COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Essie Mae Washington-Williams, the mixed-race daughter of one-time segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond who kept her parentage secret for more than 70 years, has died. She was 87.
Vann Dozier of Leevy's Funeral Home in Columbia said Washington-Williams died Sunday. A cause of death was not given.
WASHINGTON (AP) - In the midst of talking black history with Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys, Maya Angelou breaks out singing a hymn a cappella.
The acclaimed poet and author wants to show Keys, a New Yorker, what "lining out," call-and-response singing that is popular in black churches down South, sounds like.
That teaching moment is one of many during Angelou's third annual Black History Month program, "Telling Our Stories," airing on more than 175 public radio stations nationwide throughout February.
Presidential Inauguration speeches don’t typically contain policy statements, but President Obama broke with tradition on January 21 when he touched on a number of issues including, poverty.
“Together we resolve that a great nation must care for the vulnerable,” said the President. “The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, these things do not sap our initiative. They strengthen us.”
With the hiring of Bruce Arians as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, all eight head coaching vacancies that came available in the National Football League are all filled – all with white men. Minority candidates, who by league rule are supposed to be considered for head coaching vacancies, were shut out. In a league where over 65 percent of the players are African-American, this is inexcusable.
