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Quote of the Week
(Sponsored by Curtis Crawley)
Black Fact
07-02-26 | On this day in 1925, Civil Rights activist, Medgar Evers born in Decatur, MS.
07-03-26 | On this day in 1775, Prince Hall founded Africa Lodge No. 1. It was the first Black Lodge of Free Masons in the United States.
07-04-26 | On this day in 1972, NAACP convention adopted emergency resolution charging that President Nixon was “leading the mob in its assault upon the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection clause.”
07-05-26 | On this day in 1899, Anna Arnold Hedgeman was the first woman to serve in the cabinet of a New York City mayor.
07-06-26 | On this day in 1853, William Wells Brown published Clotel, the first novel by a Black American.
07-07-26 | On this day in 1906, Baseball legend Satchel Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama.
07-08-26 | On this day in 1943, Faye Wattleton, a registered nurse and New York activist, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Wattleton served as president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America from 1978 to 1992.
07-09-26 | On this day in 1955, E. Frederic Morrow was appointed administrative aide to President Eisenhower and became the first Black to hold an executive position on the White House staff.
07-10-26 | On this day in 1943, Arthur Ashe was born. He was the first Black male to win Wimbledon.
07-11-26 | On this day in 1943, Civil rights activist WEB Dubois, founds the Niagra Movement.
07-12-26 | On this day in 1887, Mound Bayou, an all-African American town in Mississippi is founded by Isaiah Montgomery.
07-13-26 | On this day in 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first African American Presidential nominee, with 151 votes from the delegates polled.
WZZA founders Bob Carl and Odessa Bailey supported the Reverend Jesse Jackson during his national Presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 by raising funds and organizing local volunteers. Bob Carl Bailey held several events to help fund the “Run Jesse Run” campaign, including dances at local clubs with entry fees going to the campaign. After being appointed as the Deputy Youth Coordinator for the 5th Congressional District, Tori was later elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
Mr. and Mrs. Bailey also were instrumental in setting up Jackson appearances in the Shoals including those held at the University of North Alabama, Colbert County High School, and Muscle Shoals High School.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks at University North Alabama’s Norton Auditorium, February 1984. Shown from left: Bob Carl Bailey-Campaign organizer and fundraiser, The Rev. Jesse Jackson- Candidate for U.S. President, Principal Leroy Finch (who introduced Jackson), and Tori Bailey, Youth Coordinator for the 5th Congressional District.
(Photo provided courtesy of Kelsey and Constance Finch)
The Reverend Jesse Jackson speaks at Muscle Shoals High School Gymnasium, January 13, 1988.
(photo taken by Earl Bailey)
Rev. Jackson often showed concern about the next generation and invited them to join him.
(photo taken by Charles E. Butler)
Jackson captivates the audience at Muscle Shoals High School Gym. Shown beginning with center bottom row: Odessa Bailey-WZZA owner, with her sister Tammy Vaughn Ricks to her left, friend Pat Lee (wife of Shoals Ford owner Fred Lee) to her right, and her daughter Tori Bailey above (elected as a Delegate to the National Democratic Convention). Also shown on top left is TVA’s Dr. Taylor Byrd.
(photo taken by Charles E. Butler)
The Reverend Jesse Jackson singlehandedly inspired more individuals to become registered voters with his viable campaign for the highest office in the land. His candidacy paved the way for our first Black president, Barack Obama, to successfully achieve that goal. Both Tori Bailey and her parents were vetted by Secret Service in order to be able to work in close proximity to Rev. Jackson. All three were sworn as deputy registrars. During that period of taking information to register voters, it was wonderful to see the level of excitement about a candidate who would – for the first time – fight for the rights of all.
Jackson continued his fight for justice and equality across the nation. In 2007, WZZA Radio aired a series titled “Keep Hope Alive with Jesse Jackson”.
And in 2016, the NAACP Alabama State Conference held a Gala in Montgomery as a kick-off of activities held in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. At that time Tori Bailey, who was Communications Chair for the NAACP, was the emcee for the Gala. She asked the Reverend Jackson to make a few remarks. He was, of course, as dynamic and as riveting as always, inspiring the attendees to remember that we must “keep hope alive”.
