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Articles by Brooklyn Reader
Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?
This year, Labor Day is celebrated on Monday, September 7, with workers nationwide taking the day off in celebration of their contributions to the country. The day first became a federal holiday in 1894 -- at the height of the industrial revolution -- after being fought for the labor movement through strikes, protests and general unrest. At the time the holiday was signed into law, the average American was working 12 hour days seven days a week, and children as young as 5 or 6 were put to work.
Feb 26: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher Wallace was born in Brooklyn, on May 21, 1972. He publicly claimed Bedford-Stuyvesant as his neighborhood, despite growing up on St. James Place in neighboring Clinton Hill (the area was considered Bedford-Stuyvesant at that time). Wallace — popularly known as Biggie Smalls, Big Poppa, The Black Frank White, and his primary stage name, The Notorious B.I.G. — is one of the greatest (some would argue he was the greatest) and most influential rappers of all time.
Feb 25: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan Murphy was born Apr. 3, 1961, in Bushwick to Lillian Lynch, a telephone operator, and Charles Edward Murphy, a transit police officer who was also an amateur comedian and actor. His brothers are Charlie Murphy and Vernon Lynch Jr. Their father died in 1969 when Murphy was eight. When Murphy's single mother became ill, the eight-year-old Murphy and his older brother Charlie lived in foster care for one year.
Feb 24: Black History Maker, Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane, born Antonio Hardy on Sept. 10, 1968, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, is widely considered one of the most skilled MCs and charismatic entertainers in hip-hop. Not only was he a gifted lyricist, but he was also a class act, always dressed "to the nines," effectively changing the face of hip hop fashion. In fact, many would argue that Big Daddy Kane was the reigning sex symbol/icon of the Golden Age of Hip-Hop.
Feb 22: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Jay-Z
One of the greatest, most successful hip-hop artists of all time, Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1969, in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Carter's father, Adnes Reeves, left the family when Carter was only 11 years old. The young rapper was raised by his mother, Gloria Carter, in Brooklyn's drug-infested Marcy Projects. He had a rough adolescence, detailed in many of his autobiographical songs.
Feb 21: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Dr. Susan McKinney Steward
A true American pioneer, Dr. Susan McKinney Steward was the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the state of New York. Born in Crown Heights — then known as Crown Hill — in 1847, McKinney Steward was the seventh of ten children born to Sylvanus and Anne Smith, early settlers of Weeksville and prosperous pork farmers.
Feb 20: Black History Maker, Spike Lee
Actor, director, producer and writer Spike Lee was born Shelton Jackson Lee on Mar. 20, 1957, in Atlanta, Ga. and soon moved to Fort Greene. Growing up in a relatively well-off African-American family, Lee was making amateur films by age 20. "I didn't dream about being a director," said Lee.
Feb 19: Black History Maker, MC Lyte
Rapper MC Lyte was born Lana Moorer on Oct. 11, 1971 in Queens and raised in the East Flatbush. She began rapping when she was 12, learning from her brothers Milk and Gizmo of the rap group Audio Two. Her father, Nat Robinson, started the First Priority record label in 1987 and her brothers appeared on her first three albums.
Feb 18: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Mike Tyson
Michael "Mike" Gerard Tyson was born in Bedford Stuyvesant on Jun. 30, 1966, to Purcell Tyson and Lorna Mae Smith. Tyson was one of the three children in his family. He had an older brother Rodney and a sister Denise, as well as a half-brother, Jimmie Lee. The family lived in Bedford Stuyvesant until their financial burdens necessitated a move to Brownsville when Tyson was 10 years old.
Feb 17: Brooklyn Black History Maker, June Jordan
Poet, playwright and essayist June Jordan was one of the most widely published and highly acclaimed African-American writers of her generation. Born July 9, 1936, in Harlem, New York, Jordan was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Her future was shaped, for better and for worse, by her relationship with her father. She described her childhood in her 1999 memoir, Solider: A Poet's Childhood.
Feb 16: Black History Maker, Jackie Robinson
Longtime Bedford-Stuyvesant resident Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers. Robinson excelled early in all sports. Jackie Robinson attended UCLA where he became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. In 1941, he was named to the All-American football team. However, due to financial difficulties, he was forced to leave college and eventually decided to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Feb 14: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Chris Rock
Comedian and actor Chris Rock was born on February 7, 1965, in Andrews, South Carolina. Rock is the eldest son of Julius Rock, a truck driver, and Rose Rock, a teacher. When Rock was a toddler, his family relocated to Bedford Stuyvesant, where he spent the remainder of his childhood. He attended a predominantly white public school and, as a result, was subjected to discrimination at an early age. Rock's early bouts with racism greatly influenced his comedic material later on in his career.
Feb 13: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Aaliyah
Singer and actress Aaliyah was born Dana Haughton, on Jan. 16, 1979, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The youngest child of Diane and Michael Haughton, Aaliyah means "highest, most exalted one" in Arabic. When Aaliyah was five years old, her family moved to Detroit where she was raised along with her older brother, Rashad. Aaliyah's mother was a vocalist and her uncle, Barry Hankerson, was an entertainment lawyer who was previously married to the singer Gladys Knight.
Feb 12: Black History Maker, Richie Havens
Richard P. "Richie" Havens was born Jan. 21, 1941, in Bedford-Stuyvesant. At an early age, he began organizing his neighborhood friends into street corner doo-wop groups and was performing with The McCrea Gospel Singers at 16. At the age of 20, Havens left Brooklyn to seek out the artistic stimulation of Greenwich Village. "I saw the Village as a place to escape to in order to express yourself," he recalled.
Happy MLK Day! 9 Surprising Facts About Martin Luther King, Jr
On Monday, January 19, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There's a lot we know about this iconic civil rights leader. But here are nine things you probably did not know: Civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. skipped 9th and 12th grade, entering Morehouse college when he was fifteen years old. He received his B. A.
Feb 8: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes, born Trevor George Smith Jr. in East Flatbush on May 20, 1972, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor and record executive. Rhymes, whose parents both hailed from Jamaica, briefly attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn with rappers Biggie and Jay-Z, before moving to Uniondale in Long Island with his family.
Best Holiday Recipe: Vegan Eggnog
Time for Christmas Cuisinart! Today's holiday recipe is for the lactose-intolerant, vegans and for those looking to avoid dairy.
Feb 23: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Chris Rock
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Feb 21: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Carmelo Anthony
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Feb 15: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Gabourey Sidibe
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Feb 7: Brooklyn Black History Maker, Gabourey Sidibe
Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, the star of the movie Precious (2009), was born in Bedford-Stuyvesant on May 6, 1983. Her mother was a former special education teacher who gave up her career and became a street performer, while her father, from Senegal, worked as a cab driver. Her parents divorced when she was young, and Sidibe moved to Harlem with her mother. Though she was cast in school plays as a child, Sidibe initially had no interest in acting.
Feb 10: Brooklyn Black History Maker, William C. Thompson Sr.
New York State Supreme Court Justice and Brooklyn's first African-American state senator, William "Bill" C. Thompson Sr. was born Oct. 26, 1924, in New York City and raised in Crown Heights. The son of Caribbean immigrants was a graduate of Franklin K. Lane High School and Brooklyn College before earning his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1954. After being admitted to the bar in 1955, he began practicing with a specialization in criminal law before dedicating his life to public service.
Multiple people hurt in 3-alarm Brooklyn fire, 1 critically: FDNY
Be the first to know. Our local reporters are on the ground covering the news that matters most to Brooklyn and the area. Receive their stories each day by signing up for our free daily newsletter, which delivers the latest local news directly to your inbox every afternoon. Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
U-Haul driver's NYC 'rampage' leaves 1 dead, 7 hurt
A man driving a U-Haul truck swerved onto sidewalks and plowed into scooter riders in New York City on Monday, killing one person and injuring seven others before police were able to pin the careening vehicle against a building following a mileslong pursuit through Brooklyn. A 44-year-old man was pronounced […] Click here to view original web page at newjersey.news12.com
Brooklyn politicians slam state for failing to redesign major stretches of BQE
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso blasted the state Transportation Department Monday for failing to plan for a redesign of portions of the BQE that cut through Williamsburg, Greenpoint and portions of southern Brooklyn, despite the availability of federal funding. “The state DOT and our governor have decided to relegate these […] Click here to view original web page at www.nydailynews.com
Brooklyn doctor tackles health disparities in Black community
Skip to content Home » Brooklyn doctor tackles health disparities in Black community In celebration of Black History Month, News 12 is highlighting a Brooklyn doctor who’s using education to tackle health disparities in the African American community. Dr. Matthew Smith is a urologist at NYC Health and Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health.
Missing Teen Found Dead on Brooklyn Train Tracks, Burned With Gunshot Wound to Head
A missing 19-year-old student was found dead on Brooklyn train tracks, police said, his body badly burned with a gunshot wound to the head. The grisly discovery was made Tuesday by police, near Nostrand Avenue in Midwood. The person was later identified as DeAndre Matthews, and the medical examiner revealed […] Click here to view original web page at www.nbcnewyork.com
Brooklyn doctor tackles health disparities in African American community
In celebration of Black History Month, News 12 is highlighting a Brooklyn doctor who’s using education to tackle health disparities in the African American community. Dr. Matthew Smith is a urologist at NYC Health and Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health. Dr. Smith says he fell in love with medicine at a young age, […] Click here to view original web page at westchester.news12.com
10 Ghost Signs of Brooklyn
Paramount Fish Market, 300 Knickerbocker Avenue Ghost signs are the faded ads that have improbably survived wind, rain, snow, graffiti, and the wrecking ball to provide clues to what life was like decades ago. A surprising number of ghost signs remain in Downtown and Uptown Manhattan , but Brooklyn […] Click here to view original web page at untappedcities.com
Subway shover pushes man, 66, onto train tracks in Brooklyn
Exploring the Shared History of the BK NAACP and The Black Church: How to Meet The Moment During its 100-year celebration, the Brooklyn NAACP is hosting a series on its longstanding relationship with the Black church in Brooklyn.
Deadly shootings in Canarsie spark protest, call for anti-gun crackdown
Members of one Brooklyn community gathered to speak out against gun violence and call for stronger anti-violence initiatives in the city. It comes after the recent killings of two people in their neighborhood in Canarsie and amid a particularly violent weekend in the five boroughs. The […] Click here to view original web page at abc7ny.com
MTA worker sprayed with 'unknown substance' in Brooklyn subway
Skip to content Home » MTA worker sprayed with ‘unknown substance’ in Brooklyn subway The NYPD is looking for a man they said sprayed a female MTA employee with an “unknown substance” while she was inside the conductor’s car on a subway train. The alleged incident happened back on Jan. 26 around 11:10 p.m. on a southbound “C” train at the […]
Heron Preston FW23 Glam Was the Revival of "Bushwick Beauty"
Skip to content Home » Heron Preston FW23 Glam Was the Revival of “Bushwick Beauty” New York City is one of those places where anywhere of the five boroughs can be very “New York,” that’s the standard. Each borough from uptown Bronx down to Brooklyn, has its own sense of style and individuality. Speaking to this was designer Heron Preston who for his Fall/Winter […]
Subway shover pushes man, 66, onto train tracks in Brooklyn
Skip to content Home » Subway shover pushes man, 66, onto train tracks in Brooklyn An attacker shoved a man onto train tracks at a Brooklyn subway station on Sunday afternoon, police said. The victim, 66, was at the President Street station when a man pushed him onto the tracks around 3:50 p.m., an NYPD spokesman said. […]
3 Hurt in 2-Alarm Fire on E 93rd Street
Rapper MC Lyte was born Lana Moorer on October 11, 1971 in Queens and raised in the East Flatbush. She began rapping when she was 12, learning from her brothers Milk and Gizmo of the rap group Audio Two. Her father, Nat Robinson, started the First Priority record label in 1987, and her brothers appeared on her first three albums. BROOKLYN, NY・13 HOURS AGO
3 Hurt in 2-Alarm Fire on E 93rd Street
A building fire was reported to police in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, on the evening of February 9. At approximately 7:17 p.m, fire crews were sent to the fire on East 93rd Street. Reports show the fire happened at a building in the 700 block […] Click here to view original web page at metrolaw.com
Teen Struck by Vehicle, Injured on Flatbush Ave Ext in Fort Greene
Reports so that a teenager was injured after being hit by a motor vehicle on Thursday morning, February 9th. At approximately 10:28 a.m., emergency crews were summoned to the scene of an auto-pedestrian collision on Flatbush Avenue Extension. Authorities say that an unidentified teen […] Click here to view original web page at localaccidentreports.com
NYC rents hit record January levels, with Brooklyn and Manhattan costs soaring: report
NYC shoplifting hit record highs last year: ‘We can’t stop them’ In New York, everything’s a five-finger discount these days. The Big Apple has become a shoplifter’s paradise — with reported retail thefts hitting record levels for the second year in a row in 2022, a Post analysis of police data shows. The number of shoplifting complaints surged to more than 63,000 last year — a 45% jump over the roughly 45,000 reported in 2021 and a nearly 275% jump compared to the mid-2000s, the statistics show.
Grieving Brooklyn mom demands justice in murder of missing 19-year-old son: ‘I just want them to catch this monster’
The heartbroken mom of a missing 19-year-old man found burned and shot in the head near a desolate section of train track in Brooklyn has a message to the person who ended her son’s life. “Whoever you are, you killed an innocent, sweet kid,” Daniella Matthews scrawled on a Daily […] Click here to view original web page at www.nydailynews.com
NYC rents hit record January levels, with Brooklyn and Manhattan costs soaring: report
The rent’s really too damn high. A newly-released report indicates the average city rents and rent per square foot soared last month, with record January median highs of more than $4,000 a month reported in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The median Manhattan rent climbed to more than $4,097 last month, the third-highest […] Click here to view original web page at www.nydailynews.com
Mayor Adams blames rat infestation at his Brooklyn home on neighbor
Mayor Eric Adams blamed the rat problem at his Brooklyn home on a neighbor Thursday, arguing at a hearing that he shouldn’t be on the hook for $1,200 in fines for the infestation. The hearing in the city’s administrative law court, OATH, was Adams’ […] Click here to view original web page at gothamist.com
Missing Brooklyn teen found dead with burns, gunshot wound to head
A teenager reported missing by his parents was discovered the next day shot in the head and with severe burn wounds, cops said Thursday. Deandre Matthews, 19, disappeared from his East Flatbush home around 5:45 p.m. Monday, police said. The next day, he was found on the freight train tracks on […] Click here to view original web page at news.yahoo.com
Brooklyn tenants call on landlord to fix damaged apartments after fire
Skip to content Home » Brooklyn tenants call on landlord to fix damaged apartments after fire Neighbors in Prospect Lefferts Gardens are organizing after a fire broke out on the top floor of a five-story apartment building back in December. The road to recovery continues as many neighbors are working with the Flatbush Tenants Coalition aiming to put pressure on the landlord for apartments that were […]
Brooklyn U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman hosts first-ever ‘Bagel Caucus’
Brooklyn-based U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman has launched a new House caucus with a vital function, introducing lawmakers from less-lucky states to proper New York bagels. Goldman’s […] Click here to view original web page at brooklyneagle.com
Missing Brooklyn teen found dead with burns, gunshot wound to head
Longtime Bedford-Stuyvesant resident Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers. Robinson excelled early in all sports. Jackie Robinson attended UCLA where he became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. In 1941, he was named to the All-American football team. However, due to financial difficulties, he was forced to leave college and eventually decided to enlist in the U.S. Army.
2 Students Shot Outside Williamsburg School: Cops, Report
New Report Finds One-Fifth of BK’s Aging Population Lives in Poverty Brooklyn now has more residents older than 65 than the entire population of any other city in the state. And more than one-in-five are living in poverty, according to a new report from The Center for an Urban Future. In the past 10 years, the number of Brooklyn residents over...
2 Students Shot Outside Williamsburg School: Cops, Report
Three people were injured in a shooting outside of a Williamsburg charter school on Wednesday afternoon. At just after 2 p.m., three people were shot near Williamsburg Charter High School at 198 Varet St. in Williamsburg, police said. […] Click here to view original web page at patch.com
Man with cane hugged and kissed 8-year-old girl in Brooklyn subway station: NYPD
A white-bearded man with a cane hugged and kissed an 8-year-old girl in a Brooklyn subway station last week, police said. The […] Click here to view original web page at pix11.com
Nets Agree to Trade Kevin Durant, Signaling End of Star-Studded Era
LOS ANGELES — The Nets’ era of superstars appears to be over. The Nets have agreed to trade Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns for a package of players and first-round picks, according to a person familiar with the deal who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The agreement […] Click here to view original web page at www.nytimes.com
Bed-Stuy Photographer's Work Chosen For LinkNYC Black History Month
If you see a young girl on a LinkNYC kiosk, […] Click here to view original web page at patch.com
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