The Crystal News: Winter 2017 Volume XXIV, Issue I

THE CRYSTAL NEWS

Winter, 2017 Volume XXIV Issue I
Circulation...Plenty!

Happy New Year!!!

This season, Pledge to: Tend to Your Indoor Winter Garden! Enjoy Your Family and Friends with Safe, Winter Activities! Enjoy Learning New Things! Check on Elders to Make Sure They are Warm and Looked After! Support Coat Drives! Curl up with a Good Book or Two (from an Independent Bookstore)! Volunteer to at Homeless Shelters! Be Thankful for Everything in Your Life! Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions! Help Your Loved Ones Stick to Their New Year's Resolutions! Laugh with Someone! Pray for Peace! Love and Forgive! Be a Part of the Solution!
* * * * * * *

Greetings Faithful Crystal News Readers! It's been a long while since the last issue! My gratitude to Team T'Keyah for helping me get this one completed. What follows is a bit of new news, and a compilation of many items written for earlier editions that just didn't see the light of day. Enjoy a recap! Complete the form at the bottom of this newsletter to join The Crystal News email blast list and / or to leave comments. Happy New Year! TCK

This issue of The Crystal News is dedicated to my cousin, Esther Mason Davis, and to her son, Kevin Mason. Cousin Esther was the kind of take no mess, heart of gold, organ playing, 'church lady' that made you want to be right with God. In my childhood, I was a frequent visitor to her kitchen where there seemed always to be a delicious, freshly baked cake, which Cousin Esther was quick to offer saying, 'Don't be bashful.' Kevin... was not so much a church goer, but lived a righteous life. Loved by everyone who met him, he kept up with people better than anyone I've known, and taught his sons to do so, by example. Cousin Esther passed away last spring and Kevin followed less than a month later, but we carry with us our loved ones who have gone... When my bashfulness attempts to overtake me, I let Cousin Esther's words push me gently forward. When I am thinking of someone, but think I don't have time to reach out to them, a little voice asks, "What would Kevin do?" and gratefully, I respond.

WHERE THE ACTION IS:
... Is now condensed. Archived articles items can be found on my Crystal Blog. Please visit and follow links to take action! Actions do speak louder than words!

In Living Color’s T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh Signs With Stewart Talent Agency

Actress T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh has signed with Stewart Talent Agency. Best known for her starring roles on Disney’s That’s So Raven, CBS’s Cosby, and Fox’s In Living Color, the actress rose to fame when she auditioned for the iconic sketch comedy show with her signature piece “Black World.” She is the only female to have performed on all five seasons of In Living Color. Keymáh appeared last year in a celebrity cameo, playing the quirky Tech Terry in SyFy’s Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens alongside Tommy Davidson, and as Beverly, in the college romantic comedy feature film, What Happened Last Night? She will next appear in Seeso's new comedy, There's Johnny. Stewart Talent’s theatrical and commercial departments rep Keymáh.

Press Contact: Jasmine Jackson, Rise Public Relations (818) 284-0516 jasmine@risepublicrelations.com

February 2017 - Join actress T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh on Saturday, February 25, 2017 for the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association, Southern California Chapter's Black History Jazz Brunch & Scholarship Fundraiser. Keymáh will be hosting the event that features music from Ron Turner & The Fashion Statement and honors Otis Cliatt, II and Dallas Fowler. Come for a rattling good time as the SoCal Rattlers raise needed dollars to send deserving California students to the highest of seven hills! To reserve your tickets, visit LARattlers.org or contact Monique Brackett at (310) 295-4791

Be inspired by the Black Friday / Black Business initiative! Search daily for #BlackOwned businesses to support. Spread the word when you find those with high quality products and services who treat their costumers well. Share your tactful criticisms with the owners of those businesses that are lacking in some way. Check out www.TheBlackMall.com and www.beansouptimes.com/ Send us your recommendations for high quality BlackOwned businesses!

Take a Stand Against Human Trafficking in the US - Sign the Petition! https://www.change.org/p/take-a-stand-against-human-trafficking-in-the-us?recruiter=1541713&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive via @Change

January 2017 - I celebrated the 104th year of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.! Our Founders Day is on January 13th, but the celebrations continue through the month and beyond. In southern California, the Bakersfield Alumnae Chapter hosted our celebration. The 22nd president of the sorority, Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn E. Boyd gave an electrically charged speech, urging Delta's to stand up, stand out and to never give up in the face of adversity. We also collected a table full of donations for a local organization that provides help services for women in crisis.

All of my siblings are awesome, but this month, I give a special shout out to two of my brothers. First, congratulations to my big brother Billy Jon McCombs, for standing up for his son, my nephew, Jonathon McCombs. Jonathon, who has Down syndrome, lives in a home in Springfield. IL that the city recently threatened to shut down. Billy Jon is fighting to keep Jonathon where he is. Moving him from a place where he is happy and functioning would be very disturbing. What's more, the rule of having not more than one group home for disabled people within a designated area is discriminatory. There is no such 'density' rule for people who are not disabled. To learn more read Mary Hanson's article in the State Journal Register, http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170114/city-accused-of-discrimination-in-group-home-lawsuit

Congratulations also to my big brother, Brigadier General William Walker.. With the recent stepping down of Major General Errol R. Schwartz, Walker, who is the District of Columbia National Guard Land Component Commander and the Commander of Joint Task Force-District of Columbia, is now Acting Commander of the District of Columbia Army National Guard. A decorated, career service man, General Walker is also a retired DEA agent whose service therein was also exemplary. To learn more, check out the WUSA 9 coverage of the story: www.wusa9.com/news/local/commander-of-dc-national-guard-to-step-down-during-inauguration/385984018

December 2016 took me to Phoenix, AZ for the grand opening of Embellysh, 393 W. Warner Blvd., Suite 11, Chandler, AZ 85225. 248-291-2008 http://embellysh.com! Co-owners Sammi McCombs and Angela Holmes did a marvelous job on the fabulous opening on their hair care and rejuvenation salon: They warmly welcomed new and established customers to their elegantly styled, inviting salon space with good music, yummy food, and cool Embellysh goodie bags. Guests included singer Teri Tobin, who gave an incredible spontaneous serenade! So proud of my niece Sammi, her business partner, Angela, and all of their stylists for working so hard to make their dreams realities! Go on women!!!

Embellysh's Stylish Stylists

Me with my niece, Sammi McCombs (center) and singer Teri Tobin (right)

The Walker Group, LLC is a Certified Public Account & Consulting firm concentrated primarily in performing audits for not-for-profit organizations, local governments and municipalities, and entities regulated by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).

Robin Walker, Owner
The Walker Group, LLC
TWG - 1431 Huntington Dr.
Calumet City, IL 60409

*Auditing
*Accounting
*Management Consulting *Business Information Systems

twg@thewalkergrpllc.com rwalker@thewalkergrpllc.com
(708) 868-2545

T'Keyah’s Tools of the Trade Acting Tip of the Month: When you prepare for an audition, remember that you are your only competition. Bring to the role what only you can. Treat the audition as if it is a job. Your job. The other actors there have nothing whatsoever to do with you. Enter the stage or the room as through you have been called there by the stage manager or A.D. Then perform!

T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh’s Tools of the
Trade Workshop and Lecture Series
What Every Actor Needs to Conduct the Business of Acting .

T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh has performed in fifteen films, more fifty stage productions, and as a series regular on six television programs including the internationally popular, “In Living Color,” “Cosby,” and “That’s So Raven.” She is also a writer, director and producer. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Theater at Florida A&M University, from whom she has since received many honors including a Doctorate of Humane Letters. After college, she studied in Chicago at The Audition Centre, and Paul Cook's TV Actors' Studio and more recently with The Michael Chekhov Association. To book T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh’s Tools for the Trade Workshop and Lecture Series, What Every Actor Needs to Conduct the Business of Acting, send an email with the desired date(s) of the workshop to booktkeyah @tkeyah.com.

November 2016 - I met up with some of my FAMU Forever friends in Boston. Venetia Steward, Cecelia Suluki, Kenny Ash, Angela Robinson Whitehurst and her Honorary Rattler husband Scott Whitehurst and I were there proudly supporting our FAMU brother Thomas Patterson Jr. at the 3rd Annual BASE Ball, a fundraising event celebrating young people and their accomplishments in athletics and education. Thomas (JP) was well lauded as an awesome coach and mentor. The participants also highly praised founder Robert Lewis Jr.'s on his accomplishments with the organization. An athletic and educational mentoring program, the Base instills in young athletes the importance of a college education, and has successfully secured academic scholarships for an impressive number of youth in their program. www.thebase.org

Kenny Ash, Thomas Patterson, Jr., The Base Founder Robert Lewis, Jr., Cecelia Suluki, me, Venetia Stewart, Scott Whitehurst, and Angela Robinson Whitehurst

Venetia and me and MA Gov. Charlie Baker

with Venetia, Cecelia and Angela, having a good old time at the Base Ball!

The FAMU Crew, hanging out before heading home.

with volunteer Carlon L. Manuel

with volunteer Christopher Sibley

with volunteer Jasmine Jackson

Check out the volunteering Brownies photobombing the volunteering police officers!

November 2016 also found me volunteering again at Ward Villas. What a wonderful way to spend a day that makes me feel some kind of way. My Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister Jackie Dupont Walker, an advocate for seniors, and all underrepresented segments of the community, put out the call for help, and the call was heard! Volunteers packed the well organized facility for a day of service. Another of my Delta sisters, comedienne Angel Gaines, once again entertained the crowd of seniors dining at the facility, while other volunteers packed, bagged, and delivered meals to senior across the city. My publicist, Jasmine Jackson of Rise PR, came with me to deliver more than 44 meals! We had a great time!

Justice late is better than justice never - Ask Ohio Governor Kasich to Free Tyra Patterson - Sign the Petition! https://www.change.org/p/governor-kasich-free-tyra-patterson?recruiter=1541713&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive via @Change

Projects in the Can... November of 2015 brought me to New York for a role in Candice T. Cain's feature film What Happened Last Night? In November of 2016, the film hit theaters nation wide. In it, I play Beverly, a voice of reason for Sarah, one on the film's leads, played by Alix Kermes. The romantic comedy, which centers around a pondering, party-filled college weekend, also stars Clayton Snyder, Jake Thomas, Shelley Regner, and Amber Rose. Kudos to William Leon and the cast and young crew of his sweet, sentimental short, Attached at the Soul. The film was accepted into the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, the SoCal Clips Indie Film Festival, the Oceanside International Film Festival, the The Roswell Film Festival, the Los Angeles New Wave International Film Festival and more. It was an official selection of the LA Shorts Awards, the Roxbury International Film Festival and Top Indie Film Awards, and won the Best Student Short Award from the Top Indie Film Awards, with nominations for Best Actress (Aliyah Royale as Young Margie) and Best Actor (Christian --- as Young Donald). The film also won the best Drama Short Award at Hollywood International Moving Pictures! What a blast I had live tweeting for the summer premiere of SyFy Channel's Sharknado 4! In this latest issue of the over-the-top sci-fi classic film series, I play Tech Terry, who consults with Aston Reynolds (Tommy Davidson) and Supervisor Wink (Donna Mills) as to what can be done about an unexpected impending disaster... #Sharknado style. Projects in the Works... In December... and then again in early January, I auditioned for a wonderful new show on an emerging new platform. Sound familiar? Well this time, the new platform is New Media or online entertainment. The new network is Seeso, a division of NBC. The show is called, There's ...Johnny. It's a wonderful behind the scenes look at The Johnny Carson Show. In it, I play Roz, the gatekeeper for the beloved talk show icon. There's Johnny makes series lucky number seven for me. To hear more about the new and a couple of other projects in the hopper... Stay tuned!

October 2016 gifted me with a travel adventure centering around my sixth trip to the motherland! Three friends of mine and I finally took our long awaited trip to Kenya!
First stop: Germany? OK That wasn't planned, but below is the postcard I sent, courtesy of Lufthansa Airlines, to begin salvaging the trip:

... Travel companions Lovell Cartwright (far left) Debra Hughes (left) standing in front of I Can Fly students, me (in the white blouse), and I Can Fly Founder Sha' Givens seated

Second stop: Kenya! On my first visit to this beautiful country I was delighted by almost every thing I saw from the majestic Masai warriors, to crystalized dirt, from the massive fresh food markets, to the fabulous fashions, and of course the picture beautiful living creatures of all kinds that my eyes captured in this place. After a night in Nairobi, we took the long ride to Machakos, where we visited the unbelievable I Can Fly International High School, and it's incredible founder, Sha' Givens! Words cannot express how impressed we all were with the work this dedicated young woman has done to create a safe haven for young people there. Many of the girls were rescued from child marriages, most suffered or narrowly escaped female genital mutilation. Ms. Givens, however, has turned heartbreak into raging success for these young people who now see the bright possibilities for their futures that they could not have even imagined years ago. We brought donations including various office and school supplies and a projector. While there, we visited with and encouraged the students, offered workshops, and even helped to plant a garden!..Back in Nairobi, we were tourists absorbing the local flavor... and shopping for beautiful things. I was honored to speak with and take questions from the brilliant students of the MultiMedia University of Kenya. http://www.mmu.ac.ke/. My visit began with a tour of their lovely campus. After my speech I got a pre-birthday serenade by the students, some of whom live tweeted my talk! We ended the visit with a delightful lunch that included two of my friends and some of the university's staff and administrators. I am plotting now to get back there as soon as I can! Thanks also to the Kenyan press, which welcomed me so warmly!

Next Stop: Wanting to put a stamp on my passport for my birthday, I tagged along with Billie Davis, one of my Kenya companions to her Egyptian excursion! I spent the first part of my day waiting out our layover in Dubai, and the evening celebrating our perfect view of the Nile river, with Cairo on one side of us and Giza on the other. This was my second trip to Egypt, but everything was new again thanks to our outstanding guide whose encyclopedic knowledge of Egypt embellished the truly personalized service that only someone who loves his job can provide! Many sight seeing ventures later, all I have to say is: Going to Egypt? Hire Osama as your guide! http://www.egypt-tours-online.com/en/ Email: osama.emo2020@gmail.com Phone & what's App : 00201144038725

I had the honor of contributing to two wonderful books recently. In one I describe a dream dinner with historical figures with whom I would love to have been able to share a meal: Dining with the Ancestors: When Heroes Come to Dinner, A Black History Coffee Table Book (by multiple Emmy Award winning journalist Dr. Eric J. Chambers) www.DiningWithTheAncestors.com. In the other, I describe one of my first experiences at Florida A & M University while still a Business major, but in the theater where I would come to spend the bulk of my time on the hill: HBCU Experience - The Book www.BlackCollegeBook.com; Co-edited by Black college alumni Dr. Tia Tyree and Christopher D. Cathcart, HBCU Experience - The Book  celebrates the rich legacy and experiences of those who attended HBCUs.

****************************

Please support Black Books and Black-Owned Bookstores!

September 2016 was National Preparedness Month, but is it always good to be prepared! My first emergency bag contained gym shoes, a jogging suit, a t-shirt, bottled water, a small first aid kit, contact solution, contacts, a flashlight, nuts, raisins, a little cash, and a copy of my passport. I was good to go! ...When grandmother came to stay with me, I packed a bag for her, looked at my own bag for the first time in years, and was shocked to find the food, water, medicines and batteries expired, and the clothes too small! Lesson learned. This time, I was more industrious with my supplies. In addition to the usual things, I found a wind-up radio, emergency thermal blankets, tool kits, and raincoats, and more. My grandmother is gone now, but I still have three bags packed. I thought of paring back down to one, but decided that... well if you've ever seen me travel, you know I can carry more than three backpacks... So:
1) If you haven't already, please pack an emergency bag or two for each person in your household. Include copies of prescriptions and I.D.'s, and a toy and / book for children. Store the bags in a safe, accessible place.
2) Check the bags every six months. Make sure clothes still fit, and switch out things that expire. Keep an inventory.
3) Have working fire extinguishers, smoke and gas detectors, and a fire escape ladder near a second story window. If you live on in an apartment, check your fire escape stairs. Let your landlord know if there is an obstruction or other problem.
4) Write an emergency plan that includes phone numbers to household members, loved ones not in the household, work / school addresses and numbers, nearest medical facilities; and a designated place to meet if your home must be evacuated.
5) Share your emergency plan with everyone in the household and have emergency drills once a year or more.
Emergency plans can be as simple or as complex as you allow. Just make sure you are as prepared as you can be.

Get Prepared! Stay Prepared!

I'm So Glad I'm From FAMU!
For most of my time in Los Angeles, I have supported my local alumni association only when they've called. They have called, mind you, and, in addition to keeping my dues current, I have answered the call every time I could, as I do when the national alumni or university calls on me for help. Recently, I attended a meeting in person. I was glad to see familiar faces and new ones, but not as many as I wished, so I made a commitment to being more active... even when no one is asking. Your local and national alumni associations need you... even when they do not ask! HBCU's are under attack and in need of your help! Please support the HBCU of your choice with your time, talent, treasure and input. I strongly encourage all FAMU alumni to support our school, our president, our alumni organizations, the individual school(s) from which you graduated, and of course, The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Endowed Theater Scholarship at Florida A&M University! If you are not a member of an alumni association, join one today! If you are, but are not a lifetime member, become one today! You do not need to be an HBCU alumnus to join / support an HBCU!

"News From The Hill" - from the National Alumni Association Newsletter:
FAMU Leads Multi-Million Dollar Consortium on Coastal and Marine Ecosystems - Today, Florida A&M University (FAMU) announced the receipt of a $15.4 million award over five years from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program (EPP) to establish the Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME). The new award will allow the FAMU-led partnership to make profound national impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems education, science, and policy.
FAMU Rises in 2017 U.S. News & World Report Rankings, Emerging as the No. 1 Public HBCU - Florida A & M University (FAMU) has risen to the No. 7 spot on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities” list. Climbing three spots, the ranking reveals FAMU as No. 1 among public HBCUs and among the “Best National Universities.”
FAMU Board of Trustees Names Larry Robinson Interim President - The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees today named distinguished professor and researcher Larry Robinson, Ph.D., interim president.

Keymáh Goes Back to School
Known for her supporting youth in America and abroad, actress T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh has participated in the Back-to-School with the HistoryMakers event since it's inception in 2010. She represented the HistoryMakers in Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, Los Angeles and Santa Monica. September 2016 found Keymáh returning to Santa Monica High School, where she once again spoke to an assembly of a couple hundred students, then spent the rest of the day speaking to individual classrooms. The actress brought a slide show of her body of work that inspired many questions from the students about the entertainment industry.

WHERE THE ACTION IS: My Black Year...
As you have read in earlier issues of The Crystal News, I upped my support of Black businesses a few years ago. Since my last issue, I've encountered several new (to me) Black business! Last summer, I had the pleasure of dining at Boyd's New Generation, Springfield, IL. 1831 S Grand Ave E, Springfield, IL 62703 (217) 544-9866. It's a no frills cafe, but the down home service was great. Not a lot of vegetarian options and the lemonade was way too sweet, but the vegetables and salad were fresh and delicious! Speaking of good service and good food, I was delighted to greet the long awaited opening of Black Bottom Southern Cafe, 4806 N. Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood CA 91601 818-856-8532 http://blackbottomcafe.com/, Since it's not a sit down (indoors) place with entertainment, it doesn't quite fill the gap that Coley's Jamaican left in my heart, but I'm really glad it's there! Not a lot o veggie options but what they have is great and a delight for meat and seafood consumers. ...Thank you to those of you who have recommended quality Black businesses for me to add to my Black Friday page. Please keep them coming! Whether you were inspired by Minister Louis Farrakhan's "Justice or Else," Maggie Anderson's book "Our Black Year, "or recent glaring indications that economic power is needed, please make every season one that uplifts quality Black businesses. This is where the action is...

* * * * * *

Windy City Works - I spent a lovely and productive summer in my beautiful hometown that included the start of my campaign to promote more Black businesses, leading two post-screening talk back panels for the Black Harvest Film Festival, going to the film "Southside with You" with my sister, discovering a mystical near lakefront path with my walking buddy Paula Anglin, stopping by WKKC to holla at my favorite radio personalty, Mr. Harold Lee Rush, and making plans to debut my newest solo show, "Don't Get Me Started!" in Chicago later this year. In addition to seeing quite a few loved ones in Chicago, I also managed to make it to Springfield, IL from there, for my first time attending the JOS Family Reunion! I met many new-to-me relatives there and learned that one of my best friends from high school and I have cousins in common! Like with my last visit, I wish I could have brought some of that wonderful rain back with me. My wish came true... and then some!

FUNDING WORTH PROJECT$! $upport if you can!

I Can Fly International Founder Sha' Givens, has completed her second "Butterfly House," an additional school building that allows her to rescue more young girls from being sold into unwanted marriages, and to provide food, shelter and an education to more young people in Kenya (icanflyinternational.org). She still needs additional funds to continue the life saving work she is doing. To help, visit https://www.gofundme.com/butterflyhouse.

Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!

Thank you to: everyone who came to the Black Harvest Film Festival to check out wonderful films and see me moderating a couple of the talk backs; the Kenyan press for covering my wonder trip there; everyone who supported and is supporting the fundraising campaign for Sha Givens' I Can Fly International "Build a Butterfly House" project; all of the families who are registering on the National Afrikan Amerikan Family Reunion Association (NAAFRA) website; Bean Soup Times for promoting Black businesses in every issue of your publication; everyone who has or will donate to my charitable endeavors, NIA Imani Academy, The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Endowed Scholarship at Meharry Medical College, The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Endowed Theater Scholarship at Florida A & M University (Under the ‘Please direct my donation to’ drop down menu, choose ‘College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities,’ then, under the ‘Funds’ drop down menu, choose “I Crystal Keymáh Endowed Scholarship (1328)”)), and / or The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Fine Arts Room at St. Sabina Academy! MUAH! And I mean it!

August 2016, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh served as moderator for two post-film discussions at Chicago's Black Harvest Film Festival. On the 15th, she led a talk back after the inspirational documentary, Walk All Night: A Drum Beat Journey. (www.tanmanfilms.com) Present were three of the four young men featured in the film, the social worker-turned-activist / big sister and executive producer Elilta Tewelde, who took the youth from Chicago's South Side to Senegal, West Africa, the film's co-directors, Mallory Sohmer and Kate Benzschawel, and the drummer who helped prepared the young men for, and then went with them on their incredible journey. On the 25th, Keymáh interviewed four of the six filmmakers whose short films were featured in a Woman of Color program. The actress and filmmaker also moderated post discussions for the 2014 Black Harvest festival, and looks forward to returning for the 2017 celebrations of Black films. #BlackHarvest

KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS

Kudos to: I Can Fly International Founder Sha' Givens, who recently completed her newest "Butterfly House," an additional school building that allows her to rescue more young girls from being sold into unwanted marriages, and to provide food, shelter and an education to more young people in Kenya (icanflyinternational.org) and to ; veteran journalist Soledad O'Brien on tackling important issues of the day as she hosts her new political news magazine show, "Matter of Fact" www.MatterofFact.tv;" former Weirton, WV police officer Stephen Mader who was fired because, when called out on a domestic violence dispute, encountered a Black man with a gun, assessed the situation using his military and police training... and DID NOT shoot the armed Black man (sadly, he was rewarded for his excellent police work by being fired... for not shooting the man; humanitarian Mary Yokem (pictured with legendary television personality Merri Dee) on being the East Central Governor's Service Award Winner for the Illinois senior corps division; writer Dahleen Glanton on her article comparing the response to the heroin epidemic in the suburbs of Chicago to the violence epidemic in the city (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-violence-mothers-glanton-20160912-column.html); Olympic darlings Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, the only two American all-around champions to win multiple gold medals in a single Olympic Games; legendary South African actor Arthur Molepo on his return to the stage in a special performance of the internationally successful show Sophiatown, celebrating the cultural mecca on which the show is based. http://rekordeast.co.za/90765/sophiatown-returns-to-stage/; Inglewood Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., on their successful production of An Evening of Legacy, honoring Black women throughout history; HistoryMaker Carla Hayden, president of the American Library Association, on being confirmed as the 14th Librarian of Congress. She is the first African American and the first female to serve since 1802; Wanjiru Kinyanjui on the UDADA International Women's Film Festival in Kenya; Stage Aurora Theatrical Company on winning 2016 SPARK and NEA Grants and Art Ventures award for Darryl Reuben Hall's Drawn from the Water (https://www.jaxcf.org/file/2015/news-release/Art-Ventures-Individual-Artists_2015.pdf); The Postal Service for honoring trailblazing civil rights and gender equality champion Dr. Dorothy Irene Height with the 40th stamp in the Black Heritage series; and Romarilyn Ralston on her new job offer as Program Coordinator for Project Rebound, at CalState Fullerton. (http://news.fullerton.edu/2016sp/projectrebound.aspx) http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/tn-wknd-et-1023-project-rebound-cal-state-fullerton-20161112-story.html Go on woman!!!

* * * * * * * * *

The Crystal News respectfully acknowledges the life and transition of:

Muhammad Ali, Doug Banks, Howard Bingham, Fidel Castro, Roscoe Conkling Brown Jr., Dr. Joy Browne, Leonard Cohen, Clarence "Choo-Choo" Coleman, George Edward Curry, Darryl Davis, Esther Mason Davis, Phife Dawg, Patty Duke, Henry English, Tommy Ford, Bernard Fox, Iberia Hampton, Juvais Jerome Harrington, Youree Dell "Miss Cleo" Harris, Billie Allen Henderson, William Randall "Bill" Henderson, Gwen Ifill, Lenore G. Jackson, Mabel James, Bill Jones, Dwight Elmo Jones, Kevin Mason, Denise Katrina “Vanity” Matthews, Bill Nunn, Billy Paul, Dabney Montgomery, Mary Tyler Moore, Prince, Darren Seals,

Dr. Sebi, Rod Temperton, Alan Thicke, John Thomas, Vincent Thorpe Alvin Toffler, Lee Chester Ulmer, Ann Ward, Papa Wemba, Maurice White, Gene Wilder, Ruby Winters... Keith Scott, Terrence Crutcher, and too many other unarmed Black men to name, and too many beautiful children (lost on the streets of America and other places) to name...

We are blessed to have known their warm heart, bright smiles and good works. We are inspired to follow their brave and noble examples.

Have You Hugged Someone You Love Today?