Kudos to Free Press
Re “Church fashion show to benefit victims of domestic violence,” June 2-4 edition:
Don’t be afraid to look in your own house
I have a problem with parents who are afraid to go into their children’s bedrooms or sleeping quarters. The shooter of the five police officers in Dallas lived at home. The shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., lived at home.
Sometimes ‘dangerous’ people haven’t been diagnosed with a mental illness
Re Editorial, “One recipe for change,” July 14-16 edition:
The status quo
Like millions, I am shocked and appalled by the needless killing of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, five Dallas police officers, and three Baton Rouge police officers. Respect for humanity requires that we reject, in the strongest terms, the unwarranted and unjustified taking of life. I search earnestly for answers to the “why?” of their executions and the reason that, after 240 years, our nation still sustains a level of racial hatred and intolerance that fuels these acts of violence. Anyone giving an honest look at our national tragedy of racial violence, especially the epidemic of cop-on-citizen homicide, will agree that we, as a nation, have a conflict of major proportion that must be addressed and resolved if any of us are to live with the assurance of even a modicum of peace. The back and forth response of violence and retaliation can only lead to our mutual destruction.
Gun violence demands action
As the Republican Party holds its national convention in Cleveland, Americans remain shaken by the shootings of police in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La., following the police shootings of black men in Baton Rouge and Falcon Heights, Minn. I spoke at the funeral of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, weeping with his family and friends as they remembered and mourned their loved one who was slain on July 5 by police officers.
Stolen culture, stolen words
First it was Elvis taking our music. Then it was Bo Derek co-opting our cornrows.
A clear reason to vote
If ever we need a good reason or motivation to vote, it’s here. Look no further than the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Gordon Parks exhibit opens Saturday at VMFA
An exhibit featuring works by the noted late photographer Gordon Parks opens Saturday at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibit, “Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott,” will be on view through Oct. 30 at the museum, 200 N. Boulevard. It features 42 photographs that examine life during segregation in 1950s America.
Richmond area dancer wins bronze medal in National ACT-SO Competition
A Richmond area student won a bronze medal in dance at the national NAACP ACT-SO Competition. Keola Jones, a rising junior at Henrico High School’s Center for the Arts, was the lone member of the Richmond Branch NAACP team to win a medal in the ACT-SO events held during the NAACP’s annual convention in Cincinnati.
5th Annual VUU Burning Sands Alumni golf tournament July 30
The Burning Sands Alumni Football Club of Virginia Union University will host its 5th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 30, at The Golf Club at Brickshire, 5520 Virginia Park Drive in Providence Forge.
ASALH executive director recruiting at July 28 meeting at VUU
Sylvia Y. Cyrus, executive director of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, will participate in a community meeting to recruit volunteers and panel members for the organization’s 101st national conference slated to be held in Richmond in October.
New UR program offers beer brewer certificate
Responding to the explosion of breweries in Central Virginia, the University of Richmond will begin offering this fall a yearlong program to train professional brewers.
Auditions Aug. 8 for ‘A Raisin in the Sun’
New Castle Theatre Company will hold auditions for Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen 2880 Mountain Road in Glen Allen. Callbacks will be 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9. Paid roles are available for seven men ages 20 to 45; three women ages 19 to 24, 28 to 35, and 50 to 65; and one boy ages 10 to 12.
Work to continue Saturday at historic cemeteries
The work to restore historic, but neglected, Evergreen and East End cemeteries will continue this weekend, Marvin Harris, a leader in the effort, has announced.
Mayoral candidate town hall July 26
Fourth Baptist Church will host a public town hall meeting for Richmond’s mayoral candidates 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, at the church, 2800 P St., in the East End.
Evangelicals gather on D.C. Mall to pray during ‘Together 2016’
Evangelical Christians converged on the nation’s capital last Saturday for a prayer rally on one of the hottest days of the summer. With the nation reeling from recent shootings and shocked by news of a terrorist attack in France and an attempted coup in Turkey, speakers at “Together 2016” cited the global events from the stage and spoke of the challenges facing Americans. “Jesus can heal our nation,” said former Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd to applause and cries of “Amen.”
On Mandela’s birthday, a call to reflect, volunteer
“Nelson Mandela International Day,” formalized by the U.N. General Assembly in November 2009, recalls the late South African president’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom on his birthday — July 18.
Faith facts about GOP VP candidate Mike Pence
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will be Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running mate. Mr. Trump made it official July 15 — fittingly in a tweet.
Richmond women’s football team heading to championship
The Richmond Black Widows were born last August with a “want ad” seeking female football players on Meetup.com. A dozen or so curious women showed up for the first meeting, and a spark was lit. Then those women told their friends.
African-Americans made their marks at early Olympics
When it comes to inclusion of African-American athletes, the U.S. Olympic track and field team got nearly a half-century head start on other high-profile sports. In 1904, George Poage became the first African-American to represent the United States in the Olympic games. The event was held that year in St. Louis, in conjunction with the World’s Fair.
