Former U.S. President, Barack Obama released the following statement on the passing of the legendary and Oscar winning actor, Sidney Poiter at the age of 94:
"Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together. He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion of fans."
On February 1, 2022 "Recitatif," written by Morrison in the early 1980s and rarely seen over the following decades will be released as a book.
In this 1983 short story--the only short story Morrison ever wrote--we meet Twyla and Roberta, who have known each other since they were eight years old and spent four months together as roommates in St. Bonaventure shelter. Inseparable then, they lose touch as they grow older, only later to find each other again at a diner, a grocery store, and again at a protest. Seemingly at opposite ends of every problem, and at each other's throats each time they meet, the two women still cannot deny the deep bond their shared experience has forged between them.
Another work of genius by this masterly writer, Recitatif keeps Twyla's and Roberta's races ambiguous throughout the story. Morrison herself described Recitatif, a story which will keep readers thinking and discussing for years to come, as "an experiment in the removal of all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial." We know that one is white and one is Black, but which is which? And who is right about the race of the woman the girls tormented at the orphanage?
A remarkable look into what keeps us together and what keeps us apart, and how perceptions are made tangible by reality, Recitatif is a gift to readers in these changing times.
Former U.S. President, Barack Obama released the following statement on the 1-year anniversay of the January 6 attempted insurrection:
One year ago, a violent attack on our Capitol made it clear just how fragile the American experiment in democracy really is. And while the broken windows have been repaired and many of the rioters have been brought to justice, the truth is that our democracy is at greater risk today than it was back then.
Although initially rejected by many Republicans, the claims that fanned the flames of violence on January 6th have since been embraced by a sizeable portion of voters and elected officials – many of whom know better. State legislatures across the country have not only made it harder to vote, but some have tried to assert power over core election processes including the ability to certify election results. And those remaining Republican officials and thought leaders who have courageously stood their ground and rejected such anti-democratic efforts have been ostracized, primaried, and driven from the party.
Historically, Americans have been defenders of democracy and freedom around the world – especially when it’s under attack. But we can’t serve that role when leading figures in one of our two major political parties are actively undermining democracy at home. We can’t set an example when our own leaders are willing to fabricate lies and cast doubt on the results of free and fair elections.
Our system of government has never been automatic. If we want our children to grow up in a true democracy – not just one with elections, but one where every voice matters and every vote counts – we need to nurture and protect it. Today, that responsibility falls to all of us. And on this anniversary, nothing is more important.
Join the United States Mint in commemorating the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on civil rights with these commemorative coins honoring Negro Leagues Baseball.
Formed in 1920, the Negro National League was the first successful, organized professional African American baseball league in the U.S. The year 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment formed in response to the barring of black and brown players from competing in the Major Leagues.
Help Support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The privately funded museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Negro League Baseball in America.
Surcharges in the amount of $35 for each gold coin sold, $10 for each silver dollar sold, and $5 for each clad half dollar are authorized to be paid to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
Pre-order your Negro Leagues Baseball Commemorative Coins here: 2022 Negro Leagues Baseball Commemorative Coin Program
Lawrence N. Brooks, the oldest World War II veteran in the U.S. - and believed to be the oldest man in the country - died on Wednesday at the age of 112.
