Jayne Kennedy Overton Witnesses the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Cult
"BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL"
"Television brought to the forefront issues around race in profound and powerful ways. For decades, black people were relegated to playing stereotypical characters, if on TV at all. However, the fight for equality in other areas of society eventually created new opportunities for African Americans in front of the camera. By the late 1960s, a few entertainer had hosted programs or starred in a series. But while television tried at times to appear colorblind, these attempts were often short-lived.
In 1978, Jayne Kennedy was hired by CBS Sports to co-host The NFL Today. As the first black woman to host a network sports show, Kennedy, a former actress, dancer, and model represented a standard of beauty acceptable to TV networks."
- Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
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"Nothing comes close to giving the emotional vibes to one's soul as this museum!" So much to learn, so much to experience, so much to see; not only in the exhibits but in watching the reactions and responses of the vast multi-ethnic visitors.
It gives hope to your heart.
Looking at this I’m reminded of the struggle to travel such a great distance. It’s been a long journey since playing Red Light Green Light, or S.P.U.D., or Mother May I, or even Kickball as kids in my Mom and Dad's front lawn. I recall the nights sitting in my living room watching Nat King Cole, racing home after school to watch Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols, or on Saturdays Soul Train’s Don Cornelius, or Julia's Dianne Carroll. And then certainly there was Diana Ross and the Supremes as my sisters and I studied and learned every move and every word of every song, mimicking them in front of the mirror in our basement meant to be a grand stage that made us hope and dream that one day we'd be like them.
And in the same gallery with Oprah Winfrey ‼️‼️ But to actually see this TODAY sharing the wall with them at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is utterly mind blowing‼️
🏽Thank you Lord- Jayne Kennedy Overton
