Saxophonist James ‘Plunky’ Branch to headline 2nd Street Festival in Oct.
Saxophonist James “Plunky” Branch and his progressive jazz group, Plunky & Oneness, will headline this year’s 2nd Street Festival that is set to return Saturday, Oct. 2, and Sunday, Oct. 3, to Jackson Ward, it has been announced.
Black women and the pay gap, by Julianne Malveaux
It takes Black women until Aug. 3, or 19 months after the start of the previous year, to earn what a white man earns in a year. Most years, Pay Equity Day happens in March—this year on March 24—when all women finally make as much as white men.
The “New Normal’, by Marc H. Morial
Few events have shaped American history and our national perspective on racial inequity as profoundly as the grief, civil unrest and economic devastation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Insurance giant prioritizing profits over patients, by Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
In the past year, a reckoning has happened across the country.
‘From monument desecration to grave robbing’
Re “Wrinkle in removal: City doesn’t own Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill’s statue,” Free Press July 22-24 edition:
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Walker!
Richmond area residents took time recently to remember pioneering Richmond businesswoman Maggie L. Walker in honor of what would have been her 157th birthday on July 15.
Kanye hosts Atlanta ‘listening party’ for new album ‘Donda’ ahead of Aug. 6 release
Kanye West barely said a word during his impromptu album listening session on July 22, but the mercurial rapper still had most attendees standing on their feet while hanging on every word of his new project.
3-day women’s business conference begins Aug. 5
A three-day program to encourage women to open or expand a business is to take place Thursday, Aug. 5, through Saturday, Aug. 7, it has been announced.
MJBL to host annual Inner City Classic baseball championship and symposium Aug. 4-8
The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League will host its annual Inner City Classic championship week of activities with a virtual Bobby Bonds Memorial Symposium, an in-person home run derby and nine in-person baseball games at fields around Metro Richmond.
Create a ‘Social Justice Trail’ in Richmond
Re Column “Reimagining Monument Avenue,” Free Press July 1-3 edition:
Commit to country, rather than party, by Ben Jealous
One year after the death of the great civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis, a group of Texas Democratic lawmakers is following Rep. Lewis’s lifelong call for people to make “good trouble” and “necessary trouble” to secure equality and justice for all.
‘Please run for School Board’, by Julianne Malveaux
Critical race theory, or CRT, asserts that racism is woven into the very fabric of our nation’s institutions.
The daily
We read with great interest “How the White Press Wrote Off Black America,” an opinion piece by New York Times editorial board member Brent Staples published in the newspaper’s July 10 edition.
Hip-hop classic Biz Markie succumbs at 57
Biz Markie, a hip-hop staple known for his beatboxing prowess, turntable mastery and the 1989 classic “Just a Friend,” died Friday, July 16, 2021, with his wife by his side.
‘Bones’ Hyland wants to be 22nd VCU Ram drafted by NBA
If someone were to update Virginia Commonwealth University’s history in the NBA draft, an apt title might be “From Bodine to Bones.”
Positive COVID-19 tests dash U.S. Olympians’ dreams
When the flame is lighted Fri- day, July 23, kicking off the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the U.S. team will be minus several competitors because of COVID-19.
Trayvon Bromell running for ‘World’s Fastest Human’ crown, gold
Trayvon Bromell’s first trip to the Olympics ended with no medals, a painful injury and a ride out of the stadium in a wheelchair.
U.S. women’s basketball team going for 7th straight gold medal
If there is such a thing as a “lock” for an Olympic gold medal, it may be the U.S. Women’s National Basketball Team—aka Team USA.
Virginian Keldon Johnson of San Antonio has new title: Olympian
On his life journey, Keldon Johnson will have gone from Richmond to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
