Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts Reception Celebrating Black History Month

February 29, 2024

Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, Department of Cultural Affairs: How y 'all doing, New York City? It don't sound like it's Black History Month up in here. Is it Black History Month in here?

I am so proud to be the commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with a focus on this Black History Month on the art and culture of the African diaspora and our people, and we are making strides all through this city.

We all know of the struggle that it took to get here, where organizations like the Studio Museum in Harlem, La MaMa, and the Schomburg and the Apollo, they paved the way for so much of the growth that you are seeing today.

But right now, in present time, we are seeing museums opening up all over this city. In the Bronx, we have the Hip Hop Museum and the New Bronx Children's Museum. In Queens, we have the new Louis Armstrong House, just cut the ribbon on a brand new building. In Manhattan, we have the home of so many great organizations like Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, like the National Black Theater, okay?

The Apollo has extraordinary programming and art that's happening right now. And we also are seeing a brand‑new $80 million museum for the Studio Museum in Harlem. And right here in Brooklyn, New York — because everywhere is Brooklyn, New York, right? — You know Vanessa just came up here and did her BX so I got to represent, right?

[Mokata] 651 will open up a brand‑new building next month. We have Weeksville Heritage Center that we fought so hard to make sure that it stays open, and we are so proud of the Eric Edwards African Art Collection that just opened in Bed‑Stuy.

And Eric Adams has continued to make unprecedented investments in our community. I just want to tell you a little bit about some of the incredible exhibitions that have been seen all over the City of New York that you never saw before.

At the New Museum, we had a one woman show by Wangechi Mutu and Faith Ringgold. At the Guggenheim, we had a show by Nick Cave. At the Met Museum, you got to check it out, the Harlem Renaissance exhibition. At the Brooklyn Museum, Alicia Keys and Swiss Beatz exhibition, along with Spike Lee's retrospective. Come on now, you never saw anything like that.

At the Frick, artist Barkley Hendricks got an overdue tribute. At the Whitney, artist Henry Taylor showed extraordinary work. In Staten Island, we have the incredible exhibition from the Staten Island Museum of the women, the Black nurses called the Black Angels who took care of folks during the tuberculosis crisis.

At Caribbean Cultural Center, we have the incredible hip‑hop exhibition, Rhythm, Bass and Place. At the Bronx Museum, we have Abigail DeVille, an extraordinary show talking about the history of hip hop. At the Met Opera, I saw a lot of you all who came out to see the Malcolm X exhibition; and Biggie had a banner year in New York City with a MetroCard, a public art installation and an orchestral performance of his music at Lincoln Center.

The Hip Hop Museum has had pop‑up exhibitions all over this world, and public artist Fred Wilson had an incredible exhibition at Governors Island as well as outside of Brooklyn Borough Hall.

But let's also talk about the change in leadership. I'm just going to go run down a few people that have changed the face of culture in New York City. We have Dr. Sean Decatur. He is now the executive director of the Museum of Natural History, second largest museum in the country, focused on that, a Black man runs that.

We have Khady Kamara Nunez at the Perlman Center. We have Robert Smith, board chair at Carnegie Hall, Wes Jackson at BRIC, Rasu Jilani at the Brooklyn Arts Council, Ray Oladapo-Johnson at Wave Hill, Morgan Monaco at Prospect Park, Darren Walker at the Ford Foundation, Denise Rosario at the Bronx Children's Museum. Gina Duncan at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Atiba Edwards at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Dennis Walcott at the Queen's Public Library. And the list goes on and on and on. And there are so many leaders who have paved the way for this extraordinary time.

So, if you are not feeling proud to be able to go to Carnegie Hall and see Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star performing and Rick Ross, right? It is a new day. Institutions are popping up all over the city.

But what I want to say to you right now, this is my message for Black History Month. The progress we have made is extraordinary, but if we don't support all of these cultural institutions, if we don't join the boards of these institutions, if we don't contribute our resources, these institutions are not going to last.

We have to make sure, it is no coincidence that at this very moment you have representation from the lieutenant governor, to the AG, to the DAs, to the mayor, to the Assembly, to the Senate, to the borough presidents that all look like us matched with the cultural leadership.

And the reason why that is important is because the advancement of Black people into the highest of positions represents a sea change, but it is our ascension that liberates all people.

So, this is not a coincidence in time. It is important that Mayor Eric Adams, his administration has to be successful because the liberation of all people is dependent upon the success of this liberation. So, don't drift. Don't fall. Stay steady. Understand what's happening and understand the position and the intensity of the power and the responsibility that we have to liberate not only ourselves, but all people.

So, continue to celebrate, continue to work hard, but we have to put our money and our dollars and our resources into these institutions so that the next generation of young people will be able to see representation that looks like them, and they're going to take it to heights we can't even imagine.

So, God bless you all. Enjoy your Black History Month and continue to celebrate. Amen.

Oh, I've been given another wonderful responsibility up here. As we are on the cusp of Black History Month and we are about to transition into Women's History Month. So, it's a busy time, especially if you're a Black woman in America right now, right, because we are doing incredible and extraordinary things.

I want to bring to the stage a strong Black woman, a dynamic woman who on so many levels holds this city together in partnership with Mayor Eric Adams. She makes sure that Mayor Eric Adams has a partner in government who is loyal, who is strong, who has his back, does not falter, does not waver. She is committed to the liberation of her people and her entire life has been dedicated to that cause. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't even have to say her name. You know who I'm talking about. Miss Ingrid Lewis‑Martin!

Ingrid Lewis‑Martin, Chief Advisor to the Mayor: I love you. My nephew's in the audience yelling, Auntie. Good evening. No, come on now. Good evening.

 It's indeed an honor for me to be here once again — hey, Joe — as we celebrate Black History Month in Gracie Mansion. Actually, this is the first time I've been able to actually come to one of our Black History Month celebrations. All of the other times I had to deviate because there was something that needed my attention. So, I am especially honored and privileged to be here this evening.

You know, I don't have to go into chapter and verse. I see all my people in the audience, my uncle Willie, my sisters in the back, this is family. These are all family ordained by God, so understand that.

The commissioner, Laurie Combo, already explained to you our broad agenda, and she shared with you the mayor's commitment to people of color, people of the African diaspora. But it's not just us, he's a mayor for all people. If you come to this great edifice — our edifice, our building — you will find that we host these types of celebrations for individuals who had never before stepped into these doors.

So, because of you and others, we are able to open up this beautiful building to so many who would never have the opportunity. But it gives us special privilege when we open it up on Black History Month. I believe that Black History Month is every single month of the year because we have contributed to the entire world. Not just America, the entire world.

If you know our history, you know all of the great things that we as Blacks have done through our African ancestry. And tonight, because of our leadership, we will get to celebrate just a few.

Before I introduce our mayor, I want to ask someone to come on the stage with me, because you need to know her and you need to see her. Come on out, Sister. This is our first deputy commissioner. You want to introduce yourself?

First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, Police Department: Good evening, family. I'm Tania Kinsella. I'm the first [Black] deputy commissioner in the NYPD.

Oh, yes, queen!

I am the first African American female to hold this position, so, when you see me, you see yourself. I represent you. God bless you all, and I'm very grateful for our mayor for taking a chance on me and I promise I will do all people well. God bless.

Lewis-Martin: So, without any further ado, without any further delay, I know I am not introducing our 110th mayor of the City of New York to you, but I am presenting to you the gentlemen that you all had enough sense to elect to be the 110th mayor of the City of New York, Eric L. Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: You know, there's a couple of history makers here. I know she spoke earlier, but our amazing Bronx borough president, Vanessa Gibson, first African American to be the president of the borough of the Bronx.

Also, many of us don't even realize the historical moment that Assemblyman Gibbs. Assemblyman Gibbs is the first person who went from a level of having his own troubles in life, breaking the law, now he's in Albany writing the law.

And our amazing partner, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, first East Indian woman elected in state government here. And our solid, solid sister up in the village of Harlem, Senator Cleare, who has always spoke on behalf of people who spoke truth to power, you know? Harlem is always in the house. So, Happy Black History Month.

And in my brevity, you know, we have to be really clear on what it means to celebrate Black history because oftentimes we make an error in that reflection. I was at a church earlier and I was talking about that old biblical story of the person walking on the beach and two sets of footprints, and during difficult times, they asked God, why do I sit only one set of footprint during difficult times? And God responded what? I was carrying you. I was carrying you.

And so we often go through our achievement. Many of you are successful here in the room, and you would talk about how you pulled yourself up through your bootstraps and how you were able to obtain what you have obtained. The reason you were able to pull yourself up with your bootstraps is because someone gave you the straps.

The reason you are who you are, if you were to sit down and do a reflection, you would realize there were people along the journey, probably during your most difficult times, probably during times where you felt you couldn't go on, that someone may have just called you. Someone may have just sent you a letter, or someone may have just sent you a scripture.

But you have been carried. I did not become mayor because of one set of footprints in the sand. I became mayor because there has been this natural human relay that folks have carried me throughout those particular times. I don't care if it was when I needed to call from sister Jackie Rowe-Adams, you know, and just saying that, you know, sister, I need to be carried this time.

And often people who carry us, you don't even have to tell them, they can feel you are in the need of being carried. And they are there to carry you through. So, don't write people out of your story. Your history and her story must include the complete narrative of those who were there that when you didn't see the two sets of footprints visually, they were there carrying you emotionally, physically and spiritually. And you need to acknowledge them in your history.

And so as we see the sunset of Black History Month, as you go home tonight, go home tonight and reflect on those ancestors that carried us. Reflect on those in your life that carried us. Pick up the phone and call some of them. Reach out if you're fortunate enough for your parents to still be here, reach out and just tell them I love you, I appreciate you. I know what you have endured for me to be who I am.

And really reflect on how much we need each other. You don't get to this place on your own, folks. You just don't. And as we celebrate our artists, our poets, our designers, our musicians, as we celebrate them, think about the role they played in your life to carry you.

Think about when you went through something challenging and you just turned on that music that allowed you to go into a different space. Think about just going into a museum when you just needed to download because something traumatic happened in your life. Or, think about that poem that you say over and over again.

That is not you, that is the other set of footprints, and that is why we're acknowledging our artistic energy because of the significance of the role.

During the struggle, we sang a song. During the struggle, artists came out and wrote a poem for us. During the struggle, they will play music. And we need to really embrace what the artists have done for us to allow us to get to the next level to carry us. They were that second set of footprints.

You may have saw it in their art. You may have heard it in their music. You may have reflected on it in their poetry. You may have wanted, because there's some days you're feeling down and you'll throw on that suit, that dress, that outfit, and you will realize, damn, I'm a badass.

It all goes together. It all goes together. And so being conscious of those moments is so important because if you are conscious when you are being carried, then you will retool yourself when you have to reach out to know when you need to be carried, you will know the tools that are needed to carry you where you need to go. That's why we are lifting up our artists.

And I thank you so much for coming here tonight during Black History Month and as we see the intersectionality of moving into March, which is Women History Month. Let's continue to embrace all that is good about us.

And we have so much to be proud of, so much to be proud of. Many people would have been broken when you endured what we have endured. Many people would have been broken. And so when you look at where you are right now and the challenges you're facing, you're not picking cotton from sunup to sundown.

You're not watching someone kick in your cabin door and taking your children away from you. You're not watching yourselves being beat to the end of the day in the beginning of the night. We are who we are because those who went through that said they're going to prepare a time and place that not only would you have the first African American to be the vice president, but you will have the second African American to be the mayor of the City of New York. And it's because of them, we are who we are.

So, I thank you. Let's make history on our own. Thank you very much.

Come on up, Nona. She's going to read… 

She still looks so amazing. So, whereas it is our shared responsibility to carry on the legacy of the Black leaders who paved the way — and that means ensuring our commitment to action and justice is not fulfilled passively — tonight's event affords all New Yorkers an excellent opportunity to honor the impact of our Black sisters and brothers while creating a path forward for future change makers.

I am pleased to applaud tonight's honorees. for the immensely positive change they have been effected throughout the five boroughs as well as their commitment to uplifting others on their rise to prosperity and success.

No one does it better than my sister, Nona. Congratulations to you. Good luck to you.

Nona Hendryx: Hey, sister, go, sister soul, sister, go sister. Hey, sister, go, sister soul, sister. Whoo!

I have to recognize… Thank you so much, Mayor Adams. Thank you for being our mayor. Thank you for all that you've done. And I admire you and I appreciate you very much. I have to also say thank you to my sisters, Patti LaBelle and Sarah Dash; otherwise, I wouldn't be here. The many years at the Apollo in this city, from Daddy Grace to Gracie Mansion, I should say.

Anyway, thank you very much. This is really an honor to be able to share what the gifts that we were given over the years with all of our fans, friends, family in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, all across America and around the world. This has been an honor for us to be able to share our music with you. Thank you. And come to Lincoln Center in June if you want to know about AI, AR and VR for the Dream Machine.

Mayor Adams:  I want to really acknowledge Ray's good work. Whereas with more than 20 years of experience as a horticulturist and senior executive managing public urban green spaces, Ray has held many roles and shown an unwavering commitment to making sure our planet is a friendly place for all who are on board with us.

He served for years as director of park operation at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy in Boston and eight years as a curator of director at the Wildlife Conservation Society in the Bronx.

He's brilliant by leaving Boston and coming to the greatest city on the globe, New York.

Ray Oladapo‑Johnson, President and Executive Director, Wave Hill: Good evening, everyone. Thank you all very much. Mr. Mayor. Where are you?

Thank you so much, Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. Thank you. I'd like to thank my family, actually all of you. You are New York. You make New York what it is. You make New York magical. So, thank you all. And also my family, my wonderful wife, thank you so much. I get encouragement every day from my family.

And my mission is to make sure that I serve as an ambassador for us, for our youth. If we can make it into this room, then it's up to us to make sure that they can make it into this room as well. And the mayor mentioned being carried and knowing when you need to be carried by another person or another spirit or God.

I think it's also important to know when we know to carry somebody as well. That's our role. If we're in this room, then we need to know that there are people out there, especially our youth, who are looking to us to carry them.

So, come on guys, get 'em on our shoulders. Let's carry them. Thank you very much. Have a good evening.

Mayor Adams: Love my brother Otto. Born in 1930 in Lake City, South Carolina. Otto's family relocated to Brooklyn during his childhood. He studied commercial art at George Westinghouse Vocational High School. In '95, the Prospect Park Alliance and writer, Ezra Jack Keats commissioned Otto to create a bronze sculpture, Peter and Willie, based on Keith's work for which Otto earned the New York City Arts Commission Award for Excellence in Design.

His work has been exhibited at the Columbia Museum of Art, the Ghana National Museum, the Library of Congress, and the collection of the late Congressional Representative John Lewis, the late actor, singer and activist, Harry Belafonte, and talk show host and television producer, Oprah Winfrey. He is bad, folks. Trust me, he's bad.

Otto Neals: I want to thank all of you for being here. But most of all, I want to thank that force, the creator that allowed me to do the things that I do. And there's so many people behind me that I have to thank. Mr. Mayor; and again, all of you here, thank you again.

Mayor Adams: Dr. Edwards, we have a destiny with a museum. This brother has an unbelievable art collection of African art. We met years ago when he displayed it. The power of the arts crosses cultures and borders, uniting people of all backgrounds and fostering strong ties throughout our global community. New Yorkers understand that art is a crucial tool that provides a voice for marginalized groups and ideas, connecting people from all walks of life.

For more than five decades, Dr. Edwards has worked to collect rare African artifacts, many older than 4,000 years, for The Culture Museum of African Art, now one of the largest collections of African art on the globe. This museum brings joy and greater understanding of African culture to countless visitors. This is an amazing, amazing collection. Thank you so much, Brother. Congratulations to you.

Dr. Eric Edwards, Executive Director, The Cultural Museum of African Art: As the mayor has so elegantly stated — but I feel I must repeat his articulate words — is that we are making history in what's happening today, and all of you are part of it. Today at the African Burial Grounds was announced the Educational Equity Action Plan, which is also known as the first Black studies educational plan for over 1 million New York City school students pre‑K to 12, which this mayor is going to be part of his legacy — and rightfully so — and what will be the standard for the rest of the nation to follow.

So, it will give credence to all of us and our ancestors and our children to come of their legacy and their contributions to man and woman kind and encased in concrete, their contribution to development of this country and the rest of the world.

And that will raise our children to the status and the place that they should have always been to know that they are somebody, they've done more than something and they've contributed to the greatness of what's to come.

Lewis‑Martin: So, tonight was really important for our organization. All of the honorees, every single one of them has done stellar, stellar work in their own capacity. But there are two that I asked the mayor to give me the privilege and the honor of talking about, because we know them on a personal level and we know the work that they've done in our communities.

They're both from Brooklyn. Eric Edwards, please come forward, and Mr. Otto Neals, please, come. And they still reside in Brooklyn. They don't have to live in Brooklyn, but they still live in Brooklyn.

Mr. Neals' work graces Medgar Evers College, Kings County Hospital. Did you do a display in the Brooklyn Museum yet?

Neals: I've shown at the Brooklyn Museum three times.

Lewis‑Martin:  He's shown at the Brooklyn Museum three times. He is living history. And he is the type of individual that you can pick the phone up and have a conversation with. He hasn't forgotten his roots.

Eric Edwards has a beautiful space in restoration. And he has been struggling for years. He has gone to the African diaspora so many times and has brought back so many beautiful historical artifacts. He has filled our young people with so much information, a wealth of knowledge.

And he does it from Brooklyn. And the mayor gave me the privilege and the honor to let you know that we understand your plight, and we want you to be able to do what you do for everyone, not just for African Americans, because our history is world history. We agree? Our history is world history.

The mayor is granting you $5 million in capital. This brother was struggling, struggling to get cameras. This brother was struggling to get cameras as capital. This brother was struggling to get cameras, $25,000 he needed for cameras. This brother was struggling for infrastructure needs. And you know, we believe in God, so you can talk about me or you want to, but we believe in God.

And I went back to the mayor and I said to the mayor, I said, you know for years we've been trying to help Eric Edwards, Mr. Edwards, and we want to find him a space. I told the commissioner. We think we identified a space, but we don't know, we're going to work on it. But we know we've identified $5 million in capital that we can bequeath to you. So, we thank you both. Thank you.

Mayor Adams: Brother's been holding it down for Harlem, 116th Street for a long time. Brother Imam Pasha serve as Director of Education for the Clara Muhammad School of Masjid Malcolm Shabazz. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market and Harlem Opportunity Business Center, which helps entrepreneurs of all backgrounds establish or expand their business endeavors.

Imam Pasha is an active member of his community and worked to build bridges between the Muslim community and local and national institution. In 2010, he was appointed chaplain of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the work he has done in his many diverse roles has brought tremendous benefit to our city. My brother, Imam Pasha.

Imam Izak‑EL Mu'eed Pasha, Resident Imam, Masjid Malcolm Shabazz: With God's name, the merciful benefactor, the merciful redeemer, we appreciate our Brother, The Honorable Mayor, his family, his staff; and you, the Honorable People. We could not do any of these things without the support and help of government and working together with local communities, and particularly the community of the historical Masjid Malcolm Shabazz, which is named after Malcolm X because he founded it there.

We are grateful to God for life and the beautiful things that we all bring. You know, our Prophet Muhammad, the prayers and peace be upon him, was asked one time, who do you give your most attention and gratefulness to? And he told the person that asked him, he said, your mother. And they asked him again, well, who's after that? And the prophet, the prayers and peace upon him said, your mother.

And they asked him one more time, pretty hardheaded, I guess. And he said, your mother. And for the fourth time, then he said, your father. We thank God for our mothers. We thank God for the great women that we have, because really behind the scenes for true, the real work is done by mothers. We're grateful to you. We thank you. God's peace be unto you.

Mayor Adams: Thank you. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of the evening, folks. Happy, Happy, Happy Black History Month.