By WOW! Press writer, Janis F. Kearney

There are a select few books that I have read and would like to share with my audience, one of my personal recommendations include:

The Failures of Integration: How Race and Class are Undermining the American Dream, by Sheryll Cashin. Cashin, a former Clinton White House economic policy aide, writes of the ghosts of a hard-won integration, and the ravages left in the battle between black and white America. Cashin argues, in a rapidly-diversifying America, a radical transformation is needed…in order to solve the riddle of chronic inequality.

Click here for a complete listing of the author's "Suggested Readings"

By WOW! Press contributing writer, Cassia

Did you know that African Americans were the second largest minority group in Anchorage, Alaska – at 5.8 percent of the population%, and 3.5% of Alaska’s total population?

So, even in Alaska, African Americans celebrate Juneteenth as a triumphant part of American history - observing the ending of slavery in the great state of Texas -- June 19th, 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Major General Granger, made his way to Galveston, Texas carrying with them, news that the war had ended and the slaves were now free.

Whatever the reasons behind it, Texas with its small Union force could not enforce the new Executive order. However, in April of 1865 General Lee surrendered and with that came the arrival of General Granger’s troops. The union forces finally had enough strength to triumph over the resistance. That day - June 19th -was termed "Juneteenth" by the freed slaves, and its popularity among the descendants of the slaves grew.

During my many years in Anchorage, Alaska this day has become one of the biggest celebrations in the city. As far back as I can recall, it has been celebrated in a small, parking lot, hosted by the Fairview recreational center. Now, it has mushroomed into an impressive vendor bazaar. You can’t miss its location on the park strip. Yellow and white striped tents line the area, music blares from the stage, multitudes of kids play in the area - running around like wild turkeys. What an extravaganza!

By WOW! Press writer, Janis F. Kearney

Thank You Hot Springs and P.H.O.E.B.E. Project for My Five-Day History Lesson Uzuri, the name of the black history program in Hot Springs, Arkansas, perfectly describes my five days in Hot Springs. Uzuri means “beauty” in Swahili; and that is how I remember the city of endless parks, and the people who live there.

It was an honor to be hosted by Cheryl Batts and the P.H.O.E.B.E./Uzuri Project, from May 25-29th. The five-day visit included lectures, presentations, oral history interviews with Hot Springs’ elders, a presentation by Fayetteville historian, Nancy Williams and a workshop with Hot Springs’ youth. The week was an opportunity for this writer and oral historian to learn more about historical Hot Springs, enjoy its many amenities, and meet its warm, hospitable residents.

Hot Springs’ is fortunate to have such an impressive project as P.H.O.E.B.E, which highlights the city’s rich history of diversity and natives contributions to the rest of the world. The project, which began as a brainstorm by Cheryl Batts, quickly turned into a local group effort to celebrate black history in Hot Springs. From there, the Uzuri Project grew slowly into a larger effort to collect, preserve and celebrate Hot Springs’ rich black history. In 1999, the Project was incorporated, and endowed by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Morris Foundation.

For anyone seeking a beautiful, entertaining, historical vacation spot, Hot Springs National Park would be an excellent choice. (Not to mention, it is the home of former President Bill Clinton.)

(an excerpt from: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/02/06/trv.keywest.ap )

A small, unique piece of American history lies beneath a narrow strip of sandy beach not far from this island's hotels and nightlife. It's the known resting place of nine Africans, and 286 others are believed to be entombed along Higgs Beach on Key West's shore.

The dead were casualties of a trans-Atlantic trip aboard three American-owned slave ships intercepted by the U.S. Navy in 1860. The vessels were heading to Cuba to sell their 1,432 passengers into labor.

Rescued from slavery, the Africans spent three months in Key West, being cared for by local doctors with supplies purchased by the U.S. marshal and donated by an accepting citizenry. About 1,100 survived, and were eventually sent back to Africa in a dangerous voyage. Read more