Where do we go from here?
FBI Director James B. Comey took a giant step for law enforcement last week in acknowledging “hard truths” about racial bias infiltrating police agencies across the nation. The bias isn’t new, said Mr. Comey, a descendant of Irish immigrants to America, who talked about how law enforcement’s biased views of the Irish a century ago are part of the lexicon today for the vehicles police use to transport prisoners, “paddy wagons.”
Bagby portrays ‘Godfather of Soul’
James Brown, “The Godfather of Soul,” is coming to Unity of Richmond Church in the West End. Well, at least Joseph Bagby, who impersonates the late iconic performer, will perform 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the church at 800 Blanton Ave.
‘Saviours’ Day’ broadcast live this Sunday
Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan is to deliver a keynote address via satellite to a global audience Sunday, Feb. 22. The occasion: Saviours’ Day 2015.
Church to host forum on police-community issues
Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church in Jackson Ward is host- ing a forum to raise awareness of incidents of police brutality nationwide and to discuss ways the community, Richmond Police and other law enforcement agencies can work together to prevent future incidents, the church’s pastor, the Rev. Reuben J. Boyd Jr., has announced.
Female beauty focus of Pine Camp art exhibit
Above, Darryl Wingo, center, discusses his photograph, “Naturally Free,” with art enthusiasts, from left, Patricia Burrell, Arnetha Carter, Michelle Crump and Fay Logan. Artist Unicia Buster, right, chats about her quilt, “Field of Afros,” with LaTika
Valentine gala benefits scholarships
Alga and Earlene Evans, left, join other couples in dancing to a love song at the 16th Annual Valentine Gala of the Virginia Area Chapter of Pi Lambda Theta. The highlight of the educational honor society’s dinner-dance Saturday night in Downtown: The presentation of college scholarships to future teachers.
2-day conference to raise awareness, uplift community
It’s called “R.I.S.E. Up Weekend 2015, Awakening Your Inner Giant.” And it’s scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28, in room 1201 in the Monroe Campus Academic Learning Commons at Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 Floyd Ave. The theme of the two-day conference, designed in conjunction with Black History Month, is based on the African proverb: “If you want to go far, go together. If you want to go fast, go alone.”
Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Randolph, 90, granddaughter of Maggie L. Walker
Elizabeth “Beth” Walker Mickens Randolph loved spending time with her trailblazing grandmother, Maggie L. Walker, the first black female founder and president of a bank in America. Mrs. Walker chartered the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in Jackson Ward in 1903. “My mother grew up one block from her grandmother,” said Mrs. Randolph’s son, Johnny Mickens III, of the family’s neighboring homes in Jackson Ward.
McEva R. Bowser, former Richmond School Board member
Those who knew her best describe McEva Roach Bowser as kind and gentle. “But she was also demanding,” said her younger sister, Martha R. Lancaster. “She always demanded that we do the right thing, whatever we were doing.” Mrs. Bowser shared that uncompromising passion as a wife, mother, educator, Richmond School Board member and community servant.
Personality: Mary Alice Nesbitt
Mary Alice Nesbitt purposefully walks from the kitchen to the fellowship hall, then back to the kitchen at Centenary United Methodist Church in Downtown. The 84-year-old North Side resident is on a love-driven mission to help feed the city’s hungry. She has volunteered for the past 30 years to help prepare and serve meals at the Grace Street church led by the Rev. Matt Bates.
Barksdale a ‘first’ as NBA All-Star
The 1951 and 1952 All-Star games were all white, although the league had admitted four African-Americans in 1950 — Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, Sweetwater Clifton and Hank DeZone. Another Barksdale “first:” He was the first African-American to play basketball against the University of Kentucky in Lexington. In 1948, Barksdale played for the AAU Phillips 66ers in an outdoor exhibition in Lexington against Coach Adolph Rupp’s Kentucky Wildcats. Rupp, coach of the 1948 Olympic team, was so impressed with Barksdale that he selected him for the U.S. team. Later in life, Barksdale became a popular disc jockey and was the first African- American to host a TV show in the San Francisco Bay area on KRON-TV with Sepia Review. Don Barksdale died in 1993 at age 69.
VSU to go all the way in CIAA tournament?
Flip a coin. That may be as good a way as any to predict the winner for the 70th CIAA men’s basketball tournament that commences Feb. 24 in Charlotte, N.C. There is no clear dominant team this winter and Time Warner Cable Arena has proven to be an equal opportunity venue since the tournament set up shop there in 2006.
3 VUU legends to be inducted into CIAA Hall of Fame
Three Virginia Union University luminaries will be inducted into the CIAA John B. McLen- don Jr. Hall of Fame. They are Dr. Allix B. James, president emeritus of VUU; James Battle, former VUU athletic director; and former Panthers basketball star Ben Wallace. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with six others during the CIAA Tournament in Charlotte during a ceremony 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Former Va. first lady learns her fate Friday
Will Maureen G. McDonnell be the first former first lady of Virginia to be sentenced to prison? U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer will determine that Friday, Feb. 20, when Mrs. McDonnell appears before him for sentencing in the federal corruption case that has gained the national spotlight.
Historic City Council celebration at Hippodrome
African-Americans took control of the levers of city political power almost 38 years ago and changed Richmond. It was 1977, and for the first time in the city’s history, five of the nine members of City Council were African-Americans. And as a result, the new majority was able to elect one member, Henry L. Marsh III, as Richmond’s first African-American mayor since the city’s founding in 1782.
Dr. Bedden leaving?
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden may be on his way out. The Free Press has learned that he is competing for a higher paying superintendent’s job in a larger school district outside of Virginia.
Rare book, diary related to ‘12 Years’ author on display
When officials at the Earl Gregg Swem Library at The College of William & Mary purchased a 1902 diary from an unknown author in 2009 for their special collections unit, they had no idea they had made an historical connection. William & Mary student Lauren Wallace was assigned to research the diary in 2012 and her work eventually led to the discovery that the diary was written by Florence Barber.
NAACP Image Award has Richmond connection
Hundreds of African-American students are becoming doctors, nurses, dentists and medical researchers, thanks to university alliances Dr. Louis W. Sullivan created in Richmond and elsewhere. That is just one of the achievements of the pioneering 81-year-old physician, educator and health advocate whose autobiography, “Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine,” was just named the winner of the 2015 NAACP Image Award for nonfiction.
Atlanta Hawks score with 3 Virginia standouts
If you’re searching for reasons to get pumped up about the soaring Atlanta Hawks, here are three: • Assistant Coach Kenny Atkinson, a former University of Richmond star. • Guard-forward Kent Bazemore, an ex-Old Dominion University standout. • Forward Mike Scott, a former University of Virginia Wahoo. With these links to the state and area, the Hawks have been the NBA’s surprise franchise this winter, posting a 42-9 record that featured a 19-game winning streak through Feb. 7.
Former L.C. Bird football star is college team catalyst
When Nassau County, N.Y., Community College needed big yardage this past football season, they gave the ball to Yahkee Johnson. “Yahkee was our catalyst. That’s who we went to in crunch time,” said Nassau Coach Joe Osovet. “He’s not only a dynamic performer, but also a great person.” Johnson was a ringleader this past fall in Nassau’s undefeated football season.
