---

[Editor’s note: “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” is a six-part, six-hour documentary series by Henry Louis Gates Jr., a Harvard professor, author and critic. The series explores the 500-year history of Africans in America. It is being aired on PBS Tuesdays at 8 p.m. from Oct. 22 through Nov. 26.]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun,

I have, with some of you, just finished watching part one of  “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” on PBS [channel 13] and find myself asking, what does, what might, this mean for Asbury Park and Neptune?

Some thoughts:

1. Our community has within it persons whose histories and roots are buried deep in the soil of Haiti, the Caribbean, the American south and north and before that, of course, Africa. How might the actualization of that history enrich the present and future in this community for all of us?

2. Is it inconceivable to imagine that as remarkable strides and progress are being made for equality and justice for LGBTQ persons, there could be the beginnings of the same for persons of African descent in our community? Could the understandable pride and sense of accomplishment of gay persons and the gay community have a direct or indirect impact upon the pride and sense of history of persons of African descent?

3.  In his book, “Community Renewal Thru Rejuvenation of  the Soul”, Rev. William Coleman, pastor of the Second Baptist Church on Atkins Avenue on the West Side of Asbury Park, writes, “…the most significant threat to urban black communities is a loss of a sense of community.” We know that “back in the day” on the West Side there was a “sense of community” that is missing today. How is it to be re-constructed?

4. The effort to initiate a ward system and to have official political representation from the West Side has so far, not gained city-wide approval and support. Does the history that was and will be depicted in the PBS program suggest that there is something missing in our city? Perhaps a sense of history and a reality of community that, if they existed, could address some of the concerns we have today?

5. Some persons suggest—and it is difficult for me to believe—that there are those who are fearful of greater vibrancy, participation and unity among persons of African descent in the city, because that would broaden and deepen the culture of Asbury Park and Neptune, threaten the status quo and redistribute power and control in our community. That may have been true in the past, but I cannot imagine today’s leaders are so insecure that they would feel that way.

These are the musings of an “old man” who will be 80 on Oct. 28th. What do you think?

—Rev. Gil Caldwell, Asbury Park

[This letter represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

————————————————————

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook and Twitter.

---