Entertainment
Baseball Legend Reggie Jackson Reveals Racism in Alabama That Could Have Doomed Him
On June 20, two days after the death of baseball icon Willie Mays, also generally known as “Say Hey Kid”, Major League Baseball hosted its first-ever game at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, in honor of Mays and other Negro Leagues players, who left an indelible mark on sports. The game was called “A Tribute to the Negro Leagues.”
Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson joined Fox Sports where former MLB star Alex Rodriguez asked him about his emotional state after returning to the place where he once played in the mid-Nineteen Sixties.
Jackson began sharing raw, painful memories of the racism he experienced during his tenure with the Birmingham A’s in 1967.
“Coming back here is not easy. The racism when I played here, the difficulty of traveling through places,” Jackson told Rodriguez. “Luckily I had a manager and players in the team who helped me through it, but I would not wish it on anyone.
Jackson continued to inform stories of the hate he faced, recalling, “I said, ‘You know, I would never want to do that again.’ I would walk into a restaurant and they would point at me and say, “N-ger cannot eat here.” I’d go to the hotel and they’d say, “That nigga cannot stay here.” We went to Charlie Finley’s (then owner of Athletics and Ensley in Alabama) country club for a home-cooked welcome dinner. And they pointed at me with the N word. – He cannot come in here. Finley led all the team.
Fighting back tears, Jackson revealed that he slept on teammate Joe Rudi’s couch for weeks until racism forced him out.
“Joe and Sharon Rudi, I slept on their couch three, 4 nights per week for a couple of month and a half. Finally, they threatened to burn down the apartment constructing if I didn’t get out. I would not wish it on anyone,” Jackson said.
Jackson thanked his teammates for his or her support during such a turbulent time, saying that if it weren’t for them, he would have reacted in a way that would have ended badly for him.
“I could never do it,” Jackson said. “I used to be too physically aggressive. I used to be ready for a physical fight. They’d kill me here because I’d kick someone’s ass, and then you definitely’d see me in an oak tree somewhere.
Jackson’s story sheds light on baseball’s complicated history. For many years, a system of white supremacy ruled the game. Black athletes weren’t allowed to play alongside their white counterparts until Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in 1947.
For years, the achievements of Negro Leagues players weren’t recognized by the MLB. It wasn’t until May 2024 that the league reversed course and declared that Negro League statistics could be officially added to MLB records.
“We are proud that the official historical record now includes Negro Leagues players,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said on the time. “This initiative is focused on ensuring that future generations of fans have access to statistics and milestones about all those who made the Negro Leagues possible. Their achievements on the field will be a gateway to a broader understanding of this triumph in American history and the path that led to Jackie Robinson’s Dodger debut in 1947.”
“There are individuals who wish to romanticize Jim Crow. “‘Those were different times’ is not an excuse,” one person wrote in response to Jackson’s words on X.
“Thank you for sharing your experience, Mr. Jackson. American needs to hear your story,” social media user he wrote.
Others took issue with the censorship of video replays of Jackson’s remarks.
“Reggie Jackson should not have been censored,” someone noted on social media.
“Why did you sing his words? That’s what the Whites called him. Don’t sanitize what it’s like to be black in the Jim Crow South. Shame” – one other person he wrote.
This is not the primary time Jackson, who finished his 21-year MLB profession with 563 profession home runs and five World Series titles, has spoken about his experiences with racism. He claims this played a task in the Mets’ decision to trade him the No. 1 pick in the 1966 MLB draft to Steve Chilcott, a white player who never made it to the key leagues.
Jackson has spoken publicly concerning the racism he has faced through the years. “The race is always on my mind, even today,” Jackson said Living room in 2013. “If you’re a minority, you mean it.”
In Jackson’s comprehensive book “Becoming Mr. October” suggested that racism influenced the New York Met’s decision to pass him over in the draft and as a substitute select Steve Chilcott, a white player. Chilcott didn’t make it out of the minor leagues and never made it to the key leagues.
In an excerpt from the book that the New York Post published in October 2013, Jackson recalls a conversation he had with college baseball coach Bobby Winkles concerning the MLB draft.
“A day or two before the draft, Bobby Winkles sat me down and said, ‘You probably won’t be No. 1. You’re dating a Mexican and the Mets think you’ll be a problem,'” Jackson wrote. “‘They think you’re going to be a social problem because you’re dating your race.’” Jackson is a black man and Latino. His grandmother was born in Puerto Rico and his middle name is Martinez.
Rickwood Field is touted because the oldest stadium in America. It served because the headquarters of the Black Barons of the Negro League. The Birmingham Barons, a lower league team, played their games on the sector.
Barry Bonds, godson of Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr. were among the many former MLB stars who took part in the special game.
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
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.
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.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
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.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
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.
Entertainment
Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape
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.
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.”
Entertainment
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
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.
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