Kwame Ture’s home now a place of learning

Kwame Ture's home now a place of learning

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,124278.html

By MELISSA DASSRATH
July 19 2010

The Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago in
collaboration with the Belmont Educare Project, on Saturday unveiled
a plaque in honour of civil rights leader and the founder of the
Black Power movement Kwame Ture.

The legendary civil rights activist, formerly known as Stokely
Carmichael, was born in Belmont. He lived at No 54 Oxford Street for
the first 11 years of his life. His family migrated to Harlem, New
York and he later attended the prestigious Howard University.

Growing up, Ture felt compelled to take a stance against the
inequality and injustice that black people faced. He was a scholar,
penned three books, walked alongside Dr Martin Luther King Jr, was
arrested 35 times in the name of civil rights and coined the phrase
"Black Power". In 1978, he changed his name to Kwame Ture because he
was deeply influenced by the President of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah and the
President of Guinea Sekou Toure.

Commemorating his place of birth, was the third in event in the
"Kwame Ture Memorial Lecture Series". Director of Education Tracy
Wilson explained, "By unveiling this plaque we formally recognised
this house as a heritage site. The community long ago acknowledged
that this was a historic place."

Felipe Noguera of the Belmont Educare Project explained that it was
Ture's wish that his house be a place where young people could come
and learn and develop values.

"Kwame Ture house stands for the values that Kwame himself stood for.
So we have computer literacy classes for children on Mondays. On
Tuesdays, we have a self defence class. Every Wednesday we have yoga
classes. On Thursday, we teach education and human values. On a
monthly basis, we have a health clinic for the elderly."

Speaking at the ceremony, chairman of the Emancipation Support
Committee Khafra Kambon said: "Kwame Ture, as he came to be known,
somehow knew he was destined for greatness. This is the home of a
truly great man. The very building is a reflection of the values and
culture of Trinidad and Tobago at that time. This house sends a
message of hope to young people in the area."

.