James Wright, Jr. was a writer for the Afro-American newspaper, the Washington Post, and several other small community newspapers. James died at the age of 62–he is gone too soon.

I was a former freelance writer for the Washington Afro-American, Washington Post, and New York Amsterdam newspapers. During our media careers James, and I were like ships passing in the night, honking our horns here and there.

I was the No. 1 writer for the Bleacher Report in the Early 2000s. The Bleacher Report was launched in 2005 all the writers were volunteers. I had mentioned to James about writing a blog for the Bleacher Report, I heard rumors that they were going to start paying the top writers. For what ever reason, he never followed up, and he was right.

All my blogs averaged 1,000+ readers. The blogs that got the most reads were the sins of Georgetown Coach, John Thompson, and boxing “Cash Cow”, Sugar Ray Leonard. Each blog had 5,000+ readers. I knew the closet, where all their skeletons were hiding. Their closets was so crowded, skeletons had to RSVP.

The Bleacher Report dropped me like a “HOT PATATO” as soon as they started to pay the white writers.

I always smile when I hear white folks claim “Blacks always play the Race Card”, when they invented The Race Card!

When I challenged, a man named America’s No. 1 sportscaster, Dallas, Texas’ No.1 Dale Hansen for copying my sports talk show format via telephone. He confessed in a return call message saying, “Harold, this is Dale Hansen returning your call, I misplaced your number, but I finally found it. Everything you have done makes my little bit look like the peeling off of the cover of ‘White Privilege’ as you say, seems rather insignificant, but I hope you get this message, thank you.”

In August 2012, TNT and Ted Turner brought the Bleacher Report for $175,000 million dollars. They have headquarters in New York City, London and a CNN Sports Report!

My last face to face conversation with James Wright was on a DC bus on the NW 14th street corridor one summer day in July. He has always been the quiet private type, at least to me. I walked to the back of the bus, nodding at James as I walked on by. Suddenly, I turned around to go back, and sit beside him.

We exchanged small talk before he asked, “What is your latest project?” I told him I was still working on my Muhammad Ali documentary. He looked at me, and said, “Dam Harold, it has been a long time coming.” He got up to get off at the next stop, his last words, “Is your telephone number still the same?” My response, “Yea man, it is the same”, and he was gone.

The next time I heard from James Wright was in late August 2014. He wanted to know if I was having my annual Christmas Toy Party? I said, “I don’t think so, my wife wants me to give it up, forty plus years is enough!” He said, “Okay, let’s do Muhammad Ali. I am shooting for the Front ‘Page’, that is where your story belongs.” I said ok, James sounded like he had already written the story.

Sure enough, with very little conversation from me, on October 11, 2014: On the front page of THE WASHINGTON AFRO AMERICAN-with a photo of me, and THE GREATEST-MUHAMMAD ALI:

“SPORTSCASTER HAROLD BELL PLANS ALI DOCUMENTARY.”

He, John Hollins, and Dave Aldridge, are the only Blacks in media who spotlighted my history making exclusive one-on- one interview with ‘The Greatest.’ The interview made me the first black media personality in boxing history, to interview an undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World one-on-one.

James Wright was an excellent writer, what really stood out to me was his honesty and integrity. I have never read one his stories that had not been throughly researched. He never needed pom poms, and a short skirt to get to the truth. He was no body’s cheerleader!

When I was honored with The National Associations of Black Journalists ‘Sam Lacey 2020 Pioneer Award’, (Thanks to Dave Aldridge, another honest, and quiet media giant with integrity). James, left a message on my cell phone saying, “Congratulations, long over due.”

Today, we are surrounded by cowards, and bullies in our schools, churches and so-called politicians (if the shoe fits-wear it). James Wright Jr, had more balls than most media personalities I have ever met. He knew how to help others quietly, and effectively.

We all are running against the wind in America. With much respect, admiration and love. Gone Too Soon, my brother (RIP).

NOTEWORTHY: God bless, the Dell Computer Family. Making children really ‘First’. They put their money (6 Billion dollars) where their mouths are!