Ringmaster Rubbing Oil Has Staying Power in the Black Community

By Sherri Kolade

The late longtime businessman Frank B. Sewell’s fabled legacy continues to live on through his family and the community he so faithfully served.

With the advent of his famous product, Ringmaster Rubbing Oil in 1950, Sewell’s topical liquid has a long history serving the likes of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Eleanor Roosevelt, with an origin story involving the well-known Black inventor George Washington Carver, more on that later.

Sewell’s product has helped to soothe generations by relieving customers’ aches, pains, arthritis and more with the same formula since its creation.

Ringmaster is a medicated peanut oil, ”super rub” a careful blend of wintergreen and peanut oil. The product is aged for maximum penetration to treat arthritis, stiffness, joint friction, tight, sore muscles and restricted range of movement. The product is used as a lubricating rub that penetrates, lubricates and medicates.

The multi-purpose oil can be used with other mediums such as water, gels, creams, petroleum jelly and moist compresses and sells in varying sizes ranging from 2oz. to 8oz. bottles.

Sewell, a child of the Great Depression, set a goal in life to help the downtrodden, the poor and the disaffected people of our country.

After having a detailed vision of Carver instructing him on how to make Ringmaster, he created the product, which he massaged, prayed with, evangelized and counseled thousands of people who needed his medicine and special brand of insightful wisdom.

“Dr. Carver came to him and showed him how to mix the product. And that became the next thing that encouraged

Tuskegee Airmen Museum

By Andre Ash

The Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum recently showcased an event featuring an historic opportunity to hear first-hand accounts by Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Harry Stewart.

The event was held at the Coleman A. Young International Airport in Detroit, home to a Tuskegee Airmen Airplane hangar, classroom and lab space, a ground school and the site of a new educational and event space.

“We get to stand on the shoulders of greatness,” said Shamalia Willis, political and education liaison at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum. “The Tuskegee Airmen have paved the way. We’re giving young people the opportunity to come here to learn how to become pilots. We also have a drone program and even an airplane maintenance program.”

Students from across metro