The Negro National League’s first game on May 2, 1920, marked a historic turning point for Black baseball, led by visionary founder Rube Foster.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | Updated August 22, 2025
On May 2, 1920, thousands gathered at Washington Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. They came to witness a moment that would change baseball forever. That day, the Negro National League (NNL) played its first official game. The Indianapolis ABCs beat the Chicago American Giants 4 to 2. Between 6,000 and 8,000 fans filled the stands, making history together.
The man behind it all was Andrew “Rube” Foster. A former star pitcher and manager, Foster dreamed of a league for Black players. At the time, Black athletes were banned from white baseball leagues due to segregation. Foster wanted to give them a stage of their own. His goal was simple but powerful: create a profession for Black players that paid well and made the race proud.
Earlier that year, Foster met with team owners at a YMCA in Kansas City. Together, they formed the Negro National League. Foster boldly declared, “We are the ship, all else the sea.” He became the league’s first president.
The NNL began with eight teams: the Chicago American Giants, Chicago Giants, Indianapolis ABCs, Cuban Stars, Detroit Stars, Dayton Marcos, St. Louis Giants, and the Kansas City Monarchs. While other Negro Leagues had been attempted in the past, none had lasted. Foster made sure this league was different. He worked 15-hour days and even loaned his own money to keep teams going. He shifted players between teams to keep games exciting and fair. He believed in excellence and often reminded players always to be ready, because integration would come one day.
The energy at that first game was electric. Though the American Giants lost, they would later become league champions. And the game itself lit a fire in Black communities across the country. Baseball was the favorite sport of the day. Just like football and basketball are now, Black baseball was the heart of the community. People gathered on weekends to cheer for their local teams in small towns and big cities. The game was easy to play and cheap to set up. All you needed was a bat, a ball, and some open land.
Negro League games were full of energy, speed, and flair. Stars like Satchel Paige wowed crowds with their talent and showmanship. Paige, a tall and confident pitcher, sometimes made his outfield sit down while he struck out batters. “Cool Papa” Bell, one of the fastest men in the sport, could steal two bases on one pitch. Josh Gibson, known as the “Black Babe Ruth,” hit home runs over 575 feet. Oscar Charleston, called the “Black Ty Cobb,” thrilled fans with speed and power.
But life in the Negro Leagues wasn’t easy. Players faced racism daily. They couldn’t eat in most restaurants or stay in white-owned hotels. Some slept on the bus for days. Ted Radcliffe once said, “We didn’t get a chance sometimes to take a bath for 3 or 4 days because they wouldn’t let us.”
Still, the league brought people together. By the 1940s, Black-owned ballparks were places of pride and celebration. Owners gave back to the community, raising money for civil rights causes and Black colleges.
Then came 1947. Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke the color barrier. Within five years, more than 150 players from the Negro Leagues had joined Major League Baseball. Without its stars and with fewer fans, the Negro Leagues faded away.
But what they built was lasting. The first game on May 2, 1920, wasn’t just a win for the ABCs. It was a win for Black history, sports, and the fight for equality. Rube Foster’s dream came true and paved the way for future generations.
Undefeated WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr., the Decatur-born “Assassin II,” defends his title against Devin Haney in Saudi Arabia after a stunning Tokyo knockout win.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | August 13, 2025
Brian Norman, Jr. seems like any other 24-year-old from Decatur, Georgia. He enjoys music, spending time with friends, and—even though he wasn’t asked — he probably enjoys pizza and movie nights. Standing 5’8″ and weighing 147 pounds, he carries himself with quiet confidence, a neatly trimmed beard, and a smile that could brighten a hundred nights.
Photo by Milton Kirby – Brian Norman, Jr.
But unlike most people his age, Norman doesn’t head to an office, warehouse or classroom when he goes to work. He walks into a boxing gym, pulls on his gloves, and steps between the ropes.
There, he’s not just Brian Norman — he’s The Assassin II, a name that signifies his lethal precision and power in the ring, and the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion.
Boxing 101 for the Casual Fan
For those new to the sport, professional boxing is organized into weight classes to ensure fair competition. Norman competes in the welterweight division, which includes fighters weighing no more than 147 pounds. The WBO is one of four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing — alongside the WBA, WBC, and IBF — recognized worldwide for awarding official world titles.
A boxer’s win can come in several ways:
Knockout (KO): When a fighter is knocked down and cannot get back to their feet before the referee counts to ten, or is physically unable to continue.
Technical Knockout (TKO): When the referee stops the fight because one boxer cannot defend themselves safely, even if they are still standing.
Unanimous Decision: After the scheduled rounds are completed, all three judges agree on the winner, awarding points based on clean punches, defense, effective aggression, and ring generalship — a fighter’s ability to control the pace and location of the action.
Split Decision: two of the three judges scored the fight for one boxer, while the third judge scored it for the other boxer. It’s a way to determine the winner when the judges’ opinions are divided.
Norman’s record — 30 fights, 28 wins, and no losses — includes 22 victories by knockout, six by unanimous decision, and two bouts ruled as no contest due to accidental injuries.
WBO Championship Belt
From Decatur Roots to the Top of the Sport
Born November 23, 2000, Norman grew up in Decatur and attended Lakeside High School. His father, Brian Norman, Sr., was a professional boxer from 2003 to 2011, compiling a record of 18 wins and 11 losses. From childhood, Norman Jr. trained under his father’s guidance, learning both the mental and physical demands of the sport.
In November 2023, Norman won the WBO International welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Quinton Randall in Las Vegas, NV. Brian defended his title in March 2024 against Janelson Figueroa Bocachia in Verona, NY. Both fighters were cut in an accidental clash in the ring. Norman was cut above his right eye in the second round, while Bocachica suffered a cut in the opening round. The bout was stopped at the end of the third round due to the severity of Bocachica’s cut, resulting in a no contest.
His big break came in August 2024, when Terence Crawford — a legend in the sport — vacated the WBO welterweight belt to move up in weight. Norman, already holding the WBO interim title, was promoted to full champion, becoming the youngest male world champion in boxing at the time.
Knockouts, Travel, and Titles
Norman’s most recent defense took him to Tokyo, Japan, on June 19, 2025, where he faced hometown contender Jin Sasaki. In the opening minute, Norman scored his first knockdown with a left hook to the head. By the fifth round, he delivered another left hook so devastating that Sasaki was left on the canvas for several minutes. Many analysts called it a Knockout of the Year candidate.
Norman spoke of the Japanese customs and traditions, and mentioned that since the fight he and Sasaki have exchanged kind and respectful words.
Business in the Ring
Currently signed with Top Rank — the promotional powerhouse behind legends like Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya, and Manny Pacquiao — Norman has earned an estimated $1 million in career purses. His biggest payday so far was $650,000 in a bout against Cuevas.
The WBO, headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a key gatekeeper in boxing, with its champions recognized as among the best in the world. Holding a WBO belt is often a stepping stone to multi-division championships and career-defining fights.
The Risks of the Sport
Brian Norman well understands the risks of his profession. He knows that hundreds of punches to the head can lead to serious long-term effects. As a knowledgeable boxer himself, Norman, Sr. placed an exceptionally high emphasis on Brian, Jr. to become an excellent defensive boxer to protect himself as best as possible.
Coach Natasha (Titi) noted, “It’s amazing to see where Brian has come from versus the skills that he has developed now.”
As for training, Brian says, “he starts counting reps once the workout starts to hurt. Discipline is the key to training and development.” His training regimen includes rigorous workouts, sparring sessions, and a strict diet, all of which contribute to his physical and mental preparedness for each fight.
Next Challenge: Devin Haney in Saudi Arabia
On November 22, 2025, Norman will defend his title against two-division champion Devin Haney in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both men are undefeated — Norman at 28-0 (22 KOs) and Haney at 32-0 (15 KOs) — making this a rare matchup where neither fighter has ever tasted defeat. This highly anticipated bout is expected to be a test of skill, endurance, and determination for both fighters.
For Norman, the fight is another chance to prove that The Assassin II is more than just a nickname. With an undefeated record of 28-0 (22 KOs), he has shown his dominance in the ring. For the sport, it’s an opportunity to showcase one of boxing’s youngest champions to a global audience.
From Decatur’s neighborhood gyms to the bright lights of Las Vegas, Tokyo, and soon Saudi Arabia, Brian Norman, Jr. has shown that even the kid next door can rise to the very top of the boxing world — and do it without a single loss.
Lisa Leslie made history with the WNBA’s first dunk on July 30, 2002—redefining women’s basketball and inspiring generations to reach higher than ever before.
By Milton Kirby | July 30, 2025 | Atlanta, GA
On July 30, 2002, Lisa Leslie soared.
In a split second that lasted forever, the Los Angeles Sparks superstar caught a fast break, glided to the rim, and threw down a one-handed dunk against the Miami Sol. With that slam, she became the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game. Twenty-three years later, on this historic anniversary, her leap still represents a seismic shift in women’s sports.
Leslie didn’t just dunk a basketball that day—she shattered perceptions.
The Dunk That Changed Everything
The play was textbook: a long rebound, a pass to midcourt, a couple of dribbles, and a takeoff from just inside the paint. Fans in the arena rose to their feet in disbelief as the 6-foot-5 center delivered the moment many thought they’d never see in the women’s game.
Leslie, never one to showboat, calmly jogged back on defense.
But history had already been made.
“I didn’t go into the game thinking I’d dunk,” Leslie later told reporters. “It just happened. The opportunity came, and I took it.”
From Compton to the Sky
Lisa Deshaun Leslie was born July 7, 1972, in Gardena, California, and raised in nearby Compton by her hardworking mother, Christine. Tall from an early age, Leslie didn’t pick up basketball seriously until junior high. By then, she was already over six feet tall.
She made an early impact. At Morningside High School, she once scored 101 points—in one half. At 16, she led the U.S. Junior National Team in scoring and rebounding at a world tournament in Spain.
Her dominance followed her to USC, where she earned Naismith Player of the Year honors and left as the Pac-10’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks.
By the time the WNBA launched in 1997, Lisa Leslie was ready-made for the spotlight.
A Spark From Day One
Drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in the inaugural WNBA draft, Leslie made an immediate impact. She recorded the first double-double in WNBA history during her debut game against the New York Liberty. Over the next decade, she would redefine what it meant to be a dominant center.
Leslie was a three-time WNBA MVP, two-time champion, and eight-time All-Star. She led the Sparks to back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002 and capped the latter year with that historic dunk, an exclamation point on one of the most iconic seasons in women’s basketball history.
Later that year, she became the first WNBA player to surpass 3,000 career points.
Dunking Barriers, Not Just Basketballs
The image of Leslie dunking reverberated far beyond the court.
Photo courtesy WNBA Lisa Leslie
For young girls and aspiring athletes, it was a symbol of what was possible.
“She changed the way people talked about women’s basketball,” said Sheryl Swoopes, fellow WNBA legend. “She showed that we weren’t just skilled—we were powerful.”
Leslie wasn’t finished. In 2005, she dunked again, this time at the WNBA All-Star Game. She would eventually become the first player in league history to reach 6,000 points, retire as its all-time leading rebounder, and earn enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Beyond the Hardwood
Leslie’s legacy stretches beyond statistics and slam dunks. She’s also an Olympic icon, winning four gold medals with Team USA between 1996 and 2008. In the 1996 Games, she set a U.S. Olympic record by scoring 35 points in a single game.
Off the court, Leslie built a multi-faceted career. She modeled for high-end fashion houses, earned an MBA, worked in broadcasting, and authored a memoir titled Don’t Let the Lipstick Fool You. She’s appeared in films, television shows, and even video games.
In 2011, Leslie became a part-owner of the Sparks. In 2019, she became head coach of the BIG3 men’s team Triplets—and won a championship in her debut season.
Today, she remains a respected voice in basketball, business, and media, serving as a studio analyst for the Orlando Magic on FanDuel Sports Network Florida.
A Moment That Still Matters
As the WNBA celebrates continued growth in 2025, with record viewership and superstar talent headlined by players like Angel Resse, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and Breanna Stewart, the league stands on the foundation built by pioneers like Lisa Leslie.
Her dunk didn’t just make headlines—it made history.
And on this anniversary, it still inspires.
“She dunked for all of us,” said a young Sparks fan attending the team’s commemorative event in Los Angeles. “She made us believe we could fly too.”
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Bubba Wallace makes NASCAR history as the first Black driver to win the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, earning a playoff spot and inspiring millions.
By Milton Kirby | Indianapolis, IN | July 28, 2025
Bubba Wallace is Black. And now, he’s also a Brickyard 400 champion.
The 31-year-old driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing made history Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, becoming the first Black driver to win on the famed 2.5-mile oval. With this career-defining victory, Wallace not only snapped a 100-race winless drought but also earned his first crown jewel win — solidifying his place in NASCAR’s history books and punching his ticket to the Cup Series playoffs.
It was a win years in the making.
A Landmark Victory at the Brickyard
After fending off defending champion Kyle Larson through two tense overtime restarts, Wallace powered across the yard of bricks and into the record books. The moment capped a race filled with drama, strategy, and emotion — including an 18-minute rain delay, looming fuel concerns, and a frenzied final-lap showdown.
“Coming off Turn 4, I knew I was going to get there — unless we ran out of gas,” Wallace said after the win. “To overcome so much and to put these people in Victory Lane, that’s what it’s all about.”
In doing so, Wallace became the first Black driver to win a major event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the track opened in 1909. No Black driver has ever won the Indianapolis 500, and Formula 1’s brief run on the road course never saw a Black winner either.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a cultural milestone.
Bubba Wallace during NASCAR Cup Series at Brickyard – Photo AP – Darron Cummings
The Road to the Brickyard
Born William Darrell Wallace Jr. in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Concord, North Carolina, Bubba Wallace’s path to stardom was anything but conventional. The son of a Black mother, Desiree, a former collegiate track star and social worker, and a white father, Darrell Sr., who runs an industrial cleaning company, Wallace proudly identifies as a Black American.
His parents made it clear to him early on — and to those around them — that his Blackness was not something to be diluted or ignored.
From age nine, Wallace dominated local circuits, winning 35 of 48 Bandolero races in 2005. He rose quickly through NASCAR’s youth development ladder, competing in the K&N Pro Series East, Xfinity, and Truck Series. In 2013, he became the first Black driver in over 50 years to win a national touring series race, joining the legendary Wendell Scott.
By 2018, Wallace had a full-time ride in the NASCAR Cup Series, piloting the famed No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports. But it was his partnership with 23XI Racing — co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin — that gave Wallace a more robust platform and faster cars. Sunday’s win proved just how far they’ve come.
Trials, Critics, and a Turning Point
Despite his talents, Wallace has never had a smooth ride in the garage. His 2020 season was particularly turbulent. A reported noose in his garage at Talladega sparked a federal investigation and polarized the fanbase. Though the FBI ruled it a pull-down rope with no malicious intent, the backlash that followed was swift and personal.
Wallace’s advocacy for racial justice — from championing Black Lives Matter to pushing NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag — put him in the crosshairs of critics. Former President Donald Trump even demanded an apology. Wallace refused. Instead, he doubled down on his principles and leaned into his platform.
He channeled the pain into performance, winning at Talladega in 2021 and Kansas in 2022. But for the last three seasons, Wallace came close without sealing the deal until Sunday.
Fuel, Faith, and the Finish Line
Wallace had built a 4-second lead late in the race when the skies opened up. A brief rain shower in Turn 1 triggered a red flag with four laps to go. When the race resumed, Wallace had to survive two overtimes, manage tire wear, and pray his fuel would hold out.
“I thought about everything except racing during that red flag,” Wallace admitted. “But once I saw it was Larson behind me, I knew I had to be perfect. He’s the best in the field.”
And he was. Twice, Wallace outpaced Larson on restarts, defending his line and never flinching under pressure. His Chumba Casino-sponsored Camry surged ahead on the final lap, sending fans into a frenzy and his team into tears.
Even Cookie Monster, Sunday’s whimsical grand marshal, could barely contain his excitement.
The Man Behind the Wheel
Beyond the helmet and fire suit, Bubba Wallace is a husband and a new father. He married Amanda Carter — his high school acquaintance turned longtime partner — on New Year’s Eve 2022. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Becks Hayden Wallace, in September 2024.
“We waited nine months on this little guy,” Wallace wrote on Instagram. “He’s made it all worth it.”
Their love story, rekindled after college and forged through the chaos of national headlines and racetrack travel, reflects Wallace’s blend of resilience and humility.
“I’m a Christian, I believe in pushing for what’s right,” Wallace once told Esquire. “When you see something unjust, you don’t stay silent.”
It’s that same moral compass that led Wallace to found the Live to Be Different Foundation, dedicated to empowering individuals to be themselves and live authentically.
SIDEBAR: Paving the Way — Wendell Scott and NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity
Wendell Scott: The Trailblazer
Wendell Scott was the first Black driver to race full-time in NASCAR’s highest level and the first to win a race in what is now the Cup Series. Born in Danville, Virginia, in 1921, Scott overcame racism, sabotage, and financial obstacles to pursue his passion for racing in the Jim Crow South.
He entered NASCAR in 1953 and made history on December 1, 1963, when he won a race in Jacksonville, Florida. Scott crossed the finish line first, but officials initially awarded the trophy to a white driver. Only hours later, Scott was declared the rightful winner. He never received the trophy during his lifetime.
Scott competed in 495 races over 13 years and earned top-ten finishes in nearly 50 of them — all while funding and fixing his cars. He passed away in 1990, and in 2015, he was posthumously inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Bubba Wallace has often credited Wendell Scott’s legacy as a source of inspiration. “He made it possible for someone like me to dream of this,” Wallace has said.
Drive for Diversity: Building a New Generation
Launched in 2004, NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program aims to recruit and develop minority and female drivers and crew members in a sport that has historically been dominated by white males. The initiative includes:
Rev Racing: A team that competes in the ARCA Menards Series and the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, serving as the competition arm of Drive for Diversity.
Driver Development: Talents such as Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suárez, Rajah Caruth, and Hailie Deegan have all passed through the program.
Pit Crew Development: The program also trains aspiring diverse pit crew members for roles on competitive race teams.
NASCAR continues to evolve, but progress hasn’t been easy. Wallace’s win at the Brickyard shows how the seeds planted by Scott — and watered by Drive for Diversity — are beginning to bloom.
“We’re not where we want to be yet,” said Rev Racing’s CEO Max Siegel, “but we’re definitely moving in the right direction.”
What’s Next?
With his Brickyard 400 win, Wallace has secured a coveted playoff spot. He’ll return to the postseason after missing it in 2024. The momentum couldn’t have come at a better time for 23XI Racing, which is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with NASCAR over team charters.
Bubba Wallace during NASCAR Cup Series at Brickyard – Photo AP – Darron Cummings
“Beating the best means being the best,” Wallace said, reflecting on his battle with Larson. “We were the best today.”
The next stop on the Cup Series tour is Iowa, but Wallace’s focus is already on the playoffs. The garage knows he’s more than a symbol now — he’s a threat.
A Legacy in the Making
More than just a win, Sunday’s Brickyard triumph was a culmination of grit, growth, and generational change. Wallace didn’t just win a race. He claimed space in a sport that once made Black drivers feel unwelcome. He honored the legacy of Wendell Scott and paved a path for those yet to come.
“This one’s really cool,” Wallace repeated after the race. “To be here, to win here, to do it the way we did — it means everything.”
It meant everything to his fans, too. As Wallace knelt by the bricks with his wife and baby boy, he etched more than rubber into the track — he cemented a legacy.
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Lena Horne broke barriers in Hollywood and civil rights, becoming a trailblazing icon whose courage, music, and legacy continue to inspire generations of Black artists and activists.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | June 30, 2025
On what would have been her 108th birthday, the world pauses to honor Lena Horne—a legendary singer, actress, civil rights activist, and one of the most influential Black women in American history. Horne’s career, which spanned over seven decades, was defined not only by her talent and glamour but by her fierce determination to fight against racial injustice and challenge the limits placed on her by society and Hollywood.
Born Lena Mary Calhoun Horne on June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York, she emerged from a lineage of educated and civically engaged African Americans. Her grandmother, an early suffragist and activist, shaped Lena’s worldview. Despite a nomadic and, at times, lonely childhood spent following her mother’s theatrical career across the country, Horne carried the strength of her heritage with her. She left high school at 16 to perform at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club, launching a path that would eventually lead her to become the first Black performer signed to a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio—Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
While at MGM, Horne appeared in more than 16 films between 1938 and 1978. Yet, due to racism, her roles were often stand-alone musical numbers that could be cut out when films were shown in segregated theaters. She was systematically denied leading roles, and in a cruel twist, even lost the part of Julie LaVerne in the 1951 film “Show Boat” to Ava Gardner, despite previously singing the part in another movie. The role was denied to her because of a ban on interracial relationships onscreen.
Horne never allowed these exclusions to define her. She sued restaurants and theaters for racial discrimination in the late 1940s and joined forces with civil rights leaders like Paul Robeson and Eleanor Roosevelt. Her activism led to blacklisting during the McCarthy era, but Horne never backed down. When the U.S. Army allowed German POWs to sit in front of Black soldiers at a World War II USO performance, she walked off stage and personally financed her own tour to entertain Black troops.
“My identity is very clear to me now. I am a Black woman. I’m free. I don’t have to be a symbol to anybody,” she once said. This powerful statement reflects Lena Horne’s journey of self-definition and pride. Her words continue to inspire others to embrace their own identities with confidence and self-awareness.
Lena Horne
In the 1960s, Horne was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement. She marched in Washington, performed at rallies in the Jim Crow South, and lent her voice and fame to the National Council of Negro Women and the NAACP. Her commitment to the cause was unwavering. When Medgar Evers was assassinated, she had just appeared with him at a rally in Mississippi, a testament to her dedication to the fight for equality.
Her resilience eventually led to triumphs. Horne reinvented herself in the 1980s, dazzling Broadway in the Tony Award-winning one-woman show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. The show ran for 333 performances and earned her a special Tony Award, as well as two Grammys. It remains the longest-running solo show in Broadway history.
Despite battling multiple sclerosis, a fact she never publicly discussed, Horne lived to be 92. She died in 2010 of heart failure in New York City. Her funeral brought out luminaries like Dionne Warwick, Cicely Tyson, Audra McDonald, and Vanessa Williams—a who’s who of Black excellence shaped in her wake.
Despite the challenges she faced in her career, Horne’s personal life was also marked by resilience and strength. She was a mother and grandmother, and her family was a source of joy and support for her. She had two children, Gail and Edwin, and was later married to white bandleader Lennie Hayton. Their interracial marriage was initially kept secret due to public scrutiny, yet the relationship helped her navigate a treacherous industry with grace and strength.
Lena Horne
Lena Horne’s legacy lives on through her granddaughter Jenny Lumet, a screenwriter who continues to carry on her grandmother’s work. Her name is immortalized in stamps, awards, and most fittingly, the Broadway theater that now bears her name—the Lena Horne Theatre. As the first Black woman to receive this honor, Lena Horne’s enduring impact is a testament to the power of her life and work.
From stormy beginnings to a triumphant, unyielding voice, Lena Horne carved her name into history with elegance and courage. She was not only a fierce activist but also a jazz singer, a movie star, and a patriot. Her performances, both on screen and on stage, were marked by her undeniable talent and grace. Above all, she was a symbol of pride and perseverance, leaving an indelible mark on the arts and civil rights.
Today, on Lena Horne Day, her story continues to inspire artists, activists, and dreamers worldwide. Her legacy, like her music, will never fade.
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Wilma Rudolph overcame polio to become a triple Olympic gold medalist and global icon—breaking barriers in sports, civil rights, and women’s history.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | June 23, 2025
Born prematurely on June 23, 1940, in a segregated town without electricity or running water, Wilma Glodean Rudolph faced unimaginable odds. As the 20th of 22 children, she battled polio, scarlet fever, and double pneumonia before age six. Doctors said she’d never walk again. Her mother said she would. Wilma believed her mother, and her unwavering faith and resilience continue to inspire us all.
By the age of 11, she had removed her leg brace and was walking unaided. By the age of 16, she was an Olympic medalist. By the age of 20, she was a global icon.
Wilma Rudolph courtesy Wilma Rudolph Foundation
At the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Rudolph earned a bronze medal in the 4×100-meter relay, becoming the youngest member of the U.S. track-and-field team. But it was her performance four years later in Rome that immortalized her.
At the 1960 Summer Olympics Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Games—triumphing in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4×100-meter relay events. Her fluid style, blistering speed, and steely determination earned her the nickname “The Black Gazelle.” She was the fastest woman in the world.
Televised worldwide, her achievements catapulted her into the pantheon of sports legends, joining fellow Olympians Muhammad Ali, Oscar Robertson, and Rafer Johnson. But Rudolph’s victories transcended track. When her hometown of Clarksville attempted to honor her with a segregated celebration, she refused to attend. Her stand for equality led to the town’s first integrated parade and banquet, a testament to her enduring impact on civil rights.
Wilma Rudolph courtesy Wilma Rudolph Foundation
Rudolph was a trailblazer for Black and female athletes. She broke gender barriers at events like the Millrose Games and boosted women’s track-and-field visibility across America. She won the 1961 Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete, became a two-time Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, and later served as a goodwill ambassador to French West Africa.
After retiring from track in 1962 at the height of her fame, Rudolph earned her degree from Tennessee State University and turned to coaching and youth advocacy. She founded the Wilma Rudolph Foundation, supporting young athletes nationwide.
Her life-inspired documentaries, a TV movie starring Shirley Jo Finney and Cicely Tyson, and countless children’s books. In 1977, she published her autobiography, Wilma.
Rudolph’s legacy lives on in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, where she was inducted in 1983, and the International Sports Hall of Fame, where she was inducted in 1980. Tennessee State University also honors her, naming its indoor track and dormitory in her honor. We are all appreciative of the lasting impact she has made on the world of sports and civil rights.
In July 1994, following her mother’s death, Rudolph was diagnosed with brain and throat cancer. She died at home in Brentwood, Tennessee, on November 12, 1994, at age 54.
Wilma Rudolph courtesy Wilma Rudolph Foundation
More than an Olympic champion, Wilma Rudolph redefined what it meant to overcome. “My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother,” she once said. And the world has believed in her ever since.
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Bishop James A. Healy, America’s first Black Catholic bishop, was ordained 150 years ago. His life shaped U.S. Catholicism through service, education, and advocacy.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | June 10, 2025
On June 10, 1854, James Augustine Healy was ordained as a Catholic priest in Paris. Precisely 150 years ago, he became the first known Black Catholic bishop in the United States.
Born into slavery in Jones County, Georgia, on April 6, 1830, Healy was the son of Irish immigrant Michael Healy and Mary Eliza Smith, a mixed-race enslaved woman. Under Georgia law, the Healy children were considered enslaved from birth. Despite their father’s wealth, they were denied the opportunity to receive an education in the South.
Bishop James A. Healy
To change that, Michael Healy sent James and his siblings north. James began his education at a Quaker school on Long Island, then continued his studies in New Jersey.
The family’s lives changed forever when Bishop John Fitzpatrick of Boston helped place the boys at the newly founded College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
At Holy Cross, James thrived. He was named valedictorian of the first graduating class in 1849. He went on to earn a master’s degree and later studied for the priesthood in Montreal and Paris. On June 10, 1854, he was ordained at the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
Healy returned to Boston, where his talents and faith earned him several leadership roles. He served as assistant pastor, chancellor, and rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He helped start homes for orphans and destitute children and stood up for the Catholic Church in debates over taxes and civil service.
In 1875, Pope Pius IX appointed Healy as Bishop of Portland, Maine. For the next 25 years, he led the diocese, which included all of Maine and New Hampshire. During his time as bishop, Healy oversaw the creation of 60 new churches, 68 missions, 18 convents, and 18 schools. The Catholic population nearly doubled under his leadership.
Healy became known as “the children’s bishop” for his deep concern for orphans, widows, and the poor. He helped found homes for girls and children affected by the Civil War. He even bought part of an island to use as a vacation spot for orphans, where he often visited and played with the youngest ones.
Healy was also a strong voice in national Catholic matters. He attended the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore and helped launch the Catholic University of America. Though he was quietly proud of his Black heritage, he did not promote it publicly. He often faced discrimination, especially in the South, but continued to serve with humility and grace.
Despite illness, Healy celebrated 25 years as bishop in 1900. He died later that year on August 5. He had asked not to be buried in the cathedral crypt. Instead, he was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery in South Portland under a simple Celtic cross.
Holy Cross, Healy’s alma mater, has honored his legacy with the Bishop Healy Committee, which supports diversity and inclusion. The Archdiocese of Boston also created an award in his name to honor dedicated Black parishioners.
James A. Healy’s life was a story of faith, perseverance, and quiet strength. Though born into slavery, he rose to one of the highest roles in the Catholic Church. He worked tirelessly for the poor, stood firm in his convictions, and left behind a legacy that continues to inspire 150 years later.
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Shameta Jones-Harrell becomes the first woman and Black woman to lead a police department in Cobb County, bringing bold vision and community focus to Austell, GA.
By Milton Kirby | Austell, GA | June 6, 2025
In a historic and unanimous decision, the Austell City Council has appointed Shameta Jones-Harrell as the city’s new police chief — making her the first woman, and the first Black woman, to lead any police department in Cobb County’s history.
The vote, which passed 6-0 during a Monday night council meeting, was met with celebration from residents and law enforcement officials alike. As Chief Jones-Harrell stood to take her oath Tuesday evening, the weight of the moment was not lost on the crowd gathered to witness a barrier-breaking chapter in the city’s leadership.
“We are so proud of her and we know that she will do a phenomenal job in this role,” read a statement from the Austell Police Department, shared on social media shortly after the vote.
A Trailblazing Career Built on Service
Jones-Harrell, a Huntsville, Alabama native and Lee High School graduate brings 24 years of law enforcement experience to her new role. Her career began in October 2000 at the College Park Police Department, where she worked as a detective handling sensitive cases such as sex crimes, domestic violence, and crimes against children. She also served on the SWAT team — a rare post for a woman at the time — underscoring her ability to succeed in high-pressure, male-dominated environments.
She later joined the Brookhaven Police Department, where her rise from sergeant to major marked her as a standout leader. There, she led the Support Services Division and developed several community-based initiatives, including the “One Congregation One Precinct” program, which built stronger relationships between officers and local faith communities. She also served as a liaison to the Police Accountability & Legitimacy Committee under the city’s Social Justice, Race, and Equity Commission.
In 2021, she joined the Austell Police Department as deputy chief. Since then, she has been instrumental in overhauling community engagement, leading more than 60 outreach events, and introducing patrol strategies that have been credited with lowering violent crime rates. Her leadership has emphasized proactive policing, transparency, and inclusion.
“One of the reasons why I decided to join law enforcement is so I can make sure I could progress other women through the ranks,”. That mission now takes center stage, as one of her top priorities is increasing the representation of women on the force.
Vision for Austell’s Police Department
Chief Jones-Harrell outlined three key goals for her tenure: securing state accreditation, increasing female representation, and strengthening community connections. “We are almost at the end of that goal,” she said, referring to the department’s progress toward official state certification — a benchmark of professionalism and accountability in policing.
She emphasized that public trust must be earned and maintained through ongoing engagement and transparency. “Community engagement is not an event,” she told reporters. “It’s a lifestyle.”
The department’s mission reflects this ethos: to establish trust through collaboration, transparency, and education while delivering equitable services to all residents.
The department’s Community Liaison Coordinator plays a key role in achieving these goals, facilitating partnerships with homeowner associations, faith organizations, schools, and advocacy groups. These relationships help tailor the department’s response strategies and crime prevention efforts to the specific needs of Austell’s neighborhoods.
A Leader Rooted in Faith, Family, and Forward Motion
Jones-Harrell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Science from Jacksonville State University. She has undergone advanced leadership and crisis management training, including the Law Enforcement Executive Development program and Critical Incident Stress Management courses. She is a member of both the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Though her resume is extensive, Jones-Harrell draws her deepest strength from her faith and family. A photo of her late mother sits near her desk; its inscription reads, “Inside me is a weak heart, but behind me is a strong God.”
“I am a mother of two boys, and I want them to see that leadership is about service, not status,” she said. “I want our department to reflect that too — that we are here to protect and uplift the people we serve.”
Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges
With her appointment, the City of Austell has not only made history, but it has also sent a message of progress and inclusion throughout Cobb County and the state of Georgia. For a city that prides itself on unity and resilience, Jones-Harrell’s elevation symbolizes the future of policing: rooted in service, driven by justice, and led by voices that have long been underrepresented.
She now stands at the helm of a department charged with safeguarding a rapidly growing and diversifying city. But more than that, she stands as a beacon for what’s possible when leadership reflects the community it serves.
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Briggs v. Elliott helped end school segregation. Discover the personal sacrifice of the Briggs family in the landmark Brown v. Board decision.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | May 31, 2025
On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision that would forever alter the course of American history. In a unanimous ruling, the Court declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, bringing an end to the legal foundation of the “separate but equal” doctrine that had stood for nearly 60 years since Plessy v. Ferguson.
The case, officially titled Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, was one of the most significant legal victories of the Civil Rights Movement. It addressed whether separating children in public schools based on race violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the opinion of the Court, stating clearly:
“Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.“
This decision did more than desegregate schools. It marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s struggle for racial justice and paved the way for future civil rights legislation, including the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
A Case that Began in Topeka—and Beyond
Although the case was named after Oliver Brown, a Black parent in Topeka, Kansas, it represented a group of lawsuits from across the country. Brown had tried to enroll his daughter in a nearby white elementary school. Brown and other parents sued the Topeka Board of Education when she was denied.
But Topeka was not alone. Brown v. Board was a consolidation of five separate cases from different states:
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
Briggs v. Elliott – South Carolina
Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County – Virginia
Gebhart v. Belton – Delaware
Bolling v. Sharpe – Washington, D.C.
South Carolina’s Briggs v. Elliott was the earliest filed and arguably the most courageous. It originated in Clarendon County, where Black parents, led by Rev. J.A. DeLaine, challenged the appalling disparities between Black and white schools. At the time, Black children in Clarendon County attended schools with no buses, crumbling buildings, outdated books, and underpaid teachers, despite tax dollars funding white schools at nearly ten times the rate.
When their petitions for equal resources were ignored, the case became a direct challenge to segregation. The lead plaintiff was Harry Briggs, a gas station attendant, and the defendant was R.W. Elliott, chairman of the county’s school board.
According to Nate Briggs, son of Harry Briggs, Sr., “participation in the case took a terrible toll on the family. So much so, that Harry Briggs, Sr. had to move his family away from Summerton, South Carolina, for their safety and to find steady work. The personal cost of standing up for justice was high—but it was a sacrifice that helped move the nation forward.”
Though the federal Court ruled against them, one judge, J. Waties Waring, issued a powerful dissent, calling segregation inherently unequal. His words laid the intellectual groundwork for what would soon become national law.
Marshall was born on July 2, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland. After being denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School due to segregation, he attended Howard University School of Law, where he graduated first in his class. By the time of Brown, he had already argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court and would go on to argue a total of 32 cases, winning 29.
His victory in Brown was more than a professional achievement. It was a decisive blow against legalized racism, and it positioned him to become the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice in 1967.
After the Ruling: Resistance and Reform
While the decision was celebrated across much of the country, its implementation was met with fierce resistance, especially in the South. Some states openly defied the ruling. Others delayed desegregation through legal maneuvers or token compliance.
Recognizing the challenge, the Court issued a follow-up decision in Brown II on May 31, 1955, instructing states to carry out desegregation “with all deliberate speed.” Still, progress was slow. Many Black students and families continued to face threats, intimidation, and legal battles in the years that followed.
Despite the resistance, the decision in Brown v. Board became a moral and legal cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement. It led to increased momentum for equality, energized grassroots activism, and showed that the highest Court in the land was willing to challenge systemic racism.
Legacy
Today, more than 70 years later, Brown v. Board of Education remains a symbol of hope, courage, and constitutional justice. It reminds us of the power of the law to correct injustice—and the power of ordinary people, like the Briggs family and Rev. DeLaine, to change the course of a nation.
The decision did not eradicate racism or inequality, but it signaled that the Constitution could be a tool for progress. It also proved that when legal strategy, moral clarity, and community courage come together, history can be rewritten.
Brown v. Board was not just a court case. It was a national awakening…
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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore denies 2028 presidential run, focuses on state economy, budget deficit, and boosting Maryland business despite rising national profile.
By Brian Witte – AP | Annapolis, MD | May 29, 2025
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, often mentioned among Democrats as a potential presidential candidate, has been saying for months that he isn’t running for the White House in 2028.
That hasn’t stopped persistent talk about his future political plans, especially when he continues to make appearances outside Maryland that raise his national profile. On Friday, he’s traveling to speak at the Blue Palmetto Dinner in the early presidential primary state of South Carolina.
When asked about 2028, though, the governor is clear.
“I’m not running,” Moore told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. He also said, when asked, that he isn’t trying to get his name in the conversation for a potential vice presidential candidacy, either.
The trip to South Carolina includes meetings with business prospects, Moore said.
“And people should get very used to me going all over the country bringing business back to Maryland, because that’s exactly what I plan on doing as long as I’m the governor of the state,” Moore said after a dedication in Annapolis for a memorial to former Rep. Parren Mitchell, the state’s first Black congressman.
In the third year of his first term, Moore plans to run for reelection next year in heavily Democratic Maryland. He says being the state’s governor during a challenging time has his full attention.
That includes working to navigate the difficulties of dramatic federal downsizing under the Trump administration, which poses an outsized economic impact on Maryland. The state is home to a large number of federal workers toiling in the shadow of the nation’s capital — about 256,000 Marylanders received a federal W-2 in 2021, representing about 8% of taxpayers, according to an analysis by the state’s comptroller.
Earlier this month, Maryland lost its triple-A bond rating from the Moody’s economic rating agency. State officials had cited the rating for more than 50 years as a sign of strong fiscal stewardship that enabled the state to pay the lowest rates when it sells bonds to pay for infrastructure. Two other rating agencies, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch, have recently affirmed the state’s triple-A bond rating.
Moore and other leading Democrats in the state blamed the Trump administration’s downsizing for the Moody’s downgrade.
The governor just had the most challenging legislative session of his tenure. Facing a $3.3 billion budget deficit, he worked with the legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, to reach a balanced budget that included about $2 billion in spending cuts throughout state government and about $1.6 billion in new revenues through tax and fee increases.
Most of the tax increases were imposed on high-income residents, including two new higher tax brackets for people who make more than $500,000 and a new 2% tax on capital gains for people with income over $350,000. The governor has said most Marylanders won’t see a tax increase, and some will receive a modest tax cut. Still, Maryland Republicans have been pouncing on the tax increases — an issue sure to be raised often by the GOP’s next nominee for governor.
Moore, 46, is the state’s first Black governor, and the only Black governor currently serving. He is the former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty nonprofit. He also is a Rhodes scholar and a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan.
won Maryland’s governorship in his first bid for public office in a landslide in 2022, after prevailing in a crowded Democratic primary that included former national party chairman and former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez.
In a state that is about 30% Black, Moore was recently criticized by the state’s Legislative Black Caucus for vetoing a bill to study potential reparations for slavery. Moore said the idea has been studied enough and now is the time to “focus on the work itself” of building a better economy for all. That includes narrowing the racial wealth gap, expanding homeownership, uplifting entrepreneurs of color and closing the foundational disparities that lead to inequality — from food insecurity to education.
Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1 in Maryland, making the state largely safe for Democratic incumbents.
Still, former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan won the first of his two terms by campaigning heavily against tax increases approved during the tenure of his Democratic predecessor, prompting some to wonder if the popular Hogan might run for governor again. Maryland limits a governor to two consecutive terms, but a former two-term governor could seek another term after sitting out one.
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