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Mary Jackson’s basket making genius keeps a tradition alive

Mary Jackson learned the craft of basket weaving from the women in her family. Now she is at the forefront of preserving this tradition and making it a life line for her family and community near Charleston, S.C. Some of the baskets of this MacArthur Fellowship genius grant winner are on display in the National Museum of African Art in D.C. Read about her in this Washington Post story and in the Charleston City Paper.

Joan Myers Brown, a dance pioneer gets her rewards

Joan Myers Brown, founder of Philadelphia’s premier African American dance company Philadanco, has been at it since 1960 and shows no signs of stopping. The city is honoring her with its highest award in May. Read her story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Miss Thelma keeps going after being struck by stray bullet

At 86, a resilient Thelma Causey did slow down a bit after a ricocheting bullet tore into her left leg while she was standing on her front porch May 31. Read her story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Augusta Thomas, union vice president, still going strong at 87

Augusta Thomas,a civil rights activist who joined the sit-ins at a Greenboro lunch counter in the 1960s, came to Washington last year as the newly elected vice president for women and fair practices at the American Federation of Government Employees. Read her interview with The Washington Post.

Daisy Marie Taylor, former nurse, nurtured others

Daisy Marie Taylor spent her life nurturing others and putting action to her faith. ”Mama” was always eager to help a “fellow traveler” on or off the job.  She listened to folks cry the blues for hours. She prayed with the downtrodden or for corner boys.  She’s no longer able to do all that she did in the past, but her legacy lives on. The retired nurse is featured in this essay by her granddaughter, Vanee’ M. Vines.

Cathy Hughes at the helm of Radio One

Cathy Hughes turned a tiny AM radio station in Washington, D.C., into a communications giant with 52 radio stations, a television station and a magazine. She talks about her success with Washington Post writer  Avis Thomas-Lester.

 Bay area journalist still  living her dream                                                                                

Belva Davis, a television anchor for 43 years, has been called the “Bay Area’s Walter Cronkite.”  Read about Davis in the Contra Costa Times.

 Helping youth through soccer

Patricia Trippley Demiranda is working through a foundation started in her son’s memory to use sports as a way to motivate and encourage youngsters. Read about Demiranda here.

 Security Firm First

Mary Parker is the only nationally certified African American female owner of a full-service security firm in the country. Read about Parker in this Atlanta Constitution-Journal  story.     

                      
Award-winnning storyteller and author

Linda Goss is an award-winning storyteller and author in Philadelphia, and co-founder of the National Association of Black Storytellers. She c0mes from a family of storytellers. Her grandfather was a superb spinner of tales. Goss spoke with Sherry Howard.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Revered Veteran SororBernice Greene, at 96 one of the oldest members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, talks about her life, joining the sorority in 1932 and much more. Read her interview with Sherry Howard.  

Rising star French minister

Popular French minister, Rama Yade, came to Washington for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual legislative conference. Read about her rise in French politics  in this Washington Post story.

 Dorothy Height at Black Family Reunion Celebration

Dorothy Height, 97, chairwoman and president-emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women, talks about the significance of the reunion, the election of Barack Obama and more in a Washington Post video. The celebration was held in Washington over the weekend. Click for video.      

 Sonia Sanchez: 75 and still at it

Poet Sonia Sanchez talks about her busy “retirement” and more in an interview with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Annette John-Hall.

 Sarahlyn U. Argrow: Working with the Working Woman

Sarahlyn U. Argrow, struggling with her own issues of divorce, low self-esteem and financial hardship, wanted to help when a friend came to her needing money. Her grandmother’s words rang fresh in her mind – while you are going through your own problems, it does not mean that you can’t help someone else. “I didn’t have the money,” Argrow recalled in a recent interview with WABW. “But God revealed to me that I did have the resources.”  Click here to read her story written by Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb.