New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer’s Trailblazers Program & Award Ceremony in Honor of African-American History Month honored African-American leaders Mike Muse, Jamilah Lemieux, and more in the city at Medgar Evers College.
“It is a beautiful time to be black in America, and what an incredible Black History Month we have had,” said honoree Mike Muse, co-founder of Muse Recordings, music executive and political expert.
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During Muse’s acceptance speech on February 25, 2016 in the college’s Dining Hall, he spoke about the country reaching a time where it is unafraid to acknowledge the impactful presence of black people in our cities. He said that country is going through a transition period where “we are unafraid to say the word black; we are unafraid to speak blackness in the city.”
He also spoke about how black men are consumers of sports products, fashion, film, and technology, however, they do not produce them and are not owners in this industry. He advocates for black men as part of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, to promote African-Americans as entrepreneurs.
Stringer introduced 18-year-old honoree Faith Williams as “an incredible young leader.” Stringer first met Williams when she interviewed him in front of her high school class. “Somebody has to succeed me as comptroller someday,” said Stringer.
“I am unapologetically black,” said Williams. She told the audience that leadership is something she takes very seriously and wants to make a difference in the world.
Assemblywoman Pamela Harris accepted an award on behalf of The Coney Island Generation Gap. The organization’s mission is their Future Focus Project/Arts and education for low-income youth. Harris was very proud of the young people in CIGG because “100 percent of them who are at the age to graduate from high school have all graduated,” said Harris.
Stringer acknowledged the importance of honoring women of the future who will change the world, as he presented feminist, activist, and Senior Editor at EBONY magazine Jamilah Lemieux with the final award. “Some way, somehow, I get paid to make black girls feel good about themselves,” said Lemieux.
