunity for us to be able to move.”

We Run Mount Vernon consists of a group of individuals whose goal is to get the community healthier by “encouraging movement as part of a daily routine” according to the We Run Mount Vernon website.

Members of We Run Mount Vernon participate in weekly walks, runs, and hikes and conduct a one-hour fitness program for children. They also host an annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5k run/walk and are currently planning for their 2022 trot.   

“We want our children to know that physical activities should become part of your daily routine,” Bazil said. “We’re trying to shift the mindset for our kids…the next generation of Mount Vernon citizens should have fitness as part of a regularly scheduled thing that they do and then they can pass that baton to their children.”

Physical inactivity is more common among racial and ethnic minorities in most states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Given that Mount Vernon consists of 62.7% of Black or African American people, and 17.4% of Latinx people according to the United States Census Bureau, Brazil believes that physical activity is a key component in reducing health disparities among these populations. 

“We want folks to know that the citizens in the City of Mount Vernon like any other city are concerned about health and our mission is that we are able to shift the paradigm in the next generation of our children,” Brazil said.  

Young Mount Vernon residents like Timothy Crump, 22, who also grew up here, believe that the completion of the field is a stepping stone to a greater Mount Vernon not only aesthetically, but also in regard to leadership. 

“There’s so many things that one person can do but in order to change a community, it takes a community,” Crump said.  “It’s all a matter of how everyone gets together after Memorial Field is built. Teamwork makes the dream work.” 

Echoing this same sentiment, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard is optimistic about the completion of Memorial Field and the various programming surrounding arts, culture, and fitness that residents can part take in. She is also excited for the long-term economic growth that the reopened field will provide for the city. 

Patterson-Howard wants to ensure there is a “balance” of free and paid programming along with contracts, advertising, and special events that would allow for “long-term maintenance and operations of the Memorial Field venue.” 

Patterson-Howard also gives thanks to those within City Hall and Westchester County Executive George Latimer and his team for their continued support and “team effort.”

“A project like Memorial Field has to be run like a relay race, not a hundred-yard dash,” Patterson-Howard said.  Despite the “hurdles,” she asserts, “we had to find solutions to challenges,” in order to move forward as a community and complete this project. She also stated that once the field is finished, it will be managed and maintained by the city of Mount Vernon. Additionally, there will be an opening ceremony with a ribbon cutting to signify the start of a new chapter for Memorial Field. 

Filled with anticipation to take his grandchildren down to the “modernized” Memorial Field, Jones is looking forward to introducing them to the place where he spent countless hours as a young man. He also hopes to “stretch [his] bones” and encourage other seniors to exercise. 

“We’re getting it back like it used to be,” Jones said. “Memorial field is on the move, it looks good from what I see on the outside and we’ve got better days ahead of us.” 

NYS Gubernatorial Candidate Jumaane Williams Interview

AJ Woodson
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NYS Gubernatorial Candidate Jumaane Williams Interview

Black Westchester presents Super Tuesdays With AJ Woodson and Damon K Jones

Our guest this week is NYS Gubernatorial Candidate Jumaane Williams

Keith Allen, Port Chester’s First African American Asst. Principal Understands The Assignment

Tatiana Pinheiro
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Keith Allen, Port Chester’s First African American Asst. Principal Understands The Assignment

This past fall the first African American Assistant Principal took office at Port Chester High School, in Port Chester, NY. According to the census.gov website, Port Chester in 2019 had an African American population of 4.1 %. Since then that population has decreased by almost 1 %. Today, Port Chester High School’s African American population falls at about 6.3%. With all the recent talk of equity, diversity and inclusion, Keith Allen’s role as ‘first’ is largely significant. Not only does he serve as the first black administrator at the high school itself, but also in the Port Chester school district. “I’m laying the foundation for things that may come after me. We all bring different perspectives and I’m okay with representing our black and brown kids”, says Allen. 

Almost a full year into the current school year, Allen sat down with me in the beginning of the term to acknowledge his transition into the new school year and admitted that it had its challenges, given the circumstances of the pandemic. “I realize that there are gaps in terms of socialization because of the pandemic. Everyone is transitioning back into the system of school”. But Allen was sure to get to work quickly, roaming the hallways getting to know the students inside and out of their classrooms. He understands the importance of identifying the needs of the kids to effectively serve them as Assistant Principle. He also understands the importance of providing students with the opportunity for representation and teaching them the value of their history. 

Allen has had his fair share of ‘first’. He was the only black teacher in Brewster Central District for 13 years, until he became the Assistant Principal there. While he served his 13 years as a teacher, he had an aid, a black woman, who he encouraged to go to school to get her degree so she could teach her own classroom full-time. Eventually, she acquired her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and became the second black teacher in the district. Her daughter followed her footsteps and then became the third. “The gift I’m giving, I’ve got to support our people, all people”. 

Allen allocates a lot of his energy into creating a safe space for the kids and knows that it is vital to establish trust and understanding, acknowledging the various life circumstances each of the kids have. He also emphasizes the importance of exposure to diverse backgrounds and environments. “In order for kids to leave their comfort zone, you create trust first. Once they make that decision to go outside of their comfort zone, let them know that you support their interest…you’ve got to get them to think beyond what they know”.

Allen is currently working on diversifying existing programs and expanding some of the after-school clubs like, the African American Club, by working closely with Ingraham Taylor, a long-time resident of Rye and board member of the Education Committee, and Committee Chair of the NAACP ACT-SO Coalition (Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) of Westchester. “Mr. Allen is an individual who is committed to empower and support the students to strive for success, and that’s all you can ever hope for”, says Taylor. 

When we last spoke, Allen had plans to bring in professionals of color, to show students that they can in fact be who they want to be in life. This school year, Allen has not neglected to put action behind his word. Students like Isaiah Dempson, Senior and Student Body President, believe that Mr. Allen has already made a positive impact. During Black History Month Allen made daily announcements to give a synopsis on Historical Black figures, he also brought in guest speakers from different professions like finance to share their success stories with students. Dempson says, “We’ve never experienced a Black History Month like we did this year. In my previous years, the month of February felt like it went by quickly, but not this year. He really made it fun, and we learned so much! Mr. Allen hasn’t just been helpful with Black History Month but also Women’s History Month. He’s really trying to be there for all the students, and I think he’s doing a good job at it”. 

Allen also believes in building community and feels that it is equally as important that the families of students feel integrated and a part of their child’s educational experience. “I want to connect the communities to the school, there is a lot of disconnect and I just want them to know that they are welcome here…their input is important”. 

Allen hopes to see more equitable programing that celebrates the culture of all students in the next five years and says he will continue to work diligently to make that possible.

About The Author: Tatiana Pinheiro is a Character Education instructor for a global non-profit organization and freelance entertainment journalist for SOHH.com, a hip-hop news website. She enjoys writing poetry, critical essays, film, and photography. She hopes to continue to grow her skill set as a multimedia journalist, eventually focusing on issues like segregation, and public housing.  She is currently working on a curated Instagram project, @nooomoreapologies which uses fashion, imagery, poetry, messaging, and juxtaposition to challenge stereotypes and the hood perception. ” I want people to understand that when you come from the hood or any sort of marginalized community, you can defy the odds and be so much more than your expected to be. There is power in owning who and where you are in life, especially if it doesn’t fit the standard and I have never fat the standard.”

Mount Vernon’s Rai Benjamin Wins Silver Medal With Second Faster Time Ever

AJ Woodson
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Mount Vernon’s Rai Benjamin Wins Silver Medal With Second Faster Time Ever

TOKYO – Rai Benjamin ran a race to remember in the men’s 400m hurdles on Monday, August 2, 2021. Benjamin won the silver medal, in his very first Olympics appearance, crossing the finish line in 46.17 seconds, the second-fastest time in history.

“If you would have told me I would run 46.1 [seconds] and lose, I would probably beat you up. I’d tell you to get out of my room,” Benjamin said after the race.

Benjamin, a native of Mount Vernon, NY captured the first Olympic medal of his career at the age of 24. He came up short by 0.11 seconds but he is still the number two ranked 400m hurdler in the world, and that is nothing to sneeze at. He broke a record that was set five years before he was born.

He won a silver medal in the men’s 400 m hurdles and a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay at the World Championships in 2019. In college, Benjamin ran for the UCLA Bruins and then the USC Trojans, where in early 2018 he was part of the team that set the world best time in the indoor 4 × 400 m relay with a time of 3:00.77. At the time, his relay split time of 44.35 s was the fastest ever recorded in an indoor race. In June of the same year, he also helped set the NCAA record in the same event but outdoors and ran what was at the time the second fastest 400 m hurdles race of all-time in 47.02 s.

Black Westchester congratulates and salutes Rai Benjamin, a Mount Vernon legend, and we look forward to witnessing the greatness ahead of him!

Charles Oakley Coming To Mt Vernon To Speak On Stopping Gun Violence

AJ Woodson
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Charles Oakley Coming To Mt Vernon To Speak On Stopping Gun Violence

The New York Knicks Legend to Speak in Mount Vernon as Part of the Community Conversation Series to Stop Gun Violence

One of the toughest and most loyal players in NBA history, Charles Oakley comes to Mount Vernon, NY, on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, for Community Together, a free series of conversations with industry leaders and change agents committed to Westchester County’s efforts to stop gun violence.

Friendship Worship Center will host the in-person event that will also be live-streamed. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. Oakley will have an intimate conversation with community members and share excerpts from his newly released memoir, “The Last Enforcer,” which tells of his life experiences from on and off the court.  In-person attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Oakley’s book.

Oakley played in the NBA from 1985 to 2004 with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and the Houston Rockets. He ranks as one of the best rebounders in the NBA. The former NY Knicks Power Foward currently ranks 25th all-time in NBA games played with 1,282 games, and 22nd all-time in career rebounds with 12,205 rebounds. Due to his durability, he actually placed in the top ten in total rebounds 6 times and led the league in total rebounds twice (1987 and 1988). In 1994, he became an NBA All-Star and was chosen to the league’s All-Defense 1st team.

After years of clearing boards, Charles Oakley took to buffing cars when he opened Oakley’s Car Wash on 2435 Central Park Ave in Yonkers in 1995.  Three years later, the former NBA player christened another car wash on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn.

Community Together is a collective effort by United Way of Westchester and Putnam, Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, and Friendship Worship Center to reduce the violence surge in the communities by educating and encouraging youth to make positive choices. The goal is to promote healthy emotional expression and conflict resolution. In February, CNN political correspondent and civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers kicked off the series with “Youth Together with Bakari Sellers: Time for Real Talk.”

Friendship Worship Church is located at 261 E Lincoln Ave, Mount Vernon, NY. Community Together with Charles Oakley is free; however, registration is required online at uwwp.org/oakley.

Mary J Blige Shines At Superbowl LVI Halftime Show

AJ Woodson
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Mary J Blige Shines At Superbowl LVI Halftime Show

The Queen reigned supreme at the first Super Bowl Halftime Show, consisting entirely of Hip Hop Headliners.

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, performed alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent, who made a surprise appearance, during the Super Bowl LVI Halftime show, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, which some are already calling one of the greatest Halftime shows. The Yonkers native, who is recognized by Billboard as “the most successful female R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the past 25 years,” performed her 2001 hit song “Family Affair,” which was produced by Dr. Dre, and the self-titled single, “No More Drama” – from the same album – in a stunning white two-piece set with mirror leopard print embellishments and matching boots.

“Wow. That’s all I’m gonna say, wow. I think you want to give them Mary on steroids, just, like, the most beautiful, glamorous, ghetto fabulous, whatever! We’re gonna take it to a whole other level,” she told Entertainment Tonight of her outfit ahead of the reveal.

MJB showed why she is the Queen during the male-heavy Pepsi Super Bowl LVI halftime show. Dr. Dre assembled a great ensemble to share the stage with. But while I think this was a great look for Hip-Hop, Mary could have held it down all by herself, and it would have been just as fantastic.

The entire show was incredible, especially for any Real Hip-Hop lover, but one of the other greatest standout moments was from Grammy-winning artist Kendrick Lamar. The only rap artist to win a Pulitzer Prize award winner for his music, gave an energetic performance of “Alright,” his 2015 single that became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement. Kung Fu Kenny also paid tribute to the other Compton superstars that came before him, Dr. Dre and N.W.A.

Eminem took a knee after performing his 2002 hit “Lose Yourself,” 50 Cent made a surprise upside-down entrance, and they were all there to celebrate Dre Day at the first Super Bowl Halftime Show lineup consisting entirely of hip hop headliners. I don’t know if there is anyone who forgot, but after Sunday night, no one will Forget About Dre, and Mary reminded everyone why she is The Queen.

Oh, and by the way there was a game played. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinati Bengals in Super Bowl VLI. It’s the Rams’ first Super Bowl win since the 1999 season — and their first representing Los Angeles since 1951.

PBP Radio Episode 326 Corey Pegues – A Cops & Robbers Story

AJ Woodson
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PBP Radio Episode 326 Corey Pegues – A Cops & Robbers Story

Black Westchester presents The People Before Politics Radio Show Episode 326

With Hosts Damon K. Jones and AJ Woodson & Co-host Robert ‘Dr. Bob’ Baskerville

Our Guest this week is Corey Pegues, discussing his new documentary, “A Cops & Robbers Story”

Justice Dept Announces Pattern Or Practice Investigation Into MVPD

AJ Woodson
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Justice Dept Announces Pattern Or Practice Investigation Into MVPD

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) announced on Friday, December 3, 2021, that the Justice Department has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department (MVPD). The investigation will assess whether MVPD engages in a pattern or practice of discriminatory policing. The investigation will also assess MVPD’s use of force, strip and body cavity searches, and how it handles evidence. 

The department will conduct a comprehensive review of MVPD’s systems of accountability, including complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition and discipline. SDNY and the Civil Rights Division will also reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with the MVPD.

Prior to the announcement, department officials informed Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, MVPD Chief Marcel Olifiers, City Council President Marcus A. Griffith, Commissioner of Public Safety Glenn Scott, and Corporation Counsel Brian Johnson of the investigation. 

“An effective and accountable police department is a hallmark of a healthy and well-functioning democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to ensuring that law enforcement agencies across our country use their authority in a manner that is constitutional, transparent and free from discrimination.”

“Police officers have tough jobs, and so many do their work honorably, lawfully, and with distinction, respecting the rights of the citizens they have sworn to protect,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “But when officers break the law, they violate their oath and undermine a community’s trust. We ask that anyone who has information relevant to the investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department to contact the Department of Justice via email at community.mvpd@usdoj.gov or to call (866) 985-1378.”

The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The Act allows the department to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. This is the seventy-fourth investigation of a law enforcement agency conducted pursuant to this statute since it was enacted in 1994. The department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as the Safe Streets Act of 1968; and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division, in Washington, D.C., will conduct this investigation.  Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department via email at community.mvpd@usdoj.gov or by calling the toll free phone at (866)-985-1378. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s new reporting portal, available at www.civilrights.justice.gov.

Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.

I Caught COVID. You Should Get Vaccinated.

Dennis Richmond Jr
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I Caught COVID. You Should Get Vaccinated.

My name is Dennis Richmond, Jr., and I’m a 26-year-old New Yorker. Since March of 2020, I’ve been doing good. I made sure to wear my mask indoors and outdoors, I was socially distant, and I received both shots of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. I ran around New York City earlier this month, hitting everywhere from the Burnside Avenue section of the Bronx to the East New York Section of Brooklyn and from the Howard Beach section of Queens to Midtown Manhattan. I did most of this running around- maskless.

On Saturday, September 18th, 2021, I tested positive for COVID-19. The first thing that I had to do was let everybody I was around, know that they were exposed to COVID. Why were they exposed? Because of me. Even though I didn’t expose people on purpose, reaching out to people was an experience. One person asked me, “Is this a joke?” It wasn’t. Somebody else had told me “Thank you for telling me.” That was
a nice response, considering I just furthered the pandemic because I didn’t want to wear a mask.

After hearing some interesting responses, things got crazy. One person who I was around told me that if they tested positive for it, they wouldn’t tell anybody. Wait. If you catch the Rona, you’re not telling anybody around you? Somebody else dared to tell me after I told them my diagnosis, “That explains why I haven’t felt good all week.” Are, you, serious? For real? Don’t tell me that. I wasn’t glad to know that I had to let my relatives, who are seniors, know that they were exposed to COVID-19 too. I had seen an uncle of mine who’s 81. I had to let him and my aunt know.

I felt the urge to post my diagnosis on social media. I did, and I got a myriad of reactions and comments as a result. The amount of love that people showed me from social media and elsewhere was beautiful. This person lives in Queens, this one lives in Virginia, this one lives in Harlem, and this one lives in Pennsylvania. It was something.

Things got crazy yet again when I started conversing with people around my age about getting vaccinated. Young adults are so quick to smoke something and get high but hesitant to take a vaccine. It doesn’t make sense. You don’t know what’s in that loud, gelato, sour, or kush, but you’ll smoke it. God, forbid you have to take a vaccine so you won’t spread a deadly virus.

Since COVID-19, I lost weight, I slept a ridiculous amount of time, and I had to quarantine in my room, in my house. If I had to say anything at all, it would be to please, just get vaccinated.

For real. Get vaccinated.

Stolen In Ghana. Sold In South Carolina.

Dennis Richmond Jr
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Stolen In Ghana. Sold In South Carolina.

My name is Dennis Richmond, Jr., and I am a 26-year-old author and genealogist. I have been examining my family tree since March of 2008. I am humbled to say that I made strides that many of those researching Black families only dream of making. I know the plantation that my family was on and, I know who owned them.

I also know where my ancestors came from in West Africa. My great, great-grandparents are Rhina Nelson and Brutus Bowens. Born on Saturday, December 28th, 1889, Grandpa Brutus was one of the children of Gabriel Monday Bowens and Flora Stevens. He was born in Big Camp, South Carolina. Big Camp is close to Pineville, SC. Grandpa Brutus, a farmer, and father of seven died of heart failure on October 29th, 1931, at just 41 years old.

My great, great-grandmother, Grandma Rhina, the daughter of Kate Nelson and a former slave named John Gould, died in 1950. She is resting in the Mexico Cemetery in Berkeley County. There are at least two dozen Bowens relatives buried in the Mexico Cemetery. The fact that there are first names in my family tree, like “Saturday” and “Monday,” suggests that my ancestors descend from the Akan people of Ghana.

My great, great, great grandmother is Grandma Kate Nelson. Grandma Kate was born c.1866 in Berkeley County, South Carolina. Her parents are Primus Nelson, born c.1842, and Sarah Wiggins, born c. 1845. Grandpa John Gould was the son of Cain Gould and Henrietta Westin. I found my family through census records, death records, and with the help of a special genealogist named Jeanie Glaser. My ancestors Primus and Sarah were born in the Mexico area of Berkeley County.

The goldmine for me was locating several of my ancestors in an estate inventory. Primus, Sarah, Cain, and Monday all appeared in the estate papers for Major Samuel Porcher in 1851. Samuel Porcher owned close to 400 slaves at the time of his death. All his property had value. His property included my ancestors. I saw
prices next to all my ancestor’s names. Imagine waking up and being told that you were worth $340.

I learned that Grandpa Cain’s parents were named Quashy and Sappho, Grandpa Gabriel’s parents were Moses and Lizette, and Grandpa Primus was a child of Billy and Lucy. Galboa and Silvey were the names of Grandma Sarah’s parents.

My ancestors were slaves on the Mexico Plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina. My ancestry doesn’t start on the Mexico Plantation, though. DNA evidence from multiple descendants of Grandpa Brutus and Grandma Rhina shows Ghanaian Ancestry. Those Akan naming traditions survived Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, the slave ships, and the Mexico Plantation, all the way to 2021 to allow me to write about them today.

Many of my ancestors in this branch of my family descend from people stolen from Ghana. My African ancestors didn’t come to America by choice.

It’s time for me to take a trip back home.

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