EVENT ALERT: RUCKER PRO LEGENDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT SERIES AUGUST 13-AUGUST 16

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

If you are a native New Yorker - especially if you're a native Harlemite - you have grown up all your life hearing about THE RUCKER.   Now for those of you who are new, THE RUCKER is short for the annual Rucker Basketball Tournament, that's taken place in Harlem since the 40's.

It has been a mainstay in the community for eons, as is the park, which is named for its founder, Holcombe Rucker, who died at the young age of 39, from cancer.   Harlem is great for keeping legends alive - especially when the legend has been one so positive, powerful, and beneficent as Rucker was.

And, if you think I'm talking about a rich man who used his largess to found a park and a tournament, you're totally mistaken.  Holcombe Rucker was rich in heart, spirit, dedication, love - but not in money and finances.  Thank goodness that money is not all it takes to make a difference in the world.  If it was, we'd be in even worse conditions than we are now. 

Holcombe & Mary Rucker in the 1940's

No, Holcombe Rucker gave of his soul.  He saw a need and he filled it.  He saw Harlem youth being ignored, neglected, without requisite goods and services, and found a way to provide them.  He saw that they had little to no recreation facilities available to them in the 40's, and dedicated his time, talent, skills and abilities to bringing them about.

Holcombe Rucker was on a mission; one that we are now celebrating 50 years later, during Harlem Week.  Needless to say, there will be many who will flock to Rucker Park and reminisce over those days from 1965 to the present, when they, or a relative, or a friend participated in the tournaments.  Or when they saw a particular favorite NBA player participate.  I hope the youth are paying attention, because this is Black History right under your very noses - not edited, not deleted, but pure human history - history that has been going on for decades, and is the very fabric of our community, and the essence of who we are.

 I tried to find a  photo of Rucker, but the one above of him and his lovely wife, Mary, who is now in her 80s, living in the Bronx, is wonderful.  You can see that this was a brother who cared.  He came back from the war ready to help his community - and even when he was under employed, which is what happens to most African American men (and women) in this society, he still made his contribution to his society.

Some of the headlines call him a Black humanitarian.  I call him a Brother who cared.  And there are a lot of them out there.  They just don't know each other.  If they linked up, we'd be miles ahead of this madness we're currently facing.

But Brother Rucker made his contribution; and it's made such a lasting impression on Black people that others have done something similar in other communities.  During his lifetime, he made it possible for 700 youth to receive college scholarships as a result of their skills.  Wonderful!

Brothers making a difference; not sacrificing, but donating and contributing their time, even when it meant they might have to miss out on something else.  It's what keeps people moving - imagine having 100 Holcombe Ruckers, making their contributions to the world via their particular talents. Taking the time to care, and being hands on.  Wow!!! The so-called Black on Black crime rate, the prison, industrial, military complex, the drug dealers, would all starve to death!!  We should definitely work to make that happen. 


Below is a calendar of events for the upcoming ceremonies - Bring your children - it's as much for them as it is for those who have participated in the past.

WHERE GREATNESS SWELLS & LEGENDS ARE FOREVER
AUGUST 2015
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 5TH. ‐ 

PRESS CONFERENCE @PRIME 1 RESTAURANT
INTRODUCTION OF THE LEGENDS 2:00PM – 5:00PM
(CORNER OF 116TH STREET & FIRST AVENUE)

MONDAY, AUGUST 10

DR. DICK BARNETT BOOK SIGNING 

THE ATHLETE NEGRO (THE AWAKENING)

FEATURING ABIODUN OYEWULE OF THE LAST POETS

NEIMAN'S ART GALLERY 

6:00PM-9:00PM

148TH AND FREDERICK DOUGLASS BOULEVARD 

 

 

THURSDAY. AUGUST 13TH. ‐ 

PRESS CONFERENCE @CLYDE FRAZIER’S RESTAURANT
INTRODUCTION OF THE LEGENDS 5:00PM – 8:00PM
(37TH STREET & 10TH AVENUE)

FRIDAY. AUGUST 14TH. ‐ 

HARLEM HOSPITAL PAVILLION
135th Street & Malcolm X Boulevard

MEET & GREET, SHORT FILM, PHOTO OPPS, INTRODUCTION OF LEGENDS 6:00PM – 9:00PM

SATURDAY. AUGUST 15TH. ‐ 

ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR.
HARLEM STATE OFFICE BUILDING
LEGENDS AWARD CEREMONY
2:00PM – 6:00PM

SUNDAY. AUGUST 16TH. – HOLCOMBE RUCKER PARK
NEW YORK KNICKS CLINIC
HARLEM VS BROOKLYN FRIENDLY RIVALRY
NYPD VS EACH ONE TEACH ONE YOUTH (PROCLAIMATION BY MAYOR DE’BLASIO)
LEGENDS OF PUERTO RICO VS DOMINICAN PRO LEGENDS
1:00PM – 8:00PM

What a wonderful way to celebrate a lifetime of contribution - 

Check your calendars and local listings for other wonderful events coming up during HARLEM WEEK

Stay Blessed & 

ECLECTICALLY BLACK 

Gloria 

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