Author: EVERYBODY'S "Caribbean" Magazine

WHY CRUCIFY PETER TOSH SON, JAWARA?

Boston, MA: The family of international reggae icon Peter Tosh has filed a lawsuit against Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, New Jersey, for failing to protect and uphold the human rights and the dignity of Peter’s youngest son, Jawara McIntosh.

Jawara, 39, singer, also known professionally as Tosh 1, was mercilessly beaten on February 21, 2017 at the Bergen County Jail by another inmate while serving his sentence for cannabis-related charges.

In an unexpected turn of events, McIntosh, a devout Rastafarian and cannabis activist was attacked by inmate Kyrie Charon Baum. McIntosh sustained traumatic brain injuries and has been confined to a bed since the attack. The once energetic and vibrant singer and stage performer can no longer perform simple tasks. The father of four, who like his dad, was an activist for the legalization of cannabis, is virtually incapacitated after more than two years and two months since the attack. Despite the fact that the perpetrator was convicted for his heinous crime, the McIntosh family is still shattered by the absence of Jawara from their daily family life and from routine family activities.

“Fighting for ‘Justice for Jawara’ has not been a swift nor easy journey, but we won the first battle when the man that beat him into a coma was convicted”, Jawara’s mother Melody Cunningham told a news gathering. “Now, we will continue to fight on his behalf and hold the system accountable for failing to protect his fundamental human rights”, she added.

Jawara has since been transferred from New Jersey to Boston, MA, where he is currently in the care of his mother, Melody Cunningham and sister, Niambe McIntosh. In addition to the lawsuit, the family is also using Jawara’s story to advocate for the legalization of cannabis on the federal level, and, accordingly, have supported New Jersey Senator Corey Booker’s legislative push to pass the Marijuana Justice Act.

“Our family will continue to be a voice for Jawara and for all of those who are unjustly incarcerated and are being treated with inhumanity.” Niambe McIntosh, Jawara’s sister and administrator of the Peter Tosh Estate declared. Last Saturday, at the National Cannabis Festival in Washington, DC, Niambe used the 4/20 opportunity to spread the awareness about her brother’s plight. She feels strongly that non-violent cannabis offenders have no place behind bars with violent felons.

Attorney Jasmine Rand who brings considerable civil rights experience to the case states: “Our government had a duty to protect Jawara McIntosh and failed miserably. As a nation we need to address the disparity in our legal system that continues to criminalize possession of cannabis in some states while it has been legalized in many others, and these legal disparities continue to lead to egregious injustice.”

Several months prior to Jawara’s assault, he recorded a remake of his father’s classic smash single Downpressor Man. This promotional single was serviced to radio last week as one of the efforts of the Tosh family to celebrate 4/20 this year, by honoring both father and son.

Grenadian-American Number 2 in New York City

FEB. 26, NY: Councilman Jumaane Williams of Brooklyn was elected Public Advocate by voters in the five boroughs of the City of New York. He is now the second highest ranking elected official in municipal government — second to the mayor. On Tuesday, Feb. 26, he defeated a field of 14 Democrats and two Republicans.
Williams, considered a progressive Democrat, is not afraid to challenge other liberals from Governor Andrew Cuomo to Mayor Bill de Blasio. For those reasons and others, he has a wide following of all New Yorkers from the Arab, Jews and Pakistanis to young activists and grassroots organizations.
In December, EVERYBODY’S, the Caribbean-American Magazine, declared Williams the magazine’s Person of the Year for 2018. And, two weeks before the election, EVERYBODY’S endorsed him followed by thousands of emails, Instagram and WhatsApp sent to voters on his behalf. “We urged Caribbean people all over the world to urge family and friends in New York City to vote for Williams,” says the magazine’s editor. “We believe he needed a strong Caribbean voter turnout to gain victory so the magazine took the initiative to tell immigrants in New York City of Williams’ background.” In the English speaking and Haitian speaking communities in Brooklyn Williams got nearly 80% of their votes.
Williams, the first Caribbean-American to hold the second highest position in New York City, joined a group of Caribbean-Americans in the category of “first” including Shirley Chisholm, the first black and Caribbean-American in Congress; Congressman Mervyn Dymally the first black and Caribbean-American in the California Senate and later as Lieutenant Governor of California and Hulan Jack of Saint Lucia who in 1953 became the first black person elected a borough president in NY.
Williams virtually has no time to celebrate. He has to assume office immediately and prepare for possible challengers on June 26, Primary Day, in New York. Tuesday’s Special Election filled the vacancy created by former Public Advocate Letitia James when she became New York State Attorney General. Williams will be Public Advocate until December 31. But, election for a new four year-term is November 6. Williams is expected to be victorious on June 26 and formally elected on November 6.
Photos: Former EVERYBODY’S intern Jeanine Williams who is Williams sister, longtime family friend Herman Hall and Jumaane Williams at the victory party, Nostrand Avenue, last night in Brooklyn.
Patricia Williams Jumaane’s mom who introduced him last night.
A member from of the Jewish community at last night’s celebration.

EVERYBODY’S & THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR WILLIAMS

EVERBODY’S, the Caribbean-American Magazine

&

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Endorse

COUNCILMAN JUMAANE WILLIAMS FOR PUBLIC ADVOCATE.

On February 15, EVERYBODY’S Magazine, established in 1977, endorsed Councilman Jumaane Williams for the office of Public Advocate in New York City in a Special Election scheduled for Tuesday, February 26.

On Thursday February 21, the famed New York Times also endorsed Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate.

“The best candidate to hold Mr. de Blasio accountable and to press for reforms is Jumaane Williams, a veteran city councilman with a record of accomplishment and a steadfast willingness to stand up to powerful interests on behalf of New Yorkers,” says The NYT.

  The NYT continues, “He has won passage of more than 50 bills, far more than many of his colleagues … Along with Councilman Brad Lander, Mr. Williams sponsored the Community Safety Act, which established an inspector general for the Police Department.”

In announcing Jumaane Williams as its Person of the Year for 2018, EVERYBODY’S observed, “One of the most significant bills he initiated was the Community Safety Act, which led to the curbing of stop-and-frisk, a policy which-many felt was racist – unfairly targeted NYC’s young black male population.”

“He is the People’s Person of the Year because he is very visible throughout the Big Apple, and embodies the aspirations of his constituents and the vibrant Caribbean-New York Community and is committed to making to make NY and the nation a more just and equitable place for all. Councilman Williams, who is also Deputy Leader of New York City Council, has proven time and time again since 2010 that he truly cares about New York City, the nation, and for the less fortunate,”  the magazine’s said of its Person of the Year. Williams is now among Caribbean luminaries such as the late Nobel Laureate Sir Arthur Lewis and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm on the magazine’s annual list of Person of the Year.

In its February 15th endorsement of Williams, EVERYBODY’S pointed out, “He is not afraid to criticize officials from his own party, Democrats, from Governor Andrew Cuomo to Mayor Bill de Blasio. If elected, voters can be assured that Williams will not rubberstamp the policies of the governor, mayor, or even the Democratic Party.”

  “EVERYBODY’S, the Caribbean-American magazine, is not endorsing and asking voters in the City of New York on February 26 to vote for Williams because he is African-American or Caribbean-American.

We endorse Williams with great alacrity and urge all New Yorkers to vote for him because he is the perfect person for public advocate. His experience, trustworthiness, contributions in the City Council, ability to get his bills enacted into law and his passion for New York City, New York State and the entire nation have qualified him for the office of Public Advocate.”

EVERYBODY’S ENDORSES JUMAANE WILLIAMS FOR PUBLIC ADVOCATE

In November, 2018, history was made when New York City Public Advocate Letitia James became the first black person elected New York State Attorney General. There is an upcoming Special Election for someone to succeed Ms. James.

In November, 2018, history was made when New York City Public Advocate Letitia James became the first black person elected New York State Attorney General. There is an upcoming Special Election for someone to succeed Ms. James.

On February 26, 2019, voters of Caribbean background can help elect Councilman Jumaane Williams Public Advocate of the City of New York.

If Williams is elected, he will become the first Caribbean-American, or first Grenadian-American, to be elected to the office of Public Advocate.  The public advocate is one of only three offices which New York City voters in all five boroughs directly elect. The other two are the mayor and comptroller. 

EVERYBODY’S, the Caribbean-American magazine, is not endorsing and asking voters in the City of New York on February 26 to vote for Williams because he is African-American or Caribbean-American.

We endorse Williams with great alacrity and urge all New Yorkers to vote for him because he is the perfect person for public advocate. His experience, trustworthiness, contributions in the City Council, ability to get his bills enacted into law and his passion for New York City, New York State and the entire nation have qualified him for the office of Public Advocate.

As a matter of fact, Williams has been indirectly playing the role of public advocate for quite some time. He is not afraid to criticize officials from his own party, Democrats, from Governor Andrew Cuomo to Mayor Bill de Blasio. If elected, voters can be assured that Williams will not rubberstamp the policies of the governor, mayor, or even the Democratic Party.

Williams represents the 45th Council district of Brooklyn on the City Council but anyone evaluating legislation authored or supported by him will easily realize he seeks the interest of the entire City. Perhaps, this is the reason he has not ostentatiously and loquaciously informed New Yorkers of his Caribbean background, Grenadian specifically. He prefers to be seen as a New Yorker working for all New Yorkers.

We at EVERYBODY’S know firsthand the community spirit within Williams, his love for the Big Apple and his passion to do the right thing.

We are convinced that he honed his passion for public service from his parents. In the late 1950s-early 1960s, his father, Gregory Williams, nicknamed “Social” by his friends at the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (GBSS) represented his school and Grenada in soccer and cricket. Likewise, his mother, Patricia Joseph, was active in the St. Andrew’s Secondary School (SASS) and later in the Caribbean-American community.

As young immigrants in New York City and Washington, DC, his parents, bonded and passed on their virtues of community spirit to Jumaane and his sister.

EVERYBODY’S, the Caribbean-American magazine, knows Jumaane Williams is not an opportunist seeking fame and fortune. He is not a millionaire seeking to force his ideas and will down the throats of the public. He is a humble man of humble beginning doing the right thing.

We encourage all New York voters to cast their vote for him in the Special Election of February 26. Seventeen candidates are on the ballot. Of the 17 candidates, 15 are Democrats and two are Republicans. We urge voters to vote for Jumaane Williams.

Caribbean, Italian, Hispanic, Jewish, Chinese, Koreans and voters of other races and ethnicities should elect Jumaane Williams the next Public Advocate of our great city because he seeks the best interest of us all.

During the last century, numerous Caribbean immigrants and their offspring made history in New York and other states by shattering racial barriers when they became the first black to win elected

offices in government.  Caribbean voters can help Williams maintain the custom. Here are some milestones.

In November, 1953, Saint Lucian born Hulan Jack made history when New York City elected him president of one of its five boroughs, the first black person to lead a borough. Jack who spent many years in British Guiana (Guyana) before immigrating to the US was elected Borough President of Manhattan. On January 1, 1954, this Caribbean-American upon swearing-in became “Top Negro City Official in America” said Jet Magazine.

In 1965, Constance Baker Mottley whose parents were immigrants from Nevis, birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, became the first female to assume a borough presidency in New York City. Mottley became the first woman in several other areas including the first black woman appointed to the federal judiciary.

In 1968, Shirley Chisholm, born in America of a Barbados mother and Guyanese father, became the first black woman elected to Congress.

In 1948, Bertram Baker, born in Nevis, became the first black in Brooklyn elected in the New York State Assembly.

In 1965, William Thompson, born in New York City of St. Kitts/Nevis parentage, became the first black in Brooklyn elected to the New York State Senate. His son, William (Bill), almost defeated Mayor Michael Bloomberg in Bloomberg’s final mayoral bid.

In 1966, Basil Paterson whose parents were immigrants from Carriacou, Grenada, became the first Grenadian-American elected to the New York State Legislature as a senator from the Village of Harlem. Paterson was the first black or Caribbean-American in many areas including vice president of the National Democratic Party and in 1980, the first African-American appointed Secretary of State of New York.

In 2008, Paterson’s son, David, became the first and only African-American and of Grenadian and Jamaican heritage to assume the governorship of New York State. On February 26, 2019, New York voters of Caribbean background can continue the tradition of public service by electing Councilman Jumaane Williams Public Advocate of the

Caribbean Global 2018 Headlines

Aisha Braveboy
Prince George’s County, Maryland
Chief Prosecutor: 

NEW YORK CITY is where early West Indian immigrants and their offspring first held public offices in the US. The tradition continues in several states. On November 6, 2018, Aisha Braveboy, a Democrat, was elected attorney general (State Attorney) of Prince George’s County, Maryland. She is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Born in Washington, DC, and a graduate of Howard University Law School, Ms. Braveboy parents hail from St. Patrick’s, Grenada.

Mia Mottley Becomes Barbados’
First Female Prime Minister

It was not a surprise on May 24, 2018 when the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) led by Opposition Leader Mia Mottley cruised her party to victory over the governing Democratic Labour Party. A few days before the election, Rihanna, American superstar, who was born and raised in Barbados told the world she endorsed Mottley. EVERYBODY’S December 2017 issue predicted the result. What was shocking and not predictable was the margin of victory. The BLP won all 30 seats in the House of Assembly. Mottley, the first female Opposition Leader, thereby became the nation’s first female Prime Minister.

England Almost Deported
Its Aged Immigrants

The late Lord Kitchener was an early immigrant in England

                In 1948, three years after World War II ended, England needed labor to develop its war torn infrastructure so it invited colonials from its colonies to enter Britain. West Indians and Africans made great use of the opportunity such as the late Lord Kitchener who sailed to England in 1948 from Jamaica where he resided. Almost no document was then required to enter England allowing many to live most of their lives in merry old England without immigration papers.

                The original immigrants now old and feeble are today known as the “Windrush” generation, after the ship that brought the first 492 passengers from Jamaica, Trinidad and other islands to Britain in 1948. The invitation to settle in England ended decades later but by that time over 500,000 black colonists from the British Empire made England their home.

                In 2018, the British Government of Prime Minister Theresa May attempted to deport the “Windrush” generation who couldn’t find their legal documents. Several Caribbean leaders such as Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley flew to England to defend their former nationals. The truth is, Caribbean and African leaders did not want the “Windrush” generation back on their soil. The aging “Windrush” generation could no longer work and would be a burden on the economy of the land of their birth.

                In Britain the issue became a scandal when it was revealed that many of the “Windrush” generation’s original landing documents had been deliberately destroyed by the U.K.’s interior ministry, known as the Home Office, in 2009, when Theresa May was the minister responsible for the Home Office.

                David Lammy, the son of Guyanese immigrants, a backbencher in the British Parliament, and rising member of the British Labour Party took Prime Minister Theresa May to task in the House of Commons. “The Home Office destroyed the evidence that gives people the opportunity to say, ‘Look, of course I am British,’” said Lammy. “It’s very, very hard when you ask these people in their 60s to go back to the 1950s and 1960s and find their documentation.”

                Prime Minister Theresa May Conservative Party Government backed off and apologized. It may be a bit too late. Chances are her government may fall in 2019. If a national election is held, Labour is predicted to sweep. A significant amount of its winners might be the grandchildren of West Indian and African immigrants.

The Passing of V.S. Naipaul Nobel Prize Winner

                 The passing of V.S. Naipaul on August 11, 2018 at his home in England was broadcast around the world including the evening news on most American television stations. A writer of fiction and nonfiction, Naipaul was revered globally. One of his first books, A House for Mr. Biswas, brought him international attention. He won the Booker Prize in 1971, and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001; he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and awarded Trinidad and Tobago highest national honor, The Trinity Cross (as the medal was then called.) Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul was born on August 17, 1932 in Chaguanas, Trinidad & Tobago.

Grenadian-British Lewis Hamilton
 World’s Formula One Champion

Becoming the world’s Formula One champion race car driver is now routine for Lewis Hamilton. At 33 he is destined to become the person to win the most Formula One World Champion in history. He has already won five. His grandfather and granduncle hailed from Concord, St. John’s, Grenada. They were early immigrants in England having left Grenada in the 1950s. This year Hamilton raced in many countries Japan, Mexico, US, Abu Dhabi, Brazil and Italy. It is said the world’s most eligible bachelor and playboy is dating Nicki Minaj, Trinbagonian hip hop sensation.

PERSON OF THE YEAR HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA

HURRICANE IRMA AND HURRICANE MARIA EVERYBODY’S PERSON OF THE YEAR

IN THIS EDITION:  2018 GLOBAL CARIBBEAN CALENDAR          

2017  HIGHLIGHTS/2018 PREVIEW

    Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, the two mega, Category 5 hurricanes of 2017, are EVERYBODY’S Magazine Person of the Year. It is the first time the 40-year old Caribbean-American magazine selected a phenomenon as its Person of the Year.

It can be said that the numerous and ferocious hurricanes of 2017, Usain Bolt failing to win his final track and field races and Trinidad & Tobago knocking out the U.S. from entering FIFA World Cup in 2018, were the major 2017 headlines in the Caribbean and within Caribbean communities overseas.

Previous EVERYBODY’S Magazine Person of the Year includes Nobel Laureate Sir Arthur Lewis, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Prime Ministers Patrick Manning, Eugenia Charles, Tom Adams and Baldwin Spencer, The Mighty Sparrow, Olympian and WNBA player Tina Charles Olympian Kirani James and former West Indies cricket captain Clive Lloyd.

A detailed commentary about Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria as EVERYBODY’S Person of the Year is in the magazine’s 2018 Global Caribbean Calendar edition. The calendar provides the date of major events in the region and diaspora from London’s Notting Hill Carnival and Toronto’s Caribana to Grenada’s Fisherman’s Birthday. Independence Day of each Caribbean and African nation is also listed.

“Maria and Irma may well have affirmed Atilla the Hun’s classic calypso recorded in New York City in 1935, ‘Woman Is Not The Weaker Sex’ and Denise Plumber’s 1988 calypso ‘Woman is Boss’.  Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma showed their male counterparts, Hurricanes Harvey, Lee, Jose and Bret, who is really the boss and the stronger sex,” the magazine wittingly states.

The commentary continues, “Like humans, hurricanes have good sides and bad sides. Thanks to the hurricane of 1772, (hurricanes were not given names then) the U.S. got one of its Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton. More than two centuries later, Broadway produced undoubtedly its most successful musical play ever, “Hamilton,” based on the life of Alexander Hamilton. Born in Nevis and working in St. Croix, eighteen-year old Hamilton brilliantly described in the newspaper the hurricane destruction of St. Croix …”

EVERYBODY’S observes: “The handwriting is on the wall in that Caribbean governments can no longer expect the U.S. to eagerly and generously help them in time of natural disasters. Evidently regional leaders have not got the message yet because …”

The 2018 Global Caribbean Calendar presented by Allan’s Bakery, 2017 highlights and the entire commentary/essay about Hurricanes Irma and Maria as Person of the Year can be ordered from www.everybodysmag.com; (718) 941-1879.

TO ORDER: click on the homepage: MAGAZINE & SUBSCRIPTION

LOWELL HAWTHORNE 1960-2017

EVERYBODY’S “Caribbean” Magazine clear states that while we mourn the loss of Jamaican born Lowell Hawthorne, founder of Golden Krust, whom millions of people saw in a national TV episode of Undercover Boss, we are only prepared to say that his demise, how and where, is mind-boggling.

We wait for his family to reveal the cause of Hawthorne’s death or the police to officially explain.

“For those of us who knew Lowell as a friend and colleague, the night of Saturday, December 2 was sleepless and holiday events attended somber. He was a born-again Christian who attended church almost every Sunday.” explains Herman Hall. “We crossed paths several times this year including his attendance at the May performance of Oliver Samuels’ play at Lehman College, Bronx. Only recently, Nov. 10, he raised approximately $100,000 at the Mavis & Ephraim Hawthorne Golden Krust Foundation dinner towards awarding scholarships. We planned to meet during the holiday season for his inclusion in a book I’m completing.

My heart goes out to his wife Lorna, children, siblings, nieces, nephews and Golden Krust family I became acquainted with over the years.”

DOMINICA AND ANTIGUA & BARBUDA HURRICANE HELP

Last Saturday Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit addressed Dominicans and other Caribbean nationals at Beulah Church of the Nazarene, Brooklyn, about the devastation of Dominica by Hurricane Maria. The prime minister appealed for global help from nations to help fund constructing roads, bridges, hospitals, electrical plants and other massive undertaking that mainly governments can fund. He also asked individuals to send food, water, clothing and everyday consumer items to the approximate population of 73,000 left homeless and hungry by the wrath of Hurricane Maria.

Over the weekend Caribbean nationals in Brooklyn brought food and other supplies to Saint Lucia House, 49th @ Church Ave. The organization graciously gave its building to store supplies for shipping to Dominica.

Last Friday Prime Minister Gaston Browne met with nationals of Antigua and Barbuda in New York City. The prime minister explained to those gathered at Butler Memorial United Methodist Church in the Bronx of how all 1500 residents of Barbuda are now living in Antigua due to the massive destruction of Hurricane Irma. “I believe on a per capita basis, the extent of the destruction is unprecedented; Barbuda is totally destroyed,” he explained.