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February - April 2009

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Newsletter

Message from the President

I do not know about you but I am still in a celebratory mood. We are blessed to see another year. We were blessed to see the first African American become Americas 44th President an event unimaginable just a few years ago. Many of us never thought we would live to see that day, but you have seen it. So we no longer have to chant Yes We Can. Now we can chant, Yes We Did. The African American Historical Association of Fairfield County Congratulates President Barack Obama on his historic victory. He will be in our thoughts and prayers. Bridgeporters voted for Obama in a big way, now that so many of us have gotten involved. We see what our involvement can achieve, we must not fall back into apathy. We have to see the importance of grabbing the moment, so we can put all this emotional energy to good use. The A. A. H. A. will hold two Special Programs in February Black History Month. A program entitled Black Genealogy, a look at our mixed Family Trees will be held at the Bridgeport Public Library on Wednesday February 18 at 6:00 pm in the Community Room. Come out and share your stories about your family tree the Black, White and Indian Ancestors in your family. Also on Saturday February 28, we will hold our Annual Carter G. Woodson Memorial Luncheon. This years Honorees are Ms. Geraldine Johnson the first African American Superintendent of the Bridgeport Public School System. Also honored will be Officer Verna STAFF Kearney for her entrepreneurship. The Luncheon will take place at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church at 1100 Editor and Chief: Park Ave. I thank all the members of A.A.H.A. for a year of hard work and for putting Henry Timberlake up with me. Not an easy task, hopefully we will accomplish our dream of establishing an African American Museum/Cultural Center in Bridgeport this year. President Obama has Writers: shown us that with Faith and Perseverance Dreams can come true. I will end with this Gilbert L. Davis quote from Robert J. Kriegal The Shame in life is not to fail to reach your dream, but to Henry Timberlake fail to have a dream. Stay Encouraged! Monty Jenkins Layout: Henry Timberlake Monty Jenkins

Gilbert L Davis, President, A.A.H.A.

Barack Obama - Yes We Did

By Gilbert Davis
It was a storybook moment Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 a crowd of one and a half million persons stood in freezing cold temperatures, to witness the biggest political event of this century. Barack Hussein Obama using the Bible of President Lincoln, swore the sacred oath of office and became the 44th President of the United States, and the first African American. The event was seen all over the world. Obama has become a hero to millions who never dreamed they would ever see this day. His ascendancy has special meaning to African Americans many who have been locked

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Awards Luncheon Honorees 2

into Americas under class. Most African Americans are the descendents of the enslaved West Africans brought here in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries to work the fields for European settlers. They endured years of bitter bondage where rape and brutality were all to common. In the US Constitution Black people were only considered 3/5 of a human being .The Legacy of those horrible days still live with us today. Which makes Obama's Presidency so profound on so many levels the impact of which is incalculable. Obama can take comfort in knowing that the majority of White Americans voted for Him and thus changing America's racial politics forever. With an economy in shambles, racial fears took a back seat to harsh economic reality which haunts all Americans, that our nations economy is in big trouble. No wonder Obama invokes Mr. Lincoln so often. He will need Mr. Lincoln's skill to hold it all together.

Freeman Houses Insert MAAFA Influence 3 Past Events Business Ads Mission Statement 3 4

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2nd Annual Carter G. Woodson Awards Luncheon Honoring persons who have made Historical Contributions

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Geraldine Whiting Johnson is a native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who over the years has demonstrated a deep commitment to education and community well-being. She comes from a musical family of seven children, whose mother was a pianist/organist and her father a violinist. All her siblings learned a musical instrument. She learned to play the cello and played in the Connecticut Symphony (now Greater Bridgeport Symphony for 10 years). Dr. Johnson is a graduate of Bridgeport Schools, New Haven Teachers college, University of Bridgeport and New York University. She is the recipient of honorary doctoral degrees from Scared Heart University, the University of Bridgeport and Fairfield University in recognition of her educational leadership and community involvement. Her talents as an educator have been focused on Bridgeport Public Schools from which she herself graduated and served for 37 years as Elementary Music Teacher, School Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of Schools. Following her retirement in 1981, she was invited to serve as Interim Superintendent in Fairfield. Over the years, she has provided volunteer services for others, particularly as board members of numerous organizations in the community including: Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, Bridgeport Public Education Fund, Discovery Museum, MACH, ABCD, Connecticut Humanities Council, Bridgeport Hospital, NAACP, Golden Hill United Methodist Church, and Private Industry Council, Les Treize Scholarship Fund, Ettinger Scholarship, Peoples Bank and United Illuminating Company. In 1976, Governor Ella Grasso Named Mrs. Johnson as one of One Hundred Women of Distinction in Connecticut. Other awards included: Status of Women Honor Award, Susan B. Anthony Award, Bridgeport Bar Association Distinguish Public Service Award, Housatonic Community College Leadership Citation, Mary Mcleod Bethune Centennial Award for Community Service, Girl Scouts of Housatonic Council Women of Distinction. Retirement in1981 presented the opportunity to travel the world and enjoy its phenomenal beauty, continue to be active in community affairs and to enjoy her family daughter Adrienne Houel and Grandchildren, Gregory, Alice and Jennifer. More recently her move to a Bridgeport Retirement Community she has been draft into more activities involving resident leadership. She is honored to have a new state-of-the-art Bridgeport School named after her located on the corner of North Avenue and Oak Street the Geraldine W. Johnson School.

Verna Kearney Biography

Verna Kearney has been a police officer for 21 years, including seven in Florida. She was the founder of the Bridgeport Police D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program) in 1987, and founder of the Bridgeport Police S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Program) in 2001. S.A.L.T. was Americas first police based, police staffed program of its kind in America. She affectionately refers to the Senior Citizens as Recycled Teenagers. She has taught classes for police academies and conferences across the country on Crime Prevention, Personal Safety for Women, Law Enforcement Response to Family Violence, and Law Enforcement Response to Senior Citizens Needs. Cultural Sensitivity Training based on Department of Justice lesson plans. She also wrote a training bulletin entitled Aids and the Law Enforcement Officer based on CDC guidelines. Mayor Bucci Appointed her Acting Director of the City of Bridgeports Victim Assistance Program. She was the first African American female assigned to the Police Department Training Academy and the first woman/African American appointed as Officer Friendly. She was also Vice Chairman of the Mayors Commission on the Status of Women and the Bridgeport Democratic Federation of Women. Verna is currently Chairperson of the Board of A.B.C.D.. She has been appointed as a Grand Chapter Officer of Oriental Chapter #8 order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated. She is also a member in good standing of The Lake Forest Association, the National Black Police Association, and the Bridgeport Guardians. She has received numerous awards including; United Nations Outstanding Women of Connecticut, Connecticut Post Women of Substance, Channel 12 Hometown Hero, Two Bridgeport Police Medals of Valor and one from Delray Beach, Florida. She also received the 2003 NAACP Police Officer of the Year Award, the Negro Business and Professional Womens 2004 Community Service Award and was also featured on our guest speaker, Gwen Edwards Show, Our Lives News 12. She and her late husband, Captain Nelson Kearney, Sr. have 11 children, 22 grand children and 2 great grands. She enjoys walking, reading, and celebrates life with her philosophy that, everyday above ground is a good one!

Gwen Edwards Brief Biography The African American Historical Association of Fairfield County, is pleased to have Our Lives talk show host and Senior Producer. Gwendolyn Taylor Edwards as the Guest Speaker for our 2nd Annual Carter G. Woodson Awards Luncheon.

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I went with a friend to the Shubert Theater to see The MAAFA Influence Production, performed by Mt Aery Baptist Church. I had heard a lot about the production from various people, so greatly anticipated seeing it first hand. Every person who shared their different experiences came to the same conclusion -- that it is life changing -- and it was. MAAFA From the first scene of slaves swaying on the stage floor with howling painful cry's exuding from the depths of their soul, to a scene of a family picnic where a promising college bound teen gets shot by his INFLUENCE cousin over something trivial; to the final celebration and liberation of an oppressed people; each scene by skillfully and swiftly took you to the continent of Africa then journeyed back to America. The MAAFA Influence was as exhilarating, as poignant, and as powerful as a production could be. Monty Jenkins My friend and I left the theater moved, impressed, sad, educated, yet filled with a renewed appreciation of not just being people with slavery as our history, but people who descend from royal and majestic warriors, that suffered through one of the most brutal stains in Americas History. I began thinking how I wish I could personally thank each mother, each father, each child, each baby, every man and woman that endured slavery for me, but I can't. But what I can do is remember their sacrifices in my daily living. I can set a positive example for our youth; I can mentor a teen and direct them to a path of promise instead of destruction; I can extend a helping hand to someone in need; I can lift the spirits of those who have lost hope; I can help eradicate hate and negativity that permeates the African-American culture today. The MAAFA Influence reminded me that there is much each of us can do in appreciation and respect for the annihilated lives that preceded ours. I say begin by seeing this thought provoking performance, then challenge yourself to have the audacity to live a productive and creative life; we owe it to our ancestors.

Day of Rememberance
Gilbert Davis & Joy Purdie

PAST EVENTS

A.A.H.A. Conducts a spiritual celebration, in honor of our ancestors. A Day of Rememberance Ceremonies, with drill team dancing and African drumming. The event was held in Seaside Park in August 2008.

A.A.H.A.
Honors Our Soldiers

PCV2 Alicia M. McMullen has been deployed to Afghanistan, daughter of Odessa McMullen and mother of two. A.A.H.A. wishes her a safe and happy return.

A.A.H.A. of Fairfield County expresses its deepest condolences to our Vice President, Joseph L. Wilcox, in the passing of his mother, Shirley M. Wilcox

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Email: a.a.h.a.offairfield@gmail.com

P.O. Box 9235 Bridgeport, CT 06601

Jamaal Scott Davis l Mamadou Camara l Sandy Jenkins Monica Davis l Victor Moono l Joy Purdie Shari Jackson l Keith Purdie l Douglas Gill

MEMBERS

First Annual Carter G. Woodson Awards Dinner Held at the Metric Grill, Bridgeport, CT

MISSION STATEMENT
1. To relate the story of how Africans and their descendants developed diverse civilizations in Africa; then were taken, yet continued to shape successive eras of economic, political and social development around the world and in Connecticut. 2. To build a community, a true community, that has shared interests and values by cultivating a cultural center and educational resource to: Celebrate our identity and achievements Bridge cultural differences and combat racism Strengthen diversity within our community 3. To establish links between the cultural center and other historical sites and cultural attractions in the region, nation and around the world by: Orienting cultural center visitors to resources beyond the center's walls Collecting artifacts, and exhibiting other local, national and international collections 4. To advance economic development in Bridgeport and Fair field County that offers diversity: Strengthening Bridgeport's visitor economy, with particular attention to African American enterprises

BOARD MEMBERS
Gilbert L. Davis President Joseph L. Wilcox Vice President Terri Rudd Treasurer Henry N. Timberlake Editor & Chief Diana Black Public Relations Specialist Deborah Williams Secretary