AA Boomers

Topic of the Day

by Henry C. Jackson, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four young victims of a deadly Alabama church bombing that marked one of the darkest moments of the civil rights movement are one step closer to receiving Congress’ highest civilian honor.

By a 420-0 vote, the House on Wednesday passed a measure that posthumously would award the Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley and Denise McNair.

The girls were killed when a bomb planted by white supremacists exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., in September 1963. The measure will now be considered by the Senate.

Read More:  http://thegrio.com/2013/04/26/4-little-girls-from-deadly-1963-birmingham-bombing-may-recieve-congressional-gold-medals/

Careers

Michael Baisden

Dallas, TX ( -- Nationally syndicated radio personality Michael Baisden announced a hiatus from his radio show on his Facebook page that will begin on April 1, 2013. Baisden, who commands a daily audience of over seven million listeners, states he is unable to discuss the particulars but concluded that a deal could not be made on mutually agreeable terms. Recognized as one of the most influential men in radio, his "Michael Baisden Show" is one of the top rated afternoon drive radio programs heard in the top urban markets. He is also a TV talk show host, film-maker and New York Times best-selling author with nearly two million books in print.

Now in his tenth year on the air, Baisden wants his radio family to know he did everything in his power to continue his "Michael Baisden Show" without interruption. "We're already planning to return to the air as soon as possible in a way that will give the 'Michael Baisden Show' a more direct relationship with our affiliates, and most importantly, our listeners," cites Pamela Exum, his business manager. "We were unable to reach an agreement with our syndication partner. This was not a hostile situation, sometimes parties have different ideas and visions about how to move forward."

Baisden began his career as an author, self publishing several best selling books including "Never Satisfied," "Men Cry In The Dark," "The Maintenance Man I and II," "Do Men Know What They Want" and "God's Gift to Women." Two of his books were adapted to stage plays, starring such renowned actors as Richard Roundtree and Billy Dee Williams.

Read More: http://www.blacknews.com/news/michael_baisden_bids_farewell_to_radio101.shtml

Politics

Hope Yen AP, Yahoo News

WASHINGTON (AP) — America's blacks voted at a higher rate than other minority groups in 2012 and by most measures surpassed the white turnout for the first time, reflecting a deeply polarized presidential election in which blacks strongly supported Barack Obama while many whites stayed home.

Had people voted last November at the same rates they did in 2004, when black turnout was below its current historic levels, Republican Mitt Romney would have won narrowly, according to an analysis conducted for The Associated Press.

Census data and exit polling show that whites and blacks will remain the two largest racial groups of eligible voters for the next decade. Last year's heavy black turnout came despite concerns about the effect of new voter-identification laws on minority voting, outweighed by the desire to re-elect the first black president.

Read More: http://news.yahoo.com/first-black-voter-turnout-rate-passes-whites-115957314.html

Lifestyles

By Donna Battle Pierce

BlackAmericaCooks.com

This Mother's Day Shortcake recipe is adapted from a recipe by Rufus Estes in "Good Things to Eat As Suggested by Rufus," the elegant cookbook he published in Chicago in 1911.  Before Estes grew up to be a Pullman Private Car chef, a world traveler and a cookbook author, he was a devoted son to his formerly enslaved mother.

"I was born in Murray County, Tennessee, in 1857, a slave," Estes begins in the first part of the book, "Sketch of My Life," where he describes moving 50 miles north to Nashville after the Civil War so he and his mom could be with his grandmother, while his mother still mourned the loss of two other sons who had been killed during the war.

"When summer came, I got work milking cows for some neighbors for which I got two dollars a month. I also carried hot dinners for the laborers in the fields, for which each one paid me twenty-five cents a month. All of this, of course, went to my mother…I thought I could be of better service to her and prolong her life by getting work," Estes wrote.

The rest of the trailblazing cookbook includes a full range of international delicacies, as well as simple Southern dishes, such as these  individual shortcakes, most likely based on Estes' remembered Tennessee flavors of home.

Chef's  Mother's Day Strawberry Shortcakes

1 quart (2 pints) strawberries, hulled, sliced

3/4 cup sugar

2 cups flour

2 1/2  teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1/2 cup milk

Whipped Cream

Place the strawberry slices into a medium bowl; top with 1/2 cup of sugar. Cover; refrigerate until ready to serve. (This can be done the day before)

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Add the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; mix together with a wooden spoon. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, eggs, melted butter and milk, stirring just until all ingredients are mixed. Use a scoop to fill paper-lined  muffin tins about three-fourths of the way full.  Bake until an inserted wooden skewer comes out clean and muffins are cooked through and beginning to brown, about 18 to 22 minutes. Transfer shortcakes to a wire rack to cool Makes 12 shortcakes.

To serve, remove cooled shortcakes from paper wrapping. Cut in half crosswise. Place the bottom in a dessert or cocktail glass. Top with sliced strawberries  Place the shortcake top over the berries. Add more berries and some of the berry juice. Top with whipped cream.  Makes 12 servings.

Note: if you are making less that 12 shortcakes, reserve ungarnished shortcakes to serve for breakfast as muffins.

Read more:  http://donnapierce.com

Lifestyles

By New America Media

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Consider the reality of healthy aging, sexually active seniors and octogenarian lovers challenging the rules of decorum. The “Make Love Not War” flower children of the ’60s are taking the slogan seriously.

While many young people shudder at the thought of grandparents having sex, it is taking place in a wide range of settings, including single and married seniors living independently in the community to those in nursing homes.

In addition to the Hugh Hefners of the world, looking for Playboy bunnies and Barbies, there is a serious group of men and women looking for mature love and engaging in age-appropriate sex.

Read More:   http://newamericamedia.org/2013/02/make-love-not-war-generation-actively-seeks-fulfillmentand-sex.php