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Remembering Heavy D – A Tribute To The Rapper Your Mother Liked

AJ Woodson
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Remembering Heavy D – A Tribute To The Rapper Your Mother Liked

On Saturday, May 24th, Heavy D would have been 58 years old. In 1967 he was born in Mandeville, Jamaica. In the early 1970s his family moved to Mount Vernon where he was raised. So, in celebration of one of Mount Vernon’s favorite sons, I share this excerpt from my book, We Got Our Own Thang—A Look At Hip-Hop From The 914, aptly named after one of his songs.

You cannot discuss music from the 914 without including the Overweight Lover, Hip-Hop legend Heavy D. During the course of his 25-plus-year career, the larger-than-life entertainer was a superstar in every sense of the word. But even so, the brother doesn’t always get the props he deserves for how important he was to Hip-Hop and how many people he touched, inspired, and put on.

Pete Rock, easily one of the greatest Hip-Hop producers of all time, sparked a recent discussion surrounding the lack of recognition Heavy D has received as Hip-Hop celebrates its 50th birthday. He advocated for his older cousin and expressed his disappointment that Hev is left out of the conversation altogether in some of these Hip Hop 50 tributes.

“I respect absolutely NONE of this talk about 50 years of Hip-Hop that does not include HEAVY D and the Boyz,” the Chocolate Boy Wunda wrote in an IG post.

“He KICKED DOWN the door and paved a way for A LOT OF MOTHERF****RS!! I think his smoothness and humbleness make people forget his impact and relevance in the music business. I NEED EVERYONE WHO AGREES (ESPECIALLY EVERYBODY FOR MONEY EARNING MOUNT VERNON!!) TO REPOST AND SHARE SO WE CAN GET HEV A PROPER TELEVISED TRIBUTE for his achievements and contributions to the game,” he added.

“After Pete sent that out, everybody started including stuff, music, or language on their social media platforms to include Hev,” Floyd Myers, Heavy D’s older brother, shared with me. “Even pictures with the collages, Hev wasn’t in there.”

Artists and fans chimed in and agreed with Pete. Snoop Dogg immediately agreed in the comments, writing, “Facts. Big. Tyme.” Queen Latifah chimed in, “Heav was my friend. Put us on his tour and showed us what rocking a crowd was About!!! Love to him his family and his Whole Crew!!!!” “Bruh Heavy D was huge in joining Reggae & Hip-Hop together. It’s sad how humans quickly forget,” another fan wrote. Marlon Wayans added, “I concur,” while actor Omari Hardwick wrote, “1000%. As special as they come! Who happened to be a dear bro of mine like yourself? And who btw….was 1 of the few Hip-Hop artists who could equally bring that gift to screen. A very strong actor.” “I also agree with you my brother … that folk (especially in our culture) who make things look easy while equally possessing humility….usually get overlooked & undervalued. Heav was special & I know he’s smiling with pride & humility at this powerful post from you Rock!” he added.

Platinum-selling Jamaican legend Super Cat also reposted Rock’s post.

“Mi friend and #icon the late great Heavy D #theoverweightloversinthehouse,” he captioned the post. The post has received support from a throng of artists and actors who knew or worked with Heavy D or those influenced by his music, including Rohan Marley, Lloyd Banks, and many others.

Like I started, there is no way to do a book about music from the 914 without celebrating the Overweight Lover.

“Hev was the beginning of the middle school, he wasn’t old school, he’s not the new school, but he was the beginning of the middle school,” Floyd shared.

As the first group on Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records, Hev helped kick off a new brand of Hip-Hop Soul that would become known as New Jack Swing.

Before the success of acts like Guy, Mary J. Blige, and Jodeci, it was Heavy D & The Boyz that were the cornerstone of Uptown Records. In fact, rapper-turned-Record Executive Andre Harrell departed from Def Jam and launched Uptown largely off the potential of Heavy D. Hev was instrumental in the structure of the Uptown roster including getting Al B Sure a deal and getting Andre Harrel to hire fellow Mount Vernonite, Sean ‘Puff Daddy’ Combs as an intern and you know where that led. Diddy went on to create Bad Boy Records and Sean John.

Hev touched so many people with his cool spirit and influenced a lot of rappers like Fat Joe. When DJ Felli Fel asked Joe when he was in Los Angeles during an interview, about Joe’s influences, he responded, “My two idols are KRS One, Boogie Down Productions and LL Cool J” But Felli Fel said what I meant was, and Joe cut in “influence me to make big hits, LL Cool J and Heavy D. So Heavy D made me feel good to be a big man and dress fly and make that kinda music for the ladies…”

Legendary emcee Kool Moe Dee who rapped alongside Heavy D and several other NY rappers in ‘Self Destruction,’ talked about how when every rapper were very competitive talking about “I’m the biggest, I’m the baddest, I’m the greatest, Heavy D just wanted to have fun,” on Astrid In The ATL on Peachtree TV. “His position was I’m just here to enjoy and for you to enjoy, so his whole approach to the equation to me changed the direction of a lot of what Hip-Hop was going through.”

Director Bart Phillips paid tribute the life and legacy of Heavy D with a documentary in 2012 after he passed called, “The Life Of Heavy D – Be Inspired,” featuring stories and artists like Will Smith, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Mary J. Blige, Chuck D, Marley Marl, Al B. Sure, Doug E. Fresh, actress Kim Fields and his older brother Floyd and others who all paint pictures with words of how important and influential Heavy D was to the music industry as a well-respected artist, friend and businessman.

“I don’t know too many people who have touched so many people’s lives in such a consistent way for so long. Hev had a heart this big, and it was always love whenever you saw him. It was like a big hug, and you felt the love in the hug. Hev was just lovable like that…” Queen Latifah says in the documentary that she interviewed with some of Heavy’s closest friends. I believe you can still catch the documentary on Amazon Prime, I caught it on YouTube as I was writing this chapter.

Heavy D is the only rapper (and possibly the only artist, period, whose last name is Jackson) to have worked with both of the Jackson superstars. He worked with Michael Jackson – The King of Pop (Jam) and his sister Janet – Ms. Jackson is ya nasty (Alright) – arguably two of the most influential entertainers of the modern era.

He traded verses with both Biggie and Tupac over a bubbly sample of Barry White’s ‘You’re The One I Need,’ on Grand Puba’s “Let’s Get It On,” and went on to perform the theme song for the Keenen Ivory Wayans created sketch comedy television series, In Living Color. And yo, who else could have Kool G Rap on a song called “Don’t Curse” also featuring some of the dopest wordsmiths at the time, Grand Puba, CL Smooth, Big Daddy Kane, Pete Rock, and Q-Tip! 

In the mid-90s, he became the President of Uptown Records. Then he caught the acting bug and went to collect countless credits for his contributions in both television and film.

Get up, party people, listen to this rap
‘Cause I’m about to go down and put my town on the map
MC Heavy D, delighted you’ll be learnin
About the place where I rest, Money earnin’ Mount Vernon

The year was 1985 when Heavy D walked into Rush Management without an appointment in hopes of walking out with a record deal. Russell Simmons wasn’t interested, but he caught the attention of Andre Harrell. Shortly after Harrell left Def Jam, he launched his own label, and his first order of business was to sign Heavy D. Hev put both Mount Vernon and Uptown Records on the map.

Heavy D & the Boyz were the first group signed to Uptown Records, with Heavy D as the frontman and only rapper. Eddie F was his business partner in the group, a DJ, and one of the producers. The other two members, T-Roy and G-Wiz, were the dancers.

Their debut, ‘Living Large,’ was released in 1987. The album was a commercial success; his sophomore endeavor, ‘Big Tyme’, was a breakthrough that included four hits. “Trouble T. Roy” died at age 22 in a fall on July 15, 1990, in Indianapolis. Dixon’s death led to a tribute on the follow-up platinum album, ‘Peaceful Journey.’ Pete Rock & CL Smooth created a tribute to Trouble T. Roy called “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” which is regarded as a Hip-Hop classic by everyone’s standards.

They reminisce, the reminisce…  I reminisce for a spell, or shall I say think back…

I reminisce so you never forget this
The days of way-back, so many bear witness the fitness

Take the first letter out of each word in this joint
Listen close as I prove my point
T to the R the O-Y,

Despite being devastated by the loss of his best friend, Hev got back out there and rocked the crowd and saw the tour through to the end, as many people told me and as I saw in numerous documentaries and interviews. Even though it would be understandable if he bowed out for the rest of the remainder of the tour or even for a few shows, he continued to take the stage night after night and gave it his all because that’s how he was. He felt he owed it to the fans; he had committed to the shows and was going to fulfill his commitment. He was the type of person who, after suffering a personal loss, would still give his all to the audience. Hev completed the tour when many others would have given up or merely have just gone through the motions, and he gave the fans everything he had. That’s Heavy D!

Heavy D may be gone, but his hometown will never let him be forgotten and will be forever grateful for how he represented Money-Earning Mount Vernon, no matter where in the world he was.

On Saturday, May 22, 2016, hundreds gathered at the newly renamed Heavy D & The Boys Park (formerly known as Lorraine Park) to celebrate the life and legacy of Mount Vernon’s favorite son, Dwight “Heavy D” Myers.

A month later, the Mount Vernon Public Library hosted a very special reception in honor of the Dwight Arrington Myers Hip-Hop Collection housed at the library on Thursday, June 30th.  

In honor of Hip-Hop legend and Mount Vernon native, Jamaican-born record producer, singer, actor, Heavy D, the Mount Vernon Public Library has acquired a collection of books, music CDs, DVD’s and multimedia materials that share the history of Hip-Hop and its global influence.

“I got my SAG card, baby. I’m an actor” – Common (Break My Heart)

It seems like Hip-Hop is a gateway to onscreen fame. Judging by the prolific number of rap artists who have also dabbled in film and TV acting, it seems today’s biggest hip-hop artists are truly multihyphenates. Artists from the 9-1-4 are no different. Several Westchester artists, like Hev showed they can do more than just appear on soundtracks accompanying movies and simply provide music for background sound on television as they make appearances on both the big and small screen as actors.

His musical background actually was his ticket into the TV industry. By way of producing the opening theme for the 1990s-’94 TV series In Living Color. To be more specific, comedian Tommy Davidson says that Heavy D “had the brilliance to come up with the line that summed up our historic show on its opening night.” ‘What’s mine is yours, what’s yours is mine.’”

He always had acting aspirations of his own. Heavy D’s career in television began in the mid-1990s, with guest appearances on episodes including Tales from the Crypt and Living Single, when he played Darryl, a friend of Kim Fields’ character Regine. His most notable role was appearing with Tobey Maguire and Michael Caine in the Oscar-nominated movie, The Cider House Rules in 1999. In a cast that also included Erykah Badu, he played Peaches. After that, he had a steady acting career, appearing in films and television shows including Tower Heist, in which he portrayed a security guard, and Law & Order: SVU, among others.

He also made his off-Broadway theatrical debut in 1996, starring in the one-act play Riff Raff (written and directed by Laurence Fishburne), which earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor In A Play.

His TV credits include, A Different World (1989), The Fresh Prince of bel Air (1990), Booker and tales From The Crypt in 1992, a recurring role on Roc (1993), a recurring role on Living Single (1994-1996), Waynehead (1996), Martial Law (1999), For The Love (2000), a recurring role on Boston Public (2000-2003), The Tracy Morgan Show (2003-2004), Yes Dear (2005), a recurring role on Season 1 of Bones (2005), Are We There Yet (2011) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2011).

He also appeared in movies such as Who’s The Man (1993), New Jersey Drive (1995), B*A*P*S (1997), The Deli (1997), Life (1999), The Cider House Rules (1999), a short called Next Afternoon in 2000, Big Trouble (2002), Black Listed (2003), Dallas 362 (2003), Larceny (2004), Step Up (2006), Tower Heist (2011), H4 (2012).

Everyone who ever met him has Nuthin But Luv for Heavy D, and he will always be Mount Vernon’s favorite son!

Above are a few excerpts of my book ‘We Got Our Own Thang—A Look At Hip-Hop From The 914.’ Cop a copy or two today on Amazon for $30.00, or you can order an autographed copy directly from me Via Venmo @AJ-Woodson-2 or PayPal, or CashApp $MrAJWoodson, add $5 for postage and make sure you email me your mailing address, MrAJWoodson@gmail.com.

Forget the Noise — The ‘Big Beautiful Tax Bill’ Is a Wake-Up Call for Black Entrepreneurs

DAMON K JONES
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Forget the Noise — The ‘Big Beautiful Tax Bill’ Is a Wake-Up Call for Black Entrepreneurs

While social media argues over who wrote the bill and which party “won,” Black business owners need to hear something different: this bill is not just a headline. It’s a signal. And if you’re caught up in the noise, you’re going to miss the opportunity.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is already being spun as a gift to the rich and a curse to the poor. But the truth lies in the fine print — and buried within are tools Black entrepreneurs can use, if we stop reacting emotionally and start planning strategically.

Let’s be clear: this bill wasn’t crafted with Black communities in mind. It slashes food programs, imposes stricter work requirements, and chips away at public support systems many Black families rely on. But while the front door is closing on dependency, a back door is opening for builders — especially those in business, skilled trades, and cooperative investment. This isn’t about what’s fair. This is about what’s real.

Here’s what’s actually in the bill that matters for Black business owners:

First, the bill eliminates federal income tax on overtime and tips. That means many working-class Americans will immediately see more take-home pay. For Black-owned businesses that employ hourly or tipped workers — in restaurants, transportation, retail, or healthcare — this improves worker morale and retention without raising payroll costs.

Second, the bill expands deductions for equipment, vehicles, technology, and startup costs. If you’re in construction, deliveries, landscaping, media, beauty, or trades, this means you can deduct more up front instead of over several years. That’s cash flow relief, and it gives you room to grow, reinvest, or pay down debt faster.

Third, the bill revives and enhances Opportunity Zones — giving investors significant tax breaks for developing in low-income areas. But these zones aren’t automatic benefits. They favor the prepared. If we don’t organize to buy land, develop properties, and invest collectively, this program will once again be used to gentrify our neighborhoods instead of rebuild them.

Fourth, there’s a lesser-known provision that allows tax deductions for sound recording and production. That includes music, podcasting, studio development, and digital content. This directly benefits Black creatives — artists, producers, influencers, educators — who treat their work as a legitimate business and invest in infrastructure.

Fifth, the bill expands Health Savings Accounts. For self-employed individuals and small business owners, this means you can contribute more tax-free money to cover medical costs. It’s especially useful for entrepreneurs who lack traditional health insurance and need flexible, tax-advantaged care options.

Sixth, there are new tax benefits tied to trades and small manufacturing. If you’re in skilled labor, apparel production, food preparation, or small-scale logistics, this bill lowers the tax burden and encourages reinvestment in local production — which is exactly the kind of economy Black America needs to rebuild.

And finally, the bill allows businesses to deduct more for employee education and job training. If you’re a business owner hiring young workers, or if you’re planning to upskill your team, you can now do so with more tax advantages — and that creates a direct incentive to grow our workforce from within our own community.

This article does not ignore the political debate over cuts to Medicaid and Medicare — those concerns are real and deserve scrutiny. But while that fight continues, we must deal with another truth: if Black businesses grew from the current 2 percent of all employer firms to even 9 or 10 percent, we could transform the condition of Black communities overnight.

We could create jobs for our own people.
We could fund our own healthcare.
We could build retirement plans from within our own enterprises.
We could shift from surviving off the system to sustaining our own.

This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about seeing that Washington is moving from welfare to workfare — from dependence to production. And while others are stuck in the noise, Black business owners must focus on position. Because this bill doesn’t care about our outrage — it rewards our readiness.

Yes, the cuts are real. But so are the openings.
The question is: will we waste time arguing about who passed the bill, or will we use the parts that help us build?

Pharaoh isn’t feeding us anymore. But if you’ve read the Scriptures, then you know — that’s always when God told His people to move.

Now is that moment.

Start the LLC.
Get the trade license.
Train your youth.
Invest with your community.
Buy the block back.

Not because they gave us power.
But because we were never meant to ask for it in the first place.

We were meant to build it — together

Reflections from the “5 C’s of Mental Health” Panel 

Larnez Kinsey
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Reflections from the “5 C’s of Mental Health” Panel 

Let’s cut the fluff:

There are rooms that hold conversations.

And there are rooms that hold you.

This was the latter.

On a Thursday evening at the Greenburgh Public Library, a portal opened—because the Westchester Women’s Agenda didn’t just host an event. They created a space for spiritual strategy.

The theme?

Coping. Compassion. Connection. Community. Care.

But those weren’t bullet points.

They were invocations.

They were mirror words—the kind that don’t just inform, but undress you in the best way.

They pulled the real you into the light and asked: Are you caring for her?

Coping – Kacing Morabito-Grean

She didn’t enter the room. She anchored it.

Kacing didn’t tell us how to cope—she showed us what it feels like to be safe enough to feel.

She brought us home to our bodies with her tone, her breath, her grounded presence.

She reminded us that true coping doesn’t always look strong. Sometimes it looks like softness.

And soft is sacred.

Compassion – Kym McNair

Kym came through like a priestess with a poetic tongue.

She didn’t teach compassion—she embodied it.

She took us through a timeline of Black girlhood, womanhood, and motherhood…

All the selves we’ve carried, all the selves we’ve hidden.

She gave us permission to go back and gather what trauma told us to forget.

Her voice wasn’t loud—but it echoed.

Connection – Kathleen O’Connor

Kathleen brought up the reminder that space is medicine.

That connection isn’t just about proximity—it’s about access.

Access to quiet. To green. To stillness.

In a world that won’t stop moving, she gave us a way to stand still and still feel held.

Community – Katie Pfeifer

Katie? She gave us fire in the form of structure.

She reminded us that community is built—it doesn’t just exist.

And that showing up for others is a kind of healing practice.

She turned “helping” into belonging.

Care – Dr. Leah Susser

Dr. Susser walked in with the receipts.

She made space for complexity—reproductive health, psychiatry, gendered pain—all of it.

She’s not just treating patients. She’s building systems of care that are precise, personal, and powerfully overdue.

Then came the soul witnesses:

Georgie D’Avanzo—a truth teller who didn’t perform healing. She offered it.

Her story was raw, and in that rawness, she handed us something rare: unfiltered hope.

Marie Considine, MPA, repped NAMI Westchester with grounded clarity—reminding us that without advocacy and infrastructure, healing is a luxury. She’s making it right.

And holding it all with grace and precision?

Dr. Sabina Bera—whose moderation was more like alchemy.

She pulled the gold out of every speaker with care, not control.

Her questions weren’t prompts—they were doorways.

Here’s the truth: This was more than a panel.

It was a collective remembering.

It was unlearning burnout as a badge.

It was learning to be witnessed in your whole humanity.

The room felt like church, therapy, revolution, and exhale—all at once.

So let me say this for those who keep asking where the healing is happening:

It’s happening right here.

In libraries turned sanctuaries.

In rooms where Black and brown women are trusted with the mic—and the moment.

In circles where silence is sacred, and stories are currency.

And if you missed it?

I say this with love:

Don’t miss the next one.

Because this kind of healing? This kind of clarity?

It doesn’t just talk about change.

It embodies it.

And me? I’ll keep showing up in these rooms.

You should too.

Lorraine Lopez Sworn-In As Newest Yonkers Board Of Education Trustee

AJ Woodson
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Lorraine Lopez Sworn-In As Newest Yonkers Board Of Education Trustee

Mayor Spano Appoints Former City Councilwoman & Community Leader, Lorraine Lopez, To Yonkers Board Of Education

Mayor Mike Spano today swore in former Yonkers City Councilmember and community leader Lorraine Lopez to the Yonkers Board of Education. As trustee of the Yonkers Board of Education, Lopez is part of a nine-member Board, which is the official policy-making body of the School District.

“As we continue to provide our students with the best education possible, I am proud to appoint Lorraine to the Board of Education as she brings a dynamic and diversified connection to the Yonkers community,” said Mayor Spano. “As a former Councilmember and active community member, her experience and leadership will be valuable assets to our District and our students.”

Elected the first female Hispanic Councilmember in 1999, Lopez has served as a longtime Yonkers community advocate. For nearly ten years, Lopez served as the Special Assistant to the Mayor with Constituent Services, where she assisted constituents with various education, housing, quality of life, and social services assistance. Lopez has volunteered with numerous Yonkers non-profits, benefitting Yonkers students, families, and minorities, including the YMCA, Yonkers Alliance of Latino & Immigrant Services, D.A.R.E. Inc., and the Habitat for Humanity Family Selection Committee. Currently, Lopez is a board member for the Hudson Valley Legal Services Executive Committee and the Justice Center for the Hudson Valley.

“I am deeply honored that Mayor Mike Spano has appointed me to serve as a Yonkers Board of Education Trustee,” said Lorraine Lopez. “I commit to amplifying diverse student voices, fostering educational environments for both students and staff, and ensuring every child has equitable opportunities to thrive. Our students’ successes are for the betterment of our community’s future.”

Board of Education President Dr. Rosalba Corrado Del Vecchio noted, “On behalf of the Board of Education, I warmly welcome Lorraine Lopez to our governance team. Her extensive background in public service and community advocacy will strengthen our shared mission of delivering the highest quality education for every child in Yonkers. We look forward to the insight and leadership she will bring to our work.”

Superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools Aníbal Soler, Jr., commented, “Lorraine Lopez brings a wealth of public service experience and an unwavering commitment to our Yonkers community. As a former City Councilmember, longtime advocate, and grandparent of a Yonkers Public Schools student, she offers a unique and deeply personal perspective. Her voice will be invaluable as we work together to implement our District’s strategic plan, which is grounded in empowerment, advancement, and excellence.”

Lorraine Lopez replaces Trustee Kevin Cacace, fulfilling the remainder of his term expiring in May 2029.

Mayor Spano added, “I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Kevin Cacace for his dedicated years of service to the Board of Education, who served our City and our students with loyalty, professionalism, and distinction.”

Malcolm At 100: The Puppet Show Still Plays On — And The Stats Prove It

DAMON K JONES
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Malcolm At 100: The Puppet Show Still Plays On — And The Stats Prove It

This year marks 100 years since the birth of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X — one of the most fearless truth-tellers in Black history. But if Malcolm were alive today, he wouldn’t be celebrating. He’d be calling out the betrayal of a people still trapped by the same systems he tried to expose — only now, the chains are digital, economic, and psychological.

In one of his sharpest critiques, Malcolm said: “Show me in the white community where a comedian is a white leader… or a singer… These aren’t leaders. These are puppets and clowns that have been set up over the Black community by the white community.”

That was over 60 years ago.

Fast-forward to today, and the picture hasn’t changed — it’s just digitized. Instead of grassroots organizers, thinkers, or builders leading the charge, we have entertainers, social media influencers, and sponsored activists speaking on our behalf. Their platforms are powerful, but too often their positions are safe, rehearsed, and aligned with the very systems Malcolm fought to expose.

Yes, people have the right to speak. But we must ask — who are they really speaking for when their platforms, messages, and influence are tied to white-owned corporations through sponsorship deals, contracts, and PR handlers? Malcolm knew the game in the 1960s. He saw clearly how money and access would be used to soften resistance and co-opt leadership. There’s an old saying: “The game never changes, just the players.” And for far too long, the Black community has been played. Malcolm saw it, called it out, and paid the ultimate price for refusing to play along. But over the years, we’ve forgotten.

Our communities are still struggling — not because we lack talent, intelligence, or potential — but because we keep mistaking popularity for leadership. We let corporations and media networks pick our heroes, and then wonder why our problems stay the same. When our most visible voices are more concerned with brand deals than systemic change, the outcome is predictable: symbolic gestures, no structural progress.

Malcolm didn’t die so we could worship celebrities. He died because he told the truth about power — especially when it came wrapped in Black skin but spoke with a white glove.

And yet, in the ultimate irony, his image has become a brand — divorced from the fire of his message. His face sits on t-shirts, fitted caps, and memes worn by people who have disavowed everything he stood for. They quote his anger, but ignore his clarity. They march with an X on their chest but cash checks from the very institutions Malcolm exposed. It’s exactly what economist Thomas Sowell warned about when he spoke of the Black elite — a class of people more interested in managing the problem than solving it, because the problem is their platform.

Malcolm warned us that this would happen. He saw how easily integrity could be sold for acceptance, how the gatekeepers of Black liberation would one day be the very people preventing it — dressed in kente cloth, speaking the language of progress, but serving the agenda of the status quo.

And the numbers prove we’ve paid a high price for these illusions:

  • In 1963, the Black homeownership rate was 38%. In 2023, it’s only 44% — barely a gain in 60 years, while white homeownership sits at over 73%.
  • The Black unemployment rate is still double that of whites, just as it was in Malcolm’s day.
  • The Black-white wealth gap has worsened: the median Black household holds about $24,000 in wealth versus $188,000 for whites — a staggering 8-to-1 gap.
  • School segregation is worse today than it was in the late 1980s. Most Black children now attend high-poverty, underfunded schools.
  • In 1965, about 25% of Black children were born to single mothers. Today, over 70% are — impacting family structure, poverty, and community outcomes.
  • The incarceration rate for Black men is still 5 times higher than that of white men, a direct result of policies implemented after Malcolm’s death.
  • Black Americans continue to have lower life expectancies and higher rates of chronic illness.

These aren’t just statistics — they’re symptoms of a deeper betrayal. We’ve turned Malcolm X into merchandise while ignoring his mission. We don’t need more icons — we need more integrity. We don’t need another speech — we need to act on the truth we already know.

Malcolm didn’t die for a statue or a street name. He died because he told us the truth about ourselves and the system — and that truth still makes people uncomfortable today. If we really want to honor Malcolm at 100, we must stop confusing celebrity with credibility. We must start listening to the builders, the teachers, and the truth-tellers — not the puppets with the loudest microphones.

This article first appeared in the May 2025 issue of Black Westchester Newspaper.

ArtsWestchester CEO Announces Loss Of Federal Grants, Reaches Out To Community To Support Their Fill-the-Gap Campaign

AJ Woodson
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ArtsWestchester CEO Announces Loss Of Federal Grants, Reaches Out To Community To Support Their Fill-the-Gap Campaign

There has been a bombardment of headlines in the mainstream news talking about federal cuts. But what does that mean to us locally in Westchester County, and the loss of funding that impacts public programming and the organizations like ArtsWestchester’s ability to support artists and cultural initiatives?

Recently, we reached out to ArtsWestchester’s CEO, Kathline Reckling, to discuss how these grant terminations are devastating and disruptive to the organization.

“Like thousands of organizations across the U.S. that provide access to the arts and offer opportunities to advance free creative expression, ArtsWestchester recently received notice that several of its federal grants have been terminated. Since March, ArtsWestchester has lost four grant awards: one from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and three from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), totaling $285K in committed contracts for programs and services. We’re not alone. Over these past few weeks, some $2 million in federal grants to the Westchester County’s arts and cultural community have been terminated. When we include the match requirements of these grants and outstanding project proposals to these agencies, the total impact of these cuts is of the magnitude of $8 million,” Reckling shared with Black Westchester.

“The defunded projects include initiatives that aim to document, preserve, and increase access to America’s cultural heritage and history. Other defunded projects focus on curriculum development, teacher training, and cultural workforce programs. Federal dollars support our cultural institutions, but they also go directly into the hands of independent artists and small businesses. Westchester’s non-profit arts sector contributes nearly $183 million into our local economy annually and supports 2,250 cultural jobs. A cut to the arts is a blow to our local economic landscape.

ArtsWestchester remains fiercely committed to fulfilling its mission of ensuring that the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of local life. This means we will continue to work to ensure that the arts remain accessible, that artists are recognized as entrepreneurs, that our own space and our fellow institutions remain inclusive, and that our programming and services reflect and respond to the many communities that define our region.

We are especially concerned that the current federal FY2026 spending proposal calls for the elimination of the NEA, IMLS, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. These agencies represent 13% of all public monies allocated to Westchester arts and cultural organizations. The proposed elimination of these agencies would leave a gap in funding for programs that spark innovation, expand educational resources, and support creative freedom.

ArtsWestchester and the NEA were founded in the same year. This shared history is something I have thought about a lot since I was appointed CEO of ArtsWestchester last July — and it gains deeper significance as we imagine a future America without the NEA. Since 2014, the NEA has been a leading partner to ArtsWestchester, contributing over $525K in matching grants for exhibitions and public programs.

Public funding of the arts is essential because the arts are how we express our culture, our hopes and aspirations, and our identity as individuals and as communities. The arts fundamentally help us advance towards the goal of achieving a “more perfect union.”
To silence artists is to silence us all,” she continued.

When asked what can we the public do to help, she shared, “As news of these cuts has traveled, many of you have asked me how you can help keep the arts alive in your communities. At this critical moment, ArtsWestchester invites you to take action in several ways: tell your elected officials that the arts matter and you support saving the NEA; buy a ticket to an arts event and take part in the arts; and join us in a new crowdfunding campaign to help fill the gap left by federal grant cuts. Your gift will go to work that supports local artists and helps ArtsWestchester continue providing essential resources to our friends in the field. I invite you to join me as we protect ArtsWestchester’s mission and continue to advance together through this challenging time,”

Affected programs include two upcoming exhibits in our White Plains gallery, a public art project in new public-housing units, and The Westchester Heritage Ambassador Program, a workforce development initiative, training aspiring cultural workers from Westchester’s Ecuadorian, Paraguayan, and Ghanaian communities, has been halted due to the loss of IMLS funding.

ArtsWestchester could have disbanded the projects, but instead, we are turning to the community to help fill the funding gap that remains. You can contribute to the Fill-the-Gap Campaign and help ArtsWestchester sustain its public programming threatened by federal cuts by clicking on this link. Their goal for this campaign is $25,000, which will only partially replace the lost funding for their public programming. ArtsWestchester experienced a total of $285,000 in federal grant terminations. Any amount is greatly appreciated!

ArtsWestchester’s mission is to create an equitable, vibrant, and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. ArtsWestchester supports the arts in Westchester through leadership, funding, programming, education, advocacy, audience cultivation, and professional development. We work to ensure the accessibility and diversity of the arts at every level for every resident and visitor in Westchester County.

They feel the arts are for everyone, amplifying the multi-ethnic and culturally diverse voices within our community. The arts offer opportunities for advancement and personal growth. The arts are a catalyst for systemic change, economic development, and community empowerment. The arts create life-affirming experiences, celebrating differences and finding shared values.

As ArtsWestchester looks to the future, and in recognition of the current needs of the communities we serve, we reaffirm and further commit to advancing social justice through our policies and practices. We acknowledge that this work is ongoing and commit to enacting a strategic vision that is proactive and responsive in shaping a just, fair, and equitable Westchester.

For more information about ArtsWesthester visit their website and follow ArtsWestchester on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, and LinkedIn.

Playland Opening Memorial Day Weekend, Free admission & Rides Sat. May 24th – Mon, May 26th. Parking $10 per car.

AJ Woodson
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Playland Opening Memorial Day Weekend, Free admission & Rides Sat. May 24th – Mon, May 26th. Parking $10 per car.

With a potentially reduced selection of rides in the early season and possibly later into the summer, Rye Playland will open for the 2025 season on Saturday, May 24th, for Memorial Day weekend. The opening ceremony will occur Saturday, May 24th at 11 a.m., opening the park to the public immediately after.

Following months of ambiguity about the park’s future, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins formally declared the public opening date.

“Playland Park is gearing up for an unforgettable holiday weekend, celebrating its opening with a ceremony, Saturday, May 24th at 11 a.m. Following the ceremony, the park will open to the public and include a variety of entertainment, local food trucks, and free admission and rides from Saturday, May 24th, through Monday, May 26th. Parking is $10 per car. From the moment the gates open, the park will be buzzing with entertainment that will keep the fun going all weekend long. Guests can enjoy Coaster the Dragon, a lively steel drum player, strolling entertainers, and an interactive DJ who will keep the energy high throughout the park. Additionally, refreshments will be available for purchase from local food trucks, Graziella’s, Westchester Burger, Lulu’s, Walter’s Hot Dogs, and Mr. Softee,” CE Jenkins announced on Wednesday.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, “The magic of Playland Park’s Opening Day is something every Westchester resident should experience. I’m thrilled the park is open for Memorial Day Weekend, and I’m excited for it to breathe new life into Westchester’s summer and remind us of the joy right in our own backyard.”

Westchester County Parks Commissioner, Kathy O’Connor, said: “Seeing Coaster welcome back the public is something I’ve long been looking forward to. I’m proud of the work the Parks Department has done to bring Playland Park back in time for summer.”

Westchester County Parks First Deputy Commissioner, Peter Tartaglia, said: “We are excited and proud to open Playland for residents and the public. Not only is it a Westchester County Park, but it is also an institution in the New York metro area and recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Playland has been and will always be the people’s park.”

Playland Beach will be open and will have a DJ from Saturday, May 24th, through Monday, May 26th, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Beach admission fees apply. A live DJ will be offering entertainment throughout the weekend as families enjoy the unofficial start of the summer season.

This season, the beach will be open weekends and holidays until Sunday, June 22. The beach will then be open daily from Friday, June 27 to Monday, Sept. 1, along with playland pool. For information about park beach and pool fees, check out the county website.

Westchester residency is not required for admission to Playland Park. Playland Park’s hours for Memorial Day Weekend are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Details on Playland’s rides will be forthcoming. Follow Playland Park’s Facebook and Instagram accounts for all updates.

Mount Vernon School & Library Board Election Results

AJ Woodson
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Mount Vernon School & Library Board Election Results

School district elections took place on Tuesday, May 20th. In the city of Mount Vernon, the polls closed at 9 pm. All districts are now in, with a total number of 2841 voters, 111 absentee votes, and 6 early votes. The winners in the hotly contested Mount Vernon City School District (MVCSD) School Board Trustees race are Sakai Brown (1698 votes), Erica Peterson (1633 votes), and Randoff Scott (1541 votes), who defeated incumbents President Adriane Saunders who had 874 votes and Lorna Kirwan (693 votes) and their running mate, former Trustee Orville Gayle (825 votes). Chara Gladden finished with 196 votes.

Voters approved a $272,266,615 budget for the MVCSD 2025-2026 school year by a 1,400-1,138 vote – unofficially on Tuesday. According to the MVCSD, the new budget is 0.35 percent higher than the current budget, with the tax levy expected to increase by 3.3 percent.

Voters elected three members to the Board of Education. Brown, Peterson, and Scott will be sworn in at a Reorganizational Meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and will serve a full term, expiring June 30, 2028.

The MVCSD Board of Education – the official policy-making body of the school district – works closely with the Superintendent of Schools and his administration to oversee educational and enrichment programs to provide the best possible outcomes for students. The nine board members are elected by the public and service three-year terms without paid compensation.

The winners in the race for Mount Vernon Public Library (MVPL) Trustee are incumbent Cynthia Crenshaw won re-election with 1275 votes, and Cynthia Dickerson, with 1162 votes. They defeated Tamara Stewart, who received 956 votes, former trustee Jonathan Davis (854 votes), and Incumbent Hudson Trader, who received 174 votes.

Voters elected two members to the MVPL Board of Trustees. Crenshaw, who will serve a full term, expiring June 30, 2030, and Dickerson, who will serve until June 30, 2028, will be sworn in on Wednesday, May 21st, at their regularly scheduled board meeting, according to the Board President Hope Marable.

Election results were certified at the Board of Education located at 165 N Columbus Ave, after polls closed.

Placements for Student Transfers in Building Reorganization

With three schools closing, MVCSD announced on Tuesday that “students will receive an official notification of which school they will be placed in during the first week of June. These assignments apply only to students who are not in a special placement or program class assignment, such as special education. Those placements will be determined based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP) and the Special Education Department. The current placements of students who are transferring can be viewed in this news post. These placements are subject to change based on student residency.”

Pharaoh Has Let Us Go: Is Trump’s Tax Plan a Push Toward Black Economic Exodus?

DAMON K JONES
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Pharaoh Has Let Us Go: Is Trump’s Tax Plan a Push Toward Black Economic Exodus?

In a moment that seemed more spiritual than political, Donald Trump arrived at Capitol Hill rallying behind what he called the “biggest tax cut in American history.” On the surface, it looked like standard political theater. But for Black America, the proposal may signal something deeper — the start of an economic exodus.

After decades of being told to wait, comply, assimilate, and hope, Black communities have grown disillusioned with the political promises that rarely translate into material progress. Whether it was the War on Poverty, the 1990s crime bill, or modern-day DEI slogans, the net result has been stagnation — not sovereignty. But now, for all of Trump’s controversy, he’s pushing a bill that could do something rare: leave us alone, with a little money in our pocket, and no excuses not to build.

It’s as if Pharaoh has let us go — not out of compassion, but out of strategy. The question is: Will we use the moment to finally do for ourselves?

The Bill: What It Actually Proposes

Trump’s speech centered on three pillars:

  • Massive tax cuts for individuals and businesses
  • No cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security — only to “waste, fraud, and abuse”
  • A refusal to raise taxes by 68%, which he claims would happen under Democrats

If this plan holds, working-class Black Americans — particularly those running small businesses, operating as independent contractors, or managing multiple streams of income — could see more of their earnings stay in their hands. That’s not a handout. That’s an opening.

He also reaffirmed: “We are not touching Medicaid or Social Security.” These are lifelines in Black communities. Many feared the program would be gutted. Trump said no. Whether that holds true remains to be seen, but his line in the sand suggests political risk in harming the people most reliant on those programs.

A Rare Window for Black Businesses

Where this bill could be a true game-changer is for Black entrepreneurs — both current and aspiring. If the proposed tax cuts include relief for small businesses and slash regulatory red tape, it could finally remove some of the biggest barriers that have stifled Black economic independence.

For those who’ve long wanted to start a business but felt overburdened by startup costs, tax hurdles, and confusing paperwork — this bill may offer a runway. Less regulation means fewer hoops. Lower taxes mean more working capital. And fewer government intrusions mean more control over how and where we grow.

This could be a moment for a renaissance of Black enterprise — barbershops that scale, restaurants that franchise, tech ideas that go from vision to venture. But it must go deeper than business ownership. We must also invest in teaching our children trades, coding, and artificial intelligence — not just to survive the next economy, but to lead in it.

That’s why it’s critical for us to pivot in how we educate our children and train our communities. The old model of education — built on debt, degrees, and delayed outcomes — has failed too many of us. We need a laser focus on vocational trades and AI literacy, because the future won’t wait. Plumbing, welding, solar tech, cybersecurity, automation — these are not fallback options, they are survival tools in a rapidly changing world. If we don’t train for the future, we’ll be locked out of it.

Because if Pharaoh is lifting the boot off our necks — even temporarily — the only thing left is for us to stand up, build, and pass the blueprint to the next generation with the skills to own, operate, and innovate.

Tax-Free Overtime and Tips: A Direct Boost to the Black Working Class

One of the boldest elements of Trump’s tax vision — and perhaps most overlooked — is the proposal to eliminate federal income taxes on tips and overtime pay.

This has enormous implications for Black workers. Across America, millions of Black men and women make their living in service industries, healthcare, transportation, and public-sector jobs where overtime is common and tips are essential. For many, tips are not extra — they are survival. And for those working long hours to support families, overtime pay can be the difference between staying afloat and sinking.

Removing taxes from these income streams isn’t just financial relief — it’s an economic justice correction. It finally recognizes and rewards hard work on the frontlines of labor. And it puts more money directly into the hands of people who need it, not filtered through bureaucracies or middlemen.

This is not about partisanship. This is about principle: the harder you work, the more you should keep.

Will We Build — or Wander?

We’ve seen this moment before. After emancipation, we built Black Wall Streets. After the Civil Rights Act, we integrated — and many of those institutions vanished. Today, we face a crossroads again. We can either build our own economy with tax relief and policy space — or wait for another master to take the reins.

The Black church must return to economic teaching. Community organizations must pivot from protest to production. And young Black professionals must understand that this isn’t just politics — it’s positioning. We’ve been given what many prayed for: a chance to breathe, earn, and move without government hands in our pockets.

This isn’t about left or right. It’s about right now.

If this tax bill passes, Black America will need to stop asking what the system will do for us — and start asking what we can finally do without it. Maybe, just maybe, Pharaoh has let us go.

The only question left: Will we walk into the wilderness with a plan — or wander again without purpose?

Based on the full breakdown of The One Big Beautiful Bill, here are the key benefits for Black Americans, particularly working-class families, entrepreneurs, and young people preparing for the future:

✅ 1. No Federal Tax on Tips and Overtime Pay

  • Section 110101 & 110102
    Black workers in service industries, hospitality, healthcare, and public transit — who heavily rely on tips and overtime — will directly benefit. From 2025 to 2028, these earnings will be federally tax-exempt, allowing workers to keep more of what they earn.

✅ 2. Boost for Black Small Business Owners

  • Section 110005
    The 20% deduction for qualified business income is made permanent and increased to 23%, helping Black entrepreneurs in sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S-corps. The bill also simplifies the wage/capital phase-in rules that disproportionately hurt smaller startups.

✅ 3. Expansion of 529 Education Savings Uses

  • Sections 110110 & 110111
    529 plans can now cover more types of K-12, vocational, home-school, and credentialing expenses, including trades and AI-related programs. This is critical for communities pivoting away from college debt toward practical career skills.

✅ 4. MAGA Accounts – A New Wealth Building Tool

  • Sections 110115 & 110116
    These tax-advantaged savings accounts can be opened for children under age 8, with $1,000 automatically contributed by the federal government for babies born between 2024–2028. Funds can be used for education, small business startups, and first-time home buying.

✅ 5. No Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security

  • Trump reaffirmed publicly — and the bill reflects — that there are no reductions in core social safety net programs. Instead, cuts are targeted at fraud, waste, and abuse, which protects benefits many Black families rely on.

✅ 6. Employer-Provided Childcare & Paid Family Leave Credits

  • Sections 110105 & 110106
    Black-owned businesses, especially small ones, will now qualify for larger childcare tax credits and can pool resources with other businesses. Paid family leave benefits are also expanded and made permanent.

✅ 7. Opportunity Zone Expansion with Rural Focus

  • Section 111102
    A new round of Opportunity Zones will include more rural and historically underserved communities. Black developers and investors in these areas will receive steeper capital gains exclusions, especially in rural zones.

✅ 8. No Tax on Car Loan Interest (up to $10,000)

  • Section 110104
    Black Americans who often finance vehicles to commute to work will benefit from a new deduction for auto loan interest, capped at $10,000.

✅ 9. Student Loan Relief and Employer Repayment Exclusion Made Permanent

  • Sections 110019 & 110113
    Student loans discharged due to death or disability remain non-taxable, and employer payments toward student debt will continue to be tax-free for workers.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Section by Section by Damon K Jones on Scribd

Three Shootings & A Stabbing In Three Days In The Streets Of Mount Vernon

AJ Woodson
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Three Shootings & A Stabbing In Three Days In The Streets Of Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, NY — The phrase “as the mercury rises, the violence rises” is a colloquial expression that refers to the idea that violence tends to increase as temperatures rise. While the statement isn’t a scientific fact, it’s supported by some research and observations suggesting a potential link between heat and aggression in many urban cities, especially in the City of Mount Vernon.

On Saturday, May 17th, when the temperature reached 85 degrees, there were two separate shootings in broad daylight, and two days later, just blocks away, another shooting on Monday, May 19th, in addition to a stabbing on Prospect Avenue on Tuesday afternoon.

A male was stabbed across his chest around 3 pm Tuesday afternoon. He was taken to Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx. Authorities tell Black Westchester the suspect(s) remain unknown at this time.

One day earlier, an 18-year-old male was located at Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital with a gunshot wound to the right leg on Monday, May 19, 2025, at approximately 10:00 PM. He was treated and subsequently released.

It was reported that the incident took place at the 4th Street Park Basketball Court located at South 7th Avenue and West 4th Street. The suspects remain unknown at this time.

There were also two people sent to the hospital after two separate shootings in Mount Vernon on Saturday. Authorities say the brazen, broad daylight shootings happened in the areas of the 100 block of South 4th Avenue and the 100 South 2nd Avenue.

Motives behind the shootings, potential connections, the condition of the victims, or a description of suspects were not known about the Saturday shootings.

Mount Vernon Police encourages anyone with additional information regarding these incidents to contact the MVPD Detective Division at 914-665-2510. All calls will be kept confidential. You can also submit an anonymous tip via our “Text-A-Tip” by texting “MVPD” and your tip to 847411. You can also anonymously send information by utilizing the “Mount Vernon PD” app, available in the Google Play and Apple Store.

Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on these developing stories.

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