FT. LAUDERDALE – Caribbean-American Attorney Levi Williams is a partner with the law firm of Fertig and Gramling, in Ft. Lauderdale. In addition to his extensive law practice, Levi is actively involved in the South Florida community having served on boards such as the Urban League of Broward County, and Broward Community College Board of Trustees.
In 2007 he was appointed by Attorney General Bill McCollum to the newly formed Florida Council On The Social Status of Black Men and Boys and was elected by his fellow council members to serve as its first chairman. The Council’s first annual report was released earlier this year and South Florida Caribbean News had a chance to talk with Levi person-to-person about the Council and the report.
SFCN: What is the objective of the Council?
Levi Williams (LW): The objective of the Council is set out by Florida Statute. The Council’s role is to systematically study the conditions affecting black men and boys and propose measures to alleviate and correct the underlying causes of the conditions.
SFCN:What are some of the areas the Council reviewed for its first report?
LW: We reviewed homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates, school performance, health issues, income levels and economic status.
SFCN:What finding of the Council personally startled you?
LW: All the findings of the Council startled me, not because it was new information, but because there is a pre-disposition of low expectancy for black men and boys in most, if not all aspects of life. As a community, I believe we should all be startled by the information otherwise we will come to accept the findings as normal. I refuse to acknowledge that the situation is the norm and will continue to demand change.
SFCN:What kinds of change do you demand?
LW: The changes that I personally demand from others are the same that I demand from myself: self-accountability; commitment to excellence; and continuous self-development and improvement. Other changes that are broader than the man or the woman in the mirror include: Greater access to the same opportunities enjoyed by others; the Black community’s commitment to the growth and development of all individuals; an extinction of the crab-in-the-barrel mentality and a willingness for those in positions of wealth and power to develop and transition the next generation to preserve the economic and political strength of the Black community and, indeed, America.
SFCN: Are there any specific findings as it relates to the Caribbean-American community?
LW: The data collected was not broken out by national origin and it would be difficult to extract that data. However, in light of the fact that many Caribbean nationals of African descent reside in South Florida, the findings would include them, not just Black people born in America. The fact that I am from Jamaica, does not mean the findings don’t apply to me.
SFCN: The council’s report has been published, now what?
LW: Each man and each woman needs to read the report, look in the mirror and ask themselves three questions: (1) Who am I?; (2) What changes do I need to make in my life?; and (3) What changes can I personally bring about in my community?
SFCN: Has anything happen in Tallahassee as a result of the report?
LW: The Council has had strong bi-partisan support from all the members of Florida’s legislature, including Governor Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum. The Council, of course was the brain child of State Senator Frederica Wilson and then Rep. Frank Peterman, who is now the Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
There are many key legislators who sit on the Council and/or supported initiative to benefit the residents of Florida including, Senator Wise, Rep. Perry E. Thurston, Jr., Rep. Julio Robaina, Rep. Marcelo Llorente.
Speaker Rubio, with the support of Rep. Llorente, led the initiative to have House Bill 1395 passed by the legislature this year and signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist in May. This bill allows the Council to create a direct service organization that can raise funds for the Council to implement initiatives to mitigate problems highlighted in the study.
There are also organizations such as the 100 Black Men of Ft. Lauderdale who spearheaded a reading and comprehension program that will be implemented across the state and North Broward Hospital District who put in place mobile medical units to provide health screenings directly in the community.
SFCN: What’s next for you?
LW: The Council is now under the chairmanship of Christopher Norwood. I have asked the Council to set up a committee on Criminal Justice & Gangs and I will be chairing that committee.
To see the Council’s full report visit www.cssbmb.com. Levi can be reached at (954) 763-5133 or [email protected].
Levi Williams
