The Max Rameau papers (1992-2010) document his extensive activism for the homeless and the poor within the South Florida communities of the African diaspora. The collection will be of interest to scholars and students of movements such as the Umoja Village, the Scott-Carver Tenant Council, Miami Dade Election Reform and Take Back the Land. The materials document advocacy work on behalf of people displaced from their homes as a result of low income housing policies, gentrification, and the U.S. foreclosure crisis at the beginning of the 21st century. The Max Rameau papers also point to connections between activist groups promoting the economic rights of the diverse constituency of the African diaspora which reside in Liberty City and Little Haiti. Finally, the collection serves as a record of Mr. Rameau's work with organizations such as Brothers of the Same Mind, the Haitian American Grassroots Coalition and the Center for Pan African Development.
Program #07-09. Interview with two homeless families from Santa Barbara, CA and Miami, FL. Max Rameau from Take Back the Land discusses the organization's mission and work. Making Contact: a weekly series from the National Radio Project.
Sealed. Created by Big Noise Films and narrated by Mumia Abu Jamal, this is a documentary on the racially charged criminal activities and large civil rights demonstration that occured in Jena, Louisiana in 2006. RT - 30 minutes.
John Cata is a Vietnam War veteran and former civil rights activist who lived at Umoja Village for almost its entire duration. He was one of the Village’s most well-known residents whose story was often covered by the media. Born in New York City, Cata played an important part in the civil rights era in Miami by signing the first labor contract for Jackson Memorial Hospital as the chairman of the negotiating committee. Shortly after, he was drafted for the Vietnam War. Cata later returned to Miami to do research on himself at the downtown library. In the process, he ended up living outdoors. He drifted into Umoja Village one day, and decided to stay. Over time, Cata became an ardent believer in the cause and was noted by others to have become completely transformed during his stay at Umoja Village. He gradually became invited to TBL organizers’ meetings. When the Village burnt down, Cata was one of the most vocal protesters and was arrested by the police (he was later arrested again in relation to a housing liberation). Lenght: 49:38
