LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Elombe Brath, distinguished citizen and devoted national and international civil and human rights leader

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavors served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State of New York; and WHEREAS, Elombe Brath, of Harlem, New York, died on Monday, May 19, 2014, at the age of 77; and WHEREAS, Elombe Brath distinguished himself in his profession and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to Pan-Africanism and Black empowerment both at home and abroad; and WHEREAS, Born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 30, 1936, to parents who had immigrated to the United States from Barbados, he was poli- tically inspired early on in life by hearing his mother speak of her first cousin, Clennel Wickham, editor of the renowned HERALD newspaper; and WHEREAS, In his autobiography, READY FOR REVOLUTION, the acclaimed revolutionary Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) referred to Elombe Brath as the "dean of Harlem nationalists"; while such a tribute from Ture is admirable, Brath's Black Nationalism and his Pan-African thought extended well beyond Harlem with a special resonance among freedom fighters around the globe; and WHEREAS, Elombe Brath's political commitment evolved in 1956 simul- taneously with the struggle to eliminate "Negro" as the nomenclature of African American people; from this moment of Black consciousness it was an easy and logical step for him to create the "Black is Beautiful" campaign following the creation of African Jazz-Arts Society and Studios; and WHEREAS, Removing "Negro" from the lexicon, insisting on the beauty of Blackness, and refusing to accept the Eurocentric worldview, Elombe and his associates were in the vanguard of change as they launched the Gran- dassa Models and "Naturally Shows"; and WHEREAS, This esteemed man was a pioneer in the Pan-African movement, standing up for the rights of black people across the world; he worked closely with the Federation of Pan-African Nationalist Organizations, setting the stage for African Liberation Day and the development of the African Liberation Support Committee (ALSC); his efforts played a crit- ical role in educating and organizing thousands in the fight against imperialism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism on the African continent; and WHEREAS, In 1975, following in the footsteps of black nationalism forefathers Marcus Garvey and Carlos Cooks, Elombe Brath founded the Patrice Lumumba Coalition (PLC), a Harlem-based group which spread word of the ongoing struggle against oppression in Africa and mobilized local support in the fight against apartheid; and WHEREAS, For more than a generation Elombe Brath, as the chairman of PLC, helped to coordinate hundreds of forums with the purpose of educat- ing the masses, not only about the struggle in Africa but also about the conditions oppressed people faced all over the world; and WHEREAS, Elombe Brath was also one of the principal organizers when Harlem welcomed Nelson Mandela in 1990, and was a strong advocate for the Central Park Five; and WHEREAS, Despite his total immersion on the international front as well as his countless battles against racism at home, Elombe was employed at WABC-TV where as a graphic artist, he was a vital consult- ant, particularly on African affairs, to Gil Noble, the esteemed host of "Like It Is"; Elombe was instrumental in facilitating the presence of many of the African leaders on the show; and WHEREAS, Elombe Brath's commitment to excellence, and his spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including charita- ble and civic endeavors; and WHEREAS, An international figure, and tireless advocate for civil and human rights, this remarkable man's life continues to serve as an inspi- ration to others; and WHEREAS, Elombe Brath is survived by his wife, Helene Nomsa Brath, and their seven children; he passed, quite fittingly on the 89th birthday of Malcolm X; and WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of justice, Elombe Brath leaves behind a legacy of fighting for freedom which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comfort- ing memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the death of Elombe Brath, distinguished citizen and devoted national and international civil and human rights leader; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran- smitted to the family of Elombe Brath.