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Kindred Spirits, Humble Heroes: Branch Rickey and William Wilberforce
April/May 2007 - The Abolitionist Examiner
by George W. Nicholson

Originally published by The Independent Institute.

Branch Rickey was a baseball man, through and through. During more than a half century in the game, he brought remarkable players and World Series championships to three great cities, St. Louis, Brooklyn, and Pittsburgh, and countless innovations to the game of baseball, many of which still abound.

Rickey’s story, however, is not just a baseball story. It is a story of vision, courage, and service, a story not unlike that of the great abolitionist William Wilberforce as became evident on March 30th, when an historic panel was held at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. The distinguished panel, moderated by Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree, focused its attention on baseball and freedom. Rickey’s grandson, also Branch Rickey, is president of the nation’s top minor league, the Pacific Coast League. He was on the panel too.

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Amanda Martinez’s Sola

A Canadian musical artist reaches out to her Latin roots

April/May 2007 - The Multiracial Activist

by Emily Monroy

Lately, it seems, we are witnessing an increased interest in Latin music.  Much of this interest has occurred in the field of popular music – most of us are familiar with the names Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, and Marc Anthony.  But now other Latin musical genres are attempting to stake out their own territory as well, including bossa nova, jazz, and folk.  One artist seeking to combine all these genres is Latin Canadian singer and songwriter Amanda Martinez, who in 2006 released her first album, Sola. 

Amanda Martinez was born in Toronto, Canada, to a father from Mexico and a South African Jewish mother in a household she describes as “the best of both worlds.”  For example, while as a child Amanda celebrated Christmas with her father, she also observed Jewish high holidays with the maternal side of the family.  English was her first language, but she learned Spanish by spending time with her Mexican relatives and studying it at high school and university. 

In addition, she was exposed to both parents’ musical heritages.  She grew up listening to her father’s Latin albums and her mother’s South African record collection (even here she sees a connection, as much of Latin American music draws its roots from Africa).  Amanda learned to love styles like Brazilian bossa nova, Afro-Cuban rhythms, Mexican folklore, and Latin jazz.

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