Thoughts & Things from The B

December 1st, 2021

My how time flies. It was December 2016 that I began writing Chit-Chat. Just small talk about a variety of things. Something different to think about. It's always been about diversity past and present. Long before we began to toss that word around. It was an outlet for me as I was a caregiver to my dear sister who'd been ill for several years. 

So it's been five years. That's a shout-out to me! Thanks for your interest. I have a book all set to publish but I'm not ready otherwise. You know. Anyways it's been great chatting with you and I look forward to continuing!

Keep on keepin' on. I know I will 😊 

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November 25th, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving!

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November 11th, 2021

Veteran's Day, American history tells us that 145 years ago in 1876 there wa a black crew at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's Pea Island Life Savings Station on the outer banks of North Carolina.

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November 8th, 2021

It was 55 years ago in 1966 that Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts became the third black American elect to the U.S. Senate. The other two were Hiram Revels and Blanche Bruce (male) elected from Mississippi in the years following the Civil War.

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November 7th, 2021

You have to admire 83 year old M.J. Ebhart, formerly an optometrist, who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Nimblewill Nomad as he likes to be called walked 2,193 miles. I think it's time to look at aging differently. Remember Wally Funk and William Shatner. It's all about living fully till you die.

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October 30th, 2021

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the class of 2021 here in Cleveland today. Honorees included the Go-Go's, Jay-Z, and Tina Turne. The house was sold out

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October, 19th, 2021

So much good has been said about four-star general Colin Powell who has died. I think it's remarkable that he was U.S. Secretary of State under four presidents. Powell was the son of Jamaican Immigrants

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October 13th, 2021

William Shatner taking that ride into space aboard th Blue Origin was a good thing. He's 90 but hasn't given up on life. It's a lesson for all of us. Thanks Captain Kirk.

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October 12th, 2021

Medina, Ohio is home to Matt Amodio who had the 38 day winning streak on "Jeopardy." It's just outside of Cleveland, Ohio salutes him!

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October 9th, 2021

I've been asked about August Wilson who is on the Black Heritage stamp. Wilson was a playwright who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1987 and 1990 for two works which appeared on Broadway.

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October 6th, 2021

Black history tells us that it was 150 years ago in 1871 that the famed Fisk Jubilee Singers began touring to raise money for their school in Nashville. Nine Fisk students traveled north to sing spirituals and slave songs before white audiences. Oberlin College in Ohio was one of the stops by the American Missionary Association.

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September 28th, 2021 

The Barack Obama Presidential Center and Library on Chicago's south side had its groundbreaking today. Sounds good!

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September 21st, 2021

I don't think we could have a more perfect start to Autumn. It was a beautiful day. I took that necessary ride just to enjoy it. Cuz a month from now it could be a bit a different story on this north coast.

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September 12th, 2021

Larry Elder who sought to be governor in the California recall election lived in Cleveland for about 14 years. He was a successful lawyer and also hosted a television program. 

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September 11, 2021

The 20th anniversary of the 9/11. I was eating breakfast when I learned of the World Trade Center attacks. Then came news that the plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pa had flown over Cleveland. It was horrifying. I stayed glued to the TV all day long wondering what in the world was going on.

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September 4th, 2021

President Biden issued a proclamation to celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities. There seems to be a lot of interest now that HBCU grad Kamala Harris is our vice-president. She and actor Chadwick Boseman graduated from Howard University. Benedict College that was mentioned in August is also a HBCU school. Many were set up by white abolitionists and philanthropists  as far back as the 1860's.

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August 29th, 2021 

It was Ohio vs. neighboring Michigan in the Little League World Series. They both played teams like New Hampshire, Hawaii, and South Dakota to reach the finals. Either way it was a win for the midwest.

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August 8th, 2021

The Tokyo Olympics are now a thing of the past. And maybe that's a good thing. I do think it ended on a high note. Cheers to the U.S. athletes who brought home 113 medals. Ohio Update: Katie Nageotte won gold in the pole vault. Simone Biles didn't do as well as expected but earned bronze in the balance beam. A bit of Olympic history: Each nation has its own Olympic committee. Back in 1992 the U.S. Olympic Committee was headed by black American Le Roy Walker who was a graduate of Benedict College in South Carolina.

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Thoughts & Things from the B

 

August 3rd, 2021

The newest billionaires on the block are LeBron James and Rihanna. Congrats to them!

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July 26th, 2021

There's some semblance of the Olympics now. Team USA has 7 gold medals already!

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July 24th, 2021

The Cleveland Indians are no more after 106 years. They have been renamed the Cleveland Guardians. A lot of us think they could have come up with something that had more of a ring to it. I hear there were about 1200 suggestions. 

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July 20th, 2021

Cheers to Wally Funk who was aboard the private space flight of Jeff Bezos. She looked good for 82, Hers is no longer a dream deferred. 

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July 8th, 2021

Congratulations to National Spelling Bee Champ Zaila Avant-Garde of Harvey, Louisiana. A first for a black American. The winning word was MURRAYA.

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July 1st, 2021

The Olympic Games begin later this month in Tokyo. Every 4 years I'm caught up in this international competition. Of course, there's been a one-year delay due to Covid-19. 

Right now I know that Katie Nageotte of nearby Olmsted Falls, Ohio will compete in the women's pole vault. Simone Biles of Columbus who won the women's all-around gymnastic competition in 2016 will be back. Good luck ladies!

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June 30th, 2021

I drove to western Pennsylvania today just to getaway. I wound up at the Grove City Premium Outlet on I-79 between Erie and Pittsburgh. It was an overall good trip. But there's so much road work going on that I think drivers will be challenged this Fourth of July. And heaven help them if it rains!

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June 19th, 2021

Juneteenth. Tho the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves went into effect on January 1sth, 1863, it took till June 19th, 1865 for the U.S. troops to go wherever to see that it was reality. (2, 1/2 years!)

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June 8th, 2021 

What an honor for the late Academy-winning actor Chadwick Boseman! His alma mater Howard University name its College of Fine Arts after him. Howard is also the alma mater of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. Like Morehouse, this is a historically black school.

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May 30th, 2021

I guess the graduations are about over now. It was 75 years ago in 1946 that my uncle Eusebius graduated from historically black Morehouse College (Martin Luther King's alma mater.) Then he went into the military and after that medical school.

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April 30th, 2021

Congratulations to Amtrak on its 50th anniversary! I have traveled coast to coast by train. Why Ohio could not lay 250 miles between Cleveland and Cincinnati never made sense to me.

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April 29th, 2021

The NFL Draft was held in Cleveland. The fans got the party started the night before. I drove around and it was good to see all the team colors. Especially Buffalo and Pittsburgh which are close by. Next year's draft is in Las Vegas so they probably figured Cleveland would be their best chance in a long time to experience the draft. Our hometown favorite is Liam Eisenberg of Notre Dame was picked by the Miami Dolphins. 

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April 8th, 2021

Rest In Peace- Prince Philip.

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April 1st, 2021

April Fool's Day. There was no measurable snow in March but today we got hit with a blizzard. But why are we surprised. 

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March 21st, 2021

My forsythia bloomed on this first day of Spring. It's so pretty and uplifting. I love it!

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March 16th, 2021

What a harrowing experience actress Ashley Judd had in the Congo. She tripped and suffered a leg injury. The area was so remote that her first responders were the natives. They got her through the jungle to a plane that flew her to South Africa for medical treatment. A journey of about 6 hours. Wow!

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March 12th, 2021

It's March Madness! The men's NCAA basketball tournament has such a huge following. And the women's tournament has gained momentum. Ohio State and Cleveland State were eliminated in the first round of the men's. A disappointment but I'll watch it to the end.

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March 8th, 2021

It was 50 years ago in 1971 that Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought for the heavy-weight boxing title at Madison Square Garden. Joe Frazier won in what was called the Fight of the Century.

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February 28th, 2021 

This was a bitter cold month here on Lake Erie. Bone-chilling. We had to dress in layers just to go to the mailbox.

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February 18th, 2021 

It's now 35,000 career points for LeBron James. He's only behind Kareem Abdul- Jabbar and Karl Malone in the record books. I still remember him being a stand-out at St. Vincent- St. Mary High School in Akron. 

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February 12th, 2021

Mary Wilson who just died sang with Florence Ballard and Diana Ross in the Supremes starting back in the 60s. The popular group was out of Detroit and sang on Barry Gordy's Motown label. They were superstars. It's been said that the movie Dream Girls was a take on their lives. 

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February 3rd, 2021 

It was 65 years ago in 1956 that Autherine Lucy stepped onto the campus of the University of Alabama. She was to be its first black student under a federal court order. But the university barred her from returning. Court proceedings went on for seven years before black students were enrolled. And the school was tax-supported. 

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February 2nd, 2021

It's Ground Hog Day again. I know you don't care but Puxattawney Phil now has a rival here in neighboring Ohio named Buckeye Chuck. You can take your pick on their weather predictions because they didn't agree. 

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Thoughts & Things from the B

 

January 29th, 2021 

Beloved black actress Cicely Tyson died at the age of 96. She received a Golden Globe for best actress in Sounder. I liked her best in Roots and the Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Both reflected on black life in America. President Obama awarded her the Presidential medal of Freedom. She was great!

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January 17th, 2021

I tuned into AKC National Dog Championship for a diversion. It was really nice. My overall favorite was a St. Bernard but the best of show was a whippet named Bourbon. You know those dogs get treated better than most humans. 

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January 6th, 2021

This day will go down in history.

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January 1st, 2021

...Last year a young family member welcomed in the new decade on Times Square. She stayed at the Hotel Roosevelt not far away. We've seen what Covid-19 has done to the celebration. And the hotel has since closed for good. What a difference a year can make!

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December 31st, 2020

Good-bye, 2020! I don't know what to say about you except you're gone. Good!

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December 25th, 2020

Cleveland had a very white Christmas. It snowed like heck all day. Last year it was mild.

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December 14th, 2020

The Electoral College confirmed that Joe Biden would be the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris would be the next Vice-President.

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December 8th

It was 40 years ago today that John Lennon was shot and killed. Doesn't seem like it.

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December 3rd, 2020

President-elect Joseph Biden has nominated retired Army General Llyod Austin as Secretary of Defense. A black American first. Black Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge has been nominated Secretary of Health and Urban Development. The first black to head HUD was Robert Weaver named by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.

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December 3rd, 2020

Harvard or Howard or Both? It was 70 years ago in 1950 that Dr. Ralph J. Bunhe became the first black American to win the Nobel Peace Prize when he mediated peace in Palestine for the United Nations. The Detroit native who earned a doctorate from Harvard also headed the political science department at Howard.

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December 1st, 2020

Enough snow fell on Cleveland during the night to break the record set in 2009. And winter doesn't begin until December 21!

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Nov 26th, 2020

Thanksgiving Day. I think we can agree that it's different this year. However, let's keep the spirit! ❤

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Nov 22nd, 2020

You football fans shouldn't underestimate the Cleveland Browns! With their win today they're 7-3! 

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Nov 9th, 2020

Make sure you make the distinction that newly elected U.S. vice-president Kamala Harris graduated from historically black college Howard University (Washington, D.C.) and not Harvard University. The TV show "Blackish" did an episode on that a while back.

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November 7th, 2020 

We're having beautiuful Fall weather, with temperatures in the 70s. That's good for Cleveland! ___________________________________________________________________________ 

Nov 6th, 2020

Did you know that it was 160 years ago (1860) that Abraham Lincoln was elected U.S. president?

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October 31st, 2020 

Just heard "When October Goes" for the first time by the name Rosemary Clooney. Those lyrics tell how so many of us feel right about now. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

October 15th, 2020

The hurricanes are too much there in Lousiana. A few years ago I met the Guillory family from Lake Charles. Very nice people. I've been thinking about them. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

September 30th, 2020 

The newly named chief-curator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame located in Cleveland is Nwaka Onwusa. She hails from Compton, California and is a graduate of the University of California, Riverside. Her father is Nigerian. Thus that beautiful name. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

September 23rd, 2020

Former basketball great Charles Oakley was the first celeberity to be elminated on Dancing With The Stars." He's from East Cleveland, Ohio next door to Cleveland where the folks think a lot of him. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

September 20th, 2020 

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who died was a lady and a legal scholar. She was an inspiration to many. __________________________________________________________________________ 

August 28th, 2020 

The versatile Chadwick Boseman has died. He starred in the movie "Black Panther." The role seemed to have been made for him. He will be remembered for his greatness. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

July 17th, 2020 

Georgia congressman John R. Lewis died. The 80 year old civilrights leader from Troy, Alabama was very young when he joined civil rights forces with Re.v Martin Luther King Jr. King liked to call him "the boy from Troy." President Barack Obama deleivered the eulogy which told how Lewis devoted his entire life to justice. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

June 19th, 2020 

Juneteenth. June 19, 1865. The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves on January 1, 1863 but thhose in Texas dind't find out for another 2 1/2 years, which is recalled as Juneeteenth. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

June 1st, 2020 

It was 85 years ago this month our ancestor, Betty Robinson graduated from Carisle High School in south-central Pennsylvania. She was one for 4 black graduates and not segrated as in the Jim Crow South. ___________________________________________________________________________

Thoughts & Things from the B

 

May 10, 2020

Little Richard died. The black performer was born in 1932. He was inducted in the first class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He always gave you a good show.

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May 5th, 2020

Congratulations to Nick Johnson the first black valedictorian of Princeton University.

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April 1, 2020

The coronavirus and Covid-19 are one and the same. We've learned that it has spread worldwide. Now the word "pandemic" has been added to our vocabulary. This is scary.
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March 25th, 2020

Everybody's talking about the coronavirus. Sounds like something we need to take it seriously.
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March 23rd, 2020

150 years ago in 1870 the 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote.
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March 5th, 2020

NASA  mathematician and physicist Katherine G. Johnson has died. She made vital calculations in the early space program. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. She was one of three phenomenal Black women at Langley Reasearch Center who prevailed under segregated conditions more than 50 years ago. The movie "Hidden Figures" is about them.

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February 24th, 2020

B.Smith born Barbara Smith in Pittsburgh has passed. She was an aspiring model when she moved to New York City. She realized her dream and went on to appear on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine. In time she had a B.Smith magazine, B. Smith television show, and a B.Smith restaurant in Manhattan. She was upscale and comfortable in her back skin.
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February 2nd, 2020

The word for today is "palindrome" as today is 02/02/2020. The numbers are the same forward or backward.
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February 1st, 2020 

Starting Black History Month: It was 60 years ago that four black North Carolina A&T college students sat down at the segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro North Carolina in protest. The Sit In Movement for civil rights had begun. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

January 26th, 2020

So tragic about the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of basketball great Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and 7 others. Sometimes you wonder why things happen as they do. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

January 20th, 2020

Today is the National Holiday that honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. I like that it's a day of service in many communities. It's about volunteering in ways that will help others. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

January 15th 2020 

Happy 30th Anniversary to television's Robin Roberts! Those years have been split between ESPN and Good Morning America. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

January 13th, 2020 

Congratulations to LU quarterback Joe Burrow who led his team to victory in the National College Championship Game. The Heisman winner is from Athens, Ohio in the southeastern part of our state. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

January 1st, 2020 

We're off! 

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Thoughts & Things from the B

 

December 31st, 2019 

Happy New Year! Make the most of 2020 and keep it real.

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December 25th, 2019

Merry Christmas! Kwanzaa starts tomorrow!

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December 10th, 2019

It was fifty-five years ago in 1964 that Martin Luther King Jr. accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.

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November 11th, 2019

Today is Veterans Day and I proudly remember my cousin Doris Wimpie who was a Marine. She served in Vietnam.

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October 31st, 2019

It's a soggy Halloween. There's been a steady downpour all day but the kids are still out for trick-or-treats. My treat will be watching Hocus Pocus. 

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October 27th, 2019

John Conyers who has died represented Michigan in the U.S. Congress. He was a founder of the Congresssional Black Caucus and a supporter of the 1965 Voting Rights Bill. He was 90 years old.

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October 26th, 2019

With attention on Syria these days it may be of interest to know that the U.S. had a black ambassador to Syria in 1965. That's 50 plus years ago. He was Hugh Smythe who was born in Pittsburgh. He received a masters degree from Atlanta University.

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October 23rd, 2019

The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings who has died was a 23 year U.S. Congressman. Before that he was in the Maryland House of Delegates for 16 years. He is the first black leader to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol.

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October 5th, 2019

A shout out to Tyler Perry who built his own movie studio in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the sound stages is named for Whoopi Goldberg and another for Diahann Carroll who had just died. Top name celebrities celebrated the opening.

September 29th, 2019

American history tells us that 13 black soldiers were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on this day 155 years ago. It was for their bravery at New Market Heights during the Civil War.

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September 19th, 2019

Of course you know that this is 9-19-19.

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August 19th, 2019

American history tells us that on this day 400 years ago in 1619 the first Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia to be sold into slavery. ⛓

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July 20th, 2019

Today is all about Apollo II landing on the moon 50 years ago. Ohioans don't want you to forget that Neil Armstrong was from Wapakoneta.🚀

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July 9th, 2019

I think it's fair to say that a good time was had by the baseball fans in cleveland for the All-Star Game. That includes Drew Carey who came home for it. There was so much going on right up to the first pitch. Even the weather behaved. And congratulations to our Cleveland Indian pitcher Shane Bieber who earned the MVP award (AL 4 - NL3.) ⚾️

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July 8th, 2019

Few of us knew of 15 year old black tennis player Coco Gauff who beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon but we sure do now! She's got a future. 

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June 9th, 2019

It seems that many of you don't know about the man on this year's Black Heritage postage stamp. He is Gregory Himes who was one of the great tap dancers of our time as well as a versatile actor. If your want to see how good Himes was check out the suspenseful movie "White Nights" that paired him with ballet dancer Mikhail Barishnikov. 

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June 1st, 2019

A shout out to the Class of 2019! You're on your way. There's still a lot to be done.

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May 9th, 2019 

Akron native Lebron James came home to announce that the Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation donated $1 million towards a gym for the area kids. It will surely make a difference in their lives. 

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April 23rd, 2019

My forsythia bloomed. It's spring at last here on the North Coast. I am so happy. Some people shape theirs but I just let mine grow out.

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April 7th, 2019 

I went past Charles F. Brush High School in South Euclid, Ohio to see the musical "Grease." The kids put on a really upbeat show. Just watching made me realize how important the arts are to students total development.

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March 15th, 2019 

Mid March Madness! The tournament is exciting to watch. It is always unpredictable, which I like. 🏀

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March 11th, 2019

Many of us have seen the movie "A Raisin In The Sun" but may not know that it first appeared as a play on Broadway 60 years ago today. Lorraine Hansberry was the black playwright.

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March 1, 2019 

It's cold and snowy but there's talk of an early spring. I'll know when my forsythia blooms.

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February 25th, 2019

It was 45 years ago that Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to win his first world heavy weight boxing championship. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

February 1st, 2019 

In this Black History Month, we can look back 100 years to World War I. The black soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment returned from France, where that country gave them the Croix de Guerre for their bravery. 

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January 20th, 2019 

Ten years ago. It was on this day that Barack H. Obama was inaugurated as the 44th U.S. president. ___________________________________________________________________________

 

January 3rd, 2019 

On this day exactly 50 years ago, Louis Stokes was sworn in as the first black U.S. Congressman from the state of Ohio. His brother, Carl was the first black mayor of Cleveland. ___________________________________________________________________________ 

January 2nd, 2019 

The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Washington State Huskies to win the Rose Bowl. They did Ohio proud. This was the final game for coach Urban Meyer. 🏈 ___________________________________________________________________________

Thoughts & Things from the B.

January 3rd, 2019 

 

On this day exactly 50 years ago, Louis Stokes was sworn in as the first black U.S. Congressman from the state of Ohio. His brother, Carl was the first black mayor of Cleveland. 

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January 2nd, 2019 

 

The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Washington State Huskies to win the Rose Bowl. They did Ohio proud. This was the final game for coach Irvin Meyer. 🏈

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January 1st, 2019 

 

It is what it is- a Brand New Year! Letʼs make the most of it!🥂🎉

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December 31st, 2018

 

The weather man predicts rain and temperatures in the 50s. To all a good 2019! ___________________________________________________________________________

December 30th, 2018

 

Did you know that Geraldo Rivera took up residence here in Cleveland this year? He has a radio show on WTAM. We're happy to have him in our city. 📻

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December 26th, 2018

 

Happy Kwanzaa!

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December 25th, 2018

 

Let us remember the true meaning of Christmas today.✞ 🎅🏽🎄🤶🏽

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December 15th, 2018 

 

As Christmas approaches you may want to read "Free For Christmas" in a family setting. It was written by Lerone Bennett Jr. and set in this season. It tells about Harriet Tubman leading slaves out of Maryland to freedom in Canada in 1854.

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December 1st, 2018 

 

Our 41st president George H.W. Bush passed during the night. He served one term but it's amazing what he did before then for his country. May he rest in peace.

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November 23rd, 2018

 

Oprah Winfrey lost her mother Vernita Lee yesturday. Right on the holiday. Very sad. She has our sympathy.

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November 22nd, 2018 

 

Let us each in some way make this Thanksgiving Day happy for those who have had a not-so-happy year. 🦃

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November 21st, 2018 

 

LeBron James and his new Los Angeles Lakers teammates played the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time. It was all good. Los Angeles won 107-105 in a tight game.

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November 13, 2018

 

It's been a week since Election Day. We know the results. But I think it's worth recalling that 50 years ago in 1968 Shirley Chisolm of New York became the first black female in Congress. She later ran for U.S. President.🗳

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November 11th, 2018

 

Today is Armistice Day. This goes back one hundred years to 1918 and the Allies victory in World War I. My grandfather David Ernest Robinson of Mississippi fought at Meuse-Argonne in France for America. I grew up very proud of that.

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November 3rd, 2018

 

I think northeast Ohio has the most splendiferous display of autumn leaves. It's always a great escape to just drive in any direction. 🍁🍂

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October 31st, 2018

 

Our favorite Halloween movie Hocus Pocus is 25 years old today. Imagine That! 🎃🦇🧛🏻‍♂️

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September 19th, 2018

 

Good to see that basketball great Michael Jordan donated $2 million to aid in the Hurricane Florence relief effort. The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is where he got his start.

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September 16th, 2018

 

Wishing the best to new retiree Ron Claiborne of ABC News. I always thought he was a top-notch journalist. 

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September 15th, 2018

 

American history tells us that it was 55 years ago on this day in 1963 that four black girls were victims of the bombing at the 16th St. Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. I remember.

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September 12th, 2018

 

Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina today. I have so much respect for Gov. Roy Cooper's handling of things that matter most right now. Still I hate to think of what could happen there. 

 

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September 2nd, 2018

 

The tributes paid to the late Senator John S. McCain were very befitting. He always kept it real. May he rest in peace. 

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August 21st, 2018

 

I think it's good to know that 75 years ago today during World World II Harriet M. Waddy of Kansas City, Missouri became the first black major in the U.S. Women's Army Corps. (WACS)

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August 16th, 2018

 

There is a sadness today as we say farewell to Aretha Franklin who was rightfully the Queen of Soul. The Detroit native - who had such class- never had a singing lesson. She died at the age of 76. All I know is that when she sang, you hung on to every word.

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Early August, 2018

 

Happy to see Barack Obama and all vacationing at Martha's Vineyard. Very likely to celebrate his birthday. I was there once for mine and I really enjoyed it. Especially the ride over on the ferry.

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July, 30th, 2018

 

A few weeks ago Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers parted ways again. He went off to play in Los Angeles. Anyway, the Akron native is back home today for the opening of the I Promise School which his Lebron James Family Foundation made possible. Lebron is a true example of giving back. 

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June 19th,  2018

A memorable black American is John H. Johnson who was born 100 years ago today. The Arkansas native published the Negro Digest, Ebony and Jet magazines. 💯

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June 5th, 2018

I'd like to get out in my garden but the rain keeps holding me back. ☔️

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June 1st, 2018

It's that time. Congratulations to the Class of 2018!  🎓___________________________________________________________________________

May 28, 2018

A shout-out to gifted black toy inventor Nayhsniel Eaton of South Euclid, Ohio whose "Hydroshield Water Dodger" won the last ABC TV'S "Toy Box" Show competition. Not bad for a young man still in his 20s.  

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May 23, 2018

We will soon celebrate Memorial Day. American history tells us that it was 155 years ago today in 1863 that ex-slave William A. Carney became the first black soldier to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor. It was for the sergeant 's bravery at Fort Wagner, South Carolina in the Civil War. 🎖🇺🇸

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May 21st, 2018

Very happy to see figure skater Tonya Harding on "Dancing with the Stars." I felt bad about what happened back when because she was the favorite of mine. I've always told people that if you never saw Tonya stroke the ice as she skated then you truly missed something. ⛸⛸

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May 19th, 2018

Today's weather was just beautiful for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The heavens smiled on them. Count me among the millions worldwide who watched the historical ceremony. It was all so good. 👑

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May 7th, 2018

Congratulations to heroic James Shaw, Jr. who stopped the shooter at the Waffle House in Nashville last month. He had a scholarship named for him at Tennessee State University where he graduated. TSU produced the great black Olympian Wilma Rudolph who medaled in track and field in the 60s. 🥇

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April 20th, 2018

My forsythia is in full bloom today. Each year when those bright yellow flowers burst forth I call that my first spring day.

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April 18th, 2018

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the first Superman comic book. It was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster while they were students at Glenville High School in Cleveland. That is Steve Harvey's alma mater as well as mine.

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April 4th, 2018

Today is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. He was only 39 years old. Just realize how young he was. 

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March 25th, 2018

Linda Brown of Brown vs. Board of Education died today. This case came before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1945 when she was a school girl in Topeka, Kansas. It was the decision of the court that segregation be ended in all public schools. This was a major victory for the NAACP. Earl Warren was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 

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March 15th, 2018

Jimmy Buffet's new musical "Escape to Magaritaville" opens on Broadway today. I hope to see the show one day. Anyways, I'm happy to say that I celebrated my birthday last year at Margaritaville in Cleveland. It's highly reccomended! 

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March 11th, 2018

Today we spring forward with Daylight Savings time. Good! ☀️

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March 3rd, 2018

This is one thing certain. Mother Nature does not play favorites. Now she's turned her attention to the East Coast where heavy snow hit hard and made life more difficult. But we got our share of the white stuff here in the Great Lakes, too. Then along with it we both got strong winds. A ginormous tree limb was downed in my back yard last night. Luckily my house was spared. 🏠🌨🌬💨🌳

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Febuary 21st, 2018

The USA women's singles figure skating didn't do as well as hoped for in the Winter Olympics but its history tells us that Black American Debra (Debi) Thomas earned a silver medal in this event 1988. 🥈

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Febuary 11th, 2018

The Winter Olympic Games have begun in Pyeong Chang, South Korea.🇰🇷 I'm a fan (naturally!). All of us in Ohio are proud of 17 year old Red Gerard from Rocky River who won the first gold metal! His was for snowboarding (slopestyle). 🥇

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Febuary 6th, 2018

I hate that much seems to have gone wrong with train travel these days. It's something that I have enjoyed and looked forward to for most of my life. Mentioning Philadelphia, I recall my childhood train trips there and going into the big 30th St. station when I  visited my Aunt Esther and Uncle George. Then taking our train excursion from Philly to Atlantic City. My last train ride was in September through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. Now that was nice!🚂

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Febuary 4th, 2018

Philadelphia Eagles played a good game to win Super Bowl LII. I know that's going to be a celebration! 🏉

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February 1st, 2018

Today starts Black History Month. So with Super Bowl Sunday just a few days away we remember NFL quarter back Doug Williams. It was 30 years ago in 1988 that he led his Washington Redskins team to a Super Bowl victory against the Denver Broncos. It was a first. Score was 42 to 10. Douglas Williams is from Louisiana where he graduated from Grambling University.🏈

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January 21st, 2018

Today I braved the cold to go see Grupo Corpo which is a dynamic dance company from Brazil.🇧🇷 It was worth it!

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January 20th, 2018 

The 2nd Annual Women's March was across the country for many reasons, but the greatest of all was love. Love of country. Love of self. Love of each other. Good. ♥️ 🚺♥️

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January 19th, 2018

There's a new little one in the Kanye West-Kim Kardashian household. Her name is Chicago West. Congrats parents!🚼

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January 15th, 2018

The nation always celebrates the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the third Monday in January. It just so happens that today's celebration is on his actual birthday! 🎁

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January 10th, 2018

Those mudslides in California are hard to watch along with the rescue efforts. More sadness for that state just hit hard by fires. 

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January 8th, 2018

Today is 1-8-18 the likes of which are unusual in a calendar year.

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January 7th, 2018

Sterling K. Brown won Best Actor in TV Drama and Oprah Winfrey was honored with the Cecil B. Demille Lifetime Award at the Golden Globes Awards. Both are very deserving. Their heartfelt speeches impacted us all.

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January 1st, 2018

A new year has arrived. Let's hope it's a nicer one. It is bitter cold here today and snow is steadily falling which is typical of January. At least today I don't have to think about leaving home. 

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December 31st, 2017

Give Steve Harvey an award for Best Dressed Man this New Year's Eve. He looked good in that white outfit! It's called dressing for the occasion and staying warm at the same time. You know he has his own fashion men's fashion line. 🎉 🕶___________________________________________________________________________

December 30th, 2017

Temperatures around the country promise to be freezing as we welcome in the new year so bundle up. Especially wear gloves because they say you get frost bite within 30 minutes! ❄️

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December 26th, 2017

Kwanzaa starts today.

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December 25th, 2017

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas! Hope Santa is good to you. 🎄🎅🏽🤶🏽___________________________________________________________________________

December 11th, 2017

Rhythm and blues artist Chuck Berry and singer-actress Della Reese passed away recently. They were among the great ones!___________________________________________________________________________

December 9th, 2017

History reminds us that it was 145 years ago on December 9th, 1872 that P.B.S. Pinchback became the first black goveneor of Louisiana. Pickney Benton Stewart Pinchback, that is! 

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December 1st, 2017

It's hard to believe that this is the last month of 2017.

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November 30th, 2017 

It was a special night for Colin Kaepernick who received the Sports Ilustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award. The NFL quarterback is known for the stand he has taken on social justice. Isn't that what we want for each other?___________________________________________________________________________

November 19th, 2017

Congratulations to Diana Ross who received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the American Music Awards. Her daughter actress Tracee Ellis Ross, made the presentation as her other children and grandchildren proudy looked on.

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November 13th, 2017

I have been watching "Finding Your Roots" with Dr. Henry Louis Gates. He has researched the family history of many notables such as Carmelo Anthony, Charlayne Hunter- Gaunt, and Dr. Phil McGraw. It's made for a very revealing and often jaw-dropping hour.

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November 6th, 2017

We wonder how much power has been restored in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands? The figure I keep hearing is 60%. That doesn't seem right. The hurricane struck back in September.

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November 1st, 2017

What does the month of November have in store for us? It's been a pretty rough year so far no matter how you look at it!

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October 31st, 2017

Happy Halloween! I made sure I watched my favorite Halloween movie (Hocus Pocus) again this year. It's become a tradition with me. That and my apple cider! 🍺🎃

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October 25th, 2017

It was 20 years ago today in 1997 that the Millon Women March was held in Philadelphia. We'll remember that Congresswoman Maxine Waters who was in the forefront then as she is now was one of the keynote speakers for empowerment. She's phenomenal.

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October 24th, 2017

Jazz pianist and singer Antoine "Fats" Domino and actor Robert Guillaume who we knew as "Benson" have both died at the age of 89. 

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October 20th, 2017

There are so many sad stories about our hurrricane victims. But among the many you really have to feel for are those who left New Orleans for Houston 12 years ago after Hurricane Katrina only to have it happen again. Find out what you can do to help people get back on their feet. 

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October 14th, 2017

Today I'm doing one of my favorite things for this time of year. I'm driving from the city to see the autum leaves, It always lifts me up. 

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October 1st, 2017

A bit of American history this first day. It was 55 years ago in 1962 that James Meredith integrated the University of Mississippi at Oxford. This followed a night of rioting by angry protestors. He had to be protected by the U.S. Army troops sent in by President John F. Kennedy. 

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September 25th, 2017

It was on this day in 1957 that nine black youth integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas under the guidance of Daisy Bates. There are still people who can tell you about the ugly morning 60 years ago when President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect them. 

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September 21st, 2017 

Now there's Hurricane Maria! It has devastated most of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These are United States territories so we can all agree they are entitled to federal aid "no ifs, ands or buts!" They are having to cope with so much. 

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September 19th, 2017

West Virginia native Bernie Casey who died today was a pro-bowl NFL football player turned actor. He is especially remembered for the James Bond movie "Never Say Never Again." Casey was 78 years old. 

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September 17th, 2017

Congratulations to Lena Waithe who won an Emmy today for her outstanding writing in a comedy series. This first was for her work called "Thanksgiving" which was an episode in the Master of None" series on Netflix. 

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September 12th, 2017

Hurricane Harvey! What I'm seeing of how this Category 5 hurricane battered Texas is awful! It's so great the way the people there have gone about helping each other.

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September 9th, 2017

A shout out to 24 year old Sloane Stephens who won the women's tennis title today at the U.S. open with a Grand Slam.

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September 4th, 2017 

Wasn't that clever the way Serena Williams and Alexis Olympia Ohanian named their newborn daughter Alexis Olympia Ohaninan Jr. I think they'll be great parents. 

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September 1st, 2017

 We have a nice, long Labor Day weekend ahead of us. Let's get out and enjoy ourselves while the weather is still fairly good.

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 July 6th, 2017

 The disappearance of pilot Amelia Earhart in 1937 is back in the news. We might be close to finding out what happened to her over the Pacific Ocean. Was she seen on the Marshall Islands?

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July 4th, 2017

 Happy 241st Birthday to America! When you think about it that’s really not a lot of years. We’re still a relatively young country. A friend said that what’s got us this far is beginner’s luck. What do you think?

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 July 1st, 2017

 Today is 7-1-17. Next comes 7-17-17. Interesting! That makes these birthdays very special this year.

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 June 30th, 2017

 Be careful out on the highway this Fourth of July weekend. Remember that you’re sharing the road with others. They also want to get where they are going without something happening.

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 June 24th, 2017

 Tennis great Serena Williams has never been thin-skinned. It never really mattered what people said about her. Right now, she’s having a baby. She’s happy. I for one, am happy for her. All this other little stuff that’s being said is not important.

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 June 22nd, 2017

 Boxing fans will want to remember that it was exactly 80 years ago that Joe Louis knocked out James J. Braddock to win the world heavyweight boxing title. Louis was champ for the next 12 years. A lot of this generation finds it hard to realize that unless you had a ticket you morethan likely heard those fights on the radio: And imaginations went wild!!!💫🥊🥊🥊🥊👊

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 June 21st, 2017

 Summertime!!!! 😎☀️🍉⛱🍷🎉

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 June 12th, 2017

 Today’s Harry Connick show was one of his best so far. Al Roker hosted the special for Harry. Together they shared much of his life that was centered around family, friends and his beloved New Orleans.

 Also of that city is long-time friend trumpeter Wynston Marsalis who was on with his father Ellis Marsalis. Harry is very close to the family as their home was always open to him. It’s a beautiful bond.

 Legendary actress Diahann Carroll was also a guest. Harry was a boy when her hit television show “Julia" aired. He was such a fan that his mother bought him a metal “Julia” lunch box that he still has today. Ms. Carroll loved it.

 I remember the show as well as seeing Ms. Carroll in the Broadway musical “No Strings.” She is one of the greats!

 The special had a good mix of people and Harry enjoys people ❤

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 June 9th, 2017

 A lot of hospitals are offering free wellness tests in their communities. I just had a stroke check. It went very well. They’re a good thing to look into.

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 June 1st, 2017

 It felt good getting out and circulating now that the weather is more in our favor. I have a whole new attitude 😃

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 May 31st, 2017

 It has been some month of May! The weather hit us really hard across the country. It was bad just about everywhere. To the many who got the worst of it, know that others care ❤

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 May 30th, 2017

 Congratulations to the Class of 2017 🎓!

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 May 28th, 2017

 LeBron James and Stephen Curry will be facing each other for the third straight year in the upcoming NBA finals. I love the game. What fascinates me is that both players were born in Akron, Ohio and in the same hospital! It’s going to be exciting because they both have strong teams behind them.

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 May 20th, 2017

 Everyone says how nice the Dorothy Height postage stamp is. I agree. And she was deserving of this Black Heritage honor. She was highly regarded as president of the National Council of Negro Women.

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 May 15th, 2017

 Katherine G. Johnson. Mary Jackson. Dorothy J Vaughn. The three hidden figures of the film. Most of us didn’t know about them. So we owe a great deal of gratitude to Margot Lee Shetterley who wrote the book.

 What an honor that the new computer research lab at Langley Research Center was named the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility.

 And how uplifting for our young people engaged in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs around the country. The opportunities are there!

 STEM enrichment also has the support of Kara Mc Cullough who was just crowned Miss USA. The former Miss District of Columbia worked as a scientist at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A combination of beauty and brains.

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 May 12th, 2017

 There’s been talk that salmon is a heart-healthy food. Recently, Shinelle Jones of the Today Show was on making Salmon Croquettes with her mother during which they said the recipe goes way back in their family. My grandmother wrote out this similar one back in the 50s for the Salmon Patties which she also called croquettes. This economical recipe is really good!

       - Salmon Patties

 Put one can of salmon in a bowl. Remove the skin and bones. Add to this ½ cup mashed potatoes, 1 tablespoon of finely chopped green pepper and 1 teaspoon of finely chopped onion.

 Mash these ingredients with a potato masher until fine. Shape into flat cakes. Dip in a beaten egg and then bread crumbs. Fry in lard until brown on both sides.

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 May 9th, 2017

 Congratulations to the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Omega Chapter in Cleveland, Ohio who are celebrating their 100 years. They’re painting the town pink and green all year!

 It was also in 1917 that the black film maker Oscar Micheaux produced his first movie, “The Homesteader.”

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 December 31st, 2016:

 Have a blessed 2017!

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 December 28th, 2016:

 Happy Kwanzaa! This year as we celebrate let us pause to thank its creator Maulani Karenga who started it all 50 years ago.

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 December 26th, 2016:

 I got one of the nicest gifts on Christmas. My cousin Lois sent me the DVD “A Tribute to Alvin Ailey.” The dances are a real pleasure to watch. I think you’d enjoy it.

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 December 18th, 2016:

 Congratulations to new mother Tyra Banks! I tried hard to get into the opening season of “America’s Next Top Model” but the show wasn’t the same without her and Miss J.

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 December 15th, 2016:

 Loved that pretty photo of Blue Ivy all dressed up and going hand-in-hand with her mother Beyoncé to the Video Music Awards. Proud mom won 8 awards that evening.

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 December 12th, 2016:

 We said good-bye to icons Muhammed Ali and Prince in 2016. Both men defined greatness. It all began for Ali when he won a gold medal in light heavyweight boxing at the1960 Olympic Games. For Prince, it was when he won his first Grammy in 1984. The rest is history as they say. 🥊🏆

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 December 8th, 2016:

 Right around that time we would have been celebrating the150th birthday of Black explorer Matthew Hensen. He earned a place in U.S. history on his Arctic expedition in 1909 with Admiral Robert E. Peary where they raised the American flag at the North Pole. But Black History Month is coming soon.

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 December 5th, 2016:

 I’ve always been a big follower of the Olympic Games. Like most of us I grew up hearing about American track and field greats Jesse Owens who medaled in 1936 and Alice Coachman who won gold in 1948 making it a first for a black woman.

  My favorites at the Rio summer games were gymnast Simone Biles who won 4 gold medals and 1 bronze plus swimmer Simone Manuel who won the 100-meter freestyle. But all of the U.S. athletes were fantastic competitors. Together they took home over 100 medals. Congratulations!

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 December 1st, 2016:

 Welcome to the first Chit Chat with Barbara! I’ll be sharing my thoughts with you and maybe even give you something to think about!

 The time has come for the 44th President of the United States to leave office. Barack H. Obama moves on after being elected to two terms. We say “thank you for giving your best to America. You did our nation proud. “

  It was always good to see his wife Michelle Obama at his side. Both graduates of Harvard University. Both in sync with one another. The first lady had a special way about her which endeared her to us. We will definitely miss them when they are gone.

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