By Ron Wynn It’s not a superhero fantasy, romantic comedy or particularly holiday-oriented production. But one film anyone with an interest in either history, politics or Black culture should see as soon as possible is “Just Mercy,” a film that chronicles the life of an extraordinary individual and freedom fighter. Attorney Bryan Stevenson has spent decades fighting for those oppressed and wrongly imprisoned. His best-selling book “Just Mercy” detailed some amazing true stories. But given how few people even read what qualifies as a best seller, there’s a very good chance many folks still aren’t aware of who he is…
Author: Ron Wynn
The exceptional vocalist Dionne Warwick has enjoyed the kind of success in 2019 that would be impressive for someone whose career was just beginning to explode, let alone a legend with six Grammy awards, 80 singles that have made various Billboard charts since she became a star in the 60s (56 of them on the Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998), and among many other honors there’s the Dionne Warwick Institute, a school of economics and entrepreneurship located in her home state of New Jersey. But Warwick is hardly resting on her laurels. This year she’s received a Lifetime Grammy…
The NFL took two vastly different stances last week on controversial issues and people, in the process once more showing what really matters to its ownership and management. Letting NFL commissioner Roger Goodell act as the voice of the league in both matters, the NFL stood tall against criticism on one matter and seemed to bow to it on the other, though they tried to use the crux of behavior as justifications for their decision in the latter case. Despite a trio of nationwide online petitions with 1.2 million signatures, Goodell said the NFL wasn’t changing its mind regarding former…
The past few years have largely been good ones for the NBA. They had a glamour team in the Golden State Warriors, one that won frequent championships, changed the way teams played the game with their long range shooting style, and alternately thrilled and angered fans nationwide while helping the league get big viewing audiences on ESPN and TNT. The NBA announced plans to create an African league, expanded its operations in Asia and Latin America, added more European stars, saw its social media profiles keep growing, and emerged as the nation’s number two sports league behind the NFL. They…
By Ron Wynn Earth, Wind and Fire has been a prolific ensemble for nearly five decades, created by the late Maurice White to represent all the various idioms of Black music that he loved and performed. Over their lengthy career they’ve won a number of honors, but last weekend they made history once more, becoming the first Black group to earn Kennedy Center honors. While an impressive array of individual Black performers in multiple categories and genres have previously been recognized, self-contained groups have largely been absent, and in particular Black bands. The group’s original members Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson…
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the image of the National Hockey League. First, long time Hockey Night in Canada commentator and former Boston Bruins coach Don Cherry was fired after refusing to apologize for ugly on air comments he made questioning the loyalty of Canadian immigrants. Then just as the furor over Cherry’s comments was dying down, an even worse controversy erupted. This one involved the current coach of a successful team. Bill Peters was in his second season as head coach of the Calgary Flames. They were regarded both this season and last as Stanley Cup…
Things went from bad to ugly in the NFL last week. The incident between Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett and Pittsburgh Quarterback Mason Rudolph had already given the league bad publicity with the spectacle of one player hitting another with a helmet, provoked by the QB trying to take off the lineman’s helmet. Plus there was the specter of a possible full fledged melee breaking out, with players from both sides openly clashing on the field. After Garrett and Rudolph issued public statements of regret and apology, it seemed things were quieting down. But right after Garrett’s appeal of…
By Ron Wynn The Tennessee State Tigers got big wins on and off the basketball court this week. They survived blowing a 10-point lead with two minutes remaining to edge Lipscomb 79-78 Tuesday Night at Gentry Center, then Wednesday announced the signing of two premier players for next year’s basketball squad. The win improved their record to 2-1 for the young season, and was their second straight home victory. Michael Littlejohn, one of only three seniors on this year’s team, had a career-high 23 points, but it was his final two that provided the margin of victory. Littlejohn drove the…
Major League Baseball isn’t the only sport getting negative publicity for incidents of racial insensitivity. Hockey, a wonderful game of speed and action that has also had its problems over the years with diversity and inclusion, had an ugly incident last weekend with a prominent commentator voicing remarks that were at best divisive, and at worse racist and xenophobic. Former Boston Bruins head coach and longtime Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry has long been known for making acerbic, right-wing comments that border on reactionary, and being outspoken. But last week he hit a new low in public commentary…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Two of the city’s premier jazz vocalists will be appearing this weekend at Rudy’s Jazz Room. Friday night’s feature attraction is Dara Tucker, while Saturday night offers the Diane Marino Octet. Both Tucker and Marino are dynamic, gifted and versatile interpreters comfortable operating in a broad idiomatic spectrum. Each will also accompanied by heavyweight lineups of musicians. Tucker’s become one of Music City’s most prolific, nationally known jazz artists.. She’s opened for Grammy Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter, guested with Vince Gill and The Time Jumpers, toured with master guitarist Charlie Hunter, and appeared on…