Under the baobab: Democracy in action and goodbye to civil rights champion

Our community had the highest voter turnout for a municipal primary in 24 years. In some precincts nearly one in two registered voters cast their ballots either personally or by mail-in ballot

We watched a steady stream of voters at 16th precinct State College North, which was led by election judge Lara Fowler, assisted by Marianne Kuhns, Mary Wujek, Terry Shupp, Mieke Haeck, Andrew Warner, Peggy Marsh and others. The next year and a half leading up to the presidential election will be long and difficult. Congratulations to all poll workers for your effort and commitment. Congrats to the winners but also kudos to all who participated. This is what democracy looks like.

Also last week, Jim Brown joined the ancestors. Most people knew of him because he was arguably the best running back to ever put on football spikes. Others knew him because he was one the first African American action heroes in the movies. I knew him as an important leader in the Black power and civil rights movement. He was one of the first African American athletes that inspired others to stand up for the cause. With Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Carl Stokes, he had founded the Cleveland Summit to support Muhammad Ali in his struggles with the U.S. government. He founded the Amer-I-Can Foundation, an organization that sought to divert gang members from violence by teaching them life skills.

In 1992 while I was at the American Film Institute in LA an insurrection broke out following the acquittal of the police officers who beat Rodney King. Along with others in our church group, I volunteered with one of the emergency vehicle teams that distributed water, food and supplies to the beleaguered neighborhood. During the course of the uprising many of us would meet at Jim’s house trying to develop a strategy to save lives and the neighborhood. Jim had us out in the streets talking to Bloods and Crips. For four days we attempted to mitigate the violence but when it was over, 63 people had been killed, 2,383 had been injured, more than 12,000 had been arrested and estimates of property damage were over $1 billion. Without Jim Brown it would have been much worse. Rest in peace, brother.

AROUND TOWN

Penn State Centre Stage welcomed back some recent graduates for “One Night on Broadway” featuring Faren Collins, Sarah Ellis, Rachel Fairbanks, Matthew Hydzik, Julio Rey, J. Savage and Lauren Weinberger. The sold-out performance, directed by Prof. Robert Schneider and co-hosted with Catherine DeLuce, received a well-deserved standing ovation.

A new performance venue in State College is shaking the rafters. The Blue Brick Theatre on Calder Way, home of Happy Valley Improv (HVI) hosted their Second Annual Happy Valley XL Improv Festival, which consisted of three nights of improvisational theater with a total of 12 shows. Earlier in the week HVI hosted a stand-up comedy night, where local and out of town talent showcased to a packed theater.

In what is reputed to be the largest used book sale of its kind east of the Mississippi, for the 61st time the State College branch of the American Association of University Women placed over 200,000 books on sale at the Ag Arena. The sale raised nearly $200,000 for grants and programs supporting women’s education.

The Boalsburg Fire Company will be holding its annual Memorial Day Weekend Carnival: Thursday, May 25 Wristband Night 6-10 p.m. ($20 buys a wristband good for unlimited rides.)

Friday, May 26 until Monday, May 29 the carnival will be open at various times. Saturday, May 27 from 8-10 a.m. is the 5K “Walk to Remember our Fallen” and at 5 p.m. the annual Boalsburg Fire Company Memorial Day Parade. Remember and respect the sacrifice of our veterans.

Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He was the 2022 Lion’s Paw Awardee and Living Legend honoree of the National Black Theatre Festival. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.