This February, we remember and pay tribute to those who persevered through racial oppression, intolerance and injustice to pave the way for civil rights in our country; we also recognize those who have taken up the helm in today’s challenging times. While we celebrate the contributions black Americans have made in shaping our country for the better each and every day, National African American History Month serves as an opportunity to formally recognize their achievements. It also serves as a call to action to build on the legacies of those who came before by fighting for recognition and justice.

From the pivotal role our state played as a stop on the Underground Railroad, to Weeksville, Brooklyn, the home to one of the first free black communities in the United States,¹ New York has always been at the center of the fight for justice and equality. We’re also home to the African Burial Ground, the first national monument dedicated to Africans and African-Americans of New York’s earliest days, which can still be visited today.²

New Yorkers like Shirley Chisholm – a native Brooklynite who served in the state Assembly, became the first African-American woman to serve in Congress and later became the first female and first African-American major-party candidate for president – showed that greatness could be achieved despite the barriers that exist. Langston Hughes, a celebrated poet and key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, helped usher in a new age of black excellence and artistic expression, channeling struggle into verse and inspiring countless others. James Baldwin, a literary legend and tireless champion for civil rights who hailed from Harlem, brought attention to the issues that pervaded our society and culture, exploring subjects that included interracial and LGBTQ relationships in an era when such subjects were swept under the rug. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the world-renowned astrophysicist hailing from the Bronx, is inspiring a whole new generation of scientists and space enthusiasts. He’s currently the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, where he founded the Department of Astrophysics, and was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2004. Whether born and raised here or having made our state an adopted home, these and many other New Yorkers challenged prejudice to pursue their passions and create a platform for those who followed.

In the Assembly, we’re continuing to fight for progressive ideals – those same ideals Shirley Chisholm championed in the Assembly chamber over 50 years ago. We’ve invested in our schools, brought a college degree within reach for many more families and raised the age of criminal responsibility to begin reforming our criminal justice system and give kids a second chance. Everyone deserves a level playing field, so we’ll keep fighting to create economic opportunities and address inequities whenever and wherever we can.

National African American History Month is a time to seek inspiration from leaders who came before and commit to the fight for a better future. Where would we be had Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. not shared his dream, had Rosa Parks given up her seat, had Shirley Chisholm never pursued the presidency or had Harriet Tubman not led thousands of slaves to freedom? This month, we salute past pioneers within the African-American community, as well as the innovators and game-changers of today. Let us remember the sacrifices and achievements of the brave black men and women who refused to be silenced. Together, we can preserve their legacies and continue their work. As Baldwin so aptly told us, “Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.”³

As always, my door is open. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact my office at Thielef@nyassembly.gov or at 631-537-2583.

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¹ weeksvillesociety.org/what-we-do

² nps.gov/afbg/learn/historyculture/index.htm

³ biography.com/news/james-baldwin-quotes