BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY February 12, 2022Dear Friends,Each February, we celebrate Black History Month, a time when we recognize the Black leaders, innovators, and visionaries who have paved the way for progress in our nation. As a student of our region’s deep and powerful history, I say with great reverence: Black history is American history. So, in celebration of this year’s Black History Month, I would like to highlight just a few of the countless Black trailblazers from our very own Capital Region whose work has inextricably shaped and bettered our region and our country.Edmonia Lewis was a legendary sculptor during our Civil War, and a native of the town of Greenbush in Rensselaer County. Despite the prejudice she faced as a woman of African-American and Native American heritage, she was recognized worldwide in her time as America’s foremost female sculptor. Lewis is renowned to this day for her work incorporating themes related to Black and indigenous Americans into Neoclassical-style sculpture. I was thrilled to see this great artist and great trailblazer honored last month with her own stamp in the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage Series.Wendell King was a Troy native who “made waves” from an early age with his skill in radio broadcasting. At the age of just 12, he started one of our region’s first amateur radio stations from his home in North Troy. King attended Union College as only the second Black student in the school’s history and went on to become an engineer at General Electric in 1917, shattering barriers and fighting for racial equality in the workplace. He spent his life developing advancements in radio technology and is credited with starting the first radio station in Erie, Pennsylvania. Wendell King’s incredible story is a reminder of our Capital Region’s long history of technological innovation and development.Peter Pryor, a legendary figure in Albany’s struggle for racial equality, was born in Georgia as the grandson of a sharecropper. He escaped the Jim Crow South by enlisting in the Army during World War II, and settled in Albany at the end of the war. After graduating from Albany Law School as the institution’s first Black graduate since Reconstruction, Pryor embarked on a long and illustrious legal career working for justice by taking on anti-discrimination cases, fighting for police accountability, and serving as president and general counsel of the Albany branch of the NAACP. When Peter Pryor passed away last month, he left behind a legacy of tenacity, compassion, and unceasing devotion to the fight for a better world that continues to inspire countless people in his field of law and beyond.Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was the first Black woman to receive a doctorate degree from MIT and, in 1999, became the first Black woman to lead a top-ranked research university. Before her time at RPI, Dr. Jackson was the first Black person and the first woman to chair the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Dr. Jackson’s historic achievements in public service and her field of theoretical physics, combined with her tireless advocacy for increased Black representation in STEM fields, serve as a beacon to so many here in the Capital Region. I’m honored to be joining her today for RPI’s 23rd annual Black Families Technology Awareness Day, and I congratulate her on her well-earned upcoming retirement.There are countless more stories like these from the Capital Region and beyond, too many of which have been forgotten, ignored, or erased because of racism and prejudice. It is our obligation, both to those who have come before us and to future generations, to celebrate these individuals so their impact on our nation is never forgotten. This month and every month, let us always remember that Black history is American history. Let us draw inspiration from the courage and dedication of leaders and pioneers like Edmonia Lewis, Wendell King, Peter Pryor, and Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, who fought and overcame prejudice to reach the pinnacle of their chosen fields. And as we draw inspiration, let us continue to do the hard work of building that more perfect union and working to fulfill America’s promise of liberty and justice for all.As always, thank you for reading. Your friend, DID YOU KNOW?Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations on any and all COVID-19 related topics. With that in mind here is some information that may be of interest to you:The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now accepting applications for the 2022 Youth Preparedness Council.If you know a teen interested in preparedness and community service, please encourage them to apply.This diverse and distinguished council was created in 2012 to bring together youth leaders interested in supporting disaster preparedness and making a difference in their communities.During their one-year terms on the council, members meet with peers from across the country, build leadership skills, and participate in an annual summit where they can share their perspectives directly with FEMA leaders and staff.This opportunity is open for students in grades 8-11.Council members are chosen based on their passion for preparedness and helping others, their involvement in their community, and their ability to work in a team and as a leader.All applications are due no later than 11:59 PM on March 6thFEMA will host an applicant information session on Thursday, February 17th at 8:00 PM for those interested in learning more about the council and the application process.To learn more about the Youth Preparedness Council, please visit Ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.
February 12, 2022
Dear Friends, Each February, we celebrate Black History Month, a time when we recognize the Black leaders, innovators, and visionaries who have paved the way for progress in our nation. As a student of our region’s deep and powerful history, I say with great reverence: Black history is American history. So, in celebration of this year’s Black History Month, I would like to highlight just a few of the countless Black trailblazers from our very own Capital Region whose work has inextricably shaped and bettered our region and our country. - Edmonia Lewis was a legendary sculptor during our Civil War, and a native of the town of Greenbush in Rensselaer County. Despite the prejudice she faced as a woman of African-American and Native American heritage, she was recognized worldwide in her time as America’s foremost female sculptor. Lewis is renowned to this day for her work incorporating themes related to Black and indigenous Americans into Neoclassical-style sculpture. I was thrilled to see this great artist and great trailblazer honored last month with her own stamp in the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage Series.
- Wendell King was a Troy native who “made waves” from an early age with his skill in radio broadcasting. At the age of just 12, he started one of our region’s first amateur radio stations from his home in North Troy. King attended Union College as only the second Black student in the school’s history and went on to become an engineer at General Electric in 1917, shattering barriers and fighting for racial equality in the workplace. He spent his life developing advancements in radio technology and is credited with starting the first radio station in Erie, Pennsylvania. Wendell King’s incredible story is a reminder of our Capital Region’s long history of technological innovation and development.
- Peter Pryor, a legendary figure in Albany’s struggle for racial equality, was born in Georgia as the grandson of a sharecropper. He escaped the Jim Crow South by enlisting in the Army during World War II, and settled in Albany at the end of the war. After graduating from Albany Law School as the institution’s first Black graduate since Reconstruction, Pryor embarked on a long and illustrious legal career working for justice by taking on anti-discrimination cases, fighting for police accountability, and serving as president and general counsel of the Albany branch of the NAACP. When Peter Pryor passed away last month, he left behind a legacy of tenacity, compassion, and unceasing devotion to the fight for a better world that continues to inspire countless people in his field of law and beyond.
- Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was the first Black woman to receive a doctorate degree from MIT and, in 1999, became the first Black woman to lead a top-ranked research university. Before her time at RPI, Dr. Jackson was the first Black person and the first woman to chair the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Dr. Jackson’s historic achievements in public service and her field of theoretical physics, combined with her tireless advocacy for increased Black representation in STEM fields, serve as a beacon to so many here in the Capital Region. I’m honored to be joining her today for RPI’s 23rd annual Black Families Technology Awareness Day, and I congratulate her on her well-earned upcoming retirement.
There are countless more stories like these from the Capital Region and beyond, too many of which have been forgotten, ignored, or erased because of racism and prejudice. It is our obligation, both to those who have come before us and to future generations, to celebrate these individuals so their impact on our nation is never forgotten. This month and every month, let us always remember that Black history is American history. Let us draw inspiration from the courage and dedication of leaders and pioneers like Edmonia Lewis, Wendell King, Peter Pryor, and Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, who fought and overcame prejudice to reach the pinnacle of their chosen fields. And as we draw inspiration, let us continue to do the hard work of building that more perfect union and working to fulfill America’s promise of liberty and justice for all. As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW? Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations on any and all COVID-19 related topics. With that in mind here is some information that may be of interest to you: - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now accepting applications for the 2022 Youth Preparedness Council.
- If you know a teen interested in preparedness and community service, please encourage them to apply.
- This diverse and distinguished council was created in 2012 to bring together youth leaders interested in supporting disaster preparedness and making a difference in their communities.
- During their one-year terms on the council, members meet with peers from across the country, build leadership skills, and participate in an annual summit where they can share their perspectives directly with FEMA leaders and staff.
- This opportunity is open for students in grades 8-11.
- Council members are chosen based on their passion for preparedness and helping others, their involvement in their community, and their ability to work in a team and as a leader.
- All applications are due no later than 11:59 PM on March 6th
- FEMA will host an applicant information session on Thursday, February 17th at 8:00 PM for those interested in learning more about the council and the application process.
- To learn more about the Youth Preparedness Council, please visit Ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.
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