Browsing: Feature

     The former alderman in Evanston, Illinois, made history in 2019 when she successfully instituted a reparations program specifically geared toward her city’s Black constituents who are linked to earlier generations of racist discrimination. Simmons’ efforts have unequivocally helped bolster interest in pending legislation for a national reparations program.

     Few people can be considered legends in their own lifetimes; however, the late Coach Herman “Big Man” Pittman (November 14, 1927) truly led a legendary life. “Pitt,” as he  well known , will go down historically as one of the top high school coaches in South Florida. Coach Pittman recently passed away on February 11, 2022 and will be mourned by the thousands upon thousands of lives he touched.

     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.

         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.

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.