Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, marked the 19th anniversary of Brooklyn warrior Sonny Abubadika Carson becoming an ancestor, and although nearly two decades have elapsed since then, his legacy still stands strong. After a prolonged hospital stay following a stroke, he transitioned Dec. 20, 2002, at 73 years-young.
In Brooklyn’s urban jungle he commanded much respect and taught people how to hold city officials and local leaders accountable, to benefit their communities and area youths. He often worked with people from various walks of life to accomplish his goals.
“Ain’t nothing changed in this country for the Blackman, and there’s a lot of Black blood that’s still being spilled in these streets,” noted Ali Lamont Jr., CEO of Carson’s organization The Committee to Honor Black Heroes. “It wasn’t about Black or white people, it was about character, because he criticized Black folks just as he did whites. Wrong is wrong no matter what color you are.”
One of Abubadika’s primary focuses was educating inner-city youths. The psychological ramifications of doing so surely played out in succeeding generations. He also never rejected the grassroots movements which was the backbone to his community.
“Sonny is still loved and missed,” expressed Carson’s comrade, Tarik Haskins. “I once heard him tell an audience ‘I don’t want to talk to you because to do so I would have to speak the king’s English.’ In saying that, he was denoting what he found especially reprehensible was racism that subjected Africans to an animal training process.”
Despite his raw street-gang background, Carson instinctively worked the system to ensure area youths received more opportunities to acquire better schooling.
“A.B. is truly missed,” indicated Atiim Ferguson, vice-chair of the Committee To Honor Black Heroes. “The things that were most important to him were the youths and his family. He fought so many battles, especially dealing with education for the youths.”
The education of Sonny Carson was prevalent in the People’s Republic of Brooklyn, where the realest people are.
Tarik concludes: “Sonny’s legacy is that he re-Africanized himself and spent every living moment re-Africanizing, re-humanizing Black people fighting to save Africans.”To support the campaign to co-name a section of Gates Avenue as “Abubadika Sonny Carson Place,” please contact https://www.facebook.com/Abubadika-Sonny-Carson-233966959960709.