Author: cmb12

FindingthingsforU, LLC is owned/founded by Char McCargo-Bah. She is the author of two books, and you can find those books on amazon.com by putting a search on her name. She became a Living Legend in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2014.

His Name Lives On – Charles Hamilton Houston

Charles Hamilton Huston, Esq.

Over 70 years ago, Charles Hamilton Houston died from a heart attack. He was the godfather of the Civil Rights Movement. Attorney Houston knocked down one segregation case after another. He and a team of lawyers, which included his former student, Thurgood Marshall, worked on the Brown vs. Board of Education case. This case was based on segregation in the public school system.

Charles was the lead lawyer who took the case all the way to the Supreme Court; but he did not live to see the final Supreme Court decision. Charles Hamilton Houston died in 1950 and the Supreme Court decision on Brown vs. Board of Education was made in 1954 disbanding segregation in the school system.

You can read more about Charles Hamilton Houston in how he affected Alexandria, Virginia in the article, “His Name Lives On – Charles Hamilton Houston” in the Alexandria Gazette Packet on page 8 at http://www.alexandriagazette.com/news/2021/mar/06/other-alexandria-his-name-lives-charles-hamilton-h/.

Behind the Article on William ‘Sonny’ Duke

William ‘Sonny’ Duke

When I received an e-mail from Alvah Beander that Sonny Duke had died, I did not know anything about Sonny until Alvah told me. I started inquiring about Sonny from my Elderly Advisors. After talking to my advisors, I knew I had to write about Sonny. I contacted his cousin, William “Bill” Gordon and Sonny’s daughter, Wanda Duke Kyler.

As I was researching and writing the article on Sonny, I thought to myself how many African Americans in Alexandria did not know Sonny. Sonny’s life as a businessperson was exceptional and an inspiration to individuals who want to embark on their own business, especially for African Americans.

Through the research and interviews with his cousin and daughter, I was able to reveal Sonny’s passion for being the best businessperson he could be. He valued his customers and he strived to deliver his customers’ clothes within 24 hours. He dressed for success and he rolled up his sleeves to do their clothes even when he had a staff to do the work.

Sonny worked long hours even when his health was failing. He was truly dedicated to making his customers satisfied, which result in his business being successful. His customers were in Alexandria and in Fairfax, Virginia. Sonny’s success really came from his parents that groomed him to be a businessperson. He worked beside his parents in their business starting at the age of thirteen. By the time he was eighteen, his parents made him a manager at their drycleaners.

The life of Sonny is an example of the young learning from their elders. Sonny was good in listening and learning from his elders because his life was a testimony to what he accomplished by learning from them.

You can read Sonny’s story in the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper dated February 3, 2021 on page 6, at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2021/020321/Alexandria.pdf.

Happy 2021 New Year

Char McCargo Bah

Happy New Year to all my readers. I want to thank you all for your e-mails to my editor in 2020 about my column, “The Other Alexandria.”

Last year, was a challenging year with the COVID-19 and the unprecedented elections. We all have experienced someone we know or someone that we are related to who have died from COVID-19.

In additional, we have experienced a national election like no other. We are witnesses to history that will be shared with future generations to come. Through my column, “The Other Alexandria,” I write about the history of African Americans in Alexandria, Virginia who came before us. These individuals had also witness’ unprecedented historical events in Alexandria and in our nation. Their stories have been lost overtime; but these stories have resurfaced through my articles.

As we beginning a New Year, I look forward in continuing to bring these historical and local articles about Alexandria’s African Americans. Your continuous support of my articles have ignited me in researching and writing about the achievements of your family, your neighbors and your community.

The Alexandria Gazette Newspaper has given me the opportunity to write about us and I indeed thank them for that and I thank you for supporting me.

Please click on the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper and read my article, “Highlighting 2020 on page 7 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2021/011321/Alexandria.pdf.

Also, please read several other important articles in the newspaper on COVID-19 vaccinations on the front page; Vote to Boost Black History Museum Project on page 4; and, the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper fundraiser on page 9. Thank you.

 

Summary of Three Alexandria Gazette Articles in December 2020

Char McCargo Bah

When an elder leave this world, he takes his history library with him. Mr. James E. Henson died on December 13, 2020 in Alexandria, Virginia. He shared his knowledge that he gained from his elders with others. I was one of those individuals who he shared a great deal of history of what he knew and what he gained from his elders.

Now Mr. Henson has joined his elders and left the rest of us to inspire generation after us. He left us a priceless gift of self and history. He made room for us to do the same. He was one of a kind. Many will miss Mr. Henson.

His viewing with be on January 7, 2021 at Green Funeral Home at 814 Franklin Street between the hours of 2-8 pm. You can read his story by Jeanne Theismann at http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2020/dec/18/too-blessed-be-stressed/

The second article is on one of Parker-Gray High School’s finest women runners, Marian Stanfield a 1964 graduate of Parker-Gray High School.

On the same page as Marion Stanfield, is the third article about, ‘Parker-Gray Alumni 40 Plus Years of Giving Scholarships’ monies. The PG Alumni recently announced that they are retiring the organization so this will be the last official scholarships given out to new recipients. You can find these articles on page 14 at –
http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2020/122320/Alexandria.pdf.

I would like to wish all my readers, Happy Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward in continuing to bring you, local stories of African Americans in Alexandria who made accomplishments and a difference in their community.

I would also like to thank all the individuals who took the time in 2020 to write my editor about the stories that I wrote. I truly feel grateful that I have been able to highlight Alexandria African Americans’ accomplishments. I deeply appreciated that my readers enjoyed taking this history tour with me in learning so many stories of the forgotten histories of our community. Thank you and be safe!