Helene Nomsa Brath is a mother, wife, community organizer, education activist, education reformer, educator, public speaker, and artist. She was married to and worked with her husband
for over 50 years. In the 1960s she was a Grandassa model. They were both pioneers in Black Arts Movement and the
Black is beautiful
Black is beautiful is a cultural movement that was started in the United States in the 1960s by African Americans. It later spread beyond the United States, most prominently in the writings of the Black Consciousness Movement of Steve Biko ...
movement in the 1960s. Nomsa was one of the founding members of the
Grandassa Models.
Helene Nomsa Brath is also known as Helene Nomsa Brathwaite.
Nomsa Brathwaite, Cinque Brathwaite and
Kwame Brathwaite
Kwame Brathwaite (January 1, 1938 – April 1, 2023) was an American photojournalist and activist known for popularizing the phrase "Black is Beautiful" and documenting life and culture in Harlem and Africa.
Life and work
Born Gilbert Ronald ...
are co-founders of the Elombe Brath Foundation. The sale of some of Nomsa's paintings were sold to fund the nonprofit charity created in honor of her husband, Elombe Brath.
Early life
Nomsa's birth name was Helene White. Her childhood mentor was Goldie Seifert. Goldie was a scholar and the wife of Charles Seifert. Charles was a scholar in history and specialized in African and African American history. Nomsa credits Goldie with instilling in her the love for reading, books, and independent thinking. Charles was a collector of books. The Seifers created a library in their home to educate the Black community.
Career
Helene Nomsa Brathwaite, is known by many monikers, including her maiden name, Helene White, and Nomsa Brath. She was the wife of
, who was an International Pan Africanist and Pioneer of the
Black Arts Movement
The Black Arts Movement (BAM) was an African Americans, African-American-led art movement that was active during the 1960s and 1970s. Through activism and art, BAM created new cultural institutions and conveyed a message of black pride. The mov ...
. For many years Nomsa Brath was an activist in education in New York City.
Education reformer
In 1994 to 2003 Nomsa was an advocate for education reform. She has part of a panel discussion hosted by
Hugh Bernard Price
Hugh Bernard Price (born 1941) is an American activist. He served as the President of the National Urban League from 1994 to 2003.
Price is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Price is a member of the advisory board of the Future of American ...
, who was the president of the
National Urban League
The National Urban League (NUL), formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan historic civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of economic and social justice for Afri ...
. On the panel Nomsa represented the voice of the parents for education reform. The panel discussion appeared on
C-Span
Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN ) is an American Cable television in the United States, cable and Satellite television in the United States, satellite television network, created in 1979 by the cable television industry as a Non ...
in the 1997 forum on U.S. Education of Urban Residents. In the 90's she represented Partners for Reform in Math and Science (PRISM) for several years.
As an educational reformer, and advocating within the educational system Nomsa turned to homeschooling, and homeschooled her 5th child. He scored very high in the
SAT test
The SAT ( ) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and scoring have changed several times. For much of its history, it was called the Scholastic Aptitude Test and had two ...
. After homeschooling her 5th child he went back into the public school system, and attended the
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a State school, public Specialized high schools in New York City, specialized high school in the Bronx in New York City. It is operated by the New York City Department of Education. Admission to Bronx Science ...
hich was one of New York City's specialized high school at the time. She also homeschooled her 6th child. After homeschooling her 5th and 6th child she became a volunteer teacher for community children.
Grandassa Model - Pioneers of the Black is Beautiful movement
In 1956 the Jazz-Art Society was formed. It was renamed the African Jazz-Art Society & Studios – AJASS. The African Jazz Arts Society Studio (AJASS) comprised organizers Elombe Brath, Kwame Brathwaite, Robert Gumbs, Frank Adu, Chris Asmandeces Hall, David K. Ward, Leroy “Satch” Giles, Jimmy Abu Williams, and Ernest Baxter. AJASS productions started in
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...
. They produced art exhibitions and African cultural presentations. AJASS was a forerunner of what latter became known as "The Black Arts Movement." They produced jazz concerts and AJASS started the
Grandassa Models, and the theme was “Black Is Beautiful.” They were influenced by
Carlos A. Cooks, and the African Nationalist Pioneer Movement (ANPM). The (ANPM) grew out of the
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. (17 August 188710 June 1940) was a Jamaican political activist. He was the founder and first President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) (commonly known a ...
's
UNIA Movement. Which influenced the creation of Grandassa Models. The UNIA hosted on Garvey Day, August 17 of each year a "Miss Natural Standard of Beauty Contest."
Helene White was one of the original Grandassa Models in the "Naturally '62" beauty and fashion show. She was featured as the Cover Girl on numerous Jazz Album covers by
Lou Donaldson
Louis Andrew Donaldson Jr. (November 1, 1926 – November 9, 2024) was an American jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. He was best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was he ...
. Her popularity led her to be featured internationally on magazine covers in Africa highlighting Black women in the United States, wearing their hair in its natural state.
Grandassa models represented natural African American standards of beauty. They were on magazine covers, and album covers in the United States as beauty icons. Nomsa became an icon for Black female empowerment in the New York Citizen Call Newspaper cartoon strip. The newspaper was a strong voice for the black community during the 1950s and 60's. The early 1980s brought Nomsa Brath's popularity to light when she was caricatured into a Grandassa Logo by her husband, Elombe Brath, on event fliers. Afterward, these fliers were distributed in Harlem for Cultural political events, highlighting the voice of the urban community.
The “Naturally” beauty shows continued through the 1980s regularly, and later became commemorative events.
Asbestos removal in schools pioneer
Nomsa was an advocate for the removal of
asbestos
Asbestos ( ) is a group of naturally occurring, Toxicity, toxic, carcinogenic and fibrous silicate minerals. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous Crystal habit, crystals, each fibre (particulate with length su ...
from schools in New York City public schools. In 1985 the ''Journal of Law and Education'' highlighted Helene Brathwaite's asbestos removal advocacy work in the
New York City Public Schools
The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is the department of the government of New York City that manages the city's public school system. The City School District of the City of New York (more commonly known as New York City Publ ...
in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. Her work and efforts along with others led to shut down of unsafe primary and grade schools in the 1970s.
She was President of the Parents Teacher Association and Chairperson of the Parents' Committee of PS 185/208. Her children and her neighbors' children attended the schools that were shut down due to the hazards of asbestos. It was known that 20% of the schools in New York City had asbestos, and the risk of
mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal organs (known as the mesothelium). The area most commonly affected is the lining of the lungs and chest wall. Less commonly the lini ...
to younger children had not been properly addressed.
Many school buildings were constructed containing asbestos before federal asbestos regulations were put in place. It was a natural mineral used in the construction industry and in the buildings of schools. It was later recognized as a disease-causing danger, linked to illnesses, like mesothelioma. Nomsa researched and learned the dangers of asbestos. Her research led her to work with the superintendent and stress the importance of closing the schools down. Along with pushing to close the asbestos-filled school buildings down, Nomsa urged the superintendent to bus children to different schools throughout New York that were free of any asbestos problems. The financial toll the NYC school system and New York had to endure was a litmus test for what could happen if parental advocacy was realized in other schools. Since then, Federal guidelines have been enhanced, clarified, and expanded.
Today, The
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency may refer to the following government organizations:
* Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland), Australia
* Environmental Protection Agency (Ghana)
* Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland)
* Environmenta ...
, EPA, is responsible for outlining and enforcing federal laws related to asbestos in school buildings. The
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) is a US federal law enacted in 1986 by the 99th United States Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. It required the EPA to create regulations regarding local education agencies ...
(
AHERA) requires mandatory inspections of buildings for the presence of asbestos and the creation of management plans to prevent or reduce the risks of asbestos exposure. However, neither the EPA nor AHERA requires that schools remove the asbestos found after inspections. The loophole for schools around removing asbestos is that they only need an in-place plan to manage to reduce the risks of exposure. The law states that asbestos does not typically need to be removed. It only needs to be removed from the building when it is seriously damaged or when it is at risk of being disturbed by renovation or demolition.
In open letters from The United Federation of Teachers to parents and educators, the UFT stated how Nomsa Brath, single-handedly forced The Board of Education to accept findings of how scientists have known of the dangers of asbestos for years.
Case of the Central Park 5
Nomsa Brath was one of the major organizers in the high-profile cases in New York City known as the
Central Park Jogger
The Central Park jogger case (sometimes termed the Central Park Five case) was a criminal case concerning the assault and rape of Trisha Meili, a woman who was running in Central Park in Manhattan, New York, on April 19, 1989. Crime in New York ...
case. Five African American youth were indicted, and became known as the
Central Park 5.
Nomsa founded a group called “Mother Love” composed of mothers and female activists who organized for the support the innocence of the five teenagers who were alleged to have attacked the female jogger on the night of April 19, 1989. Nomsa and others believed in the innocence of the young men. 'Mother Love' were supporters of the Central Park 5. The media at the time expressed empathy for the jogger. The case polarized
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. Inflamed rhetoric and newspaper ads were published.
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
took out ads calling for the death penalty for the five young men.
Many saw the media as rushing to judgment. 'Mother Love' did a media and press campaign for justice. Nomsa's husband Elombe and his involvement in media communications of television and radio helped to publicize the injustices.
In 2002 the 5 young men known in the media as the
Central Park 5 were exonerated due to the confessions of Matias Reyes. Reyes, a convicted murderer and serial rapist, was in prison and confessed to raping the jogger. DNA evidence confirmed his guilt. He stated that he acted alone in the killing of the Central Park Jogger.
Nomsa's work and advocacy on this case appear in books by three different authors. ''Black Women in America'' edited by Kim Marie Vaz, ''High-Profile Crimes'' by Lynn S. Chancer, and ''The Central Park Five: A Chronicle of a City Wilding'' by Sarah Burns, which addressed Nomsa's significance in this case. Sarah Burns, the author of the latter book, is the daughter of
Kenneth Lauren Burns, a documentary filmmaker. Sarah and Ken are the producers of the 2012 documentary of the Central Park 5. The film suggests that Prosecutor Elizabeth Lederer of the New York District Attorney's Office poked little holes of doubt in every witness’ testimony. In the miniseries about Central Park 5 directed by
Ava DuVernay
Ava Marie DuVernay (; born August 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. She is a recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, NAACP Image Awards, a British Academy Film Awards, ...
and released in April 2019, ''
When They See Us
''When They See Us'' is a 2019 American crime drama television miniseries created, co-written, and directed by Ava DuVernay for Netflix, that premiered in four parts on May 31, 2019. It is based on events of the 1989 Central Park jogger cas ...
'', Nomsa Brath was played by actress
Adepero Oduye
Adepero Oduye ( ) is an American actress, director, singer, and writer. She is known for '' Pariah'' (2011), '' 12 Years a Slave'' (2013), '' The Big Short'' (2015), and ''Widows'' (2018).
Life and career
Adepero Oduye was born in Brooklyn, New ...
. Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King from Participant Media,
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American television presenter, talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show' ...
/
Harpo Productions
Harpo Productions (or Harpo Studios) is an American multimedia Film production, production company (law), company founded by Oprah Winfrey and based in West Hollywood, California. The name "Harpo" is "Oprah" anadrome, spelled backwards, and it w ...
Films, Jane Rosenthal and Berry Welsh from Tribeca Productions and DuVernay are the executive producers of the movie ''When They See Us.''
In 2008, Nomsa had a stroke that restricted her activism and painting.
References
External links
Central Park 5 on Trump Paying for Ads Calling for Them to Get Death Penalty 3:04 / 6:43 Trump Still Thinks 'Central Park Five' Are Guilty , All In , MSNBCCentral Park 5 on Real Rapist Confessing After They Served 7 Years in PrisonCentral Park 5 on Police Coercing False Statements and Planting EvidenceTrump STILL Wants To Execute Innocent Central Park Five
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nomsa Brath, Helene
African Americans in New York City
Living people
21st-century African-American educators
21st-century American educators
American educational reformers
African-American female models
21st-century African-American women
1942 births