Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales has been named the patron of the 30th annual gala and auction hosted by the American Friends of Jamaica, Inc.
Slated to be held at the Capitale on Nov. 17, the black-tie affair has been tagged the organization’s signature event to raise funds for education, healthcare and economic development on the island.
In addition, the annual honors one individual who has made a difference in the lives of Jamaicans. This year, Denis O’Brien, chairman of Digicel will be honored for his philanthropic dedication to Jamaica.
Along with an award presentation, silent auction and dinner a performance by reggae super group, Third World will hallmark the event slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.
The event is hosted by Ambassador Brenda Johnson, president and director of the Board of Directors of the AFJ.
“I would like to personally encourage you to participate, attend or donate. Let’s make a difference; together we can change lives. The AFJ is committed to using every contribution in support of our mission,” Ambassador Johnson said.
25th Anniversary Of Howard Beach Tragedy Slated
The family of Michael Griffith and Cedric Sandiford will host a 25th anniversary memorial service in tribute to their deceased relatives who were victimized in the notorious Howard Beach tragedy a quarter of a century ago.
Christopher Griffith dispatched a press release recently saying that his mother Jean Griffith-Sandiford and the Griffith-Sandiford Memorial Assistance Fund plan a ceremony “for our beloved ones Michael and Cedric” at Our Lady of Charity Church at 1669 Dean St., Brooklyn, on Nov. 15 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Reportedly, On Dec. 20, 1986 Griffith and Sandiford were chased through Howard Beach by a racist, white mob who did not want them in their neighborhood. The men ran to spare their lives from the bat-wielding racists who stated during the trial that they carried baseball bats. Griffith ran into traffic on the Belt Parkway and was killed instantly. Sandiford survived the attack but died later from unrelated circumstances.
A long trial resulted in the conviction of several of the teenagers who participated in the gang chase.
It is alleged that the Howard Beach Trial brought Charles J. Hynes to prominence when he was named special prosecutor in the case. After the trial, he ran and won a sweeping victory for the position of Brooklyn’s district attorney.
Muhammad Speaks On Black Solidarity Day
In observance of Black Solidarity Day, Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture will headline a tribute to the 1969 concept of political and economic empowerment of African Americans.
The newly-installed curator of the Harlem landmark will address a gathering at New York City College of Technology on Nov. 7 where the annual will once again rededicate the initial aim of collective strength by refraining from shopping or political proceeding with a day of absence from stores.
Muhammad is expected to share his vision for the 85-year-old institution as well as explain its valuable research holdings to the City Tech community.
The free event is slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. and will present the former professor of African-American history at Indiana University who was selected last year to helm the vast archive of Black history in America.
Black Solidarity Day commemorations at the institution will include a performance by the choir and a presentation by Black theatre students.
The pre-election day action was initiated by Dr. Carlos Russell, a Panamanian national who started the concept at Brooklyn College. The activist/professor was allegedly inspired by the play “Day of Absence” produced by Douglas Turner Ward. In the production a small southern town wakes up one morning to find that all of the Black people in their community vanished. The storyline delved into the tumultuous and devastating effect of their absence.
“Black Solidarity Day is an extension of this idea and aims to highlight the extreme social, political and economic consequences that would result from the disappearance of all African-Americans,” Alexis Marion, a student of political science stated.
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