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Melvin Anderson
Sr.
The
Struggle
All aboard, being surrounded by hard working
African Americans like myself, on my way to a
journey of unawares. Quietness became laughter,
mystery became yet more of a mystery. Many questions
I had gathered in my mind about this AFRAM-SEIU
agenda. What specifically is AFRAM? What would it be
like to be surrounded by a national caucus? Well,
this new member would soon find out…
Getting off the bus, entering this luxurious hotel
in downtown Milwaukee, I began to see more faces of
people like me from all over the country. We
gathered into a ballroom and that room became a home
to a great big family of black folks and some other
ethnic backgrounds that supported the struggle.
There was a panel discussion that was incredibly
informative, hearing things I’ve never heard before.
Discussions about politics, education, social
development, and justice. What needed to be done to
better our culture? There were topnotch leaders on
the panel, one of whom I’ll never forget, Mr. Marcel
Smiley (President of AFRAM-SEIU). This specific
leader was a man of authority, yet concerned about
today’s issues. He found room in his heart to gather
for this caucus some influential African American
leaders to fellowship with us and inform us about
our society. We listened…
All aboard, no it was not over, we were not on our
way back to our residence. We were going to meet
some of our great ancestors at the Black American
Holocaust Center. This center was dedicated to the
only living Afro American lynching survivor, Mr.
James Cameron. What a great honor to step into the
very doors of brilliance, love and power. Entering,
I recall being in a quarter house (residence for
slaves). I saw the prices for a human being, I saw
the ships, I saw the chains, I saw the imprisonment,
I saw the lynches, I saw the cries and I saw our
Mothers, Fathers, Sisters and Brothers…I saw
history. The music of our late James Brown, Anita
Baker and others echoed the halls of this museum. As
King Saul (a biblical king), the sound of music held
back the tears, and kept me emotionally intact as I
watched the pictures of the struggle, the struggle
for freedom. The struggle for freedom was in the
very faces of our Malcolm’s, Martin’s, Harriet’s,
and Rosa’s. If you could have seen just ten percent
of this place it would have humbled you in one
second. I did not want to leave, I stayed until I
could stay no more. I left with hope; hope to
continue the struggle for freedom.
I was then aware of the AFRAM agenda and anticipated
hearing more. I decided then to become an active
member of AFRAM-SEIU, to assist our people in
educating our work environments and communities.
Attending more meetings gave me the insight I needed
to take back to Minnesota. This was one of the most,
if not best, event in all my life…
Thanks to AFRAM-SEIU,
Melvin Anderson Sr.
SEIU Health Care Minnesota
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AFRAM IS A NATIONAL CAUCUS FOR SEIU MEMBERS 