Historical sailing requires competent sailors and a prudent plan for durability.

By Sheikh Moussa Drammeh

In less than three decades, African immigrants in New York continue to make a well planned marks in education, business, civic and politics.

Take the Bronx for example. In 2013, four qualified African immigrants are among the long list of candidates vying for the termed-out Councilmatic district 16 that enjoys having Yankees Stadium, all the Bronx Courthouses, Bronx District Attorney’s Offices, the Bronx Museum and other historical landmarks.

To harness this new political progress, the diverse African Immigrants’ leadership had converged at Al Iman Community Center in Parkchester section of the Bronx last night to form a nonpartisan political coalition in order to prevent future dilution of support among African candidates.

This new coalition will help qualify, recruit and throw its support behind African political candidates, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or political party affiliation. And in elections where there is no African candidate, the endorsement is given to the candidate who will protect best the interests of African immigrants in his/her district.

The next step for the coalition now is to invite the four African candidates in district 16 to come before the coalition and present their credentials and at the end, the coalition would endorse the candidate with the greatest potential for winning.

In enhancing their ability to strengthen their endorsement for candidates financially, economic opportunities would also be promoted among the coalition members. After all, it takes a village to raise a candidate.

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