The 52nd annual celebration of Harlem Week, which began on Aug. 1 and will end on Aug. 16, is being held under the theme "Honoring Our Legacy." The 16-day feast of cultural activities is fraught with ever-expanding programs championing the cultural heritage of the Manhattan enclave where a predominantly Black community thrives. This anniversary year promise additional boast-worthy showcases of Black excellence in literature, sports, music, film, theater, science, politics, fashion, media, etc. Three outdoor festivals are slated to enhance provisions billing panel discussions, age designated events, and a myriad of other noteworthy presentations. During past annuals, performances from Janet Jackson, the Isley Brothers, Marcia Griffith, and other pop achievers have enhanced the free festival. The year, as the reggae talent made her debut at the 135th location, data specialists at the renowned Guinness Book of Records showed up to tabulate the numbers of individuals lined in all directions in order to be counted as performers of her hit song “the Electric Slide.” Griffith was pleased to learn later that the largest gathering of dancers amassed there earned mention in the book. This year, Maxwell is slated to showcase his talent in reprising celebratory hits from a 30-year anniversary recording. Introduced initially in 1974 as Harlem Day, the 24-hour salute resonated as a fleeting honorarium to residents of the hamlet. One year into his tenure, the then-Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton, who was also a Harlem resident, proposed an entire weekend of commemorative events the City Council agreed merited extension for a Harlem Weekend. Hollywood influentials like Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and other celebrated figures expressed the need for further expansion, which evolved into a seven-day celebration and resolution named Harlem Week. For a period, the timeframe proved an ample gesture. However, before long, Harlem Week turned into a monthlong uptown pride-fest — with many describing it as the longest week of any month. Unfortunately, Covid-19 thwarted the feast of festival and cultural exhibition to now feature half a month of free festivals, concerts, and community engagement in the village. Already, a conference held at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State office building focused on climate change. Earlier in the month a panel discussion heightened awareness about arts and culture on Broadway. Hosted by Amplified Voices TV, the partnership with HW organizers forged a positive digital exchange. A senior citizen's luncheon on Aug. 7 also doled a tribute to elders and their families. Jazz and fashion lured patrons for a Great Day at Ulysses S. Grant National Memorial Park — aka Grant's Tomb — on Sunday. And “Summer in the City" will be hotter than July on Aug. 15, because on that same date, concerts, dance, fashion, food and frolic are guaranteed. Children are also promised a parade beginning at 11 a.m. at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. Featuring marching bands and a plethora of mobile entertainment, the procession will end at Howard Bennett Playground, where New York Beacon entertainment editor Don Thomas annually hosts two days of enlightening youthful offerings. Face paintings, athletic events, quiz contests, arts and crafts sessions, dance contests, academic enticements, and all age appropriate events are sure bets. Rewarded with backpacks and other back to school prizes, participants often leave with heightened cultural knowledge and appreciation of the specialized treat. Gospel gatherings, a culinary exhibition, film festival, and numerous activities are also slated for simultaneous showcases. Unfortunately, Harlem Day culminates the revelry on Aug. 16. It was ironic that first lady/senator/presidential candidate and author Hillary Clinton co-opted an African proverb in 1996 to sell her book. At the time, cynics and skeptics argued the relevance to the title. Little did they comprehend the interpretation of "It Takes a Village." Those words spoke volumes to pages the ambitious former Secretary of State penned with intentions of coalescing unity within her base.= The genesis of the proverb is attributed to an alleged African saying "it takes a village to raise a child." The connotation could be interpreted to translate that unity, solidarity and community contribute to the raising of each and every child in the community. Farewell Flo Anthony, who slipped away from journalist Florence Anthony on Wednesday Aug. 5. She died at age 74 at Cornell Hospital. She was born in Mississippi; raised in Ann Harbor, Michigan; schooled at Howard University in Washington, DC, but educated in New York City. She loved life and celebrated it annually, collaborating with fellow friends born in March. For more than a decade, along with Shelley Brooks and I, she hosted Pisces parties. They attracted sports and entertainment figures to some of the city’s hotspots namely Sweetwater’s, Copeland, Honeysuckle West, Soul Cafe, Il Campanello, Cafe on Broadway, Singalong, and other endearing spaces. Flo was a party magnet. She enjoyed sipping Chardonnay with colleagues and clients alike. As fate would dictate, soon after arriving to the Big Apple, the Delta fraternity member became immersed in securing celebrity gossip and behind the scenes news about sports and entertainment stars. Informed sources will recall her hey-days at the New York Post when she provided juicy fodder on the established Page 6 which before the internet was renowned for being the go-to space for breaking news. Hired by the sports department, Anthony blazed a trail for Black reporters desirous of wanting to work in all white newsrooms. She paved the way. However, her stint in the lily white section was not long lasting. Due to her contacts and insider access to celebrities, she was moved to the renowned Page 6, where gossip established a reliable go-to tabloid address. Needlessly to say, green-eyed colleagues envied her rapid rise to notoriety. Eventually, she too became topical for bringing national attention to entertainment issues on the Phil Donahue, Ricki Lake, Bertice Berry, Geraldo Rivera, Joan Rivers and other top rated talk shows at the time. Later on, E!Entertainment asked her to join their lineup of star presenters on the music, cable TV channel. Anthony seemed to be a pipeline to unreported news related to LaToya and Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Bill Cosby, OJ Simpson, Milli Vannilli, Eric B and Rakim, Spike Lee and many of the movers and shakers of the era. Apparently, Anthony must have inherited her father's passion for sports. Joe Anthony was an athlete, a football player, and role model to his only daughter. His influence impacted her so much she made it a premium source of reference. Friends and associates will recall the tiny, gold pendant replica of a boxing glove she regularly wore. Anthony authored four fiction novels. She also provided juicy items to the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Radio Show while contributing to many others outlets. How she juggled all her media commitments to remain a social butterfly seemed her life blood. One of her lasting imprints will be Gladiator Sports Magazine, which she published in 1989. A launch at Mickey Mantle’s sports bar introduced the first issue. Celebrities of various genres attended. Anthony’s longtime pal, Butch Lewis, was among the elite. A boxing manager of note, Lewis invested in the publication. Music and comedy specialist Russell Simmons was there, too. Imagine the concept of a sports/entertainment magazine devoted to Black athletic prowess? Champion boxer Muhammad Ali graced the cover. Inside, tennis legend Arthur Ashe penned an article; there was a profile of track and field Olympian Florence Griffith Joyner, which demanded two pages of print; and the city’s NBA basketball team, the New York Knickerbockers, received full page attention. Anthony loved horses, she often said so and featured them with Black jockeys poised for the finish. I was the editor of the Gladiator Sports Magazine. Another task I inherited was to write about cricket, soccer and less featured preoccupations such as explaining the board game of dominoes, which Caribbean readers are familiar. In the same premiere edition, a story shone a spotlight on Blacks who challenge the icy slopes, skiing. Another hailed the “Dignity” of boxer Michael Spinks. Anthony married Michael earlier this year on January 6. The NY Post reported the belated union on Page 6. It might have been an epitaph. Maybe a tribute to a trailblazers. Regardless the pitch, Flo is gone too soon and will be missed. Catch You on the Inside!