Dr. Reavis to retire as seminary president
Fifteen years ago, Dr. Ralph Reavis Sr. went to Lynchburg to save his alma mater, Virginia University of Lynchburg. Now the former Richmond pastor is preparing to step down as president of the historically black Baptist college and seminary that he believes has been restored to full health — with more than 10 times the enrollment than when he started. “When I got here, there were only 32 students on campus,” Dr. Reavis said. Today, more than 400 students are taking courses on the campus, online or in a satellite program on the Northern Neck in Eastern Virginia.
Dr. David Wilkes named dean of U.Va. medical school
Dr. David S. Wilkes has been named the dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He is the first African-American to be appointed to the post.
Dr. Marsha Rappley to head VCU health operations
Dr. Marsha D. Rappley will be the new medical leader for Virginia Commonwealth University, a major health center in the state.
VCU Health System may move into Jackson Ward office building
A Jackson Ward office building soon may provide expansion space for the VCU Health System.
VSU working on accreditation issues
Virginia State University is hustling to correct the issues that led the school to be placed on warning by its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges.
City names North Side park for the late Walter Gaines Jr.
Walter Gaines Jr. was the unofficial “mayor” of the Providence Park community on North Side for nearly 45 years. A gregarious man known for his positive attitude, Mr. Gaines worked to improve public safety and promote neighborliness. Among other things, he helped bring a Boys & Girls Club to the community to improve resources for young people as president of the Providence Park Civic Association. He helped start the association in the late 1960s and led it until his death.
Why Morrissey has black community support
RE “Morrissey should ‘stay out of the public eye” letter to the editor, June 4-6 edition: A Richmond newcomer questioned black political support for Joe Morrissey. The gentleman asked, “Why does Joe Morrissey seem to have such support in the black community?”
Police incidents a ‘great awakening’
Re “Survivor: U.Va. honor student talks arrest, future,” June 18-20 edition: It’s interesting that around the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and equal opportunity legislation, some of our federal representatives began calling for an end to the protection that these acts afforded minorities. The inference was that in two and a half generations, we had surpassed the need for those protections.
Stay strong’ Martese
Re “Survivor: U.Va. honor student talks arrest, future,” June 18-20 edition: Thanks, Free Press, for the very informative story on Martese Johnson. It gave a different version of this young man. He seems to be a very brilliant young man, with a good head on his shoulders. Free Press writer Joey Matthews should be given kudos for compiling this in-depth story.
Mouthing off is unacceptable behavior
Re “Bad cop registry” editorial, June 11-13 edition: Your editorial about the situation in McKinney, Texas, stated that “the officer’s unwarranted actions were pitted against children — unthreatening innocents who, according to the video, were doing nothing more than mouthing off.”
Examine racism from within
The recent violence perpetrated upon Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina was sickening. It seems as though our country is constantly regressing instead of progressing. Acts such as these continue to pour salt on the gaping gash of racial tension. Individually, we must ask ourselves if we are the ones “buying the salt” to pour on the wound. Indeed, this particular act was racially motivated. But all of us must bear in mind that evil is colorblind.
We must ‘lift our voices against all injustices’
What should we do in response to the Charleston massacre? We should let this tragic, traumatic massacre serve this generation of Africans as the generation that lived through the tragic lynching and execution of Emmett Till in Money, Miss., and the four little girls in Birmingham, Ala., were served by those events. Those brutal killings were among a series of tragic events that inspired a generation and nation to action.
Every person is made in God’s image
I pray for help for the people’s pain at the historic Emanuel AME Church of Charleston, S.C., and especially for the families of the victims and for the deeply wounded souls of the people of Charleston and America.
The buoyancy of hope
The Rev. Clementa Pinckney and his fellow congregants of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., gathered as usual in the historic edifice June 17 for their Wednesday evening Bible study. They came, as always, to refresh their religious faith, to testify and bear witness to the importance of living a life of righteousness and to extend to all, including the stranger in their midst, their welcome and their trust.
Freedom from a long-lost cause
Could this, at last, be the end of the Civil War? Or, as some fans of Southern heritage call it, the War Between the States? Or the War of Northern Aggression?
First steps
From the horrific massacre last week in a South Carolina church, the nation is witnessing a historic sea change in attitude regarding the chief symbol of racial hatred that has helped divide this country for so long — the Confederate flag. The flag was used on Civil War battlefields during the bloody four-year fight to keep black people enslaved.
Mo’ne rocks Richmond, MJBL
Baseball teen celebrity Mo’ne Davis didn’t disappoint with her pitching arm, her bat or glam image when she played last Saturday in Metro Richmond.
Players with Virginia ties may be picked in NBA draft
Three athletes with state and local ties could figure into the NBA’s annual draft June 25 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The best bet to hear his name called is Justin Anderson from Montross in Virginia’s Northern Neck, by way of the University of Virginia.
Average-sized players make big splash in NBA
History tells us that big men rule the NBA. But that history book may be in the process of being rewritten. The Golden State Warriors dominated the world’s toughest league this season with a different recipe than many other teams.
Bigger Huguenot moves to new sports conference
Starting with the 2015-16 school year, Richmond’s five comprehensive high schools no longer will compete in the same athletic conference.
