Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

          We need to organize ourselves and protest against existing order - against war, against economic and sexual exploitation, against racism, etc. But to organize ourselves in such a way that means correspond to the ends, and to organize ourselves in such a way as to create kind of human relationship that should exist in future society. That would mean to organize ourselves without centralize authority, without charismatic leader, in a way that represents in miniature the ideal of the future egalitarian society. Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it.

~Howard Zinn~

     As far as piano players are concerned, Oscar Peterson is my very favorite. I also like McCoy Tyner. I think that the big jazz stars, both now and in the past...how shall I say it? These guys are as great as Bach, Beethoven; all of them. People don't know it yet. If jazz survives and is put on a pedestal as an art form, the same as classical music has been through the years, a hundred years from now the kids will know who they were, with that kind of respect.

~Nina Simone~

SMOOTH JAZZ FRIDAYS

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even. I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion. The will must be stronger than the skill.

~Muhammad Ali~

Blackfoot Nation Warrior by Ivan Lesnichenko

EVERY WHERE WE GO, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE COME FROM....
WE ARE THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY MIGHTY WARRIORS ! ! !
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 DISTRICT CHAMPIONS

BTW earns district crown with patience, persistence.....
By Special to TSDMemphis.com  

     BTW’s Warriors overcame a slow start to the season and won its district championship with a below .500 record. Pictured (l-r): Asst. coach Charles Griffin, asst. coach Vic Lightning, asst. coach Tyrus Underwood, La’Travious Thomas, Alex Morgan, James White, Mariel Bolden, Abdoul Sacko, Jamar Frazier (center) Ethan Spencer, Tavion Ray (tourney MVP), Tayshaun Dye, Derrick Todd, Earron Bonds, Fontavin Swindle, asst. coach Reginald Huley, Jr, and head coach Antonio Harris. (Photo: Reginald Huley Jr.)

by Andre Mitchell 

     The Booker T. Washington High School boys’ basketball team earned its first district championship since 2020 on Feb. 18. The Warriors sealed the championship after a game at Middle College High School. Winning is nothing new to historic BTW, which has produced some of the state’s best student-athletes. What makes this latest feat impressive is that the school has experienced more than a fair share of depletions and distractions as the school attempts to re-establish itself as an exceptional institution post COVID-19 pandemic.
     BTW alum Antonio Harris has led the program to league and district titles, including county, regional, sectional, championships and a state runner-up finish in 2016. The entire 2020-21 season was cancelled due to COVID. The following year saw the team ousted in the first round of the district playoffs. The warriors got off to a slow start this season but gained momentum at the right time.
     The Warriors defeated league rivals Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering and Middle College in the district tourney, after losing by double digits to both teams during the regular season. As the third seed and maintaining focus, BTW accomplished the unexpected by winning the championship. Coach Harris’ standards regarding discipline, respect, patience, and persistence has guided the team into TSSAA regional tournament as the top seed Saturday (Feb. 25).

Team photo: Jamar Frazier, La’Travious Thomas, Abdoul Sacko, Alex Morgan, Ethan Spencer, Tavion Ray, Fontavin Swindle, Mariel Bolden, Tayshaun Dye, and James White. (Photo: Reginald Huley Jr.)

Seniors: Jamar Frazier, Tavion Ray, Mariel Bolden and James White. (Photo: Reginald Huley Jr.)

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     We are all gifted. That is our inheritance. I could always open shows, perform through the middle, and close shows. Asking what I considered an impossible salary, when I didn't want to work for someone, has boosted my pay again and again. All my life I've been prejudiced against wealthy people. The white audiences thought I was white, my features being what they are, and at every performance I'd have to take off my gloves to prove I was a spade. Basically there is no difference between whites and blacks, browns and yellows. I decided to think no more of people as Northerners and Southerners. 
     The greatest acts in colored show business had long made Harlem their home and favorite stomping ground. After years in white theaters I dreaded working in colored houses. The noise, the stomping, whistling, and cheering that hadn't annoyed me when I was young was now something I dreaded. Negroes are human beings with exactly the same faults and virtues as members of the other races. The big compliment came from the beer drinkers who didn't know me. They wouldn't drink or move when I sang. If they had their glasses in mid-air, the glasses wouldn't come down.

~Ethel Waters~ 

     First African American to star in her own television show,  "The Ethel Waters Show", a variety special, appeared on NBC on June 14, 1939. In 1950, Waters was the first African-American actress to star in a television series, "Beulah", which aired on ABC television from 1950 through 1952.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     Sometimes people try to destroy you, precisely because they recognize your power - not because they don't see it, but because they see it and they don't want it to exist. One of the most vital ways we sustain ourselves is by building communities of resistance, places where we know we are not alone. Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.
     Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid, to make us choose safety instead of risk, sameness instead of diversity. Moving through that fear, finding out what connects us, revelling in our differences; this is the process that brings us closer, that gives us a world of shared values, of meaningful community. The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others.

~Bell Hooks~

IT'S NOW TIME FOR

     At a party, a young wife admonished her husband, “That’s the fourth time you’ve gone back for ice cream and cake. Doesn’t it embarrass you?” “Why should it?” answered her spouse. “I keep telling them it’s for you.”

~Selma Glasser, Good Housekeeping~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

RECEIVED FROM

A MELROSE GOLDEN WILDCAT ALUMNI

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
     

     Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one's voice. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in his own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude. 
     A testimony of the truth of the gospel does not come the same way to all people. Some receive it in a unique, life-changing experience. Others gain a testimony slowly, almost imperceptibly until, one day, they simply know. In spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser and happier as a result. We know that we are often judged by the company we keep. We know how influential classmates, friends, and other peer groups can be. If any of our companions are prone to be unrighteous in their living, we are better off seeking new associations immediately.

~Joseph B. Wirthlin~

     The use of violence by individuals... is not a position that I support or would ever want to be in again. We are revolutionary anti-imperialist resistance fighters. We are innocent. We are not criminals or terrorists. We are revolutionary guerillas and have been captured in the course of building a resistance to this government. 
     The war against the Black Liberation movement by the FBI/U.S. government was most influential for me in seeing the necessity for armed self-defense. I have been a revolutionary for much of my life. First as a peace activist in the late '60s, then as a political activist in the '70s, and then in joining the armed clandestine resistance movement that was developing in the '80s, I am guilty of revolutionary and anti-imperialist resistance.

~Susan Rosenberg~

     Susan Lisa Rosenberg (born October 5, 1955) is an American activist, writer, advocate for social justice and prisoners' rights. From the late 1970s into the mid-1980s, Rosenberg was active in the far-left terrorist May 19th Communist Organization ("M19CO") which, according to a contemporaneous FBI report, "openly advocated the overthrow of the U.S. Government through armed struggle and the use of violence". M19CO provided support to an offshoot of the Black Liberation Army, including in armored truck robberies, and later engaged in bombings of government buildings, including the 1983 Capitol bombing.
     After living as a fugitive for two years, Rosenberg was arrested in 1984 while in possession of a large cache of explosives and firearms, including automatic weapons. She had also been sought as an accomplice in the 1979 prison escape of Assata Shakur and in the 1981 Brink's robbery that resulted in the deaths of two police officers and a guard, although she was never charged in either case. Convicted after a trial on the weapons and explosives charges, Rosenberg was sentenced to 58 years' imprisonment. She spent 16 years in prison, during which she became a poet, author, and AIDS activist. Her sentence was commuted to time served by President Bill Clinton on January 20, 2001, his final day in office.

James Stone

Kenneth Davis

Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear. 

~George Addair~

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

          At some point in every person's life, you will need an assisted medical device - whether it's your glasses, your contacts, or as you age and you have a hip replacement or a knee replacement or a pacemaker. The prosthetic generation is all around us. Half of Hollywood has more prosthetic in their body than I do, but we don't think of them as disabled. You amputate part of a nose, that's 'enhancement'. You put a prosthetic in a breast cavity, that's 'augmentation'. But you amputate part of a limb and put a prosthetic there, it's 'disability'?

~Aimee Mullins~

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

     Popular artificial sweetener associated with risk of heart attack and stroke. Patients with high levels of erythritol in their blood were twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

BY LAURA BAISAS / PUBLISHED FEB 28, 2023

 POPULAR SCIENCE MAGAZINE

     A popular artificial sweetener, erythritol, has been linked to blood clotting, heart attack, stroke, and death, according to a study published February 27 in the journal Nature Medicine. Individuals with elevated factors for heart disease–such as diabetes–were twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke if their blood contained high levels of erythritol in their blood. Erythritol and other artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin are common replacements for table sugar in low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, and “keto” branded products. “Sugar-free” products like those containing erythritol are often recommended for individuals with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or obesity and are looking for options to help manage their sugar or calorie intake. 
     The product, which can be called a “natural” sweetener because it is made in very small amounts by the human body and in fruits and vegetables, has increased in popularity in recent years. A 2022 report from research firm NielsenIQ found that sales growth for products with erythritol grew by 43 percent over two years and products that claim to have “natural sweeteners” in them grew by 91 percent. “Sweeteners like erythritol have rapidly increased in popularity in recent years but there needs to be more in-depth research into their long-term effects,” said senior author Stanley Hazen, chairman for the Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences in Lerner Research Institute and co-section head of Preventive Cardiology at Cleveland Clinic, in a statement. “Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death globally. We need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors.”
     In the study, the researchers looked at over 4,000 people in the United States and Europe who were undergoing cardiac evaluation. They found that subjects with higher blood erythritol levels were at elevated risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or death. In preclinical studies, they also found some evidence erythritol increased the formation of blood clots. To do this, the team looked at the effects of adding erythritol to either whole blood or isolated platelets. These are the cell fragments that clump together to stop bleeding and contribute to blood clots. They found that erythritol made platelets easier to activate and form a clot.

     “The degree of risk was not modest,” Hazen told CNN. “If your blood level of erythritol was in the top 25 percent compared to the bottom 25 percent, there was about a two-fold higher risk for heart attack and stroke. It’s on par with the strongest of cardiac risk factors, like diabetes.” Erythritol is produced by fermenting corn and is about 70 percent as sweet as sugar. After it is eaten, it is poorly metabolized by the body and goes into the bloodstream instead. It leaves the body naturally through urine and the human body does create low amounts of erythritol naturally, so any additional consumption through diet can accumulate in the body.
     The study’s authors note that follow-up studies are needed to confirm their findings in the general population. Additionally, the point to several limitations in the study, including that clinical observation studies demonstrate association and not causation. “Our study shows that when participants consumed an artificially sweetened beverage with an amount of erythritol found in many processed foods, markedly elevated levels in the blood are observed for days – levels well above those observed to enhance clotting risks,” said Hazen. “It is important that further safety studies are conducted to examine the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners in general, and erythritol specifically, on risks for heart attack and stroke, particularly in people at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.”

(This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.)

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

TO

TILTON FOSSETT

Kenneth Davis

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

A SALUTE TO WARRIORS BORN IN FEBRUARY

Your birthday is pretty special because fewer babies are born during the month of February. That just means you don’t have to share the spotlight on your birthday and we can celebrate just how wonderful and special you truly are.

• Amethyst, your birthstone, is purple quartz and is a beautiful blend of violet and red that can be found in every corner of the world
• According to a Harvard study, there’s a good chance Warriors born in February are tall.
• The same study also found that people born in February tend to do better on intelligence tests.
• If you celebrate your birthday in February, you are more likely to be artistic. So whether you find your artistic side with painting, performing, or creating awesome content, your birthday may be your inspiration.
• One study found that people born in February tend to be happier. Other studies found that people born in February say they are happy with life and their career choice.
• According to a study published in the Journal of Social Sciences, you are more likely to be famous if you celebrate your birthday in February. Of course, all Warriors are celebrities.

Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Styles, and Chris Rock are just a few celebrities that share your birth month.

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Yes, I am a day late with my salute to Warriors born in February. I thought it was a leap year!

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     I have come to believe that in order to thrive, a child must have at least one adult in her life who shows her unconditional love, respect, and confidence. When a young person, even a gifted one, grows up without proximate living examples of what she may aspire to become--whether lawyer, scientist, artist, or leader in any realm--her goal remains abstract. Such models as appear in books or on the news, however inspiring or revered, are ultimately too remote to be real, let alone influential. But a role model in the flesh provides more than inspiration; his or her very existence is confirmation of possibilities one may have every reason to doubt, saying, 'Yes, someone like me can do this.

~Sonia Sotomayor~

ADA LOIS SIPUEL FISHER (1924-1995)

     Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher was a leading activist, attorney, and educator who opened higher education to African American students in Oklahoma, and laid the foundation for the Brown v. Board of Education decision.  After graduating from the segregated Langston University in 1945, Fisher volunteered to be the test case for admission to the University of Oklahoma (OU) Law School.
     Fisher’s protracted case involved  NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall and Oklahoma attorney Amos T. Hall.  When denied admission on the basis of race, Fisher filed a suit asserting that she must be admitted to the OU Law School since there was no comparable facility for African American students.  Losing in state courts, Marshall argued Sipuel v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reversed the lower courts in 1948, but the state quickly created a makeshift law school in the state capital building.  Fisher was admitted  to OU when this facility closed in 1949. The contemporaneous Oklahoma case, McLaurin v. State Regents for Higher Education, ended the segregated seating and discriminatory treatment Fisher and other African American students experienced after admission.
     Fisher later practiced law in Oklahoma City representing clients in segregation cases.  She returned to Langston University to be its public relations director in 1956 and a full time faculty member in 1959.  In 1991 she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oklahoma and accepted appointment to the OU Board of Regents the following year.

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS TO LINDA BROWN, RICKY GARRETT & JAMES STONE

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     Music fills the infinite between two souls. In Art, man reveals himself and not his objects. Art awakens a sense of real by establishing an intimate relationship between our inner being and the universe at large, bringing us a consciousness of deep joy. Music is the purest form of art, and therefore the most direct expression of beauty, with a form and spirit which is one and simple, and least encumbered with anything extraneous. We seem to feel that the manifestation of the infinite in the finite forms of creation is music itself, silent and visible. Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.

 ~Rabindranath Tagore~

SMOOTH JAZZ FRIDAYS

Kenneth Davis

      T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Gardening is the purest of human pleasures. God Almighty first planted a Garden. And indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man, without which buildings and palaces are but gross handiworks. And a man shall ever see, that when ages grow to civility and elegancy, men come to build stately sooner than to garden finely, as if gardening were the greater perfection.

~Francis Bacon~

SIMPLE RAISED BED GARDEN

When is the Best Time to Start Seeds Indoors?
Story by Rural Mom • Feb 19 © Provided by Rural Mom

     Starting seeds indoors can be a great way to get a jumpstart on your garden and ensure a bountiful harvest. But when is the best time to start your seeds, and what mistakes should you avoid? To ensure success, let’s explore the optimal time to start seeds indoors in the US, as well as some common mistakes and how to address them.

When to Start Seeds Indoors in the US

     The timing for starting seeds indoors will vary depending on the specific plant and the region you live in. The general rule of thumb is to start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area. This will give the seedlings enough time to grow and be ready for transplanting outdoors in the spring. For example, if your last expected frost date is around May 1st, you would start your seedlings indoors around mid-March to early April. However, for cool-weather crops like lettuce and spinach, you can start seeds as early as 10-12 weeks before the last frost date. Conversely, for warm-weather crops like cucumbers and squash, you may only need to start seeds 2-4 weeks before the last frost date.

Common Mistakes When Starting Seeds Indoors

     Starting seeds too early: One of the most common mistakes when starting seeds indoors is starting them too early. If you start your seeds too early, the plants may outgrow their containers before it’s warm enough to transplant them outdoors. Additionally, starting seeds too early can lead to leggy, weak plants that may not produce as well.

     Overwatering: Another common mistake when starting seeds indoors is overwatering. Seedlings need moist soil, but too much water can lead to root rot and other problems. Be sure to use well-draining soil and only water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.

     Not providing enough light: Seedlings need plenty of light to grow strong and healthy. If you’re starting seeds indoors, you’ll need to provide supplemental light, as most windowsills don’t provide enough light. Consider using grow lights or fluorescent lights to provide the light your seedlings need.
     Start seeds at the right time: To avoid starting seeds too early, be sure to research the specific requirements for the seeds you want to start and use the last expected frost date in your area as a guide. Don’t be tempted to start seeds too early just because you’re eager to get started.

     Be mindful of watering: To avoid overwatering, use well-draining soil and only water when the top inch of soil is dry. Consider using a watering can with a fine nozzle to avoid watering too much at once. You can also use a soil moisture meter to help you gauge when to water.
     Provide enough light: To ensure your seedlings get enough light, use grow lights or fluorescent lights and position them close to the seedlings. Keep the lights on for 14-16 hours per day, and adjust the height of the lights as the seedlings grow.
     Starting seeds indoors can be a great way to get a head start on your garden and ensure a successful harvest. By starting seeds at the right time, being mindful of watering, and providing enough light, you can avoid some of the most common mistakes and enjoy healthy, productive plants. Happy gardening!

James Stone

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND  by Marsha Burns

March 5, 2023: A unique path to life in the Spirit has been prepared for you, and when you have found that path, you must stay the course. Changes will be presented from time to time to aid your growth. However, no matter what you do or where you are, keep your focus on truth and righteousness. Continue to make your relationship with Me the number one priority, says the Lord. Isaiah 45:2-3 I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by name, Am the God of Israel.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     Give Me Strength This is my prayer to thee, my lord---strike, strike at the root of penury in my heart. Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows. Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service. Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might. Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles. And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love.

~Rabindranath Tagore~

AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON, PH.D.

Co-founder Urban Ocean Lab,

Co-founder The All We Can Save Project,

&

Co-creator How to Save a Planet

     Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and Brooklyn native. She is co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for the future of coastal cities. She co-edited the bestselling climate anthology All We Can Save, co-founded The All We Can Save Project, and co-created the Spotify/Gimlet climate solutions podcast How to Save a Planet. Recently, Dr. Johnson co-authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. Previously, as executive director of the Waitt Institute, she co-founded the Blue Halo Initiative and led the Caribbean’s first successful island-wide ocean zoning effort. She also developed U.S. federal ocean policy at the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
     Dr. Johnson earned a BA from Harvard University in environmental science and public policy, and a Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in marine biology, with a dissertation on the ecology, socio-economics, and policy of sustainably managing coral reefs. The fish trap she invented to reduce bycatch won the first Rare/National Geographic Solution Search. Dr. Johnson serves on the board of directors for Patagonia and GreenWave, on the advisory boards of Environmental Voter Project and Scientific American, and on the steering committee for the Ocean Justice Forum. Recent recognitions include, the Schneider Award for climate communication, the Time 100 Next List, and appointment to the Secretary of State’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board.
     Her writing has been published widely, including in The New York Times, Washington Post, and Scientific American. Dr. Johnson’s forthcoming book has the working title What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futurism. She is the proud daughter of a teacher/farmer and an architect/potter. She is in love with climate solutions. Find her@ayanaeliza.

Kenneth Davis

     In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.

~Margaret Atwood~

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
Free seeds and gardening program offered at Benjamin Hooks library

IT'S NOW TIME FOR
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

     Two old friends, Ned and John, lived for baseball. Then one day, John died, leaving Ned inconsolable. A few weeks later, Ned heard someone calling his name. He looked up. Standing on a cloud was his old pal. “Ned,” John called down, “I have good news and bad. The good news is, there’s baseball in heaven!” “Great,” said Ned. “What’s the bad news?” “You’re pitching Sunday.”

~Earl Fincher

Kenneth Davis

SALARIA KEE O’REILLY (1913-1991)

     Born 13 July 1913 in Akron, Ohio, Salaria Kee was orphaned in her infancy and raised by family and friends.  After high school, she resolved to become a nurse but was denied by three nursing schools on account of her race.  Leveraging connections to Eleanor Roosevelt, the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing accepted her application and Kee moved to New York City.  Graduating in 1934, she worked as head nurse in the terminal ward of the Sea View Hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis.

     When Italy invaded Ethiopia in late 1935, Kee joined a group of Harlem nurses collecting medical supplies for the Ethiopians.  Like many other African American anti-fascists, Kee shifted her support to the Spanish Republic with the rise of Franco.  Her efforts to join the Red Cross in Spain were rejected, again due to her race, but she soon found a place in the American Medical Bureau contingent in support of the International Brigades and departed the United States in March 1937.

     A devoted Catholic, she felt it was her duty to go. While assigned to the American hospital at Villa Paz, she met and later married John Patrick O’Reilly, an Irish volunteer in the International Brigades.  As one of a very small number of African American women in Spain on behalf of the Republic, she inspired a highly-promoted pamphlet entitled “A Negro Nurse in Republican Spain” in which several details of her life were altered to support a political agenda.

     Returning home late in 1938, she achieved minor celebrity status.  Capitalizing on the pamphlet’s publicity, she embarked on a tour to rally support for the American Medical Bureau and the Spanish Republic, speaking to church groups, schools, NAACP chapters, and even the Girl Scouts.  She faced considerable difficulty securing clearance for her husband to immigrate, but the couple was eventually reunited in 1940.  During World War II, John served in Europe with the U.S. Army as an engineer; although barred for most of the conflict due to her heritage, Salaria eventually served briefly in the U.S. Army’s Nurse Corps.

     Salaria passed the rest of her working life in New York City hospitals.  She retired to Akron with her husband and died in 1991.  Likely due to her high visibility in the late 1930s, the Communist Party claimed her as a member, although O’Reilly emphatically denied in interviews even knowing what a communist was when she went to Spain.  Her genuine apolitical commitment to helping others continues to make her a compelling figure even today.

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)