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The Orangeburg Massacre 54 years later

     On that day, which has become known nationally and worldwide as the Orangeburg Massacre, members of the South Carolina National Guard and South Carolina Highway patrolmen opened fire on student advocates. The group had gathered on the campus in protest after three nights of escalating racial tension over efforts to desegregate All Star Bowling Lanes, which was located in downtown Orangeburg. Students Samuel Hammond Jr., Delano Middleton, and Henry Smith were murdered while 28 others were wounded. […]

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A Retirement for the ages A Memorable Sendoff/ An Unforgettable Journey

         I was privileged as a family member to attend the spectacular retirement sendoff for Mrs. Bertha Watson Henry, whose highly successful tenure as Broward County Administrator  began in 2008 and comes to a glorious conclusion later this month, February, which obviously is Black History month, so apropos because she has assuredly left an indelible imprint on Broward County and its citizenry. […]

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Unsolved Deaths of Two Black Women: Two Bridgeport Police Detectives Placed on Leave

The two Black women, Brenda Lee Rawls, 53, and Lauren Smith-Fields, 23, died on the same day: Dec. 12, 2021, in separate incidents. The Chief Medical Examiner in Bridgeport has not determined a cause of death for Rawls. Rawls was close to her family by text and by phone and informed them she was to visit a male acquaintance. When she was non-responsive two days later the family became concerned. […]

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WADE IN THE WATER

           Coincidentally, Cathleen Dean, an award-winning producer, is also the Director of Art and Theatre at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center. On the heels of her Best Documentary Short Award for the short film ‘BEING’ at the Roxbury International Film Festival last year, Cathleen partnered with Diversity in Aquatics, and their collaboration produced her latest film, Wade in the Water: Drowning in Racism. […]