By: Akua Dixon

Akua Dixon — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 04:11:53 +0000

Your article brings back so many wonderful memories of African Americans working together to change/improve our life condition. The 2nd Human Rights Commission Hearing in 1976 was approx. 30 yrs. after the first one. I was so blessed to be at the 2nd hearing. Here we are 38 yrs. after our marching for our rights and “Everything Old Is New Again”. Orchestras rarely hire African American orchestral musicians. Most of the popular artists, black and white, also hire all white orchestras for their concerts. It’s as if we don’t exist.

My sister Gayle was a fantastic violinist, the last show she did was the Phantom of the Opera. Most pits have so few Black players that you never feel comfortable being there. There were several incidents that she refused to take and filed charges against her employers because of her working conditions.

Gayle was one of the witnesses at the hearing in 1976 that opened with Ossie Davis speaking.

By: Candace

Candace — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 15:54:52 +0000

I love both "Road to Paris" and "Planet Middle School" (the latter because I tell people "Look for my name.") and have bought extra copies to give away. "Road to Paris" is a good book to give to someone who has or deals with Foster children. Most of your books, Nikki, cross ethnic lines. IT IS a pity that your books get neglected because they are thought to be ethnic stories rather then just plain human stories. They are often hard to find because of that. But I just found a copy of Planet Middle School and bought it. If I can let go of it, I might take it down to a Middle School nearby and donate it.

Comments on: Everything Old is New Again

By: Akua Dixon

By: Candace