Paying tribute to two icons that represent Black People Magic: Basketball Hall of Famer, humanitarian and advocate, Dikembe Mutombo and legendary actor, John Amos.
Dikembe Mutombo passed away on Monday from brain cancer. Known for his infamous finger waving, he was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and served as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across Africa. Dikembe served on the boards of many organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. His family is having a small, private funeral and are working with the NBA for a larger, public celebration of his life… they’re asking that donations be made to the Dikembe Mutombo Memorial Fund, which supports his favorite causes. He was 58.
And on Tuesday, we learned that we lost one of our favorite black tv dads… beloved actor John Amos, best known for his memorable roles on “Good Times,” “Roots” and “Coming to America,” passed away in August of congestive heart failure. Sadly, his children had been involved in legal battles and public accusations of elder abuse in recent years and some of his loved ones found out about his death the way we all did in the media. We pray he was loved and cared for well in his final years.
& Remember to always celebrate your magic! xo