Black History Month
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Assemblywoman Diana
Richardson on Wednesday joined
elected officials and others in saluting
Black History Month.
In her “Richardson Report” to
constituents, Richardson, who represents
the 43rd Assembly District,
noted that, during Black History
Month, “we recognize the central
role African Americans played
in United States history, and we
acknowledge the lives of those who
struggled to make way for generations
to come.
“We must take this time to continue
to find ways to encourage
equality for all,” said the daughter of
St. Martin and Aruban immigrants,
whose district covers the Brooklyn
neighborhoods of Crown Heights,
Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Wingate
and East Flatbush.
“Black History Month allows us to
reflect on our complex history and
remain hopeful about our future.,”
added Richardson, who currently
serves on the Assembly’s Committee
on Banking; the Committee on
Corporations, Authorities and Commissions;
the Committee of Children
and Families; the Committee
on Mental Health; and the Committee
on Small Business.
“We look back and recognize the
contributions of prominent African
Americans in various fields of science,
sports, politics and literature
by figures like political leader Barbara
Jordan, tennis player Althea
Gibson, writer Alex Haley and activist
Fannie Lou Hammer,” continued
Richardson, who also serves as the
Chairwoman of the Sub-Committee
on Foster Care.
She said that, “unbeknownst to
many, this month was initiated in
1926 by Historian Carter G. Woodson,
who originally founded Negro
History Week.”
Richardson said this week was
dedicated to helping everyone to
understand “the accomplishments,
responsibilities and dignity indicative
of African Americans.”
She noted that this observance
later expanded to Black History
Month and was officially recognized
by the government in 1976.
“As we continue to celebrate this
time, I implore you to learn from the
struggle and opportunity that the
blood, sweat and tears of our cultural
past have had on our bright future,”
Richardson urged constituents.
Caribbean Life, February 14-20, 2020 3
President, CEO Randy Peers, Juliet Lewis co-chair, Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise Committee/
BCC, honorees, Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. Samuel Dunston, Lillian T. Bowman, Bill Howard, Democratic council member
for the 35th District of the New York City Council, Laurie Cumbo, 11-year-old business owner, Obocho Peters,
Renée V. McClure, co-chair, Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise Committee/BCC, and Board Chair of
BCC, Ana Oliveira, at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce event at the Billie Holiday Theater.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Dr. Roy A. Hastick among Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce BHM honorees
By Tangerine Clarke
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce,
on Feb. 4, honored four professionals
who have made exemplary contributions
to Brooklyn, and to business that represent
diversity in African Caribbean Communities,
during a Black History celebration,
at the Billie Holiday Theatre in
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza.
Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr., a Grenadian
who migrated to the US in the seventies,
was emotional, as he talked about standing
on the shoulders of African-Americans
who endured lynching so that he
could become successful in America.
Hastick parked cars at the World
Trade Center, but later, became a powerful
inspiration in the Caribbean community.
He was vice chair of Community
Board 9, served as an elected delegate to
the White House Conference on Small
Business, and founded the Caribbean
American Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (CACCI), with 10 board members.
A Brooklyn Borough President
Ambassador, social worker, community
advocate, entrepreneur, newspaper publisher
and radio and television announcer,
Hastick who did it all, announced
that the building containing 255 units
of affordable housing on Caton Avenue,
will be the headquarters of the Caribbean
Trade and Cultural Center, and
Caton Market, slated for 2021, was presented
with the inaugural Samuel Dunston
Award for Business Excellence by
Renée V. McClure, co-chair, Minority
& Women-Owned Business Enterprise
Committee/BCC.
Samuel Dunston, for whom the award
was named, was presented with the first
such, for Business Excellence and for
his vision, for the Chamber’s (MWBE)
Minority Women Business Enterprise,
committee.
Dunston, president and founder of
National Allotment Insurance Agency,
recognized as an innovative leader in the
insurance and employee benefits, with
over 50 years of excellence in employer
/ union sponsored benefit plans, simply
said, “thank you, thank you, thank
you.”
Bill Howell, president and CEO of
Howell Industries, founded in 1985, and
who started in the petroleum industry as
a Texaco wholesale oil distributor, credits
the BCC with creating the foundation for
his business to succeed.
Howell, who serves on the board of
directors and is co-chair of the Economic
Empowerment Committee of One
Hundred Black Men, lauded the group
for mentoring black boys, and its contribution
of $100,000 yearly scholarships.
Juliet Lewis co-chair, Minority &
Women-Owned Business Enterprise
Committee/BCC, presented Howard with
the award for his vision in co-founding
the Minority Women Owned business
committee.
Lillian T. Bowman, CEO and founder
of Lillian’s Professional Services, a
premier income tax and multi-business
service center that has served Bedford-
Stuyvesant community for over two decades
was presented with the first award
as Outstanding Brooklyn Chamber’s
MWBE Entrepreneur.
Bowman saids she was passionate
about providing good service to people
who come into her office, and recruited
her family and friends, whose contribution
helped to make her business a
success.
She transformed a home-based business
with commercial space on Fulton
Street, enabling her to serve the community
at large. Her role on the Brooklyn
Chamber’s MWBE Committee embodies
her generous spirit of collaboration and
giving back to the community.
For their contributions, the honorees
were draping with the Ghana- iconic
Kent material, by Ghana-born, Gerry
Kwabena Adinkra, a Brooklyn Borough
President Ambassador, and president of
the Annual Ghana Kente Festival in New
York.
Eric Gonzalez, district attorney, lauded
BBC for its work.
“As we celebrate Black History Month,
lets not forget the thousands of leaders
who need to be recognized. I want to
congratulate all the honorees. Thank
you all for what you have done, let’s keep
advocating to make sure we get our fair
share of the pie for our community,” he
urged.
President & CEO, Randy Peers, in
closing remarks, noted that the Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce has a long
history of honoring and celebrating the
contributions of African and Caribbean
business leaders, who have done so much
for the borough.
Richardson
salutes Black
History Month