Rest in peace, Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, died at 83. Mr. Banks became the Cubs’ first black player on Sept. 17, 1953, six years after Jackie Robinson broke the modern day color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977. Mr. Banks played 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He is considered by many to be the greatest power-hitting shortstop of the 20th century. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award from President Obama in 2013.
No taxing college savings plans
Just last week, we found out that the Obama administration plans to pay for “free” community college by taxing money set aside in 529 college savings plans.
President Johnson doesn’t deserve credit for Selma
Joseph Califano’s statement that Selma was President Lyndon B. Johnson’s idea is patently false. Although the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Com- mittee had come to Alabama earlier to organize to obtain the right to vote, the Alabama Right to Vote movement began for me the day the four little girls were killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham.
Not re-appointing Judge Jamison sets precedent
Judge Birdie Jamison has been a judge on Richmond’s General District Court for more than 23 years. She has had no allegations of any unethical actions and no allegations of illegalities. And, certainly, no one can question Judge Jamison’s competence or integrity.
No hooray for Hollywood
“Diversity is basically a description of independence. Diversity is what moves the ball for me, and I thought ‘give people a chance that have different points of view. Let the audience decide whether they like it or not. But give those voices a chance to be seen and heard.’” – Robert Redford, actor, director, and co-founder of Sundance Film Festival.
Let’s keep making black history
The best way to celebrate Black History Month is to make more black history. Black History Month is now celebrated around the world. We are grateful for the visionary leadership of noted historian and scholar Carter G. Woodson for being the founder of what was known as Negro History Week in 1926 that, 44 years later, evolved into Black His- tory Month. It is also important to note that this year marks
A true winner
One of the closest things we have to a hero is Russell Wilson. The 26-year-old Seattle Seahawks quarterback, who grew up in Richmond and learned well the lessons of his athletic attorney father and educator grandfather, has been a source of pride and inspiration for people well beyond his hometown. In the exciting AFC championship game Jan. 18, as well as last Sunday’s heart-stopping Super Bowl XLIX, his team was down several points in the fourth quarter with barely enough time left on the clock to breathe, and what did Wilson do?
School success
Carver Elementary teamwork fosters rewards for students
“We take an all-hands-on-deck approach to educating our children.” That’s how George Washington Carver Elementary School Principal Kiwana Yates enthusiastically describes the full community involvement approach she and her staff utilize.
Your voice, your vote
Next Tuesday is “Cross-over Day” at the Virginia General Assembly. That means it’s halftime for the 2015 legislative session. By the end of the day Tuesday, the Senate and the House of Delegates must finish any action on bills that were introduced by each chamber’s members, with the exception of the budget bill. Then on Wednesday, the chambers swap. The House considers bills that originated in the Senate, while the Senate considers bills that were introduced in the House.
Bobby Brown maintains constant bedside vigil over Bobbi Kristina
ATLANTA The daughter of late pop star Whitney Houston and singer Bobby Brown was placed in a coma to stop brain swelling after she was found facedown and unresponsive in a bathtub in her Georgia home last weekend, family friend and gospel singer Kim Burrell told “Access Hollywood.”
NASCAR inducts Danville’s Wendell Scott into Hall of Fame
Wendell Scott, the Danville native who got his start in auto racing by running moonshine in the 1940s, has been inducted posthumously into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The trailblazing stock car racer was the first African-American to break into the previously all-white world of NASCAR when a part-time steward granted him a NASCAR license at a race in 1953 at the old Richmond Speedway.
Bernard L. Jones Sr., 94, community advocate
Bernard L. Jones Sr. loved Richmond and did all he could to enhance it. “He really liked seeing the community become better in every way,” his daughter, Dr. Badiyyah Waajid, said. That’s the reason he joined the Astoria Beneficial Club Inc. in 1962 and remained a member for 53 years, she said. “He liked their mission,” his daughter said.
Charlie Sifford, golf trailblazer, dies at 92
Charlie Sifford, who broke the color barrier in golf as the first African-American PGA Tour member, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at age 92, the PGA of America announced. Considered the Jackie Robinson of professional golf, Mr. Sifford endured death threats, racial taunts and other harassment as he paved the way for Tiger Woods and other African- American golfers in becoming the first African- American player in a PGA tournament in 1952 at the Phoenix Open.
Personality: Rosa A. Jiggetts
Spotlight on mission to proclaim ‘Be Kind Wednesdays’
Rosa Annie Jiggetts is always ready to help. Her idea of a perfect day is one in which she can do at least one good deed. For the past 30 years, the 65-year-old Richmond native has run the Helpline out of her Providence Park home on North Side, with the assistance of her sister, Lydia.
Butler gives Patriots a super win
Malcolm Butler ranks among the most unlikely heroes in Super Bowl history. In 2010, Butler had been suspended from college and was working part time at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen chicken restaurant in his hometown of Vicksburg, Miss. From that humble point, he has become the toast of New England and Patriots fans everywhere. Butler’s end zone interception of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s pass with 20 seconds left enabled the Patriots to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Ariz. Butler’s first NFL interception may become the most talked-about pick in NFL annals, turning what looked like a probable loss for the Patriots into a jaw-dropping victory.
Wilson resilient after heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl
Less than 36 inches separated former Richmonder Russell Wilson and his Seattle Seahawks teammates from their second consecutiveSuper Bowl title and talk of a dynasty. Anticipation was high that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll would call on bulldozing running back Marshawn Lynch to plow the ball into the end zone on second-and-goal with 26 seconds to play and one timeout left in Super Bowl XLIX. Already, in this game against the New England Patriots, Lynch had logged a total of 102 yards for the game, including an earlier touchdown.
State Dems hit with voting rights suit
Did the Democratic Party of Virginia violate the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act in choosing its nominee to compete in a recent special election for a House of Delegates seat? Yes, say three African-Americans, who are taking their case to federal court.
Mayor touts anti-poverty efforts in city address
Mayor Dwight C. Jones spoke of “a tale of two cities” in his State of the City address. “Right now, one part of town is vibrant, prosperous and forward-looking,” he told an attentive audience of about 300 people Jan. 29 in the auditorium at Huguenot High School on South Side. “And then when you cross the Martin Luther King Bridge, you find another Richmond — one that has largely been ignored, overlooked and shunned.
VSU spring enrollment brings optimism
Enrollment at Virginia State University has dropped less than initially projected — good news for the school and a relief to Dr. Pamela V. Hammond, the interim president. The latest figures indicate nearly 4,500 students are en- rolled and validated as meet- ing their financial obligations. That’s about 130 students fewer than projected for the spring semester in the university’s budget. Earlier this month, Dr. Hammond and VSU’s board of visitors were advised that fewer than 4,250 students might be enrolled this semester. Dr. Hammond told the Free Press last week the higher enrollment means she will not have to consider additional personnel actions to balance the budget. After taking office Jan. 1, she ordered a freeze on hiring and other spending to stabilize finances and those freezes are still in place. She said the freezes should keep spending in line with revenue through the rest of the fiscal year.
Richmond schools seek money to fulfill needs
Lucille M. Brown Middle School is facing a serious communications problem. The South Side school has not had a working intercom system since December.
