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Historic Rickwood Field welcomes the MLB team as a tribute to the Negro Leagues

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Gerald Watkins watched Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and other New York Yankees wade through cornstalks into a field in Iowa in 2021, near the filming site of the 1989 baseball movie “Field of Dreams.”

Watkins considered Rickwood Field, the 114-year-old ballpark in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, and called Major League Baseball with a field.

“Field of Dreams is really cool,” said Watkins, 68, “but now we have a real Field of Dreams here. This is the place where, amongst others, Willie Mays stood on the pitch dreaming of playing in the top league.

Now the major leagues are coming to Birmingham. Rickwood Field, the oldest skilled soccer stadium in the U.S. and former home of baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, will host an MLB game Thursday between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants.

The game to honor Mays and the league’s many other Negro players can be each somber and reminiscent. Mays, an electrifying centerfielder who left a lasting mark on baseball, died Tuesday afternoon, a day after announcing he wouldn’t attend the game in person.

Rickwood Field seen from the roof, Monday, June 10, 2024, Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

“The entirety of Major League Baseball is in mourning today as we gather on the same field where a career and legacy like no other began,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred – wrote in the statement. “Willie Mays carried his all-around genius from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise. From coast to coast in New York and San Francisco, Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our national pastime.”

Rickwood Field – a symbol of hope

Rickwood Field is situated just a few miles west of Birmingham city center – a rustic and unassuming green facility with hints of history etched into its partitions.

It’s a time capsule of opportunity and oppression – a place for social gatherings like women’s suffrage rallies and other political events, hosting a few of the best baseball talent of the twentieth century. Baseball commercials and movies were also shot there, including parts of the Jackie Robinson biopic “42.”

Rickwood Field hosted Alabama’s first integrated sports team, the minor league Birmingham Barons, in 1964 — 17 years after Robinson integrated the major teams. More than 50% of Baseball Hall of Fame members have walked its grounds, from legendary Negro Leaguers such as Mays, Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige to MLB greats Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle.

“Drivers? I didn’t dream of the impossible” – Mays recently he told the San Francisco Chronicle.. “I was taught how to see my goal in my mind and work towards it. I could work on getting to Rickwood Field and the Birmingham Black Barons. I didn’t need to dream about it. To achieve this, I had to work hard. So I did. Rickwood became my training ground.”

An individual drives a golf cart through a construction site at Rickwood Field, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Mays became a star there at the age of just 17, helping the Black Barons reach the Negro League World Series in 1948. Major league scouts attended his games, and the Black Barons were so popular locally that ministers sometimes delivered sermons early in the day. Sundays to accommodate their needs. fans willingly go to matches.

“Rickwood is special because it’s where so many baseball careers started and continue,” said Roy Wood Jr., a Birmingham-born comedian and actor. “When you’re there, you can still feel the history. I feel as strongly about Rickwood as someone would feel as an adult visiting their childhood home.”

In the Nineties, Wood played highschool baseball at Rickwood Field. He said at the time that Rickwood was just one other place for him to play the sport he loved. That modified when he learned the story.

“The Place Where Horror Was Allowed to Stop”

The 10,800-seat stadium opened in 1910, when baseball was the premier sport in Alabama. Because there weren’t many major league teams in the South at the time, Alabama baseball fans stuck with minor league teams like the all-white Birmingham Barons that played at Rickwood from 1910–1961, 1964–65, and 1981– 87. Other white stars — such as Hall of Famers Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner — got here to Rickwood for spring shows. Both Alabama and Auburn used Rickwood as home fields for his or her college football teams.

For Blacks, Rickwood and the Negro Leagues were an introduction to Black athletic talent.

“This league creates common heroes, common teams,” said Rob Ruck, a historian who focuses on black and Latino roots in sports, “a national institution around which black Americans rally and that provides them a collective self-esteem for his or her skill in sports “

Former Birmingham Barons baseball team uniforms and gloves are on display at a store near Rickwood Field, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The field was also a vibrant spot in the fight for racial equality in the Nineteen Fifties and Sixties. Alabama, one in all the epicenters of the Civil Rights Movement, was the site of voting rights marches and boycotts, as well as brutal beatings, civil unrest and deadly bombings.

“This was the place where the horror was allowed to stop for nine rounds,” Wood said. “…Rickwood never solved Black people’s problems, but it was a place where Black people didn’t have to think about them for a few hours.”

Maintaining history

The playing field continues to face many adversities. Built around the same time as Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Comiskey Park in Chicago and Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Rickwood has outlasted all of them, and highschool and college games are still played there.

It is maintained by Watkins and the Friends of Rickwood organization of about 30 volunteers, as well as others such as Jabreil Weir, the head gardener liable for the day-to-day maintenance of the pitch.

“Who would have thought MLB would come to Birmingham, Alabama?” Weir said. “Who ever thought I would be in this situation where I would be a part of this event? These are the moments you dream about.”

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Weir worked with the MLB to prepare the stadium to host a major league game. According to Murray Cook, an MLB field and stadium consultant, the renovations include a recent field with lights, improved dugouts, a recent drainage system and a recent protective netting system to protect fans during games.

There were other events this week, including Tuesday’s double-A game at the ballpark between the Birmingham Barons and the Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League. The match was paused while the PA announcer broke the news of Mays’ death, and fans reacted by standing, cheering and chanting “Willie! Willie!”

The game is a component of MLB’s ongoing effort to highlight and have a good time the achievements of Black players. The decision comes amid criticism of the league through which the percentage of black players in the major leagues is historically low. MLB’s efforts also included grassroots programs for disadvantaged youth players and the recent inclusion of Negro Leagues statistics in official records.

“It gives us an opportunity to talk about race in the context of sport,” Ruck said, later adding: “We need to have a serious conversation about race and I think this match and the statistics make that possible.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit

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Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”

She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.

Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez shows off a “winter white” look, weeks after critics slammed her busty latex outfit. (Photos: @laurenwsanchez/Instagram, Theimagedirect.com via Page Six)

On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”

One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.

Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.

When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.

Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”

Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”

Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.

Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.

Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape

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India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.

“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”

Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.

Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.


Singer India Shawn grew up singing in church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.

India Shawn

Name:
India Shawn

Hometown:

Los Angeles

Artistic soundscape

Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric

The oldest musical memory

Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.

Influences

For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.

Creative process

Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”

Challenges and development

As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”

Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.

Current project

There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”

Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes “Return of the Mack” must have won a Grammy, and her Twitter mentions are open to all debate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence

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With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.

Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.

From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.

In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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