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Black History Month 2022-Day 24: Frank Street
Frank Street became a National Master in June 1965 and in the same year, graced the cover of Chess life magazine. As a 20-year old Street had just won the U.S. Amateur Championship and would go on to win the club champion of the Washington Chess Divan, defeating fellow master,…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 23: Ashley’s Unity Tournament Series (1992)
The 1992 African-American Unity Tournament Series was a novel idea and 30 years later, has never lost its relevance. If there is one aspect of the Hall of Fame career of Maurice Ashley that is overlooked or perhaps underrated, it is his visionary ideas. We know about his ambitious tournaments…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 22: William Earnest Griffin
William E. Griffin on page 101 of The Rice Gambit by H. Keidanz (New York, 1905). William Earnest Griffin is a chess player you may not know, but one whose words will make an indelible impression. According to the February 1905 issue of the American Chess Bulletin (page 34), Griffin…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 21: Alfred Blake Carlin
Alfred Blake Carlin was larger than life figure in New Orleans chess. Carlin’s large physical size matched his personality and he was a well-respected chess player and coach. He was one of the few Black masters (Senior Master) in the south and was a five-time Louisiana state champion (1981, 1983,…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 19: James McCune Smith
Dr. James McCune Smith is a man we don’t hear of during Black History Month. This multitalented and multifaceted man was known more in the areas of literary scholarship, medicine, and social activism than in chess. If you knew this man, chances are that you are a 19th-century American history…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 17: Walter Harris
Born September 28th, 1941, Walter Harris is known as the first Black chess player to earn the U.S. Chess Federation National Master title. There are a number of articles about Harris on The Chess Drum, twice as an interview subject {2006 (phone), 2014 (in-person)}. Walter Harris in action against Bill…
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Chess in 2022 heating up the Sunshine State!
Wyndham Orlando Resort (International Drive) From March 13th-15th, Florida “the sunshine state” will be hosting its statewide scholastic tournament with nine sections. The entry fee for scholastic players is a nominal $40 by February 25th. There is no onsite entry so make your plans ahead of time! Check floridachess.org for…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 15: Ashley & Muhammad
In 2003, Maurice Ashley and Stephen Muhammad joined the roster of participants of the prestigious U.S. Chess Championship, the hallmark of American tournaments. It is a chance for glory and to be included in the annals of history along with the list of luminaries whose plaques now adorn the World…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 12: The Chess Drum
This day marks 21 years for The Chess Drum and a continued effort to show the universality of chess. More specifically it is a platform to show the contributions of players of African descent. Why is there a need for this? Decades ago, chess media was very myopic in terms…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 11: Historic Games!
Back in 2003, I wrote an article titled, “Ten of the Best Games Played by Black Masters.” Included in that list were games such as Tate-Ashley, Tate-Yudasin and Giles-Browne, to name a few. While Paige-Formanek is shown again for prosperity, there have been some worthy additions. Following are five historic…
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