For many years James L. Hicks, who we knew as another of the uncles of our small village, owned a home here in Oak Bluffs and like most joined his family on weekends, riding on the Daddy boat which arrived late Friday summer nights and departed on Sundays. For many years Mr. Hicks was the editor of the Amsterdam News in New York city (1955-66 and again 1972-77), one of the largest black newspapers in the world. Born in 1915, journalist Hicks had an historic career highlighted by an impressive string of firsts, among them becoming the first black American to cover the United Nations. He was also the first black member of the State Department Correspondents Association and the first sent to cover the Korean War.

In civil rights, James Hicks reported on the school desegregation cases in Little Rock and the University of Mississippi. Hicks’ career was assisted by his education at the University of Akron, Howard University and the University of Melbourne during World War II, where he served as a private, won three battle stars and was discharged as a captain at war’s end.

Surely war helped prepare him for his coverage of the Emmett Till case during which he was threatened and physically attacked by angry white mobs. Hicks found overwhelming evidence that should have convicted the men on trial who got away with killing Till, but his writing did expose the corruption of the judicial system in Sumner, Miss. Widely celebrated, journalist James L. Hicks of Oak Bluffs paved the way for many to follow. He died at age 70 in 1986.

Timely enough, the Island Wide Youth Collaborative in conjunction with the Immigration Resource Center of Cape Cod and the Islands is offering legal advice on the first Friday of each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those on-Island needing help with immigration issues. Appointments are necessary at 508-693-7900, ext. 400.

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is hosting a six-week series aimed at providing a safe place for loved ones to learn about addiction, recovery, treatment and its effects and provide support for victims family and friends. The series begins on Monday, Feb. 6 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Registration is required at 508-693-7900.

It’s Move and Groove Storytime at the Oak Bluffs Library on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m. All old enough to walk are welcome. The library is also playing Cupid at a Literary Speed Dating event next Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for singles 20 and older in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The free event suggests folks bring a book they loved, hated or recently read as an ice-breaker. Each date will rotate to another and participants are asked not to share names or contact during the evening. Matches will be contacted within five days of the event. Light refreshments will be served and pre-registration is required. Call 508-693-9433 or email oakbluffslibrary@gmail.com.

It is understood that there was a poignant moment at last week’s 75th Annual DuPont Awards where Gwen Ifill was honored. Remarks were provided by her Sunset Lake journalist and friend Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Charlayne repeated Ms. Ifill’s last words, repeated three times before she died, “I Have No Doubt” signifying she knew her God would take her where she needed to go. Charlayne interpreted her words “to say that her spirit was alive and sending a message to her journalism colleagues in these challenging times…that they should have no doubt about their role.”

Mrs. Hunter-Gault borrowed John Lewis’s phrase “Get in the Way” to implore us all to “Get in the way of falsehoods, false prophets and fake news and take the heat (and the tweets) and continue to do as Edward R. Murrow once defined a journalists role: teach, illuminate and inspire.”

Powerful words, sensitively offered and inspired by her late associate. Gwen Ifill—rest in peace.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send Oak Bluffs news to sfinley@mvgazette.com.