Chair acknowledges colleagues; Assembly Member Wright speaks on Harlem history

Councilmember Chanel Thomas-Henry.

Councilmember Farrah Lewis.

Councilmember Crystal Hudson.

Thank you for your salam.

Councilmember Alexa Aviles.

Councilmember Justin Sanchez.

Councilmember Virginia Maloney.

And Councilmember Sandra Ong.

Oh, okay.

Yes.

The assembly member wants to say a word of welcome.

This is what happens when you have field hearings.

You get claps and welcomes.

Thank you, Dr.

Deputy Speaker Williams.

I appreciate it.

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning, Council Member Sloan, my Council Member, everybody.

I'm Jordan Wright, Assembly Member, and I'm proud to represent this community in the New York State Assembly.

I want to thank Deputy Speaker Williams and the members of the committee for coming uptown and having this hearing here in Harlem at the Schomburg, where this conversation belongs.

Because when we talk about preserving black history, we're not talking about something abstract.

We're talking about our history, Harlem's history, people who have lived here, organized here, created here, raised families here, and changed the world right from here.

That history deserves to be protected.

Places like the Schomburg can make sure that years from now someone can pick up and actually pick up the papers, look at the photographs that made Harlem what it is today and made the world what it is today from the people who've actually lived it.

That's what matters to me.

We're living at a time when there are very real fights happening across the country and around the world over black history and what might get taught.

And it's important that we're teaching all the things that make our culture our culture.

So I want to thank the committee for having me here today.

I want to thank everyone in the audience for being here today to testify.

And if you finally put it.

Rico, no, esta, a la venda.

Thank you so much.