Free America
Discover Weeksville – A Pre-Civil War African American Community in Brooklyn, New York
November 7, 2011 | 
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It lay undisclosed, silent and surrounded by ever-growing urban development for the better part of the 20th Century. Weeksville, a pre-Civil War, “free and intentional 19th Century African American community in Brooklyn, New York is rising like the City of Atlantis nearly 200 years after its founding and is one of the few pre-civil war African American sites of historic preservation in the United States.
The Weeksville Heritage Center, on Bergen Street off Rochester Avenue boasts a visitor’s center, research lab and three of the original 19th Century frame houses that were built on a old winding Dutch winding merchant road, previously an Algonquin path for hundreds of years. Originally called Hunterfly Road in Colonial New York, the winding thoroughfare cut through the center of modern-day neighborhood of Crown Heights.
Creating Community in Post-Slavery New York
Formed in 1838 by James Weeks, a free African American, the community was a response to New York State’s abolition of slavery 11 years earlier and the growing desire of African Americans to be full members of society. In order to vote in New York, one needed to own property and James Weeks and others began buying land to build a community in Brooklyn. By the 1850′s Weeksville had its own school, orphanage, newspaper, benevolent society and old age home. It was home to the first female African American physician in New York State and the first African American police officer in New York City. Weeksville had doctors, dentists, ministers, teachers, plumbers and laundrymen, all the elements of a vibrant citizenry. The community blossomed through the turn on the century and then virtually disappeared into the Brooklyn “grid”.
Fast-forward: Preserving History
Rediscovered in 1968 by a historian and his students by flying a plane over an area mentioned in a historical text on Brooklyn and there it was, the winding Hunterfly Road with frame homes set for demolition and the land for redevelopment. Over the last 30 years, the historic community’s national preservation status was declared and the Weeksville Heritage Society was formed. Visitors may tour the original Hunterfly Road houses with a docent on weekdays or attend programs, and special events at the center. During spring and summer a weekly farmer’s market is hosted on the grounds and by the end of 2011 Weeksville will be home to a new multi- million dollar educational and cultural complex with multiple galleries, a theater, classrooms and open space for recreating the agricultural life of the historic community.
Easy to reach by subway, bus or car, Weeksville is calling. Step back in time to Victorian parlors of a “free and intentional African American community” in the heart of Brooklyn.
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Can America Afford Free Health Care?
Many folks in the United States want the government to provide health care universally to all citizens and they expect the World Organizations to do this for the third world nations as well. Unfortunately, this is a huge cost and probably currently out of the realm of reality.
Can America Afford Free Health Care? We just cannot afford the costs of Universal Health Care at the present rate or current costs. So the costs have to come down first, we must deal with the other issues too such a Social Security.
The 2042 drop dead date of the on-paper bankruptcy of Social Security also looms and in essence it is bankrupt now and needs increased pay-ins to keep it going, as the first baby boomers have already started to retire.
Yanklevich and other thinking demographers along with the warnings of the last two Fed Chairmen and the current one, warn of this. Population Expansion as a factor of GDP equations are highly predictable at least based on theory. There might be a solution to this and if there is we had better find it.
Looking at Japan, negative growth, an aging Europe and the influx of immigrants that demand services, do not speak the language, we may have a problem with a social revolution of haves and have nots; France Riots, a foreshadowing of things to come?
Well? The EU has problems too. The US comes next as our average population grows, retires and is not providing productivity or paying in but rather soaking up services for longer, due to their longer life expectancies.
This is an issue that must be addressed and we need a national discussion now. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.
DR-CAFTA – Maintaining Good Trade Relations Between the US and Central America
When we think of relations between the United States and countries in Central America, the association may spark memory of past US involvement in political unrest (particularly in Nicaragua and El Salvador). In recent years, however, six nations that comprise Central America have come to rely upon the US and each other for economic gain. The Central America Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, has proven advantageous for these countries – where many inhabitants live below the poverty level – to make trade inroads with North America.
The Benefits of DR-CAFTA
Following the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) during the Clinton Administration, successor George W. Bush sought to expand American trade relations further along the Western Hemisphere. In 2003, the Bush Administration negotiated with four current members to form the agreement, and by the next year DR-CAFTA had been finalized to allowed free trade within the participating nations:
Costa Rica – A largely agricultural nation, Costa Rica imports bananas, coffee, sugar and cocoa. The Dominican Republic – Clothing production represents the largest percent of this country’s export income. El Salvador – Coffee accounts for nearly a quarter of El Salvador’s export revenues, though they also send paper products and sugar to the US. Guatemala – Like Costa Rica, Guatemala exports coffee and bananas, but in recent years has expanded offerings to textiles and cut flowers. Honduras – Coffee, fruits and nuts are among the foodstuffs shipped to the United States and fellow CAFTA nations Nicaragua – The largest of the Central American nations land-wise, Nicaraguan key exports include coffee and shellfish.
Through this trade agreement, DR-CAFTA nations enjoy tariff-free trade on the majority of US imports and exports nearly a third of their product and services into the United States. The state of Florida, in particular, is important to DR-CAFTA in that the majority of trade and communication passes through this area. With a large Spanish-speaking population and airports that offer direct flights to Central America, Florida assists the DR-CAFTA in expediting trade. Close to $20 billion in goods from DR-CAFTA countries ship to the United States, improving overall prosperity.
The Challenges
Despite the economic boost to the poorer nations of Central America, and the potential for American companies to establish international branches and plants without penalization, DR-CAFTA has not operated without its share of detractors. Concern over restrictions with regards to drug testing and quality control of certain products have challenged Central American pharmaceutical companies to produce affordable medicines, while other critics in the economics field like Joseph Stiglitz have suggested the agreement will not necessarily lessen poverty since American imports may threaten the local businesses.
However one views DR-CAFTA, this agreement may be considered critical to maintaining good relations throughout the Americas – not just in these six Central American countries, but beyond. Their accompanying Environmental Cooperation Program serves to aid Central America in strengthening their conservation efforts, while US involvement in enforcement of International Labor standards seeks to improve working conditions in the country. DR-CAFTA is an important stepping stone towards a more ambitious Free Trade Area of the Americas – encompassing Chile, Colombia, and others – which could create profitable trade between the north and south continents for future generations.