DATE: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2016
KITTITIAN & AMERICAN BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION (KABA)
TITLE: KABA IS BLACK HISTORY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
I wish to record and express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the officers and members of KABA for your invitation to be with you today as we celebrate Black History Month.
I am deeply honoured to be invited to speak with you; or like the late Dr. Walter Rodney would say, “To have a little grounding with the brothers and sisters!”
Almost fifty years ago today – in fact, forty-nine years ago yesterday, (27th February 1967), St. Kitts Nevis and Anguilla became a State in Association with Great Britain (Statehood). Sixteen years later, we gained our Independence and joined the family of nations. Today, I address you as the current and fifth Ambassador to the United Nations; the previous four before me being Dr. William Valentine Herbert Jr., Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore, Mr. Joseph Christmas and Mr. Frank Delano Bart, Q.C.
THE CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY IN AMERICA
The celebration of black history in America evolved from the celebration of “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator, and publisher. Fifty years later in 1976, black history became a month-long celebration. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. There are scores of successes that African Americans can boast of in every aspect of their existence.
KABA’S HISTORY
Today, we focus on KABA’s History. In doing so, I wish to recognize the founding Mothers of KABA.
Founded in New York some thirty-three years ago by Dr. Ismay Taylor, Helen M. Byron-Baker, Margaret Robinson, Vera Caines, Ada Hendrickson and Stella Winfield, the Kittitian American Benevolent Association (KABA) based in New York, has been a trailblazer in providing a vast spread of services to the Kittitian and Nevisian citizenry at home and abroad.
It is instructive that the motivation to establish KABA was the desire to rebuild the St. Kitts Public Library, which was tragically destroyed by fire in 1982. The collaboration of these founding women resulted in the collection and the shipping of over ten thousand books to St. Kitts. Located at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), the St. Kitts Public Library was built in honor of one of the island’s first writers and book salesmen, who specialized in Black History, Mr. Charles A. Halbert. From the ashes of the St. Kitts Library rose a phoenix of benevolence called KABA; a philanthropic organization dedicated to providing humanitarian services throughout the United States and the Caribbean, particularly in St. Kitts and Nevis. In addition, KABA women have made black history by bringing patrons together to serve the people of our blossoming twin island nation.
And so as we celebrate Black History, we also celebrate KABA for KABA IS BLACK HISTORY.
KABA’S WORK
KABA has been, and is continuing to be helpful, restorative and sustaining to the specific needs and general care of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. KABA has made significant contributions to the country including the donation of a fire truck to the Fire Department, Hospital Beds and Supplies to J.N.F. Hospital, Hurricane Relief, and many donations to the Red Cross. Here in New York City, KABA has also hosted and co-hosted several social and cultural events over the years that highlight the talents and vibrant spirit of the Kittitian and Nevisian culture that is alive in America.
By continuing its service to community and nation building, the work of KABA IS BLACK HISTORY.
Our own Kittitian and Nevisian heritage bears evidence of a rich History and our future looks extremely promising given the foundation laid for our current generation and the rich pool of resources that continue to be available for generations to come.
Today’s celebration of black history is an opportunity to laud the work of KABA and to encourage the visionaries of the organization to pass the baton to the next generation to ensure the years of work done for the good of others is not taken for granted. In fact, we are reminded of Alex Haley’s Thesis in his celebrated novel Roots speaking to three groups of people, “First are those you could see today - walking around, eating, sleeping, and working. Second are the ancestors, and the third people – are those waiting to be born." This truth powerfully tells of the continuum in which we live; our past and our future.
As a mark of respect for the many African American trailblazers who have helped to make America great, America’s first black President Barack Obama declared, “We recognize these champions of justice and the sacrifices they made to bring us to this point. We honor the contributions of African-Americans since our country’s beginning, and we recommit to reaching for a day when no person is judged by anything but the content of their character.” Mindful of the extreme tribulations endured by countless people of color throughout the world, we too ought to beam with pride at the accomplishments of black people today. If we fail to celebrate our accomplishments, we will be guilty of taking for granted the work of those who came before us.
Join me in applauding KABA for its work in honor of our nation’s motto of “country above self.”
KABA IS BLACK HISTORY
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