ASNEAA Community Legacy Project (CLP) x America 250th Anniversary is doing the BIG ONE for the little known American Revolution history in NYC. With my family, I recently visted National Park Service (NPS) Federal Hall, the New York Public Library (NYPL) Declaring America: 1776 and Beyond exhibit (still processing…) and Center for Brooklyn History (CBH) @ Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered exhibit. The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (also recently visted) always does a good job of making visitors contend with the exchange between Indigenous communities and European colonial settlers during the birth of the nation (pun intended).
All the Yankee Doodle jokes as a first generation American and Revolutionary War enthusiast has come full circle- personally and professionally. To engage with me the last few weeks is to know I’m on Amanda Seales being interviewed by Tasha K. energy AKA you better be crystal clear on the intention of why we’re in community (disclosure: I don’t know these people, though I wouldn’t mind Amanda on the ASNEAA executive board). That said, ain’t no gotcha moments to be had pon my headtop (ICON talk) and my current read is a sad foreshadowing of the lengths the [white] state goes to to qwell social justice centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
Power (when done right) is a two way phenomena; like respect (not respectability). CLP x America 250th kicked off so far at Fort Greene Park (FGP), Commodore Barry Park (CBP), and Brooklyn Museum First Saturdays, ALL in Brooklyn! Add the additonal America 250th activities I noted and it’s no wonder the business of social justice is on go (BIA voice) at ASNEAA. Of course, the state in the current sociopolitical climate is attempting to stunt all of this revolutionary BIPOC joy and the backlash to anything characterized as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is real. As I shared on social media, the state also thought it was doing its big one with trying to sabotage CLP x America 250th @ Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP).
First, this was a return back to a NYC Parks location- in spite of the current pushback to planned CLP programming at Washington Square Park this month. Rather than go back and forth with a system predicated on [white] ambiguity and the organization’s failure, I communicated with NYC Parks and NYC Council that CLP pop activations doesn’t have the capacity to gather more than 20 people at any one time and the first come, first served policy applies for future events. Long story short, there was no special events permit.
Second, the candy treats I use for the new CLP model had some sticky substance on the batch I purchased after I posted the flyer for the upcoming CLP x America 250th @ BBP pop-up activation (not to mention the NYC Parks and NYC Council correspondence from earlier). It felt like some of the wrapped candies got loose and melted in the bag. I tried my best to recover the wrapped candies and only exacerbated the mess. Hence all the disclaimers at this CLP pop-up (I only trust the Airheads because the state surveillance only considered the Life Savers) and conspiracy theories about state tampering. Because unlike an undercover operation rooted in the secrecy of white supremacy, ASNEAA actually does the brave work of courageous conversations AKA multidimensional praxis (in-person + online).
ASNEAA hosted CLP programming at BBP in 2024 with no issue, but given all the background I shared I was prepared for the bullsh*t onsite. The goal for this go round (pun intended) was to post up next to a CBH (then Brooklyn Historical Society) sign highlighting BIPOC heritage in the local community. The In Pursuit of Freedom walking tour guide is also available on the ASNEAA website:
In preparation for the drama, I postponed the event for one hour because who’s ever in the mood for 12. If I made bets on prediction markets, I would’ve won because energy never lies and white supremacy never rests (like the Lost Cause it is). Shortly after I arrived I was informed by NYC Park Officers that the park is “private property” and a BBP permit is required. The use of “equipment”: table and retractable banner is considered a special event and was also an issue… OK. So the CLP x America 250th Anniversary @ BBP was now in pivot mode. My inner Yankee Doodle set up across the street to still bring attention to the “sign” as planned. CLP participants were also invited to share their BIPOC heritage and explore the ASNEAA website:
Though the arts as advocacy creative expression project didn’t manifest as planned again, the art *for me* was in the magic of when folks learned about the sign dedicated to BIPOC heritage in the area; similar to the School Legacy Project (SLP) Pilot. Also major s/o to folks for teaching me and sharing BIPOC heritage resources (Sri Lanka on the map!) I was able to document one of the AHA moments; as the ASNEAA business theme of pivot and scale was again in action:
The revolutionary BIPOC joy was so bright; that at one point the clouds started to hover and a well meaning CLP participant warned that often this type of attention / energy can lead to the sign’s removal. Little did they know, ASNEAA is true to this not new to this. That’s a racist person in power problem, been there and done that:
Because all racism is a deductive / deficit mindset. That’s why the only power is in taking away and Indian giving. The jig is up; and now with understanding in place, the original goal for an event in each NYC borough is one the way. here’s to heading UPTOWN BABY!
Thank you to the CLP x America 250th Anniversary host, participants, and donors:
