Checkout Why Southeast Queens Is The Historic Hometown Of The Most Powerful Politicians In NYC Today!

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Southeast Queens Makes History Having Been The Home Of Some Of The Most Powerful Politicians In NYC History!

Mayor Eric Adams (Top Right) NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (Top Right)
Borough President of Queens Donovan Richards (Bottom Left) Congressman Gregory Meeks (Middle Bottom) and NY State Senator James Sanders (Bottom Right)    

By Kamau Austin, Publisher AMS Digital Scoop Publications

Southeast Queens is known for its iconic jazz, hip-hop, business, civil rights, and other legendary greats.  Legends like James Brown, John Coltrane, Jackie Robinson, 50 cents, LL Cool J, Daymond John, and many more luminaries once called Southeast Queens home.

However, Southeast Queens, is now also making historic strides as one of the areas for political trailblazers.  Former Southeast Queens resident Eric Adams, once ironically brutalized by police in Queens, has risen to become only the second Black mayor in New York City history.

Mayor Adams also has made a dual mark in history by appointing the first black female and also woman Police Commissioner in New York City history Keechant Sewell.  Commissioner Sewell, has an extensive history as a law enforcement leader in Nassau County, and also FBI experience.  The Commissioner also has roots in Queens.

The 1st Black Woman New York City Police Commissioner Keechant-Sewell (Pic Source)

New York City Council Person Adrienne Adams (no relation to Mayor Eric Adams) became the first black woman to be Speaker of the New York City Council.  Adams is also the City Council Person for district 28 which includes Rochdale Village, Jamaica, Richmond Hill, and South Ozone Park.  She was the first woman and Black woman to represent Council 28.

So essentially what we have is two of the most powerful politicians in New York City, and also the leading law enforcement Commissioner, now having roots in Southeast Queens, New York.  But it doesn't stop there...

Discover How This Black Descendant Of The English Royalty Is Challenging A Racist Symbol Of British Slavery

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Black Descendant Of English Royalty Looks To Cancel The Symbolic Racist Crest Of
British Slaver John Hawkins

By Kamau Austin and Venita Benitez

Venita Benitez is on a mission.  Her mission is one driven by faith and purpose believing in her people's ability to make a change in the world.

She is a Black woman with obvious Latina roots, but what is less discernable is her family ties to European royalty.  Nevertheless, Benitez is determined turn the tide on racism now within the auspices of English royalty.

Venita has made it her mission to ask the British monarchy to vacate an unsavory vestige of horrific slavery in its ugly past the crest of maritime slaver "Sir" John Hawkins.  Ms. Benitez has written the late Queen Elizabeth II, in the past.

In light of present controversial news stories in relation to modern racism, in the monarchy, she is relaunching her efforts to remove the distasteful racist crest.

Here is her open letter that she wrote to the Queen:

May it please Your Majesty,

Your Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, how do You do?

My name is Venita Benitez, living in Dallas, Texas USA. Servant to the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Christ. I descend from the Plantagenets, Henry II, John and Henry III. I wish to inform you of an important occurrence I believe deserves your attention. An amazing opportunity to bring healing and reconciliation to all nations around the globe will take place during the month of August, in the year of our Lord 2019, for the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the first Africans on English American soil, Fort Comfort, present day Hampton, Virginia and I believe Your Majesty will bestow recognition upon the people.

Forgiveness, healing and reconciliation have been a focus of many nations in response to hatred and discrimination. There has been a growing global focus on community healing and forgiveness. My purpose on this earth is fueled by passion for this very moment for the global healing of all people on our planet.

Queen Elizabeth I, knighted Sir John Hawkins (Hawkyns pioneer of the British slave trade), a coat of arms and a bound slave as a crest for a massive profit made in the slave trade. His coat of arms, sable on a point wavy, a lion passant, in chief three bezants, and for his crest, a demi-Moor in his proper color (naked), bound, and captive with annulets in his arms and ears.

John Hawkins as in previous voyages, went to Sierra Leone, took part in native wars, assaulted and set fire to native towns of over eight thousand inhabitants. Which we are still living the aftermath from these voyages. His coat of arms and crest may represent the heraldic achievements and massive material wealth for England, however it symbolizes forms of discrimination and hatred not only going on in America but across the global.

Your Majesty, I mean no disrespect to the constitutional monarch and I apologize in advance if I have offended the constitutional monarch. I only want to see healing and reconciliation to all nations and I believe this kind of power and authority rest in your hands to have John Hawkins crest honoring him for the slave trade taken down and/or removed and publicly dishonored to help restore love in our world and conqueror the evil of hatred that is causing so much grief, suffering and disharmony in America, as well as, around the globe. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

Venita Benitez

The Crest Of Slaver John Hawkins

Venita's revived attempts to get rid of the crest of British maritime slave exporter John Hawkins, is forged against the backdrop of the the Royal Family being charged with racist attitudes by others close to them.  For instance England's fundraiser Ngozi Fulani is charging racism against one of the late Queen Elizabeth's staffers Lady Susan Hussey, who subsequently resigned with a spokesperson for Prince William saying "racism has no place in our society."  

Also in recent years Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, pointed out bias by the Royal Family in an interview towards her and her son.  The press even reported her treatment was so humiliating she had thoughts of suicide.

Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, has reported racial issues with the Royal Family
Photo Credits: By Londisland, Click For Info

Given this charged racial backdrop I felt moved to touch base with
Venita Benitez for this exclusive interview about challenging the Royal Family to get rid of the racist crest of John Hawkins AKA John Hawkyns below...

Can Claims Of Reverse Racism Be Defused In A Parable?

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Charges of Reverse Racism Are
Answered With My Parable On Bullying

Promoting Clera’s Creative Gifts Drove Someone To Accuse Me Of Reverse Racism

By Kamau Austin, Publisher The Southeast Queens Scoop

As you know our publications have a goal to help Black businesses, community organizations, and cultural organizations raise awareness so they can be financed or supported by our community.  We can't expect others to support us if we can't support ourselves.

We aim to do the opposite of mainstream media and show the positive things that our people do in our communities especially to advance and enhance our neighbors.  However, there are times where conservative whites or others try to use our civil rights terminology and language against us by charging "reverse racism" when we advance Black organizations and causes.

I like to deal with data and facts.  However, recently I felt like giving parables or a storied analogy to someone who accused me of reverse racism for promoting a Black holiday gift-wrapping business Clera’s Creative Gifts during the Christmas Holidays.  This business uses afrocentric and Black images for their gift wrapping products.

Below is the parable I shared with them...

Learn How Insightful Thinker And Writer Ancestor Dr. Charles L. Singleton Made Invaluable Contributions To Our Community Blogs

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In Memoriam: Giving Thanks For The Soulful Work & Spirit Of Dr. Charles L. Singleton

 "Honoring The Life And Media Contributions OF
Dr. Charles L. Singleton"

Reflections by Publishers Kamau and nZinga Austin, with tributes also by Tolson Banner and JV Howard, Op-Ed Contributors to the Black News Scoop, and Scoop News Blogs.

Get An Overview With Our Intro Tribute Video Below...

Dr. Charles L. Singleton, was a great inspiring and insightful person and contributor to many things.  He was a professional athlete, educational consultant, Purple Heart Awardee, creative and insightful writer, progressive author, Fundraiser for Elizabeth City College and HBCU causes.  He was of course a mentor and inspirational presence for many people and organizations.

We, at the Scoop Publications, have been honored to have shared ideas, been a vehicle for his writing genius, and helped him raise (the last he related to me) over $75,000 for charitable causes.  I can sense that Ancestor Singleton's, soulful presence is still with us.  I feel Doc. Singleton, as we would affectionately refer to him, would want us to continue to be a truthful resource showcasing the striving for Black economic, business, and social empowerment. 

Dr. Charles L. Singleton, was one of the greatest supporters of AMS Digital's Scoop News Blogs.  It is hard to describe the awesome contribution Dr. Singleton made to our publication.  We at AMS Digital and Scoop Publications extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Singleton's family...

For me, Kamau Austin, Publisher of AMS Digital and Scoop News blogs, Dr. Charles Singleton or Chuck Singleton as he called himself, was a priceless mentor, coach, content contributor, Op-Ed writer, and supporter. His involvement will be greatly missed however I can feel the presence of Ancestor Chuck Singleton urging us at the Scoop news blogs to continue and don't quit our editorial mission.

Doc. Singleton was not only into serious research and study but he also blessed us with topics as diverse as the Black hair care industry, historic Black women, aging, outstanding Black fishermen, gun violence, Black history, COVID-19 and even hip hop.  These are just a small sample of the topics he ventured into for our publications.

To see an overview of his dozens of articles click on the following links on the Black News Scoop and the Southeast Queens Scoop.  My daughter nZinga Austin, an award winning community media editor, animator, singer, and advocate for our people on the autism spectrum shares her reflections about Dr. Singleton below.

nZinga Austin - Dr. Singleton was a good man that supported our scoop publications.  He started writing in our flagship publication the SoutheastQueensScoop.com and later was more featured in his favorite the Black News Scoop.

He was a very dedicated contributor and supporter who helped us quite a lot.  He also wrote a lot about his family. My favorite articles from him is when he wrote books for black education. He was also a promising Football player.

He had a doctor's degree in education. He wrote books for children so their parents can help their children be successful.

He was also a teacher in Southeast Queens, New York. I heard he also taught schools in Georgia, South Carolina, and Brooklyn, New York.

He believed you should teach children so they can keep the world going forward. He was also into teaching about aging and fitness. He also helped older people to exercise.  Next we share the the memories of our Op-Ed Contributor JV Howard.

JV Howard - It is often hard to find the right words at a time like this but it was words that Dr. Singleton use to enlighten, inform, inculcate, and motivate his audience across a myriad of issues. He implored us to read between the lines of the pages of life for clarity, for understanding, and for growth.

He was a informative writer with his pen and an educator at heart. Dr. Singleton has certainly left the universe in a better place than the way he found it. May he Rest in Peace.  Another of our Op-Ed Contributors Tolson Banner shares his memories of Dr. Charles L. Singleton.

Tolson Banner - I never met Dr.Singleton face to face.  I met him through the cosmic connection of words: a word to word meeting - if you will.

I started reading his prolific/insightful column and I became transfixed each time I met him in words.  His writings always nudged me to readjust my aperture - always giving me additional clarity for my eyesight!

Usually our mourning on a loss loved one focuses on us. Dr.Singleton, taught me to readjust my aperture always - in this readjustment there is no loss instead another ancestor on the other side to watch over and guide us on our spiritual journey in this life.

See How Lorna D. Cheatham, Founder of Clera’s Creative Gifts, Makes A Statement With Her Black-Owned Gift Wrapping Paper Company

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LORNA D. CHEATHAM CREATES AFROCENTRIC GIFT-WRAPPING PAPER BRAND THAT'S TRULY MAKING MEMORABLE HOLIDAY IMPRESSIONS

Lorna D. Cheatham, is the founder and CEO of Clera’s Creative Gifts, a Black-owned gift-wrapping paper and gift bag brand that is known for its unique Afrocentric-themed designs. A certified Women’s Business Enterprise, Lorna started her Detroit-based company in 2018 with the goal to bring jobs back to her city for disadvantaged, abused women of color and returning citizens.

Lorna, who is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, was one of twelve siblings in her family. She comments, “Birthdays was always a special time for her family, although they didn’t receive a lot; they cherished what they got.”

At the tender young age of nine, her mother, Clera, was unfortunately taken away. Luckily, they were left with many of her precious memories, which is why she decided to name her company after her mother; it was her way of keeping her memory alive.

Take Advantage Of Free Family Law Workshop For Men

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Free Child Support Workshop For Fathers Sponsored By...

On Saturday, December 3, 2022, Queens City Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, New York State Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman and 100 Suits, a nationwide non-profit organization whose mission is the upliftment and empowerment of underprivileged men and women, will present a free workshop for fathers who are struggling with legal issues involving paternity, child support payments, child custody disputes and divorce. The guest speaker for this event will be veteran attorney and family law specialist, Cathy Middleton, Esq.

Twas the Night Before Kwanzaa

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The Black Spectrum Theatre Company is pleased to present Twas The Night Before Kwanzaa — a holiday comedy that finds Santa Clause diverted to Africa to learn about Kwanzaa. Starring Tico Wells of The 5 Heartbeats.