Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 2-5-16 (2)

Local
Library Foundation To Present Award
NOBLE SISSLE, SR. ... Award Recipient
Noble Sissle, Jr., a “Son of the Harlem Renaissance,” will receive the Robert W. Saunders “Lamp Of Knowl- edge” Award on Monday, Feb. 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Presented by the Robert W. Saunders Library Foun- dation, Inc., the presentation will take place at the Robert W. Saunders Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Avenue. Light re- freshments will be served and the public is invited to attend and to help the library cele- brate Black History Month.
Sissle, Jr. is the son of the legendary Noble Sissle, one of the nation’s premiere composers, bandleaders and singers who began during the Harlem Renaissance era in the early 20th Century. He, musical partner Eubie Blake and James Europe wrote and produced the his- toric show Shuffle Along.
They also produced some of the first jazz numbers in early talking films. And among their most popular tunes was the song I’m Just Wild About Harry (and Harry’s wild about me). Sissle spent his last years living with his son in Tampa before passing here Decem- ber 17, 1975.
Sissle, Jr., will talk about his father’s amazing career and will discuss an upcoming project he is working on to share this great American’s life story with the world.
Community Responds To 1st State Fair Black History Exhibit
DR. WALTER SMITH Florida State Fair 2016 Diversity Appreciation Wall Of Fame honoree
DOUGLAS JAMERSON 1947 —- 2001
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
This year, there will be a Black History Exhibit at the Florida State Fair. The idea was introduced this year, approved by fair officials, and embraced by the commu- nity.
The exhibit is in celebration of Black History Month. The fair opened on Thursday, February 4th and will end on Monday, February 15th.
Lewis Brinson, Chief Diversity Of- ficer for the Hillsborough County School District said, “I am pleased 100% with the response we received from the commu- nity and looking forward to next year.
“We have six schools participating and the Educators for Change will also have a display and pass out guidelines by the NAACP to young people telling them how to avoid being arrested and becoming a statistic.”
As far as participation from the com-
This is one of the exhibits on display at the Florida State Fair entitled, “Famous Black Inspirations.”
This exhibit submitted by Clarence Fort focuses on the Sit-Ins in Tampa in the 1960s during the fight for integration.
munity, Brinson said those most individuals or organizations who sub- mitted quality information prior to the deadline will be included in this year’s edition. Several others contacted him after the deadline.
“As part of the display this year, we will have a mural from Middleton High School; a Sit-In Exhibit from Clarence Fort; a tribute to the three African American school board members (Rev. A. Leon Lowry, Mrs. Doris Ross Reddick, and Mrs. Doretha Edge- comb); a tribute to prominent African Americans who made contributions in Tampa; and two History Alive presen- tations featuring Mary McLeod Bethune and Frederick Douglass. We will also have a genealogy group trac- ing African American history.”
The new exhibit came about after a series of events that took place during recent years involving African Americans. Those events included the ejection of
nearly 100 teenagers two years ago that ended in tragedy. One youngster who had been ejected, Andrew Joseph, III, was killed after he attempted to cross Interstate 4, in 2013.
Additional this year, on Saturday, February 6th, members of the community will gather for the 2016 Annual Florida State Fair Diversity Appreciation Wall of FameInductions.
Dr. Walter L. Smith was chosen as the African American honoree. A trailblazer, Dr. Smith has achieved numerous milestones in education on a local, state, national, and international level. He has amassed accomplishments ranging from becoming President of his college alma mater, to becoming a published author.
The late Commissioner of Education, Doug Jamerson, and Victoriano Manteiga, founder of La Gaceta newspaper, were selected as a “Historical Honorees.”
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016