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Robert "Sonny" Carson

Robert "Sonny" Carson (also known as Mwlina Imiri Abubadika;[1] May 22, 1936[2] – December 20, 2002), was a U.S. Army Korean War veteran, racial civil rights activist, and community leader in Brooklyn, New York. Carson was known for political organizing and coordinating public protests of the school systems in African-American communities in New York during the 1960s and 70s. He wrote a popular autobiography, The Education of Sonny Carson (1972), which was made into a 1974 film. Carson is the father of hip-hop artist Professor X.

Robert "Sonny" Carson
Born
Robert Carson

May 22, 1936
Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States
DiedDecember 20, 2002(2002-12-20) (aged 66)
New York City, New York, United States
Other namesSonny Carson, Mwlina Imiri Abubadika, Sonny Abubadika Carson
OccupationPolitical activist
Known forThe December 12th Movement, The Family Red Apple boycott
Children1

Biography edit

Robert Carson Jr. was born on May 22, 1936, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, but moved to Brooklyn as a child.[3] In his youth, Carson joined a street gang called the Bishops. Carson was arrested after robbing a Western Union messenger and was sent to a juvenile-detention center.[2]

Carson fought in the Korean War with the 82nd Airborne Division,[4] where he claimed to have met a Korean soldier who asked him, "Why would a black man fight for a country that would not let you drink from the same water fountain in Mississippi?"[3] This pivotal question led Carson to become a community activist after returning to civilian life.

Following his return to civilian life, Carson enrolled in college, and for a period of time he returned to involvement in illegal activities. However, he soon began working for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and by 1967 he was the executive director of the Brooklyn CORE.[5] He broke from the organization in 1968, stating that it had not done enough to help African-Americans.[2] He took the name Mwlina Imiri Abubadika in the early 1970s to reflect his African consciousness. His new name was given to him by Maulena Karenga of US Organization - Mwlina means 'master teacher' and Imiri means 'prince' in the Kiswahili language.[1][6]

Carson's later founded a group called the Committee to Honor Black Heroes.[2]

Kidnapping conviction edit

In 1974, Carson was convicted of kidnapping. The kidnapping charges, as the New York Times explained, "stemmed from what the defense represented as an attempted citizen's arrest of two other men who had twice robbed a black‐owned hotel in Brooklyn's Bedford‐Stuyvesant section."[7] Carson was incarcerated for 15 months in the Sing Sing prison.[2]

Advocate against drug use edit

In the 1980s Carson became an advocate against drug use,[2] founding a group called "Black Men's Movement Against Crack".[4]

Protesting police brutality edit

In the 1980s, Carson organized a number of demonstrations protesting police brutality.[2]

Controversies edit

Carson organized the controversial Family Red Apple boycott of Korean-American owned stores in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn in 1990.[8] He was also involved in the 1991 Crown Heights riot.[9]

Family Red Apple boycott edit

Carson took a central role in organizing the Family Red Apple boycott, also known as the Flatbush boycott. Carson was investigated by the FBI, under the suspicion that he violated the civil rights of the Korean shopkeepers.[10]

Antisemitism edit

Carson was charged by his critics for being antisemitic. Carson responded, "That's absolutely absurd, 'antisemitic.' And so that you don't ask the question, I'm antiwhite. Don't limit my antis to just one group of people."[2] Carson was known for leading groups of activists into schools to tell Jewish teachers that, “The Germans did not do a good enough job with the Jews.”[11] In his autobiography, The Education of Sonny Carson, however, Carson described successfully working side by side with Americans of Caucasian and Jewish descent during his time in the U.S. Army, the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and the Brooklyn chapter of CORE.[citation needed]

Protest philosophy edit

Carson's political tactics often involved the use of public protest. His protest philosophy considered disrupting social order to draw attention to the plight of African-Americans. Several of Carson's protests turned violent. In an interview with The New York Times in 1987, Carson said: "You don't give us any justice, then there ain't going to be no peace. We're going to use whatever means necessary to make sure that everyone is disrupted in their normal life."[2]

The Dinkins campaign edit

Carson was the subject of media scrutiny in 1989, following speculations that the Dinkins mayoral campaign provided payments to Carson. The purpose of the payments was claimed to be either for a "get out of vote" drive organized by Carson, or, as critics maintained, for the assurance that Carson would refrain from staging protests during the campaign. Carson denied keeping campaign funds.[2][12]

David Dinkins released a statement apologizing for involving Carson in his campaign. Following one of Carson's "Anti-White" statements, Dinkins released a public statement critical of Carson stating: "Sonny Carson's comment represents the kind of bigotry and intolerance I utterly reject and have fought against my whole life. Had such comments come to my attention, he never would have played a role in my campaign."[12]

Death edit

A few months before December 2002, Carson suffered two heart attacks and became comatose. He was admitted to the Manhattan Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he remained until his death on December 20, 2002, at the age of 66.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "photo of Brooklyn CORE chairman Sonny Carson". www.corenyc.org. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Santora, Marc (2002-12-23). "Sonny Carson, 66, Figure in 60's Battle for Schools, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  3. ^ a b Happy Physical Day, Abubadika Sonny Carson
  4. ^ a b Allah, Dasun (December 31, 2002). "Sonny Carson Dies". The Village Voice.
  5. ^ Jacoby, Tamar (1991). . City Journal. Archived from the original on December 23, 2004.
  6. ^ AUTODIDACT 17 (2020-01-02). "School of Hard Knocks: Reflecting on Sonny Abubadika Carson's legacy". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 2023-10-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (1974-12-10). "Sonny Carson Among Five Guilty in Kidnapping Case". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  8. ^ Sonny Carson, Koreans, and Racism. The New York Times. Accessed March 10, 2014.
  9. ^ Ari Goldman, The Region: as blacks clash with Hasidic Jews. The New York Times. Accessed March 10, 2014.
  10. ^ Kim, Claire Jean. Bitter Fruit: The Politics of Black-Korean Conflict in New York City. Yale University Press. Accessed March 10, 2014.
  11. ^ Antisemitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present. Palgrave. 2002. p. 219. ISBN 978-1-349-38512-6.
  12. ^ a b Dinkins Worker Says he used Campaign money in Vote Effort. The New York Times. Accessed March 10, 2014.

robert, sonny, carson, also, known, mwlina, imiri, abubadika, 1936, december, 2002, army, korean, veteran, racial, civil, rights, activist, community, leader, brooklyn, york, carson, known, political, organizing, coordinating, public, protests, school, systems. Robert Sonny Carson also known as Mwlina Imiri Abubadika 1 May 22 1936 2 December 20 2002 was a U S Army Korean War veteran racial civil rights activist and community leader in Brooklyn New York Carson was known for political organizing and coordinating public protests of the school systems in African American communities in New York during the 1960s and 70s He wrote a popular autobiography The Education of Sonny Carson 1972 which was made into a 1974 film Carson is the father of hip hop artist Professor X Robert Sonny CarsonBornRobert CarsonMay 22 1936Orangeburg South Carolina United StatesDiedDecember 20 2002 2002 12 20 aged 66 New York City New York United StatesOther namesSonny Carson Mwlina Imiri Abubadika Sonny Abubadika CarsonOccupationPolitical activistKnown forThe December 12th Movement The Family Red Apple boycottChildren1 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Kidnapping conviction 1 2 Advocate against drug use 1 3 Protesting police brutality 2 Controversies 2 1 Family Red Apple boycott 2 2 Antisemitism 2 3 Protest philosophy 2 4 The Dinkins campaign 3 Death 4 ReferencesBiography editRobert Carson Jr was born on May 22 1936 in Orangeburg South Carolina but moved to Brooklyn as a child 3 In his youth Carson joined a street gang called the Bishops Carson was arrested after robbing a Western Union messenger and was sent to a juvenile detention center 2 Carson fought in the Korean War with the 82nd Airborne Division 4 where he claimed to have met a Korean soldier who asked him Why would a black man fight for a country that would not let you drink from the same water fountain in Mississippi 3 This pivotal question led Carson to become a community activist after returning to civilian life Following his return to civilian life Carson enrolled in college and for a period of time he returned to involvement in illegal activities However he soon began working for the Congress of Racial Equality CORE and by 1967 he was the executive director of the Brooklyn CORE 5 He broke from the organization in 1968 stating that it had not done enough to help African Americans 2 He took the name Mwlina Imiri Abubadika in the early 1970s to reflect his African consciousness His new name was given to him by Maulena Karenga of US Organization Mwlina means master teacher and Imiri means prince in the Kiswahili language 1 6 Carson s later founded a group called the Committee to Honor Black Heroes 2 Kidnapping conviction edit In 1974 Carson was convicted of kidnapping The kidnapping charges as the New York Times explained stemmed from what the defense represented as an attempted citizen s arrest of two other men who had twice robbed a black owned hotel in Brooklyn s Bedford Stuyvesant section 7 Carson was incarcerated for 15 months in the Sing Sing prison 2 Advocate against drug use edit In the 1980s Carson became an advocate against drug use 2 founding a group called Black Men s Movement Against Crack 4 Protesting police brutality edit In the 1980s Carson organized a number of demonstrations protesting police brutality 2 Controversies editCarson organized the controversial Family Red Apple boycott of Korean American owned stores in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn in 1990 8 He was also involved in the 1991 Crown Heights riot 9 Family Red Apple boycott edit Carson took a central role in organizing the Family Red Apple boycott also known as the Flatbush boycott Carson was investigated by the FBI under the suspicion that he violated the civil rights of the Korean shopkeepers 10 Antisemitism edit Carson was charged by his critics for being antisemitic Carson responded That s absolutely absurd antisemitic And so that you don t ask the question I m antiwhite Don t limit my antis to just one group of people 2 Carson was known for leading groups of activists into schools to tell Jewish teachers that The Germans did not do a good enough job with the Jews 11 In his autobiography The Education of Sonny Carson however Carson described successfully working side by side with Americans of Caucasian and Jewish descent during his time in the U S Army the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and the Brooklyn chapter of CORE citation needed Protest philosophy edit Carson s political tactics often involved the use of public protest His protest philosophy considered disrupting social order to draw attention to the plight of African Americans Several of Carson s protests turned violent In an interview with The New York Times in 1987 Carson said You don t give us any justice then there ain t going to be no peace We re going to use whatever means necessary to make sure that everyone is disrupted in their normal life 2 The Dinkins campaign edit Carson was the subject of media scrutiny in 1989 following speculations that the Dinkins mayoral campaign provided payments to Carson The purpose of the payments was claimed to be either for a get out of vote drive organized by Carson or as critics maintained for the assurance that Carson would refrain from staging protests during the campaign Carson denied keeping campaign funds 2 12 David Dinkins released a statement apologizing for involving Carson in his campaign Following one of Carson s Anti White statements Dinkins released a public statement critical of Carson stating Sonny Carson s comment represents the kind of bigotry and intolerance I utterly reject and have fought against my whole life Had such comments come to my attention he never would have played a role in my campaign 12 Death editA few months before December 2002 Carson suffered two heart attacks and became comatose He was admitted to the Manhattan Veterans Affairs Medical Center where he remained until his death on December 20 2002 at the age of 66 2 References edit a b photo of Brooklyn CORE chairman Sonny Carson www corenyc org Retrieved 2023 10 26 a b c d e f g h i j k Santora Marc 2002 12 23 Sonny Carson 66 Figure in 60 s Battle for Schools Dies The New York Times Retrieved 2019 03 21 a b Happy Physical Day Abubadika Sonny Carson a b Allah Dasun December 31 2002 Sonny Carson Dies The Village Voice Jacoby Tamar 1991 Sonny Carson and the Politics of Protest City Journal Archived from the original on December 23 2004 AUTODIDACT 17 2020 01 02 School of Hard Knocks Reflecting on Sonny Abubadika Carson s legacy New York Amsterdam News Retrieved 2023 10 26 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Saxon Wolfgang 1974 12 10 Sonny Carson Among Five Guilty in Kidnapping Case The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2016 10 18 Sonny Carson Koreans and Racism The New York Times Accessed March 10 2014 Ari Goldman The Region as blacks clash with Hasidic Jews The New York Times Accessed March 10 2014 Kim Claire Jean Bitter Fruit The Politics of Black Korean Conflict in New York City Yale University Press Accessed March 10 2014 Antisemitism Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present Palgrave 2002 p 219 ISBN 978 1 349 38512 6 a b Dinkins Worker Says he used Campaign money in Vote Effort The New York Times Accessed March 10 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert 22Sonny 22 Carson amp oldid 1190802527, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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