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Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Hate spoke with defacing of Jackie Robinson mural. But love will prevail
I woke up this morning and it hit me: The year is nearly half gone. And there are things that I still need to get done before the end of 2025. Topping that list is to have more compassion and love for my fellow human beings. That's not a very tall order. But one needs a willing spirit to cast aside the hate and ugliness that keeps coming at you. For some of us, it is easy to love those who love you. We can count on their smiles, their warm and encouraging words to help light up our world. But the reality is this: Not everyone will love you, or even like you, or people who look like you. Some people will hate you simply because you are kind. Being hateful themselves, they can't understand how you're kind no matter what they hurl your way. Some people will hate you simply for no reason at all. Others will hate you because you've learned how to step over the obstacles they've placed before you to stop you. They hate you because you have learned how to take the sour lemons they hurled your way and make the sweetest lemonade ever. One of the most common reasons to hate another person is because he/she looks different. This is racial hate. And if it continues to go unchecked, this kind of hate — this racial hate — will continue to tear our communities, our country apart. I thought about the many ways haters conjure up ways to celebrate their hate when I learned about the recent defacing of the Dorsey Park murals in Overtown. The murals honor Black history and feature several Black heroes, including Jackie Robinson, whose mural was among those defaced with the N-word and a Nazi swastika. In 1947, Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first Black ballplayer in Major League Baseball. He has long been one of my heroes. A Minnie Miñoso mural was also vandalized. Miñoso, a Black Cuban baseball player, played in the Negro Leagues before playing with the Chicago White Sox. His portrait had a swastika spray-painted on it. READ MORE: Jackie Robinson mural defaced at Overtown park where Negro Leagues once played Unlike many other landmarks in Overtown, Dorsey Park — or the Dust Bowl, as we Blacks called it back in the day (the 1940s and 1950s) — is still in the same location at Northwest First Avenue and 17th Street. Back then, Dorsey Park was the only stadium in town for Blacks. It was dubbed the 'Dust Bowl' because unlike the gleaming Orange Bowl Stadium that was well-kept by the city of Miami and had a nice grassy surface for games to be played on, the Dust Bowl was just that — a stadium full of dust. Even so, the Dust Bowl was a beloved site in Miami's segregated Overtown community. During the football season, it was the home of Booker T. Washington Jr./Sr. High School football games. During home games, the BTW Marching Band and Majorettes would lead the parade to the Dust Bowl. I can still hear the sound of marching feet hitting the asphalt streets as the band, led by band master Timothy O. Savage, made its way on game day from the school, then at Northwest 13th Street and Sixth Avenue, over to Northwest Second Avenue and on to Dorsey Park. The Dust Bowl was more than where local Black high school football teams played. It was also the place that the Negro Leagues' Ethiopian Clowns called home. And where carnivals were held. It was our park, made possible in 1917, when D. A. Dorsey, a Miami Black millionaire businessman and philanthropist, sold the parcel of land to the City of Miami to be used as a park for Blacks. Dorsey, Miami's first Black millionaire, died in 1940. It wasn't until 1954 that rivals BTW and then-Dorsey High in Liberty City were allowed to have their annual Turkey Day Classic game (held Thanksgiving morning) in the Orange Bowl. All other games were still in the Dust Bowl. Last week, memories of the good times we had in the Dust Bowl flooded my mind when I learned that some haters had vandalized the murals, which were a collaboration among the Moving Lives of Kids (MLK Mural Project), URGENT, Inc. and Touching Miami with Love. The MLK Mural Project was founded by artist Kyle Holbrook, who told the Herald in a statement: 'This was an act of hate, but it will not define us. This mural was born from a community's pride, history, and power. We will restore it—stronger, bolder, and with even more purpose. Black history is American history. And no spray paint can erase that truth.' Yes, hate raised its ugly head in the vandalization of the Dorsey Park murals. But love is alive and well. Local artists are already working to undo the damage. And Holbrook said he is already thinking of ways to rework the mural, making it even bigger and better. That's how love works. It shames the devil. When hate pokes up its ugly head, love overshadows it with goodness and gracefulness and purpose. Each of us can use the next six months working on our own heart, praying for a heart that is filled with compassion and love. And kindness. I believe it can be done.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reggie Jackson joins as ‘deeply personal' partner for new NLBM hotel
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hall of Fame outfielder Reggie Jackson, also known as 'Mr. October', has joined on as a founding legacy partner for the new Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Hotel, according to a release from Grayson Capital. The Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel in Kansas City's 18th and Vine District will feature an upscale restaurant, rooftop bar, a cultural partnership platform and more as a 30,000 square foot expansion of the museum. It's all part of a new, cultural destination known as the Negro Leagues Baseball Musuem Campus. Frank White shares stadium discrepancy between county, KCMO and MO Jackson described the partnership as 'deeply personal' as the legendary ball player has personal connections to both KC and NLBM. 'Returning to Kansas City, where my MLB career began—and helping honor the Negro Leagues, where my father Martinez Jackson played for the Newark Eagles—is deeply personal,' said Jackson. 'This hotel will celebrate the greatness of those who came before me and inspire the generations to come.' The release goes on to say that Jackson's involvement will include driving awareness, fostering generational ties to baseball's historic players and advancing the project. Jackson is focused on helping NLBM impact both the KC and baseball communities throughout the future. Watch FOX4 News free on streaming TV devices by downloading WDAF+ Reggie's involvement is a significant addition to our project. His connection to the Negro Leagues is deep and meaningful, and his voice will elevate our mission to educate and inspire through the game of baseball,' echoed NLBM President Bob Kendrick. The hotel and campus will support both the continuing investments in the 18th and Vine District as well as the cultural movement surrounding the NLBM. For more information on the NLBM and its new developments, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
The 44 Percent: Dorsey Park hate crime, Crump and Crockett come to Miami Gardens
When I think of safe Black neighborhoods, I think about the comfort of community and how that instills value in the Black children that are being raised in them. And in many ways, that value is shown by ensuring they see themselves in their own neighborhoods, be it through after school programs or murals intended to reflect their community. The defacing of Black murals at Dorsey Park undermines that effort, but I'm certain community leaders will not be deterred. As artist Kyle Holbrook, who founded the MLK Mural Project to empower youth through art and education, told the Herald: 'This was an act of hate, but it will not define us. This mural was born from a community's pride, history, and power. We will restore it—stronger, bolder, and with even more purpose. Black history is American history. And no spray paint can erase that truth.' Black communities deserve to feel safe from the threat of racists acts, especially at a time when our history is being challenged, erased and ignored. INSIDE THE 305: Jackie Robinson mural defaced at Overtown park where Negro Leagues once played Two murals featuring Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso at Dorsey Park in Overtown were defaced in what police and community members are calling a hate crime. As crime reporter Milena Malaver reported: The defacement — the swastika and the word 'N------s' spray-painted onto the mural adorning the park walls — was reported to the Miami Police on Monday afternoon in what the community and police are calling a hate crime. The park is located at Northwest 17th Street and Northwest First Avenue. Along with Robinson, a Minnie Miñoso mural was also vandalized. Miñoso, a Black Cuban baseball player, played in the Negro Leagues before playing with the Chicago White Sox. His portrait had a swastika spray-painted on it. 'Scary times': Ben Crump and Rep. Jasmine Crockett speak to Miami Gardens residents At a townhall in Miami Gardens, U.S. Rep Jasmine Crockett and attorney Ben Crump urged residents to focus on local politics, build community and to stay politically engaged. As the Herald reported: And as national policies ripple through local communities Crockett said constituents should lean on their local elected officials. 'Yes, you may be in Florida, and lord knows we need to pray for y'all, but the bright spots are your local officials,' she said. OUTSIDE THE 305: Coco Gauff advances to French Open final Delray Beach resident Coco Gauff advances to the French Open final after defeating Loïs Boisson 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday. Gauff's win sets up a rematch of the 2023 U.S. Open against No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Then 19, Gauff beat Sabalenka, claiming her first major trophy. Historian, activist Marvin Dunn to talk race at FAMU Marvin Dunn, a historian and former Florida International University professor, is taking his 'Teach the Truth' tour to FAMU in the wake of its controversial president selection, Marva Johnson, who has ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The event will take place Monday, June 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of Rudy Hubbard Way and Althea Gibson Way across the street from the FAMU Residential Towers. It will also be streamed live on Instagram at @ More recently, Dunn has held talks on FIU's campus at what he has dubbed the 'Black History Learning Tree,' teaching the state's Black history to those who will listen. HIGH CULTURE: BET Awards and Amerie performs on NPR's Tiny Desk D.C. songbird Amerie's NPR's Tiny Desk performance will debut Friday on its YouTube channel, coinciding with the outlet's celebration of Black Music Month. The monthlong celebration also includes an earlier than normal BET Awards hosted by Kevin Hart, airing Monday. Black judge's law office is now an art gallery In late March, we wrote about the law offices of the late Lawson E. Thomas being converted into an art gallery. The exhibit, 'Sepia Vernacular: Overtown's Photographic Journey, 1920–1950,' features photographs showcasing Overtown's streetscape from the 1920s to 1950s and is now open to the public. The Overtown CRA is hosting an opening event at 6 p.m. today at the offices located at 1021 NW Second Ave., Miami. Where does 'The 44 Percent' name come from? Click here to find out how Miami history influenced the newsletter's title.
Washington Post
02-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Infamous D.C. intersection with a Wendy's in the middle is now a plaza
D.C.'s 'Dave Thomas Circle' — the intersection where a Wendy's restaurant once notoriously sat in the middle of multiple lanes of traffic, forcing drivers to chart a confusing course around it — is no more. On Monday at the intersection off New York and Florida avenues that locals mockingly named after the Wendy's founder, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) introduced the renamed Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson Plaza, honoring the pioneering female pitcher in the Negro leagues and a longtime Northeast Washington resident.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Bowser to unveil new plaza at former Dave Thomas Circle in DC
WASHINGTON () — On Monday, leaders across Washington, D.C., will cut the ribbon on a new plaza formerly known as '.' On June 2, at 11 a.m., Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with the District Department of Transportation and the NoMa Business Improvement District, will celebrate the transformation of the Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson Plaza. For nearly two years, construction has been underway at the intersection. The plaza was named after Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson, who was the first woman to ever pitch in the Negro Leagues. She was a longtime resident of Northeast D.C., and graduated from Long Branch High School. The ribbon cutting will also commemorate the completion of the Florida Avenue Multimodal Streetscape Project. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | New traffic pattern for Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson Plaza, formerly Dave Thomas Circle Before the redesign, the Florida Avenue and New York Avenue intersection was marked as one of the most dangerous intersections in D.C. However, the new design includes two-way traffic on First Street, new protected bike lanes and enhanced pedestrian connectivity. The construction transformed Florida Avenue from 2nd Street to H Street with new sidewalks, bike lanes, traffic signals and curb realignment. Officials noted that the goal of both projects was to improve the overall safety across the Florida Avenue NE corridor. The ribbon cutting comes after Bowser presented the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, Grow DC, last week. The budget includes investments in transportation and infrastructure across all eight wards. The budget also includes $76 million in additional funds for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, $402 million for major bridge rehabilitation, $402 million to maintain roads, sidewalks, alleys and more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
