Linda's Blogspot

The article below  connects the history of Kajoor, Lat Dior, French colonialism, and the peanut trade. It explores how the transition from caravans to railroads changed Senegal's agricultural economy. Peanuts, Railroads, and Resistance: The Story of Kajoor and Lat Dior How an Agricultural Commodity Became Connected to French Colonial Expansion in Senegal When we study African history, we often learn about European colonization without examining the economic interests that motivated it. The history of Kajoor, a Wolof kingdom in what is now Senegal, provides an opportunity to understand the relationship between agriculture, international trade, transportation, and colonial power. At the center of this history are four important subjects: Kajoor, its ruler Lat Dior, French colonial officials Louis Faidherbe and Colonel Louis Alexandre Brière de l'Isle, and the growing international peanut trade. Together, their stories reveal how an agricultural commodity helped transform Senegal...

  How Colonialism, the Slave Trade, and Cash Crops Reshaped West Africa An overview of the forces that undermined West African societies and landscapes, from the slave trade to colonial cash-crop economies. Chancellor Williams and The Destruction of Black Civilization Chancellor Williams (1893-1992) was an African American historian, sociologist, and educator who taught at Howard University and did extensive field research in Africa. His best-known book, The Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of a Race from 4500 B.C. to 2000 A.D. (1971), argues that the Nile Valley was a cradle of civilization and that ancient Egypt was a Black civilization whose achievements were later credited to others. The book moves chronologically. It starts with Nile Valley origins, then covers invasions by the Hyksos, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans. It goes on to the Arab conquests, the Arab and trans-Saharan slave trades, European colonialism, and the Atlantic slave trade. Along the ...

  Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal Opens New Immigrant Welcome Center in Harlem ​In an effort to expand direct community services in Upper Manhattan, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal launched the Manhattan Immigrant Welcome Center housed inside the Borough President’s Northern Manhattan Office in Harlem. ​The facility is designed as a centralized "one-stop shop" to ensure that immigrant New Yorkers have a safe, accessible environment where they can secure essential guidance, legal assistance, and social services. ​Key Services Provided at the Welcome Center ​The center operates Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. , connecting individuals and families with critical city programs: ​ Free Legal Assistance: Provides legal referrals for status navigation, deportation defense resources, and legal counsel. ​ Healthcare Enrollment: Connects families with local healthcare programs (including NYC Care), local medical clinics, a...

  ​ Shams DaBaron: From Lived Experience to Housing Activism and Real Estate Development ​ Shams DaBaron , widely recognized across New York City by his advocacy names "Da Homeless Hero" and "Da Housing Hero," is a Black housing advocate, policy activist, speaker, and real estate developer. Born and raised in the South Bronx, DaBaron has transformed his decades of lived experience within New York City’s foster care and shelter systems into a powerful force for urban policy reform and community development. ​Early Life and Family Background ​ Upbringing: Born and raised in the South Bronx, DaBaron experienced systemic hardship from an early age. ​ Child Welfare & Foster Care: His mother struggled with substance addiction during her pregnancy, leading to DaBaron being placed into New York City’s foster care system around the age of two. ​ Early Housing Instability: Without a permanent home placement during his early childhood years, DaBaron first expe...

One45 project in Harlem. ​The Development Team & Companies ​The project is driven by a development partnership operating under the joint entity One 45 Lenox LLC : ​ Lead Developer & Primary Representative: Bruce Teitelbaum ​Teitelbaum is a seasoned New York City real estate developer and attorney who previously served as Chief of Staff to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He and his wife, Suri Kasirer (a major NYC lobbyist), lead the development group. ​ Partner Entities & Developers: ​ LionFox Development (co-developer) ​ Coltown Properties (co-developer / real estate investment group) ​ Pointsfive (co-developer) ​ Architectural & Design Firm: ​ SHoP Architects — A major NYC-based architecture firm responsible for designing the three-building layout and high-rise structures. ​Key Financial Details & Scale ​ Estimated Total Project Cost: Estimated between $700 million and $1 billion for full site acquisition, environmental remediatio...

  One45 project in Harlem  The One45 project (also commonly referred to as One45 for Harlem or the 145th Street project) is a major mixed-use residential development located at the corner of West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue (Malcolm X Blvd) in Central Harlem. ​Key Project Highlights ​ Location: Corner of West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue, directly adjacent to the 145th St 3 subway station. ​ Developers & Design: Spearheaded by developer Bruce Teitelbaum (One 45 Lenox LLC) alongside LionFox Development, Coltown Properties, and Pointsfive, with architectural design by SHoP Architects . ​ Scale & Units: Approximately 1,000 apartments spread across three buildings. ​ Affordable Housing Component: The approved proposal designates at least 338 units as permanently affordable , including a dedicated 100% affordable senior housing building (90 units). ​Project Timeline & History Year and Event  2022 Initial Rejection: The original ...