Op-Led: 58 years ago today, the United States invaded the Dominican Republic

By @led_black

On April 28, 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson sent 42,000 Marines to the Dominican Republic, beginning a fourteen-month occupation of the country that would culminate in the installation of Joaquín Balaguer in 1966. Balaguer was not just the hand-picked successor of the Americans but was also the right-hand man of former dictator of 30 years, Rafael Trujillo. Keep in mind, that Trujillo also came to power as the result of the prior, 1916 American invasion of the Dominican Republic. Balaguer’s reign would last another 30 years.

Writing in Jacobin, Rory Fanning puts it this way: “Upon taking power, Balaguer began funneling nearly all of Dominican Republic’s minerals and sugar into the warehouses of US businesses. His three-decade rule was marked by corruption and fraud. Wages plummeted, unions were dismantled, inflation soared, and unemployment hovered around 30 percent.” Balaguer’s mis-rule also led to the migration of Dominicans en masse to the United States. 

The “reason” given for the massive operation dubbed “Operation Powerpack” was to “protect American lives,” but the real reason was to protect American power and profit. After 30 years of an all-encompassing dictatorship and personality cult that only ended when Trujillo was assassinated in 1961, Dominicans elected Juan Bosch in 1963. Bosch was a progressive reformer who sought to use the country’s resources for the benefit of the Dominican people. America and the Dominican military and elite were having none of that. Juan Bosch would last only 7 months in office before he was deposed by a military coup that was backed by the United States. 

A popular rebellion ensued that had the potential to restore Bosch to office and remove those in power from their perch. But it was not to be. On this day, April 28, in 1965, America invaded Dominican Republic again and would go on to ultimately crush the revolution. What the Dominican Republic is today, nearly 60 years later, is a direct result of that ignoble invasion that would once again put American power and profit over the people of the Dominican Republic. The Struggle continues…

Pa’Lante Siempre Pa’Lante 

We invite you to subscribe to the Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter, or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.

WATCH: Beba On Hulu 

Do yourself a favor and watch Beba on Hulu right NOW! Beba is a searing and introspective coming of age story centered around Rebeca Huntt, who is both the subject and the filmmaker. Miss Hunt, who is an Afro-Latino with Venezuelan and Dominican ancestry, does not shy away from delving into the traumas, both past and present, that haunt her family. Rebeca Huntt is a fearless filmmaker and Beba is a testament to that fearlessness.

We invite you to subscribe to the weekly Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.

The UC Year In Review

Join comedy podcasters and performers Michael “Juan Bago” Diaz, Jerry “Elmo Difoca” Diaz, Jaime “J-Fernz” Fernandez and Ron Kain as they all hilariously break down and GO IN on some of the biggest stories of 2022 in “Uptown Collective’s First Annual Year In Review” sponsored by Yave Tequila.

We invite you to subscribe to the weekly Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.

Artist explores freedom and industry | Manhattan Times News

By Sherry Mazzocchi

What do winged angels, ancient Assyrian temple gods and Dominican activists have in common?

All turn up in the work of visual artist Moses Ros is an architect by training and a print-maker by vocation. His work is appearing in four simultaneous shows across the U.S.: the Riverfront Art Gallery in Yonkers, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas and Alianza Dominicana in Washington Heights.

In the new project “Deconstructed Anatomies,” which opens Thursday, Aug. 4, in Yonkers, Ros’ work was inspired by art from the eighth century B.C. The ancient Mesopotamian city of Nimrud, located in modern-day Iraq, contained a palace built for King Ashurnasirpal II. The palace walls featured stone carvings of Lamassu – celestial winged lions with human heads. They were powerful deities protecting the royal Assyrian compound.

Read more: On wings and of will | Manhattan Times News

For more information, please visit www.mosesros.com.

We invite you to subscribe to the weekly Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.

$70 million to combat care “deserts” | Manhattan Times

By Gregg McQueen

Essential care for essential workers.

Nearly 3,000 new child care slots are slated to open in underserved neighborhoods across New York City, most of which aims to serve essential and frontline workers and those whose work non-traditional hours.

At a press conference uptown on Mon., July 25th, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the state would provide nearly $70 million in grant money to newly licensed child care programs operating in so-called “child care deserts.”

The grants were derived from federal funding in the American Rescue Plan and are expected to help the new providers cover startup and staffing costs, access Covid-19 vaccines, and manage other expenses.

According to state officials, child care deserts are defined as census tracts that have three or more children younger than 5 for each available child care slot, or no available child care slots.

Read more: $70 million to combat care “deserts” | Manhattan Times

We invite you to subscribe to the weekly Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.

Uptown Video: Harlem Seafood Soul Featured On Netflix’s Street Food USA

Say word? The highly sought after and in demand Harlem Seafood Soul is now on Netflix. Hit up the 3rd episode of Street Food USA as they come to Harlem for some of that good good. After you finishing watching it then head to Harlem to bring a little culinary closure to this whole affair. Get ready to wait in line but it will be worth it.

We invite you to subscribe to the weekly Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.

Uptown Video: The Queen @ The Palace

Earlier this month, July 13 to be exact, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige brought Apple Music Live to Washington Heights for a historic, one-night only, special affair at the venerable United Palace. The result was pure magic ✨. Hit up Apple Music right NOW to catch that exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime performance… All hail the Queen!!!

We invite you to subscribe to the weekly Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.

Coogan’s Way Nominated For An Emmy Award

Photo: Cristóbal Vivar

The documentary about the one and only Coogan’s, Coogan’s Way has been nominated in the Topical Documentary category at the 65th Annual NY Emmy Awards. Coogan’s Way tells the story of this beloved Uptown institution that meant so much to so many. The film interviews the owners Dave Hunt, Tess O’Connor McDade, and Peter Walsh as well as such folks as Lin-Manuel Miranda and his dad Luis Miranda, former Congressman Charlie Rangel, our current Congressman Adriano Espaillat. Not to mention that our very own Led Black is interviewed in the film.

We invite you to subscribe to the weekly Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.