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Today, I understand why so many people often ask: "Where did the time go?" It seems like it was only yesterday, but in fact, it was in 1982, when yours truly founded a grassroots organization in Springfield, Illinois known as People United for Rights and Equality (PURE). The purpose of that organization was to be a monitor and a voice for Springfield citizens who had the least, that is, the least in terms of employment, salary, health care, homeownership, and, of course, the list goes on and on.
I would be remiss in my writing if I didn't thank God first and then our readers and advertisers for their support.
In reminiscing about yesterday, one meeting stands out more than the rest. It was when we, the members of PURE, wearing identical black T-Shirts, attended a public meeting with members of the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition Auditorium Authority Board, who at that time was the overseer for major entertainment at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center. We wanted to know why they were only selecting white singers and white entertainers to perform at the Center. And it was what happened after this meeting which lead to the birth of The Pure News newspaper.
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