L.A. Focus Newspaper August 2021 Issue

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Upfront: Larry Elder Tops the List of Candidates Vying to Replace Governor Newsom in Recall PAGE

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Eye On Gospel Tasha Cobbs Reigns Supreme at Stellar Awards PAGE

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SEE PAGE

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Feature

“Birth of A Station”: Tavis Smiley’s KBLA Gives Voice to Community as L.A.’s First BlackOwned Talk Radio Station Tavis Smiley is used to making history. He did it as the first black to have a talk show on NPR and the first African American to have a talk show on PBS. Now, he is making history as with the launch of KBLA1580, the first Black-owned talk radio format in Los Angeles....

Upfront: Waters Demands Probe Into L.A. Sheriff’s Dept Executioners’ Gang

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contents

L.A. Focus Publications

August 2021

Left: Actress Marla Gibbs greets family and friends after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Copyright Eric J. Chambers/TheCUTNetwork) Middle: The Clark Sisters pose on the red carpet at the 36th Annual Stellar Awards in Las Vegas; Right: Pastor Xavier Thompson and son Xavier II pose for a photo after the 7 year old budding track star with the Valley United Striders received 1st place Gold Medal’s in 3 events 100m ,200m & 400m.

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4 Commentary

From The Editor “Shot of Faith”

“Some Compassion for Simone Biles”

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Lil Rel Howery

Secretary of State Shirley Weber Urges Californians to Vote in Upcoming Recall Election; Waters Demands Probe Into L.A. Sheriff’s Dept.

Activists Running Out of Time In Efforts to Stop Crenshaw Mall Sale

8 Headlines From Africa

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Head to Head

Money Matters Recapping the Urban League’s 2021 State of Black America Report

Biz News Briefs Tyra Banks Launches Ice Cream Shop; Major League Baseball Commits to $150 Million to Get More Blacks Into The Game

On the Money

New Program Aims to Help Black Personal Care Businesses

Cover Story “Birth of a Station”: Tavis Smiley’s KBLA Gives Voice To Community As L.A.’s First Black Owned Talk Radio Station

staff

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Photographer Advertising

Lisa Collins Gerald Bell,,Keith Delawder, Chez’Ney Hadley Ian Foxx Kisha Smith

L.A. Focus–On the Word, is published monthly.

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.

Red Carpet Style 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards

Eye On Gospel Winning Big On Gospel’s Biggest Night

The Battle Over Voting Rights Enters New Front

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First Things First; Family Matters; Real Housewives Shake Up; Casting News; Wheelin’ & Dealin’; Switching Gears

One On One

UpFront

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Hollywood Buzz

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18 Pastor Profile From The Pulpit of 19 In Good Taste 21 Saving Grace 22 Ruby Cottle

St. Andrews Missionary Baptist Church

Rashad Armstead

Jennifer Hudson

Through The Storm Clemency from Trump Gives Corvain Cooper New Lease On Life

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Special Report

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Church News

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First Lady Files

Danger: Domestic Violence Ahead!

Greater Zion Expands into the Inland Empire with Corona Satellite; UCLA Labor Center to be Renamed for Rev. James Lawson Jr.

Native Angeleno Allyson Felix is among the many Black athletes in Tokyo vying for Olympic gold.

Felix is the only female track and field athlete to ever win six Olympic gold medals, and is tied for the record as the most decorated female Olympian in track and field history.

Lady Stacy Hubbard

honorary advisors West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. City of Refuge Greater Zion Church Family Southern Saint Paul Church Faithful Central Bible Church Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Baptist Minister’s Conference Inglewood Minister’s Association

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

L.A. Focus/August 2021

advisory board Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Lem Daniels Bob Blake

Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co. Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church Morgan Stanley Bob Blake & Associates

Cover Design: UpScale Media Group

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Commentary

A Guest Columnist

“Some Compassion for Simone Biles”

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"he fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do."

This quote from Amelia Earhart begins the 12th chapter of Simone Biles' 2016 New York Times bestselling autobiography "Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance." Biles could not have had a better year in 2016 as she won individual gold medals in the all-around, floor and vault competitions, as well as a U.S. team gold medal at the Rio Olympics. Prior to the Rio Games, she became the first female gymnast to win three consecutive all-around World Championship titles. Biles had cemented her legacy in gymnastics as the GOAT, or Greatest of All Time, heading into Tokyo this summer with a total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, but when she pulled out of the team and individual all-around finals, her fiercest critics believed she had succumbed to paper tigers. In the minds of many, the GOAT isn't allowed to have an off-day, especially not on the global stage.

Watching Biles just before her dismount stumble at the end of her vault routine, the pensive look on her face was an indication that something didn't feel right with her. She did not display the confident, gorgeous smile we've grown accustomed to seeing as she has dazzled us with difficult, stunning moves named after her by the International Gymnastics Federation.

When Biles cited mental health issues as the reason for her withdrawal from competition, the country was shocked with bitter, polarizing reactions. Many folks were quick to condemn her on social media as "selfish," "a quitter" and "a national embarrassment."

Some piled on even more vitriol, declaring that Biles and her generation are "soft" and claiming that they don't have the grit or gumption to tough it out when things aren't going their way. First, pretty much all of Biles'

Twitter haters don't have the glorious distinction of being the best in the world at their craft and have never been elite gymnasts with the breathtaking skillset to defy gravity and nail a Yurchenko double pike vault.

Secondly, the fact that so many dismiss mental health concerns as trivial pouting by young people is also troubling. Biles has shared in past interviews that she takes anti-anxiety medication. Not being in the right state of mind while competing in Tokyo could have resulted in a serious injury to herself, and she would have hindered her teammates who have also worked tirelessly to showcase their talents at the Olympics.

From the Editor

Reading that Biles felt she had the "weight of the world" on her shoulders as the Olympics got underway, I thought about how she has referenced her faith as a rock of support in both good and bad times.

In a 2017 CBN News interview, Biles talked about how her grandmother, Nellie Cayetano Biles, taught her how to pray and to acknowledge that God is the one who directs her life. "Some obstacles that we've had always work out for the better because God knows that without those you would not be as strong as you are," Biles said while reflecting on her disappointment in not making the U.S. Women's World Gymnastics team in 2011.

I can't imagine the depth of distress Biles felt in making the decision not to continue in the all-around, but she centered most of her remarks to the media on the wellbeing of her teammates and not wanting to "risk the team a medal."

Biles' comments were not surprising because in "Courage to Soar" she mentions how she has always prayed for the success of her teammates and that their Olympic dreams would come true. This is not the makeup of a selfish athlete.

Biles' fans were holding out hope that she would compete in the individual event finals. I was really looking forward to seeing her floor exercise, my personal favorite, and her uneven bars routine. However, if Biles decides to call it a career, it is obvious that she does not mind passing the torch to the next rising gymnastics star. She'll be ready for the new chapter in her life, and as she continues to lean on her faith in God, paper tigers don't have a chance.

Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JjSmojc.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Shot of Faith” ll of us have heard them–the reasons why some of the people we know refuse to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus that has killed upwards of 600,000 Americans and is now entering a deadly fifth wave in L.A. County.

Let’s recall just a few of them. My favorite is that the government is planting some kind of tracking system inside of us. Well, those of you who are worried about trackers shouldn’t be using cellphones, because that’s the easiest means the government has of knowing exactly where you are every minute of the day. They don’t need the vaccine for that.

There are those who believe the vaccine is yet another medical experiment, the physical consequences of which may not be safe and have lasting and perhaps even deadly repercussions, much like the Tuskegee Study, which tricked 600 Black sharecroppers with the promise of free medical care only to never provide it in order for the U.S. Public Health Service and the CDC–to study how Syphilis would progress in untreated black males.

The problem with that hypothesis is that doctors and health care professionals lined up first as did President Joe Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, the leadership of the CDC and many of those trusted celebrities and messengers you look up to. Even Trump, who made the vaccine a political nightmare with his missteps and misinformation about masking up as well as getting the vaccine, got the shot for himself.

Not to mention the fact that rich white people were beating it down to Kedren in South L.A. to be among the first to take the shot, doing whatever they could to jump the lines.

My personal favorite are those people who say they question what’s in it. All of a sudden everyone’s a doctor.

Those same people don’t question what’s put in their

L.A. Focus/August 2021

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bodies if they’re rushed to the hospital after having been in an accident.

The truth of the matter is that something as simple as aspirin is deadly to some and in fact, more dangerous chemicals can probably be found in what we eat, which is the source of the cancer, hypertension and diabetes that is killing our people almost as much as COVID. In fact, the people who said they didn’t want the vaccine because they didn’t trust what was in it, don’t seem to care what shot they have to take when they’re hospitalized with COVID and are about to be put on a ventilator. At that point, what’s in the vaccine is inconsequential to them. All they know is that they wish they’d had the vaccine only to be told by attending medical professionals, it was too late for them to get it.

In one of the saddest COVID outcomes I personally am aware of, a very talented friend of mine in his early fifties lost his life to COVD after his son–who has unknowingly been infected with COVID-19 returned home from college only to pass it on to his sister his Mom and tragically, his Dad. But the story doesn’t end there. In the months that followed, the son committed suicide and I can’t imagine the heartache that mother felt to have lost her husband to COVID and her son to the burden of guilt his Dad’s death brought.

If only a vaccine had been available to them.

Unfortunately, my friend died in the early days of the pandemic before any of the vaccines were approved for emergency use.

The latest projections are that the current surge could last through the fall–peaking in mid-October accompanied by a hard-hitting flu season, with more and more children and young adults among those being hospitalized and dying. Last week, two of the people I know were among the latest fatal statistics. The sad part is their deaths were totally preventable.

Over the last three months, I have been privileged to have been part of the “Shot of F a i t h Campaign” which partnered with faith leaders to do town halls across the state to answer the questions of those who were hesitant and or reluctant to become vaccinated. What we found was that many people just needed more of their questions answered and to know more about how the vaccines were developed and just how safe or effective they truly are.

The bottom line is not getting the vaccine is far more dangerous–and deadly–than getting vaccinated as proven by the most recent numbers revealing that 99% of the recent COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are among the unvaccinated.

If you haven’t been vaccinated, I urge you to get your questions answered so that you can make a more informed decision and consider safeguarding your loved ones as well as those around you who may be medically unable to get the vaccine or are more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.

For the rest of you, perhaps mandates are the answer to ending this nightmare and a spiraling health crisis that is creative havoc and impacting nearly every facet of our everyday lives.

Be careful out there and…

Keep the faith.

UpFront

News Brief

Secretary of State Shirley Weber Urges Californians to Vote in Upcoming Recall Election

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alifornia Secretary of State Shirley Weber says all registered Californians should vote in the special election to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom. It is scheduled for Sept.

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“This is an extremely important election,” said Weber, who said she comes from a family of sharecroppers in Arkansas. Her family migrated to California when she was three years old.

“My grandparents on my father’s side never had a chance to vote because they died before 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed,” she said. “We understand why it’s important to vote but we also understand what happens to communities when they don’t vote. We have to understand the positives of voting and also the negative impacts of not voting.”

Weber is California’s first African American Secretary of State and the fifth Black person to serve as a constitutional officer in the state’s 170-year history.

She said working as president of the San Diego Board of Education and serving four terms in the state Assembly after that showed her how elected officials can dismiss communities when they know that they don’t vote.

Weber was speaking at a news briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services last week. During the virtual news conference, Weber shared details of how her office has been planning for the special elections, including making sure that every Californian will be mailed a ballot.

Counties across the state will start sending them out in mid-August.

On the day of the special election,

Weber said, polls will open at 7 pm and close at 8 pm.

Voters will also be able to track their ballots via email or text messages by registering at wheresmyballot.sos.cagov.

Weber said the recall election ballot will ask two questions: Do the voters want to recall Newsom, and if so, who do they want to replace the governor. If 50% or more of voters cast no votes on the first question, Newsom stays on as governor. If 50% or more say yes, then he will be recalled and replaced by one of 46 candidates on the ballot who has the most votes.

Weber said planning the special election has been challenging, but her team has been effective and thorough.

“What I inherited in the Secretary of State’s office is a group of people who really know elections,” Weber told California Black Media.

“I’ve just been in awe of what they do.

They have a system and they have it down pact. The last election was a good training ground for them to deal with

ANTONIO RAY HARVEY CA Black Media

absentee ballots, ballot boxes, and things that we’ve known would work but could never implement because people we’re hesitant about it. That is one thing that I know for sure that takes place in the Secretary of State Office: We know elections.”

Along with its elections duties and to safeguard the state’s official documents, including the constitution and Great Seal, and the state archives, the Secretary of State office also registers businesses, commissions notaries public, and manages state ballot initiatives.

Each of California’s 58 counties oversees its own elections but Weber’s office sets the stage and regulations to ensure the counties have the tools to function properly and efficiently.

Weber meets with each county Voter Registration and Elections office each month. She learned when she took office in January that local election officials have been ahead of the process. Weber said, “this whole reality of elections is their life” and not something is done one time each year.

“They were prepared for the recall before the recall was called,” Weber said during the virtual news conference.

“They are not the type to sit around and wait until July 1 and jump up and say we have to have an election. They have been preparing all along in terms of staffing, what they would do, and their plans to implement the election,” she added. “They are in the process of setting up voting centers, polls and mailing out the ballots. They know it’s (recall elecWeber continued to page 20

Waters Demands Probe Into L.A. Sheriff’s Dept Executioners’ Gang

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L.A. Focus/August 2021

ongresswoman Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, is calling on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to take immediate action in directing the U.S. Department of Justice to look into the reports of a rogue, violent gang of law enforcement officers, who call themselves the “Executioners,” and operate within the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD).

In a letter directed to Garland, Waters wrote: “I write to ask that the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) take immediate action to address the reported existence of a rogue, violent gang of law enforcement officials, who call themselves the “Executioners,” operating within the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), specifically the LASD Compton station. “…an LASD deputy provided sworn testimony identifying more than a dozen deputies with matching tattoos symbolizing their association with the Executioners gang…

Deputies at the LASD Compton Station reportedly “chase ink”, a slang term for a deputy who attempts to win favor with the Executioners by committing violent acts in hopes of receiving the group tattoo denoting gang membership.”

“The gang allegedly sets illegal arrest quotas, threatens and harasses fellow deputies, and holds parties after shootings, called ‘998 parties,’ which are in part a celebration that a new deputy will be inked by the gang,” Waters continued. “The tattoos worn by the police gang reportedly

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feature Nazi imagery… In disturbing evidence of the violence perpetrated against the Los Angeles community by the LASD gang, the whistleblower identified the two deputies responsible for the death of Andres Guardado, a Gardena, California teenager killed by police on June 18, 2020, as members of the Executioners…The killing of Andres Guardado is not the only example of the LASD’s excessive and brutal tactics in the Los Angeles community. On August 31, 2020, LASD deputies fatally shot Dijon Kizzee in South Los Angeles.”

Waters said that her concerns extended beyond the Sheriff’s Department, but to a troubling pattern of police associating with militant groups nationwide, citing four San Jose police officers who were suspended after participating in a racist Facebook group and an Orange County officer caught wearing patches affiliated with a white supremacist group.

“There exists a clear pattern and practice of LASD deputies affiliating with white supremacist, militant police gangs, with the Executioners being the only the latest example,” Waters asserted.

“According to ABC News, right wing extremist police gangs that have operated within LASD and other Los Angeles County law enforcement agencies include: the Executioners, the Vikings, the Regulators, the Jump Out Boys, the 3000 Boys and the Banditos. Since the 1990s, there have been dozens of cases… related to [LASD deputy gangs that have led to nearly $55 million in court judgements and settlements.”

Attorney John Sweeney–who won a $7 million lawsuit against L.A. County

for the family of Donta Taylor, a 31-yearold Black man fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies in 2016–has been trying to raise the alarm on violent cliques in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department for decades.

“These deputy gangs do exist. My goal was to expose it to the world,” Sweeney told L.A. Focus in March. “And I knew that some decent people within the sheriff’s department would come forth and corroborate what I’ve been trying to prove for years.”

Despite numerous allegations of deputy gangs revealed in the CBS report and various investigations, Sheriff Alex Villanueva has repeatedly denied the extent of a gang problem within the department, but at the same time says he has zero tolerance for deputy gangs.

“Any employee who aligns with a clique or subgroup, which engages in any form of misconduct, will be held accountable. I do not want you joining these alleged cliques anymore,” Villanueva said in a video on the LASD’s website.

His comments drew sharp rebuffs from Attorney Carl Douglas, who told L.A. Focus earlier this year that Villanueva is deliberately misleading the public about the troubling pattern within the L.A. County Sheriff’s and its welldocumented deputy gang problem.

“Anyone who denies the existence of gangs within the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, like Alex Villanueva, is presenting false information to the public for his own self-interest,” Douglas said. “He knows in his heart that gang culture is a serious problem

L.A. County COIVID Rates Continue to Soar Delta Variant Rages Cases of COVID-19 continue to soar in L.A. County across the U.S., with more than 2,361 new cases reported at press on August 2 and the highly transmissible Delta variant accounting for increase.

Hospitalizations have quadrupled since last month with 600% higher case rates among the unvaccinated than for those who are vaccinated.

In introducing a motion last month to mandate vaccinations for all city employees, L.A. City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas said, “Plain and simple - vaccinations are the only way out of this pandemic, and the City of Los Angeles must lead by example. Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent transmission and limit COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. If we want our economy to fully recover, if we want our children to be able to go to school without masks on, and if we want the most vulnerable members of our community to not end up in the hospital, we must all do our part.

Voluntary efforts have proven to be insufficient to move beyond this pandemic, so it's time to think differently about our approach, and the City must lead as an example of what can and should be done.”

The move signals a growing trend that officials fear could prolong the pandemic and the economics consequences that come with it.

“Too many people have chosen to live with this virus,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “We’re at a point in this pandemic where individuals’ choice not to get vaccinated is now impacting the rest of us, and in a profound and devastating and deadly way.”

White House Says $44 Billion Still Available to Avoid Evictions STACY BROWN

NNPA Newswire House and Senate Democrats are looking to the White House to immediately act to stop evictions after the federal moratorium expired on July 31. But President Joe Biden said a recent Supreme Court ruling means the administration cannot unilaterally extend the moratorium.

For his part, the President has called on state and local governments to resolve the problem.

The White House said the American Rescue Plan provided $47 billion in rental assistance earlier this year, but states and localities have used just $3 billion.

“We as a country have never had a national infrastructure or national policy preventing avoidable evictions,” American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling responded in a White House briefing on Monday, August 2.

“State and local governments must do more to help,” Sperling asserted.

It’s not currently known just how many Americans face eviction, but leaders in the House and Senate have urged the White House to act.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said she believes about 11 million families are affected.

“As they have called upon the American people to mask up, to be vaccinated and to take other public health precautions, it is critical, in recognition of this urgency, that they extend the eviction moratorium,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) stated in an August 2 letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Putting people on the streets contributes to

Evictions continued to page 20

UpFront Activists Running Out of Time In Efforts SMITH to Stop Crenshaw Mall Sale KISHA Staff

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astor William Smart of the SCLC, Downtown Crenshaw co-founder Damien Goodmanand a host of other community leaders and groups have just a matter of days to stop the sale of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall to the Harridge Development Group in a deal that is set to close in mid-August. If successful, it would be the third time the community has thwarted the sale of what is a beloved cultural landmark.

“We, the community, believe in our own self determinism,” said Pastor William Smart, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Los Angeles. “We want to determine who builds in our community. We have the capacity to develop and operate this development. We say no to the current Baldwin Hills Mall bidder, Schwartzman. If he prevails, that mall, in the heart of the Black community, will be out of our hands.”

“This is a community effort,” Smart continued. “The community does not want this deal. We want the sale stopped” For the last sixteen months, the mall has been the target of numerous outside white developers seeking to gentrify the Crenshaw community. The latest offer to purchase the mall comes from the Beverly Hills-based Harridge Development Group, led by CEO David Schwartzman, who Goodman maintains has a troubled history, and whose financial backer–a Sovietborn oil tycoon– has ties to Donald Trump and Vladmir Putin.

“This is the third one–and the worst

one,” Smart said of the latest development deal. “At a time when most businesses, sports and entertainment entities and governmental agencies are working towards improving diversity, equity and inclusion in their operations, Harridge Development Group appears to be moving in the opposite direction,” said Pastor William Smart, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Los Angeles. “I am appalled by the lack of diversity at the Harridge Development Group and shocked that the bid to purchase the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall had no Black ownership as part of the bid team's effort.”

In their quest for self-determination, Downtown Crenshaw worked in tandem with the community to raise the funds necessary to make a competitive bid.

“We submitted a fully financed offer and we’ve technically raised over $115 million which we’ve confirmed is higher than what Harridge has offered,” Goodman revealed.

“The reason they don’t want to give us the opportunity to close is they’re not looking at this as a financial transaction. This is plain old systemic racism. At no point in this have we been treated fairly. Bottom line, it’s a group of white men who don’t want to see a Black group be in charge of the biggest development project in the city of Los Angeles.”

At a recent press conference held,

Crenshaw Mall continued to page 20

Larry Elder Tops List of Candidates Vying to Replace Newsom In September 14 Recall Just one week after having qualifying for the California recall ballot, conservative talk radio show and political firebrand, Larry Elder was leading the pack of 41 candidates seeking to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, should voters reject him on September 14.

That’s according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored with the Los Angeles Times, which found that 18% of likely voters favored Elder.

"Larry Elder's entry into the recall election has increased interest and added an unexpected twist. Obviously, it is because of his huge name identification among conservatives and Republicans,” said Kerman Maddox of Dakota Communications, one of the city’s most respected public affairs consulting firms. “But this week, a senior citizen African American couple, who are lifelong Democrats, told me they were voting for Larry Elder. Democrat defections like this coupled with a low turnout and a lack of enthusiasm among some Democrats could make this election much closer than pundits think."

Despite shelling out big bucks on TV ads, businessman John Cox and former San Diego Mayor Faulconer, tied at 10% behind Elder. Just 3% of those polled supported Caitlyn Jenner who made headlines when she announced her bid for Governor in April.

Forty percent of those polled had not made up their minds about who they would vote for.

The survey found that 47% of likely voters supported the recall while 50% opposed it. While the margin of support was higher among registered voters (51% to 36% to retain Newsom as governor), turnout will be key.

Ballots will be mailed out on August 16 and are composed of two parts. The first– and most important–will ask voters to vote yes or no to the recall. If more than 50% of those who vote, say no, Gavin Newsom remains as Governor.

The second question on the ballot is who voters select as a replacement for Newsom in the event that more than 50% vote yes to the recall. In that case the highest votegetter becomes the next governor of the state of California.

And as Maddox points out, one doesn’t have to win by much.

“People need to remember that any one of these candidates seeking to replace the Governor doesn’t have to get a certain threshold of votes. one could win the state’s highest elected office by the slimmest of margins, which is why it’s so important for people to be part of the process and vote.”

HeadToHead The Battle Over Voting Rights Enters New Front

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ongresswoman Sheila Lawmakers cerned.

Jackson Lee (D-Texas) Arrested in Since the 2020 election, 17 states became the third African Voting Rights have passed 28 laws making it American lawmaker arrested this harder for constituents to vote in Fight month while advocating for new 2021, according to the Brennan voting rights legislation.

Center for Justice at New York The congresswoman’s arrest on Friday, University’s School of Law. July 30, follows the detainment of fellow The Brennan Center directly tied the Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce new laws to “racist voter fraud allegations Beatty (D-Ohio) and Congressman Hank behind the Big Lie — former President Johnson (D-Georgia).

Donald Trump’s false Each of them protested Jim Crow-like claims of election voter restriction laws in GOP-led states fraud — and a desire to around the country. prevent future elec“I will never stop fighting for voting tions from achieving rights,” Congresswoman Jackson-Lee the historic turnout exclaimed. seen in 2020.”

“The time is now to move the voting Congresswoman rights bills in the U.S. Senate forward!! Beatty summoned the Stacy Brown Enough is enough.” memory of the late Civil Rights legend the Rev. Jesse Congressman John Lewis after her arrest.

Jackson and Poor People’s Campaign co- “Good trouble,” Beatty tweeted. She chair the Rev. William Barber II also were demanded that her Republican colleagues arrested in Washington. “protect our voting rights” and pass the Like Congressman Johnson, Jackson For the People Act.” and Barber demonstrated outside of the “Let the people vote,” the congressU.S. Capitol demanding that the U.S. woman demanded.

Senate abolish the filibuster to push Jackson Lee reminded everyone that all through voting rights measures. of the arrests are part of the “civil disobe“We come not as an insurrection group, dience” needed to move voting rights to the but as a resurrection group,” Jackson forefront. demanded during the June 23 demonstra“Any action that is a peaceful action of tion that led to his arrest. civil disobedience is worthy and more to “We must fill up the jails … if you call push all of us to do better and to do more yourself a child of God, you oughta act like and to pass (H.R.) 1, S 1 and to pass the it sometimes.”

John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Act,” Barber took direct aim at West Virginia Jackson Lee stated.

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who has “The people of Texas are desperate and stubbornly refused to consider abolishing need it. The people of America are desperor altering the filibuster for the sake of ate and need it.” voting rights.

Stacy Brown is a senior national corre“We are also here to say to Manchin: spondent for the NNPA (National Any so-called Democrat who claims to sup- Newspaper Publishers Association) port the non-constitutional filibuster over Newswire the constitutional guarantee that no state can deny or abridge the right to vote … you are assisting the Republicans in their extremism,” Barber asserted.

Voter suppression laws have passed statehouses in Georgia, Texas, Arizona, and 14 other states have Democrats and others con-

Headlines From Africa Angola: Amnesty International has reported that millions of people in southern Angola are facing an existential threat as drought aggravated by climate change continues to ravage the region. As food and water grow increasingly scarce, thousands have fled their homes and sought refuge in neighboring Namibia.

Eritrea: Attacks by Tigrayan forces in the Afar region of Ethiopia have forced more than 54,000 people from their homes, as refugees in a camp in southern Tigray described heavy clashes nearby. Tigrayan fighters, who want the Ethiopian government to accept their terms before talks on a ceasefire can begin, have taken control of three districts in Afar.

L.A. Focus/August 2021

Ethiopia: Officials in Ethiopia's Amhara region have called on all armed residents to mobilize for battle against rebels from conflict-hit Tigray, calling it a "survival campaign”, according to state media, upping the chances for the Tigray conflict to expand to the rest of the nation.

Gambia: The U.S. has donated to The Gambia over 150 thousand (151,200) doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to boost the national vaccination campaign currently underway.

Kenya: At least two million Kenyans are on the brink of starvation and are in dire need of food aid, according to a study by the World Vision East Africa Hunger Emergency Response. A deadly mix of conflict, Covid-19 and the climate crisis have pushed more than 7 million people across six countries in East Africa to the very edge of starvation," according to the report.

Malawi: Malawi's government has paid thousands of dollars in compensation to women who allegedly were sexually assaulted by police officers during post-election protests. Lawyers for victims and human rights campaigners, however, say the money alone is not enough. They want suspects to be arrested and tried in court.

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The Poor People's more aspects of election law than Bogus Claims Campaign has announced a just voting. The legislation evisFrom the Poor "season of nonviolent, cerates actions that Republican People's moral direct action," tarstates have moved on to reduce Campaign geting the U.S. Senate with disvoter fraud, such as voter ID laws ruptive activities every Monday, July 12 and stopping vote harvesting. But it also through Aug 2. moves the federal government into a host According to the campaign's co-chair, the of other areas, such as defining political Rev. William Barber II, "The Senate must speech and the organization of the Federal end the filibuster, protect and expand vot- Election Commission. ing rights, and pass a The issue here is not to debate election minimum wage of $15 law but to ask what this has to do with an hour." poverty and why it is such a priority for the Barber is getting Poor People's Campaign. national attention.

In the current Congress, there are 60 Even President Joe African American senators and House repBiden recorded a video resentatives. In 1964, there were five. expressing his supPer The Wall Street Journal's Jason port.

Riley, in 1970, nationwide, there were Star Parker Concern about fewer than 1,500 Black elected officials. poverty is something we all share.

Today, there are more than 10,000.

What bothers me is that the factors In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elecdriving poverty, according to the research tions, Black turnout was higher than white of my organization and others, are ignored turnout. by the Poor People's Campaign. And the Yet in 2019, the average Black poverty issues on which they choose to focus either rate was more than 2 1/2 times higher than have nothing to do with the reality of the white poverty rate. poverty or actually make things worse.

There is little evidence that Black It may surprise Barber that the Senate fil- poverty has persisted over the last halfibuster is a powerful tool to protect minor- century because Black Americans have not ity interests. been able to accumulate political power or He is either confused or disingenuous express their will on election day. when he claims abolishing the Senate filiRegarding minimum wage, economic buster is about protecting "democracy." logic and economic facts show that the It is not democracy he cares about, but higher the minimum wage, the more lowDemocrats, who now control the govern- wage jobs disappear. Raising the minimum ment, being able to pass every piece of far- wage is a great tool to make poverty worse, left, big-government legislation they want. not better.

The only thing that stands in their way is What can make a difference? the 60-vote requirement of the Senate filiIn 2019, the average poverty rate buster. among American households was 9%. The The history of our American democracy average poverty rate in Black households is that government changes hands all the headed by a married couple was 6.4%, per time. When Republicans are running the Statistica. show, as they will again, Barber will direct However, the average poverty rate in his heavenly prayers to save the filibuster Black households headed by a single so that Democrats can prevent woman was 29.5%, and 41% of Black Republicans from doing whatever they households were headed by single women. want.

But the Poor People's Campaign has nothIt is the filibuster in the Senate that ing to say about the data connecting family prevents passage of the For the People Act, breakdown and abortion to poverty. the voting and election reform legislation, Many Americans do understand this House Resolution 1, that passed in the connection, including my organization, House without a single Republican vote.

CURE. So, when the Poor People's Although HR 1 is being labelled as "vot- Campaign storms the Senate with bogus ing rights" legislation, it addresses many claims, we hope our elected officials will Star Parker continued to page 20

A look at current news from the continent of Africa Mali: Mali's interim president Colonel Assimi Goita—who took power in June after leading a coup, the second in less than a year— is safe after what his office has called an assassination attempt. Two men, one with a knife, attacked Goita Tuesday after prayers at the Great Mosque of Bamako for the Eid al-Adha festival in West Africa. One of the men reportedly died in custody.

Namibia: A state-of-the-art multi-million dollar innovation hub that offers a conducive integrated ecosystem for sustainable technology transfer, was launched at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. The center will primarily facilitate the creation of inventions that are set to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

Niger: The Nigerian military has announced its readiness to carry out a major operation against kidnappers and other undesirable elements in the Kwangai forests of Niger State.

Sierra Leone: The Parliament of Sierra Leone voted to abolish the death penalty. In February, President Bio officially gave the directives for the death penalty to be abolished from Sierra Leone's laws.

Somalia: Somalia has postponed elections that were due to start last month after months of delays in the deeply unstable Horn of Africa country.

South Africa: Inter-provincial travel for leisure may resume and the sale of alcohol will be permitted for offsite and onsite consumption as the country moves to a Level 3 lockdown.

Tanzania: Tanzania is stepping up its measures against COVID-19, announced suspension of mass gatherings, including religious congregations and political rallies, until the pandemic is under control. Measures also include reinforcement of COVID-19 precautionary guidelines in bars, restaurants, meetings, weddings and ceremonial halls.

Money Matters

On the Money Families Get Boost from Child Tax Credits

Recapping the Urban League’s 2021 State of Black America Report

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he COVID-19 pandemic not only unmasked the stark racial inequities in the nation’s economic, health care and public safety status quo, but it gave rise to a fierce resistance to that status quo and fueled demand for racial justice that grows more intense with each passing month.

That’s according to the National Urban League’s 2021 State of Black America® report, “The New Normal: Diverse, Equitable & Inclusive.”

“The United States finds itself at crossroads of racial reckoning,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “One path leads backward, toward the “old normal:” a return to the marginalization, discrimination, and segregation that left Black and Brown Americans exceptionally vulnerable to a deadly virus and economic desperation. The other path leads toward a nation where police approach the communities they serve as allies and collaborators, and not hostile combatants; where every citizen has equal access to the ballot box, where fatal complications in pregnancy are just as rare for Black mothers as for as white mothers, where the value of a home is not determined by the race of its owner.”

Some of the findings came as little surprise including the fact that higher unemployment, lower net worth and increasingly unaffordable housing made Black Americans particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and the economic fallout from it.

One pandemic threatened America, the report states.

Three pandemics ravaged its communities of color.

“The New Normal: Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive makes the case that dismantling structural racism -- identifying and repairing the cracks in our national foundation — will result in more resilient and dynamic institutions that expand opportunity for everyone,” Morial said. “To quote a flippant sentiment frequently shared on social media, equal rights for others does not mean less rights for you. It’s not pie.”

Analysis from research partners Brookings Institution, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, and Center for Policing Equity not only revealed how structural and institutional racism magnified the devastation inflicted by COVID-19 infection and death, economic collapse and police violence, but also offered a glimpse of a more equitable future.

The report includes a focus on two major policy proposals the National Urban League developed in 2021 to address racial inequities in public safety and the economy.

21 Pillars for Redefining Public Safety and Restoring Community Trust is a comprehensive framework for criminal justice advocacy that takes a holistic approach to public safety, the restoration of trust between communities and law enforcement, and a path forward for meaningful change.

Each of the 21 Pillars addresses one of five goals for transforming public safety, including holding police accountable in court, banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, conducting financial and operational audits of police departments and preventing police union contracts from blocking accountability.

With close to 17 percent of Black households lacking basic financial services and forced to rely on check cashing centers or payday loans–which cost 50-100% more per month–the Urban League is looking to a new normal for banking.

The report cited Mobility Capital Finance, or MoCaFi, which provides free or low-cost financial services to lowand moderate-income individuals who are underserved, discriminated against or shut out from traditional banks as an example. Customers who pay their rent with a MoCaFi debit card can choose to have those payments reported to credit reporting agencies, thus rebuilding their credit scores. MoCaFi’s partnerships with minority-owned small businesses give account holders access to discounts on goods and services.

The pandemic also highlighted the high cost of childcare and how much the Black workforce depends on it.

“Without it [childcare], hundreds of thousands of working parents have had to leave the workforce,” said Erin Robinson of the Center for American Progress. “It’s why economists and Americans of every political stripe agree that our economic recovery depends on boosting federal investment in childcare. Put simply: Childcare is a matter of racial, economic, and gender equity and is crucial to the productivity and competitiveness of this country.”

Other critical areas covered in 2021 State of Black America Report include voter suppression legislation, broadband access and health inequities. For a look at the full report, visit www.stateofblackamerica.org.

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tarting July 15, families received extra cash in their bank accounts with the advance Child Tax Credit payments that were part of the Biden stimulus bill Congress passed in March. 39 million households were reportedly eligible for the automatic payments without any action on their parts.

Those qualifying families with children under age six will receive $300 per child through December. Those with children six to 17-years-old will receive $250 monthly each.

The cash payments represent half of the child tax credits.

The balance of the credit will be reflected in tax refunds, bringing the total to $3600 per child for those with children under six and $3000 for families with older children.

The payments will be sent via direct deposit or mail, based on the previous year’s tax return. Those who reported no income in the last year or who didn’t file taxes may still qualify but would need to submit their information through the IRS’ Non-filer portal. People who don’t’ have a copy of their return may be able to use an estimate based on their W-2s or 1099s.

Keep in mind, however, that just lower and middle class families qualify for the credit. Upper income households are not eligible to receive the credits, and what’s more if you get the money and don’t quality, you are advised to opt out of the program, or you will have to pay it back.

So what are the income thresholds?

• $75,000 or less for single taxpayers • $112,500 or less for heads of household • $150,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return and eligible widows and widowers The Biden Administration has proposed extending the monthly payments for five more years.

Biz News Briefs Capitalizing on her signature “smize” look that Tyra Banks she says is partly responsible for her success as a Launches Ice supermodel, Tyra Banks Cream Shop has developed a brand of ice cream, dubbed “Smize Cream”.

The seven varieties of ice cream flavors include Strawberry BirthYAY! Cake, Brownies, I Love You, Purple Cookie MonStar & Me, Chocolate Barbeque, Salted Caramel King, Caramel Cookie Queen and The Best Vanilla I Ever Had. As an extra added bonus, partaker of the custard-style ice cream, will find a cookie dough truffle covered in sprinkles at the bottom of every serving.

In addition to the creation of her own brand of ice cream, the 47-year old former top model turned TV personality and business mogul, has also opened “Smize Cream” shop in Santa Monica Place. Smize cream can also be shipped nationwide shop: www.smizecream.com.

Major League Baseball Commits up to $150 Million to Get More Blacks Into the Game In what has been the largest financial commitment in its history, Major League Baseball has pledged $150 million to the Players Alliance to improve its investment in Black players and professionals across the game over a ten year period.

"Major League Baseball is thrilled to expand our commitment to the Players Alliance, which will include joint efforts to strengthen our sport's engagement with Black communities," said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

The money will go to a variety of programs built around participation in baseball, mentorship and professional baseball employee development. In addition, the funding will include initiatives that celebrate Black baseball history and culture, educational grants and service opportunities to communities.

To that end, starting in 2023, MLB will provide $10 million annually–with an additional $5 million in matching contributions from external Players Alliance fundraising– to programs aimed at increasing the participation of Black youth and young adults in baseball as well as programs designed to attempt to increase the number of Black employees and contractors in all positions and at all levels associated with professional baseball.

Monies will also fund programs in support of Jackie Robinson Day; appreciation days for the Negro Leagues; Black participation in the business of baseball; programs to support baseball in city schools; and programs designed to eliminate barriers to participation in the sport for

Black youth.

New Program Aims to Help Black Personal Care Businesses Among the businesses hardest hit by the COVID lockdowns last year was the beauty and personal care industry. Salons and other beauty services which came under non-essential services were the first ones to close their doors, with many never to reopen. Given the hit the small Black businesses within the personal care industry took, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) launched the Black Business Excellence Technical Assistance (BBET) Initiative, a new accelerator program that will provide wrap- around business services to help take those businesses to the next level.

Those services include one-on-one mentoring, strategic business planning; networking opportunities and opportunities to pitch to funders to compete for grants to seed their growth.

Said LISC Executive Director Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, “Black- owned personal care businesses were some of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 crisis — and we believe this program will help the most impacted communities to thrive.”

To qualify, businesses must have at least one business owner that identifies as Black or African American; be in operation for at least two years; fall under a personal care, health, wellness or beauty category; and be located within LA County. For more information, visit: www.lisc.org.

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L.A. Focus/August 2021

avis Smiley is used to making history. He did it as the first black to have a talk show on NPR and the first African American to have a talk show on PBS. Now, he is making history as with the launch of KBLA-1580, the first Black-owned talk radio format in Los Angeles.

Smiley closed the deal to purchase the station valued at $7.5 million late last year and is calling it the flagship station of what he hopes to build into a nationwide Black-owned and operated talk radio network.

“We've already identified other stations,” said Smiley.

“So, the plan is long-term to syndicate our program from LA with these other stations that we hope to buy and lease across the country to build finally a black talk radio network across the country.”

For Smiley, the timing couldn’t have been better.

“Everything is properly situated in this moment for this. There is some black talk radio around the country, but it's not thriving in the way that it once was. That's why I think there's an opportunity here. I'm dumb enough to try it and we'll see if it works.”

So far, so good is the initial response from listeners and potential partners.

“After the first two weeks on the air, we started getting calls from stations around the country about syndicating our program, so we’re off to a pretty good start.”

The business venture follows a three-year hiatus from the airwaves for Smiley following his highly-publicized firing by PBS in 2017 for sexual assault allegations in the wake of the “#MeToo movement and the subsequent 2018 wrongful termination lawsuit that led to a $2.6 million judgement against Smiley in favor of PBS in 2020.

Admittedly, Smiley says, “The PBS thing was ugly.

“I was lied on when I was a 12-year-old kid, and my father was so upset and so angry that he didn't take

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LISA COLLINS Editor-in-Chief

the time to ask me whether or not the lie was true,” he digresses. “I was beaten so severely that I was in the hospital for almost two weeks and I've never forgotten the feeling of having someone stand up publicly and lie on me.”

He pauses for a moment, getting emotional.

“I promised myself as a 12 year old kid that I will never let anybody lie on me. So, I fought back and I'm still fighting back. You're not going to lie on me and get away with it”, said the Gulfport, Mississippi native who got his start on radio in one-minute daily radio segments called The Smiley Report on KGFJ radio after working as an aide to former L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley.

“They (PBS) don't care about that truth. It was about not wanting to renew my contract and wanting to get me off the air. Even four years after “me too”, I am still the only black person in the history of PBS to have his own show. What does that tell you about what they were really committed to? And that's what that fight was about.”

Smiley–who has appealed the judgement– says he’s not bitter.

“Life goes on. You move on,” he states. “I don't ever let misery have the last word in my life. You fight and you come back.”

The hardest part of the whole ordeal for Smiley was not having a voice during the last nearly four years.

“I would have loved to have been here, to use my platform, to get access to other forces, to be a megaphone and amplify our voices,” he explains. “I mean, frankly, it was painful for almost four years sitting on the sidelines while I saw my brother and sisters being killed by cops and this era of racial reckoning was taking place, but watching that moment allowed me to realize that they're covering us now because we’re in the streets. But what happens when we know we're not in the streets anymore?

How do we continue to advance our narrative?

“So, the idea crystallized to try to do a talk radio station for us and the beauty of it is that unlike everything else I've done in my career, it ain't about me. My name isn't on this,”he continues. This is not a Tavis smiley project or venture or show. It's about the community. It's about giving them a platform– a megaphone, and letting their voices amplified. I feel really good about the fact that for once in my life, I ain't got to cradle all the weight.”

Citing Los Angeles as the most multicultural, multi-

I would have loved to have been here, to use my platform, to get access to other forces, to be a megaphone and amplify our voices. I mean, frankly, it was painful for almost four years sitting on the sidelines while I saw my brother and sisters being killed by cops and this era of racial reckoning was taking place, but watching that moment allowed me to realize that they're covering us now because we’re in the streets. But what happens when we know we're not in the streets anymore? How do we continue to advance our narrative?

Left: Tavis Smiley, owner and host of KBLA Talk 1580, is surrounded by the hosts who make up the superstar lineup at KBLA Talk 1580. Pictured (l-r) is Dr. Melina Abdullah, Don Amiche, Kiara Williams, Smiley, Dominique DiPrima and Danny Morrison; Right: Tavis Smiley on the air. Photos courtesy of Karim Saafir Photography.

racial, multi-ethnic city in the country –and given his beginnings in talk radio on KABC–Smiley is surprised that he didn’t think of it sooner.

“The problem is this city and everywhere else, the write up on Talk Radio is all day, all night, all white.”

Smiley’s answer to that is a format whose slogan is “unapologetically progressive”.

“To be clear, we are unapologetic black, but the station is unapologetic progressive,” said Smiley. “We took that slogan because I don't want to leave out all good people who don't look like us, who are with us, who came out in the streets during the protest.”

Black Angelenos recall the station’s dial location at 1580 as home to the former pioneering hip hop station, KDAY in the 80s. With 50,000 kilowatts of power, the signal reaches over 12 million in the L.A. basin and stretches from Thousand Oaks to San Clemente.

“The signal is huge,” notes Smiley. “The big boys in town KFI, KABC, KRLA have the same signal strength, so we can put it down as bad as they can.”

Getting the signal was a stroke of faith for the 56-year old broadcaster.

“I was in escrow with another station,” he reveals. As fate would have it, that escrow fell out and I was just crushed. I was praying and 48 hours later, I got a phone call that said, would you be interested in buying KBLA? And I just started crying, because the two stations I was in talks with, were nice stations, but the history of 1580, when you say 1580 to Negroes, you ain't got to say nothing else. There's nothing like buying a brand people already know.

“The bad news was that 1580 at the time we purchased it, was a Spanish language/ Christian radio station. What that meant was none of your advertisers are going to stay. So, we’re starting from scratch with no advertisers and flipping the format.”

With almost $650 million in advertising spent every year on radio in LA, the commercial viability adds to the pressure of getting it right and Smiley has $1.5 million of his own money as skin in the game.

But buying the station was only the first step. Now he needed the operating capital to assemble a team as his sales force got up to speed. And that’s where Smiley is getting by with a little help from some rich and powerful friends, including Bill Maher, Ice Cube, Van Jones, some NBA players and even an L.A. pastor, all of whom wrote generous checks.

With adequate financing Smiley was free to engage the kind of talent he believed would captivate listeners and create the kind of content that will lead to solid ratings in what is one of one of the nation’s most competitive markets.

One of his first calls was to Dominique diPrima, long time host of KJLH’s highly popular early morning talker, Front Page.

“I love Dominique on KJLH and Front Page, but I said to Dominique, ‘You have earned a bigger platform and because Stevie is music, he can't give you a bigger platform. The city deserves an opportunity to hear you for longer than 90 minutes.”

DiPrima had hosted the popular show for more than 16 years and though it was difficult to leave, welcomed the opportunity.

“We all want the opportunity to grow and expand and make history and I think what Tavis is doing with KBLA

is historical,” said DiPrima, who is making history as the first black woman to host a morning drive talk radio show.

“When you think about Los Angeles being such a catalyst for change –whether it’s the Watts Uprising or the ‘92 civil unrest or the Black Lives Matter Movement–we are an epicenter of change and black voices and we’ve never had a talk radio station, that’s significant.”

KBLA’s lineup also includes comedian/actor turned political commentator D.L. Hughley, whose syndicated radio show, The D.L. Hughley Show, was not heard in Los Angeles until Smiley made handed him the afternoon drive slot; and Don Amiche who was teamed for years with Tammi Mac on KJLH. Smiley was also particularly happy to include Danny Morrison into the mix.

“He's like the Stephen A. Smith of politics,” said Smiley. “He’s loud. He's brash. He's bombastic and boisterous, but agree or disagree, he always makes his point.”

And then what would a talk radio station owned by Tavis Smiley be without having him on the air, doing what he does best–interviewing influencers, celebrities and the newsmakers of the day.

What Smiley will not be at a loss for is content. It was one of his dear friends, Grammy-award winning R&B icon Prince, who impressed upon him that content is king, to which end Smiley owns all of his PBS and NPR libraries, his radio content dating back to his days as a commentator on “The Tom Joyner Show” and his more than a dozen books, including his 2006 best seller, “The Covenant With Black America”.

KBLA operates from the Leimert Park office complex that has served as his based for more than 20 years.

“We're putting bigger studios in the back of the building,” Smiley said. “Once I get my hooks into something, I'm not a hit and quit. We're going to build this thing with God's help to make a portal for this community.”

In the meantime, his biggest challenge is getting the word out.

“We don't have a multimedia dollar budget to do billboards, so right now, more than anything else, it's about getting the word out.”

For however great the challenge is, Tavis Smiley is more than equal to it.

“If it were easy for black people to own radio and television stations, a lot more of us would”, DiPrima says.

“L.A. is very particular. These streets know who you are and you’re going to get credential checks whether you know it or not. But Tavis has a long history of educating and uplifting. He has a high standard in terms of the quality of what he does, and I think he has an amazing track record.”

Indeed, for Smiley, KBLA represents a higher calling.

“I've always viewed my career in this way that however long I have to do the work God's called me to do, I know that the eyes of the future looking back at us,” Smiley shares. “Black children are looking back at us, hoping we get this moment right.

“They're going to ask that of all of us. What did we do in this moment of racial reckoning to advance our narrative? And my answer will be KBLA Talk. That in this moment, I took the opportunity to try to step up my game and to present to the community a platform that we can all use to advance our narrative.”

KBLA PROGRAM LINEUP First Things First with Dominique Diprima Weekdays 6AM - 9AM Tavis Smiley Weekdays 9AM - Noon Middays with Danny Morrison Weekdays Noon - 2PM The DL Hughley Afternoon Show Weekdays 2PM - 4PM Alonzo Bodden: Who’s Paying Attention Weekdays 4PM - 7PM Let’s Get Intimate with Dr. Jeshana Johnson Weekdays 7PM - 9PM Don Amiche vs.

Everybody + Crysta & Kiara Weekdays 9PM - Midnight The Best of KBLA Overnights - Midnight - 6AM BLM’s This Is Not A Drill Saturdays 8AM- 10AM The Best of State of the Black Union Saturdays and Sundays

HO L LY W OOD SPOT LIGHT Chez Hadley “Respect” "What an amazing cinematic tribute to the Queen of Soul! Superb acting as Oscar winning actress Jennifer Hudson seamlessly transforms into Franklin and delivers some of the R&B icons’ greatest hits, including “Respect”, “Natural Woman” and “Ain’t No Way”.

Clear to see why Aretha personally chose Hudson to portray her in the movie before her death in 2018.

Another Academy Award winner– Forest Whitaker– turns in a five-star performance as her father, the renowned Rev. C.L. Franklin. Other stellar performances include Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Heather Headley and Mary J. Blige as Dinah

Washington.

The movie delves deep into the psyche of Aretha Franklin, concentrating a great deal on her volatile–and yet loving relationship with her Dad, her early music failures and abusive first marriage; her involvement with the

civil rights movement; and how she came to find her own musical style all while also showcasing her remarkable, creative genius and God-given talent in a story that brought it all to light."

It also details Franklin’s journey of faith and redemption. How–after losing herself to fame, alcohol and the industry–she found her way back to God with the movie ending with the filming of her famed “Amazing Grace” concert in Los Angeles.

This is the project her family approved and just before the credits roll, vintage family photos are shared of Aretha. The film hits theaters on August 13th and you don’t have to be an Aretha fan to love it!

OUT THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

The Suicide Squad August 6 First Things First

L.A. Focus/August 2021

Congrats to Issa Rae, who wed her longtome boyfriend Louis Diame.

The 36-year old actress and star of HBO’s “Insecure” shared the pics of her wedding day in the South of France on Instagram. It is just the icing on the cake for what has been a great year for Rae, who has a handful of projects in the works, including Sweet Life: Los Angeles, an unscripted series from Issa Rae, which looks at young, Black life in South LA, set to launch this summer and Rap Sh*t, a half-hour comedy series, following two estranged high school friends from Miamiwho reunite to form a rap group. She will also voice one of the roles in the sequel to Sony’s Oscar-winning feature SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse.

Earlier this year, she signed a five year d e a l w i t h

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Free Guy August 13

Respect August 13

WarnerMedia rumored to be in the eight-figure range.

Family Matters Dr. Dre has been ordered by the court to shell out $300K monthly in spousal support to ex-wife Nicole Young, and if you haven’t done the math already, that’s a whopping $3.5 million a year.

But it nothing compared to what she asked initially asked for which was a cool $2 million a month in spousal support. She will get the money until she remarries or the court amends its order. Dre will also have to pay expenses on the homes in Malibu and Pacific Palisades that she resides in.

All this is likely to change as the rapper-turned-mogul and his ex-wife negotiate a final settlement that could come in the form of a lump sum payment, ending the monthly arrangement. That amount might well depend on the prenuptial Nicole Young is now saying she signed under duress…In the meantime, Dr. Dre’s son, Curtis, is set to star along with Nasir Dean (son of Swizz Beatz) and Julian Broadus (the son of Snoop Dog) in “Charge It to the Game”, which follows four best friends as they navigate the trials and errors of their adolescence.

Real Housewives Shake Up Falling ratings appear to be prompting a major shakeup on the “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”. In a recent story, Cynthia Bailey said that without a contract in hand and no word from producers, she may not be returning for season 14. There is talk as well that Sheree Whitfield, who was among the original cast, may be returning. Bravo is not talking.

Former cast member, Nene Leakes is asking fans to pray for her husband, Greg, whose cancer has

The Protege August 20 returned and is now at Stage 3.

Casting News: In the latest reimagining of the hit movie, “The Thomas Crown Affair”, Michael B. Jordan is set to star as the rich playboy who enjoys stealing art for a hobby until he meets his match in a beautiful and smart insurance investigator, who give him a run for the money in this cat and mouse drama…Nicole Ari Parker will join Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis in HBO’s Sex and the City revival...Chi star Jacob Latimore will headline a reboot of the 1990 box office hit, House Party for HBO Max. SpringHill’s LeBron James and Maverick Carter will produce.

Wheelin’ & Dealin’ Mo’Nique has signed a deal with Endemol Shine North America (CBS’ Big Brother, TBS’ Wipeout and Fox’s MasterChef) to create and produce series for her to host and star in as well as to produce for other performers through Hicks Media, the production company that she set up with her husband and manager, Sidney Hicks....

And BET+ has greenlit a six-episode limited series revival of the hit BET reality TV show, “Real Husbands of Hollywood” from Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Productions.

Switching Gears Comedic actress Yvette Nicole Brown has announced her candidacy for president of the Los Angeles Local of SAG/AFTRA. “I believe nothing in our union works unless we are all working together,” Brown said. “As L.A. president I will advocate for each and every member and lead with kindness and respect. It’s been a tough time for us as work here in LA came to a virtual standstill during the pandemic. As we return to work, we will build an even better and safer workplace for all while vigorously enforcing our contracts.

That’s my promise.”

Q&A

Lil Rel Howery Hometown: Chicago Age: 41 Big Break: The Carmicheal Show Upcoming Projects: Vacation Friends (John Cena • Yvonne Orji); Deep Water (Ben Affleck); National Champions (Uzo Aduba, J.K. Simmons, Russell Wilson) On COVID and its impact on Black Americans: [COVID] re-exposed what’s been the problem when it comes to our community and our medical system. Our healthcare is terrible. It just really exposes how in our community they do not take care of us. That’s why people are like ‘I don’t believe that you really care about us now. You ain’t care about me any other time.’

On Tiffany Haddish: Tiff is one of my best friends, actually. And it’s based on like, really...her and a bunch of my homegirls I’m just cool with that I never tried to do anything with.

We’re just straight-up friends.

On success: When your second number #1 (First Was Bad Trip) @netflix movie is not only number #1 but on top all over the world(Fatherhood) and you get a shout out from the great @ernie.johnson on Inside The NBA after they show us on a special sneak peek of another huge film I’m in @spacejammovie … Life is so dope and I’m truly living the dream. I love showing my kids with hard work, being yourself and faith how your dreams will really come true. It’s not easy to do well out here in Hollywood at all but I’m extremely blessed.

I’ve done whatever I’ve dreamed of doing and so much more to come. My faith, hard work, being persistent, manifesting dreams and ideas has got me here and you can do the same. Keep it pushing!

On workouts with gospel music: It started more for my mental health than anything. I call this active meditation. I ride or box and just thank God for a bunch of things that’s happened and not happened yet. Manifest things for others, then myself.

Speak so much life into my babies and family. It works for me. My suggestion is find what works for “you” and stick to that. Forget what anyone else thinks.

On Derek Chauvin guilty verdict: Only the beginning. So many emotions. Let’s not take the foot off the gas its decades of injustice that the powers that need to be held accountable for!

On generational wealth: Building Generational Wealth isn’t easy especially for a black family but it’s my responsibility to lay down the foundation. And I love the responsibility!

On his coming projects: I like to call this a Hot Rel Summer. I have four films hitting the streets. Two you know about, Fatherhood (Netflix June 18) and Free Guy (Aug 13 theaters everywhere). The next two well you’ll find out soon! I can’t wait to entertain you this summer and continue to watch Small Fortune on NBC Monday Nights.

RedCarpet Style

JEKALYN CARR served as host and turned heads in this black/white floor length stunner

SHIRLEY CAESAR sparkled in this silver sequence gown

Gospel celebrated its biggest night of the year last month at the 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Here were some of the red carpet looks.

Photos are courtesy of Central City Productions.

YOLANDA ADAMS in a nude/black pantsuit w lace overlay

KIERRA SHEARD sported casual glam in this colorful top and jeans

TRAMAINE HAWKINS wore a floral print top with a black ballgown skirt

Eye On Gospel Winning Big On Gospel’s Biggest Night With another four Stellar Awards to add to her collection, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard was the biggest winner of the night at the 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which celebrated the best in gospel over the last year.

Cobbs-Leonard was named “Female Vocalist of the Year” for her latest project, “Royalty: Live At The Ryman”, which also earned her top honors as “Song of the Year” (“Something Has To Break”), “Contemporary female vocalist” and “Praise and Worship album of the year”.

Cobbs Leonard, who was celebrating her 40th birthday, posted: “A huge thank you to everyone who has supported my assignment over the years. Royalty Live, will always be special to me. Let’s keep spreading the gospel.”

It was a big night for the Clark Sisters as well. They earned two awards–"Duo/Chorus” and “Traditional Duo/Chorus” for their latest album, Return; and “Special Event Album of the Year for The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack”. They were also honored with the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award and were joined onstage by Kierra Sheard-Kelly for a performance of some of their classic hits.

Pastor Mike Jr. of the Rock City Church in Birmingham was named “Artist of the Year” for his sophomore project, Freedom Sessions, just one year after being named “Best New Artist of the year” with his debut

project, Live Free. Pastor Mike–aka Mike McClure–also earned awards for “Urban/inspirational single or performance of the year” and “Rap hip hop gospel album” for Freedom Sessions.

“I am so humbled by these awards, especially the prestigious Artist of the Year award,” said Pastor Mike. “It’s my prayer that I can continue the rich legacy of Gospel Music and impact lives all across the world.”

With his latest release, People, Jonathan McReynolds also took home three awards, including “Male vocalist of the year”. Special awards went to Tramaine Hawkins, who was honored with the Aretha Franklin Icon Award, Pastor Shirley Caesar, who received the Bobby Jones Legends Award and Bishop Dr. Leonard Scott honored with the Thomas A. Dorsey Notable achievement Award.

The following awards round out the Stellar winners: Song of the year: “Something Has to Break” (Live) ft.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Kierra Valencia Sheard, J. Drew Sheard II, Jonathan Smith & Mia Fields New artist of the year: Maverick City Music Album of the year: Maverick City Music Vol 3 Part 1 Choir of the year: JJ Hairston; Not Holding Back Producer of the year: Jonathan McReynolds Contemporary duo/chorus: Anthony Brown & group therAPy; 2econd Wind: Ready Contemporary male vocalist: Jonathan McReynolds Traditional male vocalist: Donnie McClurkin Traditional female vocalist: Jekalyn Carr Contemporary album: Kierra; Kierra Sheard Traditional album: Changing Your Story; Jekalyn Carr Music video: Something Has to Break (Live); James Hairston IV Traditional choir: Ricky Dillard; Choirmaster Contemporary choir: JJ Hairston; Not Holding Back Instrumental album: My Tribute; Myron Butler Youth project: Anthony White & Detroit Youth Choir Quartet of the year: Young Men 4 Christ Overcomer Grammy® Award-Winning Artist, NAACP Image® Award-Winning Actress, Songwriter, and Producer, Tamela Mann, is set to release her new release,

Overcomer, on August 6.

Overcomer –which was executive produced by Tamela and her husband–may be Tamela’s best work to date.

Special guests include Kirk Franklin and Wyclef Jean on the stand-out track melding R&B, reggae, rap, and gospel, “Hello God;” Todd Dulaney on the worshipful “Finished Work;” Travis Green, the co-writer and producer of the anthemic “Finished;” and The Fellas, on her current single, “Help Me.” “Touch From You,” the debut single from the album, added to Tamela’s bank of personal bests; the track was her seventh No. 1 on Billboard's Gospel Airplay chart. “Source” and “He Did It For Me” are two other standouts. Says Tamela of the inspiration for the lyrics: “God is the source and my go-to when I’m lost. I can’t do anything without Him, and I never want to try to.”

“My heart’s desire is to give people hope and let them know there’s still compassion in the world. It’s the opportunity for me again to show God’s love and His grace.

That’s my purpose in life and for Overcomer.”

“I feel like I’m coming out of the cocoon again, energized and on fire,” says Tamela, who underwent surgery to have both her knees replaced in the summer of 2019. After taking some time to work on her health and wellness, and a fresh creative mindset, she’s stepping forward a changed woman to express her heart and soul. “This is new music for a new time and a new me,” she says.

“I poured my experiences into the lyrics, putting my heart and soul into the words on this album,” Tamela says. “It’s me looking at my life and the things I was dealing with, trying to learn from those things, and doing what I can to overcome them.”

Overcomer is the latest accomplishment in Tamela’s busy career. In Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living (BET+), she reprises her role as “Cora,” which she originated in Perry’s successful “Madea” plays, films, and hit television show, Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns. She is starring in two upcoming films: the Tyler Perry “Madea” movie coming to Netflix and Soul Santa airing this Christmas on BET, which she executive produced with David. Tamela also launched her own successful athleisure apparel line, the Tamela Mann Collection.

Throughthe Storm: Clemency from Trump Gives Corvain Cooper New Lease On Life

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n the very last day of Donald Trump’s presidency, Corvain Cooper’s mother received a call from Ivanka Trump to inform her that her son was being released from prison.

Corvain, 41, was one of at least 12 people to receive clemency from the former president.

Up until that day, Cooper had known what it was like to be behind prison walls and feel like the people you loved the most had forgotten about you. He’d served seven years of a life sentence for a nonviolent marijuana conviction.

In 2014, Cooper–who’d formerly owned a clothing store–was convicted under the three-strikes rule for trafficking marijuana, money laundering and tax evasion from California to North Carolina. He had two previous non-violent convictions that were both later vacated.

Cooper was one of more than a dozen people whose sentences for crimes related to marijuana–now legal in some form in a majority of states–were commuted.Since receiving clemency on January 20, 2021, Cooper has hit the ground running, hoping to shine light on those whose individual stories are overshadowed within the fight for prison reform.

Working as brand ambassador of 40 Tons Clothing (www.40tons.co), along with his business partner and CEO Loriel Alegrete, Cooper has found a unique lane of merging his past fashion pursuits within his current focus of cannabis equity and restorative justice.

“The people who you thought will remember you, will forget about you. I want to be the person who is not forgetting about the people serving life sentences,” Cooper said. “I know how it is sitting in the cell, looking at the wall, wishing you get some pictures or wishing to hear from somebody on the outside.”

When Cooper was sentenced, he said that he never accepted “life in prison” as his final judgement. Although he understood the magnitude of the sentencing, he knew that everything close to him would crumble, including the future of his two young daughters. He also knew that the essence of who he was as a man would begin to fade and deteriorate.

Dreion

“You see guys in there, who let themselves go because they accepted that this was where they were going to end up the rest of their life,” Cooper recounted. “When you accept it, your body is going to carry it. You're going to carry it on your face and wear it. I never wanted my kids to see that. I never wanted my family to see me wear that.”

As he sought different avenues to try and obtain freedom, Cooper’s faith in God was really all he had to stand on, as well as the fact that thousands of people on the outside had begun to petition and rally for his freedom, even in the midst of a number of denials issued by the court regarding appeals.

“That’s where walking by faith and not by sight really comes in,” says Cooper. “You have to forget about what it says on paper, and actually put in the footwork behind saying, ‘nah this is not the end’. That began the rebirth of myself,” Cooper said.

And while back home Cooper was well-known, in federal prison, he had to rebuild his reputation and respect.

Cooper witnessed eight murders and seven suicides in prison.

“Those things can haunt you at night,” Cooper noted.

During those seven years, Cooper learned to navigate through different types of people from correctional officers to other prisoners, in a place where he was stripped from the people that he loved and trusted the most.

“It’s really, really racist. It kind of reminds you of Rosa Parks and MLK days,” Cooper said of prison.

He also had to endure the loss of his grandmother and uncle, who were instrumental in raising him and had a huge impact on his life growing up.

“People knocking on your door telling you that your grannie is dead or your uncle is dead. When a chaplain comes to your door… those are the kind of things you never forget,” Cooper recalls.

In 2020, his story landed on the front page of the Washington Post and he was featured in “Smoke” the

BET documentary which shows how the war on drugs systematically targeted Black communities with the criminalization of marijuana.

Ivanka Trump would eventually hear of Cooper’s story and was touched not only by the hypocrisy of his sentence but also that he had two daughters that needed him. Although her father granted Cooper clemency and he was released from prison, since he did not receive a full pardon, he has to endure ten years of parole, the terms of which limit what he can do within the world of cannabis– especially at a time when there is so much growth in the legal market.

Despite these barriers, he has still been able to have his own strain of marijuana packaged and sold in the popular Cookies LA Marijuana Dispensary.

For now, Cooper is focused on community events anywhere in L.A County and beyond where he can lend his resources, voice and lived experiences with 40 Tons.

So far, 40 Tons–characterized on its website as a socially conscience Cannibis Brand has sponsored expungement clinics in South Central, as well as coding workshops for the youth. A statement on their website says the company, “passionately and relentlessly advocates for federal cannabis legalization in addition to restorative justice, reduced sentencing, and rehabilitation for non-violent cannabis offenders. Although these prisoners don’t claim to be innocent and must still pay their debt to society, we maintain that no one should spend a lifetime in prison for a plant that many consume and profit from legally.”

Cooper makes sure he still writes to those in prison and encourages the public to send them mail as well to lift their spirits.

In September, 40 Tons is planning on hosting a job fair in Hawthorne for the formerly incarcerated. When you go to 40 Tons website you can choose to write to a prisoner or purchase a shirt directly from them and 100% of the proceeds will be put into their personal accounts.

Another focus of Cooper’s, is catching up for lost time with his two daughters, aged 11and 15.

“They are with me right now,” Cooper said. “I have them working, showing them responsibility, how to trade stocks and how to get their own wealth so they won’t have to depend on anyone when they get older. That’s my basic strategy.”

SpecialReport Danger: Domestic Violence Ahead!

T

oday, out of her offices in the Inland Empire, Duania HallHenderson counsels women, speaking to them about red flags in domestic abuse and how and when to leave a bad relationship.

She has seen -- and heard from -- an increasing number of them over the years.

She knows their struggle all too well.

Twenty years ago, she was one of them.

On a balmy June morning that had begun like most others, she ended up being admitted in critical condition to a hospital after her live-in boyfriend was stabbed 22 times.

It wasn’t Hall’s first time suffering domestic violence in a relationship, but it was her last. For Hall and other survivors like her, the mission is to share with others the danger signs of domestic abuse in the hopes of keeping them from being caught in the crosshairs.

A Mental Health Net survey reported that 20% of participants said their partner controlled time spent with their friends.

Another 17% said their partners controlled their whereabouts. Nearly 18% said their partner insulted their intelligence. About 17% revealed that their finances were criticized by their partner. And 55% percent of the people Mental Health Net surveyed —— both men and women—— said they entered into an abusive relationship at an age between 17 and 24.

Shaunda G., a domestic abuse survivor, shared with LA Focus that she entered her first abusive relationship at age 17, and then again at age twenty-five. She recalls seeing the first telltale signs of domestic violence in her husband’s actions (her second abusive relationship) before he even hit her.

“We were coming from a party the first time I saw the sign,” she said. “We were in the car, and he just started yelling at me for being social at the party. He did not hit

me that night. He just paced for hours, calling me names.”

Domestic violence experts say to be cautious of fast-moving relationships and relationships that have unrealistic expectations. These are also tell-tale signs of an abusive partner.

“The typical abuser feels powerless and out of touch with their feelings,” says Jerry Tello, founder of National Compadres Network, “Black and Brown boys learn in order to survive that they can’t feel.

Feeling was going to make me vulnerable, too sad and in a place where I couldn’t pay attention. So, I forget how to feel.”

Domestic violence specialists also describe abusers as bullies. The one thing all abusers have in common is that their motive is to have power over the victim, they say.

Jimmy Espinoza, a Resolve to Stop the Violence Program (RSVP) facilitator and convicted abuser states, “Once I can objectify a woman and put a hand to her and gain that power that’s when it would escalate to full-out beatings.”

Although everyone who has been abused do not become abusers themselves studies show that about one-third of them will.

Dominique Waltower, a violence prevention advocate and motivational speaker said, “I grew up watching my mom being very abusive towards my stepdad, so when I entered my first relationship, I did the same thing. I became abusive thinking that it was normal.”

“You tend to gravitate towards what is comfortable and familiar even if it’s not good for you. I partnered with women that had the same thought process and ideology as I had. It was a perfect environment for disaster and chaos. If two women came around one healthy and one unhealthy, I was drawn to the unhealthy woman–the one most like my mom because it was

You tend to gravitate towards what is comfortable and familiar even if it’s not good for you. If two women came around one healthy and one unhealthy, I was drawn to the unhealthy woman— the one most like my mom because it was familiar. When I met these women, I had a choice. I chose to create the same chaos in my home that I grew up with. familiar. When I met these women”, he continues, “I had a choice. I chose to create the same chaos in my home that I grew up with.”

Waltower, like many abusers, carried the same behavior to multiple relationships even after he thought he had changed.

In California, men convicted of domestic violence are required to complete a 52week Batterer’s Intervention Program.

The program aims to help men identify the beliefs and attitudes that support their violence, offering them the opportunity to change.

But can an abuser change? Critics question whether rehabilitation is successful.

A spokesperson for Stop It Now, an affiliate of Klingberg Family Centers, says, “Although it is true that not everyone who offends will be rehabilitated, some do go on to live healthy and abuse-free lives. This does require dedication and desire by the person to make life changes.”

If you aren’t sure about a person’s actions, the counselors at Klingberg say, pay attention to how you feel around them.

Do you feel bad about yourself? Are you constantly walking on eggshells? If you’re

CHEZ HADLEY Contributor not able to make decisions without first worrying about how your partner will react then you need to open your eyes.

When someone shows signs of being an abusive person, experts say to disengage, decide that you won’t respond, and do not try to reason with them.

Last, but not least, they advise, give yourself time to heal.

“I had nightmares every single night for some time,” Hall-Henderson (@duaniahall) told L.A. Focus. “The psychological effects lasted for years.”

Today, she shares her story about domestic violence not only to emphasize its seriousness, but to illustrate t h a t women can survive it.

Duania HallHenderson

This article is the third in a eight- part series L.A. Focus is producing on domestic violence in collaboration with California Black Media and the Blue Shield of California Foundation. It explores how individuals, families and organizations in our community can seek creative solutions to work through the host of problems that stem from intimate partner violence. For more information, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit: www.thehotline.org.

ChurchNews

Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center: Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center 4305 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Greater Zion Expands into the Inland Empire with Corona Satellite

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aturday, July 31 marked the expansion of Greater Zion into the Inland Empire with the inaugural services of a Corona location with services continuing every second and fourth Saturday at 10 am through the end of the year.

“A lot of people are leaving the L.A. vicinity and moving to the Inland Empire in droves–to Riverside, Eastvale, which is just north of Corona, Murrieta, which is just south of Corona,” said Greater Zion Church Family Pastor Michael J.T. Fisher. “We found out that we had at least 150 members who lived in that area.

This was something that was always in the plans to expand Greater Zion and create satellite locations. It’s a module that white congregations have done for years and we knew eventually it would be needed as Black people began to move out of the inner city and now we’re here.”

Fisher is are too aware of the challenges the move could mean.

“It will be moderately difficult because we are still in the middle of a pandemic,” Fisher said. “Church attendance has fallen even in churches that are stable and there’s the question of whether or not we will continue to stay open with this new Delta variant. Then, of course, it’s taxing on the body with me not just preaching only on Sundays, but on Saturdays as well.

“We have a lot of people who work on Sundays and I found out through polling people in the Inland Empire that many congregants prefer Saturday so that they can have Sunday to rest and get ready for Monday.”

At present, Greater Zion will be sharing space with another church with hopes of eventually purchasing facilities of their own after a six to nine month trial period to determine the viability of a more permanent location.

“Our goal is to establish a strong, viable and consistent location in Corona and then eventually from Corona, open up other satellite locations.”

UCLA Labor Center to be Renamed for Rev. James Lawson Jr.

L.A. Focus/August 2021

The historic building that houses the UCLA Labor Center will be named in honor the Rev. James Lawson Jr., who served for 25 years as the senior pastor of Holman United Methodist Church and was a leading tactician of non-violence in for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement. Among the students he trained was John Lewis.

Lawson has taught a labor studies course on nonviolence at UCLA for the past twenty years and in 2018, received the UCLA Medal, the campus’ highest honor.

The UCLA Labor Center was established in 1964 as the Center for Labor Research and Education within the UCLA Institute of Industrial Relations, now the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, through a statewide joint labor-university committee. Since its inception, the center has been dedicated to research, education, and service in the interest of California’s workers.

“Our research and programs have moved the needle on labor policy in ways that have impacted the labor and social justice movement nationwide,” said Kent Wong, director at the UCLA Labor Center.

“And as we envision the future of this historic building, we will be guided by the teachings and the spirit of Rev. Lawson to promote racial and economic justice for all working people.”

16

L.A. Baptist Community Celebrates the Life of Marvin Dean The L.A. Baptist community bid a fond farewell to Rev. Marvin E. Dean during services held last

month at the Southern Missionary Baptist Church, where Xavier L. Thompson served as the host pastor and Dr. Lovely Haynes of the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church officiated.

Among those taking part in the services were Pastors Bobby L. Newman, George Hurtt, Charles Lee Johnson, Sonja Dawson, L.A. Kessee, K.W. Tulloss, E. Wayne Gaddis, Rodney Howard, Sylvester Washington and Apostle Ron Hill.

A gifted preacher and speaker, Dean served as a former president of Providence Baptist Congress of Christian Education and as a former Dean of the Congress of Christian Education for the Tri-County Baptist Association. He presently served as the Correspondence Secretary and Ministerial Ethics Advisor for the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California, a position he’d held for nearly 20 years.

Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Founder & Senior Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566.5286 Pastor Alvin Stafford Jr. Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 10:30am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm Sunday service broadcast on Facebook live Sunday school and Book by Book Bible Study services are conducted on Zoom For more information, visit www.bethelsola.com

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

Hybrid Model of In-Person and Online Services Preferred by 41% of Black Churchgoers, According to New Study According to a new study–conducted by Barna Research– of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the African American faith community–41 percent of Black churchgoers prefer a hybrid model of in-person and online worship going forward. Just seven percent preferred that church services remain digital.

The data also showed that as of September 2020, three in five black adults had watched services online during the pandemic. Additionally, some 47% of black adults who participated in church during the pandemic said the experience made them more open to digital church, while an equal percentage who attended church online in the past six months said they favored in-person gatherings going forward.

The study, Trends in the Black Church, was conducted in partnership with the Rev. Brianna K. Parker of Black Millennial Cafe, Gloo, Urban Ministries, Inc., the American Bible Study and Compassion.

“Data show that the pandemic pushed black church pastors to innovate and challenged their ability to disciple people digitally during the pandemic. Even now, as churches emerge from COVID-era regulations, pastors and their people wonder if or how these shifts will continue to shape the trajectory of their ministry strategy,” Barna Research noted.

The vast majority of Black Church churchgoers felt their church responded well to the pandemic. However, 35 percent agree strongly that they’re concerned about the long-term effects on their church. Across the board, larger churches were more likely to be ready and resourced to embrace the digital and hybrid space, compared to smaller churches.

In National Church News, Bishop T.D. Jakes and Sean "Diddy" Combs have announced they are teaming up to bring exclusive sermons to Revolt, the hip hop mogul’s multimedia platform.

The two are collaborating on a show titled “Kingdom Culture with T.D. Jakes” which will feature sermons and conversations broadcasted from Jakes' Dallas-based church, The Potter’s House.

“Kingdom Culture's weekly Sunday service will feature topics such as vision, leadership, growth, power, love and more.

"This partnership is monumental for REVOLT, expanding into the faith space to create a program that will inspire millions around the world to have hope and walk in their power," Combs stated.

"Bishop Jakes is one of the most transformational leaders of our time who has made a profound impact on my life, so we're honored for him to join the REVOLT family and use his gift to empower the culture.”.

Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (310) 568-8430 • 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!

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# Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Pastor Frederick K. Price, Jr. Sunday Service: 9:45am Bible Study (Tue): 11:00am & 7:30pm Tue. Night Children’s Ministry: 7:30pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7:30pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7:30pm

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 Ruby Cottle, Ph.D., Pastor & Teacher Prophetess June Morgan / Assistant Pastor

Services Every Friday: 7:00pm-9:30pm We meet at: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 West Adams Blvd, LA, CA 90018 Watch Dr. Cottle on HBN TV on Wed’s 7:30am Starting May 2nd: Channel 886 Dish, Smart TV 35.2

Grace Temple Baptist Church 7017 South Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 971-8192 Rev. Rodney Howard Sunday L.I.F.E Group: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:30am Wednesday Intercessory Prayer: 6:30pm Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm E-Mail: gtbcla@gmail.com

Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027 Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Rumph, Senior Pastor Reappointed to Grant AME Church Los Angeles Rev. Dr. James A. Rumph

Sunday School: 8am Worship: 9:30am Wed. Bible Study: 11:30am •6pm

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Rev. DeNon Porter Early Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11am Radio-KALI 900AM: Sun. 11-Noon, 7-8pm KTYM 1460AM Sundays: 5:30pm Bible Study (Tues, Wed & Thurs): 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 Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11:00am 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!

Macedonia LA 1751 East 114th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 569-9561 • www.macedonia-la-org

Senior Pastor Shane B. Scott Sunday Worship Service: 7:30am|10:00am Live MondayBible Study: 7:00pm (Log-in to Zoom Meeting ID: 377-818-648 or Dial In: 346-248-7799)

Life Of Faith Church 8216 S. Hover Street, Los Angeles,CA 90044 Office: (562) 375-1668 Website: www.lofnation.org • Youtube:LifeOfFaithChurchLive • Facebook: LifeOfFaithChurch•IG: LifeOfFaithC Pastor Anthony Pigee, Jr. Morning Worship: 10:00am Bible Study: 7:00pm

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 @6:00pm Zoom Call Into: (605) 472-5454/Access:188857 Online Services 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 Reverend Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer:Noon & 7:00pm

Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121 F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8:00am, 11:30am Discipleship Groups (Sun): 9:45am Noonday Bible Study(Tue): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Radio: KKLA 99.5 FM (Sat): 9:00pm Our Goal: To glorify God by winning more Christians and developing better Christians (Matt. 28:18-20)

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 • F: (323) 235-3177 • www.mtzionla.org Dr. Edward V. Hill, II, Pastor Sunday Intercessory Prayer: 9:15am Morning Worship: 9:30am Children’s Church: 9:30am Sunday School: 11:30am Baptism: 2nd Sun. & Lord’s Supper: 1st Sunday Tues. Pastor’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Wed. Noon-day Prayer: Noon

FIRST LADY FILES

KAREN A. BROWN Contributor

Stacy Hubbard Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church

M

oving to Los Angeles from Dallas, Texas, and leaving her entire family, friends and church fellowship was a huge change and challenge for First Lady Stacy Hubbard, who grew up in a closeknit and religious family.

She came to Los Angeles after marrying the love of her life, Rev. Greg Hubbard, senior pastor of the Jerusalem Baptist Church of South Los Angeles, California. “It was so easy to marry Pastor Hubbard because we were already friends. We were already family”, she said.

Lady Stacy and Rev. Hubbard both grew up in the Hopewell Baptist Church, of Dallas where Rev. Hubbard’s brother, Rev. Michael Hubbard currently serves as pastor.

“I didn’t have to introduce him to anybody nor did he have to introduce me to anybody. His family liked me and my family liked him.

It is a perfect match!”, said Lady Hubbard.

The eldest sibling of two, Lady Stacy has one “baby sister” who she is extremely close to, so she had great reservations when it came to leaving her sister behind. “My mom and dad always taught us: ‘As long as you have each other you have everything. So, we have a very special relationship.”

A natural lover of people, Lady Hubbard, has a fond affection for the members of the Jerusalem church where she and her husband have been serving for six-plus years, and recently celebrated their 6th Pastoral Anniversary.

“The Lord placed people there that were so welcoming and so encouraging”, she said.

Standing firm on the Word of God and the love for family, the Hubbards have a blended family of three sons. Lady Stacy is tremendously gifted and brings with her a plethora of church experiences not the least of which ushering, singing, directing, teaching, and administrative skills.

“My husband has a great mission that God has given him, and I know I’m here to help him with that.” Her favorite scripture is “I sought the Lord and he delivered me.” Psalm 34:4 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: 8am Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Tuesday Bible Study: 11am Wednesday In The Word: 7pm All services streamed on Facebook and You Tube @New Antioch Church of God In Christ Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776 Pastor Roshod Sundays: Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study & Mid Week Worship: Noon & 7:00pm Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed Corporate Prayer: 6:00 - 6:55 pm Monday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Noon Prayer: 12 Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7:00pm

The Potter’s House at One LA 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.tphla.org Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 11:15am & 1:00pm Thursday Midweek Service: 8pm Watch Live: http://tphla.org/watch-live/

Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am YouTube channel: tv.trinitybaptist.cloud Facebook/Website:trinitybaptistchurchofla.org SundayRadio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Zoom Wed. Night Virtual Bible Study: 7:00pm Sign in to zoom.us click on “join in a meeting” enter meeting ID: 480-271-5449. By phone 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 “We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6

West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 Bishop Charles E. Blake Sunday School: 8:00am & 10:30am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship (North Campus): 7:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Sun. Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10am www.westa.tv Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church In Compton 12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org Rev. Bobby Newman, Jr., Senior Pastor; Rev. B.T. Newman, Pastor (Pastor Emeritus) Service Time: 10:45 Virtual Worship: Youtube

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

Holy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church In Compton 1016 E. Rosecrans Avenue, Compton, CA 90220 (310) 537-3149 • F: (310) 537-3149 Rev. Dr. George L. Thomas Sunday School: 9:45am & 10:15am Early Morning Worship: 7:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11:15am New Members’ Class: 9:45am Holy-Communion (1st Sunday): 7:30 & 11:15am Mid-Week Prayer & Bible Study (Wed)- 7:00pm Broadcast (KALI 900AM - Sunday): 2:00pm3:00pm Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, (P.O. Box 5449), Compton 90224 (310) 604-5900, www.loveandunity.org • info@loveandunity.org Apostle Ronald C. Hill, Sr. Founder and Pastor Live Stream Sunday Worship:10am & 6:30pm Live Stream Bible Studies:Wed.7:30pm&Sat 9am Live Stream Prayer w Apostle: Fri: 9am Food For Your Soul TV Ministry Impact Televison Network: Mon-Fri @6:30amPST KJLH 102.3 Sundays 9:00pm

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

In Gardena

Atherton Baptist Church 2627 W. 116th Street Hawthorne,CA 90250 (323) 757-3113 • www.athertonbc.org F: 323-757-8772 • athertonbaptist@sbcglobal.net Pastor Larry Weaver

In Hawthorne

Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 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 • blessedfamilycovenant.org 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)

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

Church of God Center of Hope 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 757-1804 www.go2Hope.com Pastor Geremy L. Dixon Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wed. Mid-Week Service: Noon Wed. Teaching Ministry: 7:00pm 1st Sunday Communion 5th Sunday Baptism

Faithful Central Bible Church 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035 Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Ph.D. Senior Pastor/Teacher Sunday Services: 7:00am, 9:30am & 11:45am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm 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

Pastor Profile: Ruby Cottle Church: God’s Faithful Disciples of Jesus Christ How Long at Church: Founded the church in 1999 Hometown: Belize Family: Widowed, one daugher, two granddaughters How is it to be a female pastor in a hugely diverse and progressive city like Los Angeles?

Well, in the kingdom today, if you are going to be who God has called you to be, you're going to have to first know what your assignment is. I really have no worries about what other people think and feel about me because they did not call me into the ministry. When I realized I was called, I had to go for what I know, so I've never really had a problem about this gender thing because if God has given me a word, I am going to speak that word. I know what God has called me to do.

When I was in the world, I used to work the system and now I'm in the kingdom and I am going to work this word to the max because I am blessed God has given me a platform. We talk about the radical Muslims, well I'm a radical follower of Jesus Christ.

In terms of congegants, where do you find the most resistance–with men or women? I know there are some women who aren’t ready for female pastors just as well as men?

I know there's a lot of women that still have resistance, but last year we had a gentleman who ended up going and joining another church. He was telling one of my associates how women were not supposed to be pastors. But praise God, we had trained this young woman very well and she was able to bring him to scripture. He had to back down because he didn't read the word and didn't see all the women [the Apostle] Paul lifted up in his letters. He was like, ‘Well, I didn't know they had so many women ministers in the kingdom.’ Because they don't read, they take a couple of scriptures and they use it for their excuse and because one of the reasons.

L.A. Focus/August 2021

What was your journey to ministry like?

Well, I used to own a store in the Baldwin Hills Mall– the Radiance Boutique. I was the first female and black that opened up a store in the Baldwin Hills Mall in 1988. I used to go to church every Sunday and jump up and carry on. I was religious, but I didn't know Jesus.

So, you were doing it out of a sense of tradition?

Exactly. Every day I read Psalm 31 so that God could bless my business. Early one morning a man was waiting for the May Company (now Macy’s) to open and I invited him into my shop to look around?”

I told him we didn’t have anything for men, but I knew he had a wife, mother, sister or daughter.’

He started to look around and all of a sudden, he

18

said to me, “Are you saved?” I said, ‘Saved from what?”

Then he said, ‘Well, let me ask you a question. If you die right now, do you think you're going to heaven?’ I said, no.

Now, mind you, I'm going to church every Sunday. And right there in my business, he prayed and laid hands on me. Then he gave me a bunch of scriptures. That's how I got saved.

All of a sudden, I began to feel this hunger for something. I was going to the Catholic Church and I told a friend, there’s got to be more than this. Something is missing. I started to read the Bible and this time when I looked at Psalm 31, I saw where I’d been asking God for 10 years, every day, to save me. There's a scripture in there that says, “Save me, Oh God. Save me for your mercy sake.”

Did you have any idea you’d become a preacher?

No. but God was giving me these dreams and there was a woman that used to come to my shop and I would tell her my dreams. ‘Oh my God,’ she said. ‘God has called you into the ministry.’ Well, ministry was a foreign word to me coming from a Catholic background.

Why didn't you just dismiss it?

Only because I had a vision one morning and I heard a word in my dream or vision, that I have ordained you to be a prophet. That's when I realized.

How do you go from being a clothing store owner to a preacher?

When I was in the world, I used to do these big fashion shows I would produce and direct –the whole nine yards and I came to the conclusion, this gift came from God. It's time for me to use it for the kingdom.

Seems you've always been somewhat of a risk taker?

Yes. I believe that God has given me the gift of faith, because everything I've ever said I'm going to do, I've done it.

What did you have to change about yourself to accept God's assignment?

I had to begin to be more of a listener and not a talker.

James 1:19, “Be quick to hear and slow to speak.”

What would you say is your biggest strength in ministry and your assignment?

To birth other ministries. I am an intercessor. My job is to pray and see things happen. If God gives it to me and I'm praying, I guarantee you we’re going to get an answer.

I know it with the depths of my heart. I try to raise up women and men with prayer warrior mentality.

How does your church serve the community?

By interceding. We have a prayer line where anyone and we also help whoever we can, whether it be with food whatever.

What has been the biggest thing you've had to overcome?

The death of my husband. He was my person that really helped me. Whenever something goes wrong, I used to talk to him.

The other challenge that I have is finding people who are sold out for Christ and then we don't have a lot of men in our ministry. Why? Because for the same reason we spoke of earlier, they have issues.

There's so much going on with COVID, social justice and politics–where do you stand?

I keep my eyes straight ahead. I try not to lean towards the Republicans or Democrats, because when you really come to know the people personally…and I have known them. I used to rub elbows with a lot of people whose names you would know when I was in the world and I know how they think.

I was heavy in politics at one time. Since I got born again, I had to remove myself from the political scene.

When I went into the mall, they gave the black people such a rough time that I had to become an advocate.

Today, I want to empower our people or anybody that's willing to receive. We're not supposed to just give you the scripture. We are supposed to help you to be a better product for society and what I find is that many churches are not doing that. I spoke to a man the other day and I said, sir, I don't want to give you a fish. I want to give you the fishing line and teach you how to catch as many fish as you need.

There are so many people who are impoverished in the church, but nobody is telling them how and what to do.

We’re giving them scriptures and it's okay, but I want you to not just be so heave n l y minded u n t i l you’re no e a r t h l y g o o d , because Jesus said occupy until I come.

From the Pulpit of: St. Andrews Missionary Baptist Church “It’s Time to Pray”

T

hough David–the eighth son of Jesse who was anointed by Samuel under God’s direction to become the king of Israel– had learned to put his trust in God, he had many conflicts, transgressions and distresses. In his songs, he shows us the very heart of a man after God’s own heart.

David writes this psalm because it is a song of prayer, because it was in troubled times that David knew how to get some help. He realized it’s time to pray.

It's bad when you get in trouble or things are going wrong and you don't know where to get help from.

Psalms 121 says, “My help comes from the Lord, which made the heavens and the earth. The Lord is my shepherd. The Lord is my shade upon the right hand. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time and forevermore.”

David knew that in order for God to answer his prayer, he must learn to confess and repent from his sins.

Ladies and gentlemen, stop talking about you have not sinned. All of us have sinned. David says, I learned that I have to confess that I have sinned; and I have to repent from sins.

David had written seven Psalms of repentance. He wrote Psalms 6, Psalms 32, Psalms 8, Psalms 51, Psalms 102, Psalms 130 and Psalms 143.

In Psalms 23, he learned God's divine ownership. In Psalms 27, he learned God's power to sustain him and keep his faith in troubled times. He learned to thank God in Psalms 118 for His mercy that endures forever. And in all the psalms David wrote, he learned to give God praise.

David is telling us the first thing we must do if we want to have God answer our prayers is to wait on the Lord. In the midst of your problems, fears, success, and in the midst of a lack of faith, wait upon the Lord.

Psalms 47, 13 and 14 said, “I had faith because I had to believe to see the goodness of God.” Some people out here get themselves in trouble and are always in a hurry to get out of trouble. You expect God to show up right away to get you out of trouble. But

God has a way of letting you stay in trouble and wait on Him until He’s able to deliver you. And sometimes when we get in trouble, God wants us to learn a lesson because when you learn something, you think twice about getting yourself in trouble again. So, David says wait on the Lord, – the Lord of blessings.

The next thing he says after you wait on the Lord, is that you need to witness God's goodness. How many of you can really say I’ve witnessed the goodness of God in my life…I know where I came from and I’ve witnessed what God has done in my life?

I won’t get on the “Amens”, but I’m going to tell you that you ought to be a witness to God's goodness. The Lord is good and upright. Witness the goodness of the Lord in the guiding.

Psalms 31: 19 says, “Oh, how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men.

As a servant, he said, I believe in your secret, Lord.

You ought to believe in the secret of the Lord. What is that? That means that if God has a blessing for you. You just wait on Him and He will show you His goodness and no one else will even know how you got blessed because God’s goodness is forever.

David says my eyes are ever toward the Lord for He shall pluck my feet out of the net and He will deliver me out of all my temptations and tribulations.

What a great God! Psalms 52 says, “Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, Oh mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.”

Galatians 5:22 says, “The fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith.” And then the Psalms 100:4-5, he said, if you want to understand the goodness of God. He says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name for the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting. His truth endureth to all generations.”

Think about where God brought you from and how God has blessed you. Think

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

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

In Long Beach

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

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

about how God has provided for and taken care of you. Just think about what God has done to your mind, with what your mind used to be.

We’re talking about the goodness of God. Don't forget how bad you were, and God looked beyond your faults and saw your needs.

Young people, don’t forget that you may be young, but you need to see the goodness of God. Satan wants to steal, kill, and destroy you, but because of His goodness, God is always around to protect you from the hand of Satan which comes in many forms. Could be the form of a man or a woman. It can even come in the form of a child, so you can’t see it coming to distract you, and destroy you.

Now, not only will you see the goodness of God, but you want to witness the work of God. How many of you can say God has worked on me? How many of you can say be patient with me for God is still not through with me yet. He's not through with any of us yet.

Some people will say I’m finished–that the Lord has done what he needed to do with me. No, he’s not through with you yet, because you still got some you in you– some me, myself and I. God has to wait on you to find out that it ain’t about you. It's about God Himself.

So, David, the king of Israel, invites us to watch God's work and His will. David has so much confidence in God. He has put all his faith and trust in the work of God. David is waiting and watching to see how God will deliver him from all his trouble. He says, “God, I'm overwhelmed and distressed and helpless and sorrowed. I’m in pain, I'm in a sinful mood right now. Come Lord and show me thy mercy.”

David is asking for mercy because of the sin he committed with Bathsheba where he had her husband Uriah killed on the frontlines of the battle so he could be with her.

In the 51st Psalms, David asks God to create within him a clean heart and renew the right spirit

within him. He asked God to curse him not away from His presence and take not His Holy Spirit from him. He asked God to restore unto him the joy of salvation and uphold him with God’s free spirit.

Because of that prayer, God did deliver David from the hand of Saul, from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of Absalom, the son who tried to kill him and ran him out of town.

I stopped by to tell somebody you ought to think before you mess with God's anointed [people] for God is watching and wants us to watch how He works. You don't have to do anything. Watch and pray because God is able to handle the situations without your help.

You see if it was left up to you, you will handle your business and not be blessed. I stopped by to tell somebody that God is looking out for us.

So, do this for me: look back for your life. You should be able to testify about how to wait on God, – how He answered your prayer. You should be able to testify how you’re a witness of God’s goodness and the miracles God worked in your life.

God bless you.

Pastor Alex Toussaint

In Lynwood

Christian’s Community Center of Los Angeles 3960 E. Gilman Street, Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 597-3252 Senior Pastor Thom Washington Live Stream Sunday Service: 11:00am Wednesday Night Prayer: 6:00pm Sunday Bible Class: 9:30am Sunday Afternoon Services: 4:00pm (2nd & 4th Sunday) Wednesday Prayer: 6:00pm Bible Study Wednesday 7pm

Greater Emmanuel Temple 3740 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262 (424) 296-0400 •www.greateremmanuel.org

Gospel Memorial Church of God In Christ 1480 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-7389 • F: 562-599-5779 • gospelmemorial@aol.com Bishop Joe L. Ealy Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Intercessory Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Pastoral teaching adults: 7:30pm Wed. Youth Ministry Boot-Camp; Youth Bible Study: 7:00pm & Choir Rehearsal: 7:30pm

Walking In The Spirit Ministries Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks

Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Rev. Dr. Michael W. Eagle, Sr.

Arise Christian Center In Westchester 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C,Westchester, CA,90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com Pastor Ron Taylor Morning Worship: 9:00am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Thursday:11:30am-12:30pm

Sun. Worship Experience: 10:45am 3rd Sun. Healing & Anointing: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 6pm Mothers of Murdered Youth & Children Where all receive a little attention, affection and love.

Pastor Nissan Stewart Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Prayer: 6:30pm Mid-Week Refuel/Bible Study: 7:00pm (Wednesday) Follow us: @GETFamilyNow The Greater Emmanuel Temple App Available in App Store

In Norwalk

Morning Worship: 11:00am Services Held Every 2nd & 4th Sunday and Free Breakfast Is Served Bible Study: 8:30am (Every 5th Friday)

Weber continued from page 6 tion) is coming fast and that it has been an extremely unusual year of election after election.

Weber also provided details to media outlets needed to inform voters: from when to expect mail-in ballots, to the number of candidates, to when the polls will open and close, and the impact of voter turnout.

The budget for the Office of Secretary of State in the 2020-2021 fiscal year was $252,722,000. But the recall election has a hefty price tag.

“We are not really sure the total amount,” Weber said.

“In the end, it could be close to 400 million and some people say $500 million. Yes, it is an expensive enterprise. It’s a serious one not only in terms of financing.”

Whatever the recall election outcome is in September, Weber said that Californians will have a chance to elect another governor in two years.

“No question. The regular elections move on,” Weber said. “We’ll have the primary election in June (2022) and the general election in November (2022).”

Evictions continued from page 6 the spread of the virus,” Pelosi wrote.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki stated that the administration had taken further action to prevent Americans from experiencing eviction.

Psaki said nearly 33 percent of the country wouldn’t face eviction through August.

“Thanks to the bipartisan COVID relief act Congress passed in December 2020 and the American Rescue Plan the Biden administration enacted in March, state and local governments long ago received emergency rental assistance — a $46.5 billion plan to protect millions of Americans facing deep rental debt and potential eviction during the pandemic,” Psaki continued.

Some cities and states have “demonstrated their ability to release these funds efficiently to tenants and landlords in need,” Psaki further insisted.

“But even though funds began to be distributed in February by the Biden administration, too many states and cities have been too slow to act,” she determined.

Psaki continued: “There is no excuse for any state or locality not to promptly deploy the resources that Congress appropriated to meet the critical need of so many Americans.

“This assistance provides the funding to pay landlords

current and back rent so tenants can remain in their homes or apartments, not be evicted.

“No one in America should be evicted when federal funds are available, in the hands of state and local government, to pay back rent due.”

While Congresswoman Pelosi has asked President Biden to act, Psaki said he would have strongly supported a decision by the CDC to extend the eviction moratorium.

“Unfortunately, the Supreme Court declared on June 29 that the CDC could not grant such an extension without clear and specific congressional authorization via new legislation,” Psaki said.

Because of the spread of the Delta variant, President Biden asked the CDC to consider executive action. The White House said he raised the prospect of a new, 30-day eviction moratorium focused on counties with high or substantial case rates.

Psaki said the temporary measure would spur states and localities to ramp up emergency rental assistance programs to full spend — allowing every landlord to collect the rent they are owed and ensuring no eligible family gets evicted.

“To date, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and her team

have been unable to find legal authority for a new, targeted eviction moratorium,” Psaki stated.

“Our team is redoubling efforts to identify all available legal authorities to provide necessary protections.”

Crenshaw Mall continued from page 7 activists called on elected officials to oppose the deal.

“We oppose this deal today and will continue to oppose this deal because it is bad for our community,” Smart stated. “It is time for Black people with the knowledge and ability to build in our community and purchase the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall.

Even if the sale were to go through, the group says the fight is far from over.

“We do have a Plan B,” Goodmon said.

Star Parker continued from page 8 heed other voices.

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show "Cure America with Star Parker." To find out more about Star Parker, visit www.creators.com.

InGoodTaste

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L.A. Focus/July 2021

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SavingGrace

W

L.A. Focus/August 2021

ith Jennifer Hudson’s performance in “Respect”, the forthcoming Aretha Franklin biopic, it’s easy to see why she was handpicked by the Queen of Soul to portray her, and while the 39-year old Oscar-winning actress has prepped for the part for more than 15 years, it’s just as clear that it is a role she was born to play.

“When I look back throughout my career thus far many times I got to tribute Aretha, meet her, sing her songs, admire her. Thinking back to Dreamgirls, people mentioned that I was reminiscent of a young version of Aretha Franklin.” Hudson explains. “Now it seems that it was destined in a way,” “I had a dream for myself after Dreamgirls - coming off something as big as that? And I said the only thing that could top that would be to play Aretha Franklin, and I don't know if she heard me or if she had that same thing in mind,” reveals Hudson, who admitted to being terrified just to be sitting at the table with her childhood idol. “But right after I won my Oscar for Dreamgirls, she wanted to meet me, and it was in New York over 15 years ago. We sat down, and we talked about me playing her. And she told me I was very shy, asking me “'What– are you shy or something?” I remember telling her “well I am sitting here talking to Ms. Aretha Franklin.”

In theaters August 13, the film also stars Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, and Mary J. Blige.

Thus far, reviews have been stellar for the two-time Grammy® Award-winning recording artistturned-actress whose career highlights include performing at President Obama’s

22

Jennifer Hudson Inauguration, the Super Bowl XLVII, and the Academy Awards® and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Franklin’s family–who publicly blasted Genius, the 2020 National Geographic series starring Cynthia Erivo–has embraced the movie. Son Kecalf Franklin thanked MGM for its professional treatment, while characterizing Hudson’s portrayal of his mother as “phenomenal”.

Some would credit that to the many parallels between Franklin and Hudson, –perhaps none more profound than the essence of what their vocal gift meant to them.

“Her singing, her knowing her calling, her anointing is what we would call,” Hudson said of Franklin. “It was her saving grace. That was her comfort, which you will see in this film. You'll get to learn that [music] became her healer. The stage became her home, and that was her comfort zone. And that was something that belonged to her that she could always go to – anytime she would sing she would go into that place. That was her safe haven, her comfort zone, her shelter, her expression.”

Hudson continues: “She got to minister to the people and became a voice and an advocate for social justice, and the music supported that [overlap] and vice versa and the people, which I think helped make her as impactful as she is still to this day.”

Hudson sees a lot of herself in Franklin and like her idol, she has had to overcome early disappointment and trauma.

Says Hudson, “That's why the songs had so much depth as a teenager because look at how much life experience she had by the time she was 10 and 12 and 14.

She sang from a different place because she experienced so much, and the death of her mother, oh my God, my heart hurts – still hurts for that.”

For Hudson, unimaginable tragedy struck on October 24, 2008 when her mother and brother were found murdered. The nation mourned with her and for the next three days, they would pray with her as police searched for her 7-year-old nephew, who was also killed by the estranged husband of her sister, Julia.

It was a heartbreak that only her faith was able to pull her through.

"There would be no point in faith if it wasn't tested," she has said looking back. "My mother always told me no matter how negative your life seems to be, you must always look for a positive."

Yet, most importantly, like Franklin, Hudson found her voice in the church.

“I started singing in church,” Hudson states. “I was a lap baby on my grandmother's knee in the choir. They wanted a note hit, and I hit the note. Well, when you grow up in church singing the way Aretha and I did, you know, you

learn to sing with a purpose with substance to a higher calling such as God – it's a completely different thing than just a simple song, it creates a sacred connection and comfort, which again I can, it's my life.

“The church is everything, which is why it was so crucial in this. I'm like it would not be an Aretha Franklin film if it does not begin and end with the church in everything, even in “Respect” or “Think” or “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman,” Hudson explains. “I was always there to remind them the base is the church for she and I. And I feel as though that is the biggest connection.”

Stifled growing up by her shyness, the Chicago native was encouraged by her mother to pursue a professional singing career, and after a stint singing on a cruise ship, Hudson auditioned for American Idol in 2004.

She would make the live finals as a wildcard entry, only to be eliminated in seventh place having been told

by Idol judge, Simon Cowell, that she was out of her depth in the competition. But as fate would have it, Hollywood had taken notice and after beating out 800 actresses for the role of Effie, she was cast opposite Eddie Murphy, Beyonce, and Jamie Foxx in Dreamgirls.

The success of the 2006 box office smash and the Academy Award it earned her (along with a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award) would thrust her into the spotlight in 2007, leading to a threealbum recording contract and major roles in movies like “Sex In The City” and “The Secret Life of Bees”.

Hudson’s 2008 self-titled debut won a Grammy® Award entering Billboard’s Top 200 at No. 2 and marked the biggest first week sales for an R&B female entry since 2004 and has since sold over 1.1 million albums worldwide to date. Two albums followed.

Hudson added author to her list of accomplishments in 2012 with the release of her New York Times bestselling memoir, “I Got This: How I Changed My Ways, Found Myself and Lost Everything that Weighed Me Down,” after losing over 80 pounds on a Weight Watcher’s diet.

In the years since, she has appeared in numerous movies–including Winnie Mandela and Spike Lee’s ChiRaq – and has served as a judge on NBC’s Emmy-winning series, The Voice as well as The Voice UK. Most recently, she was seen in the Anthony Mandler film, Monster on Netflix alongside Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jeffrey Wright, and A$AP Rocky. Hudson is also an executive producer of the short VR film, Baba Yaga, which had its world premiere at the 2020 Venice Film Festival.

For the moment, however, Hudson’s attention is on “Respect” and the legacy of Aretha Franklin.

“We all have a respect for Aretha Franklin but by the time you get to the end of the movie, I would like for everyone to have a newfound respect for her, but I feel like it’s so many takeaways.

“There’s takeaways for people just being human trying to achieve goals and dreams. For women, trying to find their own way and having a voice. It’s so many things to have as a takeaway but it’s a matter of perspective and that’s up to the viewer at the end of the day.”