InsideNJ’s African American Power List Adds More From SJ, Still Woefully Short
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY — I promise I will not make this an annual event where I whine about the InsiderNJ’s African American Power List in Honor of Black History Month.
As I acknowledged last year, it is difficult narrowing down a list of 100 Black movers and shakers in a state. One hundred names may seem like a lot, but there are many African Americans making a difference and doing incredible work, worthy of recognition.
So kudos to InsiderNJ for taking the time to do their best to highlight their 100 Power List with 147 names on its honorable mention list to boot. That’s hard work.
Now, with that said, when I look through the names for South Jersey residents, this list is woefully short. In some places a retread of names is put on year after year just, and I assume this is because old and new people are constantly left off the list that truly deserve it.
The good news for South Jersey is that four more names were added from last year. Rev. Charles Boyer, the founder of Salvation and Social Justice (who wasn’t listed as an honorable mention last year) is No. 35, Atlantic City political organizer Stephenine Dixon was listed as a well deserved No. 57, Atlantic City Democratic campaigner Durwood Pinkett was listed at No. 78 and Cumberland County Commissioner Donna Pearson was listed at No. 88 (I would really quibble with the rank here; that would get me lost in the weeds).
Former Atlantic County Commissioner Ashley Bennett, who ranked at No. 51 last year, did not make the Top 100 or even honorable mention this year. Wow. Overall that’s an increase of 19 New Jerseyans on the list of 100.
Six South Jerseyans made the Honorable Mention list this year (from a total of 147) with Alexander Bland, the founder of the Cape May-Cumberland Young Democrats replacing former Cumberland County Commissioner Jack Surrency. All the other names remained the same, regardless of what they did or didn’t do the year before.
Sigh.
Who’s missing? I won’t get into a long list. I will save that for the Front Runner New Jersey South Jersey African American Power List next month.
There are four names that just have to be on this list, but are not. A so called “African American Power List” without Ralph Hunter, founder and curator of the African American History Museum; Kaleem Shabazz, Atlantic City NAACP president and Ward 3 council for Atlantic City; Burlington County Commissioner Felicia Hopson, and Loretta Winters, president of the Gloucester County NAACP, is simply not a credible list.
Hunter runs TWO African-American museums in South Jersey, is a walking encyclopedia of Black History in South Jersey and is known throughout the state for his work. Shabazz just led the effort to bring the national NAACP to Atlantic City for the first time in more than 40 years. Winters is one of (if not the leading) female diversity and anti-racism champion in South Jersey and has been honored by virtually every civil rights organization in this region for her work. Hopson became Burlington County’s first African American Commissioner director and led the way to form the county’s first racial justice task force in light the anti-racism rallies around the state.
None of them were even named on the honorable mention list. Are you kidding me?
Fatima Heyward, president of the New Jersey Young Democrats should have been in the Top 100 this year and not relegated as an honorable mention again. This list is in desperate need of the next generation of leaders in South Jersey; like Crystal Charley-Sibley, second vice president the New Jersey NAACP Conference; Yolanda Melville, Atlantic City attorney and a leader in the national NAACP NextGen program, and LaDaena Thomas, Mayor of Penns Grove.
This is merely scratching the surface, something FRNJ will address in our power list next month.
Again, congratulations to all the South Jersey leaders for their deserved honor in the InsiderNJ list. Their names are listed below. To make a long story short, I just wanted to say that there is so much more going on in South Jersey than meets the eye.
InsiderNJ.com African American Power List entries from South Jersey:
11. NJ State Sen. Troy Singleton, Burlington
15. NJ State Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Moorestown
21. Mayor Marty Small, Atlantic City
35. Rev. Charles Boyer, founder Salvation and Social Justice
36. Richard Smith, president of New Jersey NAACP Conference, Vineland
37. NJ State Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, Ocean City
44. Amir Khan, mayoral candidate Camden
45. Retired NJ Supreme Court Justice John Wallace, Pitman
49. Dana Redd, former Camden Mayor
54. NJ State Assemblyman William Spearman, Camden
55. Jonathan Young, Sr. Camden County Commissioner
57. Stephenine Dixon, nationally-recognize political organizer, Atlantic City
59. NJ State Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro, Woolwich Township
64. Mayor Albert Kelly, Bridgeton, founder of Gateway Community Action Partnership
65. Craig Callaway, Atlantic City community operative
73. Durwood Pinkett, Atlantic City Democratic organizer
76. Ernest Coursey, Atlantic County Commissioner, Chief of Staff for AC Mayor Marty Small
88. Donna Pearson, Cumberland County Commissioner
99. Mayor Frank Minor, Logan Township
Honorable Mention:
Fatima Heyward, President, New Jersey Young Democrats, Marlton
Mayor Jamila Odom Bremmer, Chesilhurst
Alexander Bland, President, Cape May-Cumberland County Young Democrats, Woodbine
Tanzie Youngblood, Activist, former Congressional Candidate, Woolwich Township
Will Cunningham, Congressional staffer, former Congressional Candidate, Vineland
John Francis, Councilman, West Cape May
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