Black lives matter speech

For almost 2 decades I’ve been an educator at Philipsburg Manor, teaching about the history of slavery right here in our own community. I’m also the Chair of Recognizing Enslaved Africans in Irvington Committee.

One of the most heart wrenching parts of these rallies this summer was the saying of the names of people who had been murdered.

We must mourn the people who loved and were loved.

I’m going to say some other names for you now. Caesar, Diamond, Flip, Tom, Sue, Abigail, Dina, Hannah, Betty, Dick, David, Teem, Brebay, Bill, Jack, and Susanna.

We must mourn the enslaved men, woman and children who loved and were loved- right here in our community.

We say their names.

Just about 50% of all households in Westchester owned enslaved Africans.

In these tight-knit communities, it was impossible to avoid interacting with enslavers and the enslaved.

Just like today, it is impossible to avoid interacting with racists and anti-racists.

One side tries to terrorize. The other side refuses to cower.

The enslaved Africans had to walk by the whipping tree every day.

They said, we refuse to cower.

Many Black Americans had to walk by the lynching tree every day.

They said, we refuse to cower.

They saw it for what it was- a huge tree with long outstretched limbs.

They forced themselves to rise above the terror.

Last Saturday we witnessed a menacing show of racism.

The racists tried to intimidate us with loud tow trucks and humvees.

We said, we refuse to cower.

We see it for what it is- a dumb tow truck with a loud muffler.

We force ourselves to rise above the terror.

Thank God there are many more hopeful signs than menacing objects.

Did you hear the ringing of the Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns bells at 2:15 last Saturday when peace returned?

Did you see activists ripping a t-shirt in Dobbs Ferry last weekend?

Do you see how many friends and allies are here today?

We’re showing them that we’re taking a stand against hate and discrimination!

James Baldwin said that “History is not the past.  It is the present.  We carry our history with us.  We are our history.”

Just about every street sign running down Main Street in Irvington is named after a founding father and enslaver.

We are counteracting menacing objects with hopeful signs.

In the not too distant future, come back to Irvington.

Witness a beautiful sculpture by Vinnie Bagwell that will commemorate the OTHER founding families of Irvington-the enslaved families

who loved and were loved.  

And, we will welcome you!