L.A. Focus Newspaper September 2023

VOLUME XXVIII • ISSUE 8 •September 2023 > > W W W. L A F O C U S N E W S PA P E R . C O M

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Church News: George Hurtt To Be Honored at WHW Ministry Conference

Hollywood Buzz: SHakeup on Real Housewives of Atlanta

SEE PAGE 10

Upfront

Councilmember Heather Hutt Seeks to Ban Cashless Businesses in L.A.

Upfront:Controversy Shrouds Hiring of Southwest College President

>> SEE PAGE 6

contents

October 2022 September 2023

L.A. Focus Publications

(Left) California Secretary of State Shirley Weber speaking at the Ethnic Media Awards; •L.A. Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Mayor Karen Bass pose with a youth group at the opening of new permanent supportive housing developments in Hyde Park • Pastor Warryn Campbell performs with his group, The Soul Seekers, at the Carson Family Fest • Mayor Pro Tem Jawane Hilton poses with Erica Campbell and mother-in-law Sandra Campbell at the Family Festival

4 From The Editor

Biz News Briefs

“Up You Might People”

Diddy Debuts the “Revolt World” Immersive Experience; Paramount Squashes Mounting Rumors of BET Sale

Commentary

“Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas Dared to Lead Us”

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On the Money

UpFront

On Supreme Gifting

Controversy Shrouds Hiring of Dr. Anthony Culpepper as Southwest College President; Councilmember Heather Hutt Moves to Ban Cashless Businesses in L.A; Mark Ridley-Thomas Speaks Publicly on His Conviction for the First Time

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Halle Berry to Pay Child Support for the Second Time; Tiffany Haddish to Produce Homeless Dating Series; Jamie Foxx to Play God in Upcoming Movie

Footnotes

HeadToHead

John David Washington

60th Anniversary of March on Washington Sparks Contrasting Views on King’s Dream

Headlines From Africa

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Hollywood Buzz

19 First Lady Files Sarah Jakes-Roberts

21 Pastor Profile George Hurtt

25 In Good Taste 26 Saving Grace Monique Kilgore

Samuel L. Jackson

15 Red Carpet Style ESPYS Awards

Eye On Gospel

Special Report Governor Newsom Announces New Round of Efforts to Combat Hate

10 Cover Story

Navigating Black Power in L.A. Politics

13 Money Matters

The Breakout Success of Zacardi Cortez; Kirk Franklin Wants Everyone to Try Love New Project to Recover Names of Up to 10 Million US Slaves Before 1870 and Locate Living

18 Church News

J. Edgar Boyd to Retire as Pastor of First AME Church, WHW Conference Kicks Off October 2; WHW 2023 Set for October 2-6; George Hurtt to be honored with Preacher’s Cup Award

Beyonce's Renaissance Tour made stops in Los Angeles on September 1, 2 and 4 to starstudded crowds at SOFI stadium. The record-breaking tour–projected by Forbes to gross more than $2 billion by the time it ends in October– is the highest grossing tour by a Black artist.

“No-Poaching” Decision Against McDonald’s Viewed as Victory for Worker’s Rights

honorary advisors

staff Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Photographer Advertising

Lisa Collins Gerald Bell, Quita Bride, D.T. Carson Ian Foxx Kisha Smith

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Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Pastor Michael J.T. Fisher Rev. Xavier L. Thompson Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Pastor Emeritus Melvin Wade Pastor K.W. Tulloss Bishop Robert T. Douglas Sr.

advisory board

Napoleon Brandford Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co. Apostle Beverly Crawford Bible Enrichment Fellowship Lem Daniels Int’l Bob Blake Morgan Stanley Bob Blake & Associates

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Address all correspondence to: L.A. Focus, 333 W. Florence Ave., Suite C333 Inglewood, CA 90301 • (310) 677-6011 Subscription rates $25.00 per year. www.lafocusnewspaper.com

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Commentary

REV. JAMES M. LAWSON, JR Guest Columnist

“Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas Dared to Lead Us” ince I was four years old, I have witnessed and resisted racism. Now at the age of 95 (in just a few weeks), I have observed many disturbing events, but I am particularly perturbed by the sentencing of Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas.

It is the cruelest of the ironies of history that Dr. Ridley-Thomas was sentenced for felony convictions stemming from efforts to empower African American voters on August 28th, the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington.

This unique case has been waged against the legacy of leadership produced by the African American community, the benefits of which are not limited to Black people. In other words, this case is the by-product of a racist power structure designed to crush the transformative leadership Mark Ridley-Thomas embodies and we share.

The United States vs Mark Ridley-Thomas is not a typical bribery case. Mark Ridley-Thomas received no monetary benefits from an exchange of something of value for something of value. His son received no monetary benefits. There was no exchange of money, no embezzlement, no lavish trips or gifts. The only thing involved was just one unanimously passed contract amendment to help mental health patients.

The case against Mark Ridley-Thomas lacks merit. It’s more persecution than prosecution. More abuse of power by the USAO aimed at communities of color and compounding its mass incarceration strategy.

As a matter of fact, the donation to the non-profit that was the basis for his conviction was determined to be legal. Yes, it originated from the Mark Ridley-Thomas Committee for a Better Los Angeles, a ballot committee he lawfully controlled. It was the same entity that funded the polling and research that led to the 2017 L.A. County voter-approved quarter cent sales tax to fund the fight against housing insecurity and the increase in homeless services.

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The jury found Mark Ridley-Thomas not guilty on 12 of 19 counts pressed by Federal prosecutors – 63%. He was acquitted on the performance of acts related to his son’s admission, tuition and non-tenure professorship.

But the government exaggerates the scale of corruption to propagate prosecutors’ ever-shifting, misleading and frequently false narrative. This is how the abuse of power and racism work hand in hand.

The Mark Ridley-Thomas we all know is an exceptionally well prepared servant leader–like him personally or not. No one familiar with his herculean efforts to empower Black people and other marginalized people can credibly refute this fact. His work ethic is unmatched.

His academic credentials set him apart most others.

As founder of the African American Voter Registration, Education and Participation Project (AAVREP), he worked overtime to ensure that over 200,000 voters in Los Angeles County were registered since its founding in 2002. There was simply no other comparable, sustained effort to harness the Black vote at a time of declining demographic presence. Mark Ridley-Thomas refused to permit Black voters to be ignored, forgotten or dismissed.

The martyrs of Mississippi’s Freedom Summer, the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Selma are testimony to the importance of the right to vote.

Mark Ridley-Thomas registered us to vote and mobilized turn out to ensure that we knew Black lives matter and Black votes count.

No one familiar with Mark Ridley-Thomas can dispute his commitment to facilitating the organization of his constituents to effectively make known their views through the Empowerment Congress. Its mission – “to educate, engage and empower” – has been a presence in the South L.A. community for over thirty years. Its annual summits have attracted thousands of civic leaders, neighborhood activists, elected officials, entrepreneurs, service providers and philanthropists in observance of the MLK

From the Editor

holiday. The summits encourage social activism and urge participants to take stock of the progress we have made as a society to redeem the Dream’s “promissory note” of social equity and genuine equality for all of God’s children.

This perspective gives rise to a political legacy and tradition of inclusive coalition building, civil and human rights advocacy, gender equity and multi-racial solidarity. Dr. Ridley-Thomas supported candidates and created organiations that shared these values and a demonstrated commitment to broad-based empowerment. It is what some of us aspirationally call the “beloved community.”

As an unapologetic advocate of political empowerment, Mark Ridley-Thomas consciously cultivated his base of support within the African American community by encouraging civic engagement and faith-based outreach and mobilization, voter registration, dialogue, education and participation. With this base as a foundation, he accumulated authority and used his unique ability to identify, marshal and deploy the resources of the public sector to address socio-economic issues on favorable terms for his multi-racial and working class constituents. Given his record of achievement, who denies he used his intellect and power to benefit his constituents, regardless of race, gender or orientation?

As a servant leader following in the tradition of March on Washington organizers, the Mark Ridley-Thomas we know dared to lead for all of us.

Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. is pastor emeritus of Holman UMC and was a leading theoretician and tactician of nonviolence within the Civil Rights Movement.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Up You Mighty People ” he tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.

It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is certainly a calamity not to dream”–Benjamin E. Mays For about three years earlier in my career I did a column called “On the Money” that appeared in over 70 African American newspapers across the nation, keying in on the successes of African Americans. In the process I was able to profile some of the country’s leading black entrepreneurs and business leaders as well as some of the nation’s most powerful political leaders. I have since come to believe that Blacks–who can and have overcome just about anything–in their quest for success are just about the most resourceful group of people with some of the most extraordinary achievements.

Telling their stories was a reminder of that is possible in the face of that which often seems totally out of reach. Many of them had been systematically excluded.

A lot of them didn’t even go to college, yet alone the right one. Most, however, adhered to a strict hard work ethic. They were prepared. They knew as much as they could about what they were pursuing and most importantly, they worked hard and made sacrifices. And all of them overcame the odds.

Empowerment is not only key to survival but is essential to success. There is power in numbers and in coalescing with others in the attainment of a common goal. During my tenure as the gospel columnist for Billboard Magazine, two friends and I formed a powerful coalition. One, Vicki Mack Lataillade went on to form GospoCentric Records and forge the most successful string of hits the gospel industry has ever seen with artists like Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr and Byron Cage. The other, Teresa Hairston, went on to establish Gospel Today Magazine, and in addition to having one of the L.A. Focus/September 2023

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most influential roles in gospel, I went on to found (well, you know)–L.A. Focus Newspaper.

But it was during the early years of Gospel Today that a powerful,rich White businessman decided that Teresa had a good idea in “Gospel Today”, and he was going to put her out of business as he forged what he called a publication of greater quality (I’m putting it nicely) aimed at the same consumer demographic.

When we got wind of what he was trying to do, we decided that we weren’t going to let it happen and called all the gospel record labels and artists and apprise them of our stance. One of my first calls was to the Winans who were set to be featured in the first issue.

I’ll never forget Marvin Winans calling me up–with the publisher on the other line –and stating that he wanted to say for the record (with me as his witness) that the no Winans family member would ever be appearing in the magazine, and that the Winans were withdrawing their consent to be on the front cover of the first issue.

Needless to say, the venture–though fully financed–never got off the ground.

Now, to be honest, we banded together just as much for ourselves as for our friend. One, because we wanted to support each other and build a resource base we would be able to tap into when we needed. Two, because if we allowed that to happen to one of us, it could possibly happen to each of us, so–in essence–we were just as surely saving ourselves.

In fact, the beauty of the collective empowerment of the Black community en masse is that it is the very key to our survival. The same principle applies with political empowerment and economic empowerment about which, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We don't have to argue with anybody. We don't have to curse. We don't need any bricks and bottles. We don't need any Molotov cocktails. We just need to go around to these

stores, and to these massive industries in our country, and say, "God sent us by here, to say to you that you're not treating his children right. And we've come by here to ask you to make the first item on your agenda fair treatment, where God's children are concerned. Now, if you are not prepared to do that, we do have an agenda that we must follow. And our agenda calls for withdrawing economic support from you."

In a city where African Americans comprise 9% of the population, Black elected officials have consistently been able to punch above their weight and maintain power in historically Black areas of the city that have become Hispanic enclaves because they have worked together. In our feature story–Navigation Black Power in L.A. Politics–beginning on page 10, L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell references the shared benefit that reaches every person when you have Black leaders who are not afraid to stand up to injustice and Black public servants that see how we are all connected. Black political power continues to become more inclusive and multi-generational.”

To that end, our singular and collective agendas must be empowering each other with our dollars, our words, our love and our talents, understanding that the real power lies in what we do together.

In the words of an old African proverbs, if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together and in the words of Marcus Garvey–“Up you mighty race, accomplish what you will.”

Keep the faith.

UpFront Controversy Shrouds Hiring of Dr. Anthony Culpepper as Southwest College President t a tension-filled board meeting of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) on August 2, numerous speakers took to the podium, both physically and virtually, to voice their thoughts on the controversial decision to appoint Dr. Anthony Culpepper as president of Southwest College.

The announcement of Dr. Culpepper's appointment, which had been made earlier that day, sparked debate and had become the focal point of an ongoing controversy surrounding the college's presidential selection process.

The majority of speakers expressed opposition to the decision, but stressed that their objections were not targeted at Dr. Culpepper or his qualifications as an administrator, but rather, on the perceived flaws in the selection process. Among them was Blanca Barajas, CalWorks Director at Southwest College and a former college alumnus, who criticized the board for its apparent disregard of the selection committee's input.

“As one of 11 LASC (L.A. Southwest College) colleagues serving on the recent presidential search and interview committee, I was dismayed to learn that a board that promotes and proclaims diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility has brazenly disregarded the unified voice of a selection committee.”

Echoing this sentiment, Angela Echeverri, president of the LACCD Academic Senate, questioned the board's authority to handpick a candidate, bypassing the search committee's role and engaging in what she perceived as unfair hiring practices.

“The board should not send a message

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that the work of a search committee is meaningless and that the hiring process outcome is determined from the onset and that this whole process is a sham.”

Other speakers, including an SEIU Local Nine representative, urged the board to start the process over, adding that he didn’t understand “the point of having an interview process if at the end, the chancellor gets to pick who he wants to pick,” said the representative.”

Despite the widespread criticism, some advocated for Dr. Culpepper, including Dallas Fowler, a member of the L.A. Southwest College Foundation Board of Directors, who praised the progress made under his leadership.

“It has been a joy to get his reports and actually see work and progress on our campus. Unfortunately, a lot of the work that has been done by Dr. Culpepper was unfortunately overshadowed by this process. I know there's a lot of folks in this room there's a lot of emotions, but if you are not living south of Manchester, please consider the people who really live here.”

Several board members, including Andra Hoffman, joined the critics, expressing

GERALD BELL

Contributor

concern over the future implications of the recent events.

“This is a very dark day in the district,” Hoffman said. “I literally had hundreds of emails flooding my inbox, not only concerned about what happened with this particular process, but what will happen moving forward when we have to take a vote like this in public, as this doesn't bode well for anybody.”

However, LACCD Board Vice-President Nichelle Henderson defended the decision, crediting Dr. Culpepper for increased student enrollment and community involvement, and ultimately supporting his permanency in the role.

“I truly respect your decisions”, Henderson said, “but I am a member of this community that LA southwest college is in and as a member of that community, I've watched this college change over the years and not for the good – the continual decline in enrollment, constant turnover of presidents. Over the past year there has been a distinct increase in student enrollment and community involvement.

“I am voting in favor of having Dr. Culpepper continue on as the permanent president of this college because he is a reflection of my interests and the interests of those people in the community who are supporting him. And in my view, if you don't live in that community–faculty member or not–you have no right to dictate what happens to folks in a community based off of the sheer reason that this particular college was created. It wasn't created because folks cared about process. The process excluded them.”

In the end, a 6-2 vote finalized Dr. Culcontinued to page 24

Councilmember Heather Hutt Moves to Ban Cashless Businesses in L.A. he advent of digital technology has significantly spurred the growth of cashless businesses nationwide and in L.A. County.

Fueled by the convenience and efficiency of online transactions, more enterprises are embracing cashless operations, marking a dynamic shift in the business landscape.

Cashless transactions, facilitated through digital wallets, credit cards, mobile payment applications, and online banking, offer quick, secure, and hasslefree payment options for vendors. Business owners who have gone cashless say that it increases safety and reduces theft because cashiers aren't handling bills.

However, there are millions of Americans who are unable to obtain bank accounts or have been denied access to credit, preventing them from being able to engage in consumer transactions unless they are able to pay for goods and services in cash and to that end Councilwoman Heather Hutt (CD-10) has introduced a motion to ban cashless retail businesses in Los Angeles.

“Cashless businesses create an economy in our City that is not inclusive and accessible for all people,” said Hutt. “There are many L.A. Focus/September 2023

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unbanked groups, including BIPOC and low income communities, that rely on cash to pay for goods and services.”

Not accepting cash payments in the marketplace systematically excludes lowincome communities of color, young people who do not meet the age qualifications for credit or debit cards, seniors who have not transitioned to card or digital payment modes and the undocumented.

As businesses increasingly move towards cashless transactions, these communities face potential exclusion from the digital economy.

A 2021 FDIC national survey found that an estimated 4.5 percent of U.S. households (approximately 5.9 million) were “unbanked” in 2021, meaning that no one in the household had a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union.

However, unbanked rates were higher among lower-income households, lesseducated households, Black households, Hispanic households, working-age households with a disability and single-mother households.

A 2019 study by the Federal Reserve revealed that 34% of Black and 17% of Hispanic individuals in the U.S. made all or most of their purchases with cash.

Hutt was prompted to introduce the motion when she was out with a friend

D.T. CARSON Contributor

who couldn’t make a purchase because the business did not accept cash.

Said Hutt, “You start thinking about what happens to folks if they don't have cash. 7% of the population in California is unbanked and 20% are underbanked.

That means everyone cannot participate.

7% of the unbanked households feel like they don't have enough money to keep an account open, because there are minimums and if you buy a prepaid card, you’ve got to pay a fee on the card and then you’ve got to pay the transaction fee”.

Such a transition can create a barrier for individuals who lack access to banking facilities or digital literacy, making it more challenging for them to access goods continued to page 24

News Briefs Georgia Republicans Seek Action Against DA Fani Willis District Attorney Fani Willis’ recent of indictment President former Donald Trump and 18 other defendantshas ignited a fierce debate over the intersection of politics and the judiciary.

State Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, a prominent Republican figure, revealed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Senate GOP leaders are considering legislative hearings to examine whether Willis is exercising her authority for political gains. The move comes after her expansive racketeering indictment, which threatens to turn the 2024 presidential race on its head.

Gooch emphasized that Senate Bill 92, which allows a state panel to investigate and remove prosecutors found to be acting improperly, could serve as a potent tool for Trump’s allies to scrutinize Willis’s utilization of public resources.

“She’s politicizing this,” Gooch asserted, and we want to make sure these people get a fair trial and a fair shake.”

The Republican initiatives represent a fraction of a broader effort by Trump’s allies to retaliate against Willis and other high-profile prosecutors handling Trump’s ongoing criminal cases. The twice-impeached and four-time indicted Trump faces 91 felony charges across four jurisdictions.

Harris-Dawson Debuts Two New Hyde Park Housing Developments Council President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson was recently joined by Mayor Karen Bass in the opening of two permanent supportive housing developments on Crenshaw Boulevard. To welcome formerly unhoused families and individuals to their new homes Harris-Dawson hosted a block party celebration featuring Grammy winning artist Cocoa Sarai.

The new developments, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, will provide 141 new units and house over 200 individuals.

“Our housing philosophy at Hope at Hyde Park and Depot at Hyde Park embodies a humane shift, by prioritizing community and neighborly support,” said Council President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “This approach echoes Housing at Home's mission, emphasizing the vital role of support systems in combating homelessness, and inserting compassion into our housing strategy."

Housing at Home is a South LA initiative that advocates for keeping people housed and rooted in their communities. This is a practical solution that keeps people tethered to their communities. and provides housing in a place with all the familiarity of home.

“Los Angeles is becoming increasingly unaffordable which makes it that much more important to bring permanent supportive housing to South LA,” stated Mayor Karen Bass. “We must do all we can to ensure that Angelenos have a place to call home.”

UpFront

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Mark Ridley-Thomas Speaks Publicly on His Conviction for the First Time

n the 21 months since former City Councilmember Mark RidleyThomas was indicted on federal corruption charge, he has not spoken publicly about the case, the 20-count indictment or his actions.

That changed as the 68-year-old veteran legislator stood before U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer prior to her sentencing him to 42 months (3.5 years) in federal prison and $30,700 in fines to address the court. Below is his statement: I've had a full and intense twenty months, to reflect on the circumstance in which I find myself. It is true that I have chosen to exercise my constitutional rights as a citizen to offer the best possible defense for myself.

But I feel that it's important, Your Honor, to make it clear to you that I in no way want to convey anything but respect for you, and for this Court. Further, I want to assure you that when this is completed I will accept the outcome of this judicial process and give full and respectful compliance in accordance with the law.

I believe it's fair to say that this case exists somewhere between what is clearly legal conduct on one end, and clearly illegal conduct on the other. In between there is a line that distinguishes actions that are illegal – and actions that may be illadvised, but NOT illegal.

While I definitely disagree as to whether I crossed that line into illegal

conduct, I acknowledge with clarity where I belonged was at the end of the spectrum where there would be little, if any, question of even the appearance of unlawfulness. The very perception that I deviated from proper conduct in this matter is truly distressing as well as harmful, and I deeply regret it.

My actions – and the fallout from those actions – have hurt my family, beginning with my wife of 44 years who should never have had to go through and ordeal like this. I apologize to her with every breath and with my whole heart.

And I apologize to my sons, daughter-inlaw and grandchildren, as well as other family members whose lives have been disrupted and traumatically impacted.

Additionally, the anguish that I feel causes me to say I’m so sorry to all of my constituents, colleagues and employees who have believed in me for many years, but who may now have doubts. I sincerely apologize to them not only for playing a role in bringing about those doubts – but also for no longer being able to be there for them in service. I can only trust and believe that the future will afford me the opportunities to continue to find ways to serve them and their families, to remove doubt and to restore faith.

I give you, and my former constituents, on all those here today and all those here today my pledge that I will find a way to continue to learn from this dev-

astating experience, to emerge from it as a more conscientious person, and to go forward once this is behind us with humility, with renewed commitment to service and with undaunted hope for a purposeful life dedicated to the communities who rightfully expect and deserve the very best of me.”

Ridley-Thomas was convicted earlier this year on bribery, conspiracy, honest services mail fraud, and four counts of honest services wire fraud relative to the funneling of a $100,000 donation to United Ways through USC. In doling out her sentence, Fischer also remarked that Ridley-Thomas had “committed serious crimes and had not accepted responsibility or demonstrated remorse.”

“Whatever you think of what Mark Ridley-Thomas did,” MRT Attorney Galia Amram stated, “This is not a case about a public official diverting public funds for his own personal gain. The money at issue–a $100,000 donation from Dr. Ridley-Thomas’s ballot committee account– went to fund a non-profit devoted to ensuring that the voice of African American voters would be represented in political polling.”

She added that that government had presented no evidence of any pressure put on fellow L.A. Country supervisors to vote for the Telehealth contract by Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas, and that the mo-

KISHA SMITH Staff

tion [in question] would have passed absent MRT’s vote.

“No victim has come forward to say Mark Ridley-Thomas harmed them,” observed Pastor Norman Johnson speaking for the South Los Angeles Clergy for Public Accountability. “He received no personal benefits. He is no threat to the community. His 30-year history of public service is unparalleled.

“Contrary to the claims of the prosecution, we are not blind loyalists or naïve,” Johnson continued. “We recognize the historic limitations of the U.S. judicial process when it involves Black people. All too often, it is less than favorable, balanced, fair and proportionate.

“Based on the evidence, including the acquittals, we support MRT’s appeal of the guilty verdict and the excessive sentence. Neither the conviction nor the

continued to page 24

HeadToHead

60th Anniversary of March on Washington Sparks Contrasting Views on King’s Dream

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ugust 28 marked the 60th shows that the overall poverty anniversary of the March Faith in Mar- rate for African Americans detin Luther on Washington for Jobs creased by more than 12% beKing Jr.'s and Freedom where Dr. tween 1968 and 2016. The gap Dream 60 Martin Luther King Jr. gave his in educational attainment beYears Later tween Blacks and Whites has eminent "I Have a Dream" speech. The large black-and-white signs also declined. In a recent interview with carried by the marchers are dominant The Hill, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, images that have always stood out to me. chief of Race, Wealth and Community for There was an array of bold messages the National Community Reinvestment being paraded around the National Mall Coalition, explained that Whites now that included "We Demand Voting have 1.7 times "the four-year college atRights Now," "End Segregated Rules in tainment level of Public Schools" and "Civil Rights Plus Blacks," down from Full Employment Equals Freedom."

2.4 in 1962. Yet, disWhen looking at the historic photos parities still exist of other iconic leaders who spoke that for Blacks in homeday – John Lewis, Daisy Bates, A. Phil- ownership and lip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, Walter wealth equity, areas Reuther, Floyd McKissick and Whitney that civil rights orYoung – it is powerfully clear that a ganizations will mighty declaration was being made continue to address. Jessica Johnson against the evils of racial hatred and disWhat made King's remarks in "I crimination that still hardened the Have a Dream" distinctive when conhearts of many in our nation. Bates was fronting the years of racial discrimthe only woman who spoke on the ination that built up barriers of March's program as she gave the "Trib- inequality is that he always reiterated ute to Negro Women Fighters for Free- everyone must work together to overdom." Myrlie Evers had previously been come them. King pointed out that "... appointed for this task but could not at- many of our white brothers, as evidenced tend. by their presence here today, have come An estimated 250,000 gathered to realize that their destiny is tied up around the Lincoln Memorial to hear with our destiny."

King and the civil rights leaders who We are still quite far from embracstepped to the podium to proclaim, as ing our interconnected destiny that King Lewis put it, that a social revolution was envisioned 60 years ago, and many sweeping the country. The fight for free- Americans, as shown in a recent Pew Redom and equality was one with righteous search Center survey, do not believe that demands that the movement was fully racial equality will be achieved in their committed to seeing through, as King af- lifetime. firmed that America could not continue If King had lived to witness this to default on its "promissory note insofar year's momentous "I Have a Dream" anas her citizens of color are concerned." niversary, he would have been 94, and I We have made great strides towards believe that if physically able he would fulfilling the core of the promissory note have given us rousing words of admonregarding job, educational and entrepre- ishment as well as hope. He would have neurial opportunities. This is evident as warned us that the sinful spirit of racism data from the Economic Policy Institute Johnson continued to page 24

Headlines From Africa Central African Republic: Central African Republic continues to be a test bed for the integration of blockchain technology with the launch of an initiative that will see the country’s land and natural resources tokenized and sold on the blockchain.

Gabon: General Brice Nguema, who ousted former President Ali Bongo in a coup following last month’s contested election, has been sworn in as transitional president.

The overthrow of Bongo ended his family’s 55-year grip on power. The U.S. state department urged Gabon's military to "preserve civilian rule" and urged "those responsible to release and ensure the safety of members of government". Nguema has said he will return power to the people after free and transparent elections.

L.A. Focus/September 2023

Ghana: Religious leaders in Ghana have issued a strongly worded statement saying the West African nation will not compromise its values to satisfy foreign investors promoting LGBTQI+ rights and have called on Western countries to “stop the incessant attempts to impose unacceptable foreign cultural values on us.”

Kenya: Kenya is set to begin construction of a $13.8 billion high-speed railway to Ethiopia. Construction of the 3,000-kilometre railway line will begin in 2025 and is part of a proposed $22 billion transport corridor.

Liberia: Election tensions in Liberia erupted into violence last month as supporters of President George Weah and his main political rival, Joseph Boakai clashed in a brawl. The violence came after politicians were warned to refrain from divisive and incendiary politics and adhere to issue-based campaigns leading up to the October 10 election. Weah is set to face 19 rivals.

Namibia: Namibia is poised to become an African oil powerhouse following significant oil discoveries

8 and an influx of foreign investments with potential for Namibia to not only produce but refine and export

as about leading America to its his past week, the nation noted the 60th anniversary Our Sad De- full potential, as defined by the of Dr. Martin Luther King parture from ideals and principles in its foundDr. King's ing documents.

Jr.'s famous "I Have a 'Dream' He implored that the struggle to Dream" speech.

The speech is without question a his- realize the American charter of freedom toric landmark, both in terms of recalling and protection of the rights of all citizens the unique stress of the time and in terms take place "on the high plane of dignity of King's eloquence in capturing the situ- and discipline." He urged Black Americans to not "satisfy our thirst for freedom ation.

But beyond being interesting, why do by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred." we bother at all with history?

It brings to And King's final appeal was to see our namind Albert Ein- tion as a nation under God. It is a critical point. stein's famous definiKing's vision, as expressed that day, tion of insanity: "doing the same was that the American ideal of freedom thing over and over would be made possible when "all of God's again and expecting children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, different results." es- will be able to join hands and sing in the Einstein Star Parker sentially touched the words of the old Negro spiritual: 'Free at question about why we study history. Our last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, track record of success and failure is we are free at last.'"

Although our realities today are far spotted. Looking back, we get a sense of what works and what doesn't. Regarding different from August 1963 – certainly our failures, Einstein was conveying we the material state of Black Americans is should be honest about them, learn from far, far better – there is a prevailing sense that things are not good. them and have the courage to change.

If we take King's words at face value, Given that King spoke that day to all Americans – not just Black Americans or then it is questionable we have learned white Americans – we should assess much since then. where we are today given how King de- When he spoke about failing to live up to fined then what was wrong. What have the "magnificent words" of our founding we learned, and what remains for us to documents, he got applause from the crowd. learn?

It is questionable that would be the We need to ask why, 60 years later, race still occupies such a large part of our case today. Many on the left see our nation as fundamentally flawed. They see public consciousness.

King's complaint was not about our na- government and politics as the answer, tional charter. He referred to the "mag- not individual freedom.

The nation's deplorable fiscal situation nificent words of the Constitution and the today reflects this change in attitude.

Declaration of Independence."

His complaint and indictment were Government spending now takes twothat the nation was not living up to that thirds more from our national economy than when King spoke in 1963. charter.

In the grand scheme of things, King, in King's appeal that the struggle take place Parker continued to page 24 that speech, defined the movement he led

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A look at current news from the continent of Africa oil and gas, positioning itself as a significant player in the regional energy market.

Niger: In an escalating standoff with other West African nations, Niger's ruling junta has authorized troops from Mali and Burkina Faso to come to its defense following last month’s coup, while demanding the departure of the French ambassador. France continues to recognize only the authority of Niger's detained democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained.

Nigeria: Africa's largest economy, is experiencing a severe cost-of-living crisis as annual inflation surged to its highest level in almost two decades, reaching 24.08% in July. A report from an international e-commerce organization revealed that the average Nigerian household dedicates about 59% of its income to food expenses, a figure that surpasses the global average of 11% and has placed approximately 25 million Nigerians at a high risk of food insecurity, as outlined in a UN report released in January.

Somalia: Somalia has banned video platform TikTok, messaging app Telegram, and online betting website 1XBet to limit the spread of indecent content and propaganda, its communications minister has said in a statement.

Uganda: Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has banned the importation of used clothing into the east African country, saying it stifles the development of local textile industries and that the clothes belonged to dead Westerners.

Zimbabwe: President Emmerson Mnangagwa has won Zimbabwe's election with 52.6% of the vote, after a process decried by the opposition and international observers for its irregularities and allegations of voter intimidation. The electoral commission said Mnangagwa's main challenger, Nelson Chamisa, won 44% of the vote in the nation this is suffering from years of runaway inflation and a joblessness crisis.

SpecialReport

KISHNA SMITH

Contributor

Governor Newsom Announces New Round of Efforts to Combat Hate ast month, as part of California’s historic investment in combatting hate crimes–and as communities of color, religious groups, and LGBTQ+ continue to be targeted by acts of hate, including–Governor Gavin Newsom announced additional resources, funding, and guidance to empower and protect Californians.

Following recent high-profile incidents, including the horrific murder of a shop owner in Southern California, the Governor has announced new investments and resources to build on the states robust efforts to empower diverse communities and address discrimination.

Those efforts include the first major statewide media campaign dubbed “CA vs. Hate” to focus on traditionally hardto-reach communities. Additionally, a letter is being sent to all California public school leaders highlighting the legal responsibilities to ensure ethnic studies curricula —— which give students a chance to “see” themselves in the fabric of our state —— are appropriate and do not reflect or promote bias, bigotry or discrimination.

“An attack on any of our communities is an attack on everything we stand for as Californians,” said Governor Newsom.

“As hate-fueled rhetoric drives increasing acts of bigotry and violence, California is taking action to protect those who are targeted just for being who they are.

We’re bolstering our support for victims and anti-hate programs and tackling ig-

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norance and intolerance through education to prevent hate from taking hold in our communities."

Reported hate crime events in California increased 20.2% from 1,763 in 2021 to 2,120 in 2022 according to Attorney General Rob Bonta. Hate crimes targeting Blacks remained the most prevalent, increased 27.1% from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022.

In May, Newsom, along with the California Civil Rights Department, announced the official launch of CA vs Hate, a multilingual hotline and website that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. CA vs Hate is in direct response to the rise in reported hate crimes in California, which in recent years, reached their highest levels since 2001 — jumping almost 33% from 2020 to 2021.

“In California, our diversity is what makes the nation’s most populous state a beautiful and vibrant community,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

“It’s horrifying that hate crimes are on the rise, and so let it be made clear: we stand with our diverse communities, and we are committed to ensuring they feel safe and heard.”

The hotline is complemented by a multilingual outreach campaign, emphasizing community engagement. CA vs Hate also seeks to overcome reporting challenges — whether due to fear of retaliation, lack of trust, or other issues — by offering people targeted for hate a com-

munity-centered approach that does not require engagement with the criminal legal system.

However, within the first month of launching the hotline, there were 180 reports of hate acts across the state.

“There is still much work to be done to combat hate in our state,” said Attorney General Bonta. "Our office continues to work with law enforcement, elected leaders, and community organizations across the state to increase awareness and bolster responses to hate crimes. An attack against one of us is an attack against all of us. The alarming increases in crimes committed against Black, LGBTQ+ and Jewish people for the second year in a row illustrates the need for our communities to join together unified against hate.”

If you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of a hate crime, notify local law enforcement and consider taking the following steps: • If you are in immediate danger, call 911 and if needed, seek medical attention.

• Write down the exact words used and take note of any other relevant facts.

• If safe to do so, save all evidence and take photos.

• Get the contact information for other victims and witnesses.

Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833) 866-4283, or 833-8-NOHATE, weekdays from 9 am. to 6 p.m. PT or online at any time. Callers will be con-

nected with a professional trained in culturally competent communication and trauma-informed practices. Reports are not shared with law enforcement without consent. Care coordinators will follow up to ensure callers are able to access resources and support, including legal, financial, mental health, and mediation services.

Individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in danger, please are encouraged to call 9-1-1. For more information on CA vs Hate, please visit CAvsHate.org.

Note: This article is part of a twelve part series from the “Stop The Hate Campaign”-- a joint venture of the California State Li- brary and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Af- fairs (CCAPIAA) and administered by the California Department of Social Services in response to the significant in- crease of hate-related activity that has been recorded over the last few years.

LISA COLLINS Staff

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L.A. Focus/September 2023

ver the past year, the political landscape in Los Angeles has been dramatically reshaped for Black Angelenos. A city scandal exposing the efforts of City Hall politicians to wrestle away power away from African Americans, the conviction of Mark Ridley- Thomas– one of the Black community’s most powerful and effective politicians and the election of Mayor Karen Bass have all shed light on the complexities surrounding Black political power in the City of Angels.

“The Black community is in a constant state of survival - at all levels of government,” said Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “We are battling a widening wealth gap, the onslaught of gentrification, rising unaffordability, a shrinking demographic in historically Black neighborhoods, and anti-Black rhetoric that routinely turns violent. Oftentimes, it feels like we are under siege.”

Despite the conviction of Ridley-Thomas, political consultant Kerman Maddox highlights the recent election of Mayor Karen Bass as proof of the enduring potential of Black political influence.

“For the past twenty years Mark Ridley-Thomas was clearly the most effective black elected official in Southern California,” states Maddox, who runs Dakota Communications, one of the city’s top political consulting firms. “Some politicians are more vocal, some are more well known, some are more well liked, but none have been more effective in advancing a Black agenda. The packed crowds in the courtroom during his trial are evidence of how people in the community feel about him. However, despite his departure from elective office, all is not lost. The recent election of Mayor Karen Bass is clear evidence that despite reports of our imminent demise, black political power can still swing a major election in Los Angeles.”

The trajectory of Blacks in L.A. politics is particularly striking given that while two thirds of the settlers who founded Los Angeles in 1781 were of African des-

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cent, no African American person held elected office in Los Angeles between 1900 and 1949.

In the decades since, blacks have risen through the political ranks on every front, from the halls of Congress to the recesses of Los Angeles City Hall with the likes of Gil Lindsay, Augustus Hawkins, Mervyn Dymally, Nate Holden, former L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke, five-time mayor Tom Bradley, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, former Congresswoman Diane Watson and veteran legislator Mark Ridley-Thomas leading the charge.

Yet, while blacks have played key roles in city politics in the post-Bradley era, rapidly shifting demographics have transformed many historically Black areas of the city into Hispanic enclaves.

Of the nearly four million people who call Los Angeles home, Latinos make up 48%, Whites stand at 29%, followed by Asians (12%) and Blacks (8%). And as the state’s minority population has dramatically risen, political insiders have long predicted blacks would decline in power.

However, the election of Mayor Bass, along with the elections of Dr. Shirley Webber as Secretary of State and Malia Cohen as California's first Black state controller, signal that reports of the decline of Black political influence have been premature.

In a 2022 interview, City Councilman Curren Price pointed out that while the African American population might be small, the community holds considerable leadership positions at local, state, and federal levels and have consistently punched above their weight. Despite the increasing Latino majority in council districts traditionally held by African Americans, Price along with other figures like City Council President Pro Tem Marqueece Harris-Dawson, believe in the resilience of the Black community and its political representation.

Said Price, “Many of us are elected in the areas that are not primarily African American, demonstrating an ability to work with others–an ability to reach across

“

We're as challenged now as we've ever been, but we're also the strongest we've ever been. The struggles that produced people like Mark Ridley-Thomas and Karen Bass are still there. Our values are still there. Our institutions are still there. And we're still producing leadership. So, no matter what they throw at us—and they're always throwing stuff at us—we're going to be able to take that, turn it around and use it in our favor.

”

the aisles and meet those needs of residents where they are, regardless of race.”

“We're as challenged now as we've ever been, but we're also the strongest we've ever been,” said HarrisDawson. “The struggles that produced people like Mark Ridley-Thomas and Karen Bass are still there.

Our values are still there. Our institutions are still there. And we're still producing leadership. So, no matter what they throw at us–and they're always throwing stuff at us–we're going to be able to take that, turn it around and use it in our favor.”

Kamlager-Dove calls Mayor Karen Bass is an incredible addition to the history of Los Angeles.

“She brings practicality, a political heft and inspiration to the needs of this city. She walks everyday with her eyes wide open and remains unafraid of the challenges ahead.

“On the opposite side of the political spectrum, the loss of MRT will be felt across the Black community.

He created Days of Dialogue in direct response to the riots, he was a clarion voice on the issue of homelessness well before everyone else understood it to be a crisis, and he was instrumental in the re-opening of King Drew Hospital. We still need that kind of power and provocation as we battle what is ahead for the Black community.”

If the name Ridley-Thomas frequently emerges in discussions, it's for a good reason: any conversation about the influence of Black politics in Los Angeles over the last forty years would be incomplete without acknowledging Ridley-Thomas at its heart.

“It is absolutely a blow to our community to have Mark on the sidelines,” observed Mayor Karen Bass, “but somehow, I think that's going to change in the future. Still, I think the state of black politics in L.A. is strong. The question and the challenge for all of us is to maximize our power in developing an agenda and fighting for an agenda that moves Black Los Angeles forward. And as far as I'm concerned, our number one issue is the extreme disproportionality with homelessness. We're 9% of the population and 34% of the people on the streets.

“What a lot of people might not know is that we all work together, we meet together, we know what each other's doing, and we're supportive of each other. So, I think we're in a good situation.”

L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell underscores the importance of Black political power in creating progress that benefits all Angelenos.

L . A . F O C U S CITY HALL

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Karen Bass, L.A. City Mayor Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CD-8), President ProTem Heather Hutt, 10th District Curren Price, 9th District

COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Holly J. Mitchell, Second District

“We know this because anti-Blackness serves as the blueprint for all forms of oppression that we must end,” Mitchell explains. “There is a shared benefit that reaches every person when you have Black leaders who are not afraid to stand up to injustice, when you have Black public servants that see how we are all connected. Black political power continues to become more inclusive and multi-generational.”

And for those who believe power to be a matter of numbers, Harris -Dawson disagrees.

“This is one of the misnomers that really irritates me because the power and the influence of black people has never been based on the amount of us that there aren't. When Tom Bradley got elected, it wasn't as if we were 51%.

“There's no magic number,” Harris-Dawson continued. “It's a magic story. Imagine the struggle and imagine the commitment to values that make people look at our community and say, ‘We want to follow their way of life. We want to follow their vision for justice, and their vision for society’.

“That's really, how we've been able to ascend to leadership at all–under any circumstances and no matter what the demographics were.”

Maddox agrees.

“Our population has declined but in recent elections we have over performed our vote compared to other groups, which has allowed us to hold on to and win seats in districts where the demographics don't favor us,” Maddox reflects.

“We have Holly Mitchell on the board of Supervisors, Jim Butts is the Mayor in Inglewood, Rex Richardson was recently elected Mayor in Long Beach and two of the most powerful positions in Los Angeles City Hall are held by African Americans. We clearly don't have the political power we had in the 80's and 90's but we remain major political players. Now, our elected folks just need to deliver.”

Some however argue that political power is not just left to politicians to exercise.

“Influence can be exercised by a minister, a politician, a great community leader, an educator,” said one political insider. “I think there are people who do exercise power in all of those areas–each different from the other.”

Community Build CEO Robert Salcedo also stresses the need for leadership at every level of people who can understand the problems and have the capacity to work to resolve them.

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“If we only rely on our elected representatives, we have limited our power base immensely,” Salcedo contends. “You’ve got people like Tavis Smiley with the launch of KBLA and radio host Dominique diPrima who are providing a platform to drive social change.

You’ve got black business leaders who are coming to the forefront and community activists and a number of faith leaders who are driving transformative change in their communities.”

Center of Hope pastor Dixon is one of them. With small business advocacy, youth development, battling human sex trafficking and supporting foster care among his many programs, Dixon is excited by the dynamic group of faith leaders he believes will assist in the transformation of the L.A. County particularly as it relates to the African American community.

“There are tons of leaders I consider to be contemporaries that have been in the woodshed getting ready.

They’ve been laying the foundation and I believe that in the next ten years, we’re going to see these leaders – who have been emerging all this time–really come to the forefront and what has been in like a proof-ofconcept stage on a smaller level is going to be amplified in short order.”

“There’s much more of an emphasis on preaching a strong gospel in church on Sunday and then mobilizing on Monday to make sure the quality of life of our constituencies is being raised in every shape, form and fashion–social, economically, relative to health disparities, relative to the justice system.”

Even more exciting for L.A.’s seasoned black leadership is those coming behind them.

Observed Mitchell, “I am excited about the next generation of rising leaders who are working alongside us to end anti-Blackness and create the future we all deserve."

Among the political leaders making headway in the Southland and in the California legislature are State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor and Assemblyman Isaac Bryan (55th Assembly District).

On July 3,2023, Bryan– at the age of 31–was named as majority leader of the California State Assembly.

“Change isn’t about a person,” Bryan said after the announcement. “We all have the power to make a difference in the lives of others. Let’s use that power.”

L.A. Focus’ 2023 list of L.A. power players is listed below:

P L AY E R S

Inglewood Mayor: James Butts Long Beach Mayor: Rex Richardson Gardena: Tasha Cerda Lawndale: Robert Pullen-Miles

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Kerman Maddox, Dakota Communications Lisa Richardson, Rise Communications

Ministers’ Conference of Los Angeles Pastor Michael Fisher, Greater Zion Church Family Pastor J.P. Foster, Faithful Central Bible Church Pastor Xavier Thompson, Southern-St. Paul Apostle Beverly “Bam” Crawford, Bible Enrichment Fellowship

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Michael Lawson, Urban League William Smart, SCLC CONGRESS Cynthia McClain Hill, President—Board of Water and Kellie Todd-Griffin, CA Black Woman’s Collective Maxine Waters, U.S. Rep., 43rd Congressional Charisse Bremond, Brotherhood Crusade Power Commissioners (LADWP) District Avis Ridley-Thomas—Institute for Non-Violence Va Lecia Adams Kellum, CEO — L.A. Homeless Sydney Kamlager-Dove, U.S. Rep., 37th Adrian Shropshire, BPAC Fund Services Authority (LAHSA) Congressional District NAACP Los Angeles Dr. Robert Ross, CEO — California Endowment Robert Salcedo, Community Build Nichelle Henderson, Vice President—Los Angeles Community College District STATE SENATE MEDIA Capri Maddox, Executive Director—Civil + Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, 26th District Tavis Smiley, KBLA Human Rights and Equity Department Steven Bradford 35th District Stevie Wonder, KJLH Matt Johnson, Los Angeles World Airport Regina Wilson, California Black Media Erroll Southers, President, L.A. Police Commission STATE ASSEMBLY Gene Hale, Greater Los Angeles African American Isaac Bryan, 55th District, Assembly Majority Leader Chamber of Commerce OTHER Tina McKinnor, 61st District Areva Martin Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr, 57th District FAITH COMMUNITY Magic Johnson Mike Gipson, 65th District Bishop Charles Blake/Pastor Charles Blake II, West LeBron James Angeles Church of God in Christ UNIONS UP AND COMERS Yvonne Wheeler, President, L.A. County Federation Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Faithful Central Bible Ch. Bishop Clement Fugh, Bishop, 5th Episcopal District Yasmine McMorrin, Culver City Vice Mayor of Labor Bishop Noel Jones, City of Refuge Michelle Chambers, Former Compton CouncilShomari Davis, IBEW Local #11 Pastor Geremy Dixon, Center of Hope member, Candidate for State Senate Pastor Troy Vaughn, Christ Centered Ministries— David Price, Civil + Human Rights/Equity Dept L.A. COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES President, L.A. Mission Pastor Eddie Anderson, McCarty Memorial Church Compton Mayor: Emma Sharif Pastor K.W. Tulloss, President of the Baptist Carson Mayor: Lula Davis-Holmes

FOUNDATIONS, AGENCIES & BOARDS

Money Matters No-Poaching” Decision Against McDonald’s Viewed as Victory for Worker’s Rights

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n what is being viewed as a victory for worker’s rights, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th District has ruled against McDonald’s in its controversial practice of “no-poach agreements” and its outcome could have significant implications for workers nationwide.

A lower court had initially ruled against the former McDonald’s employees in Demands v. McDonalds, but with that decision overturned the fast-food behemoth finds itself back in legal crosshairs as the antitrust lawsuit is now being allowed to advance.

“Workers should be able to move freely to another job – one that might pay them better, or have better hours, or better benefits, or be closer to their home. McDonald's use of no-poach provisions in their contracts undermines competition,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I’m pleased that the 7th Circuit ruled in favor of the former McDonald’s workers and allowed their lawsuit to proceed.”

The class-action antitrust case against McDonald’s was filed in 2017 after a McDonald’s manager had to pass on a higher paying job at another McDonald’s franchise due to the company’s anti-poaching policy preventing franchisees from hiring anyone working for McDonald's or another franchise until six months after the employee's last day.

Experts maintain that such agreements not only reduce worker mobility but also serve to depress wages and stifle competition.

No-poach agreements are arrangements among employers not to recruit each other’s workers or to fix wages or other terms of employment among a pool of workers. Antitrust regulators argue they can reduce worker mobility, suppress worker wages, and prevent workers from establishing competing businesses. In many cases, they also serve to reduce racial and gender equality in workplaces, create legal hurdles for employees looking to grow their careers, and deter workers from challenging harmful business practices.

More often than not, these provisions are not discussed up front and are sometimes added to the terms of employment after a worker has accepted a job, or even after they have begun work.

Biz NewsBriefs

KISHA SMITH

On Supreme Gifting

Staff

In California, employers–including those who operate out of state but employ California residents–are generally prohibited from enforcing no-poach or non-compete agreements.

California is not alone. Nearly 30 states have enacted laws that in some way protect employees from employer-imposed noncompete contracts and nopoach arrangements, In January 2023, the FTC proposed the Non-Compete Clause Rule concluding that non-competes were an unfair method of competition. According to an analysis of U.S. national survey data from 2014, approximately 18 percent of labor force participants were bound by non-competes, and 38 percent had agreed to one in the past, usually because employers insisted on them and workers lacked a meaningful ability to negotiate otherwise.

Currently, the legality of such non-compete agreements is left to the states, creating confusion for workers and distorting labor markets that cover more than one state.

"Despite being prohibited in California, non-compete provisions are routinely included in employee contracts, including contracts for lower-wage workers,” said Attorney General Bonta. "I strongly support limiting noncompete clauses on a national scale. It's time for the federal government to catch up and help put an end to anti-competitive practices that depress wages and hurt consumers."

Low and middle-wage workers would benefit the most from such a move, with a high potential for wage increases and job mobility. Studies have also shown that non-compete clauses cause women and non-white workers to see earnings reductions two times greater than that experienced by white male workers. The states also note that eliminating non-competes would benefit businesses and the economy as non-competes restrict entrepreneurship and start-up activity.

Non-competes are widely used in the healthcare industry and restrict the entry of healthcare workers into their employment market, which inflates prices and decreases wages.

Money Matters continued to page 20

ustice Clarence Thomas, a Supreme Court veteran, currently finds himself under scrutiny for alleged ethical issues related to gifts he received from billionaire benefactors and more importantly his failure to report them. It is feared that the gifts and benefits reportedly accepted by the 75-year-old jurist, who has served on the court for over three decades, could have compromised his impartiality as a judge and raise questions about potential conflicts of interest.

According to one report the gifts–valued in the millions– include at least 38 lavish vacations, 26 private jet flights, eight flights by helicopter, a dozen VIP passes to sporting events, as well as stays at luxury resorts in Florida and Jamaica. One Texas billionaire reportedly even paid for his mother’s house and renovations while also making tuition payments for a nephew of Thomas’.

In recent years, Thomas' financial disclosures have revealed significant income from sources outside of his Supreme Court salary of $285,000. These include paid appearances, travel reimbursements and gifts.

Current rules mandate that Supreme Court justices disclose any gifts valued about $415. There is however a “personal hospitality loophole” that does not require an official, including a federal judge, to disclose gifts of food, lodging, or entertainment “received as personal hospitality of an individual.”

But it too has limits. For instance, it does not include transportation.

A recent report revealed a pattern of gifts to Thomas from at least four billionaires who have been major contributors to Republican causes. And while there are those who want to leave it to the justices to police themselves, Chief Justice John Roberts has reportedly hinted that the court may take additional steps to firm up its e t h i c s practices.

elevate it on a global platform.

We Are Hip Hop will not only represent the theme but also serve as a unifying declaration that personifies REVOLT's position as a cultural authority and leading multimedia network. This theme also pays homage to the global impact of Hip Hop, with a celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Walmart is the presenting sponsor of the event to support rising Black changemakers in their journeys.

that it decided to end the sale process as it would not result in any meaningful deleveraging of its balance sheet.

Paramount Squashes Mounting Rumors of BET Sale It appears that Paramount is having the last word in the rampant rumors and buzz surrounding a potential sale of BET, deciding that there will be no sale.

The move to squash the sale followed months of rumors and bids from entertainment heavy hitters, including Byron Allen, Sean “Diddy” Combs and most notably Tyler Perry, who already has a minority stake in the network as well as a multi-year deal with the network for content.

The decision to end the bidding process was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. According to one report, no bidder could meet their $3 billion asking price.

But official word was that the company notified bidders

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Nike Releases Latest Kobe Shoe Designed by the Basketball Star’s Widow Nike celebrated what would have been the 45th birthday of the late Kobe Bryant on August 23 with the release of his latest Kobe Brand shoe design.

Partnering with Nike Basketball, Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant created the Kobe 8 Protro Halo shoe concept and launch as a way to honor Kobe’s birthday each year. The Kobe 8 Protro has the same iconic look but features new updates in design and performance innovation. One of the more noticeable design updates include the embroidered Swoosh on the upper, paired with an embroidered Mamba logo on the tongue. Designers also replaced the Lunarlon midsole with Nike React foam, for comfort and responsiveness and to help create a durable design overall. The team also updated the herringbone traction pattern for strong grip and performance.

The Nike Kobe 8 first launched in 2012, and a posting on its site advertising the newest shoe design read, “The legacy continues”.

L.A. Focus/September 2023

All roads lead to Atlanta as Sean “Diddy” Combs will mark the tenth anniversary of his Revolt Network with the debut of Revolt World, a three-day immersive experience set for September 22-24 at Pangaea Studios.Those attending the three-day experience can immerse themselves in the world of Hip Hop through REVOLT's lens while engaging in impactful networking opportunities and exploring interactive touchpoints such as panels and conversations, day parties, an introduction to the company's commerce experience, the REVOLT World Market and more.

The event mirrors Diddy’s commitment to empowering Black creators, leaders, and culture builders and is rooted in his passion for Black culture and the desire to

Diddy Debuts the “Revolt World” Immersive Experience

On the Money

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HO L LY W OOD SPOT LIGHT Quita Bride The Equalizer 3 Denzel Washington's charismatic portrayal of the enigmatic Robert McCall in "The Equalizer 3" serves as a fitting conclusion to his tenure in the role. His embodiment of the character's bstrength, intelligence, and moral compass has been the cornerstone of the franchise's success.

His reunion with Dakota Fanning–who he starred alongside in “Man On Fire” (2004) when she was just 10 and who co-stars in this final chapter–brings emotional depth as their on-screen chemistry adds a tangible layer of authenticity.

In this final chapter we find McCall living in Italy when he discovers that his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn dangerous, the retired

U.S. Marine/ex-DIA officer and former government assasin takes on the Mafia to protect them. Fanning plays a CIA agent who receive a mysterious call from him to tip him off about what’s going on.

Behind the scenes, Washington's lpartnership with director Antoine Fuqua played a key role in shaping the film's dynamic action sequences and poignant character moments.

Fuqua, who has collaborated with

OUT THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Outlaw Johnny Black September 15

Expend4bles September 22

Halle Berry to Pay Child Support for the Second Time

Last month, Halle Berry, 57, ended an eight-year divorce and custody battle with her ex-husband/actor Olivier Martinez. Although Berry and Martinez will share joint custody of their son Maceo, 9, the actress will pay $8,000 a month in child support according to court documents.

The “Monster’s Ball” actress, who is reportedly worth $90 million, will also pay Martinez 4.3% of any income she earns above $2 million "for additional child support for Maceo" in addition to Maceo’s private school tuition, uniforms, school supplies, and extracurricular activities. Berry currently pays her ex, Gabriel Aubry, $8,000 in child support for their daughter Nahla, 15.

Tiffany Haddish to Produce Homeless Dating Series L.A. Focus/September 2023

Through her company, She Ready Productions, Tiffany Haddish is set to produce a documentary about successful women who date homeless men and another about Elliott Connie, a psychotherapist and author. The first

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Washington on numerous projects, has brought a synchronized vision to the franchise.

Yet, it is the knowledge that–at 68–this will be Washington's last time portraying McCall that adds a bittersweet tone to "The Equalizer 3".

As viewers, we have followed McCall on his journey from a man with a haunted past to a symbol of justice, largely due to Washington's nuanced performance. Washington’s departure from the role symbolizes the end of an era, leaving a legacy that will resonate with fans for years.

While the 68-year old actor said it was the end of the road for him as McCall, he also quipped, ‘Never say never.”

The Equalizer 3 opens on September 1.

The Kill Room September 29

project was inspired by the “Girls’ Trip” star’s own personal experience while living on the streets. She said, “Everyone deserves to have someone supporting them and caring for them–not necessarily carrying them all the way. It’s really important for people to make sure that they know that because it’s really hard to be homeless. So many people are isolated and living on the streets alone.” Production is set to begin after the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are over.

Jamie Foxx to Play God in Upcoming Movie After thanking God for getting him through his highly-publicized health crisis, Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx, 55, is set to play God in the Johnny Mack comedy “Not Another Church Movie". Foxx will star as God alongside Mickey Rourke who will play the devil. Other notable cast members in the movie–who has to outfox the devil after being given about a man given a holy mission by God Himself to inspire folks– include Vivica A. Fox, Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy, Kyla Pratt, and Lamorne Morris. The movie will be released after the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Real Housewives of Atlanta

57 Seconds September 29

Shakeup Fans may soon say goodbye to their favorite peach holders. According to sources close to production, Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta” will reboot without any of the season 15 cast members. This would mean that Kandi Burruss, Kenya Moore, Marlo Hampton, Drew Sidora, and Sanya Richards-Ross have been fired. The news triggered mixed reactions on social media, but no one was surprised.

Throughout the season, fans called the show “boring”, “dry”, and the "worst". The silver lining would be that one or two of the peach holders could return as “friends of the show”.

While Bravo sources said “nothing has been confirmed”, production is currently casting for season 16.

Nia Long Seeks Full Custody of Son Eight Months In Los Angeles County Superior Court, actress Nia Long, 52, filed paperwork to obtain legal and physical custody of the son she shares with her ex-fiancé Ime Udoka, 46. In court documents, Long alleged that the Houston Rockets’ head coach "failed to support” their son 11-year-old Kez Sunday Udoka. “The Best Man” actress requested that Udoka be granted “reasonable visitation” and pay attorney fees and other expenses associated with the case. The filing comes eight months after Udoka's affair with a coworker was revealed. As a result of the scandal last December, Udoka's ties to the Boston Celtics and Long were severed.

Footnotes John DavidWashington Age: 39 Hometown: Los Angeles First Break: Ballers Breakout Role: BlacKkKlansman Current Projects: The Creator The eldest of Denzel’s Washington’s four children, John David Washington excelled in sports throughout high school and college and played professionally in the United Football League and NFL before being permanently sidelined by a career-ending injury. The training was not, however, in vain.

The experience prepared Washington for his breakout role in HBO's "Ballers" as football pro Ricky Jerret. Washington went on to star in critically acclaimed films and on Broadway. In 2019, he was nominated for a Golden Globe and SAG award.

On what he learned from his mother and father: My father taught me how to hunt, my mother taught me how to love.

On why he pursued sports instead of acting at first: Because of who I'm related to. My mother is an extremely talented artist, and my father is one of the greatest of all time. That was intimidating. When we're in the comforts of my own home and with the family, I felt comfortable. But then when I get to the outside world, it didn't seem as simple to just pursue it; and I felt football would change that narrative when they saw me play ball.

On writing down his prayers when he began acting: It was about the process of getting from my heart to my head to the pen. It made me more concentrated on what I was asking for and being grateful for. It was interesting reading those prayers again a few years later. I was embarrassed at some of them, but as I kept reading I realized where I was in my life at that time, how hopeful I was with this new frontier of acting. Praying is also a way to manage my expectations and to know I can achieve my goals if I believe in them, even if they’re beyond my understanding.

On not trying to prove himself: I have to understand I can have the best career — the headline's always gonna be what it is. So, to try to prove something to somebody is a fool's errand.

The best acting advice, he received from his father: This is a privilege, what we get to do. To be able to tell stories. It's a luxury. So, I have a business-like approach to it, the same way I had with football.

But I embrace how much fun it is and the people I get to meet and create with and learn from. I'm always learning. It's a growing and evolving art, and you can only get better with age.

On how sports helped him tackle learning chunks of dialogues for August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson”: Having a sports background, I go by this motto of, “Amateurs practice until they get it right. Professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong. I just knew that if I could get it in my body, I wouldn’t have a problem on stage. I recited lines at the gym, and in front of strangers – which at times created awkward situations—but I had to keep it pushing.

We had a very strong leader in LaTanya [Richardson-Jackson], and she demanded we be at our best.

RedCarpet Style

H.E.R showed off her curves in this body hugging Black leather midi dress

Celebrities and sports stars alike turned up the heat at this year’s ESPY awards. Here are just some of the looks that were lighting up the red carpet this summer.

SAVANNAH JAMES FLAU’JAE JOHNSON TIFFANY HADDISH sparkles in this floor length wowed in a purple bandeau sported a long sleeve black beaded cutout Illusion gown top, high waisted skirt and a dress from Alexandre Vauthcoordinating neck scarf ier’s spring collection

COCO JONES stunned in a diamondstudded, cut-out PatBo dress

Eye On Gospel The Breakout Success of Zacardi Cortez On the heels of three Stellar Award wins in July, Gospel recording artist Zacardi Cortez has received his first two Dove Award nominations–all for his breakout album, Imprint: Live in Memphis.

The project's hit single, "You've Been Good to Me," which recently spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart, has been nominated for Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year. The song was written by Cortez, Marcus Calyen, Morgan Turner, Kerry Douglas, Alonzo J. Keeton, Tyrone Belle, and Tyrell Belle.

"Imprint is the first record under my company, ZetRoc Entertainment," says Cortez. "I had no idea how it would be received; I just knew what God put on my heart. To now be nominated for two GMA Dove Awards for the album feels incredible!"

“As a 2023 Stellar Awards co-host, it was awesome to watch Zacardi perform and win for the first time," s a y s Grammy® Awardwinning Gospel recording artist Jonathan McReyn-

olds. "It’s cool to see he’s been nominated for the Dove Awards as well! On top of us sharing the same birthday (September 17), his vocals are inspiring, and the anointing is apparent.”

Cortez, who came home from the 2023 Stellar Awards last month with wins in three categories, including Traditional Male Vocalist, Traditional Album and Praise & Worship Song of the Year for the project's hit single, "You've Been Good to Me," following earlier nominations from the Grammy® Awards and the BET Awards, as well as a 2021 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Award for his No. 1 Billboard hit, "You Don’t Know."

His award-winning album features guest performances from some of Cortez’s favorite singers, including Kim Burrell, Lisa Knowles-Smith and John P. Kee. Zacardi’s voice is his imprint,” says Black Smoke Music founder Kerry Douglas, who first discovered Cortez when he was just a teenager singing in churches around Houston. “His voice is leaving a mark on the music industry. When people hear it, they know instantly know who it is because no one sounds exactly like him. His God-given talent has left an undeniable stamp on Gospel music.”

Cortez, who has released three Top 10 albums–The Introduction (2012), Reloaded (2014), and Imprint: Live in Memphis (2022)–has appeared on many on major platforms, including The Stellar Awards, Black Music Honors, P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Reunion Tour and BET’s “Sunday Best."

Imprint: Live in Memphis is the first time I’ve been able to write or be this involved in a project,” says Cortez, who wrote, co-wrote everything on the album. "This record is all of who I am, in all the different styles and ways I love to worship and sing,” says Cortez. “It's 100% my imprint.”

Kirk Franklin Wants Everyone to Try Love 19-time Grammy® Award-winning producer, songwriter and artist, Kirk Franklin, debuted his latest song, “Try Love,” – the second single from Franklin’s upcoming album, Father’s Day, which will release on October 6, 2023. The track is the follow up to the album’s lead single, “All Things”.

Written and produced by Franklin, “Try Love” is a feel-good, mid-tempo anthem. The song makes listeners bob their heads while encouraging them to choose love and peace when facing life’s challenges to exemplify God’s everlasting love. The music video reinforces the theme of the song, showing people of different ages, races and backgrounds reaching out to and connecting with one another. Franklin–stars along with wife Tammy in The One, the dating series he and his wife Tammy Franklin co-host and co-executive produce currently airing on TV One. He is also gearing up for his highly publicized “Reunion Tour”. Featuring David and Tamela Mann, The Clark Sisters, Tye Tribbett and Israel Houghton, the tour is set to kick off October 1 in Boston and conclude on November 24 in Fort Worth, Texas. The tour will stop off in the Southland on November 7 at the Crypto Arena and on November 9 at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Briefly: Six-time Grammy Award winner Bebe Winans will be performing his first solo concert in over a decade at the legendary Apollo Theatre on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Winans will be backed up by the incomparable Donald Lawrence & Company, the result of which will be a live album…Grammy & Stellar nominee Renee Spearman is back with her new single, “Tap Into It (The Source)” featuring 4-time Grammy nominee Kim Burrell!. The highly anticipated follow-up to "I Love Him", Renee's Top 5 smash featuring 10-time Grammy nominee & multiple winner Hezekiah Walker, "Tap Into It (The Source)" is a churchy toe tapper.”

New Project To Recover Names of Up to 10 Million US Slaves Before 1870 and Locate Living Descendants American Ancestors, a national center for family history, is partnering with family historians, leading African American scholars, and cultural institutions to recover the names of the 10 million people of African descent who were enslaved between the 1500s and 1865 in the U.S. The project–10 Million Names–will centralize genealogical and historical information about enslaved people of African descent and their families on a free website.

ABC News will serve as the exclusive media partner of the year-long initiative that will feature the findings, research, and work of a collaborative network of genealogists, cultural organizations, and community-based family historians through impactful and informative storytelling across ABC News platforms.

The advisory board includes Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard scholar and host of the popular PBS Series Finding Your Roots, which often reveals surprising information to celebrity guests about their ancestors.

Dr. Gates and others associated with the project have described it as having the potential to connect millions of people with American history through genealogy in ways never possible before.

"For the first time ever, we have the means to accomplish a project of this importance and magnitude," said Cellini, the founding director of the 10 Million Names project. "The institutional will and the technology exist. We have a collective obligation as a nation to tell African American family stories."

Beginning in 2018, American Ancestors worked with Cellini to create a searchable public portal, subsequently presenting the family histories of more than 300 men, women, and children sold by the Jesuit priests of Georgetown University (then known as Georgetown College) in 1838 to Louisiana sugar plantations.

When he first discovered the sale, Cellini, a Georgetown alumnus, created an independent non-profit ded-

icated to finding the people who were sold, and worked with American Ancestors to publish the results.

"Our collaboration with Richard Cellini on the Georgetown Memory Project served as a model and launch pad for 10 Million Names," said Ryan Woods, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for American Ancestors. "The work done on the Georgetown project demonstrated we could apply a different methodology to help more Americans of African descent recover their family history before 1870–which is often

difficult. Community-based family historians will play a vital role in the success of this project.

To accomplish its goal, the 10 Million Names research team will reverse the typical approach used by genealogists, and borrow from the historian's toolkit by starting with original source material, stretching from the 1500s to 1865. Genealogical researchers, historians, and data specialists will source data about enslaved people of African descent from archives, libraries, genealogical and historical societies, and organizations around the world. The team will also seek input from communities of family historians around the country and encourage the public to submit material that contains names of people and locations.

"ABC News is proud to be the exclusive media partner on this historic project to tell the untold stories of familial histories that have been a mystery until now, and we are looking forward to serving our audiences with straightforward reporting that shines a light on this chapter in American history," said ABC News President Kim Godwin.

"Slavery separated families and obscured family history. Before the 20th century, genealogical data about enslaved Africans and their descendants was often deliberately obscured, altered, or simply unrecorded in the first place. This lasting legacy of slavery–the erasure of family history–remains with us today," said 10 Million Names' Chief Historian Dr. Kendra Taira Field, Associate Professor of History, Co-founder of the Du Bois Forum, and Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at Tufts University.

"So while those Americans attempting to claim Mayflower ancestry have had ample records to prove it, African Americans who have been collecting their family histories and stories privately for centuries have not generally had easy access to collective repositories of genealogical data. This divergence is a stark reminder of our unequal and uneven access to our familial past," Field concluded.

The public is invited to begin exploring the website at 10MillionNames.org, where a small but growing number of datasets are presently available, with more to be added on a regular basis.

The site also offers resources for self-directed research. People areencouraged to submit original family materials containing names and locations such as family trees, copies of diaries or letters, bible records, and interviews with relatives to help create a publicly accessible repository about African American ancestors.

More detail about what materials 10 Million Names is seeking is available at 10MillionNames.org/share.

ChurchNews J. Edgar Boyd to Retire as Pastor of First AME Church, WHW Conference Kicks Off October 2 After 52 years of ministry, First AME Senior Pastor J. Edgar Boyd will officially step down from pastoring and his post at First AME Church, having reached the AME’s 75-years of age retirement mandate.

“I’m happy about it,” said Boyd. “I’ve done a lot. My career began way back in 1969 and has gone all the way up through 2023. I’m happy about the places I’ve served–seven different congregations located in different parts of the country, and it's been a great experience, meeting people, working with people in the civic arena, working with law enforcement and community development. It’s been a thrilling 52 years.”

In those 52 years, Boyd is proud of what he has accomplished, including the building of a worship center in Oakland, the establishment of a community development organization that has built nearly 1000 units of affordable housing in San Francisco, and the development of a technology center that provided training for over 3,000 seniors.

It was his success in those endeavors that led to his appointment to First AME in 2012.

“When I came in 2012, the nonprofit organization which includes some 320 units of affordable housing and also the community development arm– both those organizations had been usurped from the control of First AME by the former administration, so we had to engage in some legal wrangling to get those restored.

After five years of litigation, we got a favorable judgment from the courts to have those properties remanded back to the control of First AME Church. I have to admit that the condition they came back in reflected nothing like the condition that they were in under the leadership of Cecil Murray, but we've worked laboriously trying to get back to the

Our Chur Directory Agape Church of Los Angeles / Three Oaks Baptist Church Corporate Office 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (O) 323-295-5571 •www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A.Worsham - Senior Pastor Worship Center: 8109 South Hoover Street Los Angeles, CA 90044 Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church 3719 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-5610 • www.bkcamechurchla.org Rev. Mary S. Minor, DMin,Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00 AM and 11:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00 AM (in-person and virtual) Thursday Bible Study with Pastor Minor (via Zoom): 6:00 PM Please call the church office for virtual information.

standard that the church would be proud of and the community will be well served by.”

One of the highlights of his tenure at the city’s oldest Black congregation is successfully steering the church though the COVID pandemic.

“It was three years of COVID oppression, and the church learned a lot. Technology is something that we really get a chance to use and we're able to do things now in the congregation–through technology–that we were not able to do prior to that. I’m proud of that. “ Boyd is just as proud of his efforts in supporting the key elections of civic officials.

“For the first time to see a Black woman secretary of state, a black man who's the superintendent of public education for the state and a black woman who's serving as the state’s controller. These are great milestones and we participated in those efforts.”

His departure from the church will also mark his departure from the city.

“I'm sure that for years to come I will be back and forth into Los Angeles, but my official role with the church will come to an end on the 30th of October and whatever relationships or connections I have will be unofficial as it relates to the church, but perhaps official as it relates to some of engagements. I will not be living here. I will be domiciled in Northern California and making my presence known electronically and physically on some other matters.”

Though not in the pulpit, Boyd intends to continue his work in ministry.

“When you get to the twilight of your life where I am now, you stop working and start teaching,” Boyd says.

“You share what you've experienced, and you help people understand how they can use things that have been beneficial to you for development and how they can avoid pitfalls that you can speak to and address from a very experiential standpoint. I will probably be more engaged and busier in that season, than I am now.”

He will also be spending more time with family as well as fishing and golfing.

In the meantime, the church is planning to commemorate his decade long leadership with three days of festivities kicking off on Friday, September 8 with a “Holy Roast” at the Fame Renaissance Center. On Saturday,

Bethesda Temple Apostolic Faith 4909 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 299-2591 • thevoice4904@att.net Pastor Kyron S. Shorter Sunday Morning Prayer: 9:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Children’s Church: 11:00am Sunday Evening Service: 6:00pm Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm

Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (323) 298-4867 • calvarybaptistla.org Rev. Dr. Virgil V. Jones Sunday Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 12:00pm & 7:00pm We are the Church on the Hill where the Light Shines Bright!

September 9th, the congregation will gather for a black tie dinner and the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel. The services will conclude with an afternoon “Jazz in the Gardens” event on Sunday, September 10 at the Allen House.

Special guest at the Sunday services earlier that day include Rev. Pastor J. Edgar Boyd with First Mark Whitlock of Lady Florence Boyd Reid Temple AME in Washington D.C. (10AM) and Rev. Terry White of the Marsalis Avenue Baptist Church (8AM).

The announcement of Boyd’s successor will be made

by Fifth Episcopal Bishop Clement Fugh during the 99th Annual Southern California Conference, which will be held at the Hilton LAX, October 24-30.

WHW 2023 Set for October 2-6; George Hurtt to be honored with Preacher’s Cup Award The WHW biblical expository conference returns to the LAX Hilton October 2-6 with some of the top biblical scholars in America, including Dr. Claybon Lea of Fairfield, Ca., Pastor Rufus Smith of Memphis and Pastor F.D. Sampson, Sr. of Houston.

The annual ministry conference–founded by McCoy Memorial Senior Pastor R.A. Williams–has grown from 37 registrant to over 1,000 in the 31 years since it was established, offering resources, programs and sessions that help pastors to master their expository preaching skills.

Pastor George Hurtt (Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church) will be honored with the prestigious “Preacher’s Cup” award.

For more information, visit whwministries.com.

Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • www.faithdome.org Dr. Frederick K. Price Please Join Us! Sunday Service: 10:30am Wednesday Bible Study: 11:00am & 7:30pm Thursday Intercessory Prayer: 7:30pm faithdome.org @elfministries

Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 www.christianfellowshipla.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sunday LiveStream: 10:00am (facebook.com/christianfellowshipla) Sunday Conference Call: 10:00am (310-372-7549 / code: 342408) Tue/Thurs Morning Word & Prayer: 7:00am Wed. Bible Study w/ Elder Stephen Brown (701-802-5001 / code: 825252# God’s Faithful Disciple of Jesus Christ / Prayer Clinic & Deliverance Ministry P.O. Box 561368, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 293-7566 • www.gfdjc.org •gfdjc@att.net Dr.Ruby I. Cottle, Ph.D., Pastor/Teacher Services every Friday: 7:00pm We meeet at: St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 W. Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018 Watch us on KXLA Thur’s @ 9:30am on Chanel 44, HBN TV Mon’s @ 7am & Wed’s @ 7:30am on Chanel 35.2 Listen to us on Sunday’s on KJLH 102.3 at 5:00am

Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027 Rev. Dr. Timothy o. Coston, Jr.

ONE LA Potter’s House Church 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • hello@one.online Pastor Touré and Sarah Roberts The ONE Experience Online: Sundays: 7A |9A |11A |1P |6P Thursdays: 5P |8P (PST) @toureroberts @sarahjakesroberts @one.online ONE.ONLINE

Sunday School: 8:00am Worship: 9:30am Wednesday Bible Study: 11:30am & 6:00pm

Grace Temple Baptist Churchh 7017 South Bramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 971-8192 • gracetemplebaptist7017@gmail.com Rev. Rodney Howard Sunday Worship Service: 9:00am Sunday Life Group: 11:30am Wed. Night Intercessory Prayer: 6:30pm Wed. Night Bible Study: 7:00pm

Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 • www.gembcla.org Rev. DeNon A. Porter Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10am Facebook/YouTube Livestream: @gembcla Radio-KALI 900AM: Sundays 7-8pm Bible Study: Tuesday 7pm

Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Email: holman@holmanumc.com Rev. Dr. Ken Walden, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11am Sunday School: 9:30am (Children/Youth) & 9:45am (Adults) Bible Study: Every Thursday @ Noon We Gather,Grow,Go and Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ McCarty Memorial Christian Church 4103 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-4131 • www.mccartychurch.org Senior Pastor Edward Anderson Sunday Worship: 10:45am Bible Study: Tues @12:30pm/Wed @6pm Zoom Call: (605) 472-5454 Access:188857 Online Stream Live: Sundays@10:45am to www.mccartychurch.org Give: Text 77977 Instagram@mccartyconnect Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964 Rev. Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School(In-Person): 8:30am Sun. Baptist Training Union:7:30am Worship Service(In-Person): 10:00am Tues. Refuel/Bible Study/Prayer: 12Noon (Conference Call: (330) 207-7446) Weekly Mission Assembly/Bible Study:7:00 (Conference Call: (339) 207-7446 Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 Phone (323) 291-1121•Fax: (323) 291-1133 office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8am & 10am Tuesday Night(as scheduled):7:15pm All services stream live on our website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

Call for any pandemic-related questions.

Our Goal: To glorify God by winning more Christians and developing better Christians. (Matt. 28:18-20)

Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm www.mtzionla.org

Sarah Jakes-Roberts One LA at Potter’s House

O

ne LA at Potter’s House Co-Pastor Sarah JakesRoberts is gearing up for her Fifth Annual Woman Evolve Conference this month (Sept.

14-16) at Globe Field in Arlington, Texas. Over 30,000 tickets have already been sold for the three-day event that will feature Yvonne Orij, Devon Franklin, David Mann and Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Naomi Raine among its speakers. It will also be a family affair as the lineup includes her parents, T.D. and Serita Jakes, and her husband, Pastor Toure Roberts.

With Woman Evolve, Jakes Roberts is redefining what it means to be a modern woman of faith. As a wife, mother to six, author and businesswoman dedicated to honoring her father's mission of empowering underrepresented communities–including the disappearing middle class–her messages have spread throughout the world defying cultural, religious, gender, and socio-economic boundaries.

"It's not about what women can build on their own but going further together through Woman Evolve as opposed to doing this fast and alone," said Jakes Roberts of the conference that will address such topics as courage, loving your body, mental health, finances, a man's perspective and ministry.

"I believe the power of connection and community allow us to facilitate a chartering of new paths so that we can go forward deeper and together."

Jakes Roberts founded the Woman Evolve movement to inspire women to overcome their fears and live with purpose and passion. The conference is rooted in the belief that women have the power to revolutionize their lives and become the best versions of themselves.

In July, Jakes-Roberts and her husband, Toure´ Roberts were officially named as copastors of the Potter’s House Church in Dallas.

Trinity Baptist Church 2040 W. Jefferson Blvd., L.A., CA 90018 • (323) 735-0044 F: (323) 735-0219• trinitybaptistchurchofla.org Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship Services: 10:30am YouTube: tv.trinitybaptist.cloud Sunday Radio Broadcast KJLH-FM: 9am Wed. Night Virtual Bible Study: 7pm (Meeting ID: 480-271-5449.

Or call 1-699-900-6833; give zoom ID Sign-in at 6:55pmrchofla.org

Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com

West Angeles Church Of God In Christ 3600 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 733-8300 • Office Hrs: M-F 8:30am-5:30pm • westa.org Senior Pastor Charles E. Blake II Sunday School: 10:00am Sunday Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10:00am

In Compton Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church 12930 S. Lime Ave, Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • email: citizensofzionmbc@gmail.com Rev. Bobby L. Newman, Jr. Pastor Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 10:45am (In-person & Virtual YouTube) Wednesday Bible Study: 12pm (In-person or dial in at:(774)267-8085) Wednesday Evening Bible Study: 7:00pm (via Zoom (Call church office for information) Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm) Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 9:00am Online Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm FB: GreaterZionChurchFamily IG: GZCFamily www.gzcfamily.com

New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 • www.newantiochcogic.org Superintendent Jeffrey M. Lewis Sunday Early Worship: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Tuesday Bible Study: 11:00am Wednesday In The Word: 7:00pm All services streamed on: Facebook and YouTube @New Antioch Church of God In Christ

Holy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 1016 E. Rosecrans Avenue, Compton, CA 90220 (310) 537-3149 • www.holychapelbc.com Rev. Dr. George L. Thomas Morning Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 10:30am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7:00pm Sun. New Members’ Class: 10:45am Communion/1st Sunday: 8:00am Broadcast KALI 900AM - Sun:2-3:00pm

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor

Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, Compton 90220 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5449, Compton, CA 90224 Bishop Ronald C. Hill Sr., Founder/Pastor Sunday Worship:10am/6:30pm Wed. Bible Studies: 7:30pm Prayer w /Bishop Hill: Fri: 9am Food For Your Soul TV Ministry Impact TV Network: Mon-Fri PST 6:30am The Word Network Fridays @ 12:30pm

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wednesday Virtual Bible Study : Noon & 7:00p Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

L.A. Focus/September2023

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 Rev. Joshua Daniels, Pastor Morning Worship: 10am (In Service and Online Live Stream Worship) Sunday School: 8:45am

FIRST LADY FILES

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor Sun. Worship: 8:30am Sun. Classes follow morning service Tues Eve Family Prayer Line: 6:30pm Wed. Noon: Hour of Power Prayer line Wed. Bible Study: 6:00pm (Zoom & Facebook) Exposition of Sunday School Lesson:10am

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PastorProfile: George Hurtt Church: Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church How Long at church: 15 years Hometown: Detroit, Michigan Family: Single If there’s one thing Senior Pastor George Hurtt is, it is that he is abundantly clear. He says what he means and means what he says.

“My number one task when I go into the pulpit,” said Hurtt, “is not to make people think I have a good style, not even to be relevant to people, but to be faithful to what the Bible is saying.”

Today, the church is thriving and next month Hurtt is set to receive the prestigious Cup Award at WHW Ministries Expository Preaching and Teaching Conference at the LAX Hilton for his exceptional work in ministry.

“I don’t want to be cliché, but I’m humbled,” said Hurtt. “For me, the height of it is that someone like Dr. R.A. Williams would consider me deserving of such an award.”

Hurtt has been innovative in his approach to ministry in South Los Angeles with free gas giveaways, the church’s support of local Black restauranters, a radio show, podcast, youth trips to foreign countries and a once monthly “no church Sunday where instead of attending church service, members come together to provide service to the community.

The efforts have paid off both in impact to the community, excitement for members and stability in church attendance and growth.

“We just want to continue the lesson we learned from pandemic which is that the church has to be mobile,” Hurt explains. “We can't just be dependent on the Sunday morning worship experience (as critical and important as it is), but our “no-church Sundays” allow us to still get together and get the word, but at the same time consciously and intentionally have a presence in the community.

“That can mean walking the neighborhood, giving away free groceries and gas as we did before and it allows members– who may not be fully connected to the ministry as they should be– to be engaged and active without a long term commitment”.

Put simply, whether it’s purchasing meals in bulk from Black-owned restaurants to create revenue and then giving them away to community members suffering

from food shortages or seeing members get involved in other ways, it all boils down to ministry in action for Hurtt.

“For me it is always trying to communicate the Bible, but not just communicate the Bible overtly but also what is the personal implications of it? What is the sermon asking you to do?

“In that respect, it’s substance over style. You might not be emotionally pulled towards the sermon in a certain way, but you will always be intellectually stimulated during the sermon. Being clear is the most important thing,” said Hurtt, “and explaining scripture in such a clear way that those who are listening can apply it to their life spiritually.

“I also wanted to affirm that we needed to trust God even amid difficulties and emphasize the need for love, obedience and truth in the local church.”

The foundation of Hurtt’s outlook and involvement in ministry began early. One of nine siblings born and raised in Detroit, Hurtt’s mother and father were both active in church. His father was a Pentecostal bishop at Mt. Carmel Pentecostal Church until he passed away when Hurtt was just ten years old.

“By high school, I found that I had become a student of preaching. I would have my mother drop me off at revivals,” recalls Hurtt, who was not one to bow to peer pressure. “I was a loner and always a free thinker. I didn't embrace the notion of doing stuff because everyone else was doing it.”

His independent spirit served him well as he took his first post high school steps into studies for masonry and bricklaying, which eventually landed him at Wilberforce University for two years.

“I walked in as a civil engineer and walked out health services major,” laughed Hurtt.

But his path to the pulpit had already been firmly established, with Hurtt becoming a double major in Religious Studies when he transferred to University of Detroit Mercy. He finished his courses overseas at Oxford University, where he graduated cum laude. Returning to the states he would go on to earn a Master of Health Management and Policy degree from the University of Michigan.

With several prominent degrees under his belt, Hurtt moved from Detroit to Southern California when he joined the Navy as a commissioned officer in health management. It was during this time he began to look for a solid church home base and sought out one of his favorite preachers, H.B. Charles Jr., who at the time was serving as the senior pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church.

“I’d heard H.B. preach in Detroit and I had visited three churches to hear him,” Hurtt remembered. “I enjoyed it and challenged myself to go to church every Sunday.”

In return, H.B. challenged Hurtt to go to seminary.

Hurtt accepted the challenge, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in May of 2006. He landed a job as associate pastor at Mt. Sinai six months later serving under Charles and eventually became the assistant pastor.

In August 2008, Charles resigned and while normally finding a successor for pastor as gifted as Charles would be challenging at best, three years of working under him and a recommendation from the former pastor sealed the deal. Just one month later Hurtt was unanimously voted in as pastor.

“It's a loving church,” Hurtt adds. “Everyone makes an effort to know everybody who's there.

And it’s a church that's committed to sound doctrine, prayer and making a difference.”

Next month, the church will celebrate its 81st anniversary. Guest speakers for the three-day celebration include the esteemed Rev. Ralph West II of The Church Without Walls in Houston (September 26), Pastor Carlos Kelly of Macon, Georgia (September 24) and Pastor Romell Williams of Chicago (also on September 24). For more information, visit: www.sinai.church.

The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro St, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433 Bishop Noel Jones

In Gardena

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:00pm Bible Study (Wed): Noon & 7:00pm BET/Fresh Oil (Wed): 7:00am

The Liberty Church 4725 S. Gramercy Place, Gardena, CA 90249 (310) 715-8400 Pastor David W. Cross Morning Worship/Livestream:10:00 am Hispanic Ministry Worship/Livestream:12Noon Word Power Wednesday/Livestream: 7:00pm The CROSSWORD with Pastor Cross: YouTube

Atherton Baptist Church In Hawthorne 2627 W. 116th Street Hawthorne,CA 90250 (323) 757-3113 • www.athertonbc.org F: 323-757-8772 • athertonbaptist@sbcglobal.net Pastor Larry Weaver Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00 & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm

Bible Enrichment Fellowship International In Inglewood 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Bible Study: 7:30pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer: 5am, Noon & 7:00pm Wednesday Pathway: 7:00pm Thurs Bible Study: 10:00am Sat Marriage & Family Prayer: 7:30am

Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 Pastor Wendy Howlett Sunday Morning Worship & Word: 9:30am Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm View Sunday Worship: www.youtube.com (Under Blessed Family Covenant Church) www.blessedfamilycovenant.org Center of Hope LA 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 #centerofhope•#cohla•Info@GO2HOPE.com Give: Text COHLA to (833) 246-7144 Pastor Geremy L. Dixon Service Times: 8:00am & 10:00am Watch Via: Facebook|YouTube|Live Stream Closer To People...Closer To God! www.GO2Hope.com

Faithful Central Bible Church 333 W. Florence Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035 Pastor J. P. Foster In-Person Services: 7:00 am & 9:30am Online Services: 7:00a, & 9:30am Wednesdays, The Download: 7:00pm Facebook + Youtube+ Website The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood www.faithfulcentral.com Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc.

1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760 Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr. Sunday Fresh Start & Prayer 9:00am Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7:00pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm www.jacobladderschurch.com

60th March on Washington Commemorated with Calls for Continued Civil Rights Struggle STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire

O

n the 60th anniversary of the iconic March on Washington, civil rights leaders and a diverse coalition of allies convened at the historic gathering site to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and advocate for renewed commitment to social justice. The event, convened by the Kings’ Drum Major Institute and the National Action Network, aimed to rekindle the spirit of the 1963 march, which played a pivotal role in advancing civil rights and voting rights legislation.

The original March on Washington, a cornerstone of the civil rights movement, drew approximately 250,000 participants in 1963. Its influence paved the way for significant legislative milestones, including the passage of federal civil rights and voting rights laws in the 1960s. The erosion of voting rights, recent Supreme Court rulings that impact affirmative action and abortion rights, and the rise of hate and violence against marginalized communities, however, punctuate the current commemoration.

Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of the civil rights icon, along with his sister Bernice King, visited their father’s monument in Washington on the eve of the event. Bernice King shared her reflections, stating, “I see a man still standing in authority and saying, ‘We’ve still got to get this right.’”

Addressing the urgency of the occasion, King III emphasized, “This is not a traditional commemoration.

This really is a rededication.” Among the featured speakers was Ambassador Andrew Young, a close adviser to Dr. King during the original march and a key figure in the civil rights movement. Leaders from the NAACP and the National Urban League also delivered impactful remarks.

Arndrea Waters King also addressed the tens of thousands on the mall. “We are here to liberate the soul of the nation, the soul of democracy from those forces who want to have us all go backwards and perish rather than go forward as sisters and brothers,” she stated.

“We will never betray those who marched for us, fought for us, lived for us, died for us. We are the children and

grandchildren of their struggles, and we will be worthy of their sacrifices.”

Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York also spoke during the event. “We’re here today to fight for voting rights,” urged Jeffries, the first Black congressperson to lead a major political party in Congress. “We’re here today to fight for civil rights.

We’re here today to fight for reproductive rights. We’re here today to fight for workers’ rights,” he said.

Notably absent from the program were several individuals who had worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., such as Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and the Rev. Peter Johnson, a Plaquemine, Louisiana, native and close aide to civil rights giant Andrew Young, and the Rev. Ralph Abernathy. Despite their significant contributions to the movement, they did not receive invitations to participate in the commemoration, shedding light on the challenge of preserving historical continuity and recognizing all those who played a role.

However, Chavis was spotted among the crowd giving a hug to an unidentified Jewish man who had singled him out. “We were here 60 years ago, and we were both 15,” the man said to Chavis.

America’s “Black Attorney General,” civil rights lawyer Ben Crump embraced his hard-earned moniker, whipping the crowd into a frenzy by insisting that he would fight “until hell freezes over.” “As your attorney general, I declare now more than ever, that we must be unapologetic defenders of Black life, liberty, and humanity,” Crump remarked. “Just like they try to ban our Black history, we must tell them without Black history, you would not have American history. Just as the fight for the families of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tyre Nichols and so many others, Americans must now fight for Black literature and culture.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson, another prominent civil rightsera figure, wasn’t expected to attend due to ongoing health concerns. The absence of these veteran activists threw a damper on an otherwise remarkable occasion.

Ahead of the event, several organizers engaged in

discussions with Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the civil rights division. The talks encompassed crucial issues like voting rights, policing reform, and addressing redlining practices.

The commemoration served as a prelude to the upcoming 60th anniversary of the original March on Washington, which President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris planned to observe on Monday, Aug. 28. During that scheduled meeting, Biden and Harris will engage with organizers of the 1963 march as well as members of the King family, aiming to honor the legacy of the event and its enduring impact on the struggle for civil rights.

As Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, reflected on the continuous observance of March on Washington anniversaries, he recalled a promise he made to Coretta Scott King, the matriarch of the King family. Twenty-three years ago, she urged him and Martin Luther King III to continue the movement’s legacy. Sharpton, who didn’t serve during the early civil rights movement like Chavis, Johnson, Young, Jackson, and others, expressed his dedication to this cause, emphasizing the need to persist despite setbacks in civil rights protections.

The challenges the civil rights movement faced weren’t confined to the past; history revealed moments of triumph and tragedy. Following Dr. King’s landmark speech in 1963, dark incidents such as the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham and the abduction and murder of civil rights workers in Mississippi underscored the ongoing struggle. Those tragedies spurred the passage of pivotal legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Bernice King, CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, acknowledged the weariness that can accompany the enduring fight for civil rights. She invoked her mother’s wisdom, stating, “Mother said, struggle is a never-ending process… Vigilance is the answer.”

L-R: Martin L. King III is joined by wife Arndrea and daugher Yolanda Renee King as he addresses the crowd; Members of King Family with Rev. Al Sharpton and billionaire businessman Robert Smith at the March; Rev. Al Sharpton speaks to the thousands of people who participated in the commemoration.

True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon

In Long Beach

Online Services Stream live: Sun 10:00am at antiochlb.com Give: text antiochib to 77977 Social Media: facebook.com/antiochlb instagram.com/antiochlb youtube.com/antiochlongbeach

Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7pm

Grant AME Church 1129 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 437-2567 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Dr. Michael W. Eagle,Sr.,Ed.D, Community Activist Sunday School: 9:00am Worship Service Sundays: 10:45am (On Facebook Live, YouTube) Free Conf Call: 857 232 0156 877511 Zoom:438 996 2703 Where all receive attention, affection & love

House of Refuge Church of God in Christ 1446 W. 36th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323)515-9022•Email:info@horcogic.org•www.horcogic.live Pastor: Dr. Pierre Codio First Lady Shavon Codio Sunday Services:11:00am Sunday School: 9:00am Thursday Online Bible Study:7:00pm (via Facebook & YouTube) Friday Morning Online Prayer:10am Prayer call-in # : (516) 259-9968 Tuesdays Substance Abuse Counseling:6:00pm Walking In The Spirit Ministries In Norwalk Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 12623 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks Morning Worship: 11:00am Services Held Every 2nd & 4th Sunday and Free Breakfast Is Served Bible Study: 8:30am (Every 5th Friday)

L.A. Focus/September2023

Antioch Church of Long Beach 350 Pine Ave. ,Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 591-8778 •www.antiochlb.com Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney, Jr.

Christ Second Baptist Church 1471 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-3421 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Welton Pleasant II, Senior Pastor

22

L.A. Focus/September 2023

L-R: J. Kingdom aka Pastor Michael Fisher perform at the Carson Family Fest; Assemblymember Mike Gipson presents certificate to Mayor Pro Tem Jawane Hilton: Pastor Johnteris Tate performs as part of The Soul Seekers; Mayor Pro Tem Jawane Hilton and Major take a moment for a photo on the red carpet at the Family Fest, held at Stevenson Park, in Carson. Photo credit to oD’Angelo’s Photos_425.

Culpepper continued from page 6 Philadelphia made history in 2019 as our hearts, King would have reminded us Ridley-Thomas continued from page 7 pepper's appointment, who had been the first city to have a cashless retail pro- that when we are callous regarding the sentence serves the interest of justice. serving as Interim President since July hibition with a spokesman for the Mayor needs of our fellow citizens, the societal This case should have never been pur2022. Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez Jim Kenney, stating that, "In a city with consequences, while significant, would be sued.” praised Dr. Culpepper's passion and lead- a 26% poverty rate, it is critical we do "small compared to the wounds we inflict L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitership, expressing confidence in his abil- what we can to support equal opportunity on our soul(s) when we look the other chell echoed the sentiments of many in way." ity to take Southwest College to new for all residents." the community upon hearing the news of In 2020, New York City begin requirLastly, I believe that King would Ridley-Thomas' sentencing. heights.

“Dr. Culpepper has proven that he has ing businesses to accept cash with busi- have had a prophetic revelation to share “From the initial allegations to the the passion, ingenuity and drive to lead nesses that failed to comply facing fines with us as he quoted part of Isaiah 40:5 sentencing - as a fellow Angeleno and Southwest College,” said Chancellor of up to $1,000 for a first violation and in 1963, declaring that "the glory of the friend - I have been deeply saddened for Francisco C. Rodriguez. “During his ten- $1,500 for any violation after that. Busi- Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall Mr. Ridley-Thomas, his family, and our ure as Interim President, he connected nesses were also barred from charging a see it together." Although this text spe- entire community," Mitchell said. "This cifically points to the eventual coming of heartbreaking outcome does not negate with diverse populations that have pro- fee for accepting cash.

Most recently, Seattle’s county seat Christ, King using it to address the his unwavering love and commitment to moted access to educational opportunities for students and the college. He has voted to require businesses in unincorpo- marchers revealed his hope of seeing the Black community. His 40+ years of navigated LASC through several key rated parts of the county to accept cash God's power and love heal the divisive- service has benefited every Angeleno and milestones and I know that he has what of up to $200. Such measures reflect a ness of our nation. Faith was always the won't be forgotten, nor will it be ignored it takes to lead Southwest to the next growing trend that reflects the need for firm foundation of King's dream, and he when reflecting on the impact of his leadinclusive financial policies that consider knew that we needed to exercise it in ership.” level.”

Expressing gratitude for the appoint- the diverse needs and circumstances of order to truly be free.

Ridley-Thomas has been ordered to Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the surrender to authorities by noon on Noment, Dr. Culpepper reaffirmed his com- all communities.

Hutt expects that the motion will English department at Ohio State Uni- vember 13, 2023. Attorneys for Ridleymitment to supporting his colleagues' move to the floor over the next couple of versity. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Thomas have said that their client would dedication to student success.

“I believe that LASC is a doorway to weeks given that she hasn’t had any Parker continued from page 8 pursue an appeal. social and economic mobility and that ev- pushback from her City Hall colleagues. "on the high plane of dignity" is also, “I believe that the outpouring of “No Poach” continued from page 13 eryone should have access. As President sadly, lost. The divisions and hate beI will continue my connection to the staff, emails will help my colleagues underIn 2022, Bonta issued an alert retween citizens today are an unfortunate faculty, students and the community,’ stand how important it is to make this minding employers and workers that and troubling reality. said Dr. Culpepper. “I look forward to equitable,” said Hutt. “As a city that has non-compete agreements were not enAnd, what should trouble us most, is supporting my campus colleague's pas- promised to be a safe and fair place for forceable in California. A new bill–AB we have moved in the opposite direction sion for student success and continue to all, we must be proactive in ensuring that 1076–introduced by Assemblymember from King's vision that ultimately our be awed by their tireless work. My job all our systems create fairness and equity Rebecca Bauer-Kahan would also make freedom will be realized as children of will continue to lift and highlight the spe- for each and every individual.” it unlawful to include a noncompete If the motion passes, an ordinance re- God. cial jewel that is LASC, and our willingclause in an employment contract, or to The political left sees our future in soness to change the social and economic quiring businesses to have a cash option require an employee to enter a noncomcould be in place as soon as the first cialism and secularism. mobility of all who engage with it.” pete agreement, that does not satisfy If, over the 60 years since King spoke, quarter of next year. specified exceptions. The bill would rewe pursued freedom in terms of personal Cashless continued from page 6 quire employers to notify current and Johnson continued from page 8 responsibility, limited government and and services in a predominantly cashless is still present and that we must continue former employees in writing by February faith, we would be far, far better off market.

14, 2024, that the noncompete clause or "pray(ing) together" and "stand(ing) up today.

As of 2021, several cities and states for freedom together." agreement is void.

Star Parker is president of the Center for across the U.S. have enacted ordinances In the meantime, California workers I also think King's warning would Urban Renewal and Education and host requiring businesses to accept cash, in- have been a compelling statement to who have entered into, an unreasonable of the weekly TV show "Cure America cluding San Francisco, Berkeley, New challenge us to look within our souls. or overly restrictive non-compete agreewith Star Parker." For more on Star Jersey, Colorado, Massachusetts, Wash- Knowing that God sees what is truly in ment can report it to the Attorney GenParker, visit www.creators.com. ington D.C. and New York City. eral's office at www.oag.ca.gov/report.

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SavingGrace Samuel L. Jackson

S

L.A. Focus/September 2023

amuel L. Jackson is not a person who discusses his faith very often. In fact, the Academy Award honoree is more likely to spill other choice words before quoting Scripture. He did, however, publicly acknowledge God's importance in his career, during a rare moment in 2016.

Upon accepting the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, Jackson said, "I want to thank God for this opportunity even in the beginning. A young man who grew up in a segregated Tennessee, nobody told me I could be this. So, here I am, and here you are. Thank God for that."

Jackson's gratitude and God's grace combined made the Capital One spokesman one of the most celebrated and revered entertainers in the world. He is known for his memorable roles in “Die Hard with a Vengeance”, “Do the Right Thing”, “Snakes on A Plane”, “Pulp Fiction”, “Django”, and a slew of movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Nick Fury actor is reportedly ranked as the highest-grossing all-time box office star. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Jackson holds the record for most films over $100 million at the global box office. With nine projects in the works– including the film version of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” and “The Kill Room” (set to hit theaters on September 14), Jackson shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

In fact, his production credits are just as impressive dating back to Eve’s Bayou in 1997, which he starred in and produced. Among his growing list of production credits is “The Banker” and most recently the Disney TV mini-series, Secret Invasion.

The 74-year-old actor was first introduced to God while growing up in Chattanooga. He was raised by his mother and grandparents who took him to church regularly. By giving him "the good news" on a consistent basis, they made sure the young Jackson was always inspired even amid a time of racial of upheaval.

In addition, it gave him the strength he needed to face the challenges ahead — bullying, addiction, and career roadblocks.

Jackson became interested in acting after outings with his aunt to the movie theater, but feared his debilitating childhood stutter would present a challenge. The speech impediment was so severe that it often caused him to be bullied and at one point the teasing got so bad he stopped speaking for almost a year.

Formal training didn’t help. Instead, it was reading that provided the answer.

“I read a lot,” Jackson recalls. “I read things about breathing exercises…I actually went to the library to combat stuttering.”

Stuttering and bullies proved no match for Jackson. He regained control of his speech and confidence.

In 1966, he attended Morehouse College to study

26

marine biology. As fate would have it, while in a public speaking class, the professor asked Jackson and other male students to audition for a play for extra credit. Jackson agreed and said from that moment on his acting dreams were reignited.

Those dreams were put on hold when famed civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was fatally struck down at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis–a tragedy that hit home for Jackson. Aside from the assassination taking place just five hours from his hometown, King was a Morehouse alum, and Jackson considered himself a political activist. After serving as an usher at Dr. King’s funeral, Jackson fled to Memphis to join the equal rights protests and “Black revolution”.

Upon his return to Morehouse, he channeled that same energy to help lead a protest on campus, holding the school's board majority white trustees hostage to demand curriculum changes and more Blacks on the board. In the end, Morehouse agreed to change, but Jackson was expelled. The FBI also took notice of his political activism. His mother, who feared for Jackson's safety, urged him to leave for Los Angeles, not returning to Morehouse until 1971 when the suspension was lifted.

Jackson took the second chance seriously.

“I decided that theater would now be my politics,” Jackson noted. “It could engage people and affect the way they think.

It might even change some minds."

His return set the stage for acting as well as love. Jackson met his wife LaTanya Richardson, a drama major at Spelman, during a student rehearsal. It was love at first sight.

“I knew she was the person for me. From then on, we were always together, and we’ve stayed that way.”

The couple moved to New York in the late 70s and married in 1980. It was a great time to be in New York for Jackson who was running in circles with stars like Keith David, Laurence Fishburne, Morgan Freeman, and Wesley Snipes. However, it did not stop him from abusing drugs and alcohol while tackling smaller roles in “Ragtime”, Eddie Murphy’s “Coming to America” (he was the holdup man), and “Mo Better Blues”.

The minor roles did not translate into major figures and having to provide for his family and build a career he could be proud of weighed heavily on Jackson. His depression and drug abuse increased as a result.

Before he knew it, he was becoming a full-blown addict.

In a previous interview, he revealed, “I had basically moved into the basement of our brownstone.

Every now and then I’d come upstairs and hover around to do something. I was addicted and being crazy. My daughter Zoe and my wife LaTanya found me passed out on the floor after I left somebody's bachelor party and put me in rehab the next day.

They supported me and pushed me and give me a reason to get up and go and chase it day after day after day.”

Eventually, rekindled his spirituality and career.

Fresh out of treatment in 1991, Spike Lee offered him a role in "Jungle Fever". In the film, he played “Gator Purify” alongside Academy Award winner Halle Berry. It was ironic that he assumed the role of the "crackhead" because it was the first time he performed sober.

Four years later, he landed a starring role in Pulp Fiction, the first installment of the popular Quentin Tarantino franchise. Soon after, Jackson became a prominent figure in the franchise space, starring in “Star Wars”, “The Incredibles”, “Jurassic Park”, and “The Avengers”.

Over the years, Jackson has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, Tony, and NAACP. In 2021, Jackson was named an Academy Award Honoree for his exceptional contributions to the field of motion picture arts and sciences.

In 2016, his career even came full circle with his church upbringing when he was chosen to provide God's voice in the audiobook, “The Bible Experience”. The project dominated Wal-Mart’s best seller list for weeks.

By God's grace, the 74-year-old has come a long way.

The NAACP Award winner and his wife regularly donate to his church, and Jackson has publicly shared his life principle, which is the Golden Rule: "Do as you would have others do to you."