Jamaican rally for monument to Haitian founder of Chicago
Ephraim Martin with microphone leading the Black Heroes
- DuSable Rally on July 4. Martin’s International
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Caribbean Life, July 10-16, 2020 11
Jamaica’s Ephraim Martin
does not only believe Black
Lives Matter he is certain Black
Heroes Matter.
Like the much of the world
that endorses the assertive slogan
claiming value to the existence
of every African, Martin
would like an amendment to
read Black Lives & Black Heroes
Matter.
One of the heroes he intends
to exalt is a Caribbean immigrant
to the United States.
Martin recently said that
while some residents of Illinois
are cognizant of the fact
Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable
founded America’s third largest
city of Chicago in 1779, not as
prevalent in the minds of most
Americans is the fact Du Sable
was a Haitian national.
Martin, a resident of the midwestern
city since 1981 also
wants to adjust the rhetoric of
the prevailing national movement
as well enlighten the clueless.
The founder of the International
Reggae and World Music
Awards would like the world to
know that the Caribbean immigrant
established the central
city affectionately known as
Chi-Town.
He is determined to help raise
the consciousness of residents,
citizens and a global community
by challenging Illinois Gov.
Laura Lightfoot and the city
council to declare a city holiday
to honor the name of the Haitian
trailblazer.
Martin also hopes that by
2021 a 25-foot monument will
be installed in honor of the pioneering
Haitian.
To further claim his legacy
Martin and his supporters
proposed that the mayor and
the council rename Columbus
Drive to Jean Baptiste Pointe Du
Sable Drive.
Ironically that very thoroughfare
was the territory Du
Sable first arrived to set-up a
prosperous fur trading post and
farm, which was later to become
Chicago.
In order to execute his initiative
Martin mobilized an Independence
Day rally and march
in the downtown area of the city
to demonstrate his purpose.
According to a press release
“some may already know that
Du Sable was the first settler to
discover and establish a trading
post in Chicago. By virtue of his
color and nationality, he has
not been given full credit and
recognition while at the same
time John Kinzie, a white man,
ended up acquiring Du Sable’s
properties he has been given
more notoriety.”
“There are massive monuments,
major streets, holidays
in honor of those who oppressed
Blacks in America on display
throughout the Chicagoland
region,” Martin explained.
“Meaningful public recognition
for this outstanding Black man
who established this great city
must also be recognized without
question!”
In early Chicago history,
attempts were made to recognize
Du Sable’s legacy.
Du Sable High School opened
its doors to students Feb. 1935.
The same month in 1961, the
Du Sable Museum of African
American History debuted in
Washington Park on the south
side.
There is also a three feet bust/
statue in the city.
Sponsored by Leslie Benodin,
a Haitian businessman the
monument is located on Michigan
Avenue Bridge, which is
also known as the Du Sable
Bridge.
That location is where the
protesters assembled on July 4
to start the march.
In the past, Martin campaigned
for an end to apartheid
in South Africa; advocated the
freedom of Nelson Mandela and
relentlessly promoted freedom
and democracy throughout the
world.
Now his mission is to help in
righting Chicago history and to
end systemic racism.
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