Showing posts with label black athletes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black athletes. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Again... Yes Again, and Again and Again!!

I'm having a hard time moving away from the story '68 Olympics this year.  It continues to resonate in my heart and travels deeply into my soul.  Maybe it's the recent publication of The John Carlos Story, his book written with Dave Zirin.  The great respect I have for all of these men.
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Maybe it's because it was also my time in history.  I was a sophomore in college at the time.









Maybe it's because it allows me some kind of molecular connection that I can maintain to G. Larry James, "the mighty burner" himself a '68 Olympian.  A man so dear, a  friend with a heart of pure gold, whose song was song all to softly, and who left us all too soon.








I remember the 40th Anniversary, the return to Mexico.




The celebrations, the honors, the "redemption".



But today I relearned a very important lesson.  We cannot be one story people. It destroys the human experience. It denies our growth. It makes us less than complete. The rest of that lesson: we are not the author's of the stories of others.  Our job is to listen, with an open and willing heart. To hear the truth from another perspective, to honor it as another's truth and allow it to come into our hearts. And it is an honor to hear the story from the author of the life. It is a responsibility to "pass it on" with the honesty and integrity with which it is told.

My last "again"... on the '68 Olympics is that there were 3 men who stood on that podium that day.  One who is too often forgotten, but one whose image though muted is as strong as any other.  There were three men.  John Carlos, Tommie Smith and Peter Norman;



Thursday, September 23, 2010

* Pop Lloyd Weekend Update - Fri. 9-24

18th Annual Pop Lloyd Weekend

Celebrating the Negro Leagues
October 1-3, 2010
Through the years Pop Lloyd Weekend has been a special time. (You can view our scrapbook to your right.) I'm still grappling with how quickly 18 years can slip away. The weekends have been memorable and the source of some of my most treasured memories. And, even though each one brought with it the kinds of unique challenges and struggles that come with bringing anything to life. I wouldn't trade any of them. Not one. Because, at its core, Pop Lloyd Weekend is a celebration of the legacy of the men and women of the Negro Leagues.

This year is absolutely no different. Local schools strapped for cash don't have money to transport students to our Friday symposium or to pay for substitutes. Many of them will be there anyway. I am humbled by their determination and thirst. And, as always, they will not be disappointed and their minds and their souls will be filled.

Stephan A Smith
Stockton Symposium 2008



 Over the years The Pop Lloyd Committee has been able to give area high school students a unique window into history. And, through the eyes of authors and athletes themselves they have had the ability to not only hear the stories, but to question the stories behind the story. These young adults have challenged and at the same time been challenging. It has grown to be a important part of weekend and reflects the growing partnership between the Committee and the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey--the symposium home. We will miss those students who are unable to be with us.

The Atlantic City Art Center, which has provided a home for our art shows in the past has been closed due to weather damage to the Pier. We are still waiting to see if it will be available on Sunday. We will display as much as we can at the Awards dinner on Saturday night but...


We've been here before and to take a quote from Philadelphia Star Stanley Glenn's book: Don't Let Anybody Take Your Joy.

So this is OUR reality...
The 18th Annual Pop Lloyd Weekend will be held October 1-3 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Beginning Oct 1 with our Annual Symposium of authors to be held at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Performing Arts Center. On Saturday evening the Humanitarian Awards Dinner will be held at Bally's Hotel and Casino where there will be a display of art portraying the early lives of the men of the Negro Leagues.
Emilio Navarro will be with us to celebrate his 105 birthday. 


We will also continue to celebrate with Monte Irvin, the retiring of his Jersey this year by the San Francisco Giants, always remembering he was a Newark Eagle first. 


Joining Monte will be Red Moore, another former Eagle and Octogenarians Mahlon Duckett, Stanley Glenn and Harold Gould of the Philadelphia Stars.







And, as always-- what a JOYous time we will have!
Click on the images below to enlarge invitation and schedule:








*Eureka the Art Center will be open 



Pop Lloyd and the Northside

The Art of Wayne Mann
Artist Reception 
 Oct. 3, 1-4pm
The Atlantic City Art Center is located at New Jersey Avenue and Boardwalk.
Admission and Parking Free

Also on display artists Lou Grant and Dane Tilghman and the collected works from the Pop Lloyd Committee.

Live Music and Refreshments!



Sunday, February 15, 2009


John  Carlos and Tommie Smith Return to Mexico City

"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other... to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories."              George Elliot






There were many photos taken during the 1960's that could define that period of time. This one stands among them. So what was it that these two very young men were thinking at that moment in time? How and why did they decide to make this statement, and what was it they were really saying. The 1968 Olympics truly mirrored the politics of a period. Today at 4pm ESPN will broadcast a special of John Carlos and Timmie Smith's return to Mexico City. And documents these two friends as they reflect on the 1968 Olympics, and a moment in time.





This is a post from my Facebook account this morning. It took me awhile to get it posted because I'm not really adept with the nuances of posting. It was an exceptional piece. It is my hope that ESPN will produce a DVD for purchase, they should at least rerun it--and not just during the "short month" (otherwise known as Black History Month).  I think we should start making some requests.   I hope you all had the opportunity to see it. There are some clips posted on ESPN. There are 4 of them. Check them out:


Note: some of the ESPN links are no longer viewable. You can view them on YOUTUBE. 




OTher Videos: