Ras Baraka is our man
The quality of any administration is derived from the polity and how it makes its selection of its leaders. The city of Newark, NJ has seen its fair share of leaders and over the years New Jersey’s largest metropolis has seen its ups and downs. A city that is largely inhabited by minorities and immigrants, Newark is currently on a growth trajectory and it is about time a more active and progressive leadership is selected to provide the appropriate supervision.
The field of mayoral candidates is down to two, but Amandla insists on Ras Baraka. Baraka was born in Newark and knows the city as well as the city knows him. He has the pedigree for revolutionary leadership. He is the son of the legendary scholar and poet Amiri Baraka. Ras, like his father, is a man of the people.
His concern for the unemployed and the poor and underserved in Newark is legendary. Mr. Baraka’s blueprint for crime and employment and economic development if elected is a reflection of his deep concern and profound knowledge of the problems facing his people in Newark.
But this appeal goes also to the African community in Newark. Ras Baraka has been a keen supporter. He it was who took up the request for the renaming of the Empire Street in South Newark as the Ghanaian Way, the only northeastern city to so honor Ghanaians. He is the reason Africans have to come out in our numbers to exercise our franchise. Let us vote Ras Baraka for mayor, folks.
As we endorse Ras, we also remember Councilwoman-at-Large Mildred Crump. Affectionately known as Ghana girl, Ms. Crump deserves another chance. She has served Newark well. She combines her onerous task as Council President with her concern and work for the African community. She has provided material and financial help to the school for the blind in Akwapim as well as the Tetteh Quarshie hospital at Mampong Akwapim. Her constant trips to Africa continue to endear her to the African people, including African immigrants in her constituency.
Together with Ras Baraka, and the others on the slate, they can provide a powerful bulwark behind the African community in the city of Newark.
As a major mouthpiece of the African community in the area, Amandla is strongly appealing to the African bloc to ensure that this year becomes a year when we exercise our franchise to influence Newark’s leadership. Doing that would remove the tag of underserved and ignored. We shall earn our respect by voting right. After all we are all part of the process and so continuing to sit on the fence does not do us any good. Our voice has been muffled for far too long. It is fair and just right to join the political process.
Let us all join hands to elect Ras Baraka as our mayor. He deserves our vote. And don’t forget the Ghana Girl and Wayne Smith in nearby Irvington.
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