Meet the Daughters
Gina Belafonte
“During the civil rights movement of the 1960s, there were many many meetings held at my home with the leaders we all know, Dr. King, Fannie Lou Hamer, many of those who were part of the student non-violent coordinating committee, SNCC. And as a young girl, my mom would put me to work at our dining room table licking stamps and stuffing envelopes to send out flyers to the community keeping them informed of upcoming gatherings and campaigns.”
Suzanne Kay
“I remember waiting for Huey Newton to show up at our home in California at a fundraiser for Presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm. I was twelve years old, and I had a huge crush on Mr. Newton. Many celebrities and political figures were in our backyard by the pool milling around, but I stayed at the front door waiting for what
I considered the most important guest
of the evening.”
Stacy Renae Lynch
“I woke up to the smell of pancakes, scrambled eggs, grits, and sausage. It was 8 AM in the morning. My uncle must be in town, I thought. My uncle would stop by occasionally to talk politics with dad, make a home cooked meal, and setup his campaign office. I reached the bottom of the stairs still in my PJs. There is Uncle Jesse - civil rights leader, Presidential candidate and dear family friend.”
Hasna Muhammad
“I was parented into the movement, which at times took place in our home in New Rochelle, New York where my Mom and Dad translated, transposed, and transformed their art into activism not just for “The People,” but also for my sister, brother, and me.”
Ilyasah Shabazz
“Growing up, I remember a statue in the house, probably about six feet tall. Beautifully carved, it depicted a woman with a basket on her head, walking hand in hand with a child. Seamlessly multi-tasking, she was carrying, caring, and moving forward.”
Dominique Sharpton
“I remember my father being stabbed in 1991 while leading a protest in Bensonhurst protesting the killing of Yusef Hawkins who was killed by an angry white mob simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was 5 years old.”
Keisha Sutton-James
“I remember when my Grandfather first told me he had been arrested. I was his only grandchild, and I grew up one floor below him in the same apartment building, so I spent a lot of time up under my grandparents. No question: Percy Sutton was a busy man. But he made time for everyone, and he most certainly made time for what me, his “favorite grandchild.”