New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. with award-winning author Walter Mosley at Thompson’s African-American History Month Celebration at SEIU Local 32BJ on Thursday, February 28, 2008. Photo Credit: Archer Hutchinson.

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New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. last night honored six city leaders at his annual African-American Heritage History Month celebration. The event was co-sponsored by New York Urban League, NAACP New York State Conference, New York Coalition of One Hundred Black Women, and One Hundred Black Men, Inc. Founding Chapter.

“Tonight we recognize and celebrate the many forms African American leadership has taken in our nation and our city and pay tribute to women and men who are working to make dreams come true for themselves and others,” Thompson said to the nearly 1,000 people who attended the event at SEIU Local 32BJ in Manhattan.

“In every community, in every one of the five boroughs of our city, African American men and women are achieving heights that most of our great-grandparents only dreamed about, and are paving the way for the next generation to reach even higher.”

“Our honorees this evening,” he noted, “are writers and advocates, healers and entertainers, and leaders the business and non-profit sectors. They have all excelled in their fields, and they are all role models who have inspired those around them.”

Thompson presented the first award to the former first lady of New York, Joyce Burrows Dinkins, calling her a committed and dedicated champion of our City.

“The epitome of grace, first lady Dinkins has throughout her life been a tireless advocate for the children of New York and for programs that promote literacy in particular,” Thompson said.

Award-winning author Walter Mosley received the second award.

“Walter Mosley is without doubt one of the most popular and prolific authors in our nation,” Thompson said. “In book after book, Mr. Mosley has taken conflicts and experiences of uniquely African American characters and explored what is universal about them to attract a broad audience. In particular, Mr. Mosley has a committed himself artistically to the creation of black male heroes that both inspire and speak to our larger aspirations. At a time when young black men are struggling to find success and opportunity in our society, the importance of Mr. Mosley’s contribution cannot be overstated.”

The third honoree was educator and librarian Andrew Jackson, who for 28 years has served as the executive director of the Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center.

“In his role as an ‘activist librarian’, Mr. Jackson regularly participates in career days and read-ins, speaking out on Africana history and culture, and encouraging reading and the use of libraries for growth and empowerment,” Thompson said. “Mr. Jackson strives to be a model librarian for young men and women considering a similar career.”

Health care advocate Antonio Martin received the next award from the Comptroller. A 19-year veteran of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Martin was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Queens Hospital Center in July 1999 and Executive Director in 2002.

“In recognition of his many accomplishments as an advocate for the health and welfare of his fellow residents in Queens, it is my pleasure to present this award to Antonio Martin,” Thompson said.

The next honoree was television journalist Debbye Turner, a former Miss America who appears as a staff correspondent on CBS television’s “The Early Show.”

“Since being crowned Miss America in 1990, Turner has dedicated increasing amounts of time to public service and efforts to energize and inspire young people with her example,” Thompson said. “She has addressed more than 500,000 students at 500 schools, youth organizations and college campuses, speaking on topics like self-esteem, perseverance and the importance of education.”

The next honoree was lecturer and entertainer Cliff Frazier, director of the New York Metropolitan Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolence. The Center is dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his vision of a "Beloved Community" free of racism, violence and poverty.

“In recognition of his efforts both to promote nonviolent solutions to conflict and to nurture the participation of African Americans in the entertainment industry, it is my great pleasure to present this award to Cliff Frazier,” the Comptroller said.

The final honoree was noted business leader Derrick Cephas, who serves as president and chief executive officer of Amalgamated Bank.

“Mr. Cephas’ position at Amalgamated caps a long career in the banking field,” Thompson said. As the Superintendent of Banks for the State New York, Mr. Cephas became a nationally recognized leader in several areas of bank regulatory reform.”

Additionally, Mr. Cephas has served on the Boards of Directors of the Dime Savings Bank and Merrill Lynch International Bank and currently sits on the boards of the Fresh Air Fund and the United Hospital Fund.

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