Milestones Dec. 11, 2006

(2 of 2)

DIED. Robert McFerrin, 85, baritone who in 1955 became the first black man to sing in the New York Metropolitan Opera's company; in St. Louis, Mo. Forbidden as a youth by his Baptist-preacher father from singing anything but gospel, McFerrin--later followed into music by his son Bobby (Don't Worry, Be Happy)--also dubbed the sung vocals for Sidney Poitier's Porgy in the 1959 film version of Porgy and Bess.

DIED. Bebe Moore Campbell, 56, commentator, essayist and author whose celebrated novels, including Your Blues Ain't Like Mine, examined America's race and class divides and opened a window into the lives of upwardly mobile blacks; of brain cancer; in Los Angeles. Literature left an early mark on Campbell. Her mother believed memorization was key to education, and pushed her to commit to memory passages ranging from Psalm 23 to Shakespeare to Paul Laurence Dunbar's poetry. Education remained a theme in Campbell's life. She taught elementary school for five years before turning fully to writing but never truly left her earlier profession. Her lyrical works were laden with of-the-moment social lessons--1994's Brothers and Sisters explored racial tension in post-- Rodney King L.A. In her books, she said, "I try to impart a message."

INAUGURATED. Felipe Calderón, 44, as President of Mexico; after winning a July election by a margin of 0.56% over leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has refused to concede; in Mexico City. An hour before the conservative Calderón took his oath in the congressional chamber, legislators allied with López Obrador--who has set up a parallel government--brawled with Calderón partisans and barricaded doors in an attempt to delay the ceremony. In his inaugural address, Calderón called for unity, saying, "To those who voted for others, I will not ignore your causes. I ask you to let me win over your confidence."