By Rich Bockmann
Last week Bayside resident and activist Mandingo Tshaka traveled with a contingent of family and friends to Albany, where he was honored by the Board of Regents of the state Department of Education for his contributions to the education of African and African diaspora history and culture.
Adelaide Sanford, who served as the board’s vice chancellor for six years, said during a phone interview that Tshaka was presented with the Sanford and Hines Families Award for Study and Research in the African Experience in New York State, the Americas and the Diaspora for his efforts in having a Flushing Cemetery recognized as an African-American burial ground, and for having the federal government recognize the role enslaved African Americans served in the construction of the Capitol building.
She said she spoke at the meeting about the importance of telling these histories to children.
“Telling a fragmented story … damages the total fabric of what we’re trying to do, particularly in light of the drop-out rate and incarceration,” she said.
Martins Field in Flushing had been a recreational park until Tshaka discovered it had been used as an African-American burial ground. He was instrumental in having the city Parks Department rename it the Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground and is currently involved in developing a memorial for the site.
At his home later that week, Tshaka said he traveled by Amtrak to the state capitol, where he was immediately impressed by the grandeur of the columns lining the state DOE building.
“I spoke about the necessity of teaching this history,” he said.
Tshaka said he had spoken earlier to teachers at MS 158, at 46-35 Oceania St.
“Do you know who built the [federal] Capitol?” he asked them. “Those in charge are the ones telling their story. Something as significant as the Capitol, the truth should be told. The Africans, they were not slaves, they were enslaved,” he said. “In those Virginia quarries, every one of those stones that had to be dragged there, that was muscle work that built those buildings and columns.”
Hanging on the wall in Tshaka’s home is a commendation from U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) for the activist’s role in recognizing the efforts of enslaved African Americans in the construction of the Capitol building. Tshaka said he would still like to see a statue of an African American put into the building’s rotunda.
“It’s not about Mandingo, it’s about getting that history out,” he said. “It’s no accident schools are closing. It’s no accident this laxity. What will it be like 20 years from now?”
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
