Many people on my father's side live in the state of West Virginia. West Virginia has a long history involving working-class culture and rural culture. West Virginia was created on June 20, 1863, during the American Civil War being part of the Union. It is a key border state with tons of mountains and hills with locations like Charleston, Huntington, etc. My 4th cousin George Benjamin Artis Sr. married Nora Mae Brown (1955-2022) on November 6, 1978, at Wise, West Virginia. Their children are George Benjamin Artis Jr. (1977-2021) and Bethany Raechelle Justice (b. 1981). George Benjamin Artis Sr. had a child named Brittany Elaine Artis (b. 1989). Brittany Elaine Artis's mother is Robin F. Goolsby. Nora Mae Brown Artis lived from March 3, 1955, to Thursday, August 10, 2023. Nora lived in Brooskville, Florida and her parents were John and Mary Brown. Nora Mae Brown had tons of friends from her job at the Williamson Memorial Hospital Emergency Room. George Benjamin Artis Jr. had two daughters who are DeAndria Artis and Olivia Malaun Artis (these women are my 5th cousins). Olivia Malaun Artis has two children who are Dominique Dogan and Kamira Skye Dogan (who are my 5th cousins too). My 5th cousin Bethany Raechelle Justice had many children with Byron Justice whose names are Byron Justice Jr., Celeste R. Justice, and Victoria R. Justice (these are my 5th cousins too). George Benjamin Artis Jr. lived in Tampa, Florida before his transition on November 21, 2021. He attended Willaimson High School and graduated from Capitol High School in Charleston, West Virginia. George Benjamin Artis Jr. was a person who was loyal to his family and friends and was funny. His aunts are Carole Artis, Cheryl Artis, Mary Fullen Blackwell, Donzella Fullen, and Patricia Brown. George Benjamin Jr. and I are descendants of my 4th great-grandparents who were George and Esther Perkins. George Benjamin Artis Jr.'s parents are George Benjamin Artis Sr. (b. 1951) and Nora Mae Brown (1955-2023). George Benjamin Artis Sr.'s parents were Dekalb Artis (1915-2009) and Christine Tanyhill (1920-2004). Dekalb Artis's parents were George Artis Jr. (1891-1935) and Mary Fannie Artis (1895-1958). My late 2nd cousin's Mary Fannie Artis's parents were Sam Casey (1868-1938) and Sophronia Perkins (1870-1926). Sophronia Perkins's parents were George Perkins II (1847-1932) and Fannie Lou Blackstock (1848-1949). My late 3rd great-granduncle George Perkins's II's parents were Geroge Perkins I (b. 1815) and Esther Perkins (b. 1816). They lived in Northampton County, Virginia or the Virginian Eastern Shore. So, my paternal ancestry came from 2 locations. One set of my paternal ancestors came originally from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, traveled into North Carolina, then West Virginia, and all across America (in Florida too). Another set of my paternal ancestors came from Halifax, North Carolina, and traveled into Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and across America.
We can't underestimate the legacy of the Madden video game series. Madden is probably the most popular sports video game series of all time being named after the iconic football coach John Madden. Now, the franchise sold more 130 million copies as of 2018. Since 2004, it has been the only officially licensed National Football League (NFL) video game series. It has influenced many players and coaches of football. As of 2013, Madden has generated over 4 billion dollars in sales, making it one of the most profitable video game franchises on the market. The game started as John Madden Football released by Electronic Arts in 1988 with the cover of an energetic John Madden. Back then, the graphics were grainier, but it had customizable gameplay and conditions of weather (like hot, rain, snow, cold, and windy). It had quarters, player fatigue, and injuries plus penalties. People can create teams and other components were included in its cosmology. In 1989, Madden was released for both PC and Commodore 64. The 1990 Madden version, released also for the SNES and Amiga, adds audibles, and password-saved games. For the first time ever in a football video game, the camera or perspective is played from above and behind the quarterback rather than from the side right to left, and vice versa. It only had 16 teams, loosely based on real NFL teams as well as an All-Madden team was included as a bonus. By 1991, Madden was released for PC and consoles. It had new features like larger playbooks, and commentary including coaching from John Madden on classic football components like Play Action Pass. There was an upgrade of VGA graphics and the use of Adlib audio. In 1992, an ambulance would run over any players in its path on Madden. From 1992 to 1994, Mega placed the game at #1 in their monthly Top 100 Mega Drive Games of All Time.
After Visual Concepts failed to deliver Madden NFL '96 for the new PlayStation in 1995, EA hired Tiburon Entertainment for Madden NFL '97 and later acquired the company, centralizing development in-house. It planned to release John Madden Football as its first sports-based arcade game, but the game was cancelled due to unenthusiastic reactions from play testers. EA's refusal to release Madden and other sports titles for the Dreamcast in 1999 contributed to the console's lack of success and Sega's exit from the hardware market. By 1996, Madden was the best-selling sports video game franchise, with more than eight million units sold up until then
In 1997, EA hired Tiburon Entertainment for Madden NFL ’97 and later acquired by EA, centralizing development in-house. It planned to release John Madden Football as its first sports-based arcade game, but the game was canceled due to unenthusiastic reactions from play testers.
In 1998, Electronic Arts added "Franchise Mode" to Madden Football, giving players the ability to play multiple seasons, make off-season draft picks, and trade players. Within Franchise Mode, players take on the role of general manager and manage all personnel matters, including contracts, free agency, draft picks, and hiring and firing coaches. The player also acts as a head coach-like character (although there is a head coach figure in-game), choosing which players to play, making substitutions, running practices, practicing gameplans, etc. Players may play with any of the NFL's 32 franchises; they can choose whether or not to have trade deadlines and salary caps and if they want to start their franchise with a 49-round fantasy draft of all active NFL players. Players can also upload created teams for use in the game.
Once in game, players run training camp (individual drills for improving players' attributes), play in preseason games, and compete in a regular 16-game NFL season, including playoffs and the Super Bowl. The player has the option to play any game in the simulation, including those involving other teams if they so desire, or may simulate through the games as they choose. Most versions of Madden give a player 30 years with their franchise, sometimes with an opportunity to apply for the Hall of Fame at the end of the simulation. Throughout the history of Franchise Mode, there have been many issues and glitches including data corruption, gameplay bugs, and developer mistakes. Franchise Mode is one of Madden's most consistently criticized game modes yearly.
Madden NFL 2000 was the first Madden to have a play editor, arcade mode, and the Madden Challenge. The game was released on August 31, 1999, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and Classic Mac OS. The cover athletes were former Raiders Coach John Madden and the Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders in the background. This was the second Madden to have someone besides John Madden on the cover. Madden NFL 2001 featured a segment called "Great Games" where one would be put in a situation where they control one team and would have to win the game within a set amount of time. If the player wins, they unlock either a new team or a stadium. Overall, there were more than 60 teams and over 80 stadiums in Madden NFL 2001. Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George is the cover athlete. Madden NFL video games in the 21st century had innovations like Smart Route, QB Vision, Lead Blocker Controls, and Highlight Stick.
Madden NFL 23 was announced with head coach John Madden as the cover star on Madden Day (June 1, 2022, the same day the series' first installment, John Madden Football, was released) in honor of his legacy after his passing on December 28, 2021. The cover of the next gen version is a picture of Madden celebrating his victory as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders at Super Bowl XI. The All-Madden Edition is based on the cover of the series' 1st installment, John Madden Football, made by Chuck Styles. The recent Madden NFL 25 video game has new features like BOOM Tech, which EA called a "dynamic physics-based tackling system that unlocks the re-engineered Hit Stick and a new level of ball carrier control" in its official press release. EA Sports also introduced new commentary teams for Madden 25 in the form of Mike Tirico and Greg Olsen, as well as Kate Scott and Brock Huard. It will have Superstar Mode, Ultimate Team, and online head-to-head play. Madden NFL 25 will be released worldwide for PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as well as PC on Aug. 16, 2024, but those who purchase the deluxe edition or the MVP bundle can begin playing on Aug. 13.
Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular and controversial video games of all time. GTA was released back on November 28, 1997, when I was a teenager, and its last release was shown in November 2021 called Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy (The Definitive Edition). GTA is an action-adventure video game that was created by David Jones and Mike Dailly. Other people were involved like Dan and Sam Houser (who are brothers), Leslie Benzies, and Aaron Garbut. It was developed by the British development house of Rockstar North. It was published by its American parent company called Rockstar Games. The game is about an open world where the player can complete missions to progress an overall story like various side activities. Its focus has been on cities like San Francisco, Miami, and New York City. The game isn't meant for kids filled with adult themes and adult imagery.
There are many African American pioneer country music legends that many people don't know about. Arnold Shultz (1886-1931) had performances that weren't recorded. Yet, the fiddler and guitarist's distinct finger-picking style influenced many artists like bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and Merle Travis (who did his own version of the finger-picking style). Rufus "Tee Tot" Payne (1883-1939) met Hank Williams when he was a child. Payne taught Hank Williams how to play the guitar in the 1930's. Rufus Payne was a great music teacher. Hank Williams Jr. paid tribute to Rufus Payne in the song Tee Tot Song in 2002. Lesley Riddle lived from 1905 to 1979. He never let losing his leg and 2 fingers stop him from creating country music. He made an inventive guitar-playing style that inspired The Carter Family. Riddle traveled all over Appalachia to document songs. Henry Glover (1921-1991) was an early black music executive who wrote songs and scouted artists for King Records, which started in 1943. He worked with country music during its early years. When he was in the studio, Glover produced The Delore Brothers, Hawksahw Hawkins, and Moon Mullican.
Many of my relatives were African American veterans of World War I. For example, my late first cousin John Quincy Adams Scott (b. 1897) was a veteran of World War One. John Quincy Adams Scott (his mother was Roberta Scott, and his grandmother was Sarah Claud) and I are descendants of my 5th grandmother Zilphy Claud (1820-1893). John Quincy Adams is the 2nd great-grandchild of Zilphy Claud. He came back to America from Brest, France to Newport News, Virginia on June 26, 1919. The ship was named Konningin der Nederlanden. He was part of the United States Army as a Private of the Co. A. 548th Engineers. My late great uncle Calvin Bailey (1892-1954) was a member of the 540th Engineers of WWI. Calvin Bailey and I share the ancestors of my 3rd great-grandparents of Johnson Brickhouse (b. 1826) and Julia Perkins (b. 1835). One child of Johnson Brickhouse and Julia Perkins was my 2nd great grandmother Esther Brickhouse Bailey (1862-1955). Esther Brickhouse Bailey married Harry Bailey (1855-1943) and one of their children was Calvin Bailey. Calvin Bailey married Carry Bell (her parents are John and Vergie Bell) in 1919 in Northampton County, Virginia (which is on the Virginian Eastern Shore). L. M. Baker performed the ceremony. Calvin Bailey was part of the African American Company D, 540th Engineers in World War One. He was a Private who was on the ship called Britannia that traveled from Marseille, France to Brooklyn, New York City on June 6, 1919.
My late 2nd cousin Howard S. Lowe (1897-1958) was a World War One Veteran too. He was part of the U.S. Army and was born in Virginia. His parents were Bishop Charles Wesley Lowe (1875-1954) and my 1st cousin Louisa A. Sykes (1876-1955). The parents of Louisa A. Sykes were Willis Sykes (b. 1832) and my 4 great-grandaunt Lydia Claud (b. 1842). Lydia Claud's mother was my 5th great grandmother Zilphy Claud (1820-1893). According to my late 2nd cousin Elgin Madison Lowe (1914-2000), Howard S. Lowe was over 6ft tall and weighed over 200 pounds. Howard would tell stories about his events in France during WWI. He worked at Miners Manufacturing Company, and he was a barber at Colden's Barber Shop on East Washington Street. He lived in Philadelphia just before his passing. Howard S. Lowe was part of D. Company 545th Engineers Service Battalion of the rank of Private. He was on the ship called Rijndam, and it traveled to Hoboken, New Jersey (he was originally from Suffolk, Virginia) on September 23, 1918. Howard S. Lowe married Josephine Mayfield (1899-1974) first and his second wife was Frankie Knight (b. 1903).
To understand the Ferguson story fully, you must mention facts about the sacrifice and courage of the activists on the ground in Ferguson, Missouri. First, the parents of Michael Brown, who are Michael Brown Sr. and Lesly McSpadden, have worked for years to combat racial injustice, police brutality, and economic injustice in Missouri plus nationwide. They reached a settlement deal in a lawsuit with the city of Ferguson. They went to march with relatives of other African Americans who were killed by the police (like Tamar Rice, Eric Garner, Akai Gurley, etc.) and lobbied Congress to fund body cameras for police agencies. Alisha Sonnier is an activist who has gone into local politics too. Johnetta Elzie has been fighting for justice in the St. Louis area and Ferguson for years. Fran Griffin has joined a steering committee that created a review of the police department in Ferguson. DeRay McKesson, Bassem Masri, and other people have worked in the Ferguson movement too. Darren Seals Jr. (1987-2016) was a Ferguson activist who was mysteriously murdered in a burning car. Records prove that Seals was illegally monitored by the FBI considering him a revolutionary.
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss international issues. Vice President Harris said that more than $1.5 billion in aid for Ukraine will exist. This conference in Switzerland desires peace in Ukraine. The money includes 500 million dollars in new funding for energy assistance and 324 million dollars in redirected funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repair. The problem with the anti-Ukraine forces among the far right and the fake left is that they ignore or minimize the overt war crimes done by Putin's military forces. You can't condemn Netanyahu's war cries in Gaza and ignore the Russian war crimes in Ukraine. People who do that are hypocrites. Ukraine has every God-given right to use self-defense against Russian illegal invasion. There is a nuisance in the conflict. For example, I don't agree with Ukraine attacking Russia, but the overall point is that Ukraine has the right to be a free, independent nation without Russian imperialism.
By Timothy
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