An assortment of activists and admirers of varying ages packed into Sister’s Uptown Bookstore at 1942 Amsterdam Ave., New York, N.Y. last Friday evening, March 25th, to honor the lifelong efforts of Florence M. Rice, who celebrated the 97th anniversary of her birth on March 22nd. Numerous people attended and paid homage to the Harlemite activist, who has advocated for many locals in various fields, including economic, education and housing issues, just to mention a few.
Her assistant, Kay Pressley, moderated the event, which featured three panelists who praised Rice for her tireless work. Pressley also passed off the mic to several individuals who thanked Rice for her tireless efforts throughout her decades dedicated to giving back to her community.
“She’s one of the most courageous people I ever met in my life,” said Brother David White, founding member of The Fair Play Committee, who has known Rice for 51 years. “She’s on the level of Fannie Lou Hamer and Rosa Parks. The woman is one of the greatest assets to our community and to our race. What she has contributed to us cannot be explained on paper, you would have to have been there to see the responses that she receives. She’s a warrior Queen.”
During the 1960s Rice established the Harlem Consumer Education Council in an effort to combat poverty and secure educational and employment opportunities for her people. Since then, she has also formed numerous other organizations that have assisted local communities.
“We have to do for Mrs. Rice all we can while we still have her,” suggested Harlem activist Brother Julius. “There will come a day when she is no longer walking among us. When that day comes, we can feel good and laugh and cry tears of joy knowing that we were there to enjoy her and help her in her time of need.”
Unity In Our Community and Harlem Transformation Project honored Rice on the last Friday of Women’s History Month.
“Pay attention to our children, because in the last few years too many of our young adults are going to jail,” Rice advised as she closed out the evening. “You have those who are buying prisons to send our children for labor. Racism in our society is bigger now than ever. I’m asking all the grandparents and parents to pay attention. We owe them. It is our duty.”