No One Mentioned the Fort Hamilton Army Base Statues for Three Years Now…
This week, Radiofree Bay Ridge made a video about “Racist Monuments” and street signs named after Confederate soldiers on the Fort Hamilton Army Base.
A history teacher named John spoke to Dan about people who served in the Confederate military in American History.
What happened to RadioFree BR? They used to be a group that was interested in justice. Their videos used to be on the mark, but this one was only watched by 9 people – (8 other people and me).
Three years ago, the issue of the statues came up during the primary election between Khader El Yameem and Justin Brannan.
Since then, no one has said or done anything about the statues or signs on the Army Base. Khader El Yateem’s former campaign manager, Kayla, works in Justin Brannan’s office. If they issue was important, she would have brought it up by now.
The statues (and signs) are just a distraction from the real issue. The real issue involves REAL WORK.
If the statues and street signs on the Fort Hamilton Army Base were an issue, the NYC Public Advocate would have spoken out against them by now! Jumaane Williams and his family lives on the base. Most of Bay Ridge doesn’t see Ft. Hamilton’s statues or signs regularly, but he does!
A few years ago there was a huge discussion about bathrooms and which bathroom transgendered people could use….but the issue wasn’t the bathrooms either! Political people, who weren’t interested in working on equality, made an issue over the bathrooms.
We all know that the art present in a community is chosen by a small group of people – it’s not voted upon and doesn’t necessarily represent the views of the community.
In Bay Ridge, this mural appeared on 85th Street this year. (See here)
Although I can tell you who the four rappers are, most people have only been able to name Biggie Smalls and Tupac. Even teens don’t know the other two. But the artist that painted that mural was inspired by them and whoever commissioned it, must have been inspired by them too.
The real issue is systemic racism, which holds back black and brown children from having the same opportunities. Don’t get wrapped up in the statues or signs because we could pull them all down and it won’t change life for anyone. (And hardly anyone would notice that they were gone!)
Hugs,
marlene
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