THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9601310132
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
In a small city like Portsmouth, separating history into black and white is almost impossible. Lives are inextricably entwined and the contributions from all people are part of the big picture.
But individuals who have had an impact locally and elsewhere are the most important part of any history. To mark Black History Month, the Portsmouth Currents will concentrate on some of those people, some whose names are household words - like Ida Barbour - and some who people do not know at all.
Because young people can gain so much from knowing about those who have been outstanding citizens, we decided to turn the coverage into a contest, offering prizes to school students who participate.
Beginning today and continuing through six issues of the Currents, we'll give clues but no answers. After the final segment, students will submit their entries and we will run a story at the end of the month with all the answers. (See the rules for the contest with the first installment on Page 3 today.)
The contest is an unabashed attempt to entice young people to know more about the wonderful black heritage of this city.
We hope black youngsters will gain some knowledge that will make them proud of their city and give them some understanding of what is possible for those who expect to excel. At the same time, we hope white kids will participate and, in the process, comprehend that all people of Portsmouth are important to its success.
Perhaps the ultimate message of this historic exercise is that each individual can make a positive contribution, no matter what the circumstances. But we can't know that unless we know the people.
On Feb. 17, blues singer Ruth Weston Brown will be coming home for a concert at Willett Hall and the formal debut of her book, ``Miss Rhythm,'' on Feb. 18.
Ruth Brown is a wonderful human being, a singer who never severed ties with her hometown even as she became one of its best-known natives. Her life has not always been at the top, but she always has kept her eye in that direction. She credits most of what's good in her life to her Portsmouth background. She understands the importance of her family ties and her roots in Portsmouth.
As a performer, the singer certainly suffered the indignities that haunted black musicians as they traveled around the country in the past. But, she never gave up, never lost her perspective.
Bismarck Myrick, U.S. Ambassador to Lesotho, is another one who kept his eye on the top and got there.
Myrick also talks a lot about his Portsmouth family. He grew up in a housing project, son of a single mother. His grandfather, who delivered ice around town from a horse-drawn wagon, was his mentor.
In an interview during a visit home a few years ago, Myrick said he grew up convinced he had to ``get out of here,'' so he took the surest route. He joined the Army, and he made the most of his opportunities.
When he retired 20 years later as a major with three college degrees and a chest full of medals, he joined the State Department. Last year, he made it to the pinnacle when he became an ambassador, not an easy thing in a department historically dominated by white males.
Ruth Brown and Bizmarck Myrick both received their basic education and their moral values in Portsmouth. From here, they set out as teen-agers to begin difficult but rewarding journeys.
Instead of failing because of the cards stacked against them, they succeeded in spite of everything. They never found excuses for failure.
Perhaps it is that real defiance of failure that is missing today from the lives of young people - black and white. ILLUSTRATION: BROWN CONCERT
Ruth Weston Brown will give a concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at
Willett Hall. Tickets are $13.50 and available at Willett box
office.
Her autobiography, ``Miss Rhythm,'' will be unveiled at 2 p.m.
Feb. 18 at City Council Chambers, where she will autographs books
from 2 to 5 p.m.
by CNB