By Jennifer Warren
It was the day before Father’s Day at Jamaica’s Roy Wilkins Park. It was also a day for Democratic council candidates to court, famous rap stars to sermonize and for kids to frolic with dad.
City council candidate James Blake, who is seeking to replace Juanita Watkins (D-Laurelton) for the 31st Councilmanic District, led a Panamanian drum and bugle corps down Merrick Avenue Saturday as part of 6th annual pre-Father’s Day celebration.
Erica Ford, who is running for the 27th CD seat held by Archie Spigner (D-St. Albans), organized the CODE Foundation’s 7th annual Family Day. CODE represents a new code to live by, said Ford, sporting a T-shirt with CODE’s tenets: No Snitching, No Drug Dealing, No Killing, Look Out For Each other.
Inside the Roy Wilkins Family Center, council candidate Ed Lewis — who is seeking Watkins’ seat — and the Jamaica Branch of the NAACP sponsored a job fair attended by several vendors. Among those hiring were the AirTrain’s Bombardier Transportation, MetLife insurance, the Marines and the New York City Police Department.
Also wending her way through the park was Helen Cooper-Gregory, a council candidate for Spigner’s seat. And strolling by her side was St. Albans Democratic district leader Henry McCoy, represents the 33rd District.
Blake, leading off his “Fathers with Their Families” march down Merrick Avenue, took a blow horn in hand and hollered to slowing traffic and onlookers. “What do we want? Fathers. How do we want them? Strong.”
The modest parade, comprised of the 25-member Panamanian drum and bugle corps, political supporters and graduates from the V.I.P. internship program Blake founded, made its way from 230th Street down Merrick Boulevard. It finished up the 2.5-mile journey with a picnic in Roy Wilkins Park.
Blake, with his infant grandchild perched on his shoulder, said the march was designed to show young men in the community that there are fathers who take responsibility for their children and who are proud of it.
“We have a serious crisis in terms of the lack of involvement,” Blake said. “You will find a lot of single women struggle in families without the help of the father — economically and in the supervision of the children.”
Darting to and from the stage in anticipation of rap star LL Cool J, a St. Albans native, Ford said the CODE Family Day was established in part to memorialize family members killed by drugs or violence over the years. “Our brothers and sisters, so we don’t forget the ones we lost,” Ford said.
Late in the afternoon LL Cool J pulled into the park in a black stretch limo. He ascended the outdoor stage where he spoke for a few minutes and drew raffle tickets for a summer basketball camp he sponsors.
LL Cool J told the hoard of youngsters pressing against the stage to stay in school, to help the elderly in their community and to keep faith.
“I want to make sure you keep your dreams alive. Make sure you believe in yourself. Believe in God and keep faith,” he said. Before receding back into his limo he pronounced “one community one love.”
During his St. Albans years when LL Cool J was James Todd Smith, he attended IS 238 and Andrew Jackson High School, said manager Tony Rome.
Roy Wilkins Family Center manager Leroy Temple oversaw the day’s events with the help of his children. Surrounded by his sons Christopher, 4, Majestic, 6, Bryan, 7, and Avery, 11, Temple said his offspring often took advantage of the park in true Father’s Day fashion.
Reach reporter Jennifer Warren by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 155.
