Once upon a Thanksgiving Day, Morton Curtis van Allen of Dutch and African American decent and his Christian wife Sarah Cecilia of African, Cherokee/Blackfoot tribe and Irish decent conceived a baby boy. On Sunday, August 03, 1953, at 1:43 am, Michael Anthony van Allen was born on a small, exotic island where he became a competitive swimmer. The island he was born on is Manhattan, where his grandfather was a teacher and Jazz musician. As a boy, Michael lived in the Abraham Lincoln high rise, public housing projects in the heart of Harlem (1980 Park Av on West 135th Street Apt # 5F between Amsterdam and Lenox Avenues) where his very pretty, loving and protective mother was the recipient of the "1953 Mother of the year award." His mother Sarah, the senior child of 8 sisters and 4 brothers, was a parent coordinator for the federally funded, anti-poverty Head Start Program. She later worked for the federal government welfare programs to assist the unemployed or underemployed. Help was extended to the poor through a variety of government welfare programs that include Medicaid, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). She was a caseworker and provided food stamps for the poor, as well.

1953

 

     1953 was an intriguing year that produced great things. In 1953, the United States Supreme Court deliberated the case against racially segregated schools in Brown v. Board of Education, the double helical structure of DNA was discovered, the transistor was invented, the polio vaccination was produced, the first successful open-heart surgery was performed, the top of Mt. Everest was conquered, James Baldwin published “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for “The Old Man and the Sea,” the first McDonald's restaurant opened, the first edition of Playboy magazine hit the newsstands with a nude Marilyn Monroe gracing the cover, and Rock & Roll first topped the musical charts. 1953 was a very productive year! 1953 was an intriguing year that produced great things. In 1953, the United States Supreme Court deliberated the case against racially segregated schools in Brown v. Board of Education, the double helical structure of DNA was discovered, the transistor was invented, the polio vaccination was produced, the first successful open-heart surgery was performed, the top of Mt. Everest was conquered, James Baldwin published “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for “The Old Man and the Sea,” the first McDonald's restaurant opened, the first edition of Playboy magazine hit the newsstands with a nude Marilyn Monroe gracing the cover, and Rock & Roll first topped the musical charts. 1953 was a very productive year! Michael's fair skinned, freckled-faced father was a proud man of immense character and intellect. (He was a trailblazer for people like the former Secretary of State General Colin Powell- who is from the same Bronx neighborhood). Having graduated as the salutatorian from Morris High School in the South Bronx, Van voluntarily joined the United States Army at seventeen years of age. He served honorably in combat as a sergeant in World War II, within a racially segregated United States Army. Ironically, he returned home to fight for his own human freedoms and democracy in the Civil Rights Movement of the ‘60s. He participated in the "Great March to Washington" where the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered the national historic "I Have a Dream" speech.

 

The Ballot or the Bullet

     On April 03, 1964, Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, a Pan-African, anti-white supremacist offered America the option of the “Ballot or the Bullet.” Main stream public propaganda mischaracterized Malcolm as a man of violence, in spite of the fact that, the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) murdered his father by having a speeding train run over him while he was still alive and tied to the railroad tracks, Malcolm's house was fire bombed while his children were home, he never committed any violent acts himself and he and Dr. King were both violently assassinated. However, he was guilty of demanding African American Liberation by “any means necessary”. America was force to make a decision regarding the descendents of Africa- that she raped, terrorized, lynched, and enslaved for hundreds of years - with either continuing the illegal, immoral and uncivilized treatment that began in 1619 or begin to provide black Americans with their United States Constitutional, Christian espoused and international recognized human rights. America had the benefit of a strategic alternative between Mahatma Gandhi passive styles of peace led by the Dr. King, or bloodshed via a second American revolution for Black Nationalism.

     On March 26, 1964, Dr. King and Malcolm X both met on Capitol Hill. [A picture of this once in a lifetime meeting remains hung in Michael’s home office- today.] Malcolm began securing support from African leaders, the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, Freedom Fighters, Fidel Castro from Cuba and Maoist China. Succinctly, America came to realize that she was going to support the creed of her own constitution or continue to bring terror and racism with police, dogs, and the National Guards to peaceful American demonstrators. The concept of external violent consequences from other countries in the fight for African-American liberation, coupled with the worldwide television exposure of their hypocrisy was too much for the superpower to bear. America had a clear choice of the “Ballot or the Bullet” and in 1965, she finally passed the Voting Rights Act under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Kennedy was perceived as a ‘civil rights’ President, although Kennedy never actually signed any civil rights legislation. Matter of fact, as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, he voted against the 1957 Civil Rights Act proposed by then President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Newark, NJ

     Michael's family moved out of the State of New York into the neighboring State of New Jersey. Shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, when Michael was ten years old and in fifth grade, he attended Broadway Elementary School in the largely Italian residential section of the North Ward of Newark. Michael was ecstatic to have been vigorously recruited, and immediately drafted, onto the Newark Boy's Club Swim Team. He earned many certificates, awards and trophies for his performance in successful competitive swimming meets, while he advanced academically to Broadway Junior High School. He lived at 14 Chester Avenue and felt protected by his insulated environment. However, political and social unrest stood not very far away.

     The civil rights movement brought unrest to many Americans – both black and white. Anthony Imperiale, a race-baiting civic leader and politician from Newark who became a national symbol of the backlash against urban unrest by wielding a baseball bat to defend his "white" neighborhood. Imperiale first surfaced in Newark politics in the early 1960's as an opponent of busing to achieve school desegregation. Then, Mr. Imperiale began preaching armed white self-defense. He formed the North Ward First Aid Squad, ostensibly to escort residents of the predominantly Italian North Ward through racially troubled areas. However, the group's nighttime street patrols drew charges of vigilantism. Mr. Imperiale's defiance, even demagoguery, only made things worse. He warned, ‘‘When the Black Panther comes, the white hunter will be waiting.''

     The Newark Riot of 1967 sparked with the arrest of a cab driver named John Smith, who allegedly drove around a double-parked police car at the corner of 7th St. and 15th Avenue. He was subsequently stopped, interrogated, arrested and transported to the 4th precinct headquarters, during which time he was severely beaten by the arresting officers. As news of the arrest spread, a crowd began to assemble in front of the precinct house, located directly across from a high-rise public housing project. When the police allowed a small group of civil rights leaders to visit the "prisoner", they demanded that Mr. Smith be taken to a hospital. Emerging from the building, these civil rights leaders begged the crowd to stay calm, but they were shouted down. Rumor spread that John Smith had died in police custody, despite the fact he had been taken out the back entrance and transported to a local hospital. Soon a volley of bricks and bottles was launched at the precinct house and police stormed out to confront the assembly. As the crowd dispersed, they began to break into stores on the nearby commercial thoroughfares. Eventually violence spread from the predominantly black neighborhoods of Newark's Central Ward to Downtown Newark, and the New Jersey State Police were mobilized. Within 48 hours, National Guard troops entered the city. With the arrival of these troops, the level of violence intensified. At the conclusion of six days of rioting, between July 12 and July 17, 1967, dozens lay dead, 725 people were injured and close to 1,500 Black freedom fighters had been arrested.

The Phantom Punch

     During the social and political unrest, Michael continued to shelter himself with the entertainment of sports. His athletic hero was Cassius Clay. The Cassius Clay v Sonny Liston fights for boxing world heavyweight championship were among the most anticipated watched and controversial fights in sport’s history (Feb. 25, 1964). Cassius Clay was a glib, fast-talking 22-year-old challenger who enjoyed the spotlight. He had won the light-heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics and had great hand and foot speed—not to mention a limitless supply of braggadocio and confidence.

     The blow that ended the match became known as "the phantom punch," so named because most people at ringside did not see it. Even Cassius was unsure as to whether or not the punch connected, as footage from the event shows Clay asking his entourage "Did I hit him?" after the match. Slow motion replays show Cassius connecting with a quick, chopping right to Liston's head (known as the "Anchor Punch" according to Clay) as Liston was moving toward him, and show that Liston was unsteady when he finally got to his feet. (Clay appeared to connect with four additional unanswered punches before Walcott belatedly declared the knockout, ending the contest.) Clay sprang to the center of the ring, did a victory jib and then Clay repeatedly yelled "I'm the greatest!" and "I shook up the world!" and then finally announced that his name was Muhammad Ali. Still today, Michael maintains the world-renowned picture of Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston in his home gym.

The Motown Sounds

     Prior to the Newark riots of 1967, Michael’s father moved his family to 330 North Maple Avenue, in a small bordering four-square mile town with a safer but equally racially intolerant, political environment. Michael wanted to emulate his grandfather and attempted to insulate himself in music. He began playing the clarinet for his Columbian Grammar School band on the corner of Springdale Av and Grove Street in East Orange. He entertained himself playing 45s and LP 33s polyvinyl albums on his record player and listened to the Great Motown sounds of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Lionel Richie, The Jackson Five, etc.

     Michael would also enjoyed Jazz and music listening with his dad as they listened to musical artist at the dining room table such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole. Both Michael and his dad would listen to talk radio on the AM dial before sleeping.
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     The larger high school that Michael attended during the fall of 1967 began to have an influx of black students. Black students and white students were beginning to enter the swimming pool at the same time. The all white school board of education and Mayor Kelly (who was no stranger to the Main street liquor store) agreed to address the situation by replacing the chlorinated H₂0 with Silicon crystals. They poured cement into the Olympic size swimming pool, and replaced the pool area with new marching band facilities to support the East Orange High School’s football team. Weighing 150 lbs and standing only five and a half feet tall, this natural swimmer did not qualify to make the basketball team, and failed the third and final cut for the football team under Coach Dean. Michael was a swimmer, and was not competitive in the non-aquatic sports offered to the typical black male. He also failed to make the Marching Band under Band Director Mr. Hanson. This autumn of failure to participate in extracurricular activities was a major disappointment. Michael lost his very best friends as they went onto the smaller –mostly white (Scott High School) - or private High Schools such as Seton Hall College Preparatory. His best friends were Mark Lago, Robert Flaherty, David Schwartz, Jim Ambrosky and J. Harvey White.

 

Laverne

     When Michael was a teenager, he took his first employment as a pharmacy clerk at Kaye's Drug Store on the corner of Lincoln and Main Streets in East Orange. One day, a very pretty girl patronized the store. Michael immediately recognized Laverne from school. They exchanged glances, smiles and friendly words as he bagged her prescription. Michael waved “adios” to Laverne and reassured her that he would see her in class, on the following day. The pharmacist, Al brought to Michael's attention that he failed to ring her purchase on the register. Having witnessed the juvenile flirtatious behavior, Michael's boss realized that this was an oversight and didn't make him pay out-of-pocket. Michael was relieved because he was only earning $1.60 per hour. The next day, Laverne approached Michael with the money and apologized for not having paid at the store. Michael refused the money but accepted her apology and explained that he needed her telephone number in case he had to 'follow-up'. Laverne knew where Michael was going with his alternative motive, but she gave him the number anyway. They both laughed aloud and staggered disorderly into their Spanish class tardy, yet still laughing disturbingly loudly, while being admonished by the teacher Ms. Margaret Yobbi.
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     Michael studied Korean style Taekwondo and several other styles of fighting including Aikido, Karate, Shito-Ryu and Jujutsu under senseis Bernard Trusdale and George Pryor at the East Orange School of Martial Arts on Main/Clinton Street. After high school graduation, at 17 years of age and during the Vietnam War, Michael flew down to Greensboro and enlisted into the North Carolina A & T State University Air Force Recruiting Officers Training Corp where he studied the military sciences._______________________________________________________________

     Although born in the Big Apple, Michael made history in the Oranges. He was the first non-white student to be awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Upsala College. He drove his British MGB sports convertible, rode his French Motorbecane bicycle and matriculated in the students for medicine program at the medical college. He was hired by his hometown's health department where he conducted microbiological test for the detection of bacteria in public food, water and milk, employing various bacteriological techniques. He screened children for contaminated blood levels of lead and he prepared, organized and secured PAP smear slides used for the detection of cervical cancer. Michael enjoyed doing the Wednesday’s bacteria testing. On these mornings, inspectors would go to various local delicatessens and take samples of shrimp and tuna salads into plastic bags for lab testing. If the samples were within specifications, Michael’s lunch was pretty much determined for the day. He gained a couple of pounds that summer, but no restaurants were found in violation of code.

Michael moved from his parents' home and rented an Andrea Towers condominium studio apartment #608 at 70 South Munn Av., East Orange. He was awarded a chemistry certificate from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He resigned from the health department to work as a biochemist at Merck & Co., a world's pharmaceutical giants. He performed qualitative and quantitative analysis, using instrumental and wet chemical procedures. His talents and skills were quickly recognized. He was promoted from analytical chemistry to research & development to support the Microbial Chemotherapeutic, Pharmacometric and Antibiotic programs. Still in his 20's, he earned enough money and bought a luxury one-bedroom Apt#705 condominium apartment at Andrea Towers and a brand new BMW automobile.

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     Michael fell in love with his high school sweetheart, whom he took to the senior prom held at the West Orange Manor. Succinctly, Laverne had a miscarriage and later died of breast cancer. These were the saddest times of Michael's life. This heartbreaking period prompted him to prioritize his life's values. He accepted a medical research position at St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark. He worked at the Blood Institute in the Hematology/Oncology department. He coordinated medical research projects for the separation and purification of plasma proteins using isoelectric focusing, high-pressured liquid chromatography, SDS three dimensional gel electrophoresis and several hematological methods. It was during this time that he transformed from the life and physical sciences to the social and political sciences. He was appointed chairperson of a chapter of the Organization of African Unity and a supportive member of the "Peoples Organization of Progress (POP) headed by Lawrence Hamm. He was elected block association president, appointed municipal fourth ward Treasurer, and Essex County Committee executive board district leader. He became a cablevision show host and was appointed by the Mayor (and unanimously confirmed in by the City Council) to serve as the Commissioner for the City of East Orange. After several campaigns and re-elections, dissatisfied with the failure of politics in serving the best interest of the masses, Commissioner MAVA decided to return to the pure sciences via academia. He was awarded his master's degree. Returning to his roots, he became the first black instructor in the chemistry/physics department at his undergraduate college. He taught inorganic, organic, and biochemistry. He was listed in Who's Who in American Education. He served as a debate coach and senior class advisor. He continued his formal education and returned to the island of his birth. He did his graduate studies in Biochemistry at Columbia University in Harlem, New York City. Mr. Van Allen accepted a chemistry teaching appointment at the fine and performing Arts school in Newark where his sister graduated as a violinist. [Many talented people graduated from Arts High School ranging from the legendary songstress Sarah Vaughn, Melba Moore, Woody Shaw, Connie Francis, Jazz artist Wayne Shorter, actor Tiesha Campbell-Martin, and Savon Glover.] He served as the advisor for the Allied Health Careers' and the National Honor Society. Michael returned to the medical school in Newark to do Pharmacokinetical research, and co-authored publications in medical journals including Clinical Research.

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     In 1997, Van was appointed to serve as an adjunct biochemistry instructor in the pre-medical program at the (UMDNJ) medical college in Newark. Contemporaneously, he was promoted to science department chair by the Newark Public Schools. [His sister Barbara teaches college mathematics, her son David attended Dartmouth University]. Michael received his pinnacle of recognition- after twenty years of service as a high school science educational leader- when he was appointed in 2007, by the NJ Department of Education to establish the benchmarks to the NJ Board of Education for the Science High School Proficiency Assessment. [The HSPA is an exit exam that over 80,000 science students throughout the State must pass in order to graduate from High School].

     Unfortunately, Michael A. Van Allen still does not qualify to be part of any respectable marching bands! Apparently, he played the phonograph much better than he played his horn. However, he loves the challenges of his supervisory and administrative responsibilities, the positive differences he makes in student’s lives, and the personal satisfaction he receives when he 'gives back' to his community. As an example, he receives gratification when he gives to his favorite charity- "The Boys and Girls Club of America.”

     He is engaged in the happiest times of his entire life as he lives in the moment- the here and now. He has a passion for his profession, social life, hobbies and personal interest. He treasures living, learning, loving, laughing, helicopter flying down the Grand Canyon, touring through Europe, camel riding across Africa, climbing the Great Wall of China, cruising the Caribbean islands, scuba diving in the Pacific Islands, day-break jogging with his dog and early morning lap swimming. He also enjoys movies, music and playing on his hometown softball league. Mike drives the BMW 5-series.

     [For 15 years, from 1990 to 2005- Michael lived alone in his single-family colonial home in West Orange Township at 3 Watchung Av-right up the road from where the famous scientist Tom Edison once lived and developed his inventions.] He moved with his very pretty, smart and loyal black female Labrador retriever -named Mia- to the suburban township of Randolph in Morris County, NJ. A paradise on Mountain Freedom. He was a candidate for Randolph town council in 2006. He studied legislation at the Eagleton Institute in New Brunswick, NJ during his campaign. He is proud of the nomination he received from the political  machine and support of thousands of his neighbors that came out in the pouring rain and voted for him in the November General Election. He served as the Morris County Committee District Leader and Treasurer of the Randolph Democratic Committee. He plays second base and catcher on his softball team. His oil-heated Dutch Colonial 'castle' is located with private well-water, on a couple of acres of a bucolic evergreen, private setting, surrounded by forest, mountainous lakes and parks often visited by herds of deer, birds (and an occasional uninvited but well respected hugh black bear - at the lake house- that they affectionately named Yogi). He was elected by his colleagues to represent them as their labor leader on the City Association of Supervisors and Administrators union's executive board (local #20) under the American Federation of School Administrators (AFL-CIO). He is a member of the Assoc of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the Assoc. for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), and the NJ Science Education Leadership Association. He serves as the Affirmative Action Officer for Malcolm X Shabazz High School (formerly known as South Side when NYC Mayor Ed Koch graduated). As recently as 2010, Michael earned recognition in the Field of Higher Education when he received a gubernatorial appointment to serve as a Trustee for the County College of Morris located in his hometown of Randolph Township.

 

The genesis of a public policy analyst

     The most intriguing and interesting course Michael took at the graduate school was "Higher Education Public Policy Analysis", under Professor Rong Chen. Incongruously, it was during this seminar that Michael broke his perfect attendance record in the Seton Hall University doctoral program by “cutting” his policy class to cast his vote on a controversial higher education public policy issue. The board of Trustees conducted this important meeting in the college gymnasium, which was full of students, protestors, supporters, community leaders, politicians, advocacy groups, Tea Party activist, stakeholders, television/newspaper media. On April 20, 2011, Michael flew into the Newark International Airport just in time to cast a vote allowing undocumented immigrants to matriculate at County College of Morris (CCM) as long as they met the high school graduation and residential requirements. This was a major policy change at the college in a decade. In 2001, the CCM Board of Trustees made a policy blocking “illegal aliens” attendance at the school since the series of four coordinated suicide attacks conducted by al-Qaeda upon the United States on 9/11.

     In 2011, Michael had just become chair of the Committee and this was the first motion coming out of his committee. This motion passed. It was this process of policy change when Michael recognized the full appreciation of being a policymaker. Professor Chen excused Michael for his absence. On his returned he explained the 'behind the scenes' policy making process to his colleagues, and what had taken place behind what they read in the newspapers and saw on television. Michael goal is to merge the worlds of research, law and policy to create educational opportunity for underserved populations.

Debbie

     The love of Michael's life, Debbie has a unique and outstanding family background with some interesting parallels with Michael and his family members. All of the men in Debbie's family are medical doctors. She is the granddaughter, daughter, niece and sister of two brothers -all of whom were/are physicians. (Interestingly, Debbie's sister-in-law -Sherry- is an immigration attorney, and attended Harvard Law School with First Lady- Michelle Obama.) Debra's father Irving, who also served in World War II, coincidentally graduated from the same high school as Michael's father. Her mother Toby- graduated from Bronx Science High School at the young age of 16, and then furthered her science education in college. Toby graduated from NYU with a chemistry degree at the early age of 19. Michael' girlfriend also taught chemistry for ten years, and supervises science teachers. They are both native New Yorker's and co-habit between their Mt. Freedom and Lake Valhalla homes in Morris County. Trustee Van Allen's ambitions include: earning his PhD degree in Public Policy; successfully serving as a distinguished policymaker at the County College of Morris; reducing his completion time on the annual Randolph Lake Triathlon; riding off into the sunset with his amicable, amorous, blue-green eyed, naturally blonde, slender, soul mate and best friend Debbie, and

living happily ever after...

To be continued. Stay tuned!
Email: MichaelVanAllen@aol.com
Copyright@2011 All Rights Reserved

 

 
Michael on far right in 3rd grade with big smile by traffic safety sign. What a happy kid!

Michael watching his sister Barbara jumping on the polo stick in the projects. West 135th Street and Amsterdam Av. Near the Henry Hudson river.

Michael's blowing the trumpet like any true Marine, or at least he thinks he is...

 
Michael with broken right arm in cast. Toothless in Manhattan

Mouse Click link below to listen to Michael's favorite song entitled: "Lawd, Lawd" composed and played by his Grand Daddy. Grand dad played the Baritone Sax and his brother Lloyd played the drums.

While listening to Michael's Granddad and Granddad's brother, view hometown PICs below in another window.


Click the hyperlink below to view numerous pictures of Michael's hometown of Randolph.

Click ~> http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/87742364AtnUfI

Please help Van Allen support the Boys & Girls Club of America WebLink: http://bgcn.dojiggy.com/MichaelAVanAllen