Determination Guides Innis’ Rise In African American History
Fourth in a series highlighting notable Virgin Islanders during Black History Month.
By Winston Nugent
Roy Innis
Roy Innis was born, June 6, 1934 on St. Croix. His father, Alexander Innis who was a police officer, died when he was only six years old, and so his mother, Georgianna Innis decided to leave St. Croix and move to New York. She did not send for him until 1947 as she was sending for the rest of his brothers and sisters as money became available.
With his youthful and impressionable mind, he arrived on the “main land,” and went through a cultural shock. This came about as a result of the fact that, the Virgin Islands was a predominantly black society, and where he had moved to, Harlem, New York at the time, racial discrimination was commonplace with the “in-your-face” white supremacy attitude. It is said, during that time, racial confrontation caused many African-American to begin questioning their intellect and the competence of their own race.
Because of his mother’s Caribbean sense of purpose and her belief in education, he was sent to the prestigious Stuyvesant high school in New York City. However, when he had reached the age of 16 years old, he lied and joined the U.S. Army. It was not until 2 years after that his superiors found out that he was underage and discharged him. He came home and earned his high school diploma and majored in chemistry at City College of New York. He was one of the first blacks to be hired as a researcher at Vicks Chemical Company.
Winston Nugent
In 1968 he was elected National Chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). He drafted the Community Self-Determination Act of 1968 and garnered bipartisan sponsorship of this bill by one third of the U.S. Senate and over 50 Congressmen. This was the first time in U.S. History that a bill drafted by a black organization was introduced into the United States Congress.
In 1973 he participated in a televised debate with Nobel winner, William Shockley on the topic of “black genetic inferiority.” In 1986 he challenged incumbent Major Owens in the Democratic Primary for the 12th Congressional District, representing Brooklyn. In the 1993 New York City Democratic Party Mayoral primary, he challenged incumbent, David Dinkins, the first Black-American to hold the office.
He founded the Harlem Commonwealth Council, an agency designed to create black-owned businesses. He led teams of prominent Americans to Nigeria in 1996, 97’ and 1998 to monitor the elections which are part of the transition process from military to civilian rule. He also filed election monitoring reports to both Congress and President Clinton. He visited Sierra Leone to assess recent condition with ECOMOG reports. He continues to be an important voice in the American Civil Rights scene.
Editor’s Note: Crucians In Focus would like to thank Winston Nugent, one of our distinguished regular contributors, for this series of informative articles highlighting notable Native Sons during Black History Month.
Did you put the man’s name some where in the Bio?
Thanks, Mr. Nugent. That was very informative. It is good to know we have Virgin Islanders who are contributing to these islands.
Knowledge is power! Unfortunately, the V.I. youths are mostly interested in gun power. They are busy killing each other. Will they ever read about these great Virgin Islanders?
I’ve always found people like Roy Innis and Allan Keys,passionate
crusaders,far more relevant than the likes of Jessie Jackson and
Al Sharpton…..which isn’t to say both Reverends haven’t contributed to the ’cause’.They certainly have.
…..should have said ‘far more substantive and relevant’
Unfortunately Roy Innis is pretty much considered a joke. Though he maybe passionate in his beliefs the people who over the years he has chosen to allign himself have done nothing to benefit the Black and poor population. During the Guliani years he was pretty much known as Rudy’s House “N” and you could always count on Roy Innis supporting any position that would hurt the NYC Black community. Its sad for me to say this because I to have allot of conservative ideas and pride myself in not being a crowd follower. However I could never stoop so low to be associated with the kind of “ilk” Mr. Innis alligned himself with the past 25 years.
On a lighter note one of the great TV comedy moments was Innis and Sharpton fighting on the Morton Downey Show in the late 80′s
@ ‘NYMIKE’: It sure sounds as if you know more about Roy Innis than I do and that you haven’t the slightest reservations/ compunctions in ‘painting’ him with a ‘broad brush’in expressing your opinions of him.But I do have a question for you sir/mamdam.
If,as you say,you are a person with ‘allot of conservative ideas
and pride yourself in not being a crowd follower’,what do you
think of of the ‘ilk’ with whom President Obama surrounds himself…..his having some far out progressive/socialistic ideas and policies,none of which will benefit ‘the NYC Black community’(or any other community for that matter) or the nation as a whole? Are you able to ‘stoop’ low enough to ‘allign’ yourself with that crap and ‘associate’ with such types?
And yes,I do recall the fracas of which you speak.It was comedy at its best.Poor Downey,I thought he was going to have a heart attack.
Soldier Crab,
Much to the anger/surprise of many of my friends and co-workers I voted for McCain (though I think Palin is a joke). I am fiscally conservative and socially very liberal. I can’t respond to your comments about the “ilk” you are taling about with Obama, be a little more specific and I will respond but remember I am very liberal so I am not sure which socialistid ideas you are talking about?
@ ‘NYMIKE’: You have,in part,answered my question and I’ll leave it at that as I have no intention of engaging in a lenghty back and forth.
Oh,and by the way,I too voted for John Mc.Cain as I couldn’t support a candidate who,other than having been involved with communuity organizing,was less qualified than others.Wasn’t in the least impressed with Obama’s charismatic rhetoric and definition of hope and change. Excellent orator but,in my book,the consumate con artist.
So,we’ve got what we’ve got.
Funny thing though,many of those who once thought Obama could ‘tread water’ aren’t so sure anymore and are talking about
making him a one term president.
Hmmmm!If only we had known.
Gotta go Mike.