L.A. Focus Newspaper April 2020

VOLUME XXV • ISSUE 3 • April 2020 >>

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COVID-19 Primer

FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19...

THROUGH THE STORM Idris Elba’s COVID-19 Journey

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L.A. Focus

contents

April2020

Left: First AME pastor J. Edgar Boyd and a U.S. Postal official join KCBS anchor Pat Harvey in the unveiling of the Gwen Ifill postage stamp. Middle: Pastor Thom Washington poses with his family and the cast of Extreme Home Makeover appearing on the show. Left to right: Washington, sister Terri Lynn Henderson, Extreme Home Makeover’s Darren Keefe, Carrie Locklyn and Jesse Tyler, wife Stephanie Washington, designer Breegan Jane and daughter Kenni Washington. Right: Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas supports Hot & Cool Cafe in Leimert Park (Photo credit: Aurelia Ventura)

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From The Editor Congratulations, You’re Alive

Commentary Churches Challenged Under the Strain of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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UpFront Los Angeles will mirror New York as coronavirus surges • Plans for Clippers New Arena are Full Steam Ahead following Forum Purchase • Byron Allen’s Supreme Court Loss

Head to Head The Polls Are In But Do We Really Know Joe Biden?

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Feature Story “Why The Census Matters Now More Than Ever”

Money Matters $2 Trillion Stimulus Deal Struck to Rescue Economy – Who Gets What

Biz News Briefs Tyra Banks Puts Newest Venture on Hold

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Through The Storm Idris Elba’s COVID-19 Journey

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

Lisa Collins Gerald Bell, Keith DeLawder Kisha Smith, Tristin Alexandria Ian Foxx Leatha Davis

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

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

Everything You Wanted to know about the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hollywood Buzz A Show of Her Own, Gabrielle Union To Release Children’s Book, Meghan Markle Goes to Work, Casting News

One On One Issa Rae

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19 From The Pulpit of 21 In Good Taste 22 Saving Grace Don’t Worry – Pastor Tony Evans

Chef JJ Johnson

Celebrities Share Uplifting Messages In Lght of COVID-19 Pandemic

Red Carpet Style Favorite Looks Recap

Eye On Gospel

Headlines From Africa

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COVID-19 Primer

Clark Sisters Celebrate New Release and Movie, Lecrae Has New Single and Mission, Stellar Awards Rescheduled

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Church News

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First Lady Files

Churches Shift Online in Wake of COVID19 • Pastory Kirbyjon Caldwell Awaits Sentencing After Pleading Guilty to Fraud

First Lady Erica Campbell

Naomi Campbell says “Safety first NEXT LEVEL” as she dawns a hazmat suit she purchased on Amazon while travelling from Los Angeles to New York.

Pastor Profile Pastor Kyron Shorter

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

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/ April 2020

advisory board

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Commentary

K.W. TULLOSS Guest Columnist

“Churches Challenged Under The Strain of the COVID-19 Pandemic”

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he global pandemic, caused by the coronavirus has infiltrated every part of our lives, including our churches. With each growing day, we see increasing numbers of positive COVID-19 cases across the country. At the time of this writing, there are more than 250,000 positive cases in the United States and the national death toll has surpassed 6,000.

During this crisis, businesses, organizations, and communities across the globe need relief. Among those organizations is the Baptist church, a place that has been a beacon of hope to communities and families in both good times and in times of tragedy and hardship since the 17th Century. The Baptist church is vital to keep people grounded through not only faith but action.

With all the uncertainty and pressure surrounding the pandemic, the world expects the church to provide not only answers but resources that no other institution can provide. The Baptist church not only meets spiritual needs but also meets the emotional, physical, and financial needs of our communities. Many Baptist churches offer food banks to feed low-income families; provide childcare, tutoring, and afterschool programs; financial literacy courses; counseling; and a host of other resources to underserved communities.

Due to community spread, the death toll and number of cases has skyrocketed, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that gatherings of more than 10 people be completely eliminated. This has placed a tremendous burden on our churches. Though many churches have the ability to stream services online, churches rely on tithing and donations. When members cannot come, our churches suffer, particularly in the Easter season, which for many churches can easily account for up to one quarter of their annual budget.

The African American church has led the way in the black community dating back to slavery and is at the heart of the community, remaining independent of government reliance. They have fed, clothed and provided shelter to low income families and those at risk without government assistance and have proven effective in the transforming of lives at critical stages providing services such as childcare, tutoring/mentoring, mental health counseling and job training. But given the mandatory closures, and the inability to collect what has been our largest source of revenue, many–for the first time in history–will be unable to meet their monthly financial obligations.

Churches need funds so that we can protect and strengthen our communities. Last month, the U.S. Congress and the White House brokered a $2 trillion stimulus deal that allocates $500 billion to distressed businesses–the airlines, hotel industry and cruise

From the Editor

lines among them. As pointed out by the New York Times, the bailout will place thousands of businesses on federally funded life support and cushion some of the nation’s largest corporations from bankruptcy.

Providing funds to specific industries during this pandemic will offer relief to major corporations but as we have seen before, those industries will regain momentum and thrive, becoming richer while small businesses, communities, churches, and families suffer devastating consequences.

Might such loans, some may wonder, come with strings attached? Absolutely.

That is why the church is simply seeking to have mortgages forgiven for the duration of this pandemic–or at the very least–to have those mortgage payments deferred until the end of the loan terms. We are also asking for funding to assist churches in providing increased resources to our communities during this difficult time. Though some have the resources to give, the need is so great given the overwhelming consequences of the Coronavirus. Families are seeking basic necessities such as toilet paper, food and water along with a safe place for their children to go since they are home from school while the parents, many of whom are single parents still have to work.

As believers, we are not exempt from this pandemic and should have no less consideration than corporations who profit on the backs of hard-working people. Many lives will be forever changed by the effects of COVID-19. We have the network, tools and resources to assist communities–particularly those hard to reach– both during and after this awful pandemic. We are asking you to take the critical and necessary measures to help keep church doors open to provide long-term support and relief to our communities. Without consideration from the federal government, many churches will be forever shuttered.

During election season, the church is sought out as an effective place for elected officials to come to seek votes, to speak about their promises to help bring positive change to our communities, to implement voter registration drives, and most recently to encourage participation in the U.S Census. However, once elected, the church seems to become irrelevant. We need you, our leaders, to keep the same passion you have during election season to direct your efforts and energy to keep the church alive.

Do not forget us now.

Rev. K.W. Tulloss is president of the Baptist Minister’s Conference and senior pastor of the Historical Weller Street Baptist Church.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Congratulations, You’re Alive”

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L.A. Focus/April 2020

ife is short. Life is fragile. Make the best of every moment. Live each day like it could be your last.

We’ve all heard those statements, swallowed up just as quickly as they are taken in, with the confidence that while another day isn’t promised, we’re betting it will come. Ah, but last month, things were altered beyond our wildest imaginations as life as we have come to know it, stopped. The future just as suddenly became uncertain and all bets on what the next day would bring, off, as the coronavirus pandemic has thrown the United States into uncharted chaos, with leaders flying by the seat of their pants as the virus determines the course of business in America.

All over the nation, businesses and school systems are shut down as Americans are told they are safer at home. Unemployment claims surge to all-time records–beating out the Great Depression–and the death toll rises, amidst predictions that it could reach to as high as 100,000-200,000 if people do not stay home. And Wall Street is signaling that an economic meltdown is in the offing.

I am reminded of a scene right out of one of my favorite Easter season movies– The Ten Commandments–where people shutter in their homes as the pestilence in form of a green mist passes through the streets of Egypt, killing the firstborn of all those who did not have lamb’s blood on the top and sides of their doorframes to signify that they were God’s people.

The reason then was simple. The Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go and ten plagues–from locusts and the Nile River turned to blood to three days of darkness– were sent to break Pharaoh’s will. Today, it’s not so simple.

There are those who blame Trump for moving too slow to protect our borders and take COVID-19 seriously. A New York Times op-ed writer went so far as to blame white evangelicals for the spread of the coronavirus in America reasoning that they downplayed the danger of public gatherings.

But the truth is neither is responsible given that experts have been saying that the U.S. has been woefully unprepared for the pandemic that would surely come. In 2018, Bill Gates observed that the next deadly disease that would cause a global pandemic was coming and could kill millions within six months.

Of course, there is always the urge to politicize and it’s difficult to argue against the fact that the president’s laisez -faire attitude about the virus and not acting sooner, could have added to the loss of life.

In the final analysis, the Coronavirus is here. It doesn’t care if you’re white or black, young or old, rich or poor, Christian or Muslim, popular or unpopular, it is killing indiscriminately, and we need to get our act together.

This is a wake-up call and people are examining everything from how they’re

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spent their money to how fragile life is and how important the people we love are.

The idea that people are dying alone–that the virus is so dangerous that their loved ones can’t be with them is heartbreaking. That 700 NYPD personnel have tested positive is mindboggling. That, as a friend of mine observer, the most social activity many of us get is going to the supermarket and that Fifth avenue in New York is a ghost town. It’s Twilight Zone on steroids.

Just as surely, this is a moment to consider changes in our lives that need to be made. What’s really important and what’s not is sure to become crystal clear. Fear needs to be balanced out by faith.

When is it going to end? How am I going to come through this?

That depends on you. With all that we can’t control, the biggest power is found in what we can control–our minds and spirits. What doesn’t kill us can truly make us stronger as a person, as a people, as a nation.

Don’t use your energy to worry, instead channel that energy positively. Several years ago, my youngest brother tested positive for HIV and became critically ill from meningococcal meningitis in New York City. He lost everything–a career as a soughtafter dancer on Broadway, his marriage and his once perfect health.

For all of the year he spent in and out of the hospital (mostly in), we became concerned that while the disease didn’t kill him, the depression behind all that he had lost would kill him. He would spend days in the dark, saying nothing. He thought of throwing himself off of subway platform into the path of a train and ending it all.

One day I said to him, for all that you have lost, there is someone worse off than you who would love to be in your shoes, with a daughter and family that loved him.

He said those words changed his life.

Today, he is happier than he’s ever been – a walking, breathing miracle. Martin Luther King once said, “But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”

And from Nelson Mandela came these words: “Our human compassion binds us the one to the other — not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.”

So, in this time of challenge, if you're reading this...congratulations, you're alive and if that's not something to smile about, I don't know what is.”

Keep the faith.

UpFront

News Briefs

Los Angeles Will Mirror New York as Coronavirus Surges, Newsom and Garcetti Warn JUDY LIN, BEN CHRISTOPHER, AND MATT LEVIN CalMatters

overnor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued dire warnings Friday that the nation’s second-largest city is headed for the same surge in COVID-19 cases as New York City after a 26% increase in California deaths overnight.

The announcement came as President Trump signed a federal stimulus package that will pump billions of dollars into the state’s flailing economy and offer a lifeline for an unprecedented public health response to the pandemic.

California had reported 216 deaths, and over 10,000 positive cases of the coronavirus. While nearly 90,000 tests have been performed, Newsom said, tens of thousands of results have yet to come back.

Still, if those trends hold, Garcetti said, Los Angeles County will soon have

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an overwhelming caseload, similar to New York City’s on a per-capita basis.

“Whether it’s one week or two weeks, as I’ve been sharing, we will be where they are,” Garcetti said. “We’ll have doctors making excruciating decisions. We’ll be trying to figure out what we do with that surge, how to get ventilators, where to find beds.”

Newsom added: “Every minute is a minute lost.”

California, which was the first state to issue a shelter-in-place order, continues to ramp up medical facilities in anticipation of a surge in coronavirus patients in the coming weeks. Newsom initially said the state would need an extra 20,000 hospital beds, but he increased the estimate to 50,000 in recent days in response to the growing epidemic. On Friday, the governor joined Garcetti in visiting the U.S. Navy’s Mercy hospital ship, which was brought to San Pedro to relieve Los Angeles area hospitals of non-coronavirus patients.

The federal government’s $2.2 trillion package includes checks of as much as $1,200 to individuals earning up to $75,000, with smaller checks for those making up to $99,000. It also extends nearly $900 billion in loans and other financial assistance to businesses, both small and big, sends $150 billion in aid to hospitals, clinics and labs and dramatically expands unemployment insurance payments for recently unemployed Americans, including gig-workers and freelancers.

California can expect to receive a significant portion of that aid. Of $150 billion that will be sent directly to state, local and tribal governments, California is due to receive $15.3 billion to plug

Plans for Clippers New Arena are Full Steam Ahead following Forum Purchase

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L.A. Focus/April 2020

lans for the LA Clippers’ new NBA arena are full steam ahead following Steve Ballmer’s purchase of The Forum.

The basketball team’s owner announced last week that he and Madison Square Garden, The Forum’s owner, reached an agreement to acquire the concert venue and resolve litigation surrounding plans for the new arena.

“This is an unprecedented time, but we believe in our collective future,” Ballmer said in a press release. “We are committed to our investment in the City of Inglewood, which will be good for the community, the Clippers, and our fans.”

There are no plans to change the operation of The Forum, nor will the Clippers play at the venue as it no longer meets NBA standards. All current Forum employees will have the opportunity to continue working at the venue, which is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re very excited that the legal wrangling between the Clippers and Madison Square Garden is over with,” said Pastor K.W. Tulloss, president of the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Southern California.

“Now we can get on to building

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Inglewood and what it means in terms of jobs for Inglewood and the surrounding community.”

Madison Square Garden purchased The Forum in 2012 and immediately undertook a $76.5 million renovation, ultimately making it into one of the premier live music venues in America. The Forum, of course, is the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings.

In 1999, it was purchased by Faithful Central Bible Church. Bishop Kenneth Ulmer said he and the congregation did so because they believed “Inglewood would suffer great economic loss at the demise of this iconic pillar of the Inglewood.”

“The baton of our love and commitment to this great city and its people is now passed on to Steve Ballmer and the Clippers organization and their vision for economic development, and community empowerment,” Bishop Ulmer said. “We, the Family of Champions, welcome and rejoice with Mayor James Butts, the Inglewood city leaders and the Clippers organization as we affirm, declare and decree that Inglewood remains the City of Champions.”

budget shortfalls, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The state can expect billions more for MediCal, its Medicaid health care program for the poor, plus an infusion into the state’s unemployment insurance fund.

The bill also includes new emergency funding for existing programs in the state. That includes hundreds of millions of dollars for housing, homelessness and childcare and tens of millions for law enforcement and election assistance.

That’s likely to help paper over at least part of the gaping hole the pandemic is certain to blow in the state budget.

But Newsom has already said he’ll need more.

“State and local governments will need additional and flexible funding to ensure they can continue responding to this crisis and continue critical services,” the governor said in a press release after the bill passed the House.

Also on Friday, Los Angeles County also ramped up efforts to keep people indoors by ordering beaches and hiking trails to close through April 19. County supervisors said the volume of people who opted to stroll on the sand or walk the trails was unacceptable, given the need to practice social distancing in a nationwide effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

And Newsom issued what he described as a new statewide moratorium on evictions for renters affected by the pandemic.

With unemployment claims topping 1 million in less than two weeks and the state bracing for a downturn worse than the Great Recession, Newsom released an executive order that gives tenants 60 Levin continued to page 20

Suing for Discrimination Just Got Harder. Thanks to Byron Allen’s Supreme Court Loss MARK HARRIS Special to California Black Media usinessman Byron Allen, Comcast and the Supreme Court all had hands in weakening the strongest anti-discrimination law in the history of the United States – as we are consumed watching Coronavirus updates.

Section 1981 of the United States Congress’ Civil Rights Act of 1866 banned racial discrimination in making and enforcing contracts, and granted African Americans the same rights as “White Citizens” in employment, contracting and other business agreements.

President Andrew Johnson vetoed the legislation twice, but a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives overrode his veto and passed the bill into law.

Now, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision handed down last week in the case National Association of African American Owned Media (NAAOM) (Allen) vs. Comcast severely weakened

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Harris continued to page 20

Cosby Seeks Early Release Due to COVID-19 As inmates at prisons across the country test positive for COVID-19, Bill Cosby has become one of many celebrity prisoners seeking early releases.

While the 82-year old comedian has reportedly not been tested for Coronavirus, one of the inmates at the Philadelphia prison where he is serving his time (up to ten years), has tested positive and was subsequently placed in isolation. People who had contact with the infected inmate– prisoners, guards, and other employees– are being monitored for symptoms.

Representative for Cosby–who is blind– fear his reliance on others makes him more vulnerable.

“Prisons and jails around the country are becoming infested with coronavirus cases and it’s only a matter of time before Mr. Cosby’s prison likely falls victim”, his spokesman Andrew Wyatt said in a statement.

Cosby’s legal team is asking the state parole board to release inmates like Cosby to house arrest to serve out the rest of their time. No decision has come down on that request.

Tavis Smiley Ordered to Pay $1.5 Million as Jury Rules in Favor of PBS The #MeToo movement has claimed another victim as a Washington D.C. court ruled in PBS favor, finding that former host Tavis Smiley violated the company’s moral clause when he engaged in multiple affairs with staffers. While a D.C. Superior Court judge has yet to determine the total amount of damages, Smiley will be ordered to pay at least $1.5 million.

“We are pleased with the jury’s decision,” a PBS spokesperson said in a statement. “PBS expects our producing partners to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect.

The alleged misconduct–reported by six women and dating back more than a decade– included inappropriate sexual comments, touching, verbal abuse and sexual relations with not just subordinates but guests on the show as well. Many of the women also claimed that they were fearful of retaliation if they reported Smiley.

Florida Gubernatorial Runner Up Andrew Gilllum Exits Politics for Rehab Former Tallahassee Mayor turned Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum announced that he was leaving politics to enter a rehabilitation facility. The announcement coming after Gillum was discovered intoxicated in a Miami hotel with a man who had overdosed on crystal meth. Baggies suspected to contain meth were also found when Miami police were called to a hotel room on March 13.

Gillum, 40, had been considered as one of the rising stars of the Democratic party when in 2018 he came just short of winning his campaign for Florida governor, inspiring the support of A-list black celebs like Beyonce and former president Barack Obama in his bid to become the state’s first black governor.

Gillum says losing the election caused him to fall into depression that led to alcohol abuse.

In a brief statement, Gillum wrote, “After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time.

This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse…“I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family.”

HeadToHead The GOP & Trump Take Aim At Joe Biden

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he fact that former Vice University of Delaware, Biden said, Biden's President Joe Biden, now Memory Isn't "An errant driver who stopped to on his third try for the presdrink instead of drive and hit – a the Only idency, remains the last "moderate" Problem; It's tractor-trailer – hit my children standing says more about his nowand my wife and killed them." But His Lies vanquished rivals than about Biden. the then-Delaware prosecutor, now The same media that post running tabs on a judge, who investigated the accident says, President Donald Trump's "lies" ignore, "The rumor about alcohol being involved by downplay or otherwise dismiss Biden's either party, especially the truck driver gaffes, memory lapses and frequent incoher- (Dunn), is incorrect." ence.

Furthermore, the tracHe's Uncle Joe, the regular guy from tor-trailer driver had Scranton, Pennsylvania, who understands the right of way, and the common man. So, what if he says, with- Dunn immediately got out proof, that he worked to "desegregate out of his truck and restaurants and movie houses of tried to render assisWilmington, Delaware"? So what if he says tance. He was no since 2007, "150 million people" – almost drunk driver. half of the U.S. population – "have been Disturbed by Larry Elder killed" due to gun violence?

Biden's drunk-driver So, what if he boasts about his "arrest" in version of the accident, Pamela Hamill, South Africa for supposedly attempting to Dunn's daughter, wrote to Biden. The visit Nelson Mandela, an effort Mandela Newark Post wrote: allegedly later thanked Biden for attempt"In 2001, (Hamill) wrote a heartfelt letter ing? Never mind that none of it is true – not to Biden expressing her father's profound the arrest, not the attempted visit and not grief after hearing Biden make a post Sept. the thank you from Mandela. According to 11 speech in which he told the audience the Daily Beast: "Biden finally admitted that, given his history, he could empathize that the story was much different than he'd with victims. initially described, saying he told police "'Growing up, my dad never talked about while on a congressional delegation to South it. He always got very solemn around Africa that he was 'not going to go in that Christmastime because the anniversary was door that says white only' and separate from Dec. 18, and he never wanted to celebrate his black colleagues." And so what if Biden, the holidays,' Hamill said. 'When newspawho voted for the Iraq War resolution and pers had anniversary articles (about the publicly accused Iraqi leader Saddam crash), we hid them from dad.'

Hussein of possessing weapons of mass "Biden responded in a handwritten note, destruction, now claims he "didn't believe which, in part, reads, 'All that I can say is I (Saddam Hussein) had those weapons of am sorry for all of us and please know that mass destruction"? neither I or my sons feel any animosity More disturbingly, Biden lied on at least whatsoever.'" two occasions about a man named Curtis C. Biden, it appears, got the message. Both Dunn. Dunn was the tractor-trailer driver families suffered a terrible tragedy. Why who, in 1972, tragically struck and killed add to the pain by falsely portraying the Biden's wife and his infant daughter. Along remorseful Curtis Dunn as a drunk driver? with many other news outlets, the But a few years later, Biden did it again.

Huffington Post, in 2008, described the acciIn a 2007 speech at the University of dent this way: "Delaware's Senator-elect Iowa, Biden said: "Let me tell you a little would face a more difficult challenge soon story. I got elected when I was 29, and I got after his election, when a drunk driver elected November the 7th. And on Dec. 18 of struck the car carrying his family, killing his that year, my wife and three kids were wife Neilia and daughter Naomi and severe- Christmas shopping for a Christmas tree. A ly wounding sons Hunter and Beau." tractor-trailer, a guy who allegedly – and I Based on Joe Biden's account, the never pursued it – drank his lunch instead Huffington Post got it right. Dunn was driv- of eating his lunch, broadsided my family ing drunk. After all, in a 2001 speech at the and killed my wife instantly, and killed my

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n today’s “pot-meet-kettle” Trump Trying “He’s not responding to the threat news, President Donald to Paint Biden strong enough, because it is Trump would like all of as Unstable Is absolutely a problem now and [is] America to know that Democratic going to be a problem,” Reines said the Pot front-runner Joe Biden–wait for to Politico. “You have to defend Calling the it–may lack the mental capacity Kettle an Idiot yourself because that stuff to be president. absolutely sticks.”

According to Politico, Trump stood before Reines is referring to Trump’s knack for about 500 Republican donors at his Mar-a- replacing objective truth with suggestive Lago resort last repetition. From Politico: month to stress his The effort provides a window into how concern that Biden Trump – who’s been dogged by questions may not have the about his own mental fitness – regularly mental stamina to picks apart his political opponents. He has face the day-to-day an unmatched ability to zero in on his foe’s rigors of running a biggest vulnerability or insecurity, and general election cam- through sheer repetition bake it into the paign, pointing to a public consciousness. Unfortunately for string of recent gaffes Biden, his performance on the campaign Zack Linly such as misspeaking trail has given Trump plenty to work with. and saying to voters that he’s running for It’s similar to the tack Trump used in U.S. Senate instead of president, as well as 2016 against Hillary Clinton, whom he his false claim that 150 million people tagged as “low energy,” also suggesting she (over a third of the population) had died of didn’t “have the stamina” to be president. gun violence since 2007. According to an Trump is probably being given too attendee, Trump appeared to be passive- much credit here, as it’s mostly his own aggressively daring donors to leak his com- base who buys into such cheap mud-slingments to the media by sarcastically saying, ing and that’s clearly the choir he and his “I would hope you not repeat that.” cohorts are preaching to with Fox News During a campaign rally in Charlotte, serving as a pulpit.

N.C., Trump said that if Biden were electRudy Giuliani said Biden is showing ed, he’d soon be put “into a home and other “obvious signs of dementia” when he people are going to be running the coun- appeared on the network on Saturday and try.”

Sean Hannity devoted an entire segment Listen, it’s not that any reasonable per- of his show to documenting how Biden has son wouldn’t look at Biden’s antics and “a very questionable grip on reality.” think, “You know, I’m just not sure that Tucker Carson (The Root’s biggest fan) man is very spry.” The man challenged a said on his show that Biden is “clearly” losvoter to a push-up contest once and called ing it. It shouldn’t be lost on anyone the another one a “lying dog-faced pony sol- fact that all of these men said these things dier”; he may be a wall or two short of a about Biden, then went on to praise the hallway. But is Donald “Windmills Cause current commander-in-covfefe.

Cancer” Trump really the man to call this In spite of what Clinton advisers warn, out? Is this not a clear case of throwing Biden doesn’t appear to be taking the presstones in glass houses? Is this not the may- ident’s attacks too seriously. During a onnaise packet calling the snowflake recent appearance of Fox News, he was white? asked to respond to a clip of Trump saying (Note: I’m pretty sure “the pot calling that he would “be sitting in a home somethe kettle black” is some racist **** so I try place” if elected. Biden laughed it off and to avoid using that version.) clapped back saying, “Is that the stable Obvious irony aside, Philippe Reines, a genius saying that?” former top Hillary Clinton adviser, who I mean…he has a point, is all I’m sayprepped her for the debates with Trump, ing. isn’t so confident that Biden can afford to Zack Linly is a poet, author, freelance be cavalier about the president’s attacks columnist and civil rights advocate. Follow on his mental stability. him @ZackWritesAlot.

Larry Elder continued to page 20

Headlines From Africa

Congo: A project intended to restore social cohesion between communities in conflict and local authorities, through a pro-peaceful solutions mechanism is empowering women to attain a place of choice in their communities.

Djibouti: Government officials have intensified awareness-raising efforts, which has resulted in reduced female genital mutilation cases, although the practice continues.

Eritrea: The Ministry of Health calls for all citizens to take the utmost precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and to strictly implement the Government’s social distancing guidelines for the safety of their own lives and the country.

Ghana: As cases of COVID-19 increase in Ghana and supplies of face masks dwindle globally, one NGO is collaborating with an international network to create African print fabric face masks quickly for those in need.

Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast president Alassane Ouattara,78, announced that he would not seek a third term in the country’s October election, ending speculation that he would try to extend his tenure, despite the fact that it was forbidden by the constitution.

Kenya: As COVID-19 cases began to grow in the continent’s major economies last week, Africa’s leader in digital payment adoption — Kenya — turned to mobile-money as a public-health tool, citing cash as a conduit for the spread of the coronavirus.

Malawi: Despite the lack of confirmed Coronavirus cases, President Peter Mutharika declared COVID-19 a national disaster last month to as a measure to

A look at current news from the continent of Africa Mali: Malians went to the polls last month for a long-delayed parliamentary election despite the recent kidnapping of a leading opposition politician and the COVID-19 pandemic. A second round of voting is set for April 19.

Mozambique: Current exploration and investment decisions could make Mozambique one of the world’s 10 largest exporters of liquefied natural gas and create broad-based economic growth for the southeast African nation.

Nigeria: Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote and a top Nigerian entrepreneur have launched a coalition of private sector organizations to support the country’s efforts aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus. The initiative will involve set up of “fullyequipped medical tents” to be used for housing patients as well as serve as training, testing, isolation and treatment centers.

Sierra Leone: Despite no confirmed cases of COVID-19 (as of March 23); President Julius Maada Bio declared a 12-month public health emergency to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

South Africa: South Africa’s biggest mobile phone companies have been asked to help track the movement of people days before a national lock-down as authorities grow concerned that they may spread the coronavirus to remote parts of the country.

Sudan: Sudan’s Minister of Religious Affairs Nasreldin Mofreh dissolved committees that were used by the Islamist regime to confiscate church properties last month– a move praised by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Tanzania: Tanzania has launched a campaign to deter sexual corruption, dubbed “sextortion” as a culture of shame has made it challenging for victims to come forward.

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n the next few weeks – between moments of panic – residents across the nation will be asked to answer nine basic questions about their household as part of a decennial population count and respond largely online. State and community organizers are particularly concerned about this year’s survey.

California faces powerful headwinds, not only from the mounting threat of COVID-19, the infection caused by the virus, but also from widespread distrust sowed by the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, including a failed push to include a citizenship question on the census.

For California, the stakes have never been higher: A low turnout could jeopardize one of the state’s 53 congressional seats, along with billions in federal funding.

L.A. Focus/April 2020

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“The message that “our lives matter and our votes count” could not be timelier,” said L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “With an estimated 2.6 million Black people residing in California, California constitutes the 5th largest Black population of all the states. Given the current climate of racial hostility and the unprecedented federal animosity toward the state, the need for focused and strategic attention on the 2020 Census Count and the subsequent redistricting process could not be more urgent.

“Furthermore, national controversies regarding census count and questions, specifically the failed addition of a question probing citizenship, highlight the importance of counting every individual from traditionally underrepresented and undercounted communities.

No one knows yet how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact California’s count but it is widely expected to depress turnout.

Nationally, the U.S. Census Bureau has suspended field operations until at least April 1. “Any type of person-to-person contact, that’s what’s being eliminated,” said spokesperson Patricia Ramos.

Presentations from census workers at local churches and town-hall meetings have been suspended. The count of people experiencing homelessness has also been postponed a month. It will now take place from April 29 to May 1.

“In the midst of what we’re facing with the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s very important that our community receive its fair share,” says Rev. K.W. Tulloss, president of Baptist Minister’s Fellowship. “And the only way we’re going to be able to argue that our fair share is needed is if our residents speak up through their representation in the Census.”

“Cultural crisis moments like this help to validate the need to be counted in our nation’s census,” adds First Church of God Center of Hope pastor Geremy Dixon. “The data matters. There are dollars being forfeited by communities desperately in need of robust financial support, partially because we are not being

counted.”

Census workers are still scheduled to visit homes in late May, and online census operations continue. The bureau has also adjusted how it counts people living in group quarters such as on college campuses, in group homes and in nursing homes. Even celebrities like Cardi B–understanding the urgency of the Census even in the midst of crisis–are urging their followers to do their part and be counted.

“Don't let this virus distract you from the fact that this census is important, now more than ever to getting the resources we need in our communities,” the rapper/actress posted on social media. “Fill out the census at 2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to fill out the census. It only takes ten minutes.”

Ironically, on the same day census notices began landing in people’s mailboxes, the governor clamped down on public gatherings in an effort to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak, disrupting months of planned outreach events and door-to-door appeals.

“We risk being undercounted because the Census is overshadowed by today's crisis, but being undercounted means having less resources to battle tomorrow crisis”, observed California Complete Count Commissioner Regina Wilson. “Because of that, the Census matters now more than ever.”

In fact, the Public Policy Institute of California characterizes 29 million Californians at risk of being undercounted. For every person who is not counted, the municipality must cover the cost of these essential programs without the benefit of federal dollars.

These can be people who are hard to reach because they are homeless, rent, or live in nonstandard housing, such as garages and trailers. They can also be young men who may not respond or children who aren’t properly counted in a questionnaire. Many often lack a reliable internet connection.

Moreover, it’s race and ethnicity.

Scientific yardsticks since 1940 reveal that the census misses Black Americans at disproportionately high

People are not awake to the fact that 1.5 trillion dollars is allocated every year and that if they undercount communities of color it will cost us nearly 1 billion a year.

But more than that, all the power for selecting everything from the congressman who represents you to the school board member gets decided by the Census for a decade.

You can screw up a lot of people’s lives in ten years.

—Stacy Abrams

rates, especially Black men ages 18 to 49 and Black children under age five.

“At the end of the day, we know historically many times we’ve been undercounted on purpose,” Tulloss said.

“With that being said, we want our community to be proactive. It doesn’t hurt anyone but us if we are undercounted.”

Anthony Thigpen–a Los Angeles-based community organizer for more than 30 years who serves as Chief Strategist of California Calls, a powerful alliance of 31 organizations in 12 counties around the state–concurs.

“Throughout the history of the United States, the black community’s consistent fight for recognition has been an unfortunate and inescapable reality,” Thigpen wrote in a recent op-ed entitled, Black California Has A Change to Rewrite History in 2020.

“History hasn’t been kind or accurate when it comes to counting Black neighborhoods, “Thigpen stated. “In Census after Census, the supposedly straightforward act of counting everyone in America has dismissed and disregarded millions across the country.

“Nationally, the last Census in 2010 undercounted Black people by 2.1 percent – a total of 800,000 people missing from the record, rendered invisible. Black children were twice as likely to be missed as white children, affecting federal funding allocations to programs to provide support to children in schools.”

Because of the consequences of undercounts, the Census has been dubbed by civil rights activists as among the most important civil rights issues today.

“The Census is a civil rights issue with huge implications for everyone, particularly people of color,” Beth Lynk, the director of the Census Counts Campaign at The Leadership Conference Education Fund has said.

“Communities that are missing from the census lose out on what they need to stay safe and healthy.

Unfortunately, Black people and Latinos are considered to be harder to count, and accurately counting these populations takes a focused effort,” she said.

“That’s why it’s critical that local governments and community organizations educate their own constituents and members and encourage them to be counted.”

It is a mission former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams is passionate about.

“People are not awake to the fact that 1.5 trillion dollars is allocated every year and that if they undercount communities of color it will cost us nearly 1 billion a year,” Abrams said. “But more than that, all the power for selecting everything from the congressman who represents you to the school board member gets decided by the Census for a decade and you can screw up a lot of people’s lives in ten years.”

Martin Luther King III is co-chairing a New York Census council along with actress Lucy Liu and “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“Being counted in the Census may well be second only to voting when it comes to citizen action in the Democrat process," King said.

"Unfortunately, people of color are the ones most often undercounted, which leads to negative consequences for their communities.

To that end California has allocated more than $106 million on census outreach efforts. Overall, the state is spending more than any other state.

The goal is to make over 100 million “impressions” which will capture who is looking at the content and how they’re consuming it, whether that’s via mobile or desktop. It will assess its success by comparing targeted populations to live census returns. As completed forms come in, the state will allocate more funding to areas with low returns.

“It’s really critical to get it right,” said Bohn.

California residents benefit from dozens of federal programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, affordable housing and funding for roads, school lunches, early childhood education and foster care. Andrew Reamer,

research professor at George Washington University, estimates California receives $172 billion in federal money based on its population.

County and state organizers are now pivoting to social media outreach and ramping up a digital ambassador program, a group of preselected online influencers including actor Danny Trejo, mixed martial artist Urijah Faber, and Sacramento Kings basketball player Harrison Barnes.

“We are encountering the first mainly digital census and we are also encountering groups that have a general fear of the government and of the federal government,” said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, spokeswoman for California Complete Count. “So, for us, this is why we have really created this comprehensive outreach and communications approach to really address some of these unprecedented challenges.”

“The significance of the census is to direct resources where they are most needed, determine our system of political representation and to inform business development and investment,” said State Senator Holly Mitchell.

“We must stand together to make sure our community counts. Stand up for your children, your families and your communities. Let’s be counted!”

Mitchell is among those leaders who see the collaborative effort California is leading to educate and motivate the hardest-to-count Californians to fill out the Census form as imperative.

“We have the power to change the course of our history,” Thigpen said. “Across California, which has the fifth largest Black population in the country, Black activists and organizations are once again stepping up. This time to partner with the state to conduct the most comprehensive and diverse outreach campaign in state history.

“My Black Counts is an education and awareness initiative convened by California Calls as part of The California Black Census and Redistricting Hub Project.

This is our chance in California to right historical wrongs and for communities to claim what is rightfully theirs.

It’s our time to show we aren’t invisible.”

MoneyMatters $2 Trillion Stimulus Deal Struck to Rescue Economy—Who Gets What

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n what is being called characterized as the most expensive bill enacted in history, Congress and the Trump administration have reached an agreement that legislators hope will serve to bail out the economy, which was collapsing under the COVID-19 crisis.

"We have a bipartisan agreement on the largest rescue package in American history," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. "This is not a moment of celebration but one of necessity."

The agreement follows a week of stock market volatility, record unemployment numbers as millions of Americans are ordered to stay home, upwards of 50,000 Americans testing positive for the Coronavirus and a death toll topping 700.

The deal calls for checks of up to $1,200 for Americans who’ve lost their jobs, a $367 billion loan program for small businesses, $150 billion in resources to state and local governments, $500 billion for industries and $150 billion to hospital and medical needs.

The deal would provide a massive boost to unemployment insurance. It also calls for strict oversight and transparency of all loans made to corporate America with a provision that would block President Donald Trump and his family, as well as other top government officials and members of Congress, from getting loans or investments from Treasury programs in the stimulus.

The package would also extend extraordinary taxpayer assistance to potentially millions of American and companies that have been shuttered by the pandemic. For those wondering exactly who is eligible and how it will work, here are some of the details.

One-time direct payments of $1,200 will be issued to every American adult making less than $75,000 a year, and $2,400 to couples with household incomes below $150,000, with $500 payments for each child under the age of 17. Most who are currently receiving social security, will also get a stimulus payment.

The payments phase out for those with adjusted gross incomes over $75,000 ($150,000 for couples) and are eliminated entirely for those earning more than $99,000 for singles and $198,000 for couples. Those individuals who are claimed as dependents by others–even if over the age of 21–will not receive checks.

On the Money JACKIE BOTTS CalMatters

Also ineligible to receive checks are those who are able to work from home; those receiving paid sick/family leave and those new to the force not able to find jobs before COVID-19.

The IRS will determine just how much most Americans will get based on recent tax returns with payments by direct deposit or mail. Most are expected to receive the payments by Easter.

Those receiving unemployment will receive an additional $600 per week on top of state benefits that range between $200 and $550 a week depending on the state. The federal government will add 13 weeks to the amount of time unemployed workers will be able to collect benefits. Currently, workers are allowed to collect benefits for between 12 and 28 weeks, depending on the state.

Additionally, those who wouldn't normally be eligible for benefits independent contractors, the selfemployed and gig workers such as Uber drivers and delivery personnel - will be eligible.

Payments on federal student loans can be deferred until September 30 with no penalties, and people with 401K or retirement savings accounts would be able to withdraw funds from those accounts without paying the 10 percent penalty for early withdrawals.

The bill bans lenders from foreclosing on federally backed mortgages through mid-May and imposes a four-month ban on evictions by landlords who rely on federal housing programs. It also temporarily suspends efforts to garnish wages to repay debts, including those owed to the IRS, but does not apply to those who are behind on child support payments.

The bill includes nearly $25 billion in food assistance, including $16 billion for food stamps, and $9 billion for child nutrition programs. Additionally, the bill provides $450 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which supplies food banks.

A total of $377 billion has been allocated to offer loans and grants to small businesses with 500 or fewer employees. To encourage the distribution of these loans, banks would earn a 5 percent fee for making the loans. Payments can be deferred up to a year, and the loans could be partially forgiven if the money is used to pay employee salaries, rent, mortgage interest or utilities.

The bill also allocated $17 billion to defer existing payments on Small Business Administration

Violating Stay-At-Home Orders Can Be Costly Scenes of teens and adults hanging out on the beach not only angered California Governor Gavin Newsom, who then ordered beach parking lots to be shut down–but local city officials were hardly pleased either. In fact, so displeased were they at the violation of the stay-at-home order, that they have announced that police officers are now authorized to issue citations–and fines– to those disregarding the safeguards put in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Under the stay at home rules, residents are required to stay at home and away from people outside their immediate family unless they are engaging in an ‘essential activity’–including outings to the grocery store, pharmacy and medical appointments.

So what will it cost you to violate the stay-athome order? Under state law, violations of the order are punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.

Here’s how Santa Monica city officials broke it down.

Individuals will be fined $100 for first violation, $250 for second violation within one year, $500 for third or subsequent violations within one year; for violations by businesses: $500 for first violation, $750 for second violation within one year, $1000 for third or subsequent violations within one year.

In a recent press briefing, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city would investigate complaints of non-essential businesses that remained open despite orders to close and in where necessary, would cut off their utilities.

Biz News Briefs Tyra Banks’ ModelLand theme park grand opening – originally scheduled for May 1–has been postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and determine a new date to open that is appropriate and safe,” Banks posted on social media of her latest venture, ModelLand that she hopes to be her legacy.

“I look at Walt Disney and what he’s done with Disneyland and how it continues for ever and ever. And the next person like that is JK Rowling, what she’s done in creating the Potter universe. I want that with ModelLand,” Banks told a reporter of what she dubbed as “an elevated integrated shopping experience”.

Located at Santa Monica Place, the 21,000 square foot, multi-level attraction is a place to live the ultimate modeling fantasy via personalised makeovers, photoshoots and fashion shows, combining the glamour of America's Next Top Model and the magic of Disneyland, to make both fashion & beauty a fun, theatrical, and

L.A. Focus/April 2020

Tyra Banks Puts Newest Venture On Hold

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empowering experience for all.

“ModelLand” says Banks, “is not just an attraction. It’s a place that challenges what ‘attractive’ means”.

Supreme Court Sides With Comcast Against Byron Allen; Demands Proof of Clear Racial Discrimination Allegations of racial discrimination in contracting must prove that bias is the sole reason for a minority company losing a deal, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously. The ruling overturns a lower court ruling in favor of comedian turned media mogul Byron Allen who sued Comcast alleging racial discrimination.

A lawsuit brought by media mogul Byron Allen claimed that Comcast refused to carry channels produced by his Entertainment Studios because it often rejected content from "100% African American-owned media companies." Comcast argued that it lacked the bandwidth to include ESN channels such as JusticeCentral.TV, Comedy.TV, Pets.TV and Cars.TV and favored news programming over those channels.

The Supreme Court justices ruled that plaintiffs must prove that race was the determining factor for a lost contract, finding unanimously that San Francisco appeals court applied the wrong legal standard in allowing Allen's $20 billion suit against Comcast to move forward.

The decision sends the case back to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for rehearing with this standard in use.

Lawyers for Comcast said the telecommunications giant declined to carry Allen’s channels because they felt the programming wasn’t very good.

Allen is not giving up the fight.

“Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has rendered a ruling that is harmful to the civil rights of millions of Americans,” Allen said in a press statement. “This is a very bad day for our country. We will continue our fight by going to Congress and the presidential candidates to revise the statute to overcome this decision by the United States Supreme Court, which significantly diminishes our civil rights.”

CVS, Amazon Among Companies Looking to Hire Due To COVID-19 Outbreak CVS has joined the list of companies across the country that are hiring to keep up with increased demand brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Embarking on the most ambitious hiring drive in the company's history, the company plans to immediately fill 50,000 full-time, part-time and temporary roles across the country.

Just last week, Amazon announced that it would be hiring an additional 100,000 workers in the U.S. and boosting pay by $2 an hour given the increasing demand for products and a backlog of customer orders.

Walmart says it will hire 150,000 workers to meet the surging demand of consumers in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic and is expediting the application time from two weeks to 24 hours.

Other major companies looking to hire in light of increasing demand include Dollar Tree, 7-Eleven, Kroger, Safeway and Albertsons.

Through the Storm

n March 17, with his wife standing behind him, Idris Elba announced on social media that he had indeed posted positive, stating "This morning I tested positive for Covid-19."

"I feel okay”, the 47year old actor added. “I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus.

"Stay home people and be pragmatic”, he continued. “I will keep you updated on how I’m doing. No panic."

Elba was on location in New Mexico getting set to film The Harder They Fall, a western for Netflix produced by Jay-Z, when he was prompted to take a test after news breaks that someone, he’d been in contact with had tested positive.

“So, it was definitely something I had to do, as I was about to start filming and was around a lot of people,” Elba said. Quite honestly, my job made me test immediately.”

Days after Elba revealed his diagnosis, his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, confirmed that she had also tested positive after decided to be in isolation with him, noting that they both were asymptomatic and that she had not felt anything “that would come to what people would now expect to be a symptom of coronavirus, which is really strange".

“I think it opened up a lot more conversation,” the actor said of revealing his diagnosis publicly. “It made it more real for some people. It definitely made it more real for my family and me.”

Fans from around the globe offered their best wishes, but the actor’s COVID nightmare didn’t end there. Mixed into the good and bad days following his diagnosis, came the backlash and the rumors.

One, that his wife, who rushed to be by his side, shouldn’t have. Elba took to Twitter in response.

“People were criticizing her for being next to me,” he said. “I didn’t expect that.

Sabrina’s fine. She’s nervous…worried,” “Just for clarification,” he added, “Sabrina wanted to be by my side. As much as we talked about her not coming to where I am, she did, and I love her even more for it. And I would do the same for her.

"I could have made the decision to put myself, maybe, in a separate room or stay away, and I'm sure that people are making those decisions. And they're tough decisions to make," Sabrina Elba told Oprah. "But I made the decision to want to be with him and, you know, still touch him."

“In this time, when something like this is going on in the world, love is all you can get and who am I to turn down my wife’s support as much as I wanted her to keep safe. I love Sabrina for standing by me and being in that video. It was a most important moment for me.”

More than anything, the actor says just sharing with his fans has kept him more positive and optimistic.

“We, at one point, were sort of like our lives are over. This is how we kick it but at the same time realizing that the more we look at Coronavirus, that it’s a virus like many others that the human race has survived.

While he is optimistic, he also has some real concerns.

“I have asthma, so I fit into the high category of most at risk. I’ve had asthma all my life, but even my asthma is okay. I have a little bit of a runny nose. I haven’t been

O

“

We, at one point, were sort of like our lives are over. This is how we kick it, but at the same time realizing that the more we look at Coronavirus, that it’s a virus like many others that the human race has survived.

”

coughing so much so I generally feel okay. "I had a headache and body aches on the day I tested but that's been it.

“Of course, I’m worried about having asthma and how that could make things complicated for me very quickly.

I’m really worried about what’s going on in the world. I’m worried about how we’re dealing with it.

He says he was motivated to speak out by Tom Hanks transparency.

“We definitely want to be vocal and transparent,” said the recently married actor who believes he was exposed on March 4. “Being in the public eye we get to talk to a lot of people at one time and hopefully if I can show you what I’m going through you can use this.”

The actor also has taken the opportunity to address the notion that due to his celebrity status, he was advanced to the front of the line for testing–a disparity that has led to some controversy punctuated by the swift-

ness with which pro basketball players had been tested.

In actuality, it was the medic team for the film production Elba was about to shoot that contacted him about testing after learning he’d been in close proximity to someone who’d been infected with the virus.

“So,” Elba says, “it became an issue of am I going to be infecting a lot of people if I’ve been exposed, therefore they got me a test immediately. We are supremely aware that not many can get tests and feel very fortunate.”

"Test-shaming is, like, counterproductive. I don't see what people get out of that.”

Elba is among the growing list of celebrities–including Tom and Rita Hanks–who have tested positive for Coronavirus. Hanks and his wife were subsequently released from the hospital and are now back in Los Angeles. On March 31, CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo announced that he had tested positive. Also testing positive were Bravo host Andy Cohen, NBA all-stars Kevin Durant and Rudy Gobert, Prince Charles, Kentucky senator Rand Paul, Knicks owner James Dolan, actor Daniel Dae Kim, Bachelor star Colton Underwood and rappers Slim Thug, Brad “Scarface” Jordan.

And for all the thinking that they are invulnerable, not all of them have fared so well.

Elba has provided update alerts to let fans know that he and his wife remain okay with word from doctors that their systems “will be immune for a certain time since our antibodies fought this.”

Elba has been Passing the time writing songs, learning to play his guitar, playing video games, drinking a lot of fluids as the doctor instructed and bonding with his wife.

“Just trying to keep the spirits up.”

Something he says is challenging given the misinformation being circulated about him and disease. Easy enough to see he’s not dead or in an ICU unit as some have rumored, the actor adds, “Something that’s scaring me is…my black people please understand that you can get it.

“There are so many stupid, ridiculous conspiracy theories about not being able to get it. That’s dumb. That is the quickest way to get more black people killed. Stop sending out these stupid what’s apps messages about black people not getting it. You’re making us all look stupid. We have to be as vigilant as every other race.

This disease does not discriminate.

“Now, is not the time–if you’re sending that stuff out– [to stop]. People need to know the facts…the truth so that they can protect themselves.”

He went on to debunk the rumor that he and other celebrities were being paid to lie about their coronavirus diagnoses.

"This idea that someone like myself is gonna be paid to say I've got coronavirus -- that's absolute bull****, such stupidness," he shot back.

It’s pretty doom and gloom everywhere. The energy’s gone a bit weird. It’s important that we take a moment. Let’s think about our world and try and stay optimistic.

At press, Elba had posted that his quarantine period was over, and he and his wife were okay. His last message was one of encouragement.

“Take it from me”, Elba said. “I thought I was going to see the worst of it, but I came through and you can too.

Keep your head up.”

COVID-19 primer primer

A L.A. Focus/April 2020

t the start the year as the economy f l o u r ished, no one in the U.S. was thinking about coronavirus. Today, it’s all most people are talking about as it has profoundly impacted the way Americans are living our lives.

A recent poll found that 90 percent of Americans are staying home to avoid the possibility of becoming infected with the deadly virus.

But if you think we have it bad as cities across the nation begin to see more “stay at home” orders and California is effectively locked down? The consider what’s going on around the globe in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Wuhan, China—the epicenter

of the outbreak of the Coronavirus—is starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. The commercial center in Central China is beginning to emerge from two months of isolation but only after enforcing stringent measures to stop the spread of the disease, which has now killed upwards of 10,000 deaths worldwide.

At one point, authorities ordered house-to-house searches for potentially infected individuals who were then forced into quarantine. People were only allowed to leave their homes to get essential supplies or medical care, and those who did go out were required to wear masks.

France has deployed 100,000 police officers to enforce their lockdown and curfew, with checkpoints to be set up nationwide. Anyone caught outside is required to carry a document that certifies why they are outside.

L.A. Order Bans Evictions

Governor Halts Foreclosures

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an order protecting local tenants from evictions if they are able to show an inability to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order issued by the mayor covers loss of income due to a COVID-19 related workplace closure, child care expenditures due to school closures, health care expenses related to being ill with COVID19 or caring for a member of the tenant’s household who is ill with COVID-19, or reasonable expenditures that stem from government-ordered emergency measures. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to mean that the tenant will not still be obligated to pay lawfully charged rent.

Tenants will have up to six months following the expiration of the local emergency period to repay any back due rent.

Tenants may use the protections afforded in this subsection as an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer action.

Governor Newsom issued an executive order that waives a section of the state civil code, clearing the way for more localities to ban residential and commercial evictions related to coronavirus through May 31. The order also asks banks and other financial institutions to halt foreclosures.

Newsom also instructed the California Public Utility Commission to monitor how utilities are protecting customers from power, water, cell phone and internet shutoffs. Already the state’s largest power utilities, serving more than 21 million Californians, have voluntarily done so. Comcast is providing 60 days of free basic internet service to new customers.

President Donald Trump announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development would suspend evictions and foreclosures until the end of April. Details were unavailable, but it is likely that order applies only to federally funded housing.

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After Spain’s Prime Minister In light of the desire on the part Pedro Sanchez ordered a nation- of many—if not most—Americans wide lockdown, police began for information, we have comincorporating the use of drones to piled this primer to provide tell people who are out and resources and information about about in the streets to go home. COVID-19 and the pandemic it People who did not comply could has sparked. not only be fined but might even face prison time.

Finally, Israel’s internal Key Timelines security agency was—at one time— using smartFederal Stimulus Checks due: phones to track the Mid-April locations of people (See Money Matters on page 10) infected with COVID-19 and •Federal Income Tax due: July 15 anyone they •State Income Tax due: July 15 might have had •The city is freezing parking fine increases for the contact with next 60 days, extending the deadline for some of its citizens payments to June 1 receiving smartphone alerts when •California law enforcement is exercising they were near an discretion for 60 days in their enforcement of infected person. driver license and vehicle registration Such measures only expiration dates beginning serve to convey the seriMarch 16, 2020 ousness of the pandemic the world finds itself facing.

Getting Tested for COVID-19 in L.A. County According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website, there are several clinics you can call to see if you can get tested for coronavirus COVID-19. It is recommended to first check in with your primary care provider and see if they're conducting COVID-19 testing. If your doctor is not testing for the virus, you can call your local urgent care.

If you are healthy, have no exposure history, and have no symptoms, you are not guaranteed to be tested due to the limited test kit and protective gear supply caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Priority goes to those who: •Have been experiencing a fever or symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath?

•Have traveled to geographic areas with sustained transmission of COVID-19 within 14 days of symptoms •Have had close contact with a person confirmed with COVID-19 infection?

Here's where you can get a coronavirus

test: Central Public Health Center 241 N. Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 240-8204 MLK Center for Public Health 11833 South Wilmington Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 568-8100 Ruth-Temple Public Health Center (STD Services Only) 3834 S. Western Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 730-3507 Call ahead of time as some clinics have limited hours. The federal government has pledged that the costs for coronavirus tests will be waived for all Americans.

You will need to work with your health care provider for more information on your specific treatment costs.

For more information, visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov

Dispelling COVID-19 Myths As Americans get swept up protect against COVID-19”. in the fears and facts surroundAnother claim on social ing COVID-19, experts scram- media was that black people ble to not only to provide criti- were genetically resistant , but cal information on how to pro- the growing number of blacks tect against the disease but to dying from the disease right dispel some of the myths that here in the U.S. should have have surfaced. Most notably diffused that myth. among them that black people The Centers for Disease can’t get coronavirus.

Control and Prevention has One report claimed people clearly stated, anyone–regardof color couldn’t get coron- less of color–who comes into avirus because of the melanin close contact with someone in their skin, prompting infected with the coronavirus is experts to say, “Melanin won’t at risk for contracting it.

Here are some other common myths about the disease.

Children cannot catch COVID-19 All age groups can become infected. In fact, preliminary evidence shows that children are just as likely to become infected, but their symptoms tend to be less severe.

Cats and dogs spread coronavirus There is little evidence SARS-CoV-2 can infect cats and dogs.

Face masks protect against coronavirus Healthcare workers use professional face masks, which fit tightly around the face, to protect against infection. Disposable face masks are unlikely to provide such protection. As they do not fit as tightly, droplets can still enter the mouth and nose. Also, tiny viral particles can penetrate directly through the material.

You have to be someone for 10 minutes to catch the virus The longer one is with an infected person, the more likely they are to catch the virus, but it is possible to catch in less than 10 minutes.

Rinsing the nose with saline protects against coronavirus There is no evidence saline nose rinses protect against the virus.

You can protect yourself by gargling bleach Bleach is corrosive and can cause serious damage.

Antibiotics kill coronavirus Antibiotics only kill bacteria; they do not kill viruses.

Home remedies can cure and protect against COVID-19 No home remedies can protect against COVID-19, including vitamin C, essential oils, silver colloid, sesame oil, garlic, and sipping water every 15 minutes.

Coronavirus is the deadliest virus known to man It is not the deadliest virus that people have faced. Others, such as Ebola, have higher mortality rates.

Flu and pneumonia vaccines protect against COVID-19 No existing vaccines protect against infection.

LAUSD Offers Grab & Go Lunches The Los Angeles Unified School District has opened Grab & Go Food Centers to insure that nutritious meals are provided to students who need them during temporary school closures.

Each child can take home two nutritious meals.

A partial list of Grab & Go locations is below:

Audubon Middle • 4120 11th Ave., LA 90008 Barack Obama Prep•1700 W. 46th St., LA 90062 Cochran Middle •4066 W. J Cochran Vista, LA 90019 Dorsey High • 3537 Farmdale Ave, LA 90016 Dymally High • 8800 San Pedro St., LA 90003 Edison Middle • 6500 Hooper Ave. LA 90001 Fairfax High • 7850 Melrose Ave., LA 90046 Fremont High • 7676 S. San Pedro St., LA 90003 Gompers Middle • 234 E. 112th St., LA 90061 Harte Prep • 9301 S. Hoover St., LA 90044 L.A Academy Middle • 644 56th St., LA 90011 Manual Arts High • 4131 S. Vermont Ave., LA 90037 Markham Middle School • 1650 E. 104th St., LA 90002 Muir Middle School • 5929 S. Vermont Ave., LA 90044 Washington High • 10860 S. Denker Ave., LA 90047 Visit achieve.lausd.net/resources for a detailed listing.

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Small Business Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus The SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced on Monday. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s designated representative, Director Mark S. Ghilarducci of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services on March 13, 2020.

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agri-

cultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Carranza.

“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75

percent. SBA offers loans with longterm repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 6592955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov(link sends e-mail) for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 8778339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 16, 2020.

13

INSIDE HO L LY W OOD

by Neily Dickerson The Clarks Sisters: First Ladies Of Gospel Karen Clark Sheard once told me, “when I sang, I just wanted to be like Twinkie” and after watching, The Clarks Sisters: First Ladies Of Gospel, you experience why. The Clark Sisters; Jackie, Denise, Twinkie, Dorinda and Karen, let you into their lives, exposing the good, bad, ugly, and faith that propelled the Grammy winning siblings, along with their iconic mother, Mattie Moss Clark, to stardom.

Now, let’s dig into this movie cause it is good. I’ll start with Aunjanue Ellis (“When They See Us”), who does a great job portraying family matriarch, Mattie Moss Clark, as she strategically begins the process of transforming her daughters into one of the gospel’s most sought after groups.

Downright harsh at times, Mattie determined that her daughters would achieve greatness, so she and Twinkie, played by Christina Bell, developed “the Clark sound”. As their itinerary filled with dates a family rift occurred causing Mattie to make permanent life changes. Mattie then decides to add all the sisters to The Clark presentation, but it wouldn’t come without strenuous rehearsal for ~ Jackie ~

played by Angela Birchett, Denise ~ played by - Raven Goodwin of “Being Mary Jane” fame, Dorinda ~ played by vocalist Shelea Frazier and Karen ~ played by her daughter, Kierra.

Pushed to perfection, the sister’s intense rehearsals had to meet Mattie’s approval. Once the stage was set, the ladies began traveling the country and winning awards, but they wanted to do more than sing. Realizing they’d missed out on the fundamental stages of life, they began rebelling causing a divisive rift that would change the family dynamic forever.

Drama ensued and an unrepairable split left them separated.

“The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel” remind us of the importance to fight for family during this time. Bravo to the entire team.

DUE ON STREAMING THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Coffee & Kareem Netflix

Trolls World Tour Prime Video

A Show of Her Own

Social media favorite Chrissy Teigen has landed a reality court show on Quibi’s upcoming short-form social media platform. The show, Chrissy’s Court, Teigen will rule over small claims cases with her Mom, Pepper Thai, serving as her bailiff. Real people. Real cases. And real, legally binding decisions. If you thought Chrissy Teigen couldn’t become an actual courtroom judge, you’ve been overruled. The show will launch with the network on April 6… Also landing a show of her own is Claw’s co-star Karrueche Tran.

The VietnameseAfrican American actress (also seen on Fox’s Deputy) is starring in a new upcoming lifestyle series from Facebook Watch. In the new show, “Just A Sip”, viewers will get to hear tips on fashion, food and fitness from Tran, as well as how she got to where she is today from her Vietnamese-African American upbringing to her career as a personal stylist.

The actress recently filed a $1.4 million lawsuit against her former manager maintaining that he had cheated her out of money and had committed fraud, breach of contract and unlawfully withholding over

Little Fires Everywhere Hulu

$1 million in royalties. Tran–who is dating former NFL all pro Victor Cruz turned ESPN analyst– is also asking for punitive damages. Last month, the manager clapped back stating that he’d spent a ton to fund her lavish lifestyle and that he used his own money to launch her career right down to acting lessons and monthly expenses.

Gabrielle Union To Release Children’s Book You can add children’s book author to Gabrielle Union’s impressive list of credit. On the heels of her bestselling memoir, We Need More Wine, Union is releasing, Welcome to the Party, was inspired by the birth of her daughter Kaavia James via surrogate.

“This is a very special moment for me, to write my very first children’s book.

Since the birth of @kaaviajames … I’ve been even more inspired to create stories that are not only representative of the cultural melting pot we live in, but also celebrate life and the fun, teachable lessons that come at every age,” Union posted on Instagram. “Welcome to the Party, will hit shelves on 5.5.20! This is my love letter for parents everywhere who are excited to welcome their bundle of joy to the party that is life.”

Meghan Markle Goes To Work It’s official, Meghan Markle will voice Disney’s Elephant documentary. Markle, who will have to forfeit her “Duchess of Sussex” title, had been in the market for voiceover work since last year when

Self Made Netflix

her hubby, Prince Harry was overheard letting Disney CEO Bob Iger know that his wife was would be open to it. Elephant follows African elephant Shani and her son Jomo as their herd make a journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources and persistent predators, as they follow in their ancestor’s footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise.

Casting News: Cicely Tyson is set to reprise her role as Ophelia Harkness, mother to Annalise Keating as the second half of the final season of ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder gets underway this month. Tyson earned three Emmy nominations with her appearance as Ophelia, who was diagnosed with dementia, in Season 1 of the show… T.I. is set to recur on Genius: Aretha from National Geographic’s eight-episode series starring Cynthia Erivo…Black-ish producer Kenya Barris is set to make his acting debut in the new Netflix comedy, #blackAF. The series–which will also star Rashida Jones–is loosely inspired by Barris’ irreverent and honest approach to parenting, relationships, race, and culture, uncovering the messy, unfiltered and often hilarious world of what it means to be a “new money” black family trying to get it right in a modern world where “right” is no longer a fixed concept.

On the Home Front: Prince Michael Jackson II (aka “Blanket” recently changed to “Bigi”), 18, moved out of his grandmother’s gated Calabasas estate, into a $2.6 million home nearby. The 6,382 square foot house with six bedrooms and seven-and-a-half baths, is in a guarded community.

Q&A Issa Rae Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Big Break: The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl Current Project: The Photograph Issa Rae grew up split between Los Angeles and Senegal, her father’s native country. She attended Stanford University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in African-American studies. She created, wrote, directed, produced, and starred in a web series released on Youtube titled ‘Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, which led to her landing a contract with HBO for “Insecure”, for which she won an Emmy. Since, she has published a New York Times bestselling memoir; was listed in Forbes “30 Under 30”; become partner in a popular Inglewood eatery and launching her own digital platform, Color Creative, supporting the work of women and minority writers.

What’s a film that inspired you?

Love and Basketball - it was just love. It was just a pure story and it took place in my neighborhood and it was written and directed by a black woman; Gina Prince-Bythewood.

What was it about that film that inspired you?

I think what inspired me was the fact that it existed you know? Just watching it as a young girl the images, I loved seeing Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps. It inspired me it was just beautiful. And so I think ‘The Photograph’ I hope will inspire people the same way.

There’s a very specific love story from the mind of Stella Mcgee and I hope that other audiences will see that and say I’m inspired by this love story to tell my own in the same way that I was.

You usually do comedy, have you liked branching out?

It’s been more dramatic. And it’s a leading lady that, well you know I tend to rely on comedy. Comedy is a defense mechanism. Like it makes me comfortable.

And to embody a role where this person is so confident and so secure in herself really just appealed to me.

And the fact that Stella you know thought of me for it and asked me if I wanted to play this part was really an honor. And the little girl in me would never imagine that I would be playing this type of role. So I’m so honored.

Speaking of Secure, Insecure Season 4 is coming up?

So this season we’re exploring whether certain relationships are for a reason or a season. Tune in April 12th How was seeing your new movie ‘The Photograph’?

Seeing it for the first time just made me feel like I was wrapped in a blanket of everything that I’ve been longing to see for such a long time. The movie does represent just love and beauty and there’s a grace to it.

RedCarpet Style

CYNTHIA ERIVO wowed in Schaparelli at the Screen Actors Awards

REGINA KING stunned in this pink beaded Versace at the Oscars.

With COVID-19 taking center stage, there were no big award show red carpet awards to report from, so we decided to recap some of our favorite looks from this season’s hottest red carpets.

TIFFANY HADDISH sparkles Michael Costello at the ABFF Honors

LIZZO ZOE KRAVITZ in a custom Saint Laurent channeled Marilyn Monroe in Versace at the Grammys at the Golden Globe Awards

Eye On Gospel Clark Sisters Celebrate New Release and Movie Just ahead of their forthcoming Lifetime biopic, the Grammy Award-winning Clark Sisters have released their newest album, The Return. Now available on all digital platforms, the project marks the seventeenth album from the legendary group–comprised of Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise "Niecy" Clark Bradford, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard– and boasts a star-studded lineup of producers including Rodney Jerkins, Warryn Campbell, Jermaine Dupri and Mano Haines. The album encompasses a retro sound with an edgy 2020 finish that looks to carry the storied Detroit musical family in to yet another decade of chart-topping music.

With their perfect pitch and stellar harmonies, Fans will get to enjoy the perfect combination of smooth and silky tones, mixed with notes higher than the heavens, jazzy bass lines, and the most creative ad libs truly signature to The Clark Sister sound. Currently, the leading single, "Victory" (produced by Karew Records president, J. Drew Sheard II), is in high rotation on gospel radio's top 10 list. Making a guest appearance is Snoop Dogg on the song, "His Love".

The biopic–produced by Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott and Mary J. Blige– premieres on Lifetime April 11. Starring as the talented sisters, who broke ground in gospel, are Christina Bell as “Twinkie,” Sheléa Frazier as Dorinda, Raven Goodwin as Denise, Angela Birchett as Jacky, and

Kierra Sheard as her real-life mom, Karen Clark Sheard.

Sheard will also celebrate a new project to coincide with the release of the biopic as her record label debuted new music from her last month. Sheard ‘s new album is set for release April 17. Her new single, “It Keeps Happening,” is already getting airplay around the country.

“When the pandemic hit, I thought, ‘What is the homeless community doing about these warnings? Coronavirus is dangerous and we’re all impacted, but those with preexisting health conditions and the homeless are particularly vulnerable,” Lecrae said.

The Stellar Awards Are Rescheduled Lecrae Has New Single and Mission Grammy-Award winning artist, best-selling author, entrepreneur and social activist LECRAE released his new single “Set Me Free” today via Columbia Records/Reach Records. “Set Me Free” featuring Def Jam recording artist, singer, and rapper, YK Osiris (“Worth It,” “Valentine”), produced by GAWVI is the first song to drop from Lecrae’s upcoming album to be released this spring.

“As I went through my own restoration process, I realized there were things that had held me down, kee-ping me from being all God had created me to me. My prayer is that we’re all set from shackles like negative thoughts that keep us from experiencing true freedom!”

In the meantime, the threetime Grammy winning Christian hip-hop artist is doing his part to help others in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 40-year old artist joined the nonprofit organization Love Beyond Walls to assemble and distribute portable hand-washing stations for Atlanta’s homeless.

Hand-washing is the biggest step people can take to prevent illness, including coronavirus, but the homeless community doesn’t always have that opportunity.

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, the 35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards has been or August 14-16, 2020. “It is our hope and prayer that with quick community action, we can do our part toward the solution of this global problem,” said CEO Don Jackson. “We encourage our families to continue to keep the mission of the Gospel music community at heart and support each other with prayer and responsible preparation through this trying time.”…In other gospel news, TV One will celebrate Holy Week with the cable-television premiere of Sinners, Lamman Rucker, Traci Braxton, Clifton Powell, Roland Martin and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard. The movie tells the story of an unconventional pastor ridiculed by his hypocritical congregation after rescuing and falling in love with a woman with a troubled past. The TV movie was written and directed by Joshua Jenkins and Jimmy Jenkins and is exec produced by Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.,of the 11,000-member strong First Baptist Church of Glenarden. Grammy Award-Nominated Gospel Artist Anthony Brown also serves as Producer…Award-winning gospel recording artist turned L.A. preacher, Deitrick Hadden, recently dropped his latest album, T.I.M.E (Truth Is My Energy). The album, hailed as his “best work yet,” features the smash single, “Open Door Season.” The Detroit native, known for his progressive, urban style of gospel music, is also the founding pastor of Hill City Church in Los Angeles. He is also a former cast member on Oxygen's reality television show Preachers of L.A. and in 2018, penned three songs on Usher’s most recent album, “A.”…Finally, four-time GRAMMY® nominated chart-topper Travis Greene has paired up with the GRAMMY® nominated songstress DOE, formerly of foreverJONES, for his new video, “Good and Loved”.

15

ChurchNews Churches Shift Online In Wake of COVID-19 Outbreak sually it’s come as you are, but this past Sunday the message to parishioners of African-American churches across the Golden State was tune in online.

Worship houses from Southern California to beyond the Bay Area have been instructed not to hold inhouse services for some time due to the novel coronavirus outbreak making its way around the globe.

“We may not be able to touch in the natural but we are connected in the spirit,” the Rev. Jacqueline Thompson, pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, told her parishioners via video stream last Sunday. The 100-year-old congregation is one of the oldest Black churches in the Bay Area.

For Clint Thompson of Santa Monica the governor’s shelter in place order meant abandoning his weekly jaunt to West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles for Sunday service. The popular South Los Angeles church canceled its service and instead live-streamed Bishop Charles E. Blake’s message online. Thompson, a 37-yearold actor, said he watched the service for his weekly inspiration, but noted that he missed sitting in the pews.

“The service is good and its theatrical,” he said. “The music is good, the praise dancing. It feels like a live music festival.”

Thompson isn’t the lone California worshipper who will be catching the gospel online during this time.

Churchgoers across the state are tuning into worship services online via video streaming on their websites or social media pages in response to government officials across the state requesting that church services not convene anytime in the foreseeable future to slow the rapid spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease it causes.

Sermons, choir performances, praise and worship, and other church service mainstays go on as usual. But they happen in front of a handful of worshippers, camera crews and technicians responsible for posting the services online – instead of the dozens to hundreds of people who usually pack California Black church benches on Sunday mornings.

The Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr., pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda, said not preaching in front of hundreds of familiar faces is a strange feeling, but it is an essential one because of the health risks that come with the rapidly spreading respiratory illness. Curry said when Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a health emergency that put restrictions on public gatherings larger than 250 people, his church’s services were immediately cancelled. They began taping them for the internet.

“I’ve preached in small groups, but it’s hard when you are standing in a sanctuary that you know holds 700 people, and you might be preaching to ten, and you are trying to make it feel like Sunday morning, and you’re far from Sunday morning,” he said. “It’s different, but it’s a service that is needed, so I make it happen for my people to the best of my ability.”

Last Sunday, was men’s Sunday at Allen Temple Baptist in Oakland. The members of the men’s chorus performed on stage in a formation that allowed six feet of social distance among them. Each man had his own mic.

“We’re scared right now, Lord. We don’t understand what you are doing and we don’t like it,” Thompson, the pastor at Allen Temple, prayed during her Oakland church’s live stream that was broadcast on Facebook and on the church’s website.

“But remind us that you are gracious. Even in the midst of this, thank you for slowing us down and connecting us with family and what is important in this world,” she added.

The high infection rate of the Coronavirus has changed life across the globe, shuttering businesses, schools, offices, restaurants, sports and entertainment venues and any other places groups of people might gather.

California’s Black churches say they are taking the pandemic seriously by vigorously cleaning their worship houses and closing their doors to the public for regular church activities.

Pastor “J” Edgar Boyd of First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles said in an online statement his church is working on ways for the church body to stay connected through video chats and confer-

L.A. Focus/April 2020

C

16

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

MCKENZIE JACKSON

California Black Media ence calls.

“Please know that we are praying for the safety, physical wellbeing and spiritual strength for you, your household, and for your entire family,” Boyd wrote.

Curry said no services have taken place at his church since March 15. The church has been streaming its 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. services, and Sunday was the first time they broadcast their Sunday school service, which had about 130 viewers. He said churchgoers watch online messages.

“I don’t care what a church does, even if it is in a minimized form, I think every church has to have some type of online presence,” Curry said. “They will figure out how to watch it. Even if they have to bring their grandkids over to get them online. They will figure out how to access it.”

Pastor Touré Roberts of The Potter’s House at One L.A. said in his Sunday morning sermon, that it seems like the world has been flipped on its head during the coronavirus emergency, but he saw a silver lining “There are sometimes it feels like the world wasn’t turned upside down, but it was turned right-side up,” he said. “People are spending more time with their families.

People are texting one another and checking on one another. In the midst of all this craziness, it seems we are getting our priorities straight, and I have just come to suspect that God is somewhere in it.”

Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell Awaits Sentencing After Pleading Guilty to Defrauding Church Members Houston mega pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell–who served as a spiritual advisor to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama–now awaits sentencing after pleading guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud last week in a Louisiana courtroom. As part of a plea deal, the 67year old pastor of the 12,000-member strong, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, will have to repay $1,951,478 before his sentencing on July 22, 2020.

"On the road to glory you have painful pit stops and this is a pit stop," Caldwell told an overflow crowd upwards of 7,000 of the 13-count indictment charging that he and a partner defrauded investors out of $3.5 million when he was first charged back in 2018.

"From my mouth to your ears, I am not guilty," the pastor maintained.

Caldwell was accused of committing wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering when he and a business partner raised a reported $3.5 million in Historical Chinese bonds from 29 investors between 2013 to 2014.

"These bonds were issued by the former Republic of China prior to losing power to the Communist government in 1949," prosecutors said in a news release. "They are not recognized by China's current government and have no investment value."

The complaint went on to state that "Although many investors did not understand the investment, they ultimately trusted Smith and took comfort in the fact that a high-profile pastor was offering the investment”; and that the two used the monies raised to pay “personal loans, credit card balances, mortgages, vehicle purchases and other personal expenses.”

Last year, the investment adviser charged along with Caldwell, pled guilty and is set to be sentenced in May. Caldwell, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, faces 5-7 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, the pastor of one of the largest United Methodist churches in the nation, will face discipline from his higher ups.

“I am deeply saddened by this admission of guilt,” Texas Conference Bishop Scott Jones noted in a statement to the United Methodist News Service. “This now triggers a disciplinary process. We do not tolerate crimes being committed by our clergy, and it is now clear that Kirbyjon Caldwell has violated our standards of conduct.”

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 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

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

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. Paul A. Hill, Interim 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 (Adult) Bible Study: Every Thursday 12:00pm

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

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

FIRST LADY FILES

Erica Campbell California Worship Center Every morning her statements of faith serve to inspire the more than two million listeners who tune in to her nationally syndicated radio show, “Get Up! Mornings With Erica Campbell” weekdays on Radio One. Between praying for and blessing the work of medical professionals, providing Coronavirus updates or reminding folks that God is in control and to be bold in their prayers for the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, Campbell–a Grammy award winning recording artist and one-half of the best-selling gospel duo Mary Mary–is on a mission to keep people informed and uplifted. he does the same and more in her role as First Lady and wife of award-winning producer turned Pastor Warryn Campbell at their North Hollywood-based church, the California Worship Center.

Both Erica and Warryn are all too aware that their fame and popularity as recording and TV personalities is a big draw.

“You can see in their eyes– a little bit like wow did you see that,” Erica acknowledges. “But it changes once they see me daning and praising God. They’re like, ‘Oh she’s not an artist today. This is the first lady of the church.’”

“If you believe God has given you something to say, you want to say it to as much as possible,” Erica states.

“Jesus didn’t come back so that we can preach to ourselves so I’ve got to reach as many people as I can. I don’t feel like the gospel I have is only for a 130 people or 500. I believe it’s for millions and for nations and believing that, you’ve got to equip yourself.

“If they don’t come in this church building then I’m going to send my music to the club they’re at. If they’re at the park, we’ll go to the park and have church there. We want to reach people and let them know that there is help, that there is hope, that Jesus loves them.”

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)

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

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

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776

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

Sundays: Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study & Mid Week Worship: Noon & 7:00pm Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm

Praises of Zion Baptist Church (“Praise City”) 8222 So. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (323) 750-1033 • F: (323) 750-6458 Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, Sr. Pastor Early Morning Worship: 6:45am Educational Hour: 9:15am Mid-Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7:00pm Sunday Morning Broadcast: 5:30am Live Streaming Sundays: 12:00pm http://www.pozlive.com 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

Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center In Altadena 2556 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, CA 91001 (626) 797-3585 • F: (626) 797-3233 • www.lifelinefcc.org Bishop Charles D. Dorsey Sunday School: 9:00am Early Worship (Glory Prayer): 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:30am Evening Worship (1st & 2nd Sun.): 5:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm

Peace Apostolic Church 21224 Figueroa Street, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 212-5673 Suff. Bishop Howard A. Swancy

In Carson

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)

Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, (P.O. Box 5449), Compton 90224 (310) 604-5900, www.loveandunity.org Apostle Ronald C. Hill, Sr. Founder and Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 11:30am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:30pm Bible Studies: Wed. 7:30pm & Sat. 9am Prayer w/Apostle: Tue - Fri: 9am Food for Your Soul TV Ministry- 6:30am Impact Network Television: Mon-Fri 6:30am KJLH 102.3 Sundays: 9pm The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro Street, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433 Bishop Noel Jones

In Gardena

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

Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 • blessedfamilycovenant.org

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

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

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

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

In Hawthorne

Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm

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

Pastor Profile: Kyron Shorter Church: Bethesda Temple Apostolic Faith How Long at Church: One year Hometown: San Diego Family: Married eight years to wife Terrah, three children Did you always know you were going to be a pastor?

I always enjoyed working with youth ministry. I grew up in a Christian home, a God-fearing home and I was reared in the church where we had a lot of different youth activities. My parents really instilled in us balance. We definitely were in church (Greater Apostolic Faith Temple Church) every Sunday, but more importantly, they were very responsible for helping us navigate San Diego during a rough period of time when gang violence was very prevalent. They really instilled in us the value of a relationship with God and being rooted in church was the stepping stone that made me interested in ministry.

When did you start preaching?

I was called to preach at 13 and as a young preacher, I up and down California and throughout the West Coast preaching and participating in a lot of conferences. As I began to grow in the church and get increased responsibilities, I saw God expanding me in our organization though. it wasn't until I was 34-35 that I was blessed with the opportunity to be considered, recommended and subsequently installed as the pastor for Bethseda.

Is this appointment what brought you to LA? Yes. I've done a lot of work in LA, mostly youth ministry down through the years, but this appointment places me right there in the heart of it all, right next door to Crenshaw High School with a chance to really impact the community. And the ministry is growing leaps and bounds since I've been there. People can resonate with me being a transgenerational leader who can connect with old school as well as attract the millennials.

L.A. Focus/April 2020

In recent years the church suffered a massive fire, lost its founding pastor (Elder Ernest Alexander) and the pastor that followed him (Robert Lockett)–how challenging was it to take on a church that had been through so much?

Extremely challenging, because this [Alexander] was a true leader, so I've had to be sensitive to the latent magnitude of

18

this great visionary who’d spent a great portion of his life serving. So that's always been the challenge. Trying to kind of identify with this new voice and trust this new voice given that the church has been through a lot over the past six years. And it was not just the burning of the building, but some internal things that had to be worked out as it relates to even me being placed in position to be ratified and approved as the new pastor. So there's been a lot of growing pain, a lot of hurt. One of the things that my wife and I have tried to do is to foster the sense of community again and repair the spirit of love and unity as we move forward.

To be so young in an older congregation, were you surprised they chose you?

Yes, I'd be the last person to ever have thought that this whole ministerial assignment would be a reality. I figured they’d go with someone more familiar than making a decision of faith, but God blew my mind. And we spent this past year doing our best to honor the legacy of our leader and to try to heal really get back to the basics of ministry and that's love, the love of Christ and placing the focus on the development of people. As with all transitions, it takes some longer than others to get on board.

This transition comes with a brand new, beautiful facility right in the middle of a thriving community, less than one block from Crenshaw High?

Absolutely. One of the first things I did was to introduce myself to the administration at Crenshaw High School to make myself available. We have grown as a ministry with millennials and with us having a new repurposed facility, it affords us so many opportunities to do meaningful ministry and help with family enrichment efforts. I'm overwhelmed by the millennials that have come to be part of the ministry as well as those who are the seasoned saints.

You say you’ve been blessed with through the misfortune of a fire to create a new branding effort for the ministry…

Yes, so we introduce ourselves to the community, not just as the church that burned down but to let them know, we're still a church on fire. We're still a church that has the desire to motivate and equip, to encourage, to empower and inspire a new generation as well as a changing demographic. So it's been a challenge, but also a blessing.

When you talk about the growth, what does it look like?

When my wife and I joined the ministry, our congrega-

tion was at about 60 members or so. Today we’re up to 130 and growing. Our children's ministry and youth ministry have tripled in size and that's just what we have on our roster. Even more people are coming –somewhere around 200 people that are joining us weekly in our worship services and that's been exciting.

You said the church is still on fire. Is that your motto?

Yes. As a ministry I’ve wanted to embrace the story of Bethesda. It's a story of survival. It's a story of overcoming. When you lose your pastor and then a fire with the entire congregation left literally in ashes, – there's not a lot of ministries that survive that.

Not that many ministries survive pastoral transition.

Pastor Alexander died on Valentine's Day 2014 and for this church to stay afloat...to stay encouraged for five years until God brought a Joshua. That says a lot about the members of Bethesda, the culture of Bethesda, the commitment of Bethesda. People who rallied in the midst of great tragedy and that's a testament to the leadership of Elder Alexander and the spirit of the ministry that says, "Despite all of the hardships, we're not going to let the fire go out. We're going to keep pressing. That's the narrative of Bethesda. We keep overcoming. In fact, in June of 2019, we had another attempt to set the building on fire. I'm not even in the ministry yet six months before someone else tried to come in and vandalize our facility.

Was arson determined as the cause of the first fire?

We don't know to this day, but this last one was arson. It just so happened I was in Los Angeles for work. Got a phone call, "You got to come to the church right away.

The church is on fire." I'm like, wow.

There was no damage?

Close to $200,000 in damage, but it wasn't as significant of an impact as the fire in 2013.

You said you are a transgenerational leader. What does that mean in a church like Bethesda?

I'm a millennial and I believe one of the greatest mistakes people make is to box us into one type or to make everything for millennials. God’s given me the ability to be able to reach all demographics. I definitely can connect with the young working professional and I was reared with respect and appreciation for the seasoned saints, so I still have a voice that is a safe place for them. At the same time, there's diversity. There'd be some Sundays we come in and wear Jerseys. You know, finding places to meet all people, but allowing the anointing of God and the power of God to rest in a tangible way that meets every demographic, every walk of life in a different, meaningful manner with the same power, excitement high-annointing and demonstration of the Holy Ghost that has everybody feeling connected. Everybody feeling like, this is the ministry for me and that's exciting.

From the Pulpit of: Oak Cliff Bible Fellowshi p “Don’t Worry” — Pastor Tony Evans at the birds of the air, they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.

Look, if you’re worried about coronavirus or anything else that’s causing you to illegitimately worry rather than legitimate concern, He says you need to go bird watching.

They will teach you how God operates. Birds don’t have 401-K’s. They don’t have mutual funds or savings accounts and yet they don’t have ulcers.

Let’s picture our friend the bird. He’s not standing on the branch with his beak open towards heaven waiting for worms to drop into its mouth. Every day it goes worm hunting because it assumes something. It assumes if I’m alive there’s a worm somewhere to be found. He doesn’t alleviate responsibility out of concern to eat. He exercises responsibility knowing that the provision comes from another source.

Our problem? We believe in a God we do not understand as a Father. He wants you to look at him as a father and understand that this father cares for you. When you come to look at him this way, understand and relate to him this way, you begin to experience God, the daddy and not just God, the creator.

I love Isaiah Chapter 26:3-4 “I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me.” Jeremiah 17: 7-8 says that God will keep you calm even in a drought, –even in a virus. Your earthly father is limited. Your heavenly Daddy is not.

Look, we’re supposed to wash our hands 20 seconds many times during the day. Let me give you a little secret.

Use hand washing as prayer time. Put the soap on your hands and wash them and say, ‘Hey Daddy you told me not to worry about this virus. You told me not to be anxious of anything, so right now I’m not going to worry.’

Philippians 4 says when you are tempted to be anxious that is an invitation to pray. So, if you were going to wash your hands all day long, talk to your Daddy all day long and get your growing focused on God who is able to calm your fears.

Don’t misunderstand me, you ought to be concerned about coronavirus. We’re to follow the direction given by our government and our leaders and we’ve got to make wise decisions about physical distancing. We want to stay connected but do the wise things. Still be able to sleep at night. Be able to laugh. Be able to love your loved ones.

Don’t live in panic when you know you have a Heavenly Father. The problem is we live in a world today that has forgotten that God wants to be their Daddy, not just a name we throw out. He says if you will make this shift, there will be a dynamic change in your calmness meter.

You want to get over your worry, you want to calm down, I’m going to give you the secret. Here’s

what I want you to do, verse 33 “Seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

Did you know that some things God can’t do? You say, ‘But I thought there’s nothing God can’t do.

No, there are things God can’t do. For example, God can’t lie. It’s impossible for him to lie.

Another thing God can’t do is he can’t be contradictory to his own nature. He’s always consistent.

Let me tell you another thing God can’t do. God can’t be second. The moment you put God in second place you’ve removed him from engagement with your life.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God. God must be put in priority.

How do you know when God is first? Because he takes priority in your decision making. When you have to choose what you will do or won’t do, he wins the choice. If he does not win the choice, he is not first no matter how often you use his name.

W hat should we be looking at when you put him first?

His rule is your life. He gets the final decision over everything that has to do with you. That makes him first.

He does not want to be one of many. He has an exclusivity clause here. He wants to be prioritized over the highest priority you have in your life because when you have to make a choice, you choose him or his way of doing things that’s why you ought to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.

His righteousness is His standard. I submit to his standard and relate to him as my father because it’s a relationship thing not just doing it because he says do it doing it because he’s daddy. It’s a relationship and He wants a close and intimate one with you. He says I got you.

Does that mean there won’t be challenges? No, cause then there’d be nothing to pray about.

Does that mean there won’t be trials? No, because that means you’d have nothing to trust him for.

It says you will not face those trials by yourself and they actually would become opportunities for you to see Daddy do this thing. This is a great teaching moment. In fact, every time worry starts bubbling up you should read [Matthew 6]and then pray to be reminded Daddy’s in charge.

He says do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Most people are crucified between two things–yesterday and tomorrow. Do you know today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday? So, let yesterday go, trust God for tomorrow and be at peace with him right now.

Plan for tomorrow but live by faith today and when you do you will see God’s strength.

God’s not promising everything’s going to be exactly like you want it, but He is saying He loves you enough to be your daddy and as a daddy to meet you at your point of need. So, let the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your heart in Christ Jesus.

Breathe. Relax. Be legitimately concerned, but don’t worry.

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

True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins

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

New Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church 434 S. Grevillea, Inglewood CA 90301 (310) 673-6250 Office • (310) 673-2153 Rev. Dr. Phillip A. Lewis, D. D., D. Th., Senior Pastor

Antioch Church of Long Beach Mailing address P.O. Box 2291, Long Beach, CA 90801 website:www.antiochlb.com

I want to tell you two words right now: don’t worry. In case you think that comes from me…that comes from Jesus. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says three times “don’t worry”. He says, “stop worrying” in verses 25, 31, and 34.

Stop it!

How practical is that given all we’re facing with this virus –the unknown, the crisis, the expansion, the speed, the sickness? Is that a practical expectation of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Well, yes it is, because he commands us not to do it.

Maybe some definitions will help us here. We have a legitimate right for legitimate concern. What we don’t have the right to do is worry.

Worry is concern gone haywire. God does not expect us not to deal in reality. If you’re sick, you’re sick. If you’re struggling, you’re struggling. That’s different than worry.

Concern you own. Worry owns you. In fact, our anxiety, worry, and fear is out pacing the worry of the virus, because it’s consumed the mind, the heart, the energy, and the emotions of ourselves, our families, the whole nation and even the world.

When concern tells you we’re going to palpitate your heart right now where you can’t get it calmed down you’ve graduated to worry. And Jesus says stop it.

Worry has a way of transferring and we see it now in the culture when we listen to the news; when we hear what people are thinking; when we get the statistics. That which started off as concern is now causing us to tremble.

Now that is affecting more than health and financial markets, and limiting our motion and movement, and raising questions about supplies and needs and food. All of that can draw you from legitimate concern–for which you should act responsibly– to illegitimate worry.

In fact, Jesus actually goes a little deeper. He says if you’re controlled by worry, “Oh ye of little faith” (Matthew 6:30). He didn’t say you had no faith. He says it’s too small.

Many people believe in God and still worry because they have little faith. How do you measure little faith?

Well, if you’re worrying and that’s become your pattern, you have little faith.

Some years ago, I was supposed to take a plane to a speaking engagement in Iowa. My wife was supposed to go with me until she found out I was going to be picked up in a twin-engine Cessna.

She said, “I’m sorry I’m not going with you”.

I said to her, “You don’t have enough faith”.

She replied, “That’s because you don’t have enough plane.”

When the schedule changed and I wound up taking a major airline, she said I’m going with you now. I said, “Your faith grew” and she said, “That’s cause the size of your plane grew”.

The size of your faith is tied to the size of your God. When you shrink God you automatically shrink faith. If you and I have little faith, it’s because we’re operating with a small understanding and view of God. The way you get more faith is not trying to talk yourself into not worrying. It is to expand your understanding, view of, and submission to God–to grow God in your understanding, experience and focus. When you grow Him, your faith will grow, and your worry will shrink to become responsible concern.

Jesus says what you need to do in verse 26 is to “Look

Early Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Mid-Week Bible Study (Wednesday): 7:00pm Afternoon Bible Study (Thursday): 1:00pm

Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon

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

In Long Beach

Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr. Sunday Worship Services: 10:00am Long Beach Poly High School 1600 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, Ca 90813

Family of Faith Christian Center 345 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 595-1222 • F: (562) 595-1444 Bishop Sherman A. Gordon, E.D. Min Sunday School: 8:00 am Morning Worship: 9:00 am

Levin continued from page 6 days to respond to an eviction lawsuit if they can document that their missed rent was due to the coronavirus crisis. The governor said his order is intended to provide basic protection for renters and allows more stringent local protections to stand.

Renter groups and some Democratic lawmakers were disappointed by the limited action in the middle of a statewide mandate that residents remain at home. They said Newsom’s directive fails to protect renters evicted for other reasons, still allowing landlords to pursue evictions next month and those renters to be locked out as soon as the emergency is lifted.

“It does very little to protect tenants against evictions, and I think essentially just kicks the can down the road for some folks,” said Sasha Harnden, a lawyer with the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Harris continued from page 6 that 154-year-old statute.

Here’s the back story of the case that led to that decision and what it means for African Americans.

In 2019, Allen along with Sinclair Broadcast Group and Diamond Holdings, purchased 21 regional Fox sports networks from the Disney Company. Today, Allen’s company is a global media conglomerate that owns 10 cable television networks, including: The Weather Channel; Comedy

TV; and Justice Central TV, among others.

Allen also owns Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures, which produced the motion pictures 47 Meters Down, Chappaquiddick and Uncaged.

In 2015, Allen filed a $20 billion federal lawsuit against Comcast, the cable company, alleging racial discrimination. In their complaint, Allen and other plaintiffs contend that Comcast turned down Allen’s potential deal to feature six of his stations on Comcast. Allen alleges he was denied the deal due to his ethnicity in violation of a portion of the 42 U.S.C. Section 1981.

Section 1981 is a Reconstruction-era federal statute providing all persons the same right “enjoyed by white citizens” to “make and enforce contracts” and “to sue” for the enforcement of those contracts.

Comcast has vigorously defended its record on diversity and refuted Allen’s claims of discrimination.

A key element of Allen’s argument centers on Comcast’s alleged collusion, against his interests, with certain AfricanAmerican leaders and organizations during its 2010 purchase of NBC Universal. As part of the NBC Universal deal, Comcast agreed to add four new African-American owned networks over eight years. Two of those networks were owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs, and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.

Allen argued that the organizations

that helped broker the deal – the National Urban League, Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and the NAACP – were essentially “bought off” by Comcast, which has donated money to them. According to Allen, the agreement provided only token investment in Blackowned networks and has been used to justify blocking Black entrepreneurs from getting a seat at the multi-billion dollar cable television ownership table.

At the federal trial level, the case was dismissed. Next, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, resurrected Allen’s case holding that the trial court considering the lawsuit had improperly dismissed it. Comcast appealed that decision to the United States Supreme Court.

Allen proceeded with his opposition to the Comcast appeal and the case came before the U.S. Supreme Court, for oral argument, in November of 2019.

The narrow issue the U.S. Supreme Court considered was not the specifics of Allen’s dispute with Comcast, but the standard for proving racial discrimination under 42 U.S.C. Section 1981.

Last month, in a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Comcast and set a new “but for” standard in cases involving allegations of contractual discrimination under Section 1981. The case was then remanded back to the trial

court to determine whether Allen could meet the new standard. Allen will have to prove that “but for” his ethnicity as an African American, he would have been awarded the contract with Comcast.

What does this dispute between Allen and Comcast mean to the AfricanAmerican community?

First, the words of the Kenyan proverb “when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers” come to mind. The fact that this litigation will have long-term implications on the next litigants who allege they were denied a contract, employment or business opportunity due to racial discrimination is inescapable.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in this case has effectively increased the burden of proof on the next litigant and made it much harder for them to succeed in Section 1981 litigation. By the insistence of Allen to proceed with this litigation, the African-American community runs the risk of becoming “trampled grass” when the litigation is finally resolved and the “elephants” have ceased fighting.

Second, ultimately Allen’s group will have their “day in court” at the trial court level where they will have to prove that they suffered specific discrimination at the hands of Comcast relative to its decision to reject their proposed cable deal. The legal standard will now be higher with a requirement that Allen’s group prove that “but for”

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

Morning Star Christian Church In Pasadena 980 Rio Grande Street, Pasadena, CA 91104 *Mailing Address: 1416 N. Mentor Ave. Pasadena, 91104 (626) 794-4875 • F: (626) 794-7815 Pastor W. Harrison Trotter and First Lady Ranza Trotter Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship: 10:00am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer (Fourth Wed.): 7:00pm Christians Uniting To Make A Difference -Eph. :13

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

Second Baptist Church In Monrovia 925 S. Shamrock Ave., P.O. Box 478, Monrovia,Ca 91017•(626)358-2136•(626) 303-2477 Fax Church Office: Tue-Thur 9am -5pm e-mail:sbcmon925@gmail.com • www.sbcmonrovia.org

Greater Morning Star Missionary Baptist 1973 Seventeenth St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 (310) 450-1168 • Pastor Study:(310) 450-4880 (City by the Sea) Pastor Michael Larry, Jr. Senior Pastor Sunday School: 9:00am New Member Class: 9:45 - 10:15am Children Church.: 11:15am Wed: Mid-week Bible Worship: 7:00pm 1st Sunday Communion Trusting God to Transform the Creature, the Church and the Community, Romans 12:2

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.

New Philadelphia A.M.E. Church 6380 S. Orange Avenue, Long Beach, Ca 90805 (562)422-9300•F: (562) 422-9400 Pastor Darryl E. Walker, Senior Pastor

L.A. Focus/April 2020

Worship: 9:00am —1st & 5th Sunday Sunday School/New Member Classes: 8:00am 2nd thru 4th Sunday Worship:7:30 am &10:00am•Sunday School New Member Classes: 9:00am Sunday worship services streamed live on the web Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday Eve 7:00pm Mid-Week Bible Study: Thursday 12:00 noon www.nuphilly.org

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Pastor Christopher A. Bourne, Sr. Sunday School: 9:45am-10:30am Sunday Worship Service:10:45am Prayer/Bible Study Wed.:10:45am & 6:45 Walking In The Spirit Ministries In Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks

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

InGoodTaste

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Harris continued from page 20

Elder continued from page 6

being a black-owned enterprise, they would have been awarded the cable deal by Comcast.

Third, one must wonder how it is that this opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court was authored by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, and concurred with by every other member of the Supreme Court including the Democratic appointees of Presidents Clinton and Obama. At a time when one of the strongest arguments being used to motivate Black voters to “show up and show out” on election day, is the opportunity to transform the federal courts. If even our Supreme Court allies vote against the interests of the African-American community, as evidenced by the unanimous opinion in the Allen case, some may wonder whether the institution of the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal courts will remain virtually disaffected by whomever becomes the next president.

daughter instantly, and hospitalized my two sons, with what were thought to be at the time permanent, fundamental injuries."

In 2008, Hamill demanded that Biden make a public apology. Hearing nothing from Biden, she sent him a registered letter.

The next year, after an accurate CBS television report on the accident, Hamill said she received a phone call from Biden. Hamill told Politico: "He apologized for hurting my family in any way. So we accepted that – and kind of end of story from there."

Joe's calling card is decency, an affable man without a malicious bone in his body.

Yet he allowed Dunn, who died in 1999, to go to his grave having been falsely shamed by Biden as a drunk driver responsible for the death of Biden's wife and newborn daughter.

What "decent" man does that?

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and syndicated radio host. To find out more about Larry Elder, visit www.LarryElder.com.

Follow Larry on Twitter @LarryElder.

Keep the faith.

Stay Home This too shall pass.

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SavingGrace No one is immune from the new normal brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic that has turned our worlds upside down. So how are some of your favorite celebs handling the health crisis? What is their saving grace through these trying times? Here’s their take on the situation we all find ourselves in today.

Kevin Hart

LL Cool J

Tracy Ellis Ross

Diddy

Michelle Obama

“Stay faithful. Keep believing in yourself…believe in the power of God and also pay attention to the signs.

Obviously personal hygiene is important but it’s also very important to follow CDC recommendations. Social Distance. We only have one world and we’re all connected. We found that out recently in a big way, right. So don’t surrender to your fears. Think about Psalms 121. Look up to the mountains. Where does my hope come from?

My hope comes from the Lord... Faith combined with science, we’ll be able to beat this thing. Remember, no matter how rough it gets, this too shall pass.”

“How to hold all that is happening lightly? Taking it with the seriousness that’s here but can we hold it with a loving/curious embrace?

Can we look for joy and giggles in the tightest of spaces, in the challenge, the fear, as we adjust to the social distance, to being at home, in the folding of our laundry, the dryness of our hands, the silence (or noise, depending on your household), the wonderfully crazy amount of texts and calls.

Can we keep meeting ourselves and our feelings over and over again with kindness and sweetness?

Sending out so much joy...

May it meet you right where you need it in this moment.”

Conversations will not be cancelled.

Relationships will not be cancelled.

Love will not be cancelled.

Songs will not be cancelled.

Reading will not be cancelled.

Self-care will not be cancelled.

Hope will not be cancelled.

May we lean into the good stuff that remains.

“These past few weeks have been scary and difficult for many of us. We just don’t have a roadmap for what we’re currently experiencing—that in and of itself can bring up feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and fear. Not to mention the worry we feel about the health and safety of our parents, children, and loved ones and the financial security of so many families.

Whatever you’re going through right now, I want you to know you aren’t alone…

As for me, I know when I’m feeling overwhelmed that picking up the phone and calling one of my girlfriends can work wonders. I also know staying close to my community helps me to feel connected and strong.

Lenny Kravitz

Alicia Keys

John Legend

“This lockdown is forcing us to face ourselves. It’s like the universe is giving you an opportunity to spend all the time you want in healing yourself. As the entire system has been shut down, you don’t have to keep running anymore, look within yourself and connect with your soul. It’s also bringing us closer like never before. Humanity is at its best when we are united.”

“You see people. We’re all one. What effects one of us on the other side of the world, affects all of us.

I pray that everybody is being as safe as possible.

And I pray that when this is all over, we remember this and we move forward.

We’re one human race. I love you all. Take care of yourselves. Peace.”

“Sending u light right now.

Just a reminder to keep your energy high. Theres a lot going on, but take care of yourself, love on your family, and remind yourself to take a deep breathe and stay calm.

Don’t forget that I love u.”

“Now that folks are cancelling non-essential travel and events, u start to realize how much we schedule that's non-essential. Of course, what we do is critical to human joy, inspiration, etc, but our entire entertainment industry is full of individually non-essential events.”

L.A. Focus/April 2020

Taraji P. Henson

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This lockdown is forcing us to face ourselves. It’s like the universe is giving you all the time you want in healing yourself.”

“I’m a firm believer in positivity over negativity. With what we’re going through right now, I challenge everyone to find that positivity. This quarantine is a message—a bigger message than what’s directly in front of us. I truly believe it’s a message from the man upstairs. It’s making us all sit down and reassess, reevaluate…realize what’s important and what really matters and at the end of the day, that’s our health.

Take the time to love more. Focus on you. Let’s come out of this better than we were when it started. From an economy standpoint, we’ll bounce back, but from a people standpoint, we’re in a bad place. It’s time for us to get to a better place. Ultimately it takes us pulling together, loving one another more…seeing each other through this.

That’s the positive. Find your positive.

That’s what I challenge everybody to do. Time to be creative. You’ve got nothing but time. Time to take advantage of it.

I know I am.”