Did You Know … - various recent achievements by African Americans - Brief Article

American Visions, August, 1999

... The Dixie Hummingbirds, living legends in gospel music, have spent a year celebrating the group's 70 years of existence? There has been considerable turnover over the decades, but Ira Tucker Sr. has been with the group for 60 years; Howard Carroll, for 50; Paul Owens, for 8; and Carl Davis, for 6. The celebration--which included a concert tour, a stint on the Late Show With David Letterman, a celebrity roast at the African American History Museum in Philadelphia, and induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Detroit--ends this August with the release of Music in the Air (House of Blues Music Co.). Performers on the CD include Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Shirley Caesar, Deniece Williams, Patti LaBelle, Isaac Hayes and Dick Gregory.

... St. Clair T. Bourne--a founding member of the Capital Press Club in Washington, D.C., and of the New York chapter of 100 Black Men--died on May 11, 1999, at age 88? During World War II, Bourne served as the first chief information officer of the U.S. Fair Employment Practice Committee (the precursor of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). Later, he became the first African-American public relations director of the New York State Department of Labor and then of the Workman's Compensation Board. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son, filmmaker St. Clair C. Bourne (see American Visions, February/Marcia 1999).

... Wendell Scott, the first African American to win a NASCAR race, was inducted recently into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, in Talladega, Ala.? Wendell Scott Jr. accepted the honor on behalf of his father, who passed away in 1990.

... Shemekia Copeland (see American Visions, June/July 1999) received four of the annual Readers' and Critics' awards from Living Blues, a magazine devoted to documenting the African-American blues tradition? Among her awards were Most Outstanding Blues Singer and Best Debut Album of 1998 (Turn the Heat Up).

Koko Taylor received the W.C. Handy Award for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year. The honor--bestowed by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tenn.--is considered the Grammy of the blues community.

... Painter-sculptor Artis Lane designed the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor presented to Rosa Parks this past June? Jessye Norman, Jesse Jackson, J.C. Watts and Julia Carson participated in the presentation ceremony, which was officiated by President Clinton. Said Clinton: "We must never forget about the power of ordinary people who stand in the fire for the cause of human dignity and who touch the hearts of people that have almost turned to stone."

... Cousen Rose Gallery--the Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, gallery known for its wide range of paintings and lithographs--is celebrating 20 years in business? Zita Cousens, the gallery's owner, fondly recalls visits paid to this haven by Romare Bearden, Lois MaHou Jones and Dorothy West. During the past decade (the gallery last appeared in American Visions in the August 1990 issue) other highlights have included a new building and permanent home; art classes for children; courtyard book signings; and the Oak Bluffs Art Stroll, which makes stops at six neighboring art spaces.