Chicken wings. Uniquely American, the late 20th century bar food staple invoke bromances formed over lifelong allegiances to modern day he-men battling one another, with feigned enmity, so that brutish titans may line their already teeming coffers with even more gold. My mother’s favorite part of the chicken, wings remind me of how as a child I watched Mom pulverize the bones into oblivion; and how as a child Mom was instructed, yet afraid, to throw away similar remnants of her formerly enslaved Great-Grandmother, Granny. Just like to the feigned Buffalo restaurateur, chicken wings represent survival.

The greatest NBA player of all time, Bill Russell passed away today at 88 years of age. My mother’s favorite player, outside of her latest infatuation with LeBron, Mr. Russell won an inspiring 11 NBA championship rings with the Boston Celtics, more than Michael Jordan or any other player. He also became the first Black NBA coach in 1966 when he took the place of Red Auerbach – he led the team to yet another championship in 1967. His triumphs occurred during a time when ironically Celtics fans committed virulently rabid, racist acts against the greatest player to bounce the round ball.

In 1963 a few of Boston’s finest fans thought it was a fitting to break into Bill Russell’s home, vandalize, then defile the bed the super-hooper slept in. (What is with this fetish white supremacists)?

The infamous scene in Academy Award winning film The Help when Minny prepares a pie, portrays the story of African-American’s complex relationship with white people, food and racism incorrectly. My maternal grandfather William Stamps Jr. raised 11 children from the 1930s to 1960s in Mississippi, not far from Jackson where the characters in the film were purported to have lived. Grandpa owned several acres, as did his father, grandfather, uncles, great uncles, and all of his brothers, upon which they grew cotton as a cash crop. Everyone in their community grew corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, field peas, green onions, collards, turnips, mustard greens, sugar cane, tomatoes and cucumbers to sustain themselves. Despite the fertileness of the dense, red clay, most people needed to supplement their incomes in order to survive. Often that meant children had to work in lieu of attending school particularly if the families were sharecroppers. Some people allowed their children to work in the homes of white people but my Grandfather was adamant – none of his 11 children would ever work in the home of a white person. My grandparents were convinced that education would lead their children out of poverty.

Like my mother, Bill Russell grew up in the South until an incident with a white man forced his family to flee when he was aged 8. Not widely recruited out of high school, when offered the one and only scholarship to play at the University of San Francisco, Mr. Russell understood this was his chance to escape racism and poverty. Hotels banned he and his Black teammates from staying while he was in college and the pros. “Fans” jeered and threw objects at them. He became the NCAA Player of the Year, but California decided another now largely unknown player was the states’ best. Even the storied NCAA changed the rules of college basketball to combat his prowess – twice.

Entrenched corruption or indecency knows no limitations. Mom shared that in the ensuing years Bob Cousy, the Celtics veteran point guard , decided to write a letter after his retirement apologizing for not speaking up about the racism the hall-of-famer endured whilst bringing the city of Boston so much fanfare and acclaim. Bill Russell never responded. Instead he traveled to Washington D.C. to march with Dr. King then attend a press conference of professional Black athletes known as the Cleveland Summit in support of Muhammad Ali electing not to join the military due to his religious beliefs. After winning six championships together, Bob Cousy retired in 1963. Yet it took him 52 years to muster an apology for not admonishing the fans or members of the Boston media who considered Mr. Russell “uppity” but Cousy a saint. Two and a half years later, Russell called Cousy; they chatted, then the celebrated guard asked whether the former center had received the letter. “Yes, thanks,” he replied.

Chicken wings have come to represent camaraderie, the communal gathering of souls for one unified purpose. Through his tears, one senses that Mr. Cousy was deeply contrite. But, no one likes a Monday morning quarterback particularly when losing the game is so costly to all. If the greatest basketball player that ever lived suffered the worst indignities of racism, understand that there is not a Black person in this country that has not suffered treatment equal or worse. So when we say police, courts, corporations, universities, philanthropies or nonprofits are abridging rights, believe us, listen to us, then fight for us because the life you save is ultimately your own. Read to and teach children true history. Finally, make the Green Wings, or Green Sauce Salmon if you prefer seafood like me, with Turnip Greens, Vegan Ranch Style Beans and Pan Fried Cornbread in celebration of a real life superhero Mr. Bill Russell.

Green Wings

Summertime dinner ideas are as quick and easy as Green Wings, the best "marry me" chicken made with a Caribbean style Pesto dipping sauce.

• Large Glass Baking Dish
• Food Processor or Blender
• Paring Knife
• Cutting Board
• Ramekins

• 32 ounces Organic Chicken Wings
• 2 cloves Organic Garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp Fresh Rosemary
• Jane's Krazy Salt
• Poultry Seasoning
• Redmond's Real Salt
• White Pepper

Green Sauce

• 3 cups Fresh Organic Cilantro
• ½ cup Organic Red Onion
• 4-5 cloves Organic Garlic
• 2 tbsp Organic Ginger Root, roughly cut
• 2 tsp Fresh Organic Thyme
• 5 ounces Avocado Oil
• 1 tsp Redmond's Real Salt (To taste)
• 1 Lime, juiced
• 1 Jalapeno or Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Optional)

1. Place thawed chicken in a baking dish ensuring that each piece is lying flat on the baking dish surface.

2. Squeeze juice over chicken evenly removing any seeds, then sprinkle with seasonings on both sides of the chicken.

3. Make thin slits into the wings with a knife and put garlic and rosemary into the skin of the meat.

4. Place dish into the refrigerator for anywhere between 1 and 24 hours – the longer the marination, the better the flavor.

5. Remove chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to bring meat to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

6. When the oven temperature reaches 350 degrees, place chicken in the oven for 30 minutes.

7. After 30 minutes, baste the chicken and reduce the heat to 325 degrees.

8. Baste the chicken every 20 minutes for a total of 1 hour.

9. When the juices run clear, the chicken is ready. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Green Sauce Instructions

1. Place all ingredients except the oil into the food processor or blender.

2. Blend while drizzling the oil into the sauce. Continue until the sauce is completely emulsified.

3. Spoon into individual ramekins if desired or simply pour over the wings. Serve immediately.