Every now and again something really nice happens in this life. If you are lucky and/or patient enough: it happens more often than not. This is not to downplay the everyday wonders of life- that marvel most of us who appreciate every waking day- but only to say that some days are sweeter than others; that’s all. For the most part, I have been lucky in this life; but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t had my share of bull-crap; believe me when I say I have; sometimes bad days have come in rows. All in all, bad days are few and far and in between; and I thank God for that.
Something nice happened on Tuesday 8th April, 2008, that I want to share with some of you. You see; there are over nine million political stories in this naked city: New York; this is a different kinda political story. Enjoy.
When I first ran for public office exactly ten years ago, I lost three campaign-managers during the calendar year,leading up to the September primary election-and later the general election that November. My daughter (Reeza)-just out of her teens- stepped up and in to manage the last three months from August thru November. I had to depend on many friends and relatives to pick up the slack, in many areas of execution where people I hired happened to disappoint and/or fail me. Trying to attain high voter-contact in Brooklyn’s 42nd AD was -and still is- a tremendous challenge for any political campaign: but that’s another story.
One of my dearest and oldest friends in this city is an attorney who practices in Brooklyn; her name is Marva Prescod. She was born on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. Marva’s father was born on my native island of Trinidad (Republic of Trinidad and Tobago). I first met her in 1975, and we hit it off since then and have always been close friends. When I first ran in 1998 Marva’s only two children (daughters: Takeya and Nzingha) were respectively 5 and 7 in ages. Marva brought them to my political campaign very early, and from day one they were tireless workers. They were relentless at the subways in reaching voters and begging them vote for Uncle Rock. They were driven during our door to door effort in imploring voters to vote for me. They were gems; they were inspirational; they were special: they still are.
They were so good that in 2000 when I again ran for public office, the wife of my opponent filed a verbal complaint with the police officers at one polling site, angered by the aggressive tactics of Takeya and Nzingha in trying to win me votes that primary day. They were just seven and nine then. I doubt any persons younger were ever considered political operatives/lol.
In my campaign office, these two dynamos were as good on the telephones as they were in stuffing envelopes. They could lick stamps, lit drop, label envelopes, use stencils, articulate issues somewhat (impressively for their ages), and contribute to tactical discussions in valid though minimal ways. They were full of ideas and energy; they were also full of sadness when I lost. But losing builds character, and examples of how to handle loss are good for youngsters to see, early in their development. Kids are always looking at adults for decorum, direction and demeanor, amongst many other things. We must always be aware of this as parents and grown-ups.
While Takeya and Nzingha were growing up I observed something that I wasn’t always in agreement with: their mother perpetually kept them busy. Their schedules were always full; karate, fencing, piano lessons, singing, dancing, tennis, swimming; you name it and they studied it or did it. I felt for them sometimes. I saw their tiredness, sometimes I felt their pains. One or two times I protested for them; I was usually over ruled by their firm and determined mom.
I became their chess instructor when the elder was about six, and by the time they had both reached double figures, they had further demonstrated the propensity for great things. By the time Takeya had become a teenager, she demonstrated a singing range that was absolutely phenomenal. She is presently working out the details of a singing contract, while looking forward to voting for Barack Obama in November. She turns eighteen in August, and is anxiously looking forward to voting for the first time in her life. She is also looking forward to going away to college. My suspicion is that she will be a lawyer like both her mother and father.
For years, many of us in Brooklyn’s politics (including Ken Evans, Wellington Sharpe, Francisco Hall and Charles Barron) had suggested to Marva Prescod, that she should run for a judgeship, since we felt (and still do) that she would be a fine addition to the bench. She is a person of integrity, she is fair and open-minded, and she also displays an even temperament that will be helpful on the bench. Upon all this, she does have a sterling character. However, she has always resisted. She keeps saying that her two daughters must reach the age of maturity first, before she even thinks of doing something like that- running for public office. Well, maybe the time is near. Her friend Pia Wood –another attorney- might be running again this year (or next), for a Brooklyn-wide judgeship, and this may be extra inducement for Ms. Prescod to run soon.
Last Tuesday, Marva’s youngest daughter Nzingha Prescod became the first black (American or otherwise) to win the Under Sixteen foil fencing tournament at the World Fencing Championships in Italy. She (Zingee/as we call her) demonstrated once again the amazing skills that has made her today, the top Under Twenty, top Under Eighteen and top Under Sixteen fencer in the USA; all simultaneously. Her coaches believe that she hasn’t scratched the surface of her talent as yet. If she is selected to the US Olympic team later this summer (China) she would be the youngest person to have ever done this. She is currently the fifth highest ranked US fencer (all ages and gender), despite having a lighter tournament schedule than all of those ranked above her-including the adults. At age fifteen she has done what many have never done in a lifetime.
Over the past two years, Zingee has been one of the worst kept secrets in US fencing. Colleges are already pursuing her for their fencing teams; including ivy-leaguers such as Harvard and Princeton. She has won many tournaments, not only in the US, but all over the world. She has appeared in various magazines and was once scheduled to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show. She has fenced in scores of countries in near all continents. Despite all her accomplishments, this fifteen year old is as cool and calm as cucumbers and fresh fruit. She is unassuming as no one could imagine, and never ever acts up as some prima-donnas might. She has one of the most beautiful spirits that I have ever encountered in all my life. Both she and her sister Takeya are truly special.
In their school work, both have always been excellent students; although every now and again math will give some trouble. Both their mother and uncle (Steve Prescod) have done tremendous jobs raising them. These are kids with good human values, intelligence, humor, grace, style, flair, wit, dignity and decency. It has been a joy to watch them develop. I have been lucky to be part of their lives.
Too often you hear negative things about black kids- especially those who get entangled in the judicial system- that you get goose bumps when you hear of accomplishments like these. It’s a testimony to sacrifice, dedication, loyalty, devotion and determination in quality parenting. Plus: it never hurts to cut your teeth on one or two of my political campaigns/lol.
Stay tuned-in folks. And remember: life is like an ice-cream cone, you just have to know how to lick it (Charlie Brown).