STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A newly formed organization, the African Political Action Committee of Staten Island, aims to elevate the voices of African and African American residents in the borough and ensure their representation in the political arena.
Executive Director Minister Levi Titus Daniels expressed the organization’s main objective is to promote African solidarity while ensuring socioeconomic and political representation for the community.
“We push for African political, social, and economic emancipation because it’s glaring that the majority of those from the Black and brown communities, their voices aren’t heard,” Daniels stated. “We do not have representation.”
The committee was established out of dissatisfaction with politicians who tend to engage with African communities solely during election cycles, only to break promises once elected.
According to Daniels, there has been an ongoing pattern of politicians utilizing the community for votes without following through on their commitments.
“Over the years, we’ve noticed that there have been people that have constantly walked into our community, used us as convenient constituents,” he explained. “At the end of the day, these people, they’re never going to come around anymore. Our problems within this community remain.”
The organization’s ambition is to forge a social contract with those politicians seeking electoral support from African and African American voters, particularly in Staten Island and across New York, while also envisioning a nationwide expansion.
They aim to require clear action plans from candidates that directly address the needs of their community prior to receiving their backing.
Daniels highlighted pressing issues such as inadequate security in government-subsidized housing and malfunctioning elevators affecting the elderly. When community members try to address these problems with local political offices, they are often met with indifference, further dissuading voter participation.
“When election comes, you have less than 10% going out there to vote. It’s because our people are discouraged,” he remarked.
Characterizing itself as politically neutral, the committee focuses on individual candidates whose platforms resonate with their core community values rather than aligning with established political parties.
“We do not lean toward the Republican Party. We do not lean toward the Democratic Party. We align ourselves with individuals whose political manifestos align with our core values,” Daniels elaborated.
The group’s aim is to create a space for members of Black and brown communities to express their political views, regardless of party affiliation.
“Gone are the days that people will just come and just make mess with us and just abuse us and just use us. The party is over,” Daniels stressed. “Going forward, if you want to go to the African community or the African American community to get our vote, you have to tell us what you’re going to do for us.”
The committee officially launched earlier this month with a banquet at LiGreci’s Staaten in West Brighton.
“Today marks the beginning of something truly unique and special. We are not only launching an organization, but we are also building a movement,” Dr. Komi Agoda-Koussema, the founding chairman, said in his opening remarks at the event.
“This event is a conversation for us to connect with each other, listen to each other, and share ideas about how we can make a difference,” he added.
Dr. Agoda-Koussema emphasized that whether participants are interested in topics such as education, economic empowerment, housing, immigration, or social justice, the African Political Action Committee serves as a platform to elevate their voices and concerns for the future.
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