ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Marcus Wells and Shirley Walker view their economic prospects from opposite ends of the age spectrum. Wells, 25, was initially optimistic about his prospects for finding a new job after he was laid off as a systems analyst in January in San Jose, Calif. Now unemployment has begun to wear on him, and he believes his age has factored into his frustration. SEARCHING—Marcus Wells prepares his job resume in his bedroom in San Jose, Calif.
For the Week of Sept. 10-16 September 10 1847—John Roy Lynch was born into slavery on this day near Vidalia, La. Lynch would be among the first group of Blacks to serve in the United States Congress after slavery. He represented the state of Mississippi. Lynch would even serve as temporary chairman of the Republican Party National Convention. During this period, the Republicans were the more progressive and friendly-to-Blacks party. FATHER DIVINE But as the period of Reconstruction faded and Southern politicians made it virtually impossible for Blacks to remain in political office, Lynch moved to Chicago and practiced law. He died in 1939 at the age of 92.
DETROIT (AP)—On Jan. 12, 1959, Elvis Presley was in the Army. The Beatles were a little-known group called The Quarrymen casting about for gigs in Liverpool. The nascent rock ‘n’ roll world was a few weeks away from “the day the music died”—when a single-engine plane crash claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens. Smokey Robinson is joined by Berry Gordy It’s also the day a 29-year-old boxer, assembly line worker and songwriter named Berry Gordy Jr. used an $800 family loan to start a record company in Detroit.
CHICAGO (AP)—Thousands of Oprah Winfrey’s fans gathered on Michigan Avenue to help the talk show celebrate the 24th season of her show with a public taping on Tuesday that was to include the Black Eyed Peas and Rascal Flatts. Diane Stimson lined up at 5:30 a.m., nearly 12 hours before the taping was set to begin, and by the afternoon the 43-year-old Chicagoan was dancing behind a metal barrier as she waited. She called Winfrey an inspiration. WHITNEY HOUSTON AND OPRAH WINFREY ON THE SET
It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. Yeah, you never bought into that, either, did you? If it’s all about playing and not about winning, then why have umpires, referees and judges? Why keep score? And what’s the use of fans frothing at the mouth over victory? More precisely, perhaps, it’s not about winning or losing but about being gracious either way—an attitude personified in the new book “On the Line” by Serena Williams (with Daniel Paisner).
Thursday 10 Lalah Hathaway The August Wilson Center for African American Culture presents Lalah Hathaway at 8 p.m. at the center, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. Slip into the rich, silky sounds of songstress Lalah Hathaway as she kicks off the inaugural season of the brand new August Wilson Center. Hathaway hypnotizes with a soulful, jazzy repertoire rooted in the music of her native Chicago and filled with endless possibilities. There will also be a performance Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35-$45.50. For more information, visit www.augustwilsoncenter.org.
This week I visited the Red Lounge II in East Liberty, Matrix Night Club in Station Square, Questions Night Club in the Strip District, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Squirrel Hill and the Ava Lounge in East Liberty. My first stop was at the Red Lounge II where Kiki, formerly “The Midday Chick” of WAMO 106.7FM, celebrated with family and friends the fact that she landed a new gig as an on-air personality at WERQ 92Q FM in Baltimore, Md. She will be leaving us, but her heart and soul will always belong to Pittsburgh. Congratulations on a fresh start—you deserve it. Mike Logan (ESPN and Brotha Ash Productions), Kiki (WERQ 92Q FM of Baltimore, Md.), Anji (WPGC 95.5 FM of Washington, D.C.) and Emmai Alaquiva (Ya Momz House Recording Studio) at the Red Lounge II in East Liberty.
For the Week of September 3-9 September 3 1838—Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore using so-called “free papers” and disguising himself as a sailor. He would go on to become the most prominent anti-slavery activist and Black leader of his day. He is perhaps best remembered for his now famous 1857 quote: “If there is no struggle there is no progress...Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” Free papers were documents normally required to be in the possession of all free Blacks. But one freedom tactic employed during slavery was for a slave to somehow borrow the papers of a free Black who fit his or her general description and use the papers to escape from slavery. FREDERICK DOUGLASS
ATLANTA (AP)—The city that became a post-civil rights movement emblem of the political power held by African-Americans could have a White mayor for the first time in a generation—a possibility that has some in the Black community scrambling to hold on to City Hall. Atlanta Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who is White, is one of the front-runners for the Nov. 3 election, along with City Council President Lisa Borders and state Sen. Kasim Reed, both of whom are Black. FINAL PREPARATIONS— City of Atlanta mayoral candidates Mary Norwood, second from left, is surrounded by a field of Black candidates including Lisa Borders, left, Peter Brownlowe, right, Rod Mack, second from right, and Glenn Thomas as they make final preparations before facing off in a debate. If Norwood wins the election she would become the first White mayor of Atlanta in a generation. All three have bristled at a racially charged e-mail circulated by a Black leadership group calling for Norwood’s defeat before a possible runoff. If the Black candidates split the African-American vote, Norwood may find herself in a runoff, where she could benefit.
RICHMOND, Va. (NNPA)—A new jail is on the way, but for now Richmond inmates are having to help pay for upkeep of the overcrowded and decrepit facility where they are kept. City Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. is charging inmates $1 a day to stay at the city jail to help cover the cost of operations. He expects to raise between $60,000 and $200,000 a year from the fee. He began imposing the charge April 15, he said in a recent interview. He joined Chesterfield County and some other jails around Virginia and across the country in imposing the charge that is permitted under state laws.
