The Bronx Borough African Advisory Council, partnering with Hostos Community College, the most immigrant populated community college in New York City, had its first annual African Heritage Concert yesterday.
It was as if the New York City Afro community have been waiting all year long for this event. The Hostos College Repertory Theater on 450 Grand Concourse was packed with a crowd almost a quarter of the people who showed up at President Trump’s Presidential inauguration in 2017! Well, some exaggeration here, but for real, the event was packed.
There are a long list of highlights of the event to select from. For instance, there was a simulation of Asante King, his Queen Mother, and his palace entourage depicting the richness of African culture and values.
The music and the dance performed by artists from several African and Afro Latin American communities were so authentic and moving.
Additionally, the excitement from watching, and just been in the midst of this Afro multicultural gathering alone was good enough to feel a sense of pride and belonging, but when you add to it the hyperexcited audience, who from time to time, were jumping onto the stage to dance and sing along with the artists, you can’t help but feel a booze of dopamine gushing through your veins.
Here is the kicker: the words of politicians, which though sadly, common sense books have instructed not to give too much weight, carried a heavy pound of weight at the event last night when you hear the Bronx Borough President, Nana Ruben Diaz Jr. said the below about the African community in the Bronx NYC, and then proceeded to present to the community Council a proclamation that’ll make the month of September an African Heritage and Culture Month in the Bronx.
“To the African community, I say thank you. To the African community I say thank you for making me look good as a Borough President. You are hardworking immigrants. You are a community of family. You are a community of culture. You are the massive in the whole African umbrella. You are a community of culture, of song, and dance and food and love. You are a community that understands entrepreneurship. Your children are in our schools and they are excelling. You opened up business in every corner of this Borough. If crime is going down, again life isn’t perfect, it’s because you are here. If jobs are been created, and they are, and we continue to decrease unemployment rate, it’s because you are here. If people are starting to see the Bronx for what we are – which is not a negative stereotype of the 70s and 80s, but the Bronx that is forging forward with a vision that sets a tone; that sets an example for the rest of the City of New York, its because you are here.”
NYC Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr.
The Bronx Borough African Advisory Council (AAC) was established on January 13th, 2010 by the office of the Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr. to bring local government and elected officials close to the African immigrants community, and to create a channel where their voices are heard.
For information about the AAC, reach out to the office of the Bronx Borough President here. For questions regarding this press release, send an email to info(at)afrogistmedia.com
