Mondays 'IN' The Undergroundrailroad

Hello everybody and welcome to Monday's 'IN' The Undergroundrailroad. I'm glad you dropped in to say hello today and Happy President's Day. I'm not honoring the pResident in office now because he was not elected to anything. But certainly I honor past Presidents. I hope to jump-start your week ahead and/or at least bring a smile to your face. Can I do it? OR May I (ouch, I felt that ruler tap on my hand !). Allow me to bring a smile to your face.

We continue to celebrate Black History Month in the Undergroundrailroad. I wish learning about Black history was longer than a week or month. I think it's important to discuss and learn the many contributions of African-Americans all over the world. For instance, this leads up to our dessert today, Mrs. Fisher's Coconut Pie!

Born into slavery, Mrs. Abby Fisher was one of the first African-Americans to author a cookbook. And this month, in honor of Black History Month, the coconut pie is just one of her recipes being featured at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI. Not much is known about Mrs. Fisher. Born into slavery, she and her husband moved from Mobile, Ala., to San Francisco after the Civil War. Their 11th child was born en route in Missouri. On the West Coast, Mrs. Fisher worked as a cook and a caterer and operated a pickles, preserves, jams and jellies store.

Her culinary skills didn't go unnoticed. At the Sacramento State Fair in 1879, she was awarded a diploma. The following year at the San Francisco Mechanics' Institute Fair, she won two medals -- best pickles and sauces, and best assortment of jellies and preserves. Mrs. Fisher could neither read nor write, but her admirers convinced her to dictate the recipes she stored in her head so they could be passed on. Note the wording for her coconut pie recipe:

"One cocoanut fresh, draw off the milk, then place the nut in a hot oven and let it stay long enough for the shell to pull off; then grate with the nut juice one teacup of powdered white sugar, one tablespoonful of butter and lard rubbed together until creamed . . . "

Well, I don't know about you, but Mrs. Fisher's Coconut Pie sounds wonderful and I'm going to prepare it! I'll report my results in future Mondays 'IN' The UGRR editions.

The name of the book is What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking, Soups, Pickles, Preserves, Etc.

Ronald H. Brown in a photo being held by his son Michael Brown

Where were you when you heard that Ron Brown died in a plane crash in 1996 while on a trade mission to Bosnia? I recall the moment very well. It sent waves of shock and sadness throughout the world and I remember the look on President Clinton's face. Stunned that his Secretary of Commerce and good friend was gone forever. The wreckage yielded more than a ravaged body and soon even I had to ask the question, was this really an accident or murder? It was at that point that the public gained an insight into Ron Brown's work for civil and human rights.

There were many "firsts" in the life of Ron Brown, the most important being the first African-American to hold the office of U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Secretary Brown was born in Washington, D.C. in 1941. He grew up in New York, and with the help of a scholarship attended Middlebury College in Vermont. He received his law degree from St. John's University, attending at night while working by day as a welfare caseworker for the City of New York. He served for four years in the Army in both Germany and Korea. As lawyer, a negotiator, a pragmatic bridge builder, he was highly successful in building a strong private sector/public sector partnership. As he stated, "That includes rebuilding our industrial base and working with small business owners and minority entrepreneurs to create and expand employment opportunities."

He also served as chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee under the Chairmanship of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Ron Brown spent 12 years with the National Urban League as Deputy Executive Director, General Counsel and vice president for its Washington operations.

Ron Brown was also the highly successful chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Ron Brown was married to the former Alma Arrington and their two children, Michael and Tracey are both lawyers.

A ship was named to honor the late Secretary of Commerce, Ronald H. Brown. NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN, a state-of-the-art oceanographic and atmospheric research platform, is the largest vessel in the NOAA fleet. With its highly advanced instruments and sensors, RONALD H. BROWN travels worldwide supporting scientific studies to increase our understanding of the world's oceans and climate. A fitting tribute to an outstanding individual. His son, Michael Brown, is the Chairman of the Ronald H. Brown Foundation.

What an extraordinary, brilliant life! It is this life that is celebrated today and always in the Undergroundrailroad.

I do miss you Secretary Ron Brown.

NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN

Paul Winfield

Last night, Sunday, I watched the second part of the movie KING based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. I couldn't help but marvel at the remarkable resemblance of Paul Winfield and Dr. King. In fact, I found it difficult looking at Paul Winfield and not thinking of him as Dr. King! If you have not seen this movie, I urge you to purchase or rent it. The sets are very realistic and the acting is superb. A little unrealistic was the role of Coretta Scott King played by the award winning actress, Cicely Tyson. There was absolutely no physical resemblance between Ms. Tyson and Mrs. King, not that there should be. Perhaps the image of the dynamic, omnipresent, Mrs. King just got in the way.

The most important scene in this movie was the last few moments of Dr. King's life. The way he looked at the sky, commenting on the weather and not needing a coat. Also what happened AFTER Dr. King was shot and taken to the hospital, presumably alive. Did the physicians do everything possible to help him? Also the manner in which his family found out about his death. Where was the dignity of informing Mrs. King of the murder of her husband in an airport? Also, the crime scene. You will soon realize that it was all a sham, a fraud, a non-problem to the FBI and local police. And finally you will see a VERY graphic autopsy and then it hits you like a ton of bricks. This man was murdered in cold blood and it looked, smelled, sounded like a conspiracy. I can't help but think if Dr. Martin Luther King had the level of security that is awarded heads of states and elected officials today, he might still be alive. But the same argument could be made for President Kennedy.

Finally you will hear the famous "I Have A Dream" speech delivered in almost the same syntax of Dr. King. It is a truly brilliant performance and it is most appropriate to honor the actor Paul Winfield in Mondays 'IN' The Undergroundrailroad in honor of Black History Month.

A native of Los Angeles's Watts District, the distinguished actor Paul Winfield's earliest theater experience came while he was a student at Manual Arts High School. He continued his studies as a scholarship student at the University of Portland, Stanford University, Los Angeles City College and UCLA.

Mr. Winfield had resolved to become a university professor, but black actors were beginning to make their mark in Hollywood. He received his first big break from Burgess Meredith, who cast him in Le Roi Jones' controversial The Dutchman and The Toilet. This led to a series of walk-on parts for television; Mr. Winfield then decided to join the Stanford Repertory Theater, followed by a stint at the Inner City Cultural Center Theater in Los Angeles

More in this bio of Paul Winfield:

In the hit movie, PRESUMED INNOCENT, PAUL WINFIELD played a crafty judge, and when he was on the bench most of us didn't care much what happened to the other actors. He is probably Hollywood's best scene stealer. He started young. At Manual Arts high school in Los Angeles, he won the "best actor" honor three years straight in competition with hundreds of other Southern Californian drama students. In his film debut in "Sounder" he was nominated for an Oscar. Twice he was nominated for an Emmy Award. One for his brilliant portrayal of Martin Luther King in NBC' s special, "King", and another time for his role in "Roots II." He has guest starred in more than 40 television shows, playing memorable roles in "227", "L.A. Law" and "Murder She Wrote." He has been in 20 plays at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles as well as in regional theaters elsewhere across the country, including Lincoln Center. He has been honored by the National Association of Media Women and the Black Child Development Institute, and won NAACP's Image award. He was recently inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall Of Fame.

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The Boondocks by Aaron McGruder

Questions of the Day

1. Name one African-American, in your opinion, who deserves a national holiday in addition to Dr. Martin Luther King?

2. What car have you always wanted but have not yet purchased.

3. OK, it's three day after the 2004 Presidential election and there is STILL no declared winner. Bush is STILL the pResident. There is trouble in at least 2 states with validating votes. What do you think should happen?

OK, I'm OUTTA. I will see you next Monday 'IN' The Undergroundrailroad. Have a great week!