L.A. Focus Newspaper December 2020

VOLUME XXV • ISSUE 10 • December 2020 >> PAGE

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Profiling Georgia Senate Candidate and Pastor Raphael Warnock PAGE

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Hollywood Buzz: Jada Pinkett Smith PAGE

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Upfront

Who Will Fill Kamala Harris’ Senate Seat?

Elected officials, activists and community organizers across the state are putting pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom to select a Black woman, specifically either Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA-37) or Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) to fill the Senate seat once held by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Latino activists are doing the same– calling on Newsom to choose what would be the state’s first Latino or Latina senator...

Through The Storm Coach Gessie’s Harrowing Journey to Motherhood

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L.A. Focus Publications

October 2020 December 2020

Left: L.A. residents take to the streets to celebrate a Biden-Harris victory; Middle: Holly Mitchell visits her soon-to-be office after being elected to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors; Right: Mayor Eric Garcetti takes a trip to the COVID-19 testing site at Dodger Stadium.

4 Commentary

From The Editor Send Out the Clowns

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What Truly Matters Now the 2020 Elections Are Over

UpFront Pressure on Governor Increases to Appoint Black Woman to Kamala Harris’ Vacant Senate Seat; Biden Appoints Several Black Women to Key Roles in His Administration; L.A County Targets Rising Hate Crimes; Protest in Opposition of Crenshaw Mall Sparks Clash With Jewish Community

8 Headlines From Africa Head to Head

What Comes Next Under Biden’s Administration?

10

People The Third Time’s the Charm for Judge Carlos Moore

12 Biz News Briefs 13 Money Matters

California Offers Up to $100,000 In Tax Credits to Qualifying Small Businesses

Kerry Washington Debuts New “Lioness Collection”; Citi Foundation is Donating $15 Million to CDFIs Helping Black Businesses; Grey’s Anatomy Star Jesse Williams Invests in Black and Latinx Banking

staff

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Photographer Advertising

Lisa Collins Stephen Oduntan,Christal Mims Dianne Lugo Ian Foxx Kisha Smith

L.A. County Vs. Sheriff Alex Villanueva

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Jada Pinkett-Smith to Produce Netflix Animation About Police Brutality; Black Panther 2 is Set to Begin Filming Next Summer; Gabrielle Union to Produce Comedy

25 Pastor Profile 26 From The Pulpit of 27 In Good Taste 29 Saving Grace 30 First Lady Files

Andrea Ealey

Raphael Warnock

Family of Faith Christian Center

Red Carpet Style

People’s Choice Awards and American Music Awards

One On One Smokey Robinson

20 Game Changer 21 Through The Storm 23 Eye On Gospel

Going for Grammy Gold; In the Holiday Spirit

Stacey Abrams

How Coach Gessie’s Harowing Journey To Motherhood Birthed A Miracle Baby, Booming Business and Hope for Women With Fibroids

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Church News Five Churches Join Forces for Christmas Giveaway; Wilton Gregory Makes History; Black Pastor Defeats Incumbent to Become Mayor of Stockton

Delicious Miss Brown

Ruben Santiago

Ruben Santiago-Hudson has a lot to celebrate recently.

Reviews for ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’, which will become available on on Netflix Dec. 18, and was penned by SantiagoHudson, have been glowing.

It was also recently announced that his autobiographical one- man play will be hitting Broadway through the Manhattan Theatre Club as a part of its 2021-2022 season.

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

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

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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L.A. Focus/December 2020

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14 Hollywood Buzz 18 Cover Story

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Commentary

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS Guest Columnist

“What Truly Matters Now the 2020 Elections Are Over”

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he United States has long been the beacon of hope for the world. Nations and their people look to the United States for guidance and a sense of inspiration and aspiration for what's possible. People around the globe abandon their families and flee their countries to immigrate to this great Nation. Rarely do people flee from the United States. Freedom and the idea of individual liberty – vital tenets of the human experience – are the very foundation of America. The ability to indeed be free of government oppression and tyranny hasn't been better represented by any nation in history than the United States.

Yet, despite its tremendous success, the United States is struggling to maintain its highest ideals.

Hyperpartisanship and tribalism have a vice grip on the country and are wreaking havoc. If we don't get a grip on our current circumstances, the country we know may People celebrate Biden victory in downtown Los Angeles. cease to exist for future generations.

According to Freedom House, a federally funded nonin over one-hundred-fifty years. Americans from all profit that conducts research and advocacy on democracy walks of life should be concerned about the social unrest and political freedom, democracy is under attack by leadfacing this country and they should not underestimate ers and groups that reject pluralism and freedom of the magnitude of this moment. thought. Now, in the United States, the last frontier of Despite what some would have you think, the presentthe free world is facing unprecedented division and turday social and political condition of the United States has moil through rhetoric and violent action by extremist been long in the making. It did not arise from Donald groups on both the right and left. From antifa on the left Trump's election in 2016, although he is not innocent. We to the extremist militant groups on the right, neither can look to the changing media landscape, certain politiparty is innocent. And America as we know it is the viccal characters who use vitriolic rhetoric to pit different tim. To course-correct, America must get a handle on Americans against each other and countless years of negboth extreme ideologies. ative sentiments and hyperbolic. By encouraging the As we react to the results of the 2020 election, tensions worst aspects of the human condition, these individuals could continue to rise, further cementing our wide and and powerful entities have paved the road that varied divisions. Given the current climate, it is reasonAmericans are walking on today. able to expect that some may react violently, spinning the However, there is still hope. Many Americans have country into turmoil, the likes of which we haven't seen made it clear that they continue to believe in this great

From the Editor

nation and its founding principles. According to a Gallup poll in 2019, 70% of Americans view the American dream as personally achievable. This tells us that despite the national discord, Americans continue to believe that America is the greatest country in the world. On our shores, you can still find the finest representation of liberty and justice for all, regardless of our internal flaws.

Still, the question remains: What happens if fewer and fewer Americans believe that to be true? The same data from Gallup shows that 60% of U.S. adults say that "it is very or somewhat likely that today's youth will have a better life than their parents did." So, it begs the question: If most Americans believe this, who is causing the division among us, and what must we do to stop it?

I think that the first step is accepting the results of a fair election once every ballot has been cast and counted.

The next step is to turn off the television and stop listening to partisan political leaders and start talking to one another as neighbors and friends. It's time for us to seek the similarities in those with whom we might outwardly differ. This is the only way to preserve democracy in a nation as diverse as ours.

As I think about the future of America, I have to believe that we can restore order and civility and help lead the rest of the world back to political civility. We can build up civil society organizations such as churches and nonprofits to restore our faith, rebuild our sense of hope and bring Americans together to help the least fortunate among us, restoring unity. This election can either be the start of this new journey or it could be the start of our destruction. The decision is ours to make and ours alone and we must believe in one another, differences aside, to regain our sense of pride as Americans.

To find out more about Armstrong Williams and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Send Out the Clowns” oodbye Diamond and Silk. Goodbye Melania.

Goodbye Kaleigh McEnany. Goodbye Ivanka, Eric, Don Trump Jr. Goodbye vitriol. Goodbye rancid tweets. Goodbye chaos. Goodbye division. Goodbye lies. Goodbye Donald Trump.

It is time to heal. Time to restore civility, diplomacy, hope and truth at the highest echelons of American leadership and I believe Joe Biden is the president to put us on that path. So, congratulations to us. The circus that was the Trump White House is finally set to leave town, and before long, we all will be able to breathe easier again.

Thanks to all of you who went out and showed the truest power we have when we exercise our rights to vote.

Even if California was not a battleground state, our votes led to the decisive victory President Elect Joe Biden got in his total count of well over 80 million, breaking the record for the most votes ever cast for a U.S. presidential candidate.

In the words of Barack Obama, “Your efforts made a difference. Enjoy this moment. Then stay engaged… for this democracy to endure, it requires our active citizenship and sustained focus on the issues — not just in an election season, but all the days in between.”

What’s more, Biden’s win demonstrated the power of the black vote and black women in the political process.

"Black women have always been the backbone of this Democratic Party, and oftentimes not valued for our ability to lead," said Barbara Lee, the congresswoman from Oakland, Calif., who was a co-chair of Kamala Harris' 2019 presidential bid. "But I tell you now, Black women are showing that Black women lead, and we'll never go back to the days where candidates only knew our value in terms of helping them get elected. Now they will see how we govern from the White House.”

"This morning, all across the nation, little girls woke up – especially little Black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities. But today, today, just maybe, they're see-

L.A. Focus/December 2020

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ing themselves for the first time in a new way," Biden said at their first event as political partners.

I want to add a little something to that. With the election of Kamala Harris, they could dream bigger.

Victory aside, many of us are oh so ready to write off 2020 as the worst year ever–the rationale of which is hardly surprising. It started out with the dark shroud of Donald Trump’s December 18, 2019 impeachment and subsequent February 5 acquittal, just ten days after 41year-old Lakers’ great Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were tragically killed. Then came news of the deadly COVID-19 virus, –a virus Trump initially treated it as if it was of little consequence. Little did we know that by the first of December, over 270,000 Americans would be dead, 13 million would have been infected and life as we knew it would be dramatically altered by masks, quarantines and isolation under ongoing threat of economically devastating “safer-at-home” lockdowns.

If that wasn’t enough, time seemed to stand still for 8 minutes and 46 seconds as George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis policeman after a convenience store employee called 911 alleging that he’d bought cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. 8 minutes and 46 Seconds that ignited Black Lives Matter protests across the nation and around the world triggering increased awareness to systematic police abuse, an unparalleled wave of activism and an outpouring of corporate support to racial equity causes.

Then came one of the most divisive and contentious elections of our time, the outcome of which was even more bizarre than the campaign. For four days America held its collective breath as votes were counted until the Associated Press and CNN finally called the election for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Yet while Americans danced in the streets, we all know what happened next with Trump alleging the election had been stolen from him.

Yes, this year has been a lot. And even as I write this,

there is no lack of uncertainty for those living under the dark cloud of eviction and foreclosure; who’ve lost their jobs or had businesses shuttered; or worse still, are grieving the loss of loved ones.

More of us than ever said goodbye to friends and loved ones in 2020–people who were shining lights in our lives. So often it’s death that reminds us that life and love are so precious that we should live each moment to the fullest and cherish those people in our lives that we can continue to be thankful for.

As we enter this Holiday season, perhaps we should think of those we lost and how much they would have treasured more moments with us. They, more than any, would know the value of time and how this past year has been measured by it.

Now, more than ever, at a time when hearts and spirits the world over stop to celebrate the birth of one who died on a cross some 2,000 years ago–we would do well to remember the difference we can make in the lives of others.

Most churches will be holding toy drives and food giveaways and have annual programs that help those less fortunate during the holiday season. In the spirit of Christmas, the staff of L.A. Focus wishes you a safe and blessed holiday, urging you to remember the reason for the season–and that all of us have something of value to give.

Keep the faith.

UpFront

News Briefs

Pressure on Governor Increases to Appoint Black Woman to Kamala Harris’ Vacant Senate Seat

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lected officials, activists and community organizers across the state are putting pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom to select a Black woman, specifically either Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA-37) or Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) to fill the state’s soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat once held by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Latino activists are doing the same– calling on Newsom to choose what would be the state’s first Latino or Latina senator.At Rep. Barbara Lee Rep. Karen Bass the top of that list are California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, it.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and “Currently Kamala Harris is the only Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

Padilla said that the state’s first African American woman in the entire Latinx senator would be a historic mile- United States Senate and when her seat becomes vacant there will be no African stone.

“A lot of people are excited about a American woman in the US Senate,” the potential first,” he said, highlighting the petition explains.

The petition also specifies Bass’s and fact that California’s “rich diversity” is Lee’s experience. something that the governor must con“Please sign the petition and join the sider in his decision.

Bass admitted that residents are wor- movement to urge Governor Gavin ried that Black voices, specifically that of Newsom to replace Kamala Harris with Black women, will be diminished should either Congresswoman Karen Bass (DCalifornia), Chair of the Congressional the seat not go to Black woman.

“There is a concern that there's not Black Caucus or Congresswoman going to be an African American woman Barbara Lee, both of whom are coalition in the Senate,” Bass said. “And that is a builders with significant National and concern of a lot of individuals and organ- Foreign Policy experience,” it states.

Democracy for America (DFA), a Leftizations across the country.”

A coalition of community groups and leaning political action committee, also organizers from Southern California launched a grassroots effort last week have created a website and petition at calling on Gov. Newsom to replace Vice Change.org titled, “Let’s Keep the Seat.” President-elect Harris with another proIt asks for support to keep a Black gressive Black woman in the U.S. woman in Harris’s position and high- Senate.

“In this year’s election, Black women lights why that decision is important. As of December 1, nearly 2,000 had signed helped make history by making Kamala

ANTONIO RAY HARVEY & CHRISTAL MIMS Contributors

Harris the first Black woman to be elected Vice President. Today, we’re calling on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to replace Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with another powerful, progressive Black woman to ensure that a leader with Black women’s unique life experience continues to have a voice in the U.S. Senate,” stated Yvette Simpson, CEO, Democracy for America.

The push for a Latinx leader to take the seat has reportedly led to conflict within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), as some members privately condemned what they believed to be overbearing tactics in its political arm's endorsement of Padilla.

One member, who spoke to CNN and asked to remain anonymous, said that the process was “terrible” and that many Latinas specifically were not even “considered or consulted.”

BOLD PAC Executive Director Gisel Aceves said that she “dispatched the same endorsement process we've had in place and used over 100 times to endorse candidates this cycle.”

“Secretary of State Alex Padilla's long record, history of public service and his work to protect the vote in what was the most consequential election cycle of our generation, made him the overwhelming favorite and the caucus proudly voted to endorse him,” she stated.

But many in the state, including prominent elected officials, are still pushing for the appointment of either Bass or Lee, even as Latino leaders took a full page ad out in the L.A. Times urging Newsom to appoint Padilla.

L.A. Focus/December 2020

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Linda Thomas-Greenfield

thrilled to work alongside @jrpsaki whose leadership and stellar instincts will ensure we are positioned to effectively communicate the Biden-Harris agenda to all Americans,” Jean-Pierre said in a tweet.

Also joining the communications team is Ashley Etienne, who will serve as the communications director for Harris.

Etienne served as a senior advisor on the Biden-Harris campaign and is the former communications director and senior advisor to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Biden has also selected Cecilia Rouse to chair the Council of Economic Advisors. Rouse is currently Dean of Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and previously worked with both the Obama and Clinton administrations. Her new role will focus

The Los Angeles Rams are helping small businesses in Inglewood who have been struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a new program. The program, called “Certified Rams House” provides local shops with marketing and promotional assets. Businesses participating in the program can be seen donning a “Certified #RamsHouse” banner.

“We knew that we wanted to help you know, Black-owned businesses,” said Rams Head of Client Services, Jerrett Burke, “We want to focus on Inglewood, obviously, where our stadium is located, and also, our season ticket members.”

The team gifted business owners products like t-shirts, window decals and hats while also spreading the word about their shops through the Rams social media accounts.

“It's to bring awareness to small businesses that may not have a platform to do it on their own,” Burke said. “And then also to encourage people to actively participate.”

The Rams website also contains a directory of Black-owned businesses and other small businesses in Inglewood.

“The Rams believe in going beyond the lines of the field to connect with communities and understand that the heart and culture of every neighborhood consist of its people and small businesses,” said Rams Vice President of Community Affairs and Engagement, Molly Higgins.

California Public Schools Face Lawsuit Over Handling of Education for Minorities During Pandemic

Protesters continued to page 28

Biden Appoints Several Black Women to Key Roles in His Administration President-elect Joe Biden is releasing more information regarding his administration, recently announcing that several prominent Black women will serve in key roles. His entire senior communications team will also consist entirely of women.

Symone Sanders, who served as a senior adviser on the Biden-Harris campaign and is a former CNN political commentator, will now be the senior adviser and chief spokesperson to the vice president.

Karine Jean-Pierre will serve as principal deputy press secretary after previously serving as the senior advisor to Biden and chief of staff to Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on the Biden-Harris Campaign.

“Ready to serve accurately describes how I feel. Thank you, Madam Vice President-elect @KamalaHarris for entrusting me with this charge. It has been the honor of my life to work for @JoeBiden & I am elated to have the opportunity to continue that work in the people’s house,” Sanders tweeted.

Jean-Pierre, who is the first Black and openly gay woman to occupy her new role, also expressed excitement about joining the Biden team.

“I am profoundly honored to be the Principal Deputy Press Secretary for @JoeBiden. I am especially

Black-Owned, Small Businesses in Inglewood Get Boost from the Rams

CHRISTAL MIMS Staff

heavily on strengthening the economy after COVID-19 induced devastation.

Adding to the list will be veteran diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who will be the U.N. ambassador and Shuwanza Goff, who will serve as deputy director of the Office of Legislative Affairs.

“My mother taught me to lead with the power of kindness and compassion to make the world a better place. I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my career in Foreign Service — and, if confirmed, will do the same as Ambassador to the United Nations,” ThomasGreenfield said in a tweet.

Thomas-Greenfield served as the assistant secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs under the Obama-Biden administration from 2013-2017 and has served in diplomatic positions for the U.S. in Liberia, Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria and Jamaica.

Goff was previously the floor director for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and was the first Black woman to serve in that role. She played a key role in helping democrats set their agenda.

“Over 12 years of working for Leader Hoyer, Shuwanza has distinguished herself as effective and experienced and has earned the bipartisan respect of Biden administration continued to page 28

State Superintendent of Instruction Tony Thurmond

The parents of 15 public schools in California have filed a lawsuit claiming that poor and minority students are not receiving an adequate education during the COVID-19 pandemic and are not being given equal access to the devices and internet connection needed for online instruction.

“The change in the delivery of education left many already-underserved students functionally unable to attend school. The State continues to refuse to step up and meet its constitutional obligation to ensure basic educational equality or indeed any education at all,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also suggests that schools failed to accommodate language barriers and the proper resources for homeless students.

“The State’s abdication of responsibility and insufficient response to the challenges of remote learning have denied Plaintiffs the basic educational equality guaranteed to them by the California Constitution,” it reads.

“Because the State’s pandemic response compels families to use their homes as classrooms, the State’s constitutional obligations expand into the home.”

The children being represented in the lawsuit range from kindergarten to high school and attend school in L.A. and Oakland.

The lawsuit reportedly names Superintendent of Instruction Tony Thurmond, the state, the Department of Education and the state Board of Education as defendants.

UpFront L.A. County Targets Rising Hate Crimes MARK HEDIN Ethnic Media Services

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os Angeles city and county officials, educators, health care providers and community-based organizations are teaming up to provide resources against hate crimes, a problem worsened by the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To highlight the effort, a group of city and county officials and private sector executives announced the first “United Against Hate Week” on Nov. 30. The campaign came less than a year after the county introduced the nation’s first hate-crime hotline, 211.

“Hate is on the rise nationally, not just in our region,” said Robin Toma, director of the county Commission on Human Relations. An FBI report released in midNovember found that 2019 had the most hate crimes recorded in more than 10 years, and the most hate-motivated killings since the 1990s.

“This has been a tough year in many ways,” Toma said. “We know that this is a time of anxiety and fear that can lead to scapegoating and stereotyping.” But at the same time, he said, people are standing up for each other and their communities. The campaign is looking forward to bringing together millions of people in that effort.

Debra Duardo, superintendent of the county’s Office of Education which oversees 80 school districts, emphasized students “knowing that they’re welcomed, loved and included. Making sure that bullying is never ignored, always addressed

and never tolerated.

“The earlier we start, the better. That means that education should be inclusive of a multicultural community in its subject matter, such as ethnic studies, in a faculty that reflects the community, in empowering our children to love themselves and their culture, to know their culture and to teach empathy and relationship building, sometimes beginning as early as preschool,” she said.

“It’s not only the right thing to do, said Maria Salinas of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, it’s good business to help ensure “a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace.”

“It’s something we are going to have to deal with for a long time,” cautioned Capri Maddox, the first director of Los Angeles’ Department of Civil and Human Rights.

John Baackes, CEO of LA. Care, which has 2.3 million members in the county, cited the toll that the stresses of hate and intolerance add to people’s burdens and also called for increased emphasis on mental health care.

Toma emphasized that the 211 line is not just for reporting incidents, but also a guaranteed portal for getting help.

“Although many calls do result in police interventions, there are also dozens of community organizations that provide assistance. The line is open 24 hours every day and speakers of any language can use it.

Protest In Opposition of Crenshaw Mall Sparks STEPHEN ODUNTAN Clash with Jewish Community Staff group of Crenshaw Subway Coalition protesters and activists affiliated with various organizations marched through a predominantly Jewish residential neighborhood demanding that Asher Abehsera pull out of the deal to purchase the Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles.

But the group’s appearance was not well-received by some of the neighbors gathered there in anticipation of their visit.

The home association had warned the residents about the planned demonstration and advised them not to engage with the protesters, according to people with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity.

About eight to 12 neighbors stood along the sidewalk, holding signs condemning the demonstration.

“You’re not allowed to come into a residential neighborhood and disturb the peace,” yelled a rabbi draped in the Israeli flag. “We know who you are. You’re ingrates. We bled for you during the civil rights movement and this is the gratitude we get. You don’t deserve our help” The rabbi who later identified as Parry Moshe, noted that Abehsera is Jewish and that an attack on him was an attack on the entire Jewish community.

“You attack one Jew, it’s a desecration of God’s name because we’re his chosen people,” he said.

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Another resident yelled “we’re not intimidated by Antifa. You will not intimidate us. Get out of our neighborhood.”

Damien Goodman, the founder of the Crenshaw Subway Coalition, who organized the march, opposes the sale of the mall to Abehsera — CEO of LIVWRK — because he says it will create gentrified induced-displacement of the Black and Hispanic longtime residents.

Goodman chose Beverwil Drive near Circle Park to hold the demonstration because Abehsera owns a private residence in the area.

“We’re making his neighbors aware of his business practices and hopeful that the good conscious people in the Jewish community could potentially influence the decision that will stop him from purchasing the mall. We cannot consider this just business as usual. This is a traditional tactic used by organizers in the fight for housing justice,” said Goodman as he walked the neighborhood, placing flyers on residents’ doorknobs.

Goodman told L.A. Focus that he plans to have regular demonstrations outside Abehsera’s home. Sunday’s protest was the second one of its kind. Last Thursday evening Goodman’s Crenshaw Subway Coalition teamed up with BLM-Los Angeles and staged a surprise protest in front of Abehsera’s home.

Crenshaw Mall protest continued to page 28

HeadToHead What Comes Next Under the Biden-Harris Adminstration?

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lot of past cruelties can a product of individual initiative Biden-Harris underscore America’s hisand effort, the popular myth of Administration tory of hate. the American Dream served to Tasked with Today, one could capture that reinforce white privilege, perDismantling hate through the lens of at least petuate damaging racial stereoAmerica’s History some of the more than 74 million types, and absolve white politiof Hate people casting a vote for cians from responsibility for disPresident Donald Trump. mantling entrenched systems of inequaliOften described as a racist, chauvinist, ty.” and one whose policies separated immi“The crises of 2020 exposed vast grant children from their parents and put inequities of health, them in cages along the Southern U.S. bor- wealth, safety, and der, Trump supposedly embodies the very political access to a qualities that much of America – includ- broader cross-section ing many of its major corporations and our of the American pubnext-door neighbors – protested against lic. That growing pubwhen they stood with Black Lives Matter lic awareness of sysdemonstrators. temic inequalities has Yet, he received the second-highest vote created an opportuniStacy Brown count of any presidential candidate in his- ty for the next admintory. istration to enact Even now, Trump and his campaign meaningful change,” Silkey concluded. have specifically sought to have officials “The US was built on powerful myths of toss out many of the votes that were legit- equal opportunity in the pursuit of happiimately cast in heavily African American- ness and the city on a shining hill. The populated cities like Atlanta, Detroit, and reality was less uplifting,” observed Nora Milwaukee. Ironically, their actions would V. Demleitner, a Roy L. Steinheimer Jr. include disenfranchising thousands of Professor of Law at Washington and Lee Republicans whose votes were also sub- University in Lexington City, Va. mitted by other means than in person at a “There has been substantial progress in polling place. the creation and enforcement of civil rights In the specific instance of the effect on for all especially during the civil rights the Black vote, seeking ways to deny era, yet it has been uneven, and rising ecoAfrican American voters our nomic inequality and the impact of climate Constitutional right to make our voice change threaten to undermine some of known at the ballet box is a tactic used that progress.” since, during, and after Reconstruction.

The playbooks of racial and ethnic viliAfrican Americans have not been alone fication were never entirely discarded. on the receiving end of our nation’s history They are coming back as seen in the of hate-driven actions. demand for “law and order,” widespread “The history of the United States over suppression of minority voters, and unwillthe past 200 years has been largely a ingness to invest in infrastructure and struggle to define who might enjoy the education to support all, Demleitner rights and privileges of full citizenship,” offered further. offered Sarah Silkey, a professor of History Tim Powell, a University of Chicago at Lycoming College in Williamsport, journalism master’s student, discards the Penn. myth of an America that welcomes label“Each successive gain made in broaden- ing as a melting pot. ing the definition of American citizenship “Consider that the colonists left England was quickly followed by a backlash. Jim to rebel against religion, and when they Crow segregation, the convict lease sys- arrived here, we had a colony of rebels to tem, redlining, the war on drugs, and some degree,” Powell relayed. other systems created to maintain white “The administrations can only do so supremacy denied access to full citizenship much to counter the inherent unaccepfor generations of Americans,” Silkey tance of races by a white, male American. wrote.

It will be up to the next generations that “By defining personal success solely as Stacy Brown continued to page 28

Headlines From Africa Benin: Providing a full online service, Benin helped entrepreneurs create businesses and jobs during the pandemic, becoming known as one of the “fastest places in the world to start a company” with a third of its newest entrepreneurs being women.

Central African Republic: Representatives from the Economic Community of Central African States deployed an electoral observation mission for the Dec. 27 elections to insure a successful conclusion of the process.

Eritrea: Rockets launched from Ethiopia's northern Tigray region targeted the capital of Eritrea several hours after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared military operations in the region were over.

Ethiopia: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has claimed victory in his military campaign against Tigray's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front in the Tigray region of the country. The internal conflict in Ethiopia is causing a humanitarian crisis some say could leave 6 million in need of aid.

Ghana: Ghanaians will head to polls on December 7, 2020 for presidential and parliamentary elections.

Although 12 candidates are vying for the top job, the contest is mainly between incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his predecessor John Mahama of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Ivory Coast: Nearly 100 have been killed, hundreds injured, and thousands have fled to nearby countries in the wake of violence surrounding the recent election of President Alassane Ouattara to a controversial third term.

Opposition leaders have reportedly been arrested or barricaded inside their home. Several were charged with terrorism after trying to form a parallel government in opposition to Ouattara.

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Liberia: Liberia is set to hold a referendum December 8 on constitutional changes to reduce the length of

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After four years of Lindsey Graham asked Rosenstein attacking President Biden to 'Racist' during his testimony.

Trump Voters: Donald Trump as "ille"'No, I would not,' Rosenstein 'Let's Heal' gitimate," "fascist," "Nazi," replied." "tyrant," "dictator," "racist," Similarly, Comey admits he would "anti-Semitic," "Russian stooge," "traitor," not have signed off on the Carter Page "grifter," "xenophobe," "sexist," "homo- FISA applications if he knew then what he phobe," "ignorant," "fat" and "lazy," Former knows now. "No, I would want a much Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive more complete understanding of what we president-elect, now says, "Let's heal." were doing," said Comey.

In his "victory The New York Post wrote: speech," Biden said: "(Sen. Lindsey) Graham also unloaded "And to those who on (former FBI Deputy-turned-Acting voted for President Director Andrew) McCabe for signing off on Trump, I understand a FISA warrant to spy on Trump campaign your disappointment aide Carter Page, which an ex-FBI lawyer tonight. has since pleaded guilty to falsifying docu"I've lost a cou- ments in order to obtain. ple of elections myself. "'If you knew then what you know now Larry Elder But now, let's give would you have signed the warrant applieach other a chance. cation in June of 2017 against Carter "It's time to put away the harsh rheto- Page?' Graham asked. ric. To lower the temperature. To see each "'No, sir,' responded McCabe. other again. To listen to each other again. "'Who is responsible for ruining Mr. "To make progress, we must stop treat- Carter Page's life?' Graham asked, saying ing our opponents as our enemy. We are the warrant was 'completely devoid of the not enemies. We are Americans. truth.'

"The Bible tells us that to everything "'I think that we are all responsible for there is a season – a time to build, a time the work that went into that FISA,' the exto reap, a time to sow. And a time to heal. director said."

"This is the time to heal in America."

Republicans and Democrats acknowlWell, that's lovely. But please forgive edge the 2016 Russian election interferTrump supporters for not being in a mood ence, but 78% of Democrats, according to to "heal." How bogus was the Trump- an August 2018 Gallup poll, believe that Russia collusion investigation that con- "Russians interfered in the 2016 campaign sumed most of the Trump presidency? and that it changed the outcome of the Neither Joe Biden nor Kamala Harris election." Never mind that Jeh Johnson, bothered to mention it during the cam- President Barack Obama's secretary of paign. Ditto for Trump's impeachment. Homeland Security, in his 2017 prepared Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testimony before Congress, said: "On and former FBI Director James Comey Election Day, DHS assembled a crisisnow admit that, knowing then what they response team to rapidly address any know now, they would not have signed off reported cyber intrusions into the election on FISA warrants that were crucial to the process. To my current knowledge, the investigation.

Russian government did not through any National Review wrote: "Former Deputy cyber intrusion alter ballots, ballot counts Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testified or reporting of election results." to Congress that he would not have signed Whatever Russia, China or Iran did to off on a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance meddle with our elections pales in comparAct warrant renewal to spy on former ison to the impact of our biased, bigoted, Trump campaign associate Carter Page Republican-hating, class-warfare waging, had he been aware then of the unreliability secular, "health care is a right," "there's no of the underlying evidence. such thing as illegal people, only 'undocu"'If you knew then what you know now, mented,'" Donald Trump-hating media. would you have signed the application?' Let's compare the impact of Russian, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chinese or Iranian election interference Larry Elder continued to page 28

A look at current news from the continent of Africa the president's term from six years to four years and allow for dual citizenship (which was banned in 1973).

Mozambique: Insurgents decapitated as many as 50 people—including women and children in attacks on several villages last month in Cabo Delgado province. The attacks in the mainly Christian area of Muidumbe are said to reflect the continuing expansion of the insurgency that began in late 2017.

Nigeria: Scores are dead after armed men on motorcycles (suspected Boko Haram militants) attacked agricultural workers in northeastern Nigeria as they harvested their fields. Ten women were reported missing. The 2020 Global Terrorism Index ranks Nigeria as the third most impacted country in the world when it comes to militant attacks.

Swaziland: A report produced jointly by the International Commission of Jurists and Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse says that one in three girls in eSwatini will experience some form of sexual violence before they are 18 years old, while 48% of Swazi women will experience some form of sexual violence over their lifetime, with intimate partners such as husbands and boyfriends, most likely to be the perpetrators.

South Africa: South Africa’s unemployment rate is soaring with 30.8% of its citizens out of work mainly due to the effects of Covid-19 as the government unveiled a plan aimed at reviving the economy.

Uganda: In a televised address, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni said the government would compensate the families of the victims, the injured and those who lost property in the riots that followed the arrest of opposition presidential hopeful and musician Robert Kyagulanyi (aka Bobi Wine) last month. Wine has enlisted the support of Ugandans with his calls for Museveni to retire after 36 years in power.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe sees export earnings from cannabis outstripping those of tobacco by almost three times after legalizing cultivation of the plant for medicinal use. Sales are forecast to reach $1.25 billion in 2021.

People Judge Carlos Moore: “Making History at the Helm of the Nation’s Largest Association of Black Attorneys” In October of 2019 Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm’s Mississippi Delta office, Judge Carlos Moore, flew to Las Vegas to celebrate with his good friend and fellow attorney Travis Buchanan on his achievement of opening a new branch of The Cochran Firm in Las Vegas. To mark the occasion Moore, Buchanan and three close friends went out for dinner. In the course of the evening, the group of five black men made up of two lawyers, a lawyer in the making, a judge, and a doctor, supported each other’s achievements, talked about their goals, and enjoyed their company over food and drinks.

When they finished, they took a group photo which Moore later posted to his LinkedIn profile with the caption ‘Who said black men can’t grow up to be lawyers, doctors and judges’. And to his surprise, the photo went viral receiving tens of thousands of reactions.

The response to their photo caused a somewhat obvious realization: they were quite a remarkable group. Not only had each man become successful by persevering through personal hardship despite having practically no role models in their family or community, but they collectively were an example of what anyone can achieve if they believe in themselves and their dreams-- especially for young black men. The idea to write a book about their experiences was born, and the result is their newly published collective memoir, The Five Brothers: Our Journeys to Successful Careers in Law & Medicine.

“We wanted to show that in this day and age, when there’s so much negativity about African American men, there are some positive things going on and different paths people can take,” says Moore about the book. “We overcame the odds despite the hurdles we had to clear, and we still became successful. And we are still striving for even more success going forward.”

This year Moore has seen some of the success he’s been striving for come to fruition in the form of a major career accomplishment. Along with the publication of The Five Brothers and being named one of African Leadership Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential African American Leaders in the United States, in July after a hard-fought campaign Moore was named President-elect of the National Bar Association and will be sworn in as President at the organization's 96th annual convention next July in Memphis.

Founded in 1925, the National Bar Association (NBA) is the nation’s oldest and largest network of predominantly black lawyers, judges, law professors and law students, representing over 66,000 members. For Moore, leading such a prestigious organization is an honor and dream come true.

“My first year at the convention was in the year 2000 as a first-year law student. I was overwhelmed and amazed at the magnitude of successful black lawyers and judges who were at the convention. Coming from a town that had maybe one black lawyer and judge, that was all I knew,” recounts Moore. “I knew at that point I would become the President of the National Bar Association, so

it’s been a dream come true for well over 20 years. To represent 66,000 black lawyers, judges and law students is surreal.”

His win was especially sweet for Moore because, not unlike POTUS-elect Joe Biden, it was his third time running for President.

“I wanted to be President of the National Bar Association and it was very difficult to win,” Moore admits. “I lost the first time by one vote then lost the second time, and I was honestly afraid of losing a third time. But I was more afraid to not try. No one in the history of the NBA has ever become President after losing two times, but I knew I would eventually win.”

Now as the President-elect, Moore has hit the ground running, working as co-chair of the NBA’s election protection task force which aimed to protect voter rights and use its resources to guard against voter suppression efforts.

“I believe we were successful in our efforts and that everyone who wanted to vote was able to and their votes were cast successfully,” says Moore. “But now our work has been extended due to the two contested elections for Georgia Senate seats so we will be getting our lawyers on the ground and virtually in Georgia to make sure that every vote counts.”

The Georgia Senate races, which will determine the balance of power in the Senate, will be crucial to Moore’s term as President where he has a detailed legislative agenda that he and his team will be lobbying for in Washington which focus on economic justice and empowerment, and social justice reform.

“I am going to fight for reparations,” says Moore. “I am going to fight to get the John Lewis Voting Rights Act passed through the Senate, and I am going to fight for the George Floyd Policing Act passed through Congress and the Senate and signed by the President.

These are my main three initiatives.”

With the incoming Biden-Harris administration transitioning into power, Moore and his cabinet at the NBA are poised and ready to make a difference.

“Within our first hundred days we will begin our lobbying effort,” says Moore. “We have Cory Booker in the Senate and Hakeem Jefferies and others in the House, and Kamala Harris is a member of the NBA, so we’ve already had conversations with her team. Joe Biden announced he’s looking to put a black woman on the supreme court so we’re putting together a short list for that. We expect to have unprecedented and unfettered

access to this administration, and we cannot be more appreciative. We’re well connected and ready for this opportunity.”

Though Moore will now be leading a national organization and rubbing shoulders with Senators to pass laws, civil rights has been the bedrock of his practice since he first started his career nearly 20 years ago. After spending four years working for another firm, Moore opened his private practice in 2006 and got his first civil rights case shortly after where he represented a young black male who had a gun drawn on him by a school cop, without cause, in front of thousands of his peers in the middle of school. The severe level of incompetence and discrimination displayed by the officer was mind boggling to Moore who filed a suit against the city and school distinct, making waves in the local community.

“From that day on we’ve been doing civil rights and I’ve brought countless cases against cities, counties, and other governmental agencies for police brutality, representing the families of those who have died from excessive force, or died in jail after being beaten by prison guards and being neglected medical treatment, just to name a few,” says Moore.

Later in his career, Moore also led the effort to change the state flag of Mississippi which bears the confederate emblem. Along with litigation, Moore also made a symbolic gesture on his very first day in court as a newly minted judge when he had the bailiff remove the state flag from the courtroom-- a move that made national headlines. The lawsuit Moore and others brought against the state flag in 2016 ended up in the Supreme Court, and four years later voters have chosen a new design for the flag which will be rolled out next year.

“We are extremely elated about that,” says Moore.

According to Moore he is “living the dream” in his career following in the footsteps of the civil rights attorneys he grew up idolizing such as Thurgood Marshall, Charles Hamilton Houston, and Johnnie Cochran. Looking forward, his goals for himself only get wider as he plans to pursue positions in state and national politics.

“After my term is up, I’ll be looking into a run for Congress,” says Moore. “After that the Governor of Mississippi or a Senate seat, and who knows maybe by then I’ll be ready for Judge Moore continued to page 28

Money Matters California Offers Up to $100,000 In Tax Credits to Qualifying Small Businesses

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tarting Dec.1 at 8 a.m., California small businesses that have hired new employees during the COVID19 pandemic can begin applying for up to $100,000 in tax credits. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) has set up a portal on its website to receive the applications.

The CDTFA plans to close the window for accepting applications on January 15, 2021. However, the agency is warning businessowners to apply as soon as possible for the tax credits that will be awarded on a “first come, first serve” basis. If there is a high volume of applications, the agency says it might terminate the program earlier.

In September, Gov Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 1447 into law, responding to the devastating effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on small businesses in the state. According to Opportunity Insights, a Harvard University online tracker that monitors the health of economies across the United States, California’s small businesses are down 29.3% in revenue compared to January of this year. According to Yelp’s September local impact economic report, more than 19,000 businesses have closed in California since the beginning to the COVID-19 global health crisis.

“As the authors of SB 1447, we want to make you aware of a new $100 million tax credit created by that legislation: The

TANU HENRY CA Black Media

Small Business Hiring Credit. This is one way that we are working to ease economic hardships imposed on small businesses due to the necessary response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” three California senators who introduced the legislation wrote in a letter reminding businesses in the state to apply for the assistance.

The letter -- signed by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Los Angeles), Sen. Anna M. Caballero (D-Salinas) and Assembly-member Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) — says “eligible small businesses can receive $1,000 in credit for each net new hire that occurred during the second half of 2020, up to $100,000 per business.”

Small businesses can apply the tax credits to both personal and corporate income tax liabilities or sales and use tax liabilities from the 2020 tax year.

To qualify, the applying small business must have less than 100 employees (including part-time employees). It must have suffered a 50 % or more year-overyear decrease in revenue during the second quarter of 2020 (from April 2020 to June 2020); and it must have hired new employees between July 2020 and November 2020.

“Thank you to all the hardworking California small business owners that continue to persist through the difficulties of this year. If you are eligible for the Small Business Hiring Credit, we hope you will apply,” the three senators closed their letter to small business owners.

NBA Star Stephen Curry Attempts to Take on Nike with New Shoe Brand

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olden State Warriors champion Stephen Curry is collaborating with Under Armour to release his own athletic shoe brand. An industry dominated by Nike and the presence of Michael Jordan’s Air Jordans, the new brand is looking to create a new shoe staple for athletes.

The Curry Brand launched this month and will be a seven-year relationship between Under Armour and Curry, and will include sneakers, accessories and apparel for a variety of sports. Their current focus is on basketball and golf, but the brand will eventually expand to include performance gear and running products for both men and women.

A percentage of the brand’s annual revenue will also be invested in underprivileged communities. By 2025, The Curry Brand aims to create at least 20 “safe places to play” and support 125 programs that impact young athletes. It also aims to deliver opportunities to train over 15,000 coaches – making an overall impact on more than 100,000 youth.

“We have a shared goal of unlocking play for kids, so that became a natural place for us to focus,” Curry said of his partnership with Under Armour. “I grew up doing a lot of things to give back to the community with my family–and continue that now–while Under Armour has done so much to support athletes around the world.”

CHRISTAL MIMS Staff

Less than 30 percent of youth ages 6 to 18 growing up in low-income households participate in organized sports, and lowincome children are six times more likely to quit sports because of financial costs.

Many sports programs have also imposed increased fees and other requirements in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which may lead to a decrease in participation.

“For many years, Stephen and Under Armour have worked together in partnership – a partnership built around shared values,” said Patrik Frisk, Under Armour president and CEO. “Through this brand, we have an opportunity to push forward our vision for a better world, especially for young athletes facing challenges with access and opportunity for sport.”

The Curry Brand aims to focus on three main pillars: safe places to play, programming and product and coaching and leadership development.

“Play is a fundamental part of childhood and is critical to development. So much of who I am as a person and a leader today is because of playing sports as a kid,” Curry said. “I learned the value of hard work, resilience, teamwork, communication, time management–sports teach young athletes so many critical life skills, which is why I’m passionate about making sure everyone has access to these opportunities, first through my foundation and now through Curry Brand.”

On the Money Ten Years of Keeping PACE With An Innovative Way of Financing Needed Home Repairs and Updates en years ago, Dennis Hunter founded and launched Ygrene alongside its innovative program called PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy). It's a program that provides homeowners access to affordable, long-term financing for energy and water efficiency, renewable energy and natural disaster protection improvements.

PACE programs allow a property owner to finance the up-front cost of energy or other eligible improvements on a property and then pay the costs back over time through a voluntary assessment. The unique characteristic of PACE assessments is that the assessment is attached to the property rather than an individual.

In the ten years since, the company has helped fund and complete over 64,000 projects How The PACE across the United States in over 500 Program Works local communities, providing green energy upgrades to all homeowners at an accessible price.

“Ten years is a historic milestone for Ygrene and the PACE industry.

Ygrene was built on the idea that you could create an innovative public-private program that allows property owners to take advantage of affordable, longterm financing to make critical property upgrades, all without adding a dime to state and local budgets," said Hunter on the company’s 10 year anniversary.

"Over the course of ten years, we've seen first-hand the growth of PACE: from an innovative financing tool for property owners to an essential public policy for communities."

It is a crucial program not only combating the impact of natural disasters and climate change through the reduction of 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions but it is also boosting local and state economies.

One of those 64,000 projects was on Kimlin Johnson’s

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High Prices for South L.A’s New High Rise

DIANNE LUGO Staff

home. She’s a published author and the founder of BREYLT Organization, a non-profit that provides tutoring and mentorship to minority students looking to become more involved in STEM. She and her husband had purchased their 1940s house in 2002 and knew they needed to replace their windows.

They hired a contractor who brought it to their attention that Ygrene and PACE was an option they should look into.

“We went with Ygrene because they had 100% financing and no out of pocket costs,” she explained.

“And at the time we did our financing we were in a bankruptcy. They even had an option where they would let people that were in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy [like us] participate in the program,” she added.

And while others may not be going through a bankruptcy like Johnson was, she urges everyone to take advantage of Ygrene, if they can.

“When you don't have money accessible to you in large amounts to do what you need to get done, you have to pick and choose...and you think if there was a financing option that could help me get one of these major things done right now, that would really help me...Because when you buy a home, especially over here from 1944, you're gonna have everything you need to do but if you can prioritize your project that you need to have done versus want, and then pick one of the greatest needs, I think financing through an option like this is phenomenal,” Johnson said.

Today, Johnson recommends the program to all homeowners. The discovery of PACE and her work with Ygrene was a positive experience, so much so that she intends to use the program again soon to finally install central air and heating in her home.

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f you’ve ventured near the corner of LaCienega and Jefferson, you could not have missed the residential tower called Arq, which now looms over residents at the edge of South Los Angeles or the gridlock that has come with it. It’s been called a “transformational” project, bringing a luxury 30-story high-rise to the historically Black West Adams neighborhood that sits adjacent to Culver City.

The 30-story $110.6 million tower was billed as just one part of the Cumulus District, dubbed as “the future of LA”.

It promises to bring 1,200 apartments, shopping, dining and a Whole Foods to an area of Los Angeles that has long struggled to bring grocers and retailers to its residents. A micro neighborhood, as the project has been labeled.

But don’t look for any micro prices. Against the wishes of local activists, the City Council approved the removal of a requirement that the developer provide 55 units of affordable housing (units for families earning 80 to 120 percent of the area’s median income). Instead, rents have been set at 150 percent of the median income in 180 of the 300 rental units.

Listed rents start at $3,121 a month for a 451 square foot studio apartment. A one-bedroom apartment ranges from $3,476 (599 sq ft) to $4,160 (821 sq ft) depending on floorplan. Two bedrooms ranging from 1076 square feet to 1283 square feet are priced from $6,085. The tower also features eight penthouses, that will set you back anywhere from $14,049 to $17,545 per month, the largest of which is 1612 square feet. Residents will have access to a poor, sky lounge, rooftop deck, fitness center, great room and clubhouse.

Renderings of the Cumulus Project courtesy of Carmel Partners

Biz News Briefs Kerry Washington Debuts new “Lioness Collection”

embedded in their DNA from the very beginning,” Washington said. “I just thought, &#39;I love them, I love what they are building, and I want to be a part of this side.’”

Citi Foundation is Donating $15 Million to CFDIs Helping Black Businesses Citi Foundation will be donating $15 million to 30 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to support their efforts in supporting small, Black and POC-owned businesses during the pandemic. Each CDFI will receive $500,000 in unrestricted funding to better assist small business operations and support economically vulnerable households; seven of the selected CDFIs are in California.

“The disparate economic impacts of COVID-19 and systemic racial inequity reinforce the need for financial institutions of all sizes to work together to support communities of color in more effective ways,” said Brandee McHale, Head of Community Investing and Development and President of Citi Foundation. “By investing–and trusting–in these change agents on the frontlines, we’re helping these organizations to pivot, adjust and expand to address evolving needs and meet clients where they are.”

The funds are coming from initial net proceeds donated

by Citi through its participation in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and is a part of Citi and Citi Foundation’s over $100 million provided to date in support of COVID-19-related

community and economic relief.

Grey’s Anatomy Star Jesse Williams Invests in Black and Latinx Banking Actor and activist Jesse Williams has invested in Greenwood Bank, a new digital banking platform designed specifically for Black and Latinx people and business owners.

“I’m excited to join the Greenwood team and work to advance economic prosperity for people of color,” said Williams in a written statement. “The time has come for Black and Latinx communities in America to strengthen our economic condition and influence. By increasing access to essential banking services and financial education, Greenwood is a key part of that movement.”

Greenwood Bank was developed after rapper Michael “Killer Mike” Render, civil rights activist Andrew Young and entrepreneur Ryan Glover announced that they wanted to create a Black bank in honor of Black wallstreet. Over 200,000 people have already signed up to join.

Greenwood will be debuting a debit card and account that will include a black metal debit card for all customers who sign up by the end of the year. The account’s features will come with Apple, Samsung, and Android Pay, virtual debit cards, peer-to-peer transfers, mobile check deposits and free ATM usage in over 30,000 locations. All deposits will also be FDICinsured by a partner bank.

L.A. Focus/December 2020

Actress Kerry Washington has partnered with woman-owned jewelry brand Aurate to release her own collection for which she also helped design. She is now a leading investor and new face of the brand’s recent jewelry campaign.

“I’m so proud to share this Lioness Collection, and all that it represents, with you. In both aesthetic design and in cultural meaning, each piece is built to embody the values of this unique moment while also honoring timeless truths,” Washington wrote in an Instagram post. “I hope that it adds beauty, joy and strength to your day. And I pray that these pieces remind you of the sisterhood of this pride.”

Aurate is based in New York and was created by Bouchra Ezzahraoui and Sophie Kahn. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the collection will go to Supermajority, a nonprofit organization dedicated to women’s activism.

“I love their sustainability practices, their commitments to diversity, the fact that they were a female-driven company. The fact that they&#39;ve always given back. Giving back is

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L.A. Focus/December 2020

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fter two years of contention between Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and county officials, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors is officially seeking pathways to remove the County’s top law enforcement Officer. In a motion put-forward in late October, Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl proposed that L.A. County should “consider whether the status of the Sheriff’s office should be reexamined in order to better serve the more than 10 million residents of the County,” citing Villanueva’s “persistent refusal to provide the transparency and accountability that the community rightly demands.”

The motion comes after a near constant power struggle between the Sheriff and the Board of Supervisorsappointed Civilian Oversight Commission (COC) which has been ongoing since the day Villanueva took office.

The COC and Villanueva have clashed over a myriad of issues, namely transparency -- or lack thereof on behalf of the Sheriff in releasing information to the public and his protection of officers in matters of police reform.

From the perspective of the COC, Sheriff Villanueva’s continuous refusal to cooperate with the Commission’s oversight responsibilities flies in the face of the progress L.A. County residents have been seeking to achieve from a department that has been the source of scandal and corruption more than a few times in the past decades.

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas has referred to Villanueva’s blocking of independent investigations in the recent deputy shootings of Andres Guardado, Dijon Kizzee and Fred Williams as examples of situations that contribute to dysfunction in county government that are completely avoidable.

“Three examples, no cooperation in terms of independent investigation,” said Ridley-Thomas. “We can’t get to the facts because the Sheriff refuses to cooperate with the office of the Inspector General.”

From the Sheriff’s point of view, the COC are not watchdogs but attack dogs in a proxy war waged by political rivals who have wanted to see him out of

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KEITH DELAWDER Contributor office since before he ever began.

Villanueva makes the case that the COC has made their point of contention about him a personal one and has cast himself as an elected official who is doing the job voters hired him to do-- while being a tool of harassment for the Board of Supervisors rather than a service of the people.

“Rather than allow the voice of the voters to stand, those same members are now exploring ways to [undo] the results of a lawful election outside of the established constitutional methods of voter recall, grand jury indictment, or defeating me in the next election,” said Villanueva on the Board of Supervisors motion. “I have been more transparent, more accountable, and have offered greater access to the community than any other Sheriff. Before the board votes on this motion and triggers a legal battle, which will waste millions of taxpayer dollars, I urge each supervisor to meet with me privately. Let’s set aside the past and work out our differences.”

With that, Villanueva made it clear that he will not willingly resign and has since chosen to ignore calls for him to step down. What’s more, as Villanueva is an elected official endowed by the voters rather than appointed by any government agency, the pathways to removing him from office before the 2022 election are narrow and the task quite possibly futile.

As both sides dig in on their positions, rhetoric heightens and stakes rise, it’s important to examine how this all came to be and what if anything be done to rectify it.

It was in November of 2018 that the previously littleknown Lieutenant Alex Villanueva pulled off a remarkable political upset, defeating incumbent Jim McDonnell to become L.A. County’s next Sheriff, marking the first time in over a hundred years that a challenger has defeated a living incumbent to become Sheriff.

The department he was poised to take over was just one term removed from the era of Sheriff Lee Baca who was convicted 2017 and sentenced to three years in prison on charges of obstructing an FBI probe into abuses in the jails he oversaw. Villanueva was able to pull off this defeat in part by packaging himself as a reformminded Democrat, willing to stand up to the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) Agents, with an electorate that was ready to push back on the Trump Administration.

We’ve been calling for his resignation for many months now so we’re proud others are too.

The L.A. County Sheriff has refused to turn over one shred of paper that’s been requested through SB 1421 and has brazenly been acting in an illegal manner by refusing to comply. He’s been horrific as a Sheriff and he’s got to go!”

—Melina Abdullah

But what they initially got out of Sheriff Villanueva was considerably less progressive than they’d imagined.

Within weeks of taking office Villanueva moved forward with plans to set up a ‘truth and reconciliation’ panel with the goal of potentially reviewing up to 400 cases of past deputy disciplinary actions, reinstating officers believed to be the victims of unjust punishment, the most high-profile of which being Deputy Caren Carl Mandoyan.

In 2016, Mandoyan was fired for alleged domestic abuse, harassment and stalking. Villanueva attempted to reinstate Mandoyan with a full back pay and benefits package worth up to $200,000 before being sued by the Board of Supervisors claiming that he had no legal right to reinstate the terminated deputy and award him a settlement without county approval.

Though the Board’s suit was later upheld in court and Villanueva only attempted to rehire one other officer, the move to reinvestigate past discipline was widely seen as a drastic departure from the direction the county is moving with regards to police accountability. The 57-year-old Sheriff, however, defended the move, saying it boosted morale amongst his ranks and gave him more flexibility when hiring in a tight job market.

Then began the battle of transparency between Sheriff Villanueva and the Civilian Oversight Commission which was created by new enacted laws on the books granting County officials more oversight ability on the Sheriff’s department than ever before.

While positions such as the Chief of Police are appointed by the Mayor and thus subject to his approval, an elected Sheriff can operate with some level of independence-- though the Board of Supervisors does have general supervisory authority. But in the wake of corruption scandals and abuse of power within the Sheriff’s departments across the state in recent years, lawmakers and voters put in place three new laws that give County officials more oversight responsibility-- SB 1421, AB 1185, and Measure R. First was Senate Bill 1421. Signed into law in September 2018 by then Governor Jerry Brown, it allowed the public to view investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. Since going into effect watchdog groups including the ACLU, news organizations and families of victims alike have complained that hundreds of requests to the L.A. County Sheriff ‘s Office for information has not been turned over, and lawsuits have ensued.

Attorney Carl Douglas who represents the families of individuals who have died from incidents of deputy involved shootings says that this administration has taken an unfortunate step backwards rather than forward when it comes to

Sheriff Alex Villanueva

transparency, and like many others, is calling for the release of the names of the officers involved.

“This administration frightens me as much as the administrations of bygone eras,” said Douglass. “We have taken an unfortunate step backwards, –transparency has been lost. There should be more transparency with officer involved shootings and the names of those officers involved in shootings in our community should be released.”

Villanueva’s rationale for withholding the names of officers involved in shootings–despite public outcry– is out of an abundance of safety for his officers and their families. Also, the Sheriff claims that his department has produced more than 1,400 records since the law went into effect, while adding that it is drowning in an administrative backlog of over 3,300 records which will require more personnel and training to get through.

SB 1421 was followed by Assembly Bill 1185 which gave counties the right to establish an oversight board and an Inspector General, providing them with investigatory powers, including subpoenas. While L.A. County already had a nine-member Civilian Oversight Commission, filled by five appointed Commissioners from the Board of Supervisors and four nominated from community groups, the law gave the COC and current Inspector General Max Huntsman official authority under the law to pursue investigations within the Sheriff’s office.

Then there is the most recent oversight legislation, Measure R, which further expanded the COC’s subpoena power, allowing them to directly issue subpoenas, witnesses or documents relevant to citizen or inmate complaints. That is where the major point of contention between the Sheriff and the COC arose.

In May, the COC subpoenaed Villanueva to testify at one of their monthly meetings about how his department was responding to the situation with COVID-19 in the county jails given that 700 inmates and 200 sheriff department employees had contracted the virus.

Villanueva openly defied the subpoena, sending Assistant Sheriff Bruce Chase to the meeting in his place.

“Regarding the commission’s subpoena, Measure R, the ordinance enacted by the Board of Supervisors, was generated without any oversight, without any third-party independent legal analysis of its constitutionality,” Villanueva said. “That still remains in doubt, and until that issue is resolved I will not be adhering to any subpoena issued by either entity – be it the inspector general or the Oversight Commission.”

He added that the subpoena appeared to be a public shaming, maintaining that all the information necessary had already been provided to the commission.

Villanueva’s refusal to comply with the subpoena resulted in a legal challenge where the courts upheld the COC’s right to subpoena the Sheriff. A second subpoena was issued to Villanueva earlier this year from the Inspector General regarding whether or not he covered up his deputies' sharing of graphic photos of the helicopter crash scene where NBA legend Kobe Bryant and eight others tragically perished. Bryant’s widow Vanessa Bryant’s claim against the Sheriff’s Department alleges that “no fewer than eight sheriff’s deputies were at the scene snapping cellphone photos of the dead children, parents, and coaches.”

According to reporting by the L.A. Times, the Sheriff’s Department ordered subordinates to delete any photos of the crash after a citizen complained that a deputy was showing the gory images in a public bar. At a press conference Villanueva referred to the subpoena for the Bryant crash records as “a fine example of overreach” and again asserted that they were unauthorized.

For now, the relationship between the Sheriff and the County officials that oversee his department has come to a toxic standstill, with citizens often caught in the middle. In May, Villanueva said his department needed to close the Ladera Heights station effective July 1 in an effort to save $12.2 million and make up for budget cuts from the Board of Supervisors. When angered residents responded, Villanueva told them, “What we cut from this point forward is going to hurt somebody somewhere–the question is where.

“Convince the board of supervisors to fund the true cost of providing services to the community,” he stressed.

“They have the checkbook. They write the checks.”

Whether Villanueva has been miscast as a steel-fisted tyrant intent on insulating his officers from those seeking justice or a stubborn, but fair-minded leader charged with the mammoth task of running the nation’s largest law enforcement office and has yet to come around to the modern age of oversight, depends on who you ask.

For activists such as Black Lives Matter leader Dr. Melina Abdullah, the answer is clear: the sheriff must go.

“We’ve been calling for his resignation for many months now so we’re proud others are too,” says Abdullah. “The L.A. County Sheriff has refused to turn over one shred of paper that’s been requested through SB 1421 and has brazenly been acting in an illegal manner by refusing to comply. He’s been horrific as a Sheriff and he’s got to go!”

From City of Refuge Elder Joe Paul Jr. who’s worked closely with Alex Villanueva in several capacities starting with his work as Director of Civic and Political Affairs under Bishop Noel Jones, you get a different side of the story. Through the professional relationship they’ve built, Paul believes Villanueva to be a good and principled man and offers words of caution against the rhetoric and political posturing that has created this divisive situation.

“I’ve seen Alex Villanueva be a person of integrity and a person who does not shy away from whatever he is accountable for,” says Paul. “There’s a misrepresentation that comes from a one-sided story. If we’re going to get to healing and solutions all parties are going to have to be able to get in a room and discuss the pros and cons of what we are dealing with. We have to be able to get past the rhetoric and past the politics. When people come to the table with an open mind and talk, things change.”

Along with the positive sentiment Paul offers some real, measurable solutions.

“Bishop Jones and I really want to look at the next two years of his term and put together a report card,” says Paul. “We can use it to outline what it is he calls transparency and what it is we call transparency and meet in the middle, so when election time comes around, we’ll have over a year’s worth of adjustments where we can work towards some really strategic and targeted goals.”

Community Oversight Commission Chair Lael Rubin’s take on the situation is closer to the middle.

Though openly displeased with the contentiousness of the relationship between her commission and the Sheriff, she still shares a vested interest in respectfully disagreeing.

“At every turn the Sheriff has either refused or belittled our requests, and we want straight answers,” says Rubin. “On multiple occasions both my predecessor and I have attempted to say, ‘oversight is here to stay’. We want to see it succeed. We want to see the Sheriff succeed and we want to be helpful, but at every turn we have been rebuffed.

“So, we now feel strongly that with the success of the subpoena that hopefully we have the Sheriff's ear because no one else seems to. You can have a professional disagreement in a respectful way, and that’s what we’re looking for. We’re always willing to try to put a path forward.”

In January, the Sheriff’s lawyers will have to explain why he should not be held in contempt of court for his refusal to appear before the oversight commission. And while round one goes to the commission for compelling the Sheriff to appear next month, what’s clear is that this battle is to remove–or control Villanueva–is far from over.

INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Neily Dickerson “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

last performance before his untimely and tragic death earlier this year), fan favorite Glynn Turman, and Colman Domingo from “Fear Of The Walking Dead.” This winning team would not have been complete without stellar music composed and it was done so by Grammy Award winner, Branford Marsalis.

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” was released in theaters November 25th and will be available to stream on and screenplay writer, Ruben Netflix Friday, December 18th. You Santiago-Hudson and then on to a owe it to yourself to lose yourself in the team of actors who turn in masterful brilliance of “Ma” and her team and performances for the December 18 group of players. There are some Hometown: Detroit, Michigan release. uncomfortable even controversial Big Break: Singing group, The Miracles The supporting cast of “Ma Rainey’s exchanges, but the movie is a must see.

Upcoming Projects: Memoir, “Grateful and Blessed” Black Bottom,” includes the late, Also available to screen on Netflix is Chadwick Boseman (in what was the the Christmas hit, JINGLE JANGLE. A living legend, Smokey Robinson has pioneered some of music’s most enduring sounds. As the frontman of Motown’s popular group, The Miracles, Robinson gave us hits like “Ooo Baby Baby”, “The Tracks Of My Tears” and, before launching a solo career, which brought such standards as “Just To See Her” and “Cruisin’”. As songwriter and producer, Robinson also orchestrated hits for the likes of Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells and the Temptations. Since,, he’s continued to tour and share his expertise with up-and-comers in the Coming 2 America Wonder Woman 1984 One Night in Miami industry. The 80-year-old recently released an audio December 18 December 25 December 25 memoir titled, “Grateful and Blessed.”

The characteristics of a music industry boss are; assertiveness, with a bit of arrogance, nonchalance, and unshakable confidence. Having had an opportunity to get a sneak peek of Netflix’s highly anticipated, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” I am convinced that she, Gertrude Pridgett, America’s first Blues singer, p-k-a “Ma Rainey,” was the first female music industry boss.

Based on August Wilson’s play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” gives audiences a look into one of her studio sessions.

The creators of the movie were handed a baton that was masterfully exchanged from Wilson to producer Denzel Washington, then on to actor

OUT THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom December 18 Jada Pinkett-Smith To Produce Netflix Animation About Police Brutality

L.A. Focus/December 2020

Jada Pinkett-Smith will be releasing an animated short about police brutality set to debut on Netflix. The new short, “Cops and Robbers” will premiere on Dec. 28. It was written and performed by Broadway actor Timothy Ware-Hill in response to the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.

Pinkett-Smith, who is producing the animation, said that it was crucial to share a short such as this one, especially during what has been arguably one of the most racially tense periods in American history.

“As an African American woman, it was one of those pieces that I could feel powerful messaging with such compassion from the perspective of the African American community. It was this explanation with this bleeding heart of what we are experiencing during this particular time,” Pinkett-Smith said. “For me, it was this emotional connection

18

Q&A

Smokey Robinson

that pierced my heart and soul.”

Pinkett-Smith said that despite being an animation, the messaging is powerful.

“It had so much vulnerability. A lot of times, you could get this messaging and sometimes it can be militant and have power to it. The way this particular expression that we don’t often see while talking about topics of this kind had so much vulnerability, especially through the lens of a Black man,” she explained. “You do not see that a lot and that for me was important because it humanizes Black men. It also humanizes Black people and marginalized communities.”

“Black Panther 2” is Set to Begin Filming Next Summer After losing its star Chadwick Boseman to a four-year long battle with colon cancer, the “Black Panther” franchise has finally made an official step to move forward. It was recently announced that filming of the sequel will begin next year in July, 2021.

Details regarding the sequel are still being kept from the public but word that Letitia Wright, who plays Black Panther’s sister Shuri in the series, could take up the lead role.

Executive producer Victoria Alonso has also verified that the sequel will not use a digital double for the late actor.

“No. There’s only one Chadwick, and he’s no longer with us. Sadly, our king has died in real life, not only in fiction, and we’re taking a little time to see how we continue the story and how to honor this chapter of what has unexpectedly happened to us, so painful and terrible to be honest,” Alonso said. “Chadwick wasn’t

only a wonderful human being, every day of the five years we spent together, but also, I believe, that what he did as a character elevated us as a company, and has left his moment in history.”

Marvel also hopes to somehow pay tribute to the award-winning actor in the upcoming film.

Gabrielle Union to Produce Comedy Starring Black Women with Showtime Actress Gabrielle Union has teamed up with Showtime to develop a new comedy, “New Money.” The new comedy for which she is executive producer will focus on “Black women who have solidified their careers, achieved financial independence and moved past the awkwardness and money struggles of their twenties,” according to the official synopsis.

The project is a collaboration between the “Being Mary Jane” star’s production company, I’ll Have Another and Lodge Freeway Media’s Jemele Hill and Kelley Carter, two journalists who will also executive produce the potential series. The half-hour comedy series will also be produced by Sony Pictures TV. Union’s show, “L.A.’s Finest” was recently cancelled but she’s not at all slowing down. Along with “New Money” the 48-year-old is also involved in a TV adaptation of scholar and historian Tanisha C. Ford’s memoir, “Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl’s Love Letter to the Power of Fashion.”

She’ll also be starring in and producing filmmaker Numa Perrier’s next film, “The Perfect Find,” a Netflix rom-com about a woman looking for a fresh start with her new job in beauty journalism as well as Deborah Riley Draper’s adaptation of “Coffee Will Make You Black,” a coming-of-age story about a Black teenage girl living in 1960s Chicago.

You talk a lot about your beginnings with Motown and relationships with people like Berry Gordy in your new audio memoir. What will we be learning about Motown and your relationships?

Berry started it (Motown) because of the fact that nobody was paying him, so he wanted to start something where people got paid. We’ve had our debates and our discussions, but we always have had them like buddies – like brothers. We ain’t never been on the outs.

You are responsible for spearheading so many new styles and genres of music. Were you aware that your presence in music was going to be so pivotal in creating those changes?

No. Let me tell you about changing music. On the very first day of Motown, Berry Gordy borrowed $800 from his family to start (a label). There were five people there. He sat us down and said, “I borrowed this money from my family, I’m going to start my own record company. We are not just going to make Black music, we’re going to make music for everybody. We are going to make music for the world. We’re going to make sure that our stories mean something.” That was the plan, and thank God, that’s what we accomplished.

Do you feel like you had to grow up fast after being thrown into such a demanding industry?

No. I don’t think I have yet. I’m serious when I say that.

I still have a bunch of childlike (energy) in me. I still feel young and vibrant. I don’t ever want to lose that. I still feel that way. I’m 80, but I feel like I’m 30. I really do, physically and emotionally. I was a kid, and I was getting a chance to embark upon a life that I had thought was my impossible dream. Where I grew up, I didn’t think it was going to be possible for me to actually be in show business, to write songs and sing and make records, and all that. But that was my dream. It was what I wanted to do with my life, if possible. And I didn’t think it would be, so no, I wasn’t tripping like that.

The music industry is changing so much currently, what do you miss most about Motown?

I miss Motown, period. As far as I’m concerned, Motown was a once-in-a-lifetime musical event. Nothing like that happened before. I seriously doubt anything like that will ever happen again. So, I miss Motown just because of missing it. We were all here together, we were all brothers and sisters. These people are gone, but it was a wonderful ride for them.

RedCarpet Style

TIFFANY HADDISH bloomed in a floral Prabal Gurung dress.

TAYSHIA ADAMS walked the red carpet in a Balmain look.

Celebrities were able to dress up again in November after COVID-19 cancelled most events for months. Here’s some of the best looks from the People’s Choice Awards and American Music Awards.

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS wore a Schiaparelli trouser suit.

CIARA was in a plunging Balmain gown.

LESLIE JONES made a statement with her Christian Siriano suit.

Eye On Gospel Going For Grammy Gold The Thanksgiving holiday marked an early Christmas gift for those artists whose names were called when the announcement of nominees for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards were announced last month. They include best gospel performance song nominees Melvin Crispell III (“Wonderful Is Your Name”), Ricky Dillard (“Release”), Rodney Jerkins (“Come Together”), Travis Greene (“Won’t Let Go”) and Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music (“Movin’ On”). Those going head to head In the category of “Best Gospel Album” will be Anthony Brown & group therAPy (2econd Wind: Ready), Myron Butler (My Tribute), Ricky Dillard (Choirmaster), Kierra Sheard (Kierra Sheard) and P.J. Morton (Gospel According to PJ). In addition to celebrating his fourth Grammy nomination, McReynolds is also celebrating the top 10 debut of Doe, whose self-titled debut project bowed last month. The release marks the first solo project from the three-time GRAMMY® nominated artist/songwriter on McReynolds’ Life Room Label. Writing all of the tracks on the EP with McReynolds and his team, DOE–who first gained attention as a teen and the lead singer of the family group, Forever Jones– has created a rich, neo-soulful, eclectic soundtrack of her life. Taking this journey to her debut project has been a learning experience, and she says of sharing this project, “It’s a very vulnerable album for me. It is me talking about my life and what God has shown me, without being super ‘religious.’ I’m going to take this journey hand-inhand with everyone.”

In The Holiday Spirit

Jonathan McReynolds

“Harriet” and “One Night in Miami” star Leslie Odom Jr. is putting his holiday spirit on blast with the release of a new holiday album. The 10-

track album from the Grammy and Tony Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, author and actor Leslie Odom, Jr. features a collection of beloved traditional favorites together with newly penned, original tracks that are sure to become instant holiday classics for years to come!

Dubbed The Christmas Album, the project from S-Curve Records/BMG includes Odom reimagining such timeless holiday hits as “Last Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” and more. The album features Leslie’s version of the Christmas classic, “Little Drummer Boy,” performed with the Mzansi Youth Choir, who offer a beautiful, youthful sound, providing a unique blend of energy, spirit, and devotion to South African music. Broadway star, singer, actress, and Leslie’s wife, Nicolette Robinson, joins him on a traditional Chanukah song, which pays homage to their own diverse, extended family coming together around the holiday season. By including a few nonChristmas songs on the album, Leslie’s goal was to spread the message of inclusion, stressing how important it is to respect and celebrate our differences, now more than ever.

Odom’s not the only artist in the holiday spirit. Singer-songwriter and chart-topping artist VaShawn Mitchell is set to release Home For Christmas, a 6-track Christmas EP featuring all original music on December 11. The project features the guest vocals of Maranda Curtis on “My Help,” and a duet with Chante Moore on “Home With You”.

Briefly: Premiere gospel label RCA Inspiration has announced a record deal with Voices of Fire, to release new music from the new choir, in partnership with Pharrell Williams’ company i am OTHER. The newlyformed choir stars on the Netflix docuseries “Voices of Fire,” led by Williams’ uncle Bishop

Ezekiel Williams. The docuseries debuted on the streamer Friday November 20th and Williams serves as an executive producer on the project. The Voices of Fire choir will record its first full-length album, to be released by RCA Inspiration in partnership with i am OTHER at a future date. The “Voices of Fire” Netflix series documents the journey of forming this new choir as Bishop Ezekiel Williams, Pharrell Williams, and a team of other influential gospel leaders lead a search for fresh voices in the Hampton Roads, VA region. Bishop Ezekiel Williams, a well-respected faith and musical leader in the area, teams up with a core group of gospel leaders with the mission to build one of the world’s most inspiring gospel choirs, spotlighting talent of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and their varied backstories.

On a sad note, the L.A. gospel industry suffered a double loss this month with the passing of famed gospel artist Rance Allen earlier last month and most recently over the Thanksgiving holidays, the passing of Troy Clark. A behind-the-scenes music industry veteran who worked as both a talent manager and background vocalist, Clark died of liver failure on November 25th. Clark was the first person to publicly sing the lead on Kurt Carr’s “For Every Mountain,” one of his signature songs. As the story goes when Clark sang it at a West Angeles church service, the congregational response was so strong that the pastor — Bishop Charles Blake - couldn’t preach that morning. He told Carr that he should definitely record that song. Carr did and it’s one of his most popular songs. Clark eventually formed a talent agency, Clark Management, in 2002.

Some of his roster of clients included BSlade (aka Tonex), Earnest Pugh, Octavia Pace, Charles Butler & Trinity, among others. On the side, he often hit the road as a background vocalist for his best friend, Stephanie Mills. Two of Clark’s longtime industry friends, recording executive Neily Dickerson and singer Earnest Pugh, have announced a virtual concert celebrating Clark’s life. Pugh and Judith Christie McAllister and Pugh will host the virtual Facebook Live concert Friday, December 4, 2020 @ 9 PM ET/ 6 PM PT on the @SetAPartandChosen1 page.

GameChanger:Stacey Abrams

GERALD BELL Contributor

“How One Woman’s Fight to Empower the Black Vote is Coloring Geogia Blue”

T

he social political capital of voting rights activist Stacey Abrams skyrocketed after the state of Georgia turned from red to blue in the wake of the highly tensed 2020 presidential election. As founder of Fair Fight Action, an organization to address voter suppression, Abrams is receiving major credit for getting an estimated 800,000 Georgia residents registered to vote for this election season in a state seen as critical for Trump.

Once the media announced Georgia had swung from Republican to Democrat securing Joe Biden as president elect, tweets and posts offering praise to Abrams began pouring in from such household names as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Viola Davis, and LeBron James to name a few.

Hillary Clinton told Abrams in an episode of her podcast, "You believed in the potential for Georgia to have an election that would empower people to vote and it's so exciting to see all that hard work pay off.” Clinton continues, “When I think about the work that went into it, I have to just pause and say this was truly an act of faith."

For more than a decade, Abrams has been in the fight against voter suppression. Her passion has been dedicated to protecting the voting rights of marginalized groups across the country and waging war on controversial practices such as voterroll purging, removal of polling locations, and the restrictive “exact match” rule for ballot signatures, which was in play in 2018 when she ran for Governor of Georgia losing by a slim margin to Brian Kemp.

Added to her ongoing plight, Abrams founded the New Georgia Project, a non-profit that registers eligible Georgians to vote, and is responsible for submitting more than 200,000 voter registration forms from predominately communities of color between 2014-2016. In this work she also helped restore more

than 33,000 illegally canceled voter applications in the state.

On the Friday morning following the 2020 election, Abrams posted a tweet thanking organizations and activists who also have worked to increase the numbers and participation of liberal voters.

"We have seen what is possible when we work hard and when we work together," Abrams said in a video statement about the successful outcome. "We know we can win Georgia. Now let's get it done, again."

Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Abrams and her five siblings were raised by both parents who taught them three life tenets: go to school, go to church, and take care of each other. It was understood if they knew someone less fortunate, it was their job to serve that person. The family later moved to Georgia where Abrams would graduate from Avondale High School, and go to receive degrees from Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and Yale Law School.

From 2007 to 2017, Abrams served in the Georgia House of Representatives, while also serving as minority leader from 2011 to 2017. An award-winning author of romantic suspense novels (more than 100,000 copies sold) Abrams was the Democratic party's nominee in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, becoming the first African American female major-party gubernatorial nominee in the United States.

Abrams never denied her anger when Republican Brian Kemp was declared the winner of the governor’s race. However, she saw it as an opportunity to fight and work even harder to organize and mobilize an army of voters to break the Republican Party’s lock on state politics and create a government that looked more like the new Georgia.

“When people are afraid, they often give up. I like to introduce the challenges, but I try to convert fear into anger and outrage,” said Abrams, who in 2019 was the first AfricanAmerican woman to deliver a response to the State of the Union address.

“Righteous indignation requires action. Fear, you curl into a ball, you go into the fetal position. But anger, you go out and you seek justice. When people are out seeking

“

Righteous indignation requires action. Fear, you curl into a ball, you go into the fetal position. But anger, you go out and you seek justice.

When people are out seeking justice, that creates hope. So, for me, in the continuum, we begin with fear, but we end with action. And if that action creates change, then hope lives. And that’s the mission.

”

justice, that creates hope. So, for me, in the continuum, we begin with fear, but we end with action. And if that action creates change, then hope lives. And that’s the mission.”

Barack Obama, who has been a long-time backer of Abrams, said in a posted statement, "In a time when too many folks are focused simply on how to win an election, Stacey’s somebody who cares about something more important: why we should. That’s the kind of politics we should practice. That’s why I’m proud to give Stacey Abrams my support."

The last time a Democratic presidential nominee claimed victory in the state of Georgia was back in 1992, when Bill Clinton won by 13,000 votes. However, since Barack Obama ran for president, Republican presidential candidates have won the state by only single digits – five Stacey Abrams continued to page 28

COVID-19 Watch New “Stay-at-Home” Order Announced in L.A. County as Lockdown Orders Roll In

A

fter the announcement of a statewide curfew, more restrictions are being imposed upon L.A. County after a staggering increase in coronavirus cases.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 30, the county is under a “stay-at-home” order that bans all public and private outdoor and indoor gatherings of people from different households, with the exception of faith-based services and protests. Residents are also

being encouraged to stay at home as much as possible unless going out to acquire essential items.

Essential retail businesses are now limited to 35 percent capacity and nonessential retail is now limited to 20 percent capacity. Places like museums, galleries, gyms and zoos can remain open at 50 percent capacity but can only operate outdoors. Schools and day camps will be allowed to stay open unless they report

three or more COVID-19 infections in a two-week span.

“If this doesn’t work, and two to three weeks from now, we find ourselves in a worse place than we are, we’re going to have to go back and look at what else do we have as options, because we cannot continue to risk overwhelming the healthcare system,” L.A. County Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.

On Wednesday, Nov. 25 all restau-

CHRISTAL MIMS Staff

rants, bars, wineries and breweries in the county were ordered to close for both indoor and outdoor dining. Takeout and delivery services will be allowed to continue. All California counties in the purpletier are under a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. barring “nonessential work, movement and gatherings.”

Some elected officials are questioning how effective the new restrictions will be.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced that she formally opposed the halt of in-person dining, citing estimates by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation that about 700,000 food industry jobs could be lost, with 75 percent of those losses affecting workers earning $50,000 or less annually.

“Businesses have made incredible sacrifices to align with safety protocols to remain open in order to pay their bills and feed their families,” Barger said. “Increased case counts are not coming from businesses reopening, but from large gatherings where people aren't wearing masks.”

But the other supervisors, along with Ferrer, believe that the spread is undeniably taking place in environments where people are gathering and taking their masks off which is inarguably happening at restaurants.

“We are seeing a significant number of violations around the physical distancing protocols, including violations at restaurants, bars breweries and wineries,” Ferrer said.

Since the start of the new safer-at-home order, protesters have gathered in front of Ferrer’s home to denounce the lockdown orders, claiming that their civil rights are being infringed upon. They are calling for the “reopening” of L.A. and lead with chants like, “no science, no data, no shutdown.”

“I think, again, people everywhere have the right to protest and have the right to express themselves when they’re unhappy,” Ferrer said after a protest. “I think, unfortunately, that can be upsetting, but that is their right, and I’m assuming that people will continue to exercise their rights. That’s just where we are right now."

L.A. County reported 5,014 new coronavirus cases Sunday, Nov. 29 which brings the nationwide total to 395,843 with 7,639 deaths.

There were also 2,049 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday, with 24 percent of them in intensive care units.

Officials say that hospitals throughout the county are currently at 75 percent capacity.

California set a new record of single-day cases on the last day of November, documenting more than 21,000 cases.

Through the Storm How Coach Gessie’s Harrowing Journey To Motherhood Birthed A Miracle Baby, Booming Business & Hope for Women With Fibroids DIANNE LUGO

B

what? I don't want to do this anymore. I’ll just adopt.’

You get to the point where you try to hear God say what you want him to say and at that moment, I wanted Him to say adoption. I knew I was going through my grieving process and I had the love of a community that helped support me through it...And of course, I knew at the end of the day, God was not leaving me. That He would never leave me nor forsake me.”

With that, Thompson decided to try again and after her fifth IVF cycle–at 39 years old and just recovering from her third fibroid surgery–Thompson was pregnant.

Unfortunately, it was not going to be an easy pregnancy.

Not only was miscarrying a concern, but doctors had recommended that she terminate the pregnancy.

She refused.

“

They are those moments where it's just you and God. I remember too many times in the hospital where I literally felt like I was on the verge of giving up hope. When I had that miscarriage I was like, ‘God, you're going to have to hold me together right now, because I don't have the strength.

”

Twenty-one weeks into the pregnancy the doctors informed her that the fibroids were back with a vengeance– this time cutting off some of her baby’s blood supply in a condition called fetal growth restriction. The condition not only meant that Thompson would never be able to carry the baby to a full term, but that it was life threatening for her as well. Thompson wasn’t having any of it. She’d waited 10 years for her miracle baby and was determined to persist.

The end to her pregnancy nearly killed her. Delivering at 32 weeks pregnant, Thompson actually stopped breathing on the operating table during her C-section.

But Thompson lived and so did her miracle baby, Nia who weighed in at two and a half pounds.

Unfortunately, her struggles did not end after Nia was born. In 2015, Thompson ended up having a hysterectomy, as many other women with fibroids end up having. A “traditionalist” for years and “the furthest person from a holistic medicine person”, she paused after her mother advised her not to go on the estrogen patch doctors were recommending after her hysterectomy. Her mother had read research linking hormone replacement drugs to cancer. She instead suggested Thompson look for a more natural way.

So she did.

“I said, okay God, is there something else?

“I'm not going to go from fighting fibroids to fighting cancer,” she thought. “I remember that day I said, ‘Well, Mom, listen, I'm going to use this medicine for just a little bit while I look for a natural remedy.’ And I was sitting in my office one day and I heard the Lord say take it [the patch] off.’

And I knew right away because when God speaks to you, you know what he's talking about... I took it off.”

Further research into the issues related to estrogen led to Thompson’s discovery of the work of Dr. Amsu Anpu and Dr. Amun Neb, two naturopathic physicians who asserted that estrogen dominance was the answer to Thompson’s questions. Estrogen dominance, they said, was the root cause of reproductive diseases like the fibroids and infertility Thompson had experienced as well as others like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.

Ironically, while Nia’s birth had ended Thompson’s struggle against fibroids, it became a catalyst for the work she would as a coach and spokesperson for women suffering as she had. She’s written several articles about her struggles and authored a popular book on the subject, entitled Hope Beyond Fibroids–Stories of Miracle Babies & the Journey to Motherhood. Today, Thompson is known as “Coach Gessie”. A health coach and nutritionist, she runs a company named Detox Living, is followed by the likes of Erica Campbell and Yolanda Adams, is a frequent guest on shows like “The Sister Circle” and “The Breakfast Club” and hosts a podcast with the same name that guides women through managing and reversing diseases holistically.

She advises women on how to change their lifestyle to reduce stress and change their diet to starve the body of estrogen. At the program’s core is the same research she discovered to reverse and prevent these reproductive diseases and other inflammatory diseases estrogen also affects like diabetes and high blood pressure. The program, she says, has led to women eliminating up to 50 documented fibroids without surgery. Another woman also used the program to end her own 12-year battle with infertility.

“It's an opportunity to manifest His glory,” Thompson said about starting her work.

“And it's an opportunity to use everything that He's brought you through to help someone else accomplish their purpose, to fulfill their purpose.

You can't do that if you're not healthy.

It's not just about physical health, because healing is from the inside out.

That is our approach. That is our ethos. So yes, it's spiritual. Yes, it's emotional. Yes, it's mental and it's physical,” she added.

“That's why Detox Living is life free of toxic thoughts, toxic people, toxic habits, and toxic foods.”

L.A. Focus/December 2020

y the time they turn fifty, 80 to 90 percent of Black women are affected by fibroids, –the abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman's uterus. The lumps, usually non-cancerous, affect about 26 million women but they disproportionately affect Black women. Gessie Thompson is one of them.

Four years into her marriage, Thompson and her husband were ready to expand their family. After six months with no success, Thompson visited her gynecologist to find out if she’d been unaware of something that might explain why the couple had been unable to conceive.

“Lo and behold, she says to me, ‘Mrs. Thompson, you have fibroids,’ Thompson recalled.

Fact is, not only will Black women develop fibroids at a younger age than white women, but they also tend to have larger and more numerous tumors with litany of problems including heavy bleeding and cramping, low back pain, anemia and in some cases, miscarriages. For other women, including Thompson, the fibroids can cause almost no obvious symptoms. Until that day when she came to fully understand that the fibroids were robbing her of what she wanted most–children.

With the diagnosis, Thompson began a long and painful journey to rid herself of the fibroids in the hopes of getting pregnant.

Doctors had sent her to a fertility specialist who had recommended the first of many surgeries Thompson would go through. Her first surgery was a myectomy to remove the fibroids. It went well, she remembers, and she believed that might be the end of it.

It was not.

“My journey was a grueling one. There were five fibroid surgeries and five surgeries for complications for the fibroid surgeries,” Thompson explained.

Those surgeries included three myomectomies to remove the fibroids -- and still the fibroids came back every three or four years. In between surgeries, Thompson was also going through in vitro fertilization (IVF), a lengthy and costly process that often requires multiple cycles before success.

IVF had started as a sort of last resort. Years after her first fibroid surgery, Thompson had still been unable to get pregnant as her biological clock continued to tick.

Once again, the fibroids had returned. Only this time they were no longer asymptomatic. Thompson was now dealing with heavy bleeding and pain and the surgeries to remove the fibroids required much larger incisions and brought complications. Without IVF, her doctors told her, she would likely never be able to have a baby.

In 2008, after her first IVF cycle, Thompson and her husband received the news that their wish to add to their family might be granted. Unfortunately, at 10 weeks pregnant, they received the news that their baby’s heart had stopped and Thompson would have to go through a heart wrenching miscarriage.

“Those are those moments where it's just you and God– our faith builders,” Thompson said.

The miscarriage had particularly shaken her faith as many other moments in her journey would.

“I remember too many times in the hospital where I literally felt like I was on the verge of giving up hope.

When I had that miscarriage I was like, ‘God, you're going to have to hold me together right now, because I don't have the strength."

Her faith, however, would power her forward, but after her fourth IVF cycle, Thompson began to feel angry and helpless.

“It was now five years in, and the IVF cycle came back negative. I had hit a wall. And I said, ‘God, you know,

Staff

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ChurchNews

Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center Consolidated Plaza: 3725 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Five Churches Join Forces for Christmas Giveaway; Wilton Gregory Makes History

From left to right: Pastor George Hurtt, Pastor Terry Brown. Pastor Welton Pleasant and Pastor Shane Scott

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astor George Hurtt of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church saw a need and rose to the occasion.

Teaming up with fellow pastors, Hurtt will be holding a Christmas giveaway for residents looking to give their children a memorable holiday, despite this year’s many challenges.

“People are hurting financially during this time, especially parents. We don’t want children to suffer and miss out on the holiday in our church and in our community. I reached out to a few pastor friends of mine and they felt the same way,” Pastor Hurtt explained. “Pastor Shane Scott from Macedonia Baptist Church in Watts, Pastor Welton Pleasant from Christ Second Baptist Church in Long Beach, Pastor Terry Brown from Liberty Baptist Church and Judson Baptist Church, in Los Angeles and Carson, respectively. It’s about families and kids and knowing that these are unusual and strange times and not wanting to add to the already mental strain and economic difficulty that people are facing.”

The pastors decided to join forces to expand their reach and impact more people.

“Churches fellowship with each other, we all love each other and respect each other’s leadership. We want to use this as an opportunity to affect more communities. While our congregations aim to benefit from it, it’s not solely for our congregations. We want the communities that surround our churches to also be able to come out and benefit from it and show the love of Christ,” Hurtt expressed.

The event is set to get underway on December 20 at Noon at all five church locations. Hurtt says that all are welcome.

“We don’t want anyone left behind. Our office knows that whoever calls, that’s who we’re serving, that’s who we’re reaching out to, that’s who we’re trying to help out,” he said. “I think this is a season where people could really use the thoughts of gifts and a morale booster in light of everything going on.”

Archbishop Wilton Gregory Becomes the First Black American Cardinal in the History of Catholicism

Gregory’s appointment comes after a year of racial protests in the U.S. sparked by the latest killing of a Black man by a white police officer. Francis has endorsed the protests and cited the American history of racial injustices.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Gregory endorsed proposals to include the history of Black Catholics in the U.S. as part of the curriculum in Catholic schools. Earlier this year, amid nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice, some Black Catholics said the curriculum should be more honest about the church’s past links to slavery and segregation, and more detailed in portraying how Black Catholics persevered.

Gregory opts for a balanced in the divisive nature of the rhetoric and racism captured in today’s society. Said Gregory, “If you saw only the positive, you'd be accused of being Pollyanna; if you saw only the negative, you would be accused of being cynical. What I have to do as the archbishop is to encourage those who are working for racial and societal justice to carry on and to intensify. And I have to invite those who are negative and are clinging to racist attitudes from the past to set aside that vision of our church, our society, our nation.”

Black Pastor Defeats Incumbent to Become Mayor of Stockton California Democrats are scratching their heads in the Stockton Mayor’s race as incumbent Mayor Michael Tubbs – who gained national attention back in 2016 when thenPresident Barack Obama backed his run for mayor – was defeated by political newcomer, 40year-old Republican Kevin Lincoln.

Up until last month, Lincoln, a former Marine, served as the of Stockton’s LifeSong Church. The son of a Mexican mother and an African American father, he identifies as Latino and Black.

Lincoln credits the win to his message of “bridging the gaps of division” and voter outreach.

"Our campaign was based on unifying Stockton, ensuring everyone has a seat at the table, no one is left out," Lincoln said in the statement. "My administration will focus on Stockton residents’ priorities, not mine. I am optimistic about Stockton’s future and know the mettle of our residents is unmatched. Our city is exceptional, and I am proud to have the opportunity to be your mayor. Now it’s time to get to work, putting those great ideas into action."

Research Ranks Churches Among Top Five Sites for Coronavirus Transmission

L.A. Focus/December 2020

Last month, Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory made history, becoming the first Black American cardinal in the history of Catholicism. Gregory was one of 13 bishops and priests elevated to the College of Cardinals at the Vatican on Saturday. With the ceremony, Pope Francis has appointed 73 of the 128 cardinals who can elect the next pope.

Gregory has characterized the appointment as "an affirmation of Black Catholics in the United States, the heritage of faith and fidelity that we represent."

The 72-year old Gregory was first ordained in his hometown of Chicago in 1973 and served as the archbishop of Atlanta for 14 years before being appointed to the Washington, D.C. archdiocese.

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New research suggests that, at the beginning of the pandemic, Americans from lower-income or majorityminority neighborhoods were more likely to be infected with COVID-19 through religious gatherings such as churches than those living in higher-income or predominantly white neighborhoods.

Researchers at Stanford University found that churches were among the top five sites for coronavirus transmission, alongside restaurants, gyms, cafes and snack bars, and hotels. According to an analysis of anonymous cell phone data, these places tended to have more visitors and longer visits. In all, the model calculates that visits to these sites accounted for 70 percent of transmitted cases during the first several weeks of the pandemic.

Even though black churches have generally been the most cautious about reopening, residents in black and Hispanic neighborhoods who met in person during this time carried a greater likelihood of transmission largely due to their higher mobility and more frequent visits to crowded places according to the data.

The Stanford researchers found that those living in higher-income neighborhoods were able to reduce their mobility–with remote work arrangements and food delivery–more than low-income residents, who are more likely to be essential workers.

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 Reginald A. Pope Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 8am • 11am Children’s Church: 11am (2nd/4th Sundays) Evangelism Training/Bible Study/Independent Prayer: (Mon): 7:29pm Mobile Prayer/Bible Study: (Wed) 11am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm

Bethesda Temple Apostolic Faith 4909 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 299-2591 • thevoice4904@att.net Pastor Kyron S. Shorter Sunday Morning Prayer: 9:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Children’s Church: 11:00am Sunday Evening Service: 6:00pm

Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm

Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (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 Sun. Early Worship: 8:00am Prayer Meeting: 10:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Wed. Afternoon Bible Study: 1:00pm Wed. Prayer Meeting: 6:00pm Wed. Evening Bible Study: 7:00pm View Pastor McKnight’s Sermons on YouTube 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 Channel 20 Dish & DirectTV,Channel 3 U-Verse

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

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

Andrea Ealey

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!

Israel Missionary Baptist Church - A Holy Spirit Filled Church 4501 South Compton Ave, Los Angeles,CA 90011 Church/Fax: (323) 233-3295 or 3296 Website: www.Israelmbc.com • Email: israelmbc@yahoo.com Rev. Rodney J. Howard, Sr. Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:30am Sunset Service: 5:00pm Communion Every First Sunday First Sunday Men In Prayer: 8:30 am Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesdays: 7:30pm 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 Sunday School: 9:30am Bible Study: Tues Noon

Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964

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Prevailing in Christ Ministries

n a season that has been defined by the constraints of the COVID pandemic, Andrea Ealey knows all too well that there’s more to being a first lady than wearing a great hat and looking pretty.

“I believe one of the more important things is to be a servant leader. For the people at your church to see that if you’re calling for prayer, you’re down there with them.

If you’re calling to walk and hold signs, you’re down there with them,” said Ealey who serves alongside her husband, Pastor Michael Ealey at the Carson-based, Prevailing in Christ Ministries.

Ealey–who was a member of her husband’s previous church in Long Beach for about 10 to 15 years before they married–stays busy within the church, handling administration duties, marketing and leading the women’s ministry, Sisters Prevailing in Christ Exceedingly (S.P.I.C.E.).

“We believe in helping women to their full potential.

All ages we don’t just focus on the older women - we focus on all of them,” Ealey said.

The church has been convening on Zoom and hosting “drive-thru prayer” for people who want to drive by the church and receive socially-distanced prayer.

The L.A. native has had a passion for service since she was young.

“When I was a teenager at Dorsey High School, I worked as a teen advocate for a local clinic where we would talk to young people who we knew were active about abstinence or birth control,” she said.

After graduating from UC Riverside and beginning her career in sales in marketing, she eventually transitioned to the world of healthcare and after caring for her grandmother, who was dealing with dementia, she focused on hospice work.

“I learned that I could help families become aware of hospice benefits and things we don’t know as a community,” Ealey explained. “I did that for about 10 years.”

New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 Elder Jeffrey M. Lewis

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-577 Roshod D. Hall 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: 7:30 & 10:30am Sunday Church School: 9:00am Radio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: Noon-7:00pm www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.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 Peace Apostolic Church 21224 Figueroa Street, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 212-5673 Suff. Bishop Howard A. Swancy

In Carson

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)

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30 am Morning Worship: 11:00am Tuesday Prayer and Bible Band: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm Wednesday in the Word: 7:30pm 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

Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Noon Day Bible Class: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Class: 7:30pm 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) Sunday School: 9:00am Morning Service: 10:45am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7:00pm

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: 8:00am|10:45am| 5:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12pm|7:00pm FB: GreaterZion IG: GZCFamily www.gzcf.us

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

In Gardena

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

In Hawthorne

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

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

Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, (P.O. Box 5449), Compton 90224 (310) 604-5900, www.loveandunity.org • info@loveandunity.org

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

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

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

Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 • blessedfamilycovenant.org Rev. Wendy Howlett Sunday School: 8:30am Morning Worship: 9:30am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm

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 Services at The Tabernacle: 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

Pastor Profile: Raphael Warnock Church: Ebenezer Baptist Church How Long at Church: 15 Years Hometown: Savannah, Georgia Family: Unmarried, two children from previous marriage With the balance of power in the Senate coming down to the outcome of the Georgia runoff, what are your thoughts on this race becoming nationalized in its scope and critical for the Democratic Party?

Voters don’t vote for politicians. This race is not about me and Chuck Schumer’s name certainly isn’t on the ballot.

I’ll tell you what’s on the ballot. Access to affordable health care is on the ballot. We have 1.8 million Georgians with pre-existing conditions and if Kelly Loeffler has her way people who have asthma, hypertension and diabetes…these are folks in my family, folks in my church.

Folks who are survivors of cancer may find themselves without healthcare and that’s what this race is about and that’s what I will continue to lift up as I move across the great state of Georgia.

I’m pastor of the spiritual home of Martin Luther King Jr. I grew up in public housing. I know personally the importance of good federal policy combined with personal responsibility, work, grit and determination. That’s the reason I’m able to run for the U.S. Senate. I am an iteration of the American dream. I’m running for the senate because that promise is slipping away for far too many people. That’s what this race is about and there’s no question in my mind that as Georgians hear about my commitment to access to affordable healthcare, the dignity of work, the work I’ve been doing I’ve been doing for year– standing up for ordinary people–we will prevail come January 5.

L.A. Focus/December 2020

Some people are surprised to see a pastor attempt to take on this type of role?

I have been preaching in this campaign the same message I have been preaching for years. I’ve been trying to point us toward the highest ideals in our humanity and in the covenant we have with one another as American people – that all of us deserve an opportunity to create a prosperous life for us and our families.

Are you worried about your time being divided from your congregation as you potentially step into this new position?

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This is going to be hard work. And it should be. Anybody running for office knows that it’s hard work. But I’ve always understood that my service extends far beyond the doors of the church. That’s actually where it starts. I love this country, and I believe that what makes America so great is that we’ve always had a path to make it greater.

What is one thing you’re most excited to get to work on should you be elected?

I look forward to getting to the U.S. Senate so I can help pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. I’ve always tried to leverage the moral truth to create moral good. My whole life has been about service. And that doesn’t end at the church door, it starts there.

What are your thoughts on the state of the U.S. and the social climate that has been brought on by a Trump presidency?

How is it that you can insult everybody? All Muslims ‘something other than children of God,’ all Mexicans ‘murderers and rapists.’ Insult the disabled. How is it you can insult everybody, but then one weekend, somebody discovers in a recording that you insult those whose daughters and wives look like those who have been supporting you, and then all of a sudden we can’t take it anymore. If it is true that a man who has dominated the news and poisoned the discussion for months needs to repent, then it is doubly true that a nation that can produce such a man and make his vitriol go viral needs to repent. No matter what happens, more than a third of the nation that would go along with this is reason to be afraid. America needs to repent for its worship of whiteness, on full display this season.

What do you say to people who try to use your criticism of the government in sermons, one in which they say you slandered the military, as a reasoning as to why y o u shouldn’t be elected?

A n y f a i r -

thinking person would recognize that everything a government does, even the American government, is not consistent with God’s dream for the world. And preaching at its best points out those contradictions but then shows us the path forward. I have no doubt that they will cull through my sermons and they will try to find three words in my sermon, but I think when that happens people should ask themselves why are they talking about my preaching or the preaching of somebody who’s not even running in the state of Georgia? What I was expressing was the fact that, as a person of faith, my ultimate allegiance is to God. Therefore, whatever else that I may commit myself to has to be built on a spiritual foundation. The folks in my congregation, many of whom are veterans, weren’t confused at all about the message that day. When you commit yourself to something larger than yourself you become better at that – whether that is serving in the military or serving in the U.S. Senate.

How confident are you in your ability to rally voters and gain their support?

I finished first, handily, far ahead of a candidate who is the wealthiest member of Congress, who poured millions of dollars into this race. And we finished in a strong position. We’ve got a larger pool of voters who’ve never voted before. I’m a pastor so I’m reaching out to everybody ... I think there are a lot of people hurting – white and Black, urban and rural. And so we’ve been moving across the state intentionally trying to talk to all of those voters.

There’s no question that Georgia is a place that unfortunately is very good at voter suppression. We’ve been pushing back against (voter suppression) through voter registration. We’ve got 800,000 new voters that weren’t available to us in 2018. There is no question in my mind that, as Georgians hear about my commitment to access to affordable health care, the dignity of work, the work I have been doing for years, standing up for ordinary people, we will prevail come Jan. 5.

What advice do you have for other pastors or Christian leaders who may want to go into politics or broaden their impact in a different way?

It’s all around you. You start locally with whatever’s going on in your community. A lot of the work that I’m doing and the things that I’ve found myself involved in, I didn’t go looking for. It came looking for me. It’s about being plugged in to what’s going on in the world and being sensitive to human suffering. I serve in an urban, inner-city context where there’s both wealth and influence and deep poverty and overwhelming needs all around me. Every year since I’ve been at Ebenezer -- in fact, every year of my ministry (I served in Baltimore before coming to Atlanta) -- I’ve found myself involved in work that speaks to the needs of people who suffer.

From the Pulpit of: Family of Faith Christian Center “A Pause for the Cause”

C

S. Lewis, one of the greatest minds and theologians of the 20th century, once penned these words, hardship often prepares ordinary people for extraordinary destiny.

In putting pen to paper, Lewis, one of the greatest theologians and minds and scholars and thinkers of the 20th century, said that hardship often prepares ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.

The apostle Paul concurred, stating in Philippians that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the good news. Everything I've endured; everything I've gone through; everything that has happened to me has turned out for my good and helped to spread the good news.

The late, great James Cleveland put it this way. I thank God for every storm that He brought me through. If I never had a battle or if I never had a storm; if I never had trials; if I never had tribulations; I wouldn't know what faith in God can do.

This is the children of Israel’s testimony we find in the book of Deuteronomy. After 400-plus years under Pharaohs, God delivered them out of bondage.

You do realize that what was intended to be a 11-day trek, turned into a 40 year sojourn because God had to allow some habits they picked up along the way to die off.

Some of us are wondering why we haven't entered into the promises God has for us after he has delivered us from what we were in bondage to.

In fact, not just habits needed to die off, but everyone that started with them wasn't going with them.

God says, I'm getting ready to take you into the promised land, but I need some old habits to die off. And I need you to understand that everyone that started with you isn't going with you to where you're going.

As a matter of fact if you survey the last ten years of your own life - there's been some people who have come in your life and there's been some people who went out

of your life. God told me to tell you, don't worry about anybody who has made an exit from your life, that He's left you with everything and everyone you need for the next level.

In fact, some people come into your life for a reason. And once that reason is fulfilled, then God allows them to disembark from your life. Then there are people that come into your life for a season. They're there for a while, but seasons come and go.

And so when the season is over, God says they have to make their exit from your life.

But whoever remains connected to you, God has them connected to you for where you're getting ready to go.

It was this past week my son offered up a prayer and I had to shout. After he finished praying, he said “Lord, teach us how to celebrate what we have and not become disillusioned by what we've lost.”

Because despite whatever you've lost, he's left you with what you need so you can still make the journey ahead.

Now that they had dropped some dead weight, the children of Israel were delivered from captivity and poised for the promised land. And so Moses instructed the children of Israel to remember. In other words, pause and give thanks for your “then” before reaching your own when.

You've got to learn how to celebrate what God has already done before you come into what He has for you.

I was in the store the other day and I noticed that shelves were being decked out with Christmas ornaments, decorations and all sorts of items. I thought to myself, here we are as a society already thinking about this upcoming Christmas when we haven't paused to really appreciate last Christmas.

You still have gifts you barely used from last Christmas. You have an unopened bottles that you have not consumed from last Christmas. You've got unopened bottles of perfume and cologne from last Christmas, but you have not consumed and you are really looking forward to this upcoming Christmas. You have unworn items that you have not put on since last

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 90801 (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

Christmas and you are already talking about what you want for this Christmas.

Moses says, remember the Lord, your God has blessed you and everything you have done.

Notice he didn't say not what you're going to do. No, He said the Lord has blessed you and everything you have done.

He didn't say God bless you and everything you're getting ready to do. It says the Lord your God has blessed you in everything.

This verse perplexed me because everything I've done hasn't always been godly or holy. Everything you've done has not always been holy. It has not always been Godly. Yet the text says that despite what you've done, God has blessed you in it.

I was messed up. I had to sit down and talk to God. I said, God, how is it that your text will say that you blessed me and everything that I've done when what I've done hasn't always been godly or holy?

I'm going to be real with you. I've had some missteps and I've made some mistakes in my life. But your word said that even in that you blessed me.

I don't understand how. And he says, Sherman, I still have the power to turn your missteps into stepping stones and the reason some of us will never do certain things again is because we have learned from our missteps.

Can you look back over your life and see God's hand up despite your handling of a situation? God still was good despite your behavior, God still brought you through, despite you trying to work it out yourself.

You've had some entanglements that God had to untangle to get you to where you going. God says not only did I bless you, but God says I watched over you. And the text says he has watched your every step. The good days and bad days. The cold nights.

It reminds me of a babysitter,–how the role of a babysitter is not to stop a child from moving. The role of a babysitter is not to even stop a child from having missteps or making mistakes, because sometimes that's how we learn life lessons. But the role of a babysitter is to

make sure you avoid a critical fall because that would cause you not to rise up and reach your potential.

I told you a couple of weeks ago, the doctor told me that I suffer from acute, hypersensitive allergies. He told me that I need to take my medicine daily. But he also told me that you need to keep your environment clean. So I went out and bought an iRobot. It's a little robot that cleans the floor. You don't even have to be at home. It will pick up dirt, it will pick up trash. But it had a little warning about getting too close to a balcony or some stairs because it could fall over the edge and be damaged.

God has watched over you because of some things you wanted to do or places you wanted to go that would have brought you too close to the edge and God loved you too much to let you make that mistake.

Thank Him for that party you weren’t invited to, the business deal that fell through, or that date that was cancelled.

God is watching over you!

Bishop Sherman A. Gordon

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

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.

Family of Faith Christian Center 345 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 595-1222 • F: (562) 595-1444

First United Methodist ChurchCompton 1025 S. Long Beach Blvd •Compton, CA 90221 (310)639-0775•F: (310) 639-1161

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.

Bishop Sherman A. Gordon, E.D. Min

Dr. Arnetha E. Inge, Pastor

Sunday School: 8:00 am Morning Worship: 9:00 am

Sunday School: 8:30am - 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:00-11:45am TONGAN Worship:1:00pm(2nd&3rd Sundays) Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: 7:30am & 6:30pm

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

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

In Lynwood

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

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

In Norwalk

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

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

Protestors continued from page 6 “We have two outstanding individuals that are being put forth. Two phenomenal women with unquestionable credentials and leadership abilities,” Sen. Steven Bradford said of Lee and Bass.

Brittany Cooper, a professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey says President-elect Biden and the Democratic Party owe Black women for their votes and the role they played in the fight against a “massive voter-suppression campaign” during the 2020 election.

“Black women leaders are so important to this democracy precisely because they dare to keep dreaming, even after the immediacy of a perpetual nightmare like Donald Trump. Representation is not everything. But it is absolutely something,” Cooper wrote.

Gov. Newsom can either decide to make an appointment to complete Harris’s term, which ends in 2023, or he can hold a special election.

Crenshaw Mall protest continued from page 6 But given that Sunday’s planned protest was posted on social media, the word must’ve got out about the march as the group was met with a heavy police and private security guard presence. As well as residents holding signs that read, “Racist Hate Free Markets,” and chants of “Racist go home.”

But some residents came out in support of the protest.

“We support the Crenshaw Subway Coalition efforts to stop their neighborhood from being gentrified,” Ellen Isaacs said.

“There are some orthodox Jewish neighbors in Beverwil who are very sensitive to what they perceive as intimidation and antisemitism. They think that holding a protest in front of [Abehsera’s] house is antisemitic,” she said when asked why some of the residents deemed it necessary to counterprotest.

“Oddly enough,” she added, “Beverwil is one of the neighborhoods that kept Black people out due to redlining.

It’s simply racist, and that bothers me.”

Carol Head, another resident sympathetic to the protest said some of her neighbors would rather live in their bubble.

“There’s an element of people who want to protect their wealth and have no desire to see an equal playing field where everyone can enjoy the bounty of America. I think it’s horrible,” she said.

As for Goodman, he said Abehsera was making every effort to deny the African-American community self-determination.

“I’m not going to let that happen on my watch,” Goodman said.

L.A. Focus/December 2020

Biden administration continued from page 6 Members and staff across the aisle and across the Capitol. In the White House, she will continue to be an effective force, as she coordinates and strengthens the work of the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress to deliver For The People,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

Biden released a statement expressing his eagerness to get to work and set America back on track.

“The American people are eager for our Administration to get to work, and today’s appointees will help advance our agenda and ensure every American has a fair shot,” Biden stated. “In a Biden administration, we will have an open door to the Hill and this team will make sure their views are always represented in the White House.”

28

For more information, call

310.677-6011

Effective Dec. 1, Alice Huffman will no longer be the president of the California-Hawaii State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) due to “health concerns”. Rick Callender, former president of the San Jose-Silicon Valley NAACP and current CEO of the Santa Clara Water District, has been appointed to the position and is set to assume duties.

Brown continued from page 8 economics and political science professor, attempts to will determine the acceptance of differences.” quantify the impact of our left-wing media. How do our “The best administrations will be those that do not overwhelmingly liberal media affect how Americans stoke division. think and vote? Groseclose wrote in 2011: Photographer Michael Freeby expressed that, “It’s not "For the past several years, I have researched this just the kids in cages, as if that weren’t bad enough.” question, trying to solve the following thought experi“Let us not forget ICE abducts perfectly law-abiding cit- ment: What if media bias were suddenly to disappear? In izens in the middle of the night, performs cruel unethical such a world, how would America look and act politicalunasked for surgeries on them, and that a disproportionate ly? number of coronavirus deaths have been taking place in "The answer is, approximately like Texas." (Note: This ICE captivity.” year, President Trump handily won that state.)

Terrell L. Strayhorn, Provost and Senior Vice President "More specifically, if media bias were to disappear, for Academic Affairs at Virginia Union University, where according to the analysis, then America would think and he also serves as Professor of Education and Director of the vote like any region that voted around 56-43 percent for Center for the Study of HBCUs, noted that African Republican John McCain in the last presidential election.

Americans are the only group denied access to education Besides Texas, such regions include Kansas, North by law.

Dakota, Kentucky, Salt Lake County, Utah, and Orange “No matter how uncomfortable or unpopular to admit, it County, Calif." was once legal to punish or kill an African American, but Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times, you could not educate them,” Strayhorn submitted. once admitted, "The left, as a rule, does not want to hear “Teaching Blacks to read and write was prohibited by thoughtful disagreement." Given this mentality, liberals, law. In the year 2020, there are over 4,300 colleges and Democrats and the media find Trump absolutely, posiuniversities in the United States, collectively enrolling tively insufferable. This raises a question. Mr. Biden, over 20 million college students. Virtually 2 million are which side needs to heal?

African Americans, with the vast majority (two-thirds) Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndibeing Black women. cated radio talk show host. His latest book, "The New “And when African Americans enroll in college, approx- Trump Standard," is available in paperback from imately half do not graduate, accrue high amounts of edu- Amazon.com and for Nook, Kindle, iBooks and cational debt, or report experiencing hostile, unwelcoming GooglePlay. To find out more about Larry Elder, visit environments at predominantly white institutions.” www.LarryElder.com.

Strayhorn asked that the incoming Joe Biden/Kamala Harris administration do all it could to reduce, or remove, Judge Moore continued from page 10 those challenges. a run for President.”

“A new administration, comprised of individuals who And his optimism doesn’t end with his own career but reflect the diversity of their constituents, can champion extends to the state of our country as well. culturally-relevant initiatives, create equity, and foster “It’s a wonderful time to be an American,” says racial healing,” Strayhorn proposed.

Moore. “We’ve lived through a hard period the last four As a Black and Indian American, a plan of Kamala years, but what that does not kill us only makes us Harris should include equality for Black women in the stronger. We’re happy to help the Biden-Harris adminisworkplace, opined Dr. Carey Yazeed, the editor of the tration rebuild America. We’re happy to be the voice of anthology, “Shut ’em Down: Black Women, Racism and African American judges and lawyers and we will speak Corporate America.” loudly and boldly and honestly to advocate for change.”

“Malcolm X stated it best, ‘The most disrespected perThough his ideals are high, it’s these ideals that have son in America is the Black Woman. The most unprotected pushed him to dream bigger and accomplish more than person in America is the Black Woman.’ This country has what has been expected. done little to help uplift Black women, yet we are the ones “If you believe it, you can achieve it. If you can dream who continuously come to its rescue,” Dr. Yazeed it, you can become it,” says Moore on his secret to success. remarked.

“I believe God births certain dreams in us because that’s Actress and mental health advocate Samantina Zenon our destiny. If someone else did it, you can too. If they concluded that many white people remain disconnected, haven’t done it and you still believe you can, you can. My still seeing African Americans as maids or even slaves. mother taught my sister and I: if you believe you can, you “History continues to rewrite itself. In every avenue, can. And if you believe you won’t, you won’t. It all begins Black people consistently get mistreated,” Zenon said. with belief, first in God and then yourself. Nothing beats “In order for real changes to happen, the new adminis- a failure but a try. Some people are so afraid of failure, tration needs to give more Black people a platform to be they won’t even try.” seen and heard, not just Black celebrities or politicians.

“Real people who face daily challenges for being Black Stacey Abrams continued from page 21 in America. Part of the narrative on their campaigns was percent for John McCain, seven percent for Mitt Romney Donald Trump divided the country and has given white and five percent for Donald Trump in 2016. supremacists a platform to be racist, and they want to While a host of public figures are crediting Abrams bring us back together. While that is true, the new adminwith turning out Black voters in the state of Georgia in istration needs to be held accountable for making those the 2020 election, she remains poised for the work ahead changes because Black people showed up for them at the (a 2021 state senate race) and contends that there are “so polls. make racism wrong again.” many other groups who have been working at this for a very long time.”

Larry Elder continued from page 8 “We had 2 million voters who knew that their voices with the election interference of the American media. were needed, and they showed up,” noted Abrams. “It's In his book "Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias not me — it’s about us.”

Distorts the American Mind," Professor Tim Groseclose,

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L.A. Focus/December 2020

f anyone tells you can only do one thing at a time, prove ‘em wrong, and show them all of your talents.”

The words reflect the most appropriate sentiment of entertainment quadruple threat and industry veteran actor, director, producer and writer, Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

The Tony Award winner, who recently celebrated his 64th birthday, has been blessed to share all of his talents in Hollywood and on Broadway stages and has excelled at most everything he’s tried–onstage, on screen and behind the camera as well. The Golden Globe winner has had stand-out roles in television series such as Showtime’s - “Billions,” BET’s - “The Quad,” and the ABC hit series, “Castle,” while on the silver screen he’s shined in films like, “American Gangster,” “Selma”, and “Mr. Brooks.”

Ruben’s most recent undertaking is Netflix’s highly anticipated Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The Lackawanna Blues creator was tapped by producer Denzel Washington to write the screen play. There was a bit more pressure on Santiago-Hudson because of his longtime friendship with the late playwright August Wilson, so he wanted to make sure he got it right. And get it right he does with a dynamic cast that includes Academy Award winner Viola Davis, Glynn Turman and the late Chadwick Boseman in what was his last onscreen role.

Already, the film is garnering rave reviews. While a great deal of the praise is reserved for Davis–who the Washington Post says, “occupies the screen with the imperious, implacable command of a prizefighter”, and Boseman, whose performance was characterized by a critic as his “final, perhaps finest gift”, SantiagoHudson’s ability to capture the characters in a script that is transfixing does not go unnoticed and is likely to place him in contention in Hollywood’s upcoming awards season.

The film revolves around Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (Davis), one of the earliest African American blues singers, and one of her recording sessions. Bringing characters with nuance, passion and pain to life as they moved through the world as Black musicians in a 1920’s Chicago was no easy feat, but Santiago-Hudson succeeded in setting the stage for heartfelt and powerful moments on screen.

“I’m a very studious actor,” said Santiago-Hudson, who has a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to his name and has mastered the navigation of a successful showbiz career spanning over four decades.

“I love dramaturgy. I love research,’ he adds. “Each time I am involved in a project, I get particular joy in the process. No matter what position I am in, there is always an opportunity to learn from extraordinary artists and to share my experiences and my heart with them as well,” he said.

“In ‘Ma Rainey,’ when they are in the rehearsal room, their integrity comes out. Then, when they go down to the basement, their true Blackness comes out. The way they joke with each other, the anger, the pathos. We rarely get to see that”.

Born Ruben Santiago to a Puerto Rican father

30

Ruben Santiago-Hudson I’ve found out that through my art I can make a difference in the world.

I can always combat the distorted images of our people. I can show positive images, and that no matter where you are in life, you have integrity, dignity and principles. and black mother, the Lackwanna, New York native knew he wanted to be an actor after playing Huck Finn in a play in grade school. He would go on to study theater at the State University at Binghamton as part of a program for educationally and economically disadvantaged students.

He moved to New York in 1983 and tried to get a part at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, but I did not speak Spanish. Instead, he tried his luck with the Negro Ensemble Company and was told, 'We don't have Puerto Ricans.’ So, he added his mother's name, Hudson, and subsequently landed a part in "A Soldier's Play" at the Ensemble Company. From 1990 -1993, a recurring role on the TV soap opera, “Another World” would help pay the rent.

In 1992, came the role he says would legitimize him, making his Broadway debut as Buddy Bolden, the great cornet player, in "Jelly's Last Jam." But the project that would perhaps most define him is his award-winning one-man play “Lackawanna Blues”, where Santiago-Hudson brings over 20 quirky characters to life during the course of his autobiographical tour de force transporting audiences to to his small-town 1950’s childhood on the banks of Lake Erie and a boarding house run by a strong, independent and compassionate woman, Miss Rachel “Nanny” Crosby.

“I wrote it as a love letter to the woman who raised me,” Santiago-Hudson tells L.A. Focus of Nanny, who took him in after his parents all but abandoned him. “She took me from the jaws of a situation that wasn’t good for me, raised me and gave me an opportunity to thrive and be something. I wrote her a love letter and it became a play.”

He spent two years writing the colorful characters and situations that came and went through Nanny’s eccentric boarding house-- from would-be philosophers and petty hustlers to lost souls and abandoned lovers, as he prepared himself to embody each one of them when the play opened in 2001.

“I love the memory of these people of whom I spent the first 17 years of my life with. It’s refreshing and it inspires me. It energizes me and is everything I need--

it’s almost like sustenance,” said happily married father of four, while adding that the main message of the play is that “we all need a little help sometimes”.

In 2005, the play was adapted into a critically acclaimed TV movie starring Terrence Howard, Carmen Ejogo, Lou Gossett Jr., Live Schreiber, Hill Harper, Rosie, S. Epatha Merkerson Jimmy Smits, Michael K. Williams, Macy Gray, Jeffrey Wright and SantiagoHudson and earned a Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG, and Image Awards.

For 16 years, the production would lay dormant, until urged by friends in 2018, he took the one-man play back to the outlet he loves best–the stage.

“The most important work I do in my life is my theater work because I’m editor-- I’m in charge,” says the actor, who has at least two other theater productions lined up for later this year. “In film and TV people see me and wave and say ‘there’s that actor.’ When I’m onstage people want a hug because they see my heart and soul. I bear it all.”

A natural teacher, Ruben also enjoys giving back to and sharing with those around him and is delighted when he hears and sees colleagues pursuing their desires and goals, finding his saving grace through the impact he can make in the world by sharing the positivity and dignity of all people, no matter their background.

“I’ve found out that through my art I can make a difference in the world,” he says.

“I can always combat the distorted images of our people. I can show positive images, and that no matter where you are in life, you have integrity, dignity and principles.