Wanda's Picks Special: Blacks on Bikes

Nelson Vails, Olympian Silver Medalist and Anthony Taylor, Vice President of the National Brotherhood of Cyclists, join us on the air before they head to Oakland for the AUG. 4 to 7, 2011 for the Major Taylor Cycling Summit, San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area at the Marriott Hotel. We speak for almost an hour about the history of blacks on bikes in this country & Marshall W. "Major" Taylor a little known pioneer in the sport in 1899. It takes Vails, 110 years later to bring the notion or connection between blacks and bikes, blacks and the environment, blacks and healthy living, full circle. Vails will give a keynote address: "Nelson “Unveiled. 'Life in the Fast Lane: America’s First Ambassador of Cycling.'" Major Taylor died relatively unknown at the age of 53 in Chicago. Later his remains were exhumed and he was given a proper burial in a more prominent area of the Mt. Glenwood Cemetery. Anthony Taylor says he made a pilgrimage to Chicago. I forgot to ask about the "Taylor" surname--any relation (smile). The connection while obvious is even more remarkable when one learns that Major Taylor is the inspiration for NBC's founding in 2008, the same year the first statue for a person of color was unveiled in Major Taylor's Worchester, Mass., home (May 28). Nelson Vails was present at this great event. Listen to the program at http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/events/2008may21.shtml Visit http://www.thenbc.org/Summit2011

Kenny Hawkins joins us to talk about his "Groovin’ Deep Project's upcoming concert this weekend, August 6, 2011, 6:30-10:30 PM at Cerruti Cellars at 100 Webster Street @ Embarcadero West Oakland, CA. The ensemble features: Michael Parsons on piano, Jeff Chambers on bass, Leon Joyce on drums and Kenny Hawkins on sax and flute along with special guest vocalists Nicolas Bearde and Terrie Odabie.