(HARLEM – August 7, 2022) – Many thanks to Mr. Victor Pate for all of his help over the years with the Black Wall Street HARLEM business networking event. This is the 10th year of BmoreNews’ efforts in New York City. It all started with Robert Ingram at the United Nations in Manhattan. He hosted a Black media forum there; Marsha Jews and I went together. And as they say, the rest is history!
A decade later, the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Award has recognized hundreds of New Yorkers.
With the help of friends a long time ago – like the phenomenal Odessa Hopkins, we have been pushing entrepreneurship in Brooklyn, Harlem, and downtown.
The next event, Black Wall Street HARLEM featuring the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards, is this Friday, August 12, 2022, 4:30 to 6 pm, at the Harlem Business Alliance, located at 275 Malcolm X Blvd. RSVP to Blackwallstreetharlem10.eventbrite.com.
Honorees include Takeasha L. Newton.
Who is Takeasha?
Takeasha L. Newton is a Community Organizing Fellow at the Alliance Of Families For Justice (AFJ). Her focus is on supporting and mobilizing the families of people incarcerated and those with criminal records, and she works to help empower them to “VOTE” for the drastic systemic changes New York needs.
Newton also provides community outreach on voter education and registration in New York City, including NYC Jails. Also, she is constantly campaigning with families of those incarcerated for humane conditions for their loved ones.
Takeasha Newton is yet another reason why Mr. Victor Pate is so important to our mission with the awards. Of course, our goal is to celebrate Black entrepreneurs and professionals as well as the people who support them regardless of race. Additionally, though, we recognize at BmoreNews.com just how impactful mass incarceration is on Black people.
America has 5% of the population but 25% of the world’s inmates. And damn near half of them are Black, when we are only 13% of the population, allegedly. Something is fundamentally wrong with this equation.
Hence, Mr. Pate is a perpetual reminder that as upwardly mobile as we get, we cannot and must not forget the brothers and sisters behind the walls because they will be home eventually. We don’t want them to return to prison. We want them to live. And without unnecessary foolishness. Their debt is paid; now, let them live!
