Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Free To Be... You And Me
Free to Be... You and Me is a cult classic for many kids of the 1970's. Gwyneth Paltrow even credits this film as one of her inspirations to become an actor. Hey man, whatever floats your boat. First released in November 1972, and later in 1974 as a television special, "Free to Be...You and Me" featured songs and stories to illustrate and define core values such as individuality, tolerance, and happiness with one's identity.
Now I have to admit to being a bit young for this the first time around - but if vintage can extend to fashion than why not kids stuff too? There are quite a few installments from this series floating around out there. It's hard work, but we here at LAist are dedicated to your happiness and so we're going to wade through for only the best of the best.
This clip is of Rosey Grier singing that "It's Alright to Cry," and it's priceless 70's. It is supposed to especially reach out to boys that it's ok to show their feelings. Now that's all well and good, but before you laugh off Rosey, he has lead a really remarkable life. A graduate of Penn State (go Nittany Lions!), he went on to play professional football for 12 years first for the Giants and then for the Los Angeles Rams. He was part of what is regarded as one of the best defensive lines in NFL history known as the "Fearsome Foursome", along with Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, and Lamar Lundy.
It gets better. After a career-ending injury in 1967, he was a bodyguard for U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy. He was there the night Kennedy got killed but was guarding Kennedy's wife at the time and after hearing the guns shots rushed ahead to capture the assasin.
Support for LAist comes from
Remaining mostly in Los Angeles ever since, he serves on Milken Family Foundation board of trustees and is a big advocate of community affairs.
Rosey, what else have we missed?
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist