This week on the blog, NMBLC spotlights Professor Sonia Gipson Rankin, who recently made tenure at UNM School of Law. The profile “Being About Excellence” first appeared in the August 2023 edition of NMBLC’s monthly newspaper, the UpLift Chronicles.
For more great articles about the people, places, and happenings of Albuquerque’s Black communities, subscribe to the UpLift Chronicles.
The following piece was written by Sean Cardinalli.
Being About Excellence — UNM School of Law Professor Sonia Gipson Rankin Makes Full Tenure
We’re sending hearty congratulations to Professor Sonia Gipson Rankin on her promotion to tenured professor at UNM School of Law! Gipson Rankin is known for her computer science accolades and passion for racial justice. Her scholarship in the fast-growing field of artificial intelligence (AI) is sought by major news sources like the BBC and NPR.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, in 2019, noted only 2.1% of tenured faculty at American universities were Black women. So, Gibson Rankin appreciates students gratified to see someone who looks like them teaching class, showing that they, too, can accomplish big goals. We see you, Professor Rankin Gipson, and we celebrate your accomplishment! Below is her Q&A.
What led you to where you are today, career-wise?
My third-grade teacher [once] stood on a desk to hang something from the ceiling. While on the desk, she started tap dancing. All of the students were amazed and I said to myself, “this is what I want to do when I grow up.” I have yet to tap dance in the classroom, but I do try to wow students when I can!
One of the most impactful parts of my journey has been my children. My daughters were born while I was a law student. I come from a tech family. I knew I would study computer science, but my plan was to become a patent attorney to help Black Americans get patents for tech inventions.
Life has turned and twisted a bit, but I would not change one step of the journey.
Sonia Gipson Rankin and her family.
Did you face any obstacles as a Black woman studying and teaching law?
Were there complexities due to race? Absolutely. Some people are so trifling and have time to be unkind or evil. But I keep one thought at the top of my mind: There is nothing wrong with me; there is something broken about them. I was taught a particular mindset: (1) you can do anything you want to do, (2) be about excellence, and (3) you are required to give back.
Only 12 out of 250 students [at the University of Illinois College of Law] were Black and we stuck together. Black Law Student Association members babysat my kids, shared their casebooks and materials, and reviewed my scholarship…[and now] I have the most gracious and generous colleagues at the University of New Mexico School of Law.
I am a member of Lutie A. Lytle Sisters, an organization named for a daughter of formerly enslaved parents who became one of the world’s first Black woman law professors. They carefully support current and aspiring Black women law faculty.
“You will be surprised at the adventures that are waiting on the other side of saying yes to life!”
— Professor Sonia Gipson Rankin
Any words of wisdom to share with students?
My mother, Rev. Dr. Sheila A. Gipson, passed away May 30, 2023. She was the best mommy who ever mommied, and I am still in shock. She would say, “Why not try? If it doesn’t work, do something else.” I encourage people to give it a try. You will be surprised at the adventures that are waiting on the other side of saying yes to life!
In the News
Professor Sonia Gipson Rankin has been interviewed by KOB, NPR, and BBC! Check it all out below.
2021 NPR Interview about Jury Selection in the Murder Trial of George Floyd
New year, new office! The New Mexico Black Leadership Council just bought a building in the International District and we’re settling into our new digs.
For the past several years, the New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC) had headquarters in Albuquerque’s International District at 1258 Ortiz Drive SE. On January 10, 2023, NMBLC closed on its new location at 1314 Madeira Dr SE. We’re still in the International District, just a few blocks away from the old place.
NMBLC’S New Office Building at 1314 Madeira Dr SE in Albuquerque, New Mexico
As NMBLC’s mission expanded, so did our physical space. Staff offices, a community meeting room, the UpLift Initiative, and the Roots Summer Leadership Academy (RSLA) were all at the Ortiz Building. NMBLC had hoped to buy the building and add a training and resource hub. In the fall, the owners of the Ortiz Building accepted an offer from an out of state buyer. Our lease was terminated at the end of 2022.
NMBLC Crew Moving on Out and Up
When one door closes, another opens. NMBLC bought an office building! It’s north of Gibson, between Twisters and Stripes Burritos, and across from Sonic. We’re still close to where we had our outdoor RSLA camp and Pamoja Run/Walk. We’re still here to help out our ID neighbors.
Another benefit of the move is that NMBLC ended a troubling landlord tenant situation. The management company at our previous location routinely ignored basic things such as keeping up the restrooms and fixing the heating and cooling. This situation is changing for the better with the new building. We own the building and will contract with companies that deliver on their services.
We’re sad to leave our old home. But we’re excited to start the new year with a new space. Stop by and see us!
NMBLC’s New Address
New Mexico Black Leadership Council 1314 Madeira Dr SE Albuquerque, NM 87108
Supporting the Black community in New Mexico was more important than ever in 2021. The New Mexico Black Leadership Council reviews major successes in Black community development and continues the work in 2022.
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC) is committed to working with Black communities to achieve positive collective change, racial and educational equity, and economic independence. At the beginning of 2021, we thought we’d have a chance to exhale after surviving dual pandemics— COVID-19 and racism. What we learned this year is that neither of the pandemics is over and there are many more steep hills to climb. We are proud of what we accomplished in 2021 in our five areas of impact:
Advocacy and Civic Engagement
Health: Physical, Financial, Behavioral
Leadership and Workforce Development
Cultural Vibrancy
Positive Youth Development
NMBLC’s Guiding Principles
Carter G. Woodson’s Philosophies
Community-Based Activism
Participatory Democracy
Arts/Events-Based Community Development
Assets-Based Community Development
Community-based activism and participatory democracy are attributed to Ella Jo Baker.
“Give light and people will find the way.”
—Ella Jo Baker
Carter G. Woodson’s philosophies are built on inclusion, multiculturalism, racial harmony, and the knowledge that Black history is American history.
“What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”
—Carter G. Woodson
Advocating for the Black community in New Mexico and fostering civic engagement with forums and redistricting
Congressional and Mayoral Forums
The New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative (NMBVC) held two informational political forums in 2021. The goal was to inform the community on the plans and positions of candidates running for office.
The New Mexico CD-1 Congressional Candidate Forum, held on April 20, 2021, featured candidates running to fill the US Representative vacancy left by Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Participating candidates included former State Representative Melanie Stansbury, former Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn, and U.S. National Guard Veteran Chris Manning. The 90-minute discussion focused on questions submitted by local organizations and community members, and was hosted virtually and broadcast live to Facebook.
The City of Albuquerque Mayoral Candidate Forum, held on September 27, 2021, featured candidates running for mayor of the City of Albuquerque. Participating candidates included incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel “Manny” Gonzales III, and radio talk show host Eddy Aragon. NMBVC hosted this forum in-person at Highland High School. It was also broadcast live to Facebook.
Juneteenth Meet and Greet
NMBVC hosted a public meet and greet with elected officials at the City of Albuquerque’s 2021 Juneteenth celebration. NM CD-1 Representative Melanie Stansbury, State Senator Harold Pope Jr., and Chief Public Defender Bennett J. Baur hung out to talk to festival goers face-to-face about how they serve the public as elected officials.
NMBVC Juneteenth Meet and Greet 2021
Redistricting Task Force
NMBVC organized the Black Community Redistricting Task Force to focus on identifying Black/African-American communities in New Mexico. With support from the New Mexico Black Central Organizing Committee and community members, the task force created a map proposal that preserved Black/African-American interests and voting power within several House Districts across the state. The proposal was presented to the Citizen Redistricting Committee in October and then integrated into the one created by the Center for Civic Policy to become CRC Map Recommendation E-1. This recommendation was presented during the 2021 Special Session Legislature as House Bill 8 to be signed by the governor.
“The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it.”
—John Lewis
Treating health holistically by addressing behavioral, physical, and financial needs in the Black community in New Mexico.
Racial Reckoning Mental Health Conference
NMBLC spotlighted behavioral health with the 2021 virtual town hall “Racial Reckoning: True Equity in Mental Health.” Dr. Jamal Martin, Director of Peace and Justice Studies at UNM, presented a “State of the State” epidemiology report on a public health model-approach to improve behavioral health in BIPOC communities. Keynote speaker Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Executive Director of the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty, Policy and Research, gave an electrifying report on the crisis of Black youth suicide in America.
Black/African American Health Association (BAAHA)
Medical patriarch Dr. William McIver addressed a group of doctors about the need to continue convening and building coalitions to improve physical health for Black/African-Americans in New Mexico. Dr. Duane Ross, retired Medical Director of True Health New Mexico, and local ER physician Dr. Stephanie Garcia approached NMBLC voicing similar concerns. NMBLC helped them launch the Black/African American Health Association (BAAHA). The association’s mission is to improve wellness opportunities for every Black citizen of New Mexico through access to coverage, quality healthcare, and education. BAAHA held its first meet and greet in October 2021.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”
—World Health Organization
Financial Committee
NMBLC board members created the Financial Committee to promote financial wellness in New Mexico’s Black communities. The committee is in the process of collaborating with other local Black organizations to provide and promote youth entrepreneurship opportunities, home ownership information, and life skills training. The goal for 2022 is to strengthen engagement in the Financial Committee’s mission.
Cultivating the next generation of leadership and recruiting for on the job workforce development and training
Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
NMBLC is partnering with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions to implement an on-the-job training program for underserved members in our community. This initiative is a component of the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA’s aim is to improve preparation, access, and success in adult basic education, career pathways, postsecondary education, and workforce development. WIOA targets low-income and low-skilled adults, disconnected youth, public assistance recipients, and those with limited financial means. Using
WIOA Title I funds for subsidized work experience, the state will pay half the salary of staff that NMBLC hires under this apprenticeship program. This arrangement allows NMBLC to recruit for crucial positions in the organization while mentoring and training those in the community who would otherwise not have access to gainful employment opportunities or the education to become sought after members of the workforce.
The African American Community Economic Transformation Study (AACETS) led to the following recommendations: Create a Hub Organization Generate a Leadership Development Institute Establish a Communications Network Infrastructure
Chisholm Table
Assets-Based Community Development is about elevating and utilizing our strengths and assets rather than focusing on supposed lack and deficiency. This philosophy is exemplified by the Chisholm Table, a component of our collective impact organizing strategy and communications infrastructure network designed to build operational capacity among Black, volunteer-led organizations.
UpLift is another initiative that launched in 2021. It’s funded by a grant from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). Under this program, NMBLC and partners have created a one-stop resource hub to provide help, resources, and information for the community.
As part of the NMDOH grant to support long-term resiliency, NMBLC plans to award five microgrants to New Mexican groups serving Black communities:
Nu Rho chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
New Mexico Black Lawyers Association
UNM African American Student Services
Beyond the Chair Initiative
Albuquerque Black Economic Security and Solidarity (BLESS)
Succession-planning and sustainability is a critical component of any organization. In 2021, NMBLC took positive steps to develop our leadership pool and ensure our longevity and viability with the advancement of two of our team members:
Kindra Hill promoted to Deputy Director
Mason Graham promoted to Policy Analyst
Continuing our tradition of cultural vibrancy through celebration, music, and recognizing the contributions of the Black community.
DECADES: Past, Present & Future
DECADES: Past, Present & Future commemorated the 10th anniversary of the New Mexico Black History Festival. The 2021 festival was offered exclusively online due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions; however, attendance at the events was robust and the NMBLC staff and volunteers replicated in-person energy with an engaging online events schedule. Promoting the knowledge that Black history is American history and therefore can be celebrated 24/7/365, the NMBLC announced a slate of cultural events running from February through July.
The Asante Awards
The Asante Awards: Barrier Breakers ceremony honored important “firsts” for New Mexico. 2021 recipients included Honorable Judge Shammara Henderson, New Mexico State Senator Harold Pope, Jr., District Attorney Gerald Byers, US Eagle Federal Credit Union President Marsha Majors, NMDOH Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins, and NM Veteran Affairs Secretary Sonya Smith.
Kumbuka Celebration
The 2021 Kumbuka Celebration: DECADES Deep featured a lively review and discussion with cast and crew members of the award-winning, critically-acclaimed show “Roots Revival, Our Struggle, Our Story, Our Glory” and was viewable via the New Mexico Black Leadership Council’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
— Maya Angelou
Expanding our positive youth development programs from Roots Summer Leadership Academy to juvenile justice initiatives.
Roots Summer Leadership Academy (RSLA)
Summer festivities kicked off with the Roots Summer Leadership Academy’s ninth year of helping youth learn academics, social emotional skills, and cultural identity. RSLA is a rigorous three-week summer arts and science camp for youth ages 8-16. The theme for 2021 was “Nishati,” meaning “energy” in Swahili. Activities were geared to give students strategies to increase effectiveness in their personal and academic lives. The program culminated in a community-wide Harambee showcase where students stepped into their confidence and demonstrated their accomplishments. NMBLC pivoted to a hybrid teaching model in 2020 due to the pandemic, and successfully managed the new outdoor in-person and online format for two years in a row. 52 students enrolled in RSLA in 2021, transforming the outdoor camp into a visually inviting attraction for residents of the International District. Students employed entrepreneurial skills and raised $900 from their outdoor art installation to fund the Roots Roller Skate Reunion.
Roots Explorers Program (REP)
REP launched in 2020 as an in-school enrichment curriculum in the International District. It has since grown into a project-based, out-of-school program that concentrates on literacy, numeracy, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & math), SEL (social-emotional learning), and cultural awareness. In 2021, the Explora Science Museum reached out to NMBLC to implement an REP session at their facility in Albuquerque’s Old Town. NMBLC also developed partnerships with New Mexico Mesa, Biggers Farms, Emerson Elementary School, the University of New Mexico Department of Education, and many more. We’re planning to expand REP to the entire Highland cluster of schools.
Our North Star Goal is academic proficiency and empowerment for all youth!
RSLA Roots Village 2021
In 2021, the New Mexico Black Leadership Council added service for juvenile detention system-impacted youth to its outreach and education engagement.
Albuquerque Justice for Youth Collaborative (AJ4Y)
NMBLC joined La Plazita Institute’s (LPI) Albuquerque Justice for Youth Community Collaborative (AJ4Y). Funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the collaborative is composed of local grassroots organizations, youth justice advocates, and young people and families who have been directly impacted by the juvenile justice system. Its aim is to honor and strengthen community self-determination; reduce dependence on the juvenile justice system; and keep youth safe at home and supported by their own communities.
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)
NMBLC became a member of Bernalillo County’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This group meets monthly to determine ways to reduce youth incarceration numbers. Also funded by Annie E. Casey Foundation, this project seeks to find alternatives to incarceration for all youth. Black youth, especially males, are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system. They are also incarcerated for longer periods of time than their non-Black counterparts. NMBLC is working with Bernalillo County to understand the underlying reasons for these disparities. Through our work with the Community Corrections Program and the JDAI, we are interviewing detention systems stakeholders and impacted youth and families to figure out solutions to overcome disparities and reduce the number of Black youth who have contact with the criminal justice system.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Moving forward in 2022 with an outstanding gospel concert and an open house to announce an exciting collaboration.
ONE New Mexico Gospel Concert
Join us for the sixth annual ONE New Mexico Gospel Concert on Sunday, May 15th! The ONE New Mexico Gospel Choir will perform with some of New Mexico’s most celebrated female vocalists including:
Toni Morgan
Aleena Sedillo
Pat Brown
special guest Aretha Harden from Las Vegas, Nevada
This amazing lineup of music is happening at the First Unitarian Church at 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuquerque NM 87110 and starts at 3:00 PM MST.
Save the date for NMBLC’s open house on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 4:30-6pm. NMBLC will be showcasing all of the exciting programs happening as part of the UpLift initiative.
Our fabulous donors, contributors, and volunteers make our work for the Black community in New Mexico possible.
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and its work is made possible by sponsorships from forward-thinking organizations and by the generous support of community members like you. You can contribute to the NMBLC mission at http://nmblc.org/donate.
Thank you to NMBLC 2021 Foundations and Grantors!
$1,000-$4,999
ACLU New Mexico
Central New Mexico Community College
New Mexico Voices for Children
Steel Bender Brewyard, LLC
Dion’s
Omega Psi Phi, Nu Rho Chapter
Los Poblanos LP
The Verdes Foundation
Workforce Connection of Central NM/ Mid-Region Council of Governments
University of North Alabama
$5,000-$9,999
Central NM Community
The Praxis Project
Explora Science Center
$10,000-$49,999
Con Alma Foundation
Thornburg Foundation
McCune Charitable Foundation
United Way
New Mexico Women.Org
New Mexico Association of Counties
Common Cause
AECF
U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union
Workforce Connection of Central NM
University of New Mexico
Center for Civic Policy
La Plazita Institute
Comcast
Albuquerque Community Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
Facebook, Inc.
$50K+
CYFD
Bernalillo County
City of Albuquerque
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
In addition, we are grateful for the numerous individual donations, which cumulatively amounted to over $30,000. Because of your generous contributions, NMBLC was able to provide all our programs to the community free of charge. Finally, NMBLC thanks the many people who contributed their time, talent, and treasure.
We couldn’t have done it without you.
Join us on our continuing journey to create a space to thrive for all New Mexicans. Contribute to the NMBLC mission athttp://nmblc.org/donate.
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council says goodbye to Black icons who passed in 2020 and have now become ancestors.
This has been a year of many losses. Black icons who passed in 2020 include civil rights giants, sports legends, a mathematician who helped launch us into space, and our very own superhero. The Coronavirus ravaging the globe took some of our Black icons too early. As we prepare to send this year into antiquity, we bid farewell to those who inspired us, changed our world, and made our existence brighter.
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers Basketball Star
Source: Wikimedia Commons
January 26, 2020, Age 41, Helicopter Crash
The Lakers legend and his daughter Gianna died along with seven other passengers in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. The news hit just hours before the airing of the 2020 Grammy awards, shrouding the ceremony in a pall of surreal sorrow and inspiring last minute tributes by Lizzo, Alicia Keys, and Boyz II Men. The 6-foot-6 guard made his pro debut in the 1996-97 season opener against Minnesota; at the time he was the youngest player to appear in an NBA game. Bryant and leading scorer Shaquille O’Neal quickly morphed into one of the most lethal scoring and defensive combinations in the league. Bryant retired in 2016 as a two-time Olympic gold medalist .
“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act.”
B. Smith started off as one of the country’s first high-profile black models, becoming the second black model on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine in 1976. She went on to host a lifestyle show, “B. Smith With Style,” and was often dubbed the “Black Martha Stewart.”
“I’ve climbed a mountain of no’s to get one yes,” B. Smith once said.
She owned three restaurants and authored three cookbooks. Her loss was mourned by celebrities such as Viola Davis, Ava DuVernay, and Gabrielle Union.
“So supportive and so damn fly… she is, was, and forever will be an ICON”
Source: Science Photo Library via Albuquerque Library
February 24, 2020, Age 101, Natural Causes
Many people never heard of Katherine Johnson until Taraji P. Henson portrayed her in the 2016 hit movie Hidden Figures. Her calculations were critical to the success of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As one of a group of highly skilled mathematicians at NASA in the 1960s, Ms. Johnson and her cohorts were subjected to double segregation. As Black women, they were relegated to separate rooms and restrooms from their white female counterparts, who were in turn segregated from the male mathematicians and engineers.
A brilliant math student from youth, Johnson graduated summa cum laude with a double major in mathematics and French. In 1940, she became one of three black graduate students to integrate the all-white West Virginia University. She joined the NASA Flight Division in the early 1950’s and became part of the agency’s effort to put an astronaut into space.
In 1962, a few days before he was to orbit the Earth, John Glenn asked that Ms. Johnson, a flesh and blood human, double-check the orbital trajectory that had been calculated by a computer.
“If she says the numbers are good, I’m ready to go.”
Her first book, Blanche on the Lam, won the Agatha Award, Anthony Award, and the Macavity Award for best first novel, which are three of the top literary prizes for mysteries and the Go on Girl! Award from Black Women’s Reading Club. As a social activist, she was director of Women for Economic Justice, a welfare reform advocacy group. She also taught prison inmates and fought violence against women. Her most well-known literary character, Blanche White, was a black maid who solved murders under cover of her invisible social status. Last December, she was named the Mystery Writers of America’s 2020 Grand Master.
“For all the chatelaine fantasies of some of the women for whom she worked, she really was her own boss, and her clients knew it. She ordered her employers’ lives, not the other way around.”
Reverend Lowery was a figure in several pivotal events during the Civil Rights Movement. He helped coordinate the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, and led the delegation that delivered demands to segregationist Governor George Wallace in the 1965 voting rights march. He co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and stayed at the helm for two decades, restoring its financial health and pressuring businesses to boycott South Africa’s apartheid era regime. He was a staunch advocate for equal access to housing, employment, and healthcare. In his retirement, Lowery stayed at the forefront of social debates, being among the first old-guard civil rights figures to advocate for LGBTQ rights. Despite his life long fight for voting rights, he never imagined he would live to see a Black President of the United States.
In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.
“I’ve never felt your ministry should be totally devoted to making a heavenly home. I thought it should also be devoted to making your home here heavenly.”
The three-time Grammy Award winner Bill Withers created gorgeous melodies, delivered with a voice that sounds like a sunny day and the promise of summer. His ability to convey complex emotions in a deceptively simple way has made him omnipresent in all things involving the range of human experience, from birthdays to weddings to heartbreak. His soulful songs such as “Lovely Day” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” are eternal, and the classic “Lean On Me” has been a source of solace and inspiration during the coronavirus pandemic, with health care workers, choirs, artists and more posting their own renditions of “Lean on Me” to help get through.
“Bill Withers is the closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen.”
April 1, 2020, Age 85, Complications from Coronavirus
As the father of Wynton and Branford Marsalis, pianist Ellis Marsalis was the patriarch of a highly musical family. His music students included Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Harry Connick Jr. and four of his sons: Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis. He taught at the first full-time public arts high school in New Orleans, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He also had a standing gig at Snug Harbor in New Orleans up until his retirement a few months before he died.
“Like many parents, he sacrificed for us and made so much possible. Not only material things, but things of substance and beauty like the ability to hear complicated music and to read books; to see and to contemplate art; to be philosophical and kind, but to also understand that a time and place may require a pugilistic-minded expression of ignorance.”
Source: The Granger Collection via Albuquerque Library
May 9, 2020, Age 87, Bone Cancer
Born Richard Wayne Penniman, the singer & piano player cut a number of hits that set the template for rock ‘n’ roll: “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Lucille,” and “Good Golly Miss Molly.” LIttle Richard came up with the iconic “a wop bob alu bob a wop bam boom” chorus while washing dishes at a Greyhound bus station in Macon, GA. His influence reaches musicians from Elton John to the Beatles to the Rolling Stones to Prince. Fellow rock icon Jerry Lee Lewis said in a statement following the news of Richard’s death: “He will live on always in my heart with his amazing talent and his friendship! He was one of a kind and I will miss him dearly.”
Master of the blues guitar, mentored by Willie Dixon, he recorded his first record when he was only five years old and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at the age of six. During his 50 year career as a professional musician, he toured and recorded such greats as Etta James, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Little Milton.
Jimmy Cobb was the last surviving member of Miles Davis’ First Great Sextet. His playing on “Kind of Blue” contributed to its iconic status and undeniable bounce. He also played on canonical Davis albums like Sketches of Spain and In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk. Cobb accompanied high profile acts such as Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington before joining forces with Miles Davis in the late 1950s.
On Friday, July 17, 2020, we lost two civil rights icons: Rev. C.T. Vivian and Congressman John Lewis. The proximity of their passing brings to light the startling correlation and commonalities between these two leaders and activists.
Both men were inspired by hearing Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and were galvanized to join the nonviolent civil rights movement of the ‘60s. They attended American Baptist College in Nashville, and Rev. Vivian became a minister.
Vivian was a field general for King and later became the national director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Lewis founded and led the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
They were warriors in the fight for racial equality, getting arrested and suffering blows and wounds multiple times over the course of their lives. They were beaten and spit on during freedom rides and lunch counter sit-ins. Vivian was punched in the face by Sheriff Clark outside the Selma courthouse during a voting rights drive. Lewis’s skull was cracked when he was struck by an Alabama state trooper at the March on Selma. Vivian was almost killed in St. Augustine during a peaceful protest. Lewis was left unconscious in a pool of his own blood outside the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Montgomery after an attack by hundreds of white people.
Vivian helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, and Lewis was one of the speakers.
Vivian received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2013. Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2011.
“I am going to fight it and keep fighting for the Beloved Community. We still have many bridges to cross.”
July 25, 2020, Age 43, Complications from Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
Though Lady Red was not chosen for Ru Paul’s Drag Race, her impact was unforgettable. She was selected to co-host the talk show “Hey Qween!” which rose in parallel with “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” A self-described transgender woman, other young drag performers looked up to her, earning her the nickname “Mother Hen.”
Charles Evers, Civil Rights Activist, Older Brother to Medgar Evers
Source: Wikimedia Commons
July 22, 2020, Age 97, Natural Causes
Charles Evers was very different from his brother Medgar. He was a small time numbers runner and bootlegger who got run out of Mississippi to continue operations in Chicago. It all changed when his civil rights activist brother was assassinated. Charles Evers quit the rackets and replaced Medgar as the Mississippi field director of the N.A.A.C.P. He went on to change the racial face of politics in the state by leading Mississippi’s first integrated delegation to the Democratic National Convention and becoming the state’s first Black mayor since Reconstruction.
“Had he been born another color or in a more rational age, Charles Evers might have become a celebrated tycoon. He has a star salesman’s glibness, a trailblazer’s tenacity and the chutzpah of a P.T. Barnum.”
Malik Abdul-Basit was best known as Malik B., an early member of The Roots. He joined Questlove and Black Thought in the early 1990s and worked on the first four albums. His final album as a member of The Roots, Things Fall Apart, was a high mark for the band, earning a Grammy for “You Got Me” and selling over 1 million in the U.S.
Randall Kenan’s award-winning fiction blended myth and magic, set in a small Southern town similar to the one he grew up in. He died just three weeks before his short story collection, “If I Had Two Wings,” was selected as one of 10 nominees for the National Book Award for fiction. He won the 1992 Lambda Literary Award for gay fiction. His other honors include a Guggenheim fellowship; a Whiting Award for emerging writers, in 1994; and, in 2002, the John Dos Passos Prize, given by Longwood University in Virginia.
The news came on a Friday night in August that Chadwick Boseman, iconic for his role as King T’Challa aka Black Panther, died after a four-year battle with cancer. The profound shock and sorrow that followed came not only from him being so young and in the peak of his career, but also because very few people knew he had cancer to begin with. His regal performance in Black Panther, a movie that had sold-out premieres and attendees showing up in theaters dressed in African garb, was filmed after his diagnosis. Boseman worked on several other films while privately undergoing severe health struggles, including two more Avengers movies and Spike Lee’s Da Five Bloods. He was lauded by many co-stars and industry colleagues for his down to earth generosity and impeccable work ethic. (Read our interview with a local Black entrepreneur who was so moved by Chadwick’s death, she created a jewelry line in his honor.)
“He was an artist. Someone who was willing to leave his vanity, his ego, everything at the door, and serve the character. He was absolutely one hundred percent a joy to work with,” said actress and co-star Viola Davis.
For his final on screen performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (just released on Netflix), he actually learned to play the trumpet.
“You can get a lot of actors working out to fit into a role. Yeah, they’re all into that. But to take the time to learn how to play the damn trumpet, get the fingerings right, that’s crazy.”
— Branford Marsalis on Chadwick Boseman’s dedication
John Thompson was the first Black coach to win an NCAA championship, and architect of the Georgetown Hoya’s men’s basketball team. Thompson recruited and mentored some of the most influential players of our time, including Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing, and Allen Iverson—all of whom were selected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He finished his career with 596 NCAA wins.
September 11, 2020, Age 77, Complications from Coronavirus
Frederick “Toots” Hibbert was the lead singer and songwriter of Toots and the Maytals and one of reggae’s foundational figures. His versions of “I Can’t Stand the Rain” by Ann Peebles and “Country Road” by John Denver are beloved. He won the 2005 Grammy for best reggae album for True Love. He was considered a national treasure in Jamaica and conferred with the country’s fifth highest honor in 2012. On Aug. 28, 2020, Hibbert released the final album of his career, Got To Be Tough. Two days after its release, he was admitted to the hospital in Kingston.
September 16, 2020, Age 74, Health complications including Coronavirus
Stanly Crouch was a sometimes controversial yet always passionate critic of and writer on jazz music. Wynton Marsalis studied the texts of Stanley Crouch the way he did the music of Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong. Crouch’s many honors included a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant and a NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship. He was one of the more prominent guest speakers on the definitive Ken Burns PBS series Jazz.
September 23, 2020, Age 77, Complications from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Known as the “Kansas Comet,” Sayers was the youngest athlete to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. He is described as one of the best running backs of all time and an extraordinary man who overcame great adversity in his career and in life. Sayers’s fame went outside the football field due to the Emmy Award-winning 1971 television movie “Brian’s Song,” which was based on his friendship with teammate Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at 26.
“Sayers is the greatest halfback I ever saw.” —Ernie Accorsi, NFL Team Manager
Singer-songwriter and actor Johnny Nash was best known for his hit song “I Can See Clearly Now.” The song sold more than a million copies and reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. It remained number one for four weeks.
Lucille Bridges, Mother of Civil Rights Activist Ruby Bridges
Source: Wikimedia Commons
November 10, 2020, Age 86, Cancer
Lucille Bridges walked with her then 6-year-old daughter past crowds of people screaming racial slurs as Ruby became the first Black student to integrate her all-white elementary school in 1960.
“Today our country lost a hero. Brave, progressive, a champion for change. She helped alter the course of so many lives by setting me out on my path as a six year old little girl. Our nation lost a Mother of the Civil Rights Movement today. And I lost my mom. I love you and am grateful for you. May you Rest In Peace.”
A barber’s son, David Dinkins became New York City’s first Black mayor in 1989. During a time when the city was racked with racial strife and violent crimes, Dinkins easily beat his incumbent in the primary and opponent Rudolph Giuliani in the November election. He lasted for one term. Due in part to his handling of the Crown Heights riots, voters favored Giuliani in the next election.
December 12, 2020, Age 86, Complications from Coronavirus
Though other Black country musicians preceded him, Charley Pride was country music’s first Black superstar. In 1971, just four years after releasing his first hit record “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin,” he won the Country Music Association’s entertainer of the year award — the genre’s highest honor.
He scored 52 Top 10 country hits, including 29 Number Ones, and was the first African-American performer to appear on the Grand Ole Opry stage since Deford Bailey made his debut in the 1920s. In 2000, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Just a month before his death, he was awarded the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMAs. On a sobering note, he contracted Coronavirus after performing at the CMAs. Unlike other recent awards shows, the CMAs contained an in person audience, most of whom were not wearing masks.
Jazz pianist Stanley Cowell worked with Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, and Roy Haynes. His first album, released in 1969, contains elements of black history and pride. His 2015 album, “Juneteenth” featured original pieces inspired by the African-American struggle for empowerment and freedom.
In the wake of the seemingly insurmountable challenges faced by the Black community in 2020, the New Mexico Black Leadership Council reviews major successes and looks ahead to the new year.
The mission of the New Mexico Black Leadership Council is to create a hub that fosters a viable and sustainable social profit sector designed to serve the Black community in the state of New Mexico. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resurgence of violent racist attacks, and the fear and vitriol surrounding the election show that the work of our organization is more necessary than ever. The horrifying events of this year heightened the need for flexibility, ingenuity, determination, and collaboration to rise to the occasion and accomplish the goals towards our vision. In the face of so many obstacles, our community-based advocacy, focus on inter-connectivity, and ongoing development proved to be a strong and sustainable methodology.
Launching a hub organization to serve New Mexico’s Black/African American community
New Mexico Black Leadership Council Open House
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council kicked off 2020 with a January 16th inaugural launch party at the newly expanded southeast heights location. Despite the afternoon snow storm, the community showed up strong for the open house. The space was filled to capacity as everyone listened to music, enjoyed refreshments, and toured the office. Attendees packed the conference room and lined the halls to hear the NMBLC leadership announce an exciting initiative: to create a viable and sustainable social profit sector for the Black community.
Leaders from the business, educational, legislative, and social sectors learned about NMBLC’s focus areas and affiliate organizations, including the New Mexico Black Mental Health Coalition, the New Mexico Black History Organizing Committee, Community Mentor Network, Young Black Professionals of Albuquerque, and The Syndicate ABQ. The celebration clearly presented an empowering change in how the New Mexico Black community will operate and flourish from that moment forward. Since the launch, NMBLC has become the largest Black led, non-governmental social profit in New Mexico, generating $500,000 in annual revenue. In October, NMBLC engaged a Black owned firm to transition from fiscal sponsorship to independent management.
“We are moving from a deficit mentality to an assets based strategy.”
—Shawna Brown, NMBLC Deputy Director
Illuminating mental health issues faced by Black New Mexicans
NMBLC Mental Health Conference
The second annual New Mexico Black Mental Health Conference was held on January 31 and February 1, 2020 at the University of New Mexico. The conference was sponsored by the New Mexico Black Leadership Council with practitioners from the NM Black Mental Health Coalition. The conference educates mental health providers, policy makers, consumers and supporters about primary mental health issues affecting Black New Mexicans. It also serves as a network and resource for people seeking Black mental health care professionals.
150 participants attended the two day conference. The two targeted tracks offered CEUs to both practitioners and community members. Attendees also took advantage of workshops facilitated by NMBMHC providers and interactive breakout sessions, all free of charge.
Nationally renowned speakers highlighted the theme of stereotypical burdens placed on Black people and the detrimental fallout of those societal pressures. Keynote speaker Dr. Angela Neal Barnett’s presentation “I’m Not Your SuperWoman: DeBunking the Myth/Trope of the Angry Black Woman” showed how the relentless defensive mask worn by Black women covers up deep fractures in their physical and mental health. In “John Henryism in the New Millenium: Black Men in America,” Dr. Napoleon Wells warned that the celebrated drive towards and expectation of Black excellence is, quite literally, lethal.
“The punchline is, you must perform exceptionally until you DIE.”
—Dr. Napoleon Wells on John Henryism and the Black obligation to overachieve.
Celebrating Black culture and contributions in New Mexico
New Mexico Black History Month Festival
The theme of the 2020 New Mexico Black History Month Festival was “And Justice for All.” In addition to the NM Black Mental Health Conference, the festival lineup included the One New Mexico Gospel Concert with Kelontae Gavin; the Omega Psi Phi Talent Hunt Competition, the Asante Awards and Kumbuka Celebration, and The Syndicate’s Blk Future Skate Night.
At the Talent Hunt Competition, 11 students were mentored by professional performing and visual artists. $2,000 in scholarships were awarded for winning youth.
NM Black History Organizing Committee presented this year’s Asante Awards to honored storytellers Linda Piper and Juba Clayton. Linda Piper is the founder and artistic director of Tapestry Players, a multicultural theatre company in Albuquerque. Juba Clayton employs stories to educate, empower, advocate, inspire, affirm and celebrate our communities.
The evening culminated in a free event for the community with soul-stirring performances by vocalists Cathy McGill, Josef Scott, Gene Corbin, Toni Morgan, Rebecca Arscott, and Michael Herndon; dancers Gabi Rojas, Rujeko Dumbutshena, Karen Price and Trey Pickett; and narrators Angela Littleton, Linda Piper, and Juba Clayton.
“BLK FUTURE SK8 NIGHT was filled with so much joy, laughter, love, and light. Thank you to everyone who came thru 🦋🖤🧚🏾♂️”
Compensating New Mexico musicians and spreading the word about the 2020 Census
Tiny Census Concerts
NMBLC teamed up with iCountNM to produce the Tiny Census Concert series. Inspired by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, this series of online concerts highlighted New Mexico’s favorite creatives in support of participation in the Census.
Hosted by KNME’s Gene Grant, each concert featured up to 8 artists across multiple categories including musicians, dancers, spoken word artists, and visual artists. Between each performance, invited guests shared why a complete 2020 Census count truly matters. The series, sponsored by Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Complete Count Committee, was a big hit during the isolation of the early days of the pandemic, with over 17,000 views. It also provided much needed income for 37 New Mexican musicians and artists who abruptly found themselves out of work as gigs were cancelled at a 100% rate. For many of the artists who participated in the TCC, the $1000 compensation was some of the only money coming in and allowed them to pay rent and stock their refrigerators.
“This $1000 I’m getting paid by TCC means I get to keep my home and breathe a little easier for at least another month. I’ll use the money for rent and to get the books I need to study for my comprehensive exam and finish my doctorate.”
—Lazarus Letcher, Musician/Singer-songwriter
Building leadership and self-confidence in youth
Roots Summer Leadership Academy
As the pandemic swept the globe unabated, the NMBLC crew grappled with how or whether their signature summer camp could happen this year. During these unprecedented times, however, the power of collaboration and community made 2020 Roots Summer Leadership Academy unforgettable.
The format and logistics were modified to make the camp COVID-19 compliant, with a mix of socially-distanced outdoor activities and online offerings. For the kids and their parents, the camp was a critical panacea during the long, difficult summer of 2020. 100% of parents said that RSLA met their expectations and that they would recommend the program to others.
The fun-filled and engaging program of art, music, dance, and STEM projects proved that the spirit of teamwork and youth development is truly unstoppable.
“It felt like hope for three weeks. It shifted our whole household dynamic. It was amazing.”
— Kim Obregon, RSLA parent
Increasing voter participation and prioritizing voter protection
New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative
The New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative (NMBVC), a non-partisan collective of over 20 local Black-led organizations, debuted with the launch of NMBVC’s 2020 election initiative “Freedom Summer ‘20.” The goal: voter outreach, education, and mobilization.
NMBVC live streamed multiple nonpartisan roundtable discussions to amplify Black voices on election matters and collaborated with Comcast, 99.9 The Beat, and PBS to air PSAs consistently encouraging our community to Vote No Matter What and to share with the public why we vote.
“The more Black voters that the NMBVC gets to the ballot box, the more the Black community in New Mexico takes action toward representation and acting on the knowledge that our vote is our voice.” —Megan Bott, NMBVC
Through partnerships with Common Cause and the Secretary of State’s Office, the NMBVC prioritized voter safety messaging through the NMBVC and its partner’s social media platforms, and by recruitment of Election Protection volunteers to station at polling places. The NMBVC met with the City of Albuquerque’s Equity & Inclusion Department and Albuquerque Police Deputy Chief Mike Smathers to discuss what would be done at the polls to keep voters as well as any protesters safe the week of the election. NMBVC teamed up with Rude Boy Cookies to encourage the community to make the pledge to vote and in turn get a gift certificate for a free gourmet cookie.
The Collaborative distributed fact-checked information on both Republican and Democrat races. In partnership with Common Cause NM, the NMBVC placed Election Protection volunteers in zip codes with higher BIPOC populations. NMBVC created a one-stop voter resource with regularly distributed reliable voter information, educational resources, and information on get-out-the-vote events and campaigns tailored to the Black community.
Follow the NMBVC on social media for the most up to date information on Black civic engagement and voting in New Mexico:
NMBLC concluded the tumultuous year with the timely Racial Contract Lecture Series. Sponsored by Comcast, this three part, complimentary webinar series aims to help leaders of academic, government, and social profit (501c3) institutions who are invested in creating open, diverse workplaces.
Each lecture was presented by PhD professors from the University of New Mexico who have dedicated their work to addressing issues of systemic and institutional racism as well as providing strategies on how institutions can address and combat systems of oppression.
The series proved to be extremely popular. Initial registration capped out at 400 within a few days of the first announcement. The attendance rate for each lecture averaged 200 people, and around 80 people stayed on for the Q&A after each lecture. Institutions represented include UNM, APS, and various government and nonprofit organizations.
“I very much appreciate the effort to bring great sessions with great thinking to our communities and I hope for many more of these going forward.”
— Racial Contract Lecture Series Attendee
2021 Goals and Programs in the works
Chisholm Table
Named for Shirley Chisholm, the Chisholm Table initiative will convene leaders of Black organizations to change our community from the inside out.
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
— Shirley Chisholm
In addition to bringing our own chairs, we are building a new table. The Black community has been invisible in the state of New Mexico for far too long. Help us build visibility in our state so that we can capture a full picture of the people and organizations that are doing the work to change our community from the inside out.
See Something, Do Something
The See Something, Do Something violence prevention and intervention program focuses on the International District.
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council is creating a spectrum of advocacy to engage landlords, residents, business owners, community benefit organizations, and neighborhood associations in addressing issues that are prevalent in the International District to promote community vibrancy and deal with root causes.
You Make it All Possible
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and its work is made possible by sponsorships from forward-thinking organizations and by the generous support of community members like you. Thanks to you, the NMBLC officially launched and made huge strides in fulfilling its mission to serve the Black community in the areas of mental health, youth development, civic engagement, cultural vibrancy, and leadership development. Much work remains to be done, and you can help make that possible. Consider an end of year donation to the New Mexico Black Leadership, and join us on our continuing journey to create a space to thrive for all New Mexicans.
