GARIFUNA COALITION UUSAA, Inc. Request of Support for Co-naming of Dawson Street in honor of Joseph Chatoyer Submitted to Bronx Community Board # 2 – Economic Development/Municipal Services Committee A turning Point for Our City and Garifunas have a Key Role to Play June 18 th , 2007 Request of Support for Co-naming of Dawson Street “Joseph Chatoyer Way”.............................3 Justification .................................................................................................................................4 2000 Bronx Central American Population by Community District........................................4 The Garifuna Community of the Bronx – Who are they?........................................................... 6 The Happy Land Social Club Fire ..........................................................................................6 Proposal Chronology.......................................................................................................................8 Next Meeting...........................................................................................................................8 Lachamuru Jerry Castro ..............................................................................................................9 Bibliography..............................................................................................................................14 2 Request of Support for Co-naming of Dawson Street “Joseph Chatoyer Way” Current name of street Dawson Street Proposed name of street: Joseph Chatoyer Way Primary Petitioner and contact: Name: Jerry Castro, Executive Director, The Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. Address: P.O. Box 730, Bronx, NY 10455 Telephone : (718) 503-2551 Email: [email protected] 3 Justification This is a request for a letter of support from Community Board # 2 regarding the co-naming of Dawson Street, from Intervale Avenue to Longwood Avenue, as “Joseph Chatoyer Way.” Dawson Street has played a major role in identifying the Garifuna community in the Bronx, the state, country and world. It is the location where many Garifuna migrants have met for guidance since the 1960’s and serves as avenue to promote Garifuna culture, music and arts. Approximately 1,000 Garífunas live in the immediate vicinity. 2000 Bronx Central American Population by Community District Community District HND % GT % 1 Longwood, Hunts Point, Intervale 1,520 2.60% 433 0.07% 2 Melrose, Mott Haven, Port Morris 676 0.04% 292 0.08% 3 Morrisania, Crotona Park E 1,287 3.50% 192 0.05% 4 Highbridge, Concourse Village 1,495 1.80% 227 0.03% 5 University Hts, Fordham, Mt Hope 1,109 1.40% 281 0.04% 6 East Tremont, Belmont, 950 2.00% 168 0.04% 7. Bedford park, Norwood, Fordham 750 0.09% 217 0.03% 8. Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Marble Hill 320 0.09% 99 0.03% 9. Soundview, Parkchester 1,168 1.30% 249 0.03% 10. Throgs Neck, Coop City, Pelham Bay 209 0.07% 87 0.03% 11. Pelham Pkway, Morris park, Laconia 286 0.08% 90 0.02% 12. Wakefield, Williamsbridge 341 1.20% 79 0.03% Source: 2000 Census SF1, 1990 Census STF1, STF2 Population Division - New York City Department of City Planning (October 2004) HND=Hondurans GT=Guatemalans The Bronx is home to the largest Garifuna Community in the world, according to unofficial estimates, the Garifuna population exceeds 100,000, which is larger than the Garifuna population of Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua and any of the 53 Garifuna communities located in Honduras. Many believe that the difference between the Census numbers and the estimates is buried in the 401,108 who classified themselves as “Other Hispanic”. The Other Hispanic category represents the largest population change between 1990 and 2000. Furthermore, the Hispanic category does not include the country of Belize, country of origin for many Bronx Garifunas. This request is an integral part of the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc.’s efforts to promote the self-determination and unification of the New York Garifuna community through grassroots organizing and community development. The selection of Joseph Chatoyer is part of that strategy, since he’s recognized as the Paramount Garifuna Chief by Garifunas all over the World, including St. Vincent, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the United States, where most Garifunas reside. Chief Joseph Chatoyer was killed in battle on March 14, 1795 in the island of St. Vincent, W.I. After his death, the Garifuna people were exiled from their native land 4 of St Vincent to Roatán, Honduras from where they dispersed along the Atlantic coast of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Nicaragua. On March 14, 2002 Chief, Chatoyer, was declared the first National Hero of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the day was declared a national holiday. Chatoyer was immortalized in a play, the “Drama of King Shotaway” , that was performed in New York in 1823, twenty-eight years after his death. The play was written by Mr. Browne, whose first name is unknown. It is believed that he was a Garifuna member who had experienced the battle of 1795 in which Chatoyer was killed. Mr. Browne is regarded as the Father of Black Theatre in the United States of America and this play is said to be the first about a black person. On May 18th, 2001 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the first time awarded the title of “ Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangibles Heritage of Humanity ,” to 19 outstanding cultural spaces of forms of expression from different regions of the world. The Garifuna Culture was among those declared “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangibles Heritage of Humanity.” We pray that the Economic Development/Municipal Services Committee will agree that it would be an honor for the Borough of the Bronx to recognize a rich culture with a long history, which has been declared a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangibles Heritage of Humanity,” by recommending that Community Board # 2 provides a letter of support regarding the co-naming of Dawson Street, from Intervale Avenue to Longwood Avenue, in honor of “Joseph Chatoyer” 5 The Garifuna Community of the Bronx – Who are they? The Garífuna community has been an integral part of New York City’s (particularly the Bronx) way of life for more than 70 years. We have contributed significantly to the economic development of the Bronx and other boroughs while preserving our customs, cultural values and beliefs. The Happy Land Social Club Fire Despite many positive contributions to the social and economic fiber of New York City, Garifunas have remained outsiders with no influence on the important political processes of New York City. They had been, in a word, “invisible”. Although Garifunas have been migrating to the United States in search of a better life since the 1930s, the community was virtually obscured in New York until the Happy Land Social Club fire on March 25 th , 1990. Fifty nine of the Happy Land victims were Hondurans. More than 70 percent of the Honduran victims were also of Garifuna descent. An estimated 200,000 live in the South Bronx, Brownsville and East New York of Brooklyn, and on Manhattan's Upper West Side. After the Happy Land tragedy, many promises were made to the Garifuna Community, including the President of Honduras and the archdiocese of New York who promised to build a recreation center in the South Bronx to diminish the need for illegal clubs in the area. The Honduran President, Rafael Leonardo Callejas, told the more than 750 people at St. Thomas's Aquinas Church and the more than 100 people listening through loudspeakers outside that his country was donating $25,000, including $1,000 of his own money for the center. Cardinal O'Connor, who conducted the almost two-hour service, said the church would match the contribution if the city donated the land to build the center. He promised to donate $999.99 on his own. 1 Furthermore, in a plea bargain that ended his trial after two days of testimony, the leaseholder, Jay Weiss, agreed to perform 50 hours of community service and to pay $60,000 to help build a community center for Hondurans who live in the Bronx. Many of the victims were Honduran immigrants. 2 Sadly, the only thing the Garifuna Community received was a memorial in honor of the victims, on Southern Boulevard. 1 Associated Press, Pledge to Build Bronx Center, The New York Times, April 21, 1990 2 Hevesi, Dennis, Leaseholder Admits Violation In Happy Land Nightclub Fire, The New York Times, May 7, 1992 6 “Today, Spanish echoes through hallways and on side streets. No one plays stickball anymore, but the soccer games live on, this time among the Honduran immigrants who have carved out a niche here in recent years. And as with other groups, it took a tragedy before the rest of the city learned they even existed. In the Hondurans' case, it was the Happy Land fire. "We felt powerless when that happened. Until a tragedy happens, nobody knows the importance of a community." Astin Jacobo 3 3 Gonzalez, David, New Life, Far From The Bright Lights, The New York Times, January 25, 1998 7 Proposal Chronology April 14 2007 collected signatures at the 2007 Garifuna Community Forum, to co- name Dawson Street (Waporu) Garifuna Village Boulevard. May 9th 2007 The Economic Development and Municipal Services Committee held a meeting to hear our petition. There weren't enough members for a quorum and tabled the proposal for discussion during the general board meeting on City Charter policy on street co-naming. May 30th , the General Board discussed the policies set on the City Charter to co- name