Mason Travel Network

04/09/2024

On their way back to Chicago after a series of shows in Mississippi in November 1964, the Staples Singers pulled into a Memphis gas station to fill up. Pops Staples was in the bathroom when the young attendant finished filling the tank. After Mavis Staples paid him, she asked the attendant to bring her a receipt. The attendant responded that if she wanted a receipt, she had to come inside to get it, adding an epithet that starts with an “n.” When Pops returned to the car, Mavis told him what had happened. Pops went into the station to get the receipt and told the attendant that he owed his daughter an apology. Instead of apologizing, the attendant insulted Pops as well. Pops was prematurely gray, which may have contributed to the attendant’s misjudgment of him, and of course the attendant could not have known that Pops had been a boxer as a young man. The end result was that Pops gave the attendant exactly what he had earned—a good thumping.
After the Staples drove away the attendant phoned the Memphis police, claiming he had been beaten and robbed by a carload of black people. He described the car, which the Memphis police soon found. They pulled the Staples family over, arrested them and took them to the Memphis police station. Mavis later said she has never been afraid in her life that she was that day as they were being taken into the station. In the car the police had found a box full of cash (the group’s earnings from their shows) which seemed to confirm the story that they were thieves. But as they were being arraigned, a janitor in the station recognized them. “These are the Staples Singers,” he told the cops. “They’re a famous gospel group.” Realizing what had happened, the cops got the group’s autographs, apologized, and let them go. Whether the attendant was charged with making a false report is unknown, but we can hope that he at least was given the shaming he deserved.
In 1968 the Staples Singers signed with Stax Records and crossed over into R&B and pop. In 1971 their single “I’ll Take You There” went to #1. Throughout the group’s existence they sold millions of records. Mavis Staples, at age 81, is still performing.
Roebuck “Pops” Staples died in Chicago at age 85 on December 19, 2000, twenty years ago today.

04/09/2024

04/09/2024

African-American women pose in Atlantic City, at Chicken Bone Beach, 1950's.

Chicken Bone Beach was the segregated section for African Americans on Atlantic City's beach area.

Between 1900 and the early 1950s, African Americans were socially restricted to use the Missouri Avenue Beach Area.

African-Americans were not allowed to patronize the city's restaurants, so they had to bring their own food to the beach.

Many vacationing Black families arrived with picnic baskets filled with chicken and other goodies,
so the strip became affectionately named
"Chicken Bone Beach."

04/09/2024

If you have a manual push mower today, it likely uses design elements from 19th Century Black American inventor John Albert Burr's patented rotary blade lawn mower.
On May 9, 1899, John Albert Burr patented an improved rotary blade lawn mower. Burr designed a lawn mower with traction wheels and a rotary blade that was designed to not easily get plugged up from lawn clippings. John Albert Burr also improved the design of lawn mowers by making it possible to mow closer to building and wall edges. You can view U.S. patent 624,749 issued to John Albert Burr.

04/09/2024

They had all been drinking what's dubbed 'rotgut' alcohol

04/09/2024

An 11-year-old child has allegedly confessed to fatally shooting a former city council member and his daughter, according to officials in Louisiana.

Officers in Minden, Louisiana, received a call at 6:30 a.m. Sunday about two bodies inside of a house, police said. Responders found Joe Cornelius Sr., 82, and his daughter, Keisha Miles, 31, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

The 11-year-old child is in custody and is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, though a motive isn't clear, authorities said. https://abcnews.visitlink.me/_b6n2g

04/09/2024

Sabrina Gonzalez, hailed as the next Einstein by Harvard University, is a rising star in the scientific community known for her groundbreaking research and innovative ideas. Her work, particularly in theoretical physics and cosmology, showcases a deep understanding of complex concepts and a unique approach to solving some of the universe’s most intriguing puzzles. Gonzalez's potential to make significant contributions to our understanding of space and time has garnered her recognition and respect among leading researchers. Her dedication and brilliance embody the spirit of exploration and discovery that characterizes the greatest scientific minds of our time.

04/09/2024

John Amos in his 1958 East Orange High School yearbook photo.
John Allen Amos Jr. (born December 27, 1939) is an American actor known for his role as James Evans, Sr., on the CBS television series Good Times. Amos's other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing, and the role of Washington, D.C., Mayor Ethan Baker in the series The District. Amos has appeared on Broadway and in numerous films in his five-decade career. He has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he has played numerous supporting roles in movies such as The Beastmaster (1982), Coming to America (1988), Die Hard 2 (1990) and Coming 2 America (2021).
John A. Amos, Jr. Was born in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, and graduated from East Orange High School in 1958. He enrolled at Long Beach City College and graduated from Colorado State University, qualifying as a social worker with a degree in sociology. Amos also played on the Colorado State Rams football team. After college, he was a Golden Gloves boxing champion.
In 1964, Amos signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos. Unable to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled hamstring, he was released on the second day of training camp. He then played with the Canton Bulldogs and Joliet Explorers of the United Football League. In 1965, he played with the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League. In 1966, he played with the Jersey City Jets and Waterbury Orbits of the Atlantic Coast Football League.
In 1967, Amos signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Coach Hank Stram told him, "You're not a football player, you're a man who is trying to play football." He returned to the Continental League, where he played that year with the Victoria Steelers.

03/09/2024

💪💪💪

03/09/2024

In 1875, Oliver Lewis became the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, America's longest continuous sporting event. Lewis was born in 1856 in Fayette Country, Kentucky, to his parents Goodson and Eleanor Lewis. Lewis was born free, but there is little known about his parents or family. Lewis was only 19 years old when he entered the first Kentucky Derby. The race was held at what was then the Louisville Jockey Club on May 17, 1875, but is now known as Churchill Downs.

Ten thousand spectators watched this first race. Lewis rode a horse named Aristide, which was one of two colts entered by their owner, H. Price McGrath of Jessamine, Kentucky. The other horse, Chesapeake, was ridden by William Henry. Although the same owner entered both horses, Chesapeake was favored to win the $2,850 purse, and Lewis was told that his job was to lead most of the race to tire out the other horses. Out of the fifteen jockeys in the field, at this first Kentucky Derby, thirteen of them were African American. Aristide's trainer, Ansel Williamson, was also an African American.

Oliver Lewis followed his instructions and was pushing most of the field while trailing a horse named Volcano for most of the race. However, in the last stretch, Chesapeake was unexpectedly far back in the pack, while Aristide and Volcano were running neck and neck for first place. Lewis and Aristide pulled away near the finish line and won the race by two lengths. With that victory, Lewis became the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. Later that season, Lewis came in second in the Belmont Stakes in New York and won three more races at the Louisville Jockey Club, riding Aristide in all of them. He would never ride in the Kentucky Derby again, however, and would retire after that racing season for unknown reasons.

After retiring, Lewis worked for a short time as a day laborer, but then began providing handicapping tables and racing forms to bookies. He later became a bookie himself, which was legal in Kentucky at that time. Lewis married, although his wife's name is unknown. The couple had six children, including James, who inherited his lucrative bookmaking business. Oliver Lewis died in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1924 at the age of 68.

03/09/2024

Neil deGrasse Tyson’s point is that if humanity has the technological capability to terraform other planets, we should first focus on restoring Earth’s environment. This underscores the idea that we already possess the knowledge and resources to heal our planet, but lack the collective will. Instead of dreaming of making other planets habitable, our priority should be fixing the damage we’ve caused here. It’s a call to action, emphasizing that our best investment is in preserving and repairing Earth, the only known planet where life already thrives.

03/09/2024

Marie Curie was the first woman to be honored with a place in the Panthéon, a testament to her groundbreaking contributions to science and her enduring legacy. Her pioneering research in radioactivity earned her two Nobel Prizes, one in Physics and one in Chemistry, making her the first person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Her work not only advanced our understanding of atomic science but also paved the way for future generations of scientists. Curie's induction into the Panthéon in 1995 highlighted her remarkable achievements and cemented her place as a trailblazer in scientific history.

03/09/2024

With a vocal style that drew comparisons to Otis Redding, the 300-400 pound Baby Huey (James Ramey, August 17, 1944 – October 28, 1970), was set to break out of the Chicago scene with the release of his debut album. During the late-1960s, the band followed the lead of Sly & the Family Stone and became a psychedelic soul act. Huey began wearing an Afro and donned psychedelic African-inspired robes, and adding sing-song, self-referential rhymes to his live performances. According to his bandmates, Ramey's rhymes were very similar in style to those later popularized by rappers in hip-hop music.Unfortunately, his weight and taste for drugs resulted in a fatal heart attack that prevented him from seeing the release of the disc. Featuring Curtis Mayfield's Hard Times and Mighty Mighty Children plus a cover of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come,Baby Huey's lone album (recorded in 1970 and released in 1971) has become a sought-after collectible among soul fanatics.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mr2eD6D55_A

03/09/2024

He does care...!

The Kremlin was confident Mongolia would ignore its duty as a member of the International Criminal Court, which has charged Russia's president for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. https://on.ft.com/4g6Kvlb

03/09/2024

03/09/2024

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL, December 17, 1933- First ever NFL Championship game takes place between Bears and NY Giants

The NFL was founded in 1920 and, up until 1933, championships were awarded to teams with the highest winning percentage. Then, under the leadership of Boston Redskins owner George Preston Marshall, it was divided into two divisions and declared that the winner of each division would meet in a title game for the championship.

The first two teams in this title game were the New York Giants (11-3) and the Chicago Bears (10-2-1). The Bears had home field advantage and the game took place at Wrigley Field. In this photo we see Carl Brumbaugh of the Bears running the ball with Hall-of-Famer Ken Strong attempting to tackle him. The Bears defeated the Giants 23-21 behind legend Bronko Nagursk’s rushing (64 yards) and passing (two touchdown tosses).

03/09/2024

Planning a trip to the Cliffs of Moher Experience?😁

Discover the best places to stay in County Clare with our top picks!🤩

Whether you're looking for a cozy retreat, family-friendly spot or luxury accommodation, find the perfect place to stay near the Cliffs of Moher Experience!😍

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03/09/2024

And it's very effective!

03/09/2024

31/08/2024

Breaking News: The social network X was banned in Brazil after Elon Musk refused a judge's orders to suspend certain accounts. The country's Supreme Court justice also froze the finances of another Musk business in Brazil, SpaceX's Starlink, to try to collect fines he has levied against X. https://nyti.ms/47arUjS

31/08/2024

Spanish actor Julian Ortega, known for appearing in popular Spanish-language Netflix drama series “Elite,” has died, the country’s actors and actresses union has announced. He was 41. https://cnn.it/3Tes18r

31/08/2024

31/08/2024

And it won't break the bank!